Addie excused herself as soon as lunch was over and went to her room to make phone calls and check on grandpa. He was sitting in his chair in front of the TV, but he didn’t seem to be paying it much attention.
“You’ve had a busy morning,” he said.
“You know about the slum fire, and my being expelled?”
“I eavesdrop, remember – even on phone conversations.”
“I’m glad you do. I’ve got to make some calls now, then get all that money to the bank.”
“Not so fast with the money,” grandpa said. “We have to use a little strategy first.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think you have more than enough still in the desk for our present needs, so I suggest you add enough from it to make a full one million dollars. Then you can use the million to increase your funds by getting the most interest for it that you can. See what I mean?”
“Uh, yeah. But why do I have a feeling that you have something I don’t know about up your sleeve.” Grandpa chuckled.
“I just want to show you how to get the most for your money.”
“Like how?”
“Like calling all the banks in the area and asking them what percentage of interest they’ll pay on one million dollars?”
“But won’t I have to put it in the Riverbend bank, our bank?”
“Young Addie, there is no law that says you have to. You want the most for your money. Don’t call Riverbend until last. You may have a good bargaining point if one of the other banks offers more than ours does.”
More phone calls was all she could think, and probably to no use. They would probably all pay the same. “Okay, so I’d better get busy. And that jewelry box on the desk – suggest a place for me to put it, and you keep watch over it.”
Elinor Weston said she was honored to be asked to select the volunteers for the open house, and promised Addie that Janie Willis would be there if she had to gag her, tie her up, and haul her there herself.
Addie wished she hadn’t used that particular expression. It made her shiver, and she recalled that she hadn’t given Miss Mattie the picture in her pocket. And grandpa. She was going to ask him if he knew that Ryker had a son?
When she called her mother to tell her about the new private school she would be attending. Della was skeptical at first. But when Addie explained to her that she’d have more time for all her other responsibilities, and that Miss Judy was willing to help her finish her high school education too, her mother became most agreeable and excited about it. Then she reported that Miss Elinor promised that Janie Willis would be at Stonegate. And she found that Della had been busy planning.
“I’ve decided that on Saturday morning, I will go park at the Forrest Lane Community Center, and you can call me when Janie Willis arrives at Stonegate. Then I’ll go to her house and get that crippled maid to come to the door one way or another. I might not know Jimmy Lee after seventeen years, but I’ll know Henrietta. There can’t be two people in the world who look like me.”
“But, Mama, what if Col. Willis is at home?”
“Honey, I’ve done my homework. He plays golf on Saturday mornings.”
“What if it’s raining?”
“If it rains, the golfers stay in the club house and play poker until lunch. Then they all have lunch together. I’ve checked everything very carefully. I intend to succeed this time.”
And Addie hoped she would. She certainly had gone to a lot of trouble. Still, she was worried about the outcome for her mother. What if the crippled woman was her sister, Henrietta? How would that affect her? But then, what if she wasn’t? Her mother wanted to find her family so bad.
Addie had just hung up the phone when it rang. Elinor Weston’s voice said, “Addie, dear, we have a problem.” Oh, no. What now? She wondered as Miss Elinor continued, “I have a Dr. Jenkins, a veterinarian, on hold. He says he paid Ryker fifteen hundred in cash, and he has a receipt for it, to rent the large corner store across from the department store at the shopping center. I haven’t seen any cash around the office, but the problem is, his rent doesn’t start until the fifteenth of May. And he’s just been delivered a litter of four St. Bernard puppies earlier than they were supposed to be. He wants to know if he can have the store as of tomorrow? I don’t see any reason why not, unless you have an objection. Oh, and he’s planning to have a small animal hospital and pet store. He also wants permission to park a large RV behind the store while he and his family do the building out.”
“Miss Elinor, it’s fine by me, and his rent still won’t begin until the fifteenth. And don’t worry about the cash. Mr. Cutler gave it to mama and me the morning he left. He didn’t recognize the name and didn’t know where the money had come from.”
