“Of course, I meant it. And, Miss Mattie, I don’t know how long I’ll have Mrs. Simmons.”
“Well, I’ll help you do whatever you need me to do.”
“Oh, no. I couldn’t ask you to help me with her. William has said he will help me just as soon as I can get him and Ozzie up here. I don’t know how bad Miss Simmons is hurt. I’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Now, don’t you worry, Addie. We’ll make out,” and she left to return to Wylene and their list.
Addie noticed that Mrs. Simmons was eating like she was hungry, then she remembered that she hadn’t given her any medicine before she ate. But it was just a snack, she told herself. Surely, she was to take the medicine only three times a day. She’d have to ask. She heard the phone ring, and she wished she had had the opportunity to get the cellular phone to her mother that she had bought for her.
Soon, Miss Mattie was coming through the door. Della called. She said the phone in the South Street house is still connected and she gave me this number for you, but said she’d be here soon. And that young man, Mooney is in the kitchen having hot buttered rolls and jam. Shall I tell him to come up here since you can’t leave Mrs. Simmons?” she asked as she took the tray from the woman’s lap.
“Mooney!” she exclaimed in surprise. “He’s exactly what I need. Oh, yes, send him up here.” Mrs. Simmons was now sitting quietly, looking out the French doors. Her new surroundings seem to interest her so much that all thoughts of anything else had left her. “I’m going just outside the door to use the phone, Mrs. Simmons. I’ll be right back.”
When she reached the phone, she found she could see Mrs. Simmons by stepping back as far as the phone cord would allow. Della answered on the third ring. “Addie!” Della exclaimed as soon as she heard her child’s voice. “Mattie has just told me about your situation with those two women. Honey, I’m proud of you for wanting to help other people, but it seems like you have more than you can handle with them. What are you going to do?”
She had been hoping her mother would have the answer to that. But she said, “I don’t know, mama, because I don’t know how bad Miss Simmons is hurt. As soon as I hear from her, I’ll call you. Money has come by, and he’ll help me, I’m sure. What did the doctor say?”
“That I’m pregnant,” she chuckled.
“Great,” Addie said. “I’ll call you back in a few minutes. But I don’t want you to be concerned about any of my problems, which I have created myself. And I want to hear all about your doctor’s visit and the house.” She said good bye just as she heard the elevator doors open.
Mooney stepped out grinning from ear to ear, “Addie, my girl, you should have been there! It was beautiful!”
“Where?”
“At the closing on the house.”
“Oh, Mooney, I forgot. I’ve had so many problems today. Come in and tell me about it. I have to stay with Mrs. Simmons here, right now,” she said nodding her head toward the woman at the French door. “I’m so glad to see you. I need you desperately.” They took seats side by side on the hospital bed.
“Baby, I’m yours in sickness and in health, for better or worse, ’til death do us part. And I know about the Simmons women. Wylene told me.”
Addie couldn’t help but laugh. “Mooney, you are something else. Now, tell me about the house.” She could see he was bursting to.
“Well, Mr. Morgan went with me.”
“Mr. Sully Morgan?”
“Yeah. You know him, don’t you?”
“He’s handling the trolleys for me in Mr. Cutler’s absence.”
“Great man. My mom used to work for him. Mom was very attractive when she was younger, and he had a very jealous wife.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“He told me to tell her he needed her if she wanted her old job back. I think she’ll call him. I hope she does. She has to work too hard at the job she has now, comes home completely exhausted. But, I’ve got to tell you about me becoming a home owner, thanks to you.”
He was so excited and so happy. She was happy knowing she had had some part in his happiness.
“You know, I’ve been to church enough to know that God says vengeance belongs to him, that he’ll do the repaying, but this time He just had to allow me a little pay back. I wanted my old man to sweat a bit. I hadn’t told that Rex Sommers my name, you know that, so I told Mr. Morgan thirty minutes later than we were supposed to be at Sommers’ office. I know I was being ugly, but I wanted to be just late enough for him and the old man to think they’d been had, that their nameless buyer wasn’t going to show.”
He was really enjoying this, Addie thought, so she sat patiently smiling, hoping Mrs. Simmons stayed as she was.
