Baylin House (Cassandra Crowley Mystery) (14 page)

There were nine at the big dinner table Sunday afternoon;
Rosalie, Harvey, Bea, five of Rosalie’s misfit charges, and Cassie.

That’s how Cassie had come to think of them after retyping more
than a dozen pages last night and then reading them again this morning. Rosalie’s
misfits – the men who were lifted from Oakwood institution when that was all
they knew, and set down at Baylin House in Rosalie’s care, to learn how to
survive.

Today Rosalie’s chair was scooted closer to Cassie. Next to
her was Emmet in his crisp khaki shirt and trousers, officially introduced to Cassie
again at the table. Was that for his benefit? Had he forgotten her since
Thursday?

Or was it for Harvey Richards and Bea Morgan’s benefit so they’d
both understand that Rosalie was giving Cassie permission to talk to Emmet and
the others? Bea gave no sign today of the anger she displayed when Cassie left
here Friday afternoon.

On Emmet’s left was Harvey, dressed in dark Bermuda shorts
and green plaid shirt, both neatly pressed though showing wear at the seams. Very
different from the clinical scrubs Cassie had seen him in before. Maybe Sunday
was his day off. He pretty much ignored Cassie, but she expected that from him.

The chair on Harvey’s left was for Bea, though she spent as
much time back and forth with the stove as she did sitting. At the other end,
facing Cassie, was a large man with an unusually large round head, the infamous
Brady Irwin. He looked much younger than his years – according to Rosalie’s
manuscript he would be sixty-five in a few weeks. Cassie knew Dorothy didn’t
trust him, but his expression and his mannerisms matched what Bea had said – a
grown man with the personality of a happy pre-teen boy, not stunted so much as just
immature.

Watching him reminded Cassie of Lawrence Baylin’s comment
that Brady was only mildly deficient. He definitely was not stupid. Cassie
overheard him talking to Harvey about storage temperatures for fresh produce,
and about a new refrigeration system installed at the store where he works. He
sounded as knowledgeable on the mechanical installation as any professional. But
on every other subject he was back to the happy child persona. There was no
mention today of Brady spending time with the Police.

Next Rosalie introduced Willie Morse, sitting across the
table from Bea. Cassie recognized the name. Willie had been in the same car
when Emmet Pine was brought to Baylin House.

Willie was so small, less than five feet tall with thin arms
and childlike hands, that he could have passed as a seven year old boy except
for his sagging eyelids, fleshy bags under his eyes, deep lines on his
suntanned face, and receding thin gray hair that needed a trim.

He also had a gray shadow on his cheeks so he probably did
not shave this morning, and Cassie noticed Bea Morgan frowning at that.

Willie nodded when Rosalie introduced Cassie, but he didn’t turn
his head or even raise his eyes. He sat with his hands in his lap, looking at
the food on the table as if he was taking inventory. Maybe he was just hungry
and the introduction was holding up the process.

Sitting next to Willie was Seth Peters, average looking in
every way for a man in his seventies; apple shaped in front with a lean-back
posture to balance the paunch. His eyes were rheumy and his voice raspy; he
needed to clear his throat, but instead only spoke louder to make up for the
strained vocal sound. The result was grating on the ears, but no one else
seemed surprised or bothered by it.

Sitting between Seth and Cassie was Jonathan Wilbur, the man
who was nearly blind. Jonathan timidly shook her hand and recited, “I’m very
glad to meet you, Miss Cassandra.” When he spoke his pupils flitted up and to
the right as though he’d just seen something flying by. Cassie realized he was trying
to see her in his peripheral vision. It was difficult to ignore the distraction
that created.

“Thank you, Jonathan. I’m glad to meet you, too.”

Jonathan was tall, like Emmet, but soft and fleshy and a
little effeminate, and talked about his job as a florist assistant in a breathy
whisper. Instead of making it louder the way Seth did, he maintained such a soft
sound that Cassie leaned toward him to hear when he spoke.

She was listening to Jonathan tell about a shipment of roses
that arrived late, when she overheard Rosalie say something to Willie. Even
with her attention divided, she could see that Willie was ignoring Rosalie,
pretending he did not hear. Rosalie shook her head and shrugged.

A minute later Willie mumbled something to Harvey. Harvey
shook his head.

