by Linda Ellen
“Yeah, I know all about that,” the woman rudely interrupted. “I’ll give you one week to get the money together for the deposit and the first month’s rent. That’s twenty-five dollars a month rent and a ten-dollar deposit. You don’t get the keys till I get my money,” she added gruffly.
Louise and Sonny exchanged glances, each thinking it was a very good price for such a nice apartment, but wondering what had turned the woman into such a shrew. She seemed downright angry. Sonny spoke up, “I’ll wire our Mom and let her know. Once she sells Dad’s car, she can wire the money.”
Meeting eyes again with Mr. Blankenbaker, the woman pursed her lips, which had the effect of making the lines around her mouth seem impossibly tight as she snapped, “One week. After that, I’ll rent it to the first person with the money.” With that, she turned toward the door, ushering them out and firmly locking the entrance. Without a word of salutation, she opened the door to the left of it and entered, shutting it loudly. The three could hear her quick footsteps ascending the interior stairs to the second floor.
“My goodness, she’s rude,” Louise mumbled, hugging her purse to her chest. Brother and sister looked to the older man, but he merely shrugged.
“Well, now I’ve got you all set, right?” the man asked, glancing down at his watch as if he was impatient to leave.
Louise nodded. “Yes…thank you for helping…” she began, still experiencing an odd feeling about her estranged father-in-law’s involvement and willingness to help.
He didn’t say anything, merely tipped his hat at her and then at Sonny and turned on his heel, making his way down the sidewalk to his car.
The siblings met one another’s eyes. The whole affair had been strange, but at least the problem of an apartment for their mother and a place for her and Tommy had been settled. It took quite a large load off of Louise’s mind.
*
A week later, Billy Hoskins stood staring across the street at a bright yellow Mayflower Transit Company truck, with its large hunter green clipper ship logo. Lilly had given Billy the task of making sure things were done right, so he stood observing the two men in dark green jackets and shiny-billed caps as they carried Lilly’s settee down the truck’s ramp, up the sidewalk, and onto the porch of the new apartment. The teen stood aside to allow them to enter through the propped-open door, and wrangle the heavy piece past the living room doorway. He followed them on in.
It was the last piece of furniture in the load, and once the men set it down where Lilly indicated, she smiled and thanked them for their quick work, rewarding them each with a folded bill – hoping the one-dollar gratuity would be enough. Each one tipped his hat in thanks. “Have a good day, ma’am,” the younger of the two mumbled as they filed out. They made short work of stowing the ramp and climbing up into the large truck. The driver soon had it lumbering away to their next delivery.
“Well, I’m glad that’s over with,” Billy grumbled as he flopped down on the newly placed settee.
“Now, you get up from there, young man. There’s too much to do for you to go sitting down. You can rest later. I need help with the heavy boxes in the kitchen,” Lilly fussed, pointing toward the doorway to the back hall. “Get up. Up. Up,” she prodded, swishing at him with the cleaning rag still in her hand.
“Aww Mama,” Billy griped, even as he was rising to his feet. Grumbling about how much work was still to be done, Lilly followed him on through to the kitchen, where Louise was hard at work rinsing newsprint off the dishes as she drew them out of a box.
Louise gestured to a box on the floor. “Pick this up and put it on the counter for me, will you, Billy?” she asked over the din of little Tommy banging a wooden spoon against the bottom of a pot. He was having a grand old time, giggling and running back and forth between boxes.
“Tommy, stop that,” Louise instructed, bending down to lift her son and place him in his highchair. Having none of that, however, he immediately shrieked and straightened out his body stiff as a board, in rebellion of being confined.
“Tommy, you quit that now, and Mama’ll give you a nice treat,” Louise insisted. Ceasing his protest immediately, his blue eyes suddenly opened large with anticipation. “Tweat?” he asked sweetly. She stifled a grin at his precocious charm.
“There’s not much to give him,” Lilly mumbled as she rummaged through one of the boxes in continuation of putting things away and getting the kitchen in order.
