Letters From Al by Pieper, Kathleen (i am reading a book txt) 📗

sheets and a blanket on the last bed, "why did my aunt keep all these rooms ready to use. Did she have a lot of company?"

"No, not really. But anytime the pastor called with a poor soul who needed bed and board, she'd open up a room. It was the same with emergencies. One family was burned out of their farm home, she put them up. Another time a tornado completely destroyed a family home, she put them all up for a couple weeks." Tucking a neat hospital corner on her side of the bed Aunt Polly smiled reflectively. "Your aunt was a natural caretaker. She was in her glory when the house was full of people and activity. Just wish we'd have found the jewelry and books."

Maddy gathered up the cleaning supplies and they stood back surveying their finished handiwork. Satisfied with their progress they closed the last door just as the doorbell rang.

"Leland." They said in unison and then laughed.

"Well, I'm getting out while the getting's good. You have to talk to him, I don't. See you later." Aunt Polly headed down the hall and out the back door before Maddy could argue.

"Good afternoon, Miss Morris. Did Mrs. Smith tell you I was coming?"

"Yes, I've been expecting you. We definitely have some things to discuss. You certainly look bright and cheerful, Mr. Lancaster, come on in the kitchen, I need to get rid of these cleaning things. We just finished the upstairs."

"Thank you, have a golf game later on today. You sure have made the place sparkle, I must say. It'll go a long way impressing the buyers who want to see the place just as soon as they can."

"To tell you the truth, Mr. Lancaster, I’m not sure I want to sell."

"Oh, call me, Leland, remember. I think we're good enough friends to be on a first name basis." Then her meaning became clear, “You don’t want to sell?”

Maddy put the cleaning supplies under the sink, a rueful smile on her face, which she kept Leland from seeing.

Wiping her hands, she took a long time before answering. "Okay, Leland. Truthfully, I'm not sure I want to sell anymore."

"Look, I know the thrill of owning your own place must be exciting, but this," he swung his hand out in front of him, "it's just too much for a young woman. You must think about this more before jumping into it," he said seriously.

Maddy looked at him impatiently, still irritated at his opinion. "No, I told you I would let you know if I did."

"I just mean, you said you'd finished cleaning upstairs, I thought maybe you might have found something."

Maddy shook her head, busy making a pot of coffee.

"No. We've gone through everything with a fine-toothed-comb. Well, except for the attic and the roll top desk in the library. There was a brown attaché wedged behind the desk, it's full of papers but they looked like bills. I'll go through them sometime and let you know."

"Yes, you do that." He rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache.

"Say, Leland, I do have something else I need to ask you."

“Did you know my Aunt had a black jewelry box? Aunt Polly said she’d seen it before and there were some valuable pieces in it. I haven’t been able to find it.”

Leland's face was blank and he shook his head slowly. "No, can't say as I do. I wasn't familiar with her jewelry and personal stuff. I know she had a red jewelry case, but a black one? It’s missing you say? That is strange."

Maddy nodded and didn't relent in her questioning. "Yes, a strand of pearls, a ruby ring, and a diamond broach, oh, and a set of hand bound, leather books embossed in gold, classics I believe. Aunt Polly thought they might even be first editions. Do you know anything about them?"

"It might have been taken in the break-in." Leland suggested. "Mrs. Smith should recall that, she called the deputy. He did show up and investigate, but never found out who broke in. It's not good to have an empty residence. Another reason a single woman shouldn't have a big old place like this."

"I suppose." But Maddy wasn't convinced.

"Good. Good. I hope they're recovered but I doubt it. Now, getting back to the house, I hate to push it, but I do have an interested party that wants to look at the place. I think you ought to show it to them. They're cash buyers who want out of the big city badly. What do you think?"

"I don't know." Maddy was unsure, but a cash buyer in this day and age was rare for anything. Leland's ominous description of the problems of owning a house like this reared up in the back of her mind. This forced her to come to grips with the situation head on and the cash part was temping. She realized she must make up her mind, and soon.

"Look, if you're still not certain, why not let me just show the place once. If you like their offer, good, if not, you don’t have to accept it." Leland stood up and shrugged. The coffee pot gave a loud burp and Maddy poured two cups and sat down, thinking. Leland walked around gazing out the windows, sipping his coffee quietly.

"I tell you, Maddy, there's a lot more work to a place like this than you realize, and for a young woman alone? Why, look at the lawn, it's dry and overgrown and the flower bed needs so much work."

"That's the next thing I was going to start now that the house cleaning is done." Maddy defended herself, but his list of all the chores waiting to be done was beginning to exhaust her.

"As I came in I noticed the outside is due for a coat of paint and a shutter's hanging. I know there are rooms inside that need some major work too."

"Yes, that's all true." Maddy sighed, recalling a very poor job done