Just Above a Whisper (30 page)

Thirteen

“How was Linden Heights?” Conner asked of Troy when the afternoon train arrived and that man came straight to the bank.

“Everyone and everything is fine. Your family sends their love.”

“That’s good to hear. How is my niece?”

“She was at the meetinghouse yesterday, looking a bit pale but holding her own.”

“Good.”

“They want to know when you’re going to visit.”

Conner looked surprised.

“What is that look about?” Troy asked.

“I just didn’t think I’d be here long enough to need a visit home.”

“I just went,” Troy reasoned.

“You’re a father and a grandfather,” Conner reasoned back.

“In other words, you don’t have anyone special enough to visit in Linden Heights.”

“Precisely.”

“And what about here? Any reason to stay longer?”

Mr. Leffler interrupted them just then, but the look Conner gave Troy told him they would be getting back to this subject.

Lillie heard a noise in the kitchen as she was turning in for the night. It was not a new house so such noises were not that unusual, but when it sounded again, she realized Gerald was up and felt she needed to check on him.

Carrying the candle in front of her, Lillie made her way back downstairs and saw a glow coming from the kitchen. When she stepped into that room and found her husband at the table, she nearly set her nightdress on fire.

“Victor!” she all but shouted.

“Shh,” he hushed her, agitation in his every move.

“You’re here!” Lillie’s voice had lowered some, but her husband was still tense.

“Sit down,” he ordered, coming to take the candle from her.

Lillie did as she was told, unable to stop staring at her spouse. He was thinner and ill kept. Victor Jenness prided himself on his appearance, and Lillie was more afraid of this than anything else.

“Where have you been?” Lillie suddenly found her voice. “And why did you leave?”

“Have you seen the bank?” he shot back with a question of his own. “They’ve changed my office around. They had no right!”

The light in her husband’s eyes now snagged Lillie’s full attention. He had always been an intense man, a passionate man, but right now he looked beyond reason. And it was a look Lillie recognized.

“I’ve been around town the past few days,” he spoke, his voice low with rage. “Do you know where Reese Thackery is working? At the big house! They questioned me and made me feel like a fool, but what do they have the bank’s indentured servant do? Work for the bank owner. Hypocrisy.”

“She’s free, Victor,” Lillie put in gently. “They gave Reese her papers. She works there, and they pay her.”

“What? That can’t be right. We could have kept her for almost two more years! It was an excellent idea.”

Lillie had never understood the plan to begin with so she didn’t comment, but she had never seen it as such a great idea, especially when it meant having Reese coming to her house. Lillie shuddered at the very thought.

“What’s the matter?” Victor asked, and for the first time Lillie realized he hadn’t even asked about their son.

“Nothing,” she murmured quietly. “Where have you been?” she tried again.

“Around” was all he would offer.

“Would you like something to eat?”

“No, I’ve got to go.”

“But you just got here,” Lillie argued. “And what was this business you had to see to?”

“Don’t you understand?” Victor suddenly stood. “I was the finest bank manager this town has ever known. They’re trying to take my bank, and I won’t allow it.”

“They just want to talk to you, Victor. Just come to bed now and go see them in the morning.”

The change in Victor’s face was frightening. He came toward Lillie as though he would harm her.

“Did they speak to you about me? What did they say?”

“Victor!” Lillie snapped at him, coming to her feet as well. She had never let anyone bully her, and she wasn’t going to start now. Her husband saw the set of her chin and backed down a bit.

“Every time they talk to me,” Lillie began, only slightly calmer, “they ask how you’re doing. They came to the house out of concern because you said you were ill. They’ve only wanted to see how you’re doing and to discuss bank business with you.

“If you’ve done nothing wrong, then go and see them. And if you have committed a crime, turn yourself in.”

“Of course I’ve done nothing wrong,” Victor told his wife, his voice quiet and controlled, “but I don’t owe them any kind of explanation.”

“They own the bank, Victor.”

The look Victor gave his wife could only be labeled as superior.