Louise fastened the tray onto the chair, murmuring, “Billy, hand me that box of Graham Crackers, please – out of that big box of stuff Irene gave me.” Lilly flashed a look in their direction and watched as her grandson happily reached for the item. In no time at all, Tommy was happily ensconced in his highchair, nibbling away at his favorite treat – and no longer banging pots and pans in jarring distraction.
In relative peace, mother and daughter finished arranging their new kitchen, while Billy went to his new hallway-room, switched on the light, and began wrestling his few pieces of furniture in place. Some previous resident had hung a dark heavy curtain at the entrance, which helped set the space apart. It wasn’t long before he had things shipshape.
Throughout the day, Louise pondered her former in-laws’ sudden helpfulness. Shaking her head and thinking wonders never cease, she allowed various scenarios to roll around in her mind. She had always wondered at TJ’s parents’ attitude, as they seemed to overlook anything he did and resorted to trying to sweep it under the rug. Were they just blind to their first-born’s faults? Were they afraid of him? Were they just crazy? Musing that the ‘not knowing’ was likely to drive her crazy as well if she didn’t steer her mind in another direction, she paused in the act of placing clothing in a drawer and smiled – determinedly setting her thoughts on Vic and the job interview he had scheduled for that afternoon. Glancing at the clock, she saw that he had surely left the place by then.
Slowly the apartment began to resemble a home as the three tackled arranging the rooms, and worked to achieve order in the new place. Boxes and other paraphernalia were everywhere, and Billy was kept busy hauling trash out to the curb for the next morning’s collection.
Finally, several hours later, the three took a much-needed break after putting Tommy down for a nap.
Retiring out to the front porch, Lilly and Louise settled into chairs as Billy sprawled onto the floor and leaned back against the rail to gulp down a soda pop.
Lifting the edge of her apron, Louise wiped perspiration from her face and took a deep breath of the fresh, though warm air. A young boy rode by on a bicycle and she watched, smiling softly, picturing Tommy someday being big enough to ride a bike like that…someday when she and Vic were married and had a place of their own…and maybe brothers and sisters for Tommy. It was a treasured dream in which she indulged quite frequently. Thinking of that made her think of Vic and wish he were there, but she had understood when he had dropped by Irene’s that morning and excitedly told her of a job opportunity. He had, however, driven her over to the new place so that she could help Lilly give the empty apartment a quick scrub before the furniture arrived.
Leaning her head back against the wall of the building, Louise murmured, “I think I’m going to like this place. It’s quiet, and the rooms are big. I think it’s the biggest place we’ve ever lived, huh, Mama?”
“Yes, I believe so,” Lilly agreed, fanning herself in the warm afternoon sun. “You and Sonny did good, locating it so quickly.”
“Well…it was really Mr. Blankenbaker who found it…” Louise began, pausing when through the screen door to the upstairs all three heard the sound of footsteps coming down the steps. A moment later, their new landlady, Mrs. Despaine, came through the door as it emitted an awful squeak. Wearing a fashionable hat and carrying her pocketbook, she appeared to be on her way somewhere.
She glanced over at her three newest tenants. “Get moved in alright?” she asked, seemingly in an attempt at pleasantness.
Lilly nodded tiredly as Louise answered, “Yes, fine. We’re ju
st taking a break from unpacking, after we finally got the little one down for a nap.”
The old woman’s sharp, black eyes immediately cut to Louise, her brow angrily furrowed. “Little one? Whatdya mean, little one?”
Taken aback, Louise blinked several times and stammered, “T…Tommy, my little boy…he’s two…”
“Well, that’s the first I heard of him!” the woman exclaimed. “I don’t allow no kids here! You three’ll just have to find you some other place to go!”
‡
CHAPTER 7
The Job
Louise, Lilly and Billy stared at the woman in shock. Finally, Lilly spoke up, “I don’t understand. Why did you rent the apartment to us if you don’t allow children?”
“Because Harold Blankenbaker didn’t tell me there was a kid involved. He only mentioned your daughter here,” the woman practically spat, gesturing toward Louise. “Said she’s his daughter-in-law and he needed to help find her a place to stay while she and his boy work things out. Didn’t mention no grandchild.”
