The woman was getting carried away, and grandpa was grinning from ear to ear. “Just think, young Addie.. You could have a dinner club, a day- care center, and a nursing home.”
“Grandpa, you can’t be serious?” Addie said.
“Why not? And she’s talking about this floor only. She doesn’t know about the fourth floor yet. Young Addie , this place is big enough for even more.”
“I could handle it all,” Jo Ann was saying eagerly. “I know my way around the red tape. You wouldn’t have to do a thing. Would you give it some thought – talk to your attorney about it?”
“Yes, we will.”
“Grandpa!” Then to Jo Ann Simmons, she said, “It does sound like something to think about. But I don’t know how long Mr. Cutler will be in England. His father is very ill.”
“Sound it out with him. I could get started on the paper work with just an okay from him, and you, of course.”
“I think she doesn’t really believe I own this place,” Addie said to grandpa. “And she’s awfully pushy, and determined.” Then she said goodnight to the woman, and headed to the elevator with grandpa hovering along. She was hungry.
“Just think, young Addie, what a nursing home of this magnitude would do towards turning this town around. People would come from all around. The jobs such a venture would create is exactly what we need. We have to create jobs if we want to help Riverbend.”
They were in the elevator. “Grandpa, are you serious? Are you really taking Miss Simmons serious?” she asked aloud.
“Yes. And I think you should too. As she said, there is a great need in this area for this. And apparently, she has the experience and the know how to bring it about. This woman is truly a god send for our purpose. And you wouldn’t have to worry about having to give up Stonegate ever. People will come here to visit their relatives in the nursing home. They’ll ride your trolley cars, shop in your stores, eat in the restaurants, and stay in your hotel.”
“I doubt that anybody would want to stay in that hotel. I’ve heard it called a flea bag lots of times.”
“It’s your hotel. Redo it. Better yet, tear it down and build a new one.”
Addie chuckled. “Now that would take real money, lots of it, I betcha. Just where would I get it?”
“That’s what banks are for.”
“Oh, sure. I can just hear the laughter when I walk into the bank and tell them I want money to tear down the old hotel and build a new one.” The elevator was stopped at the second floor, but Addie made no move to get out.
“Anybody that laughs, have them fired. After all, you practically own that bank also. Remember?”
Addie could see that grandpa was all for the idea, and he was probably right. Jobs were what the people of Riverbend needed. “All right, Grandpa, if you think it’s what we ought to do, I’ll talk to Mr. Sully about it tomorrow.” And there she was breaking her promise to her mother again. But how could she help it. Grandpa certainly couldn’t put his plans into operation without her. Grandpa and her mother were going to have to meet for her own benefit. But mama wasn’t going to like it.
And she was going to have to make another withdrawal from the desk. Moving it was Mooney’s first job tomorrow, but he’d have to have help. She hadn’t thought of that. She’d call him. Surely he knew boys who wanted to earn some money. She said good night to grandpa and left the elevator to go eat her supper.
Later, as she approached the big pocket doors to the bedroom she shared with her mother, she realized that Della would be going back to their little house in the morning. She had said she wanted to freshen up the house and do some cooking. Addie was going to miss her. She wanted her daddy and Donnie home, but she had enjoyed the little time she and her mother had spent together, except for the episode with that Miss Lilly. She wished she knew the reason for it, and, that she could forget it. Even the Baker’s Landing wasn’t as bad as that. She pushed back the doors and found her mother folding up the new clothes she had bought and the three new gowns she had brought down to her from Miss Willy’s closet. They needed to go shopping together again.
Della turned to her red haired daughter. “Honey, you’ve been running so, you look like you’ve lost weight. Have you eaten the good supper Mattie left for you?”
“Yes, ma’am, and cleaned up after myself.”
“Mattie cooked supper for everyone. You must thank her, although, I must say, she sure enjoys cooking, hummed and whistled the whole time she was doing it.”
