Dovetail: A Novel(10)
“Okay.”
Disappointed but not surprised, Joe said goodbye and hung up. Pearl appeared in the doorway a moment later. “So,” she said, “how did that go?”
“As it turns out, I won’t be able to leave until tomorrow.”
“I see.”
“If that’s okay?”
“It’s more than okay. I would love it if you’d stay. As I said, I have a project that I could use some help with. It would take most of the summer, and I have to hire someone. If I’m giving someone large sums of money, I’d just as soon give it to my grandson.”
Grandson. The word came so easily out of her mouth, but it struck him as so odd to hear from a woman he’d just met. She gave him an expectant look. He said, “That’s nice of you to think of me, but I have to get back home. I have things to do.” Truthfully, he didn’t have anything to go back to—no job, no girlfriend—but he wasn’t going to admit that. From her skeptical expression, she knew that already. Maybe she’d pried that information from Linda during their phone conversation. Linda knew not to be rude to an adult, even on the phone. If she was asked a question, she would most likely answer it.
“One night, then,” she said finally. “Lock up after I leave, and make yourself at home. One of the bedrooms upstairs, the second door on the left, was recently cleaned and has fresh bedding. The rest of the place is a bit of a mess, I’m sorry to say, but it beats sleeping outside.”
“Wait. You’re not going to be here?” He should have felt relieved at finding out he wouldn’t have to stay with a stranger, even if they were related, but he wasn’t. This house was enormous and in disrepair. If he were someone who frightened easily, he might think of ghosts. More important, he wanted her to stick around so they could talk about the schism with his father. What would cause a man to break ties with his own mother? He couldn’t even imagine.
“No.” She shook her head. “I don’t live here anymore.”
“What?”
“They made me move out.” She harrumphed. “It’s a long story, but I was getting my medication mixed up and wound up in the hospital. Then my doctor filed a report with the county, and there was an investigation.” She put the last word in finger quotes. “A bunch of busybodies. You wouldn’t believe the brouhaha when I wouldn’t let a visiting nurse come to my house. It was like end-times in Pullman. I finally took charge and decided to move into Pine Ridge Hollow, where Howard lives, before they got some court-appointed person to take away my rights.”
“So Pine Ridge Hollow is an apartment complex?”
“An old folks’ home.” She frowned. “They like the residents to be back before dark unless you let them know in advance.”
Joe pondered this. “Are you going to get in trouble?”
“Ack.” She flapped a hand dismissively. “They have so many rules, but as you know, rules are meant to be broken. What are they going to do, say I can’t have my pudding for dessert?”
“Pearl!” Howard called from the next room, his voice thin and anxious. “We better get back. I already missed my evening medications.”
“And they’re a little hung up on the medications,” she said. “They dole them out like Tic Tacs. And then they give you the tiniest little paper cup of water. Bunch of cheapskates.”
“They did that at Trendale too,” Joe said, remembering the disposable cups that held only a sip and a half. Like someone might overdose on water.
“Did they watch to make sure you swallowed the pill?”
“Yes, they did.”
She sighed. “I hate that.”
“I hated that too.” He met her eyes, and for the first time, he felt like maybe there was a family connection. They’d bonded over having medication dispensed.
From down the hall: “Pearlie!”
“I have to go,” she said. “You’ll be fine here. I’ll come back tomorrow about nine. If you need me, dial the operator. Her name is Nellie. Ask for Pine Ridge Hollow. She’ll know how to put the call through.” She gave him an appraising look. “But you seem like a capable young man, so I doubt that will be necessary.”
“Okay.”
“Oh, and I put some food in the refrigerator earlier today. There’s also some canned soup.”
“Thank you.”
“Pearl!”
“I’m coming, Howard. Hold your horses.” And down the hallway she went, her walker leading the way.
CHAPTER SIX
1916
Pearl thought that even if she lived to be a hundred, she wouldn’t forget the day John Lawrence came to stay with the family. Little did she know that his arrival would mark the beginning of the end, her life changing in so many ways, and none of them good. All she knew was that John Lawrence—an eligible young bachelor—was being delivered right to her doorstep. Even though she didn’t know what he looked like, the idea made her shiver with anticipation.
She’d known all the young men in their small town since they were practically infants, and they were essentially the only men she knew. Not being allowed to venture far from home, Pearl rarely met new people. Occasionally, someone in town would have a relative come to visit, which was always of interest, but having a young man come live with them was an event like no other. As far as she was concerned, it was the most exciting thing to happen in Pullman, Wisconsin, in a long time, maybe for years. Absolutely nothing ever changed for the better in Pullman unless you counted a new picture at the Victory Theater. Pearl and her five younger sisters had seen all the pictures, many times. Their oldest sister, Alice, was the pianist on Saturday nights, and so the owner, Mr. Kramer, let them in for free as long as they sat in the back and were very quiet.