“I’ll be sitting in my car at the Community Center waiting. What is Mattie serving beside those delicious rolls?”
Addie’s alarm went off at seven. She had just stretched, and was telling herself to get up. This is the day. She and Miss Mattie had lots of work to do in the kitchen. And today her mother might find her long lost sister Henrietta. There was a light knock at her door, then one slid back. “Get up sleepyhead. This uniform is for you,” Deena declared. “Miss Mattie found one for me too. How do I look?”
“Like a waitress,” Addie mumbled. “Have you gotten any of your lessons?”
“Yeah. Took over two hours last night. And thanks again for getting Miss Judy to teach me. The extra hours of work will mean a lot to mama and me.”
“You know I’m going to always be trying to help you, Deena. I promised you that, remember? Maybe I can find some time before Monday to do lessons. I’m sure I’d better.”
“I have to help William too. I’ve been up since five. Mama is going to help him tomorrow while we serve refreshments. They plan to put Mrs. Simmons in the hospital room with the men during the open house. There’s still that extra hospital bed. But she just sleeps and sits and looks out the open French doors.”
“Deena!” Addie exclaimed. “I have an idea! It won’t take us more than half an hour. Surely, Miss Mattie can spare us that long. I want to run you and your mother down to Oak Circle to see a house. Go see if your mother can get away for thirty minutes or so. Okay?”
A few minutes later, Addie was grabbing a hot roll and promising Miss Mattie that they’d be back as soon as possible. Then they were all three off in the Lincoln, and headed for Oak Circle.
“Donnie says it’s the only vacant house on Oak Circle and that it’s rather small compared to the other houses. We can’t miss it, and he thinks the back of the lot should join Stonegate property.”
“It would be good to be close to Stonegate if I’m going to be working there when the nursing home opens,” Mrs. Castle said.
“That’s what I thought,” Addie said, as she turned left off Forrest Lane just three houses from River Road.
“Golly,” Deena said. “How could we afford to live in a neighborhood like this?”
Addie didn’t think the houses on Oak Circle even compared with the stately, old homes on Forrest Lane. They were all one story, smaller, and on smaller lots. But they looked neat and well kept, even the lawns, except for one. This has to be it, she thought, as she drove into the blacktop driveway that needed resurfacing. “Now, we see if the key fits?” she said as they got out of the car.
The short walk was concrete, there was a small porch with a railing around it, but big enough for a swing or a couple of chairs. The front door was a pale yellow with two small windows about head high. Addie inserted the key, turned it, and opened the door. “This is it,” she announced with excitement, hoping this was the end of her problem to find the Castles a home.
They stepped into a mid- sized foyer with an opening on the right into the living room, a door on the left, and one at the end of the foyer. Addie led the way into the living room, which had a nice big picture window facing the street. A fireplace faced them with book shelves on each side, and a large opening into the dining room on their left. It wasn’t big, but big enough to hold a table for six.
Mrs. Castle’s “Oh, my!” was followed by Deena’s, “Wow! Can you imagine living in a place like this, Mama?”
“It would be like Heaven,” Mrs. Castle said as they walked into the adjoining kitchen. There were plenty of cabinets. The sink and counters looked good. The linoleum on the floor showed a badly worn place about where a small breakfast table would be placed, but Addie thought a rug would fix that. A door to their right revealed a laundry and utility room with shelves on the inside wall. The room needed painting pretty bad.
“Oh, how nice,” Mrs. Castle said. “But, Addie, I could never make enough money to afford a house like this, and I’m never going to allow Ernest to come back, even if he wanted to. In fact, as soon as I get some money saved up, I’m going to file for divorce.”
“Mrs. Castle, you’re going to have to move from Stonegate soon. When we find a house for you, then we’ll talk about money. Let’s look at the bedrooms. It looks like there’s only two.”