“I’ll thank her, Mama, and I couldn’t have lost weight. I’m enjoying her good cooking too much. Not that I don’t love your cooking, but hers is different.” And she waited. Was she going to mention the dinner club?
“I’m afraid your face is beginning to show a bad bruise.”
No dinner club. She’d have to thank Miss Mattie for that also.
“It’s okay, Mama. Just sore, especially when I chew. I know you want to go back home, but I’m sure going to miss you.”
“I know, honey, and I’ll miss our time together.” Della paused and looked pensive for a few moments. “I’m sure going to Miss Mattie’s taking care of me. I’ve not had anything like that since I was a young child.”
Addie knew her mother was thinking of her own mother. She put her arms around her and said, “Mama, we’re going to find your mother, and your sisters. I promise you.”
“I hope we can,” and she thought again of Helene Cutler’s conversation about the cripple maid of her neighbors, whom she claimed looked so much like her. She had to look into that. But then, she said to her daughter. “But dear, I must tell you that I’m not too pleased with all that you’ve gotten yourself involved in, and I worry about leaving you here. I can’t help but wonder what you’ll do next?”
If I told you, you’d never believe it, Addie thought. “I know, Mama, but things just kept falling into my lap. You’ve always taught me to help other people, and that’s all I’ve been trying to do.”
Grandpa suddenly appeared in one of the blue chairs at the window. Now what? She wondered. And I thought I was going to have some time to spend with mama. “Grandpa,” she said to him silently, “you are not supposed to suddenly appear in a ladies bedroom.”
“I want to meet this lovely lady you call mama. She looks young enough to be your sister.”
“And just how am I supposed to do that?”
“You’ll find a way.”
“Addie? What are you doing? What are you staring at?”
Addie took her mother’s hand. “Let’s sit down for a few minutes,” she said as she led her to the sofa and seated her on the end next to where grandpa was sitting in one of the side chairs. Then she sat down beside her. “There’s something I have to tell you, and I’m not sure you’re going to like it.”
“Honey! What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Well, Mama, you know, we thought we were through with the supernatural when Vicki left me.”
“What are you talking about? Of course we’re through with that kind of stuff.”
“Oh, my. Look, let me start at the beginning. You know when we spent the night with Miss Lettie on Friday. You were so damp and cold that you went right to sleep. And I was glad you did. But when I heard a noise across the hall, I went to see what it was because I didn’t want you awakened. But you wouldn’t have heard it. Only I could hear it.”
“Addie, what are you trying to tell me?”
“That I met the spirit of Captain Jack Neilson chained to the bedpost of the iron bed in the other bedroom. He was making a lot of noise with his chain to try to get Miss Lettie’s attention.”
“Addie!” Della gasped. “Don’t talk like that. Are you making this up? I don’t want to hear it.”
“Mama! Listen to me! I’m not making up anything! I’m trying to help you understand something. Captain Neilson told me where he had a bag of gold coins put away for Miss Lettie. That’s why he was still here. He’d wanted her to have the coins all these years because she’s needed
them so badly. I got them for him and now, Miss Lettie and Ellie Mae can live out their lives in comfort – all because I can see and communicate with spirits.”
Della looked at her daughter in stunned silence for several moments, as Addie waited. Finally, she asked, “Addie, you’re telling me the truth?”
Addie sighed deeply. “Yes, Mama, I am, because the spirit of Eli Gates, whom I can see and communicate with, is sitting in the blue chair next to you. He is my great-grandfather, although he says he’s not, but won’t tell me why not. At least, he lets me call him grandpa, and, Mama, I like him. I like him a lot. It was his idea for us to buy the trolleys, and he showed me where Miss Willy had hidden the rest of the one million dollars. He’s trying to revive Riverbend with my help.”
Della was listening to her daughter in awed silence, her mouth open, her eyes staring. Addie wasn’t sure she was breathing. Now she looked at the blue chair, the empty blue chair. “Mama!” Addie exclaimed. “Don’t look like that! He’s not a monster or something. He’s not going to hurt you.”