Both Lilly and Louise wondered what in Heaven’s name had possessed the man to omit such an important fact as his own grandson. Not to mention the added revelation that he thought she and TJ were working things out. And it was obvious that old Mrs. Despaine was upset over more things than being lied to about the presence of little Tommy. Louise couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to the whole scheme than any of them knew. Things were starting to smell mighty rotten in Denmark.
Mrs. Despaine turned on her heel and stomped back up the steps to her apartment, grumbling and cursing the entire way, and got right on the phone to Harold Blankenbaker. The three left clueless on the porch met one another’s shell-shocked expressions and rose from their seats to follow her up the steps and hover outside her door. To say they were unsure of their fate at that point would have been an understatement.
After a lengthy and heated exchange, the woman thankfully relented and agreed to let them stay – but with the strict warning that the brat had better not disturb her other tenants.
The three trudged back down the steps and retreated into their apartment, although the women were fit to be tied. They had the good sense, however, to keep their voices down as they bandied back and forth the lack of worth of both Harold Blankenbaker and the overheated woman upstairs. However, they were overwhelmed with relief that they had been spared the trauma of scrambling to find alternate lodgings.
With little appetite, the earlier happiness having been effectively squashed, Lilly and Louise set out together to prepare a rudimentary supper.
*
“What in the…what the heck was he thinkin’?” Vic exploded, barely managing to keep his voice down to a harsh whisper as Louise filled him in on what had transpired that morning. They were sitting together, holding hands, at the dining room table after Lilly, Billy, and little Tommy were all in bed. Vic had come by the apartment directly after his interview to help out with lifting heavy objects and rearranging furniture, and had stayed to join the family for supper.
Louise closed her eyes and sighed, shaking her head. She was tired of thinking about it, tired of trying to figure it out. “Beats the heck out of me. But then, I’ve never understood those people.”
“Wish you’d never got mixed up with ’em,” Vic mumbled.
Louise met eyes with his, both of them thinking the same thing, and neither one wishing to dredge up that most hurtful memory again. She merely nodded agreement.
Wanting to change the subject, Louise took in a deep breath and gazed at Vic, caressing his hand as it was entwined with hers. “So, you think the interview went well?”
He smiled softly, thinking of the man that had conducted the job interview at Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company, his lavish office, and the dozens of questions he had asked – all about Vic’s time in the CCC’s and especially about his job at Diamond. He had seemed a bit thoughtful when Vic had revealed why he had left his last job, however, and had scribbled a note in the margin of Vic’s application. Now, Vic wished he would have amended the reason to something like ‘family business’, instead of ‘I came back to be with my girl.’
“Yeah, it went real good,” he answered. “He said I got all the qualifications he’s lookin’ for. Then, we got to talkin’ about what’s goin’ on over in Europe. He’s one of ’em that thinks America’ll be jumpin’ into the war soon.”
Louise’s brow furrowed and she watched Vic’s expression as he stared straight ahead, deep in thought. “Oh Vic…do you think so?” she murmured softly, thinking about all of the young men who might be called up to go…Alec, Earl, Sonny…not to mention Vic. The thought made her shudder. She gazed at him, loving his profile, the strong jaw, brow and forehead, that brown wavy hair that always made her want to reach out and run her fingers through it, those full lips she always wanted to feel pressing against hers. I just got him back in my life…oh please, God…don’t take him away to war…
Vic turned his head and met her eyes again, seeing the worry that had become ensconced within. He was quick to reassure, “Nah, I don’t think so. America had a belly full of war the last time around. I don’t think Roosevelt wants to put us through that again, if he can help it.”
“Yes…if he can help it,” she agreed softly. Something told her the upheaval and oppression they had been hearing about for months, nay years, across the sea in faraway lands, would soon mushroom into something bigger than anyone could imagine. She swallowed the fear that tried to rise at the thought. He noticed and blessed her with one of his dimpled smiles as he leaned close, disengaging one hand from hers and lifting it to gently draw a finger down her velvety-soft cheek.