Her next call was to the number on the card that Miss Mattie had given her for that Dr. Ellen Morris. It was a familiar, local number written on the back of Dr. Ellen Morris’ business card. After a few rings, a woman’s voice answered, “Morgan residence.”
So, it was Mr. Sully’s number. “Is there, a Dr. Ellen Morris at this number?” she asked.
“Yes. Just a moment.”
After a few moments, a voice said, “This is Dr. Ellen Morris, Addie. How are you feeling?”
“Pretty much okay. I just have a slight headache. Thank you for asking. You left your card at Stonegate.”
“Yes. Yes, I did. Mr. Morgan tells me that you own a stone duplex. My mother and I might be interested in it.”
Wow! Two doctors in one day. Stone duplex? It rang a bell, but then, did it? ‘Stone house’. The key she picked up in the old Plymouth. “A stone house?”
“Yes. Do you or don’t you own it?” the woman asked rather impatiently.
“If Mr. Sully says I own it, then I suppose I do. Where is it located?”
Dr. Morris hesitated a few moments, then answered, “On Rocky Road – out by the old stone quarry. It’s the only house on the road. How much land goes with it?”
“I don’t know. Do you want to see the house?”
“It’s a duplex with a carriage house behind it, and of course we want to go see it if we’re interested in it.” The woman was most definitely getting irritated. “Do you have an agent?” she asked.
“No, ma’am. But I have three keys to a stone house. Perhaps one is to the carriage house. I can bring you the keys. When you’re through with them, you can just leave them with Mr. Sully.
That suited the woman, and Addie hoped that the keys were to the house she was interested in. When she told Miss Mattie what she had to do, Mattie said, “Just hurry back. We have lots of work to plan and to do.”
And when she returned, she found the mansion crawling with activity and excitement.
Miss Judy had big Bud taking furniture out of the storage room on the first floor and placing it around the pool just where she wanted it. Mrs. Mitchell and her sister, Ruby, were cleaning the library and its half bath. William was scrubbing the floor of the summer kitchen. Miss Mattie was at her desk making lists of jobs to be done by Wylene, Deena, Adam, and Donnie, who was bringing the other three home from school.
“Addie,” Miss Mattie said, “I forgot to tell you at lunch that the newspaper editor wouldn’t let me pay for the ad. It’s to be on the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper, and he’ll do a follow up on Friday.”
“That’s great. And, Miss Mattie, did you know that Ryker had a son?” Addie asked as she retrieved Bo Ryker’s picture from her pocket and placed it before Mattie on her desk.
Mattie looked at the photograph in surprise. “My word! No! Where did you get this? He looks just like Ryker.”
“In a drawer of the chest-on-chest in the room that you said Ryker used when he was here.”
“Well, we don’t know anything about him, so we can’t very well let him know about his father,” Miss Mattie said as she got up to go to the stove where she was cooking supper for everyone. The phone rang and Addie picked it up.
It was Mr. Sully. He thanked her for ge
tting the stone house keys to Dr. Morris. Addie could hear Miss Elinor in the background. She asked, “Mr. Sully, are you still at the office when you have guests at home?”
“They aren’t exactly guests,” he said flatly. “They come when they please, without invitation, and stay as long as they please. Dr. Sarah Morris, Ellen’s mother, was my wife’s best friend.”
“Oh. She must have been the one I first talked to on the phone, but I didn’t meet her when I dropped the keys off.”
“I’m sure she was in the kitchen cooking up casseroles to replenish my freezer. I hope not too many, since I plan to eat all my dinners at Mattie’s dinner club.”
“That seems awfully nice of her.”
“Not really. She has ulterior motives. My wife died shortly after Sarah’s husband left her. Dexter wanted a woman in his bed at night, making babies with him, not out delivering some other man’s baby. Sarah decided it was divine timing – that we were destined to be husband and wife. She’s still working on that theory. I think that’s why they want to move to Riverbend.”
“But I thought you wanted to get married.”