“When Mr. Morgan and I entered Sommers’ office, he was folding up his papers, and there were five other people there – folks that the old man owed money to. And they were giving him the devil for getting them there under false pretenses, as one woman was putting it.” Mooney stopped and laughed. “Oh, Addie, you should have seen the look on my dad’s face when I walked into that room and announced that I was the buyer of the Oak Street house.” He laughed again, and Addie wished she had been there to enjoy it with him.
“Do you know that he had the gall to claim that if I had money to buy that house it was his money – money I had stolen from him through the years and stashed away, and that was the reason he didn’t have any money now. Well, Addie, I had undone those pads of money and separated them. I sort of rumpled them up a little and threw them in a big brown, paper, grocery bag. They made a bag full. So I turned it up on Sommers’ desk and dumped it all out – all those brand new one hundred-dollar bills. You’ve never heard such squealing. I thought the old man’s creditors were going to jump up and grab it. I doubt that any of them had ever seen that much cash before. The old man was speechless. Then he had the gall to claim I had stolen it. So I asked him what did he care where I got it as long as I could pay for his house with it, at the price he had agreed on, I added. All of his creditors agreed with me and told him they wanted the money he owed them right then.
“After all the papers were signed, and the house was legally mine, thanks to you, I told him the next thing I was going to do was take out a restraining order against him. That way, he can’t come even into the yard. Of course he claimed that he had things in the house that belonged to him, and he had a right to come and get them. I told him we’d clean out anything that belonged to him, put it in boxes and set on the sidewalk. He could come and get it or the trash men could pick it up, unless he thought whatever he still had there was worth going to jail for.”
Addie thought of grandpa. She hoped he was doing his eavesdropping. He would enjoy this.
“When we got outside, Mr. Morgan asked me where did I get the money, said he just needed to know that he wasn’t a party to anything illegal. I told him a friend of mine loaned it to me, and that I’d be paying it back starting next week when my job began. Then he asked if the friend was a pretty young lady with red hair and green eyes. When I admitted that it was, he said he figured as much.”
“You sure enjoyed that, didn’t you,” Addie asked with a big smile.
“You better believe it, pretty gal, and all thanks to you. Now what can I do for you? Anything at all.”
While she listed all the things she needed help with and gave him the keys to her car, Mrs. Simmons just sat looking out the door. She hadn’t uttered a sound or hardly moved since she and Mooney had come into the room.
When Mooney had gone, Addie went to the phone in the hall again to arrange for Mr. Castle and Mrs. Watson’s father, Mr. Harris, to be picked up on Tuesday morning and brought to Stonegate. Then she called the South Street house to ask Wylene if Bud could move the Castle furniture for her.
“I don’t believe you should count on him,” Wylene said. “He’s awfully upset about his truck. I’m just glad he got all the stuff you wanted moved from Stonegate for you before I wrecked it.”
“Oh, Wy
lene, I still feel so bad about that since you were doing something for me when it happened.”
“Forget it, Girlfriend. He’ll live, and will get it fixed like new again.”
Oh, well, she thought, I have until Friday to get them moved, and there’s still Miss Judy’s truck. And she asked to speak to her mother again. “How does the house look, Mama. Did you get everything that you needed? I never thought we’d get it done so quickly.”
“Wylene had a whole crew of people working for her. They did wonders. The place even smells clean. And, honey, it’s just perfect. You’ll be so proud of it. I can’t wait for you to see it. I brought some rugs too. I hope that was all right. Mattie was sure it would be. There was a beautiful round one with fringe on it that just fits under the round dining table. Miss Willy seemed to like round tables. We could only find four matching chairs. It would hold two more if you think we should add two more. We could look for two that sort of matched. There was also a hall runner and some throw rugs for the bedrooms, and an 8 X 10 floral rug for the center of the living room floor. Mattie sent dishes, pots and pans, dish towels, just about everything for the kitchen. Of course there is a few odds and ends that I can pick up later at the store. And, Addie, I found all those new one hundred-dollar bills you put in my purse. We’re going to have to talk about that. I’m just not sure about it at all.”
“Okay, Mama. Did you pay Wylene and Bud and their help?”
“I gave the money to Wylene, and she was to pay Bud and their help. Oh, and Mattie said she was cooking to fill the refrigerator.”
“Oh, Mama, won’t Donnie be surprised? I’m so glad they don’t have to go begging the Johnsons for a place to stay. Do you think they’ll be home tomorrow?”
“No, honey, Ben said about supper time on Wednesday.”