“Don’t worry, I ain’t gonna leave ya,” he whispered, leaning to touch his lips to hers in a soft, warm kiss. They both felt the familiar delicious sparks and emitted identical sighs of pleasure. When he finally pulled back, he added quietly, “I heard they wouldn’t take the CC guys anyway, cause we already served the country.” Pleased when her features relaxed at his words, he privately mused, I just hope they’re right…
Sometime later, Louise let Vic out the front door, locked it up tight, and then set about getting ready for bed as quietly as she could.
*
“Hey Lou, I like this place!” Fleet exclaimed when Louise let her in the front door the next day. “Wow, it’s so big in here,” she added as she followed Louise on a tour of the rooms. “Heck, I’m jealous. Me and Alec and Junior here only have three rooms and a bath.”
Louise laughed, knowing her friend was just squawking. She knew Fleet loved her cozy little apartment that she shared with her two fellas. “I’ll keep my eyes open for vacancies,” she replied, reaching for the baby. “Can I hold him?”
“Sure,” Fleet responded, handing the apple of her eye over to her best friend, only to stand by proudly watching as Louise cooed and made over her tiny son.
Louise looked up and met Fleet’s chestnut brown eyes. “He’s so cute…and he looks just like his daddy. I bet Alec’s about to bust with pride.”
Fleet rolled her eyes and sat down at the tiny table against the wall in the kitchen. “Oh honey, you should see that dope. He’s gone positively dippy over him.” Then a twinkle came to her eye and she grinned. “Can’t say I blame him though…I feel the same. I love this little guy so much…and I’m gonna be the best mom he could ever ask for,” she added, her voice determined.
Louise glanced at her friend, seeing emotions roil over her face before she could mask them. Softly she asked, “What do your mom and grandma think of him?”
Fleet reached for one of the baby’s hands, caressing it gently and keeping her face carefully devoid of emotion as she murmured, “They came once to the hospital to see me, and I had the baby with me in the ward…Alec was there…” She paused, remembering the scene. It wasn’t pleasant. “Mama said some junk about what a big responsibility a child is…” she paused again, finally shrugging fatalistically. “They didn’t stay long. Ha
ven’t seen ’em since.”
“I’m sorry, Fleet,” Louise sank down in the other chair, gently jostling the baby in her arms.
Fleet made a face, gazing at her tiny son. “It is what it is.”
Louise thought for a moment about her own family and, even though they weren’t perfect, they were a heck of a lot better than Fleet’s. She felt sorry for her friend…and very thankful for her childhood with her own mother and precious father. Just then, little Alec cooed happily as he gazed up at her, his eyes bright and seeming to have that spark of mischief like his daddy. Chuckling when he smiled up at her, she asked, “How old is he now?”
“Six weeks today.”
“Time sure flies.”
“Sure does,” Fleet nodded, reaching up to smooth her hair and redo the comb holding back one side of her wavy locks. “Where’d you say everybody is?”
Louise lifted little Alec up in front of her face, grinning at him and enjoying the way he responded to her actions. “Mama and Billy walked a couple of streets over to the market. They took Tommy with them…” she paused, flashing a look at her friend.
Fleet caught the look, astutely knowing something was up and querying, “What?”
The baby began to fuss, so Louise handed him back to his mama, idly watching as Fleet dug in her large purse and withdrew a glass baby bottle and several cloths.
“Aren’t you nursing?”
Fleet shrugged, trying to affect a nonchalant attitude as she handed the bottle to Louise to be warmed. As Louise set about the task, Fleet explained, “I did for the first two weeks…but then my milk dried up and quit flowin’…so I had to put him on some stuff they told me about at the hospital.” Settling the baby in her arms, she chuckled, “He hated it at first, screamed bloody murder. Threw a real tantrum, he did. Got a temper just like your daddy, don’t ya, AJ,” she directed to the baby.
Standing at the stove, Louise looked over her shoulder, “AJ? Oh Fleet, don’t call him that. Reminds me of…”