The Daughters of Julian Dane

by Lucile McCluskey

  “Do you suppose she’s pregnant, and had gone to tell the good Reverend, and that’s why he left town so suddenly?”

  “I’ll bet you that’s it! He sure left town in a hurry. I guess preachers are men too, and she is a very good looking woman.”

  “But you expect more of men of the cloth,” Mel Johnson declared. “Did I tell you she was at my house that afternoon looking for her husband? When she learned he wasn’t there, she wanted my nephew to go with her someplace. I think she was looking for that daughter of hers. You know, that girl with all that bright red hair and those green eyes. Well, he was supposed to be cleaning up water that Ben Martin had left all over my kitchen floor after fixing my dish washer. And I told him that if he went with that Martin woman, he could just take his things with him, for he wouldn’t be welcome in my house anymore. And would you believe it? He went!”

  “Apparently, when women like her crook their finger at anything in pants, they are willing to do their bidding. Regardless of their ages or the consequences,” another put in.

  “Well, I understand that my nephew is staying at their little house now. It must be pretty crowded.”

  “I read that some women have a magnetism that draws men of any age to them. But the Reverend Kirkland? He is one handsome man.”

  “Well, I saw Grant Cutler talking to Mrs. Martin at the funeral. Why didn’t he make them leave those family seats?” Mel asked.

  “Because the seats were empty, and I didn’t see any reason why Mrs. Martin and her daughter shouldn’t take them. If you had moved up to the burying sight, Mel,” he said at her back, “you would have been offered a seat also.”

  Turning to him, “But they were for family,” she said.

  “But, Mel, there was no family that I know of,” he said, hoping to end their malicious conversation. “I sure hope you made your delicious cheese straws. That’s the only reason I came.”

  “Oh, you flatterer,” she said, smiling at him coyly. “I know how much you like them, and I certainly wouldn’t want to disappoint you. Nate doesn’t care for them.”

  “Hey, Man!” a familiar voice said at Grant’s side. He turned, “Clay! I’ve been looking for you. Let’s get some of Mel’s cheese straws and refill our drinks.” Then he whispered, “Let’s go to the foyer where we can talk.”

  “So, how’s it going, Grant?” Clay asked once they were out of earshot of the other guests.

  “Rushed, Clay, and I do mean rushed. Did you hear that Ryker is leaving town?”

  “Yeah. I passed him on the Square, headed for the hotel. Said he couldn’t get out of this hick town fast enough. Personally, I say good riddance.”

  “I feel the same way, but he sure left me in a mess. And I need help badly. I know you’re a very busy man, but if you can’t work me in as a client, could you recommend someone in the area?”

  “You’re in luck, my man. I just hired Henry Manners. You remember him. He’s moving back because his mother is getting a bit feeble and needs him. He’s also getting married to that girl who works in Elaine’s. He’s a good man. His work comes highly recommended. He’ll be a lot of help to both of us.”

  “Great! Do you think Mandy would let you do a little work for me when we leave here? Even a couple of hours would be appreciated.”

  “I feel pretty sure she will. I’ve been a very good boy this week.” They both chuckled as Mandy joined them.

  “So here’s where you two are hiding. And what’s so funny?”

  “If we told you, you’d slap both our faces,” Clay answered, as Grant stooped and kissed Mandy on the cheek.

  “I’m going to eat some, then leave for the office in about thirty minutes or so. See you soon,” Grant said as he left them to go eat and circulate, and listen to more questions that he hoped he’d continue to be able to hedge.

  When Della drove the Plymouth into the open garage. She saw Donnie’s bike parked in the back right corner next to Addie’s ten-speed. So he was through delivering for Johnson’s and they could eat early. She’d probably have a couple of loads of wash to do as soon as supper was over and everyone was dressed for bed.

  She found Donnie on the screened in back porch taking clothes out of the boxes that the Johnson’s truck had delivered. “Honey,” she said to Addie, “would you start getting our supper on the table?”

  “Sure, Mama. I’m starved. How about you, Donnie?”

