Honeysuckle Season

by Mary Ellen Taylor

  She downshifted and drove to the side of the house and parked next to the kitchen. She shut off the engine, waiting as the motor sputtered and coughed itself still before setting the parking brake.

  Her mother had tried to get her to wear her Sunday dress. “Important to make a good impression,” she had said.

  But Sadie had insisted it was too hard to shift the old truck’s gears when she was wearing a dress. Plus, there was no telling when the engine would up and stop on her, and she would be forced to climb up on the front bumper and fix whatever was broken. Engine grease was a sure way to ruin Sunday best.

  Still, she had let her mother put a comb to her auburn hair and smooth the curls down as best she could before fastening it back with a ribbon. She was wearing the best overalls she owned and a clean shirt and had brushed all the dirt off her scuffed brown shoes.

  Sadie hugged the frayed folds of her coat close, conscious that the buttons did not match. She hurried up the steps and knocked on the kitchen door.

  She turned her back to the door, staring at the land that rolled down toward the river. Without the leaves on the trees, the porch offered an unobstructed view of the James. The waters were meandering slowly today, as if they too did not care much for the cold.

  The door snapped open behind her, and she turned, expecting to see the cook. Standing in the threshold was Edward Carter, a frown creasing the lines of his face. He was dressed in gray suit pants, a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and a vest cut from the same fabric as his pants.

  “You’re late,” he said, glancing at his wristwatch.

  “It’s eleven a.m., just as we agreed.” Sadie had gone to the general store and used Mr. Sullivan’s phone to call the Carter house last week. She had asked Mrs. Fritz the time twice and had scribbled it on a piece of butcher paper.

  Her rebuttal appeared to irritate him more. “The time was ten.”

  She slid her hands into her pockets, ready to pull out the note, when her mother’s warning rang in her ears. “No sass, girl, even if you’re right.”

  “Sorry about that, sir,” she said. “Does Miss Olivia still want me to drive her into Charlottesville?”

  “As luck would have it, she is just finishing up breakfast and should be ready any minute. You’re lucky she runs so late.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Come on inside. As soon as she arrives, I’ll show you both to the garage and familiarize you with the car. Then I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay. I’ve patients to see this afternoon in Lynchburg.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Which means if you two girls get into trouble, I won’t be able to help. We do have a telephone at the house and one at the hospital. Do you know how to use one?”

  “Sure I do. But we won’t get into trouble. We’ll take it slow and steady.”

  “Your brother wrote me a letter, telling me again what a good worker you are. Don’t prove him wrong, young lady.”

  She would have liked to see the letter, just to have another piece of her brother. “Johnny’s never wrong about anything.”

  Dr. Carter nodded, satisfied with the answer.

  Sadie stepped into the kitchen, savoring the warmth as it soaked into her bones. She wished she could store some of that heat somehow for the ride home later.

  “I’ll let Olivia know you’re here. There’s a plate of biscuits on the table if you’re hungry. Your brother says you always have an appetite.”

  That surely was true. “Thank you.”

  Unrolling his sleeves, he pushed through the swinging doors and vanished inside the house. She lifted a red-and-white-checkered cloth. Underneath was a plate of beautiful warm biscuits staring up at her. She took a bite out of the first and then gobbled the rest of it in seconds. It would have been better to eat it slowly like a lady, but there had been little extra at breakfast this morning at home. She had told her mother to eat the extra herself because she had been ailing from a cold for a couple of weeks.

  Sadie removed a handkerchief and wrapped two biscuits and stuffed them in her pocket. Heeled footsteps sounded in the outer hallway as she pushed a second biscuit whole in her mouth.

  Miss Olivia pushed through the swinging door, hurriedly brushing back a dark curl from her milk-white skin. She was dressed in a brown dress with embroidered flowers along the hem, which hit her slender legs midcalf. Her shoes were polished and looked made of soft calfskin, matching the purse dangling from her forearm.

  “Good morning, Miss Thompson,” Olivia said.

