Authors: Marianne Spitzer
Daniel called Annamarie and told her what happened. She wasn’t surprised, but happy the birds would be back in grandpa’s house.
***
Her work finished, Annamarie left work a few minutes past eleven. She drove excitedly toward the ranch house knowing she was packing to move to a real home where her heart was.
Parking her car in the garage, she walked in the back
door and took a long look at the little house she thought would be home for years. She couldn’t find one thing she loved about it. Why Maureen thought velvet and wrought iron were attractive befuddled her, but the small house was full of both. Grandpa’s house had leather furniture and a warm feeling enhanced by all the throw pillows on the sofa and other little accent pieces.
She went into the spare room, pulled out their big suitcase and matching overnight bag. She used the overnight back for her personal things and packed the clothes they folded and kept in drawers in the suitcase. Daniel’s suits and her work clothes went in the car first, she laid them on the back seat where they wouldn’t wrinkle.
The suitcase was so heavy she couldn’t lift it. She’d leave it for Daniel.
She found two boxes in the garage, one for some books,
a clock radio and other things they were currently using.
In the second
box, she placed all their personal grooming items. Opening Daniel’s nightstand drawer she found a new handgun and bullets. She thought Daniel only owned a hunting rifle. Why did he need a gun? Was this part of his plan? She shuddered at the thought. Closing the drawer, she left the gun where she found it. She had to finish packing and leave for grandpa’s house.
***
Annamarie pulled around to the back of the house, Elaine hurried out to see if she needed any help. Annamarie shook her head but wondered if Elaine might make her something to eat because she hadn’t taken time for lunch.
“Right away, Mrs. Logan,” said Elaine.
“Just a minute please, Elaine. I have a favor to ask.”
“Sure. What can I do for you?”
“We spoke about this once before when I asked you to please call me Annamarie.”
“I remember Mrs. umm Annamarie,” Elaine said with a smile. “It’s just since you’ll be living here I thought it’d be proper to call your Mrs. since I’m your employee.”
Annamarie said, “You’re more than an employee. You are a trusted member of this family. You loved grandpa as much as we did, and I think we have a better relationship than only employer and employee. Mrs. Logan is too formal and reminds me of Daniel’s mom. I want to stay Annamarie for the rest of my life.”
“I understand, Annamarie, and I’ll do my best to remember.”
“Thanks,” she said, hugging Elaine.
“Better get going on your lunch,” chirped Elaine on her way back in.
“Will I be in the way if I use the back stairway?”
“Not at all,” said Elaine.
Annamarie explained they were going to use the guest room until they moved the furniture from the master bedroom to the north wing and redecorate. Elaine told her the back stairway is easier to use because it has fewer steps than the large curved staircase in the foyer. It’s also easier to clean.”
Annamarie smiled and said, “I think you have lots of tidbits of information about the house.”
“Yup, I do and I’ll share them all with you.”
Chapter Twenty: Free
Greta left for her lunch shift at Ray’s, and Nancy took the chance to call Daniel at his office.
“Daniel Logan.”
“Oh Daniel, I’m happy I found you, I’m scared and worried.”
“What’s wrong?”
She told him about the stranger at Ray’s on Friday and the black pickup driving around town.
Understanding her anxiety, he said, “We can’t enact my plan until I receive the money from my attorney. I’ll call you as soon as I have it.”
He hung up and immediately called Annamarie at home. No answer. He dialed his grandfather’s number, and Elaine answered.
“Yes sir, she’s here. Please hold the line for a moment.”
He could hear her calling his wife’s name, and Daniel smiled to himself thinking Annamarie must have finally gotten through to Elaine about not being called Mrs. Logan.
“Hello,” said Annamarie.
“Hi,” said Daniel and stopped Annamarie when she began to tell him everything she’d been doing.
“I need to tell you something important. Where did you park your car?”
“It’s around back so I could use the back-door.”
“Keep it there until you’re ready to leave.”
“You’re scaring me, Daniel. What’s up?
“Nancy saw Garret’s partner at Ray’s when Greta took her to dinner. Be sure the doors are locked, and check for a black pickup out on the road. I doubt the guy would come searching for anyone there, but it seems he’s cruising around town. You never know where he might be.”
Annamarie said, “Elaine and I will be okay.”
“Remember grandfather’s hunting rifle is in the study. He always kept it clean and ready.”
Daniel had taught Annamarie how to shoot two years ago, and she was almost as good as he was. He knew she could take care of herself if the situation called for it.
“I’ll check out the rifle.”
“I’ll be off work in about an hour, and I’ll help you with the rest of the moving. Stay there.”
“Elaine found the box with grandpa’s birds and the note from your dad on the back porch.”
“Mom’s still angry. She may be for years.”
“I’m sure. I’m glad we had the locks changed so she doesn’t try to steal them again.”
Daniel whispered, “Be sure and talk to Magdalena, so she’s aware of what’s going on. She’ll watch over you until I get there.”
Annamarie rolled her eyes wondering if they should live in Timmus Woods at all.
They both said, “I love you,” at the same time and hung up. Annamarie checked the rifle to be sure it was safe to use while Elaine set the table for lunch. Annamarie insisted Elaine join her. They had a wonderful lunch, even though Annamarie had to warn Elaine about the man and
the black pickup.