“Not that bad,” he said. “Besides, I’m waiting for you.”
Addie couldn’t help but laugh. “Do they want to buy the house?”
“Yep. The duplex, the carriage house, and all the land that goes with it, which is sixteen acres plus. They plan to open a woman’s clinic in the duplex and live in the carriage house. Shall I have it appraised?”
“Please.”
“If you promise not to make them any special deals.”
“I promise, if you’ll handle it all for me?”
Chapter Forty-two
Physically exhausted, but still excited, Addie was going to turn back her bed and call it a day. She missed her mother and wished she was with her. She was glad her mother had been agreeable about her schooling, but she was feeling a little guilty about not telling her about being expelled. She wanted Della to always know what was going on with her. She should probably tell her – when she solved whatever problem that she and her daddy were having. Grandpa suddenly appeared in the chair by the window.
“I was going to come in in a minute. I have so much to tell you.”
“I’ll bet I already know most of it.”
You’ve been eavesdropping.”
“Of course. From early this morning. Things happen around here since you showed up.”
“Then you know about selling the hotel, and the duplex.”
“The hotel, yes, but what duplex?”
“Do you approve of selling the hotel?”
“Yes, young Addie. You have enough on your young shoulders. It will be good for the town to have a nice hotel. Sounds like the man will do a good job.”
“Oh, Grandpa, before I forget, did you know that Ryker had a son?”
“Sure. I listened to some of his phone calls when he first came here. And I saw the picture you laid on Mattie’s desk. I know something else too. He did not have an honorable discharge from the military. Now, what about the duplex?”
She told him about the two women doctors and the duplex they wanted to buy.
“Hymmm,” he said. “I think I know that place.” Addie took a seat on the sofa, hoping grandpa was going to tell her another one of his stories. Studiously, he said, “It’s more than seventy-five years old. It’s a wonder it’s still standing. It was built by the Younger brothers who owned the quarry. They hadn’t been in the duplex too long when their wives had a falling out. So Leon built himself and his wife a small house on down the road towards the quarry.”
“Was that the house that burned? There’s still a stone chimney left.”
“Yes, but Leon’s wife had died by then. The doctor said it was dust from the quarry. It didn’t bother Leon or Luke, or his wife. But Leon moved back into his half of the duplex when his house was struck by lightning. And Luke died a few years later – some sort of accident at the quarry. Then Leon and Luke’s wife, Betsy, got married a short time later. They didn’t stay around long afterwards, sold out and moved away. The land and buildings have been sold several times since then. Willy bought it when the last owner was delivering the stone for her breakfast room, and he told her he was closing down and moving away. But tell me about this shindig you’re having on Sunday. I’m going to enjoy seeing all the pretty ladies.”
“Just don’t do anything you shouldn’t. And that reminds me. I’ve got to arrange to have a couple of the trolleys brought up like you suggested.”
“I promise to behave if you’ll turn my TV box back on. That big black girl turned it off when she was cleaning.”
Addie chuckled, wondering what Wylene thought of her having a TV in her dressing room. She figured she’d find out as soon as the girl had time to talk to her again.
“So many people being so busy.”
“Everything has to be sparkling by Saturday morning. Miss Mattie is having about twenty ladies for a luncheon. They’re the ones who’ll be watching the rooms and showing the people through the mansion.”
“I’ll be watching too.”
“Yes. Please do. But, Grandpa, I sure wish you could go outside. You could see the trolleys. We’re going to park them on the front lawn.”
“I wish I could to, young Addie,” he said wistfully, “but I learned a long time ago that wasn’t possible. Just park them where I can see them from the windows.”
“I’ll make sure of it, Grandpa. But let’s turn your TV on. I’ve got to shower and get to bed. I wish I could kiss you goodnight.”
Grandpa smiled real big. “Goodnight, young Addie.”
“Goodnight, Grandpa. Just don’t ever leave me.”
Addie was awakened on Wednesday morning by the telephone. She rolled over in the big, soft bed and reached for it on the table. She had slept so sound, and was still sleepy. What time is it, she wondered as she picked it up. “Hello,” she mumbled.