Then to Emmet, Willie said, “I have a job, Emmet. I could
pay some rent and ‘lectricity with you.” His voice was offensively whiney.

Emmet lowered his head and took a deep breath.

“Emmet’s place is too far from your job, Willie. I can’t
come all the way down there to get you back and forth.”

“But I can ride the bus back and forth just like Emmet does,”
the withered little man insisted, his eyes still on Emmet, not Harvey. “I don’t
need anybody to come get me.”

Emmet kept his eyes on his plate, slowly pushing a piece of
meat through gravy with his fork.

“Willie,” Harvey said gently, “you cannot move in with Emmet.”

“But I can--”

“You have to stay at Baylin House until you earn enough to
get your own apartment. Then I’ll help you find one you like.” Harvey’s tone
clearly said he wanted Willie to drop the subject.

“But I can do it now if---” Willie persisted.

That drew a stern look from Bea. Rosalie reacted only by
moving her arm just an inch or two to pat Emmet’s hand, consoling him for being
the target in Willie’s request. Or maybe it was a reminder not to get involved
despite Willie’s goading? Cassie couldn’t tell the ‘why’ – only that Rosalie
had chosen clear sides, protective of the one, ignoring the other. Could Rosalie
play favorites with one of her charges that openly? Somewhere in the back of Cassie’s
awareness that idea produced thumping drum beats of dread.

“No, Willie, you can’t,” Harvey countered. His tone was more
than a request -- it was a warning. “Leave it alone so we can all enjoy our
dinner.”

That finally ended it. Willie glared at Emmet for a long moment.
Then he glanced at Harvey and hunched his shoulders like a turtle drawing back
into his shell.

Suddenly Seth waved his hand in the air.

“Yes, Seth,” Harvey said. “What is it?”

“F’gotta tellya,” he croaked. “I go to the Senior Center
every day ‘cept Sunday now. Met a man whut likes to play checkers!”

“Checkers? Hey, that’s great, Seth,” Harvey said. “Good
brain exercise, right?”

“Yeah. He ain’t much good at it, though, cuz I beat him all
the time,” Seth bragged with a big grin. “All the time!” He reiterated with a
grin so wide it showed pieces of dinner roll balled in his cheeks.

“That’s good, Seth. Eat your dinner now,” Bea said in a gentle
tone.

Seth stuffed his mouth with another fork full of roast beef
and chewed no more than twice before he started talking again, muffled through
the mouthful of food.

This time Rosalie made eye contact with him and quietly
pressed a finger against her own mouth to signal him.

When he didn’t pay attention to Rosalie, Harvey patted the
table lightly. “Seth, please close your mouth with food inside. We’ll all wait
to hear about your friends when you finish eating.”

Seth didn’t seem to mind. He grunted, and shoved in another
mouthful of food. Cassie had the feeling he was going to hurry and finish what
was on his plate so everyone would listen without interruption.

Once again, she was impressed by Harvey’s patience and
gentleness. He obviously cared about these misfit men just as much as Rosalie
did. The way he greeted Dorothy and Cassie at the door the night they arrived,
and the way he dealt with these men today, was another indication of his
loyalty. Cassie wondered what will happen to Harvey if Margaret succeeds with
her plan to close Baylin House and sell the property?

“Jonathan, how are you doing at your place?” Harvey asked
across the table.

Jonathan Wilbur cocked his head in a thoughtful pose. “I get
along okay. But I don’t like the new man who lives in the apartment next door.”

“Are you having a problem with him?”

“He plays music too loud,” Jonathan whispered. “I don’t like
loud noises.”

“You don’t really like living alone either, do you?” Harvey
cast his eyes to Rosalie when he said it. He was making a point, not just
asking a question.

“I get lonely sometimes,” Jonathan agreed, nodding.

Rosalie studied Jonathan’s expression with a sympathetic gaze,
and then she said something to Harvey that Cassie could not hear. This was more
like the Rosalie that Cassie had been reading about. She could guess from their
expressions that they were agreeing on the point Harvey wanted to make. The
time had come for Jonathan to move back to Baylin House.

Jonathan smiled at Rosalie and Harvey, and Cassie realized
he was able to hear them even though she could not. Blind people have uniquely
acute hearing; no wonder he didn’t like the neighbor’s loud music; it blocked
out the subtle sounds that gave a blind person a sense of control.