“You mean, you mean, he’s been in this house all this time? Does Mattie know?”
“Yes. He’s been in the mansion all this time, and no, Miss Mattie does not know. And please don’t tell her. Some people don’t know how to accept spirits.”
Grandpa had sat silent all this time, now he said, “I want to feel of her hair. It looks so soft and silky.”
“Mama, grandpa want to feel of your hair. He says it looks soft and silky. But I warn you, his hands are very cold – so cold they hurt.”
Della moved away from the end of the couch. “Addie. I think, I really think I’m not up to this. Can’t we just change the subject?” she asked, but kept her eyes on that blue chair.
“No, Mama, we can’t. You just don’t want to believe what I’m telling you. You certainly know about spirits. You’ve seen Julian, and Vicki, and Nickelos as a small child. I wish you could see grandpa. He looks exactly like his portrait over the mantel in the Library – clothes and all. He wants to meet you, and I need for the two of you to meet, so you will understand about some of the things I’m involved in. I want to help grandpa put the people of Riverbend back to work, and the town back on the map.” Addie looked at her mother just sitting there. She couldn’t tell what she was thinking. “Mama, you said you wished I had told you about Vicki living inside me all my life. I tried to, remember? Well, now I’m trying to tell you about someone else who is a very real part of me.” She stopped and waited for her mother’s response. “I wish you could see grandpa. But I can help you to get to know him.”
“Oh, Addie, my darling,” Della said putting her arms around her daughter. “I’m sorry. I need to understand and remember that you’re not exactly like other people. If you say the spirit of Eli Gates is sitting in that chair, then,” she paused, “he’s sitting there. And, I’ll, I’ll meet your grandpa. I’ll be glad to. And I’m going to try to understand you better. I promise.”
“Thank you, Mama. And, it’s okay if grandpa just runs his hand lightly down your hair? He’ll do it lightly, but you’ll feel the coldness. Okay, Grandpa?”
Grandpa rose to hover over Della, a big smile on his face. Her honey blond hair sort of rippled down from her head into a pageboy effect on her shoulders. “It’s beautiful,” he said as he reached out to run his hands over it.
Della sucked in her breath and shivered slightly, as she felt the extreme coldness on her head and neck. “Hel – hello, Grandpa. I’m really glad to meet you. I, uh, I wish I could see you like Addie can, since she thinks so much of you.”
“I think a lot of her. She’s a fine young lady. You’ve raised a lovely daughter. You should be proud of her. And your hair feels as beautiful as it looks. Thank you for letting me feel of it.”
Addie repeated to Della what grandpa had said. Della blushed and thanked him, and Addie breathed a sigh of relief.
“Your mother is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” grandpa said. “Maybe I’ll fall in love with her, then I’ll be free. Why don’t you get me a picture of her and put it where I can see it?” He asked Addie.
Addie giggled as she repeated his request to Della. “Thank you, Grandpa,” Della said. “I’ll get you one. But now, if you’ll excuse us, I think I’ll get ready for bed. I want to get up early.”
“Goodnight, ladies,” grandpa said and disappeared.
There was something that troubled Addie, and she wondered if grandpa could possibly know the answer. She waited until her mother was in the bathroom getting ready for bed, and she called him back.
“You need me, young Addie?”
“Yes, Grandpa. I need an answer, and I wonder if you know it. The day of the accident – were you there?”
“Of course. But I couldn’t have prevented it.”
“I know, but do you know what I did, or what I did as Vicki, that helped Julian Dane to get his son and daughter, who wouldn’t leave this world without her baby brother? That seemed to be the whole purpose of her living inside me all my life ‘til then.”
“Well, young Addie, all I can tell you is what it seemed to me. One, all four of you were here at one time – you and Vicki, and, of course, Nickelos, and Julian Dane. And two, the important thing was that you left the door to Nicholas’ room unlocked - the door to Willy’s dressing room. He was always trying the doors, especially that one, so he could get out, so he could get to his Willy. He was always wanting to hug her.”
