Miss Judy looked at Addie hopefully. “Truthfully, Addie, I have everything in my car that I want from this house. I’d like to be able to just pick up my purse, walk out that door, lock it, get in my car and never look back,” she said dolefully.
Addie could tell that Miss Judy was very close to tears. She walked around the table, reached up and helped her down from the chair, put her arms around her and said, “Why don’t you do just that, Miss Judy?”
She hugged Addie for a few moments. “There’s even farm equipment that I couldn’t sell. People either don’t have the money, or have no use for it, and I haven’t picked the strawberries.”
“The Mathews are farmers. They’ll make use of everything and appreciate it. They had worked for the clock factory and farmed on the side.”
“Yes, I know the Mathews. I’m glad they’re getting the farm. And bless you, Addie,” she said and kissed Addie on the cheek, handed her the house keys, picked up her purse from the table, turned and walk out the back door as she said cheerfully, “See you at Stonegate.”
Addie closed the door and bolted it, walked through the house and locked the front door. Now she would have to stop by the slums and leave the keys with the Mathews, and tell them about all the stuff, Miss Judy was leaving them.
At Stonegate, the first thing Addie did was summon grandpa when she didn’t find him in her dressing room watching TV.
“What have you been up to, young Addie?” he wanted to know. So she caught him up on all her activities, then said, “Grandpa, there is someone I want you to get to know.”
“Sounds like this person is very special to you.”
“He is. In fact, he says he’s going to marry me one day. And, grandpa, he has seen Julian Dane, so you won’t be a surprise to him. But since mama couldn’t see you, I’m sure he won’t be able to either. He is the only person who knows that Julian Dane was my father except my mother and daddy.”
“When did he see Julian Dane?”
“When I was running from the mansion after Miss Willy and Nicki had fallen off her balcony. He had brought mama to pick me up and they were coming to the side door of the dining room. When Julian Dane suddenly appeared to me, I fainted. Mama said he wanted to take me with him and Vicki, and little Nicki, but she begged him to let her keep me. Then the spirit of Vicki just floated from me and mama and Donnie Whitefield saw it happen. “
“Humm,” grandpa said. “Well, you bring young Donnie around. I’d like to see if he can see me or communicate with me.”
“I will, and, Grandpa, I didn’t tell you, but in the morning, Mr. Sully Morgan, the attorney who is handling things for us, is bringing some people to see Stonegate. Apparently, these people will either approve or disapprove of the day care center and the nursing home. Miss Mattie is making lunch for them. I hope you’ll hang around. After all, these are your ideas.”
“I’ll be on hand, young Addie.”
Then Addie excused herself to get ready for dinner with Miss Mattie and Miss Judy. Then she still had William’s grocery shopping to do. Sometimes there just weren’t enough hours in the day.
And there was still the problem of how to get to school and back for her and Deena. Bikes were certainly out of the question. She thought of the box of keys. What if she owned a house close to the school that had a garage? She and Deena could drive the Lincoln to the house and pick up their bikes for the rest of the way. It was an idea to look into – when she had time.
As she was helping Miss Mattie put dinner on the breakfast table, Miss Mattie said, “Dear, Elinor Weston called today. She said Grant’s father is not doing well at all, and it might be weeks before he returns. He has talked to Clay Dewitt, the accountant, who’ll be collecting rents for him, and Grant instructed him to give you anything you want that the accounts look like he can afford to.”
“Thanks, Miss Mattie.” She was sorry to hear about Mr. Cutler’s father, but she didn’t need to ask Mr. Dewitt for anything. There was all that money in the desk, but then, they didn’t know about that. “Did she say what is wrong with Mr. Cutler’s father?”
“Cancer of the pancreas,” Mattie said.
During dinner, the two women talked about the luncheon for the next day. Miss Judy insisted that she be allowed to help, and then the talk turned to the upcoming dinner club. They were both so excited about it that Addie didn’t interrupt. She listened in silence thinking how much Miss Mattie needed Miss Judy just to talk to. And after their dinner, Miss Judy was going to play the organ for Miss Mattie. It had been placed in the opening between the living room and dining room. And both women insisted that she do William’s shopping so she could get back before it was very late.
Chapter Thirty-eight
Addie was peeling potatoes for the luncheon when the phone rang. She was closest to it, so she got up to answer it.
“And how is my best girl doing today?” asked the booming voice of Sully Morgan.
“Good morning, Mr. Sully. I’m fine. How are you? I’m helping Miss Mattie with this delicious lunch she is preparing for you and the people you’re bringing.”
“I’m fit as a fiddle, and I can’t wait for lunch. I haven’t had a decent meal in ages. But, Addie, I have some gentlemen in my office who are interested in purchasing some Stonegate land. Seems they’ve already talked to you.”
“Yes, Sir. They were interested in the property outside the fenced in area around the mansion. They want to build a golf course and a club house.”
“Did you tell them you’d take eighty-five percent of the appraised value for the land?”
“Yes, Mr. Sully, I did, but there is a condition to my selling to them, or anyone else.”
“Oh. And do they know about this condition?”