  Sadie swallowed and smiled. “Morning to you, ma’am.” Biscuit crumbs gathered on her cuff, which she quickly brushed away. “You can call me Sadie. Everyone does.”

  “Sadie it is, then.”

  Edward arrived, and Olivia smiled up at him and kissed him meekly on the cheek.

  Some of the frown on Dr. Carter’s face softened. “I want you to be careful today.”

  Olivia grinned. “I will.” She opened her purse and removed gloves. “I don’t see how a ride in the country can be all that dangerous.”

  “The roads are still icy in spots.”

  “I’ve survived far worse.” Olivia sniffed.

  Ignoring the comment, Dr. Carter shrugged on his own wool coat. “If you ladies will follow me, I’ll show you the car.”

  Unhurried, Olivia carefully tugged on a soft kid glove. “Have you really been driving since you were twelve, Sadie?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “I’m from London, and many of us don’t drive at all.”

  “Driving is the way to get around these parts unless you’re willing to walk or hitch.”

  “How far is it to Charlottesville?”

  “Twenty-plus miles, give or take.”

  “Ah.”

  Edward opened the kitchen door, allowing in a blast of cold air. He waited for Olivia and Sadie to pass before he followed, pulling the door closed behind him. “Ladies, let’s get you to the garage and see if Sadie is as good a driver as her brother says.”

  Sadie was better, especially if she could reach the pedals, but she chose not to point that out. Her driving would put an end to Dr. Carter’s doubts.

  As a cold wind careened over the hill from the river, the trio walked toward what looked like a barn. Dr. Carter’s quick steps set a fast pace, and though Sadie could keep up well enough, she expected to look back and see Miss Olivia lagging. She was surprised to see the woman a few steps behind, matching her step for step.

  Edward pushed open the barn doors, but instead of horses inside, there was a row of three cars. On the right, a farm truck, and it was the plainest of the three but far nicer than her truck. Next to it was a blue Ford Deluxe coupe with a sleek polished body. Beside it was a green Pontiac station wagon with a big back seat and wood paneling on the side.

  A thrill of excitement raced through Sadie as she thought about driving one of the Carter family’s fancy cars. Her brother had told her a car was a car, and if she could shift gears in one, she could in another. The main difference, he had mused, was that the fancier models did what they were told, whereas Old Blue had to be sweet-talked into starting sometimes.

  These were the kinds of cars she had seen starlets driving on magazine covers. In Charlottesville, there were a few folks with nicer cars, but none were as new as any of these. She wiped the toes of her boots against her pant legs, wishing now she had been more careful to avoid the muddy spots as she walked around this morning. Good Lord, if Johnny could see her now driving such a fancy car, he would be tongue-tied.

  “You ladies will take the Pontiac.” Edward fished a set of keys from his pocket. “Today, it might be wise to stay on the property and get used to the automobile.”

  “I thought we were going into Charlottesville?” Olivia said. “I hoped to do some shopping.”

  “Safety is more important. I don’t feel right about turning you two loose on these roads unless I’m certain you’ll be safe. Driving can be very dangerous.”

&
nbsp; “Depends on how fast you go,” Sadie said. “Or the roads. If we take it slow and easy, it won’t be dangerous at all, especially in a fancy car like this.”

  A hint of disappointment flickered in Olivia’s gaze. “See, Edward, there’s nothing to worry about. Sadie is going to treat me like I’m a fragile egg. We won’t take any unnecessary chances.”

  Edward opened the car door and got behind the wheel. “I don’t have time to argue. I almost lost you once, and I won’t risk it again.”

  She squeezed his hand. “We’re far from London and the bombs here in Virginia.”

  A smile flicked the edge of his lips as he seemed to realize his beautiful wife was right, though he wouldn’t admit it. “I’ll show Sadie the basics of driving, and then I’ll leave you two to drive up and down the driveway. Don’t leave the property.”

  “We shall observe all safety protocols,” Olivia said.

