“That can’t be! How could they?” she exclaimed.
“Shhh. Don’t let them hear us.”
“That’s the most cruel, outlandish lie I have ever heard!” she moaned just above a whisper. “How on earth could they come up with such filth?”
“I don’t know how it got started, but you know how gossip is. The more it’s repeated, the worse it gets.” He waited, hoping Della would offer some explanation. When all she said was, “I didn’t believe she’d do this.”
He asked, “Is the she, Evelyn Ann Mobley or her mother?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“I was at a neighborhood do last night. Their names were mentioned. Everybody knows they’re the biggest gossips in town.”
“I – I just can’t believe this,” Della repeated. “The day that Miss Willy and Nicki Dane fell off the balcony, a week ago last Monday,” Della shook her head in disbelief, “Addie and I had an appointment with Brother Morris,” she explained, not wanting to even mention the man’s name much less call him ‘Brother’. “She was to meet me after school at the parsonage. When I got there, she wasn’t there, and she’d had plenty of time to have gotten there. Well, I had morning sickness so bad I hadn’t eaten all day. I fainted just inside the parsonage front door. I think Brother Morris must have grabbed at my clothing to keep me from falling. When I came to. The buttons on my blouse were all missing. I’m sure they popped off when he grabbed me. I was embarrassed, and worried about Addie. I wanted to leave immediately to go find her. As I opened the door to leave I was still straightening my clothes, and there stood Evelyn Ann Mobley, of all people!” Della paused. “I just can’t believe this.”
“I’m sure she put two and two together and came up with seven, as gossips are prone to do. And pretty lady, I believe what you’ve told me. If you ever want to tell me the rest of it, I’d like to hear it.”
He was smiling at her from his position crouching on the floor in front of her. “Does Addie know this?”
“No. But I’m sure I need to explain it to her.”
“Mama! Look at this!” Addie exclaimed as she parted the draperies.
Grant quickly stood up as Della looked at her daughter, trying her best to smile, although she couldn’t think of a thing to smile about.
“Isn’t it perfect? It looks just like you. It’ll match your eyes,” she declared, holding up a deep lavender suit coat hanging on a garment rack over a matching skirt.
“It’s just your size, and it’s thirty-five percent off today,” Lilly announced from behind Addie.
“I agree with Addie,” Grant said. “It would make a perfect Easter suit, Della. And Lilly needs the money,” he added with a chuckle.
“Addie,” Della admonished. “It is a lovely suit, honey, but you are supposed to be getting yourself some clothes to put on, so we can get dressed and out of Lilly’s way. We’ve taken up enough of her time.”
“Don’t worry about that. I live upstairs. I’m always down and have a pot of coffee brewing by seven. In fact, I had just finished talking to Grant when he called me back and told me about you two. It’s been my pleasure to help you.”
“Thank you, Lilly. I don’t know what we would have done without you,” Della said straightening the robe about herself. “I’ll come out and pick out something to get me home, and try to get my daughter to do the same.” She had been in the shop before, when there was its annual half price plus a dollar sale in January, but even at that price she had never been able to afford anything. She knew the prices. She had to keep Addie from going overboard.
“I’ve already picked out some clothes, but you’ve just got to have this suit. It’s so perfect for you.”
“We’ll see, honey,” Della said as she arose and joined Addie in Lilly’s shop.
It was time to open the shop before Lilly was through writing up their ticket. Addie had chosen three pant suits, extra tops, one dress, dress shoes, three pair of school shoes, two purses, and all the necessary under clothes, hose and socks, even two pair of pajamas, a robe and house shoes. Della was flabbergasted.
Grant Cutler had stood by smiling and nodding his head in approval at every selection that Addie asked his advice about. Della’s opposition was powerless against his encouragement. However, she could not be talked into the lavender suit, even though she had mentioned how well a certain blouse and accessories would go with it.
She looked at it longingly, but chose a pant suit to put on right then, another one and some dry shoes, a dress and a pair of dress shoes, two gowns, house shoes, underwear and hose.
Lilly was beaming. “This will get me two month’s with one to go,” Della heard her say to Grant.