“Well, why is it taking them so long to drive back? I miss daddy so much, and I want him to help me. And I want to buy him a new truck,” she added excitedly.
Della didn’t say anything for a few moments. Then, “Addie, I don’t think you had better count on Ben’s support. I’ve told you how he feels.”
“But he’s had time to think about the inheritance. Surely, he will have changed his mind. I wish they’d hurry up and get home.”
They have to stop every hour or so for Donnie’s mother, Denise, to get out of the van and exercise her legs, and they’ll stop tonight for her to rest in a bed.”
“Are you sure daddy has enough money with him?”
“I guess he’ll use the credit card if he runs out.”
“I think Mooney is back, Mama. He’s moving William and Ozzie for me. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Yes, Addie. We are most definitely going to do some talking tonight.”
Addie had watched Mrs. Simmons the whole time she had been on the phone, and thought the woman had been awfully good to just sit there looking out the French doors. But when she went to her, she found her sound asleep, sitting in the chair. She was glad it was an upholstered, wingback chair. The woman had sort of sunk down in it, otherwise she might have fallen to the floor. Gently, she helped her up, talking to her soothingly, and walked her to the bed. She was asleep again almost as soon as Addie had the sheet and blanket pulled up over her. She then pulled up the sides of the bed and rushed downstairs.
Mooney was just coming into the summer kitchen. He had her car parked at the door, and William was behind Mooney, leading Ozzie. The two of them helped Ozzie up the three steps into the building. Miss Mattie, seeing the difficulty they were having, suggested that Addie bring the old wheel chair from the closet in her bathroom for Ozzie. “It’s ancient, but it still rolls,” she said.
Addie found she was right. The chair did still work. Now if it didn’t fall apart when Ozzie sat down in it. When she got it to the kitchen, she found Ozzie seated at the small round table enjoying a cold glass of fruit tea with William and Mooney. William and Ozzie’s things, along with the boxes of other stuff from the cottage had been brought in and was stacked on counters in the summer kitchen. Soon, they were easing Ozzie into the old wheel chair, and Addie was cautioning them to be quiet when they entered the hospital room for there was a lady asleep that she didn’t want awakened.
“Mrs. Simmons?” William asked.
“Right,” Addie said as she saw a cab pulling up behind her car. “What now?” she muttered as they all watched in surprise. The driver got out and came to the door. Seeing them all just inside the kitchen door, he called, “Could someone help me get this lady out of my cab?”
Addie followed Mooney and William as they went to the door. The driver opened the back door and she moaned, “Oh, no!” Jo Ann sat there, a large band aid on her forehead, her left arm bandaged and in a sling, her left leg from above her knee to her foot bandaged, and a pair of crutches sticking out the door. What could she do with crutches with her arm bandaged and in a sling, she wondered? She supposed they were for when her arm got out of the sling and the bandage. How long would that take? No doubt the woman’s injuries were considerable. What was she going to do?
The three men soon had a large, new, brown suitcase, and a blue, older, overnight bag, and Jo Ann in the kitchen. They seated her in a chair. Then she took several deep breaths and said, “I was waiting in line to use the phone when this cab pulled up to discharge a passenger, so I grabbed it.” She looked at Addie. “How is Aunt Beth? I hope she hasn’t been too much trouble.”
“She’s sleeping right now,” Addie said. “But what are you going to do, Jo Ann?”
“I don’t have any idea. Of course, I must call my office. Perhaps they can find a solution. Right now, I can’t care for myself much less Aunt Beth. My whole left side is badly bruised, and I have two bruised ribs, plus a badly sprained ankle. My left shoulder and arm are really banged up.”
And a bandage on your forehead, Addie thought. The woman was looking at Ozzie in the ancient wheel chair. And Addie was wishing she had already gotten Ozzie out of the room before Miss Simmons arrived. She wished her mother was back. She’d know what to do. “My mother should be here soon, perhaps she’ll have some idea.”
“Have you had lunch? I know it’s almost supper time, but I could fix you a bite to tide you over,” Miss Mattie said.
“I had a Coke,” Jo Ann answered.
“I’ll fix you some hot tea and a sandwich.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Addie said. Then she introduced the two women and excused herself to get Ozzie upstairs, and him and William settled. On the way up in the elevator, she explained to William and Mooney about moving all the excess furniture and stuff out of the bedroom that William was to use. She would check the bathroom and get him fresh linens and supplies.