  Sadie tugged off her glove and ran her hand over the cold metal. “Can I get inside?”

  “I don’t see how you’re going to drive it if you don’t.” Edward got out of the car.

  Sadie slid behind the wheel, amazed how polished leather smelled so good. Johnny kept his truck clean, but once a hound dog or chickens rode inside, there was no getting the smell out of it.

  She smoothed her fingertips over the white wheel, wondering how far she could drive in a car like this. She bet she could make it all the way to New York City or maybe California.

  Sadie pulled out the choke button to her right and turned the ignition key. The engine roared to life. It did not cough, sputter, or complain but hummed.

  She climbed out and opened the back door. “Miss Olivia, why don’t you have a seat, and I can take us for a spin.”

  Miss Olivia looked at the empty back seat. “I would rather ride up front. I shall be able to see better.”

  “Sadie, you won’t drive too fast,” Edward warned.

  “No, sir,” she said as she closed the back door. “I’ll drive her like I would my mama.”

  “Very well; then I’ll observe for a moment and then leave you to it.”

  Sadie was back behind the wheel and closing her door as Edward crossed around the front of the car and held Olivia’s door for her. He closed it carefully and then stepped back a safe distance.

  Olivia settled in her seat. “I’ve ridden in dozens of cars. None ever felt too fast for me.”

  Sadie released the brake, pushed in the clutch, and shifted into first gear. “Then you weren’t driving with the right person.”

  Olivia laughed. “Try to be restrained around Edward, or he’ll never leave.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Sadie pressed the accelerator as she eased up on the clutch until the gear engaged, and they inched their way out of the barn. She kept on driving, shifting gears so smoothly she nearly giggled.

  She drove around the house and past her old truck, which now seemed a little sad to be left behind. After going around the circular driveway, they made their way to the end of the long driveway.

  After ten minutes of them navigating the driveway, Edward backed the coupe out of the barn. He pulled up beside them, and he and Sadie rolled down their windows. “You ladies look like you have it under control.”

  “No need to worry about us. We’re fine. Don’t work too hard, dear.”

  Edward’s gaze bore into Sadie. “Be careful.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  They waited as he drove past, the muddy earth spitting off his back tires.

  “Give it a few more minutes,” Olivia warned. “Edward might double back.”

  “Why?”

  “To make sure we’re being safe.”

  “We are.”

  “I want to go to Charlottesville,” Olivia said.

  Sadie downshifted, rolling around the circular driveway, back toward the long driveway. “We said we would stay.”

  “I promised to be safe. I didn’t promise to stay on the property.”

  “To the end of the driveway for starters,” Sadie said.

  Annoyance pursed Miss Olivia’s heart-shaped lips. “We can at least go out on the main road. I want to see the open fields and the mountains in the distance.” She adjusted the folds of her skirt and folded her hands in her lap. “I’ve barely left the property in weeks.”

  “I don’t know. Dr. Carter said to stay put.”

  “We won’t go far.” And when Sadie hesitated again, Olivia added, “You aren’t afraid, are you?”

  Sadie recognized what Miss Olivia was trying to do, but it wouldn’t work. “I am. I don’t want to lose this job.”

  “You won’t. Now let’s go for a short ride.”

  Sadie paused at the end of the driveway.

  “I won’t tell,” Olivia whispered.

  Muttering under her breath, Sadie made the turn and nosed the car down the road. She scooted her bottom closer to the edge and gripped the steering wheel as she searched for any signs of Edward.

  “Why did you learn to drive at such a young age?” Olivia asked.

  “Daddy needed help with moving supplies, and Mama never learned.”

  “You must have been terrified.”

  “First time or two. Then I took a liking to it.”

  That first day behind the wheel, Sadie had been scared to death. Her daddy had never had much patience, and she’d had a devil of a time learning when to press on the gas so as to let up on the clutch. Once she had done it so quickly the car had bucked, and her daddy had hit his head on the dashboard. He had been madder than hell. Later he had said he was sorry for losing his temper, but Sadie had known not to try his patience.