The he said to her in a low voice that Della couldn’t help but hear, “I’m going to pay Helene’s bill, but, Lilly, if you ever let her charge another thing, it’ll be your loss.”
“I wouldn’t have, Grant, but she said you two were getting back together.”
“Not in this lifetime,” he muttered as he tore out a check from his checkbook and handed it to her. Then he took a larger check from his inside coat pocket to pay for Addie and Della’s purchases.
As they left the shop, after thanking Lilly again for her care of them, Grant said, “I have some cash here for you, Addie, Della. Clay Dewitt spent most of the night with me trying to help me get a good start on how things stand for you.” He was handing Della an envelope, fat with money. “Clay is a CPA, a good one too. He’s agreed to take us on as a client. From what he could see last night, he doesn’t think we’re in too bad a shape – at least not as bad as I had feared we would be. And to our surprise, there was a good amount of cash in the account from which I just paid for your purchases,” he said. “I found that envelope in Ryker’s desk. It contains fifteen hundred dollars cash. The only information we could find was the word Jenkins written on it. I don’t know who Jenkins is, or how long the money has been in Ryker’s desk. Right now, you take it for Addie. I’ll try to straighten it out when I get back.”
They both looked at Grant. “You’re going somewhere?” Addie asked.
“Yes. And I’m going to have to ask a favor of you two, but right now, we’re going down to Westmores to get you a new car, Della. We can’t have my two favorite ladies afoot.”
“Oh, no!” Della protested.
“Can we really?” Addie asked with excitement.
“Yes we can, and yes we are. Any car you want, Della, that Westmore has, you can have, according to Clay.”
“A new one! A brand new one? Oh, mama! You’ve never had a new car! Can we really buy any car she wants?”
“Yes. And then it’s to the Log House for breakfast. Or do you want to eat first?”
“No!” Addie exclaimed. “It’s too early to mention food to mama. She does better in mid-morning.”
“Sorry,” Grant said, as he opened the doors of his gold Lincoln Continental, which was parked at the curb in front of Lilly’s. He gathered the bags that the two were carrying along with the ones he had. He deposited them in the trunk, as Addie seated herself in the back seat, and Della took the front passenger seat.
“I really don’t think we should buy a car,” Della protested as Grant took his seat behind the wheel. “We’ll wait until Ben gets home, but if you’ll be kind enough to give us a ride home ...”
“Mama, you have to go to the doctor on Monday, remember?”
“That can wait,” Della declared, turning to Addie in the back seat.
“Della, we’re going to get you a car. Ben would have my hide if I left you two without transportation.”
“But I don’t think Ben will approve.” He wouldn’t approve of a car paid for by Addie’s legacy, but she couldn’t say that to Grant Cutler.
“Mama, daddy won’t be home until Tuesday or Wednesday. I think Mr. Cutler is right. Daddy wouldn’t want us to be without a car that long.”
“I guess I’m outvoted again, but not a new car, just a good serviceable used one.”
&n
bsp; They had arrived at the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury Dealership in the lower right corner of land that joined the shopping center’s parking lot. It was owned by Bob Westmore from their church.
As Della was getting out of the car, she said to Grant, “Lilly is so nice. I don’t know what we would have done without her help, and thank you for alerting her to our need. We must do something to repay her.”
“You already have,” he said. “She was three months behind in her rent. Your purchases, even at thirty-five percent off, took care of two months. That’s why she’s having a sale – to raise cash. I’m sure Ryker didn’t let anyone get that far behind except Lilly. And I know that was Wilhelmina’s doings. She didn’t buy many clothes, since she didn’t go anywhere to wear them, but when she wanted something, she’d tell Lilly. Then Lilly would search high and low to find it for her. Unless you and Addie become good customers, Lilly’s going to miss Wilhelmina.”
“I’m sure a lot of people in Riverbend will.”
“You’re right. Riverbend’s economy, since the clock factory closed, is causing a lot of families to hurt. Okay, ladies, here we are. Let’s boost Wilmore’s economy some,” Grant said as they went through the double glass doors.
“Jake Mobley works here,” Della said. “Let’s ask him to wait on us.”
“You’re sure?” he asked, wondering what she had in mind?