  “Always,” he said as he tried to smooth wrinkles out of a pair of jeans.

  “Do you need anything washed, Donnie?” Della asked. “I’ll wash what you’re wearing and anything else that you’ll need.” She had been doing the wash nightly, because he had only one change of clothes which he had bought with money Ben had paid him.

  Mel Johnson wouldn’t even answer the door when he had gone to pick up his clothes. And he was afraid of antagonizing his aunt for fear she would change her mind about letting his mother stay with them while she is recovering from her accident. But Della was hoping something would work out that they wouldn’t need the help of the Johnsons. Now she’d have to wait and see.

  “I’m sure some of these need washing. I know I’ve worn these shirts since they were washed, but I hate it that you do my laundry.”

  “Donnie, I’m glad to do it. I owe you much more than clean clothes to wear. It was your leaving the Johnson’s house to help me find Addie that left you with no place to live. But don’t you worry about it.” She admonished him. Surely, they would know more about the inheritance by the time they got back from Florida, and if they could help him and his mother. She sure hoped so.

  “Aunt Mel was just looking for an excuse to get rid of me. I’m hoping she’ll still let mom stay with them until she can walk again. My grandfather called the store today. He told Uncle Nate that she was doing real good. She had stood alone by her bed. Uncle Nate is a good guy. Why he ever married Aunt Mel, I don’t know. But he said there is a small room upstairs at the store that I could use when we get back from Florida. Said I could clean it out of the junk stored there. There is a bed, and small table, and a chest. It seems he used to use it some himself.”

  “Can your grandfather get your aunt to change her mind?” Della asked, still hoping it wouldn’t be necessary.

  “I can’t count on it. Aunt Mel really isn’t a very nice person. There’s a little old lady at the end of Baker’s Landing that she is cheating out of her antique furniture a piece at the time, because she knows Miss Lettie needs the money.”

  “That’s terrible,” Della said. “Put the things you need washed into the machine and come on in to supper. Addie probably has it on the table by now. It’s already cooked.”

  As her mother and Donnie came through the door, Addie got that wonderful tingling feeling again. She loved having Donnie staying at her house. She couldn’t believe she was this lucky. She liked having supper and breakfast with him sitting at their small table, and she had to admit that she had enjoyed seeing Evelyn Ann Mobley turn green with envy when they sat down to lunch together at school. She knew that all good things eventually come to an end, but she knew that Donnie liked her. And he knew that she liked him, and she’d settle for that.

  When the three of them were seated at the table, Della asked the blessing as they held hands. Addie passed the blue tureen of Della’s homemade chili, then the plate of hot, crispy, cornbread wedges. Then she looked at Donnie, “Did you get into a fight at school today?”

  “Naw. One of those big seniors had trouble getting his mouth shut. I took him to the restroom and helped him shut it.”

  “And that’s why Mooney had Mr. Fields cornered in the hall asking him a lot of foolish questions.”

  “Could have been,” he answered, biting into a crusty piece of cornbread.

  “Things have been weird at school this week. Yesterday, I saw Deena and big Wylene absolutely forcing Evelyn Ann and two of her friends into the girl’s restroom, and they didn’t come out when Deena and Wylene did. The two of them were laughing and shaking ha
nds. When I asked them what it was all about, they claimed they were helping the girls with their social studies. Then they asked me where I was headed next?” She looked at Donnie, frowning. “Actually, it seemed to me all this week that you or Mooney, or Deena, or Wylene were always with me when I was out of class.”

  “Why, Addie, you sound like you don’t want your friends around you,” Della said reproachfully.

  “Oh, no! I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that, well, it was almost like they were protecting me, or something. I know it sounds crazy ...”

  “Addie, my girl,” Donnie said, “you have a big imagination. We were all excited about the Easter holidays.”

  “I’m sure,” Della said, but she didn’t believe it. She knew Addie was right, and wondered exactly what was being said around the school, and she felt a sense of gratitude to Addie’s friends for protecting her from the gossip. She had to talk to her daughter just as soon as possible.