“Two is all we need,” Deena said as they returned to the foyer and entered the door at the end of the foyer. It was an oblong room with a nice size closet and a door to the bathroom, and one that opened onto a small porch. Deena unlocked the door and stepped out. “Hey! Come look!” she called. Addie and Mrs. Castle joined her. “Stonegate!” she exclaimed pointing up to the mansion that could be seen through the trees and foliage.
“Donnie was right,” Addie said. “But it would be an uphill climb. Maybe when the golf course road is built, there would be a way to get up there easier.” She would check on that.
“It would give a person some exercise all right,” Mrs. Castle said.
“Let’s look at the bathroom and the other bedroom. We have to get back,” Addie suggested.
The bathroom was green and white tile with a tub shower and a double wash basin vanity. Deena was delighted. “My own wash basin and drawers!” Mrs. Castle just smiled. From the bathroom they entered the other bedroom. Addie figured it was about a fourteen-foot square with a nice size closet and two windows that faced the street.
“What do you think?” Addie asked.
“Oh, Addie, you know it would be Heaven,” Mrs. Castle said. “We’ve never had anything this nice, or ever hoped to, but it’s like I told you ...”
“Mrs. Castle, Deena, if you want this house, it’s yours. You wouldn’t be renting it, you’d be buying it, and the payments would be whatever you could afford to make them.”
“Oh, Addie,” the woman said after a few moments, “how could we ever thank you? You’ve already been our salvation,” the tears rolling down her cheeks. Deena put her arms around her mother, and tears began to fill her eyes too.
“Then it’s okay. We’ll have to get it painted and fixed up some, and the yard mowed,” Addie said, as she led them to the front door, and then back to the Lincoln. “I’ll see if Billy wants to get the yard in order, now that Stonegate won’t be needing yard work for awhile. And, Deena, you be thinking what color you want that bedroom painted.”
“I’m going to like having a door to the outside, and that small porch all my own.”
“That doesn’t mean you can come and go as you please,” her mother said with a big smile.
Addie chuckled when Deena made a face. “Mrs. Castle,” she said, “there are furnishings like draperies and rugs, and some other things on the fourth floor. We can go through it all and see what you can use. I want to get the house fixed up nice for you.”
“Not without paying you for it,” Mrs. Castle said.
“Well, we’ll put garage sale prices on it,” Addie said, and all three of them chuckled with happiness. She felt like a load had been lifted from her shoulders now that she had Deena and her mother a place to live – and so close by, she thought. But there was still so much to do.
Next on her list was to get the furniture and furnishings, that she and her mother wanted to keep from Stonegate, delivered to the big house. After open house tomorrow, she and Della would have to decide on any dust catchers they might want before Tobias boxed them up for their Stonegate Treasures store. And lessons to get, she reminded herself as she parked the Lincoln, and the three of them rushed into the mansion.
“Addie,” Miss Mattie said, “Della is here.”
“Oh, I didn’t know she was coming. She didn’t tell me.”
“She brought her clothes, and other things,” Miss Mattie said in a somber tone.
Addie was stunned. What did that mean? Had her mother left home? She all but fled to her room. She pushed back the pocket door. Della was on the far side of the bed-placing things in that big chest beside the bed.
“Mama! What’s going on?”
�
��I’m moving in.” Della said quietly, calmly. “I trust I’m welcome.”
Addie shivered as if she were cold, and her whole insides seemed to turn into one big knot. “You know you’re welcome. I’ve told you that this inheritance should really be yours, but, Mama, have you left daddy?”
Della finished what she was doing, closed the drawer, and sat down on the side of the bed. Addie came around and took a seat beside her mother, fearfully awaiting an answer.
Della patted her daughter’s leg. “Yes. I’ve left Ben. Now, I can tell you. She looked up at her daughter. “Ben has become so infatuated with Denise that he can’t eat, sleep, or even do his work properly.” She shook her head. “He’s worrying himself to death trying to figure out what to do about it, and he won’t admit it so we can talk about it. So, I’m leaving him until he gets this out of his system. I love Ben, but I won’t live with him until he gets over her.”