After lunch, Annamarie asked Elaine if she could put all of grandpa’s birds back where they belonged because she was sure Elaine knew where each one should go. Elaine said she would be delighted, and Annamarie went upstairs to finish unpacking.
***
Daniel arrived a little after two o’clock. Annamarie was putting away the clothes she’d packed, and Elaine was washing linens for the bedroom. She wanted everything to be fresh and clean for Annamarie and Daniel.
Daniel called out, “Anybody home?”
“Up here,” came Annamarie’s response.
Daniel found her in the guest room moving things around on the top of the dresser.
“Hi
hon, we don’t need all of these things. Have to put them away to make room for our things, and then decide where to put them or if we want to keep them.”
Daniel looked in the box and saw mostly old knick-knacks and some paperback books. Annamarie was replacing them with things he recognized from home.
“This is going to be a bigger job than I thought, but at least we have a lot of room to store things while we get settled. Could you put this box in your dad’s old room for the time being?”
“Sure,” said Daniel. He saw Annamarie had already moved another box into the room and a large pile of clothes
was on the bed. He asked Annamarie about them.
“Elaine will go through them for us, and decide what to donate and what to throw away. I told her to use her best judgment. Elaine had been sweet and said she would also help when we’re ready to go through all of grandpa’s things. She knows it’s a personal matter, but if we need her, she’ll be happy to do what she can.”
Daniel said, “It sounds as if you’re already counting on Elaine.”
“I am, and I like her. I think
this’ll work out wonderfully. She’s finally calling me Annamarie.”
“Did I hear my name?” said Elaine when she walked into the bedroom with a basket of bed linens.
“Yes, I was telling Daniel how nice it is to have you here.”
“Thanks, that’s kind of you. I’m finished with everything. Will you need me anymore today?”
“No, let me help you make the bed, and then we can all leave together. You’ll feel safer about that man in the pickup. I’ll call you when I need you again, probably in two days after we move more things. I’ll be here, so you won’t be alone with that man running around town.”
“Thanks, Annamarie. I’ll feel safer with someone else in the house.”
Daniel made sure everything was locked up tight when they left.
Elaine drove out of the drive first, followed by Annamarie and then Daniel. Daniel wanted to keep an eye on Annamarie to be sure the black pickup didn’t show up somewhere on the way home.
At home, Annamarie couldn’t wait to begin packing things for their second trip. Taking the small suitcase out of her trunk, she asked Daniel if he would put the big one in. She said it was on their bed.
Picking it up, Daniel groaned loudly as if he was moving a mountain.
“What the heck did you pack in here?”
“Just all the folded clothes we had in our dressers.”
“Maybe we have too much stuff.”
“Oh, this is only the beginning. There’s still more things left in the closet, and personal things we don’t want to be without.” Afraid of the answer, she didn’t mention the gun.
She added, “I didn’t touch anything on your desk because I was worried I might mess something up.”
“All my work stuff is at my office and we haven’t been together long enough to have many receipts or paperwork to move. Most will fit in my briefcase.”
Both engrossed with packing, Annamarie with the clothes and Daniel with putting paperwork in his briefcase, when they heard a knock at the front door.
It was loud and long.
Annamarie said, “Sounds like your mom.”
“That’s not funny,” Daniel said, looking out the front window. “You must be psychic. That’s exactly who it is. My dad is with her.”
Apprehension growing when she opened the door, Annamarie knew they wouldn’t be happy to see them packing to move so soon.
Maureen walked in looking directly at Daniel and said, “I’m sorry I took your birds. I’m a terrible mother.”
Maureen then directed her words at George and asked, “Is that good enough?”
George said, “It has to be.”
At that moment, Maureen noticed the packing. “You’re moving into father’s house already? That’s a bit soon and will appear to be in bad taste. People will wonder how you were raised.”
Annamarie had enough of Maureen’s belittling. “Perhaps they’ll think a thief taught Daniel his manners.”
Daniel waited for the ceiling to explode or crash in on them.
“Well, I never,” Maureen said, turning on her heel and left.
George said, “Sorry about this. Enjoy the new house.”
Annamarie and Daniel thanked George, and he followed Maureen out to their car.
Daniel looked at his wife. “I can’t believe you said that to my mom. I was waiting for the world to end.”
“I can’t believe it either. It simply came out as natural as any other conversation.”
“I still believe it’s spirit power.”
“Daniel, you have to stop saying that.”
He grinned at her and said, “Okay, but I know it’s true.”
Sighing, she turned back to her packing.
They finished with enough to fill Annamarie’s car and Daniel’s Jeep. They didn’t think they would need anything else that night. They took off to the Logan house.
***
When they arrived, Annamarie called her mom to let her know where they’d be. She understood how Annamarie felt about the old house and knew Maureen had hurt Annamarie deeply.
Daniel carried everything upstairs, and they both hastily unpacked. When Daniel said he was hungry, Annamarie went to see what she could find in the kitchen. Elaine must have anticipated their need because there was a fully cooked pot roast with potatoes and carrots in the fridge with a note on how to reheat it in the oven.
“How would you like pot roast for dinner?” she called upstairs.
“A home-cooked meal the first night in our new home sounds wonderful.”
While Annamarie reheated dinner, Daniel parked both vehicles out of sight in the garage. Thinking it was nice to have a garage large enough for both cars and his motorcycle, he would have to drive his motorcycle there soon. Daniel looked around feeling happy