“They changed my office around. I was the best bank manager this town has ever known.”

“Victor,” Lillie began again, but he cut her off.

“Tell no one I was here, not even Gerald. I don’t want him burdened with all of this.”

“All of what?”

“I’ll get my job back, Lillie. Just see if I don’t.”

He was to the door before she could anticipate him.

“Victor,” Lillie rushed that way, but he’d slipped outside and into the night. Lillie went as far as the backyard, but he seemed to have disappeared. She whispered his name a few more times, but there was no answer.

Going back inside, she saw that he’d forgotten his hat. He never went out without his hat. Lillie didn’t want to cry until she saw it abandoned on the table.

When at last she climbed the stairs again, it was not for sleep. She lay awake all night on her bed, reminding herself that she had no choice but to go to the bank.

“Maddie,” Jace called on Monday morning, having been to town and brought the mail back. “Are you around?”

“Upstairs,” she called down to him, and Jace went that way.

“I’ve got mail,” he announced when he found her in his old bedroom.

“Anything interesting?” Maddie asked. Having added things to an old trunk, she was pushing it back against the wall.

“It looks like one from Boston and one from my sister.”

“You didn’t read them?”

“They’re not to me.” Jace’s voice was dry, and Maddie began to smile. “Yes, you go right ahead and laugh about it. A woman gets ready to have a baby, and suddenly her husband is invisible.”

Maddie didn’t laugh, but she did have to cover her mouth with one hand.

“I’ve heard of husbands getting jealous about babies,” she teased him.

“What husband?” he asked with great exaggeration. “I don’t exist, remember? At Doyle and Cathy’s yesterday, all you and your aunt could talk about was baby stuff.”

“Well, Doyle was there.”

“He fell asleep in the chair,” Jace reminded her.

“So did you,” Maddie pointed out.

“There’s only so many hours I can hear debates on first foods and scalp treatment.”

Maddie had to laugh then. She put her arms around her husband and laughed against his chest.

“I’m not sensing any real sympathy here, Mrs. Randall.”

“Does this help?” she asked, composing herself long enough to kiss him.

“Maybe a little,” Jace’s arms had come up to hold her.

Maddie kissed him again, and Jace pulled her even closer. His fingers were making a mess of her hair when they heard a door downstairs.

“I forgot Clara was coming today,” Jace whispered.

“I forgot too.”

Arms wrapped around each other, Jace planned to revisit this scene right after tea that evening. Maddie was working to be thankful that she had Clara’s help, even when it meant the occasional interruption.

Lillie found her feet slowing as she approached the bank building. She had lost a lot of sleep over this decision and was suddenly finding it harder to accomplish than think about.

Not knowing what she expected Mr. Thaden to do, she remembered that so far he had been compassionate. Lillie felt she was betraying Victor but also felt she had no choice. Gathering her courage, she made herself go inside. Asking Mr. Leffler if she could speak to the men in the alcove, Lillie worked to keep calm.

“I didn’t think you would ever come outside,” Gerald spoke to Reese from out of nowhere and startled her into dropping her basket.

“Where did you come from, Gerald?” Reese exclaimed, fighting the irritation she felt, even though none of the clothing had spilled into the dirt.

“You didn’t see me?” He looked pleased with the thought.

“Gerald,” Reese kept her voice patient. “Nothing has changed. I’m working.”

“I know a secret,” Gerald boasted, having ignored Reese’s words.

“That’s nice,” Reese acknowledged, not wanting to patronize him but heading out to hang up the shirts she’d scrubbed, not caring if he followed or not.

“Aren’t you even a little bit curious?” Gerald asked, trailing her.

“A little, I guess,” Reese said absently, pegging out wash as she went.

“My father was here last night.”

Reese turned to look at her visitor, knowing he would be pleased to have gained her attention.

“Is he all right?” Reese asked, not really knowing what happened.

“Of course.” Gerald’s voice held more bluster than he felt. In fact his father’s voice had scared him last night, but he would never tell Reese that.