“No. But they have to agree, and in writing, that they will use the people of Riverbend for as much of the work as they can. Now I don’t know how to put it exactly, but I’m sure you do. Do you understand what I want?”
“I’m sure I do, Addie. You want the workers of Riverbend to have the jobs everywhere that it is possible.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“And you’re sticking to the price agreement?”
“Yes, Sir, if they agree to my conditions.”
He hesitated for a moment. “Well, it’s your land, my dear. I’ll tell them your conditions, and if they still want the land, they want to know how big a down payment, and how long a loan you’ll make. Seems they don’t want to go through a bank.”
“Tell them the interest rate will be bank rate, but that you’ll take whatever down payment they’re comfortable with and you can talk payments when they’re up and running,” grandpa said.
Addie related grandpa’s words. Then she said, “Mr. Sully, since the only way to get to the property is up Stone Drive and around the side fence, I want you and me to see what their plans are for the road. And we would have to approve their plans. Is that all right?”
“Sounds reasonable to me, Addie. I’ll talk to them. If they’re still agreeable, I’ll draw up a contract and bill of sale, and we’ll get together as soon as the land is appraised. And I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As soon as she hung up the phone, “Grandpa, how did you know what we were saying?” she asked silently.
“I eavesdrop. Remember? I can hear both sides of a conversation.
“But I might have conversations that I don’t want you listening in on.”
“I know what conversations to listen to and what not to.”
“I hope I can trust you.”
“Young Addie, I’m the most trustworthy spirit you know.”
“You’re the only spirit I know.”
“Addie, is something wrong?” Miss Mattie asked since she just sat there at the desk.
“Oh, no, Miss Mattie, I’m fine. But do you remember the men who were looking over the land? Well they went to see Mr. Sully. They want to purchase it as soon as it’s appraised.”
“Great! That ought to be good for my dinner club,” she said
happily.
Addie helped with the lunch preparations until it was time to get dressed and then set the table. She had just finished dressing when Deena found her. “Jo Ann Simmons needs to talk to you,” she said.
Now what? Addie wondered. The woman never wanted to talk unless she had something special on her mind. She found her sitting at the small round table before the French doors studying papers of figures that were spread out on the table. Mrs. Simmons was in bed taking one of her short naps.
“Thank you for coming so promptly,” Jo Ann said. “I have a problem.”
Addie wanted to say ‘don’t you always?’ But she didn’t. “How can I help you,” she asked.
“Deena says she can’t stay with Aunt Beth while I’m downstairs. She will be serving lunch for William. I can’t leave her by herself. And I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”
“Oohh! I forgot about that!” Addie exclaimed. “And Miss Mattie has to join all of you at the table. Miss Judy and I were going to serve lunch. Oh, dear. Let me go down and talk to them. You have to be there. We’ll work something out. I’ll be right back.”
She really wanted to serve the lunch. She wanted to hear the comments from Mr. Sully and the people he was bringing. But Miss Judy couldn’t possibly do it by herself. When she reached the kitchen and explained the situation to the two women, Miss Mattie assured her that they would manage, that she go back upstairs and not worry about it.
She heard the faint sound of the front door knocker just as she reluctantly was entering the elevator, and Jo Ann met her at the door. She was using her crutches instead of the wheel chair. She thanked Addie, who told her that the others were beginning to arrive.
Mrs. Simmons awakened from one of her naps just as her lunch was being delivered. Addie gave her the ‘before meals’ medicine, then helped her to the small table where her lunch had been placed. After her ‘after meals medicine’, she opened the French doors because the weather was so nice, and she recalled how the woman like to just sit and look outside. She hadn’t heard Mrs. Simmons talk much, and she wondered if she knew her husband had died. Had Jo Ann told her? She also wondered about the man’s burying? She supposed Jo Ann had taken care of it all, and it was none of her business.
It was more than three hours later that Addie heard cars going down the driveway. Mrs. Simmons was again napping, and Jo Ann was hobbling through the door. “Mr. Sully is waiting for you in the library. The committee had thought that you would be at the luncheon. I’m sorry you had to miss it.”
“It’s my fault. I should have thought about the need for a sitter for your aunt.”
Addie found grandpa waiting for her in the elevator.
“Well, young Addie, I think you’re about to find out just how much you really want to keep Stonegate.”
“Why? What went on?”
“You knew some changes had to be made, but I’m not sure we thought to what extent. You may have to decide if you want to loose Stonegate as it is, or change it and keep it.”
Addie suddenly had a foreboding feeling. Miss Mattie met her as she opened the elevator doors on the second floor. She had a cold glass of orange juice in her hand. “I know you’re hungry, but drink this now. It’ll keep you until you can eat. I’ll have it waiting for you.”
Addie thanked her, took a few moments to down the juice, and was very much aware of the happy smile on Miss Mattie’s face. Whatever, she thought. She couldn’t disappoint Miss Mattie.
At the library door, Mr. Sully greeted her. “Here’s my pretty one.” He always smiled, but he was smiling too big for Addie’s frame of mind right then. It made her suspicions rise.
“Sorry I wasn’t down here for lunch. I had to sit with Miss Simmons’ aunt.”