  “Where do you live, Sadie?” Olivia asked.

  “On my mama’s farm. Not far from here.”

  “Is that where you make your moonshine?” she asked.

  A grin tugged Sadie’s lips. “No, ma’am. Making shine on your property is a sure way to get caught. We have a little spot by the river. There are a few little hollows that you can’t see from the road.”

  “Can you show me?”

  “That would be too far to drive,” Sadie said. “Besides, this time of year, the driving is tougher.”

  “How well do you think you know this car?”

  “Well enough. There’s not much to it. The engine is smooth.”

  Olivia watched as Sadie slowed and downshifted the gears. “You make it look easy.”

  “It is.”

  “I rode in several ambulances in London, but I never drove one.”

  “What’s an ambulance?”

  “A car that carries injured people to the hospital. London’s been under attack for a while now. Bombs from planes catch buildings on fire if they don’t tumble first. It leaves a lot of wounded civilians.”

  “What’s a bomb like?”

  “Have you ever heard an explosion?”

  “No, but my brothers knew a fellow who lost a leg when there was a gas explosion in the mines near West Virginia. What are they like?”

  “It’s a lot like that, only much bigger and louder. Except the explosion is coming from bombs dropped by planes that can level a city block.”

  “Are those loud?”

  “So loud that the sounds leave your ears ringing for days.” Olivia’s voice took on a faraway tone as she stared out over the open fields.

  “How do you get away from them?”

  “There are shelters underground to hide. But no place is completely safe.”

  “The war is pretty far from here, right?”

  “Yes. For now, we’re safe.”

  The road ended at a T intersection, and Sadie, half expecting Dr. Carter to be waiting for them, turned the car around and headed back to Woodmont.

  “I would like to learn how to drive,” Miss Olivia said with a mischievous grin.

  “Why do you want to know how to drive? You have me to drive you everywhere.”

  “But you might not always be here. It’s better that one knows how to take care of oneself.�
�

  “I’m pretty sure Dr. Carter will fire me if I teach you how to drive.”

  “He doesn’t need to know. He is rarely here, and this place feels rather small, especially in winter.”

  “You have that greenhouse to plant and won’t have time to learn.”

  “There’s time for both. Teach me. I’ll pay handsomely.”

  “But I’m already getting paid.”

  “Think of this as a bonus.”

  Sadie knew at the rate she was earning money in her new job, she might never save enough money to move off the mountain. A bonus from Miss Olivia would speed that process up mightily.

  “You won’t lose your job, Sadie. I will forbid Dr. Carter from firing you.”

  “No disrespect, ma’am, but he doesn’t look like a guy that takes orders from anyone, even you.”

  “Don’t worry about my husband. I’ll handle him.”

  That was easy for her to say. The engine rumbled, and a look over her shoulder showed no sign of Mr. Carter. “We will just drive back to the house,” Sadie said. “We went on the hard roads, and if I push it much more today, I’m going to get in trouble.”

  There were times when Sadie pushed the edge of her mother’s and brothers’ patience, but disobeying a man like Dr. Carter just tempted trouble.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  LIBBY

  Sunday, June 14, 2020

  Bluestone, Virginia

  There was always a good reason not to fill in the blank. Libby had gotten home from the wedding around one o’clock on Sunday afternoon. Blissfully exhausted, she had fallen onto the couch and slept until three. Energized, she showered and changed into a relaxed-fit top and black linen pants.

  She had plenty of time before she was supposed to leave for Woodmont, so she contemplated checking out the shed stocked with her old photography equipment. If that did not suit, she could get a jump on some of the photo editing or even go through the trove of papers in her father’s desk.

  Instead, Libby made herself a cup of coffee and then settled back on the living room couch. Reaching for her phone, she scrolled through her Instagram account, reviewing the pictures she had posted from the wedding and smiling as she read the comments from several of the wedding guests.