“Jonathan, do you enjoy helping make floral arrangements for
the store?” Cassie wasn’t trying to distract him; she was curious how that worked
with his vision problem.

“Oh yes, very much,” he whispered with a genuine smile. “I
like to put colors together with fragrances.”

“Mixing fragrances,” she said, smiling, “I wouldn’t have
thought of that. It sounds like a very helpful talent in your job.”

“Yes, I really like having something that I’m good at.”

“Me too,” Cassie agreed. Then she slid a bite of roast beef
into her mouth. Too many conversations were beginning to overlap for her to
hear his quiet voice.

Even when Cassie tried not to notice, the intimate connection
between Rosalie and Emmet was undeniable. They looked and acted like a dating
couple, occasionally brushing shoulders, holding hands, and talking between
themselves. No one else seemed aware except Willie Morse.

Silent emotions crinkled Willie’s little face like soft clay.
More than once, his seething anger fixed his little jaw and narrowed his puffy eyes
when Rosalie and Emmet pressed shoulders.

Willie was jealous!

Harvey noticed Cassie watching. Wordlessly, he reached over
and touched the little man’s plate. The message was clear. Willie bent his head
toward his chest.

A few minutes later Harvey announced they had only twenty-five
minutes to clear the table and leave. Brady, Seth and Jonathan stood and collected
plates. Bea went to the sink and began filling it with water.

Emmet sat still. So did Willie.

Rosalie turned to Cassie. “Harvey is taking them to a matinee
movie this afternoon so they have to leave soon. But could you stay with me
just a little longer?”

“Yes, of course,” Cassie answered.

Harvey reminded Willie, “Collect the silverware and take it
to the sink so we can leave.”

Willie glared once more at Emmet and Rosalie, and then started
at Cassie’s side, reaching for the handles of her knife, fork, and spoon. He
collected Jonathan’s, and Seth’s, Brady’s and his own, and took those pieces to
Bea at the sink. He returned and picked up Bea’s, and Harvey’s, and then took
an extra step to purposefully lean between Emmet and Rosalie, physically separating
them to gather silverware from both sides.

They pretended not to notice, quietly ignoring the boiling
little volcano as they leaned away from each other.

Harvey didn’t ignore it. He glared at the little man in
stern warning.

Willie frowned and looked down pretending to ignore Harvey’s
signal, but he removed himself from between Emmet and Rosalie, and gave a wide
berth around Harvey to carry the last of the silverware away from the table.

It all happened in barely a minute, and there was no sound
beyond the clinking of gathered pieces and rushing water in the sink, but it
shouted volumes about the little war going on among the members.

When the table was clear Harvey led the way through the
service porch. Brady, Seth, Jonathan, and Willie followed. No one showed surprise
that Emmet didn’t go with them. He remained in his chair next to Rosalie even
as the rattling car moved past the kitchen window toward the street.

When the car was gone Rosalie said, “Emmet, would you help
me to my chair in the living room so Miss Cassie and I can sit where it’s more
comfortable?”

He stood and used the same practiced movements as Harvey,
helping her to her feet, then snaking his arm around her waist to support her
while they walked together into the living room. Cassie followed behind to stay
out of the way. He took Rosalie to the princess chair and helped her ease down
until she was comfortable.

Once seated, she thanked him, and kissed his hand before she
released it. For a long tender moment, they connected with their eyes the same
way they did Thursday when he stood in the doorway to the service porch.

Cassie tried to look away. It was embarrassing to watch them
like a voyeur, but so emotionally moving that she couldn’t help herself.

Painfully unnerving, actually, wondering if a romance
between Rosalie and one of her charges was the big secret that Dorothy Kennelly
wants to expose? That wouldn’t help Baylin House, it would destroy it!

When Emmet left to join Bea in the kitchen, Cassie sat down
on the sofa next to Rosalie’s chair. Rosalie watched Emmet until he was out of
sight. Then she turned and smiled at Cassie. “Bea tells me you decided on an
apartment and you’ve moved in already?”

“Yes,” Cassie said, taking a breath to reorient her thoughts.
“I moved into Bayside View yesterday.”