“Your car is awfully nice,” Addie said to Grant. “I sure like it.”
“Me too,” he replied. “It’s a good reliable car, a Lincoln.”
A man Della didn’t know walked up to them asking if he could help them. “We’d like to see Jake Mobley, please,” Cutler said.
The man left and in a few moments, Jake Mobley was walking toward them. “Yes, sir,” he said, greeting Cutler, smiling real big. “What can I show you?”
They were standing beside the showroom’s exclusive special, a shinny, black Lincoln Town Car. Addie was looking in its windows. “This is a beautiful car,” she said, “and it’s a Lincoln.”
“Yes, it is,” Mobley said off handedly. Then seeing Della beside Cutler, “Oh. You’re Della Martin. Sorry I didn’t recognize you – the sun shining in the window. And you’re Addie.” He offered them his hand.
You didn’t recognize us, Della thought, because of the new, expensive clothes, and because we’re with Grant Cutler, but she accepted his greeting.
Addie looked at Grant Cutler. “Could we look at this car?”
“Addie!” Della exclaimed.
Cutler looked at Della. “I think she has good taste. It’s a beautiful car, a trustworthy, reliable car.”
Della spoke to the two of them. “No!,” she said just above a whisper. Then to Jake Mobley, “Mr. Mobley, before we look at cars, I want to tell you what a thoughtful, and considerate daughter you have. I know you and Mrs. Mobley must be very proud of Evelyn Ann. You’ve done an exceptional job of bringing her up. Few teenagers, these days, care anything about helping others, but your daughter came to my rescue a week ago Monday in such a delightful way. Well, I just don’t know what I would have done if she hadn’t been there. I had not eaten all day, and she said I must have had a sudden drop in my blood sugar, because I fainted at the parsonage. And that angel daughter of yours saw that I was in desperate need. She drove me to that corner market and got me some juice and a candy bar. She wouldn’t let me drive myself. I’m sure she realized that I’d never make it. And I just want to thank you for having a daughter like Evelyn Ann.”
“Why, Mrs. Martin, if Evelyn Ann helped you in any way, I’m so glad that she did. And I appreciate the kind things you’ve said about her. Eve and I have tried to be the best parents we know how, but you know how it is these days. You have a daughter of your own. Now, what can I show you?”
“This car here,” Addie said, looking at Grant Cutler instead of her mother.
“This car?” Mobley asked, surprised, looking at Cutler for approval.
“If that’s what she wants,” he answered, shrugging his shoulders and ignoring Della’s, “Absolutely not,” whisper.
“I’ll get the key,” Mobley said in disbelief, and left them.
“You should be on the stage,” Grant whispered to Della.
“You can catch more flies with honey,” she said to Grant, then to Addie. “You’re wasting Mr. Mobley’s and Mr. Cutler’s time. You let him choose us a good used car.”
“Addie and I like this one,” he said, amused.
“Okay, Grant, now get serious, and tell her she can’t have this car. We have no need ...”
Mobley reappeared at Della’s side. “You’re sure? This car?”
“Yes,” Addie and Grant both said, and Della looked at the two of them in exasperation.
Looking rather skeptical, Jake Mobley unlocked the driver’s door. Addie was all but jumping up and down with excitement. As soon as the door was open, Addie was leaning in it. “Oh, Mama, look how beautiful. I never thought black was beautiful before, but it even smells beautiful!”
Mobley, looking impatient with Addie, said, “All new cars sort of smell alike.”
Bob Westmore walked up to them. “Well, good morning. You folks are out early,” he said, rubbing his hand over the car’s hood. “Think you’d be interested in a fine car like this?” Then he recognized Della, wife of the town’s handyman, and a member of the church choir. “Oh,” he said. “Nice to see you, Mrs. Martin, Grant.”
Della noticed his change in attitude when he recognized her, and bristled. “Good morning, Mr. Westmore. We might be. Can’t Mr. Mobley sell this car?” she asked.
“Oh, of course. Of course, he can. I just wanted to make sure he was taking good care of you,” he said condescendingly.
“He is,” she answered, dismissing him.
“Well, anything I can do for you, just let me know.” And he returned to his glass enclosed office.