  Helene Cutler parked her BMW in the parking lot behind the old hotel, got out, went around the building and walked into the lobby. The place was old and shabby, and smelled like it looked. She wondered, how clean and vermin free it was? So what’s my alternative? She asked herself. She was tired, discouraged, and hungry. There had been nothing to eat at Grant’s but fruit. She wasn’t a fruit person. She turned to the left and entered the small coffee shop. She could have gone out to the Log House to eat, but she was afraid she’d just keep going back to Nashville if she headed in that direction, and she wasn’t through with Grant yet. Three hundred plus was better than nothing, but she needed more.

  This wasn’t a place where you wait to be seated. You just took a seat at a table or in a booth along the front wall. She chose a booth because she’d just as soon not be seen by anyone she knew - yet. A plump, middle aged waitress appeared immediately to take her order.

  “Bring me a ham and Swiss cheese on rye or whole wheat with mustard and a glass of tea. She was hungry enough for a full course dinner, but this was as good a time as any to trim down her waist.

  A newspaper across the room rustled and snapped. The waitress moved from her view, and she looked into the steel gray eyes of B. J. Ryker. He smiled and nodded. Well now, things might be looking up for her, she thought.

  Ryker, for all his years, which she knew to be in his mid-sixties, was a handsome man with that tanned skin, and that short cropped, salt and pepper hair. A former military man, he kept his body lean and muscular. Few people knew of his and Wilhelmina’s relationship. Grant had learned of it from a slip of the close mouthed Stonegate butler, Hayes, and a few tidbits dropped by Mattie, the housekeeper and chef. She wondered just how much Wilhelmina had left him, a pretty penny, no doubt.

  Returning Ryker’s smile, she picked up her purse and walked across the small room. “How good to see you, Ryker. How are you? I know Wilhelmina’s death has been a terrible blow to you.”

  “Yes,” he said. “But I’m doing fine, Helene. Won’t you join me?” he asked as he arose to pull out a chair for her. “I’ve ordered a platter of fruit and cheese,” he said as he took his seat again, “but I think they must have had to send out for it. Are you staying at the hotel?”

  “I suppose so. I haven’t registered yet. I was just passing through and stopped to check on Grant, but he was going out for the evening. It’s so late, I thought I might stop here then get an early start in the morning.”

  “To where?”

  She was taken aback. He was so direct. He knew she was lying. Nobody just passed through Riverbend. “Well, I ...”

  “You broke?”

  “No. Of course not. I have several hundred with me.” She paused and looked down at the table. He could see right through her.

  “Grant Cutler is a fool. He should never have let you get away from him.” He had folded his paper and laid it aside. “You would grace the arm of any man. You are a very attractive and charming woman.”

  “Why, thank you, Ryker.” she said with a smile.

  “You have a passport?”

  “Yes. I have it with me.”

  “Interested in doing a little traveling?”

  “With you?”

  “Traveling alone is very boring,” he answered, as the waitress appeared with both their orders.

  “Bring me a medium, tossed salad, no dressing, and a glass of milk,” Helene added.

  “Add the lady’s bill to mine, and Francie, that bottle of champagne I have in the cooler – bring it up to my room in about an hour after we leave.”

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Addie awoke with a start on Friday morning knowing it was late. She still had on the clothes she had worn the day before. She had fallen asleep doing her required reading for history. She wanted her lessons out of the way for the holidays. She had slept so sound. A good night of sound sleep was new to her, something she had not known until she was freed of the presence of Vicki Dane, and she wondered why that was?

  She had slept right through her daddy and Donnie leaving. Why hadn’t someone awakened her? They didn’t even say good bye, and she had not seen her daddy when he came in last night. She had not gotten to tell him that she owned Stonegate! Was he really upset with her over the inheritance? He just couldn’t be. That would take all the pleasure out it. They were rich now! Didn’t he want them to be rich? But she knew from his silence, and his ignoring her excitement over it, that he was not pleased with it. But how could he not be? How could anybody not want to be rich?