Addie burst into tears, and Della took her in her arms. “I know, honey. I’ve cried until I have no tears left. I’m through crying. I’m having a baby. I want it to be healthy, happy, and well adjusted. And it can’t be with its mother crying all the time. So, I am going to get on with my life for my baby’s sake.”
“Oh, Mama!” Addie exclaimed. “This can’t be!”
“I know, Dear, but it’s going to be all right. Trust me.”
“Daddy loves you. How can he love someone else?” Addie cried.
“Honey, I didn’t say he was in love with Denise. I know he loves me. Of that I’m sure. He’s infatuated with her. There is a difference. He wants her so bad, he can’t think straight. Ben and I love each other, but it’s a love that grew over the years out of mutual respect and need.” Della paused and hugged her daughter to her.
“I’ve always been afraid that one day, one of us would become terribly infatuated with someone else. And now it’s happened. I love Ben enough to wait it out. He’s a married man, and she’s a married woman. What they choose to do about it, is their problem. I’m stepping out of his way, if you’ll help me? I can only hope that he’ll get over her sooner or later.”
“I can’t believe this,” Addie cried. “I don’t want to believe it.”
“I’m sorry, Addie. I know you’re hurt. I hated to have to tell you. We’re just going to have to believe that it will all turn out for the good like the Bible says,” Della said as she ran her hand over her daughter’s back soothingly.
“Mama, did the inheritance have anything to do with it? I’d just die if I’m anyway responsible.”
“No, Dear. Don’t think that for one minute. I know you love Ben, and he loves you. He’s just not thinking rationally right now. We just have to give him time. We’ll keep on loving him. A person needs to be loved the most when they deserve it the least. And we’ll keep praying for him. All right?”
“But, Mama, he needs you. He can’t do his laundry and cooking, and ...”
“Denise is improving. She’s been helping fix meals and straightening up the house. I have a feeling she’ll take care of him. But that’s his problem. And he’s not helpless, you know. And there’s still food in the freezer. Or he can eat out and take his clothes to the laundry. That’s up to him. I just can’t stay there anymore. In fact, I don’t plan to ever go back to that house. And you can have your car back, and I’ll take back the Lincoln. Now dry your tears. I’m sure Mattie could use both of us right now. And you’re not to worry about me. I’m going to be fine. But let me know when I should leave for the Community Center.”
The big grandfather clock in the foyer could be heard striking the hour as Addie finished setting the dining room table for twenty-two people. She rushed into the kitchen where Della was placing water glasses on a tray. “Mama, some of the ladies might decide to come early. You should plan to leave soon. It’s going on ten o’clock.”
Mattie and Judy Arnold knew of Della plans. “I’ll leave as soon as I brush the rolls with butter,” she said.
“And I’ll call you just as soon as Janie Willis shows up. Turn your phone on. And you call me just as soon as you know one way or the other if the woman is your sister Henrietta.”
At nine fifty the first cars began to arrive. Elinor Weston was one of them. She had three ladies with her, and Addie recognized the black headed woman from Lilly’s – Janie Willis. She rushed out of the dining room, where she had been placing water glasses at the place settings, and picked up the phone on the kitchen desk. Della answered immediately. “Mama, she’s here.”
“Thanks, honey. Now if I can just make that crippled woman come to the door without me having to do something drastic.”
“Mama, be careful, and call me just as soon as you can.”
Della drove out of the Community Center’s parking area, down Forrest Lane to the Willis house, and into the driveway. The garage door was open and the car was gone. Good so far, she thought, but she was nervous, and determined. She stopped the car at the walkway to the porch steps.
At the door, she dropped the brass knocker hard and knocked on the door at the same time. She kept it up for several minutes. When her knuckles couldn’t knock anymore, she pounded the door with her bunch of keys. But there was no response. She knew the short fence between the house and garage had a gate, but it had been locked before. Still, she would try it next. Then as she approached it, she saw the side door entrance into the garage. Maybe, just maybe, it was unlocked. She rushed into the open garage and tried the doorknob. It turned, and the door opened. She followed the stepping stones to the steps of the back door. The top half was glass with very sheer, white curtains on the inside. Della could see through to the kitchen table just a few feet away. But she didn’t see anybody.