“Yes. I know,” Addie said sadly.
“Well, Dane and Vicki were already dead. All he needed was for Nickelos to join them. Perhaps he always knew, that eventually, you would create the opportunity. That’s all I can tell you.”
“Thanks, Grandpa. And I promise I’ll get your desk and TV moved in the morning. Goodnight.”
Chapter Thirty-five
Addie awoke early on Tuesday morning. She could hear her mother in the bathroom throwing up. It sure would be a relief when the morning sickness period was over. She didn’t think she ever wanted to have morning sickness.
Soon, Della was coming out of the bathroom. “I hate drinking that lukewarm salt water and throwing up, but it does help. Where did you say you learned about that?”
“Grandpa told me. He said it worked for the women of his day.”
“Well, when you see him again, tell him thanks for me. Another week or so of this period of the pregnancy should do it. Then I should be feeling myself again. I already feel better – not so tired and wanting to nap all the time.”
“I’m glad, Mama. I don’t like your feeling bad all the time.”
“It will be worth it though, when I hold that little baby boy in my arms.”
“How do you know it’s going to be a boy? You sound so sure.”
“I am, but how I know, I don’t know. I just know.”
Addie wondered, could her mother have some of the supernatural in her?
“Ben has always wanted a son so bad. It’s amazing why it’s taken so long for me to get pregnant again. Actually, we had given up.”
“Well, I’ll settle for a brother or a sister, and I’m sure daddy will too.”
Della was chuckling as Addie entered the bathroom, wondering what time Mr. Sully got to his office, and if she should call for an appointment? She supposed she should, and she had to make sure Mooney could get some friends to help him get Mr. Castle’s hospital bed delivered. She’d have to find out from Deena what Mr. Harris would need, or if he had a hospital bed? She wondered if Mooney knew where Deena lived? So much to do. She had to find the list she had made, so she could check off each thing as it was done.
When she reached the breakfast room, her mother was telling Miss Mattie how much she had enjoyed her visit and thanking her for the care of the two of them.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of your being here, Della, and that daughter of yours sure livens things up around here. This place is finally being put to some good use. Oh, good morning, Addie. Your breakfast is ready. Just sit
down.”
Addie kissed her mother on the cheek. “Good morning, Miss Mattie. Is there anything I can do for either of you today?” she asked as she took her seat beside Della.
“I’m planning to show William around the summer kitchen today and make sure he has everything he needs. He tells me he will be cooking for eight people. But right after you finish your breakfast you can get me a couple of boxes from the pantry for the food I’ve cooked for Della to take with her.”
“Mattie! You didn’t!”
“Now, Della, you knew I was cooking for your friends. I have two big ovens and it was no more trouble to cook two of everything than it was one. So I have you a hen and dressing, a ham, roast beef, roast pork, vegetables, desserts, and plenty of my rolls. Of course, I hope you have room in your freezer.”
“Oh, believe me, Mattie, it’s just about empty. And you can’t possibly know how much I appreciate it.”
“Well, you’re welcome, my Dear. I’ve also mixed up some potato salad, a fresh fruit salad, and some stuffed eggs. Have to keep your appetite tempted until you’re over the morning sickness. You’ll find some good cheeses to go with the salads, and for snacking.”
Della had risen and went to Mattie, who was placing Addie’s breakfast before her. She reached out and hugged the woman. “Oh, Mattie, thank you for being such a good friend.” she said. Tears very close to the surface.
“Goodness, Mama, I’ll need to go home with you to unload all that.”
“No, honey. I can do it. I’m sure you have a long list of things to attend to today. I saw it on the table beside the bed.”
“Yes, I do, Mama, but I’ll help Miss Mattie take the foods she has prepared for Donnie and his family later today. I’m very anxious to see the house.”
The Daughters of Julian Dane Page 50