“Let’s try not to awaken her,” she said as they wheeled Ozzie into the hospital room. “By tomorrow,” she whispered to him, “you’ll have two roommates to keep you company. Mrs. Simmons will be moved out as soon as she wakes up.” To where, she didn’t know. “And William’s room is just a short flight of stairs up. We’re going to take good care of you,” she assured him, as she showed him the single bed against the wall and a chest beside it where he could put things. “And there’s plenty of closet space, and if you need William just say so. He’ll hear you.”
Ozzie was looking around the big room in awe while Addie showed William the closet. Then William helped Ozzie into bed while she explained about the monitors. “One can be placed in your room and one in the summer kitchen.”
“You’re kidding!” William exclaimed. “You mean I’ll be able to hear everything that goes on in this room?” he asked in a low voice.
“That’s right,” she assured him and he chuckled, “My! My!” He exclaimed. Then she left them to return to the kitchen where the problem of Jo Ann awaited her. She had no sooner closed the two doors of the elevator, when grandpa appeared.
“You sure got yourself in a pickle, young Addie.”
“Grandpa, I’m glad you’re here. I need your advice.”
“I know. And jus
t what are you going to do about the two Simmons ladies?”
“I don’t know, Grandpa. What can I do? I can’t take care of them, and I’m certainly not going to ask Miss Mattie to.”
“Well, the old one is awake. You’d better go back to her right now.”
“Her naps are short,” she said opening the doors again.
“Old people are like that,” he said and disappeared.
When she reached Mrs. Simmons, the woman was trying to get the sides of the bed down and complaining because she couldn’t get out of bed. “Mrs. Simmons, Jo Ann is here, and I’m going downstairs to bring her up here. Now, if you’ll just lay down for a few more minutes, I’ll be right back with her. All right?”
Ozzie was resting on his bed, so Addie hurried out of the room with the wheel chair, against Mrs. Simmons’ protests. Grandpa was waiting for her again on the elevator.
“I’ve been thinking, young Addie. I think you’ll be stuck with the Simmons women for awhile. And according to what I hear, you’ll have three men in the hospital room tomorrow. You have William and you’ll have your friend, Deena, and her mother. If the mother and William can care for the three men, perhaps you can hire your friend to help with the two women.”
“But, Grandpa, school starts next Monday. What if I’m still stuck with them then?”
“By then, the young one will be hobbling about, then she won’t need much help and can probably help with her aunt.”
“You make it sound so simple, but I’ll bet you one thing, mama isn’t going to like any of this one bit. How could I have gotten myself into such a fix?” Grandpa chuckled, and Addie again left the elevator, wishing she could go back to having outgrown jeans as her biggest worry. Jo Ann would need more clothes. She wondered about Miss Willy’s hostess gowns. Jo Ann was about her height, but larger boned. At least she wasn’t fat. She’d see what she could find, she thought as she rushed down the hall to Miss Willy’s bedroom.
When she opened Wilhelmina’s closet door, she was faced with that long row of coats again. She had to find time to go through them with her mother. Then she saw sales tags hanging from the sleeves of some colorful gowns and headed for them. There was three new gowns, and Addie couldn’t help but exclaim, “Oh, how beautiful!” when she examined them. One was a dusty rose, long, flowing, of a satiny material. One was a light lavender blue. Almost the color of her mother’s eyes, she thought, and the other was a dark beige, almost the color of her hair. It too was a loose flowing gown. These would be perfect for when she was getting big with the baby. She had to take them to her. Maybe they would soften her criticism of all the problems she had created for herself. But she had to find something for Jo Ann. Close to the rack of coats was about four feet of rack of older looking gowns. They were probably the retired ones that Miss Mattie had mentioned. As she quickly examined them, she saw that none of them had pins attached, no appropriate jewelry of any kind. That was another thing she had to attend to – taking all the pins off these clothes, before somebody else did. She chose three long, flowing gowns that looked nice, a robe, some underwear and pajamas from a chest in the closet. Then she thought again of someone else coming into Wilhelmina’s rooms. So she locked the bedroom door and went through the dressing room to the hospital room and found that Mrs. Simmons seemed to have drifted off to sleep again, for which she was glad. She rushed out that door and back to the elevator.
The Daughters of Julian Dane Page 48