  She went to the bathroom, then to her mother’s bedroom door. Putting her face up close to the door to hear any sound. Nothing. Her mother was still asleep. She was sure it had been late when she got to bed and then she would have gotten up early to see them off. Disappointed, she went back to her room, made her bed, then cleaned up the kitchen where Della had prepared food and coffee for her daddy to take with them. She hoped the morning sickness wouldn’t be too bad for her today. Her daddy hadn’t even shown any excitement when they had told her about the baby. He had only wanted to know that she wasn’t resentful of them having a child. She didn’t like his attitude. She wanted them to be happy and excited – to be planning together what they were going to do when Mr. Cutler could tell them exactly how things stood for them.

  She showered, then took the clothes and towels from the bathroom hamper to the laundry room. She checked the dryer and folded the things in it, and was placing them in the small linen closet when her mother opened the bathroom door.

  “Good morning, Dear,” Della said weakly. “Ben said to say good bye for him. You were sleeping so soundly, he didn’t have the heart to awaken you. Donnie said to say good bye for him too. They’ll call tonight and you can talk to them. They were later getting off than Ben wanted. He was late getting in last night. He also said to tell you to take care of me while he was gone.” Della kissed Addie on the cheek and hugged her.

  Addie returned the hug and kiss. “I’ll go fix you some coffee. Can you eat anything?”

  “Not yet. Be with you in a few minutes.”

  When Della finally took her seat at the kitchen table, Addie placed a cup of coffee in front of her and sat down in her chair. “Did you tell daddy about the inheritance – what Mr. Cutler told us?”

  “We talked a little about it. It was so late, and he was so tired.”

  “Mama, why isn’t daddy excited about the inheritance? Why, Mama?”

  “Now, honey, Ben’s had a lot to do to get ready for this trip ...”

  “Mama. I don’t want excuses for daddy. I want you to tell me how he feels about it.”

  Della was silent as she took a sip of her coffee. She had never heard Addie so forceful before. The old Addie would have accepted anything she said without question. Della wasn’t sure how she felt about this new person emerging from her daughter. She was going to have to get used to her. “All right, Addie, I’m going to tell you what he said about it. Remember, you asked me.” She took a deep breath and another sip of the hot coffee.

  �
��Ben said he had never thought of you as anyone other than his own daughter, but this inheritance you have so eagerly accepted, and that I have accepted for you, makes you Julian Dane’s daughter, not his.”

  “That’s crazy!” Addie exploded. “He’s my daddy! Julian Dane is just the person, the spirit, who made you pregnant with me!”

  “I tried to tell him that was the way you felt about it, but you know how bullheaded he can be.”

  “I can’t believe this! Is he not going to let us use the money? Is that why you’re not excited about it either?”

  “Oh, honey,” Della said reaching over to take Addie’s hand. “I want you to have the inheritance. Whatever you get, you deserve. All those years of your young life when you couldn’t live a normal childhood because of Vicki Dane living inside you...” Della shook her head. “It’s still so hard to believe.”

  “Mama, you are the one who deserves this inheritance. Your father beat you with a stick when you couldn’t tell him who had made you pregnant, when you didn’t even know. And your mother had to send you away from home to protect you from him. And you haven’t seen your mother and your sisters, or even heard from them in seventeen years. You’re the one who has suffered, and I’m sure your mother must have too – all because of Julian Dane.”

  “Oh, Addie,” Della moaned. “I wish I had never told you about all of that. But one thing I would really like to do when we get some money is to find my mother and sisters.”

  “And, Mama, we will. I’m sure Mr. Cutler will know how to go about finding them. And maybe daddy will have time to think about the inheritance more reasonably while he’s gone. I sure hope so. He’s my daddy, and I love him. I don’t want this or anything to come between us, but we just can’t give it back,” Addie begged.

  “We’ll just hope and pray he changes his mind,” Della said, then slapped her hand over her mouth, got up and headed for the bathroom.