With her car keys, she rapped on the glass almost hard enough to break it, and she didn’t care if it did break. Still, there was no response. Then she thought if the woman was Henrietta, regardless of what they called her, she would know her own name. So, as loud as she could, and as close to the door as she could get, she called, “HENRIETTA! HENRIETTA! IT’S DELLA!” She paused to get a deep breath and begin again. Wait! Was that a sound from inside the house? A scraping sound? She put her face to the glass window but couldn’t see anybody. It was definitely a hurried, scraping sound, and a thumping. The crutches. She was about to call again, when she saw her.
A woman was trying to hurry across the kitchen floor with her crutches, as she dragged her right foot. And when she was close enough that Della could see the face framed in the honey blond hair that matched here own, she knew. “HENRIETTA!” she screamed as her beloved sister struggled with the door lock, tears streaming down her face. Della too began to cry, repeating her sister’s name over and over until the door was open and they were in each other’s arms. Both were crying uncontrollable tears and repeating each other’s names over and over.
When she could, Henrietta asked, “Is it really you? Tell me I’m not dreaming, Della, like I have for the past seventeen years. Oh, God, please let this be real,” she begged.
“Oh, my Henrietta, it’s me. I can’t believe it. But I finally have you back. Mama! Where is mama, Henrietta?”
“I – I don’t know, Della, but I think I have a lead on finding her.”
Della stepped back, holding her sister at arms length, “What do you mean, you don’t know where mama is?” she demanded.
“I haven’t seen or heard from mama in thirteen years, Della.” And her tears began again.
Della gasped, “Why? What happened? Now try to stop crying and tell me.”
“I will. I’ll tell you,” she cried. “But it’s a long story. Just let me get my purse. I have a letter that I think is from mama. But please, before either of them come back – take me away from here,” she begged.
“Of course I will,” Della declared, seeing the desperation in her sister’s face. “But, tell me, is Janie Willis, Jimmy Lee?”
“Yes, but not the Jimmy Lee you knew. I’ve got to get my purse. It has the letter in it,” Henrietta said turning t
o go back to her bedroom off the kitchen.” Della was following her.
“I’ll help you get your things.”
“I don’t have anything but my purse,” Henrietta said as she was hurrying along.
Della didn’t understand, but she said, “Then I’ll back the car up into the garage. It won’t take but a couple of minutes.” And she hurried out the back door.
As soon as Della had the car parked in the garage, she rushed back to the kitchen. Henrietta was bent over the table writing a note. Della read what she was writing. ‘Dear Col. and Mrs. Willis, I have been searching for a long time for a relative of my mother’s, who lived in Riverbend. Today I found her. It seems best that I live with a relative than for you to be burdened with me any longer. Thank you for all your kindness, and for caring for me all these years.’ and she signed it, ‘Rita’.
“I have to leave her an out with the Colonel. She’s done the best she could by me. This is the best she’s ever had. I can’t ruin it for her.”
“You’ve got to tell me about it,” Della said as she held the kitchen door open for her sister. “And why did you say Jimmy Lee is not the Jimmy Lee that I knew?”
“She’s become a cold, hard, conniving person,” Henrietta answered as she hobbled the short distance between the kitchen steps and the side door to the garage.
“Why is your purse all that you have?” Della wanted to know as she helped Henrietta into the passenger seat of the Lincoln.
“Because maid’s uniform is all I have except what’s in my purse.”
Della hugged her sister again before she shut the car door after placing the crutches at her side. “Oh, my darling, Henrietta, You’ll never be anybody’s maid again.”
“Oh, Della, I never thought I’d ever see you again.” And the tears began again. Della joined her with tears of happiness, but of sadness also as they hugged each other.
The Daughters of Julian Dane Page 69