“Addie, my girl, are you still sleeping?”
It was too early for Mr. Sully’s cheerfulness. “What time is it, Mr. Sully?”
“Eight-ten.”
“Oh, my goodness! Miss Mattie will kill me. I’m supposed to be up and working. Wonder why she didn’t wake me?”
“Maybe she’s still pouring over the newspaper,” he said. “It’s taking it’s time soaking into my brain. You didn’t tell me about this open house.”
“I, uh, I guess I thought Miss Elinor would tell you since she’s helping me.”
“Well, she didn’t. I’m getting it from the front page of the paper. Big black headlines: STONEGATE TO HOLD OPEN HOUSE. And this Sunday. One to six. And all these people you have listed. Couldn’t you have found a job for me? I could use the publicity.”
Addie laughed. This man was always good for a laugh, even early in the morning. “Okay, what would you like to do? Just name your floor. I’ll find something for you.”
“Well, now, let’s see. On the first floor you’ve got Mrs. Mitchell showing the day- care area, Donnie Whitefield the exercise equipment. Hey! I want to sign up for one of those evening, adult, exercise and swim classes. And then you have Judy Arnold showing the pool.. Doesn’t seem like there’s an opening for me on the first floor. How about the second? Mattie is going to be telling about her dinner club. Maybe I could give out samples at the bar.”
“That’s exactly what you’d like to do, isn’t it?”
“There’s one thing for sure, I’m not ready for Jo Ann Simmons’ nursing home yet. I guess I’ll have to settle for just being a guest, but, Addie, my girl, I just want to say I’m proud of you. I think Judy Arnold’s idea of offering the pool as an extra curricular activity for all grades is going to make a lot of parents happy, and thrill all the students. And I’m glad you listed the qualifications of each person. A parent couldn’t ask for better than a former school teacher and a trained LPN to care for their children. I hope our editor had the foresight to print extra copies of today’s paper.”
“You think I done
good, huh?”
“You done good. And if you should need me for anything, I’m yours for the asking.”
Late Friday night, Mattie and Judy took a tour of the mansion and declared that it did indeed sparkle. Addie had paid everybody out of the money she found in Miss Willy’s robes – even Mr. Mitchell, who helped Billy and Adam with the grounds each day after his trolley car training. So the outside looked as good as the inside and everyone was pleased.
“It’s never looked so good,” Mattie Horn declared. “I hope a lot of people show up.”
“I do too,” Addie agreed. “We’re going to have to take in a lot to cover the cost of the labor and the food for the refreshments.”
“Oh, no,” Mattie said. “I’m paying for the food. The first expense of my dinner club. And I picked up the applications I had printed today. Everybody was talking about it. It was a great idea, Addie, and I’m proud of you.”
Miss Judy agreed with Mattie, and grandpa appeared hovering over her. She thanked both women and excused herself to go call her mother. “I’m proud of you too,” grandpa said as he followed her to her room.
“Thanks, Grandpa, but I’ll have to confess I’ll be glad when it’s over with. Miss Judy has loaded us down with lessons, and I’m too tired to start on them tonight.”
When she dialed her home phone number she hoped her daddy was at home and would answer the phone. It seemed so long since she had talked to him, and she missed him so much. It seemed he was never at home. Surely, he’s got his work caught up with by now. But her mother answered the phone.
“Mama, it’s so late. Is daddy still working?”
“Yes, Dear. But tell me, is everything ready for tomorrow?”
“Yes, ma’am. And I promise you, Mama, that Mrs. Willis won’t see me. Miss Judy and Deena will be serving the lunch. I’ll be helping in the kitchen. And I’ll call you just as soon as I see Janie Willis coming in. Be sure your phone battery is charged good, and your phone is on. The ladies are supposed to be arriving at ten, so they can tour the mansion and receive their appointed places and instructions before lunch.”
The Daughters of Julian Dane Page 68