“So I was told. Sit down.” He nodded to a chair beside the desk where he sat. “Addie,” he began. “I know your goal is to help put Riverbend back on it’s feet. And I admire you for it. You are an exceptional sixteen year old. But I’m afraid we’re about to find out just how bad you want that. I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”
Oh, no, she thought. Don’t let it be Miss Mattie’s dinner club. “Which one are they not going to approve?”
“That’s the good news,” he said. “All three ventures are approved.”
“That’s great!” she exclaimed with relief. Miss Mattie could have her dinner club. “So what’s the bad news?” Not that grandpa hadn’t already warned her of what it was. Well, she’d listen.
“There are conditions that have to be met before you can operate either one of them, and I don’t think you’re going to like some of them. It will mean some rather drastic changes in Stonegate.”
He had a yellow legal pad on the desk in front of him and a pencil in his hand. “Come here. I need to show you the changes that must be made before any licenses are issued. Then it will be up to you to decide what you want to do.”
She walked around the desk and looked over his shoulder. He had made a rough sketch of the building, the driveway and fence.
“This is a sketch of the mansion as it exists. Right?”
“Looks like it.”
He flipped the page. There was another sketch with additions of another fence, driveway and parking area on the left side of the building, and numbered notations on the bottom of the page. “The driveway from the street has to be widened to make it a double drive. It has to come around to the left side of the mansion and a parking area created for dropping off and picking up children for the day care center. And this area has to be fenced in for a play area. The other things noted here,” he was pointing his pencil to the notations at the bottom of the page, “like a lock on both pool room doors, and a partition built in that hallway where the elevator and back stairway is. There can be a door built in the partition, but it has to be kept locked while the children are here. That will shut off the two storage rooms, dressing rooms, and showers. That means the two bedrooms and bath on the ground floor will become a part of the day care center. And it was suggested very strongly that the first bedroom become a sort of first aid room, and the second one will become more lavatory space for the children.” He looked up at Addie.
“But won’t the children be allowed to use the pool?” she asked.
“Yes, but under very careful supervision which will add to the cost for each child.”
Grandpa had materialized over Mr. Sully. Silently to grandpa, she said, “I’m glad you’re here. All that doesn’t seem to bad to me. Does it to you?”
“It’s your mansion, young Addie. Like I said, we had to expect some changes. But you haven’t seen the rest.”
“Addie!”
“Sorry, Mr. Sully. All that doesn’t seem too bad. We had to expect some changes.”
“We? Addie. Just who is we?”
Ooops. “Uh, Mrs. Mitchell. I’m sure she has her own plans.”
“You’re right, she does, and she can go ahead with her plans for individual lockers, the furnishings of tables and chairs, and whatever she needs.” He paused. “So long as you both understand that there will be no license issued until the alterations are done and approved by the committee.” He looked at Addie rather sympathetically, she thought, and she knew she wasn’t going to like what was coming next.
“Now, as for the dinner club. Oh, by-the-way, Mattie started her membership list today. Five of us joined, and I’m first on the list. How about that?”
“That’s wonderful. So that’s why Miss Mattie was smiling so. “I was going to ask you to join.”
“Thanks for looking out for me. Now, let’s look at my drawings for the changes that have to be made for the dinner club. I hope you’ll feel the same about these changes being expected.” He flipped over another page in his pad, and Addie joined grandpa in looking over his shoulder.
“This is the hallway that goes from the kitchen to Mattie’s rooms. See this door that goes from the middle of the hall to the outside to give Mattie her own private entrance. Now, I know the dinner clu
b will have the front entrance and the side door to the dining room, but the dinner club cannot use the summer kitchen as a back door for employees and deliveries. So this door will be used for that. And it was suggested that the opening be made bigger and noted on the outside what it is for. And, Addie, Mattie approves wholeheartedly.”
Addie looked at grandpa. “Okay?” she asked silently. He nodded his head.
And now for the elevator, the back stairway, the breakfast room, and that half bath under the back stairs will all belong to the nursing home ... “The elevator! And the breakfast room!” Addie exclaimed.
“Yes, Addie. And a partition will be built in the hallway right here,” he said pointing to his sketch.
“But Miss Mattie will loose the breakfast room! I guess she wouldn’t need the elevator, but ...”
“Addie, my Dear. She understands that she’ll loose the breakfast room, but with all the tables in the dining rooms, what will she need with the breakfast room?”
But I enjoy eating in the breakfast room with its big glass windows to see outside while I’m eating, she thought sadly.
“Again, a door can be built in the partition if you like, but it would have to be kept locked on both sides and used only for emergencies.
She was beginning to feel doubtful about it all.
“Now, there will be two lavatories for the dinner club members. The one under the front stairs, for the ladies, and the one off that small hall in the library for the men. But there needs to be one for Mattie’s employees. We all thought about it, and the best place seemed to be right here,” he pointed his pencil to the drawing, “where this hall partitions is to be. There can also be lockers for the help on this wall of the hall. The hall is certainly wide enough.”
“Golly! I sure never thought about all of this.”
The Daughters of Julian Dane Page 59
