Just Above a Whisper (20 page)

“How did it go?” Mrs. Greenlowe was ready with questions as well as the meal.

“I think all right. The meal smelled good.”

“Did they say if they liked it?”

“I didn’t stay to find out.”

This gave Mrs. Greenlowe pause.

“Why was that?” she asked quietly this time, not usually her way.

“I don’t know. I just didn’t want to be in the way, and I felt a little embarrassed.”

Mrs. Greenlowe’s heart turned with compassion. If there had been someone in this girl’s life to give her confidence and deserved praise, it had been more years ago than anyone could remember.

“You’re a good girl, Reese,” was all the landlady would say.

Trying to eat her own food, Reese smiled at her and hoped that the men were enjoying what she made.

When Mr. Leffler did not have a customer, he helped Conner with the office. The books had to be returned to their rightful place, and some were quite dusty. The men worked side by side, not talking a lot, but as the afternoon wore on, Mr. Leffler was better able to catch Conner’s soft tones. He was greatly curious to know why this man whispered but would not have asked under any circumstances.

“I think we need a railing along this area,” Conner pointed to the place where the bookshelves had been used as a wall. “Something about so high,” he used a hand to indicate some three feet off the floor. “And with a small swinging gate. It will keep an air of professionalism and still be welcoming to the public.”

“It seems to me that there used to be one,” Mr. Leffler looked at the walls for marks and found some under the paint. “Yes. It was right where you’re suggesting.”

“It must be in my memory then,” Conner surmised. “Now who would we ask to make this?”

“Mr. Zantow was the best, but he died recently.”

“Was that the man who had Reese Thackery’s papers?”

“The very one.”

“And he was a woodworker?” Conner clarified.

“Yes, you look surprised.”

“I am. I pictured the owner of a larger business, since Mr. “Thank you,” Lillie returned, coming out of her misery long

Mr. Leffler looked surprised before admitting, “I don’t recall.”

Conner nodded, but his mind had gone to the fact that Reese had never made an appearance. The men had gone so far as to clear their own dishes back to the kitchen, but they never saw Reese to thank her for the wonderful meal.

He thought he might ask Troy to check on her when he returned, even then wondering how Troy might be faring at the Jenness home.

“Hello,” said the young man who answered the door this time. Troy guessed him to be about 16.

“Excuse me, I’m looking for Mr. or Mrs. Jenness.”

“My mother is here,” the young man confirmed and stepped back, allowing Troy’s entrance.

Troy watched the youth walk away and heard voices before Mrs. Jenness returned on her own.

“I’m sorry to bother you again,” Troy began, thinking she looked even more severe than before. “I just wanted to check on Mr. Jenness. Is he all right?”

“I don’t know,” Lillie admitted. For all her severe looks, her tone was humble and subdued. “I haven’t heard from him at all.”

“I’m sorry. If I’d known that discussing bank business would have been so upsetting, I would have handled it differently.”

Lillie looked him in the eye, realizing she could not let this opportunity pass.

“Can you come in?” she asked, wanting to add his name, but she’d forgotten. “I’d like to know what happened.”

“Certainly, Mrs. Jenness,” Troy agreed, seeing no reason to hide anything from this woman.

“What did you talk about exactly?”

“We started with the subject of Reese Thackery. I needed him to explain his reasons for retaining her papers.”

“I don’t know what he was thinking,” Lillie put in, her voice filled with confusion. “He even had her come here.” Lillie shook her head a little. “I didn’t need her help. I didn’t want her here, but he seemed so excited.”

Troy nodded, not sure what to say next.

“Was that all?” Lillie pressed.

“Well, almost all. I then asked about the account books and the safe. He became very distressed at that point and said he must leave.”

Lillie put a hand to her face before whispering, “Victor, what have you done?”

“You need to know, Mrs. Jenness,” Troy spoke right up, “that as questionable as your husband’s behavior may seem, we’ve found nothing out of order. We’re still going over things, but so far there are no issues.”

Lillie nodded, looking hopeful for the first time. Troy, however, knew he had to say the rest.

“Should we find something, Mrs. Jenness, I will certainly come and inform you, but you need to understand that I’d also be going to the authorities. I really would have no choice.”

“Yes, of course.” Lillie uttered the words automatically, even as her heart cried for it not to be true. Her marriage was not at all what she had hoped it would be, but Victor was a good provider, and she knew Gerald needed a father.

“I won’t keep you any longer,” Troy said, standing, his hat in hand. “Thank you for seeing me, Mrs. Jenness, and I hope you learn very soon that your husband is well.”

“Thank you,” Lillie returned, coming out of her misery long enough to remember her manners and realizing as he left that he had been kind. She had no more shut the door when she saw that Gerald had come in behind her.

His questions about his father and what he’d done only served to make Lillie’s head hurt. She had no answers. It hurt even worse when Gerald thought she was hiding something from him and left the house in anger.

“Are you leaving, Reese?” Troy asked when he gained the kitchen and found her headed for the stairs, basket in hand.

“Yes, I’m done for the day. I left everything ready for your tea,” Reese said, nodding her head in the direction of the table in the kitchen.

“We couldn’t find you at dinner,” Troy said, going right to the point.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did you want me to serve you?”

“That’s not it. We weren’t able to thank you, and I was concerned that you hadn’t eaten.”

“I went home for dinner. Thank you for asking.”

“Was there a reason you did that? Did you think that’s what we wanted?”

“I wasn’t sure, and I didn’t want to presume.”

“Starting tomorrow, we’ll expect you to eat the same food you’ve made for us. You don’t need to serve us, or eat when we do, but we expect you to partake of our food for dinner.”

“Thank you,” Reese said, unable to avoid a smile; he had sounded so severe.

“Am I being laughed at?” Troy’s face told her she could joke with him.

Reese couldn’t stop smiling. “You were a little serious just now.”

“Are you going to stay and eat here?”

“Yes.”

“Then it worked, didn’t it?”

Reese laughed. “As long as you’re here,” she changed directions, “is there anything you need me to do before I go?”

“I’m sure not. If I spot something, I can tell you in the morning. Breakfast, right?”

“I’m planning on it.”

“That’s a relief. I’m tired of my own eggs.”

Wanting to laugh all over again, Reese only smiled and went on her way. They hadn’t said when she would be paid or how much, but never having been so appreciated in her life, she almost thought she could work there for free.

“Is he ever going to go to sleep?” Alison asked of Douglas, who was sitting on the edge of their bed long after the rest of the children were down for the night, still holding six-month-old Jeffrey.

“I don’t know,” Douglas answered, still smiling at his little son.

“It might help if you stop playing with him.”

“What fun is that?” Douglas teased her.

“I think it’s fun to sleep.” Alison rolled over and got comfortable. “Goodnight, you two.”

“Can you tell Mama goodnight?” Douglas whispered to Jeffrey, who smiled in delight. “We’re going to pray for Mama now,” Douglas added, and
very
softly he thanked God for the wonderful wife He’d given to him and also asked for His blessing, his voice lulling both his wife and son to sleep.

On Tuesday morning the breakfast aromas wafted up to him as Conner descended the stairs. Troy’s efforts in the kitchen had been fine, but they hadn’t smelled as enticing as this. Cutting through the dining room to get there faster, Conner came to a complete halt on the threshold of the kitchen. There he was greeted by a sight that brought him to a standstill. Reese faced away from him, her hair hanging straight down her back, thick and dark red, and the top of her head not many inches below his own. Conner backed out before he could be spotted. He went in search of Troy, who was in the study.