Jake Mobley was looking daggers at his back. The three of them looked from Mobley to Westmore’s back, wondering.
Mobley noticed a change in Della’s attitude, and asked, “Would you like to take it for a drive? It’ll just take a little time – no trouble at all. And I might add that the price is reduced four thousand for this week only.”
“I’m afraid time is something I don’t have much of right now,” Grant said. “Do you want to look around at the other cars?” he asked the two of them.
“Could we buy this one,” Addie asked Cutler. “You said any car we wanted,” she whispered.
“If it’s the car Della wants, and it does seem like a good buy. What do you say, Della?”
She wanted to say they couldn’t buy a car like this, but he had said they could. And Addie wanted it. It was her money. And Bob Westmore, as well as Jake Mobley, would probably faint if the Martins bought the most expensive car that they had.
“Addie’s in love with this car, Della. If you buy it and don’t like it, we’ll trade for something else. Besides, she’s going to want a car herself. If you buy it and don’t like it, give it to her. She’d be in seventh Heaven.”
Della was standing where she could read the window sticker. So much money! She thought of facing Ben with such a car. Well, that could be dealt with later. “Please, Mama,” Addie was begging in a whisper. Why not? It was her inheritance. She looked at Grant Cutler and nodded her head.
Mobley seemed to be standing there holding his breath.
“Okay, Mobley,” Grant said. “Get it ready, and remember, we’re short of time. I have a flight to catch in Nashville.” A big grin broke across Mobley’s face. Grant looked from him to Addie. He couldn’t decide which looked the happiest. Mobley must have really needed this sale, he thought. “We’re going to the Log House for breakfast. Can it be ready by the time we get back?”
“We’ll sure do our best, Grant, and thank you. You don’t know how much I thank you,” he added, shaking first Grant’s hand, then Della and Addie’s, and thanking them.
Minutes later Grant wrote another of those large check
s for the car, and they left with Addie declaring that she was hungry, but so excited she didn’t think she could eat a bite. Grant and Della both laughed.
Jake Mobley sat at his desk in his small, glassed in office working on the sale contract for the Lincoln, when Bob Westmore stuck his head in the door. “Hey! You sold it. Congratulations!”
“Yeah.” Mobley said without looking up.
Westmore walked through the door. “Look, I didn’t mean to but in. I apologize for that, but you know how bad I needed to move that car. I guess I was afraid you’d let them get away. That was the first nibble we’ve had in a month, but the Martins? And not even Ben. What were the two of them doing with Grant Cutler? I don’t get it. How are they paying for it?”
“Cutler wrote a check for the full amount, taxes, and extended warranty.” Mobley said flatly.
Westmore whistled. “Somebody’s got the dough. And you get the one thousand bonus plus your regular commission. That was the deal if the car was sold this week. I’ll give you the bonus in cash out of my own pocket.”
“I’ll expect it as soon as they pick up the car, and I need an early lunch, please.” Mobley added, looking up at his boss. There was something he had to take care of at home. He’d put it off all too long.
“Sure. Take two. You deserve it. It’s been a long dry spell for you. Let’s hope this is the beginning of better days for all of us.” Westmore shook his head. “That Martin woman is some looker, but does she have the smarts to operate that car? It’s loaded with everything you can put on one.”
“I’ll show her everything she needs to know for simple operation, and go through the book with her when she has more time. They’re in a hurry today.”
“Hmmm. Still makes me wonder,” Westmore said.
Chapter Thirty-one
Reverend Kyle Etheridge was struggling to get the waist band of his trousers buttoned when he glanced out the parsonage window to see the ample figure of Lois Mason coming up the walk, the silver in her salt and pepper hair glistening in the warm spring sunshine. She was carrying something in her hand, but thank goodness, it wasn’t one of her rich chocolate cakes. Bless her generous heart. He was so glad to see her. She’d been like a mother to him when he’d been pastor at Riverbend’s Community Church four years ago. He rushed to open the door before she could knock. He grabbed her in a bear hug. “Lois, my dear, you are the only reason I accepted this parish again. It’s so good to see you. Come in, come in,” he said, leading her through the open door.
The Daughters of Julian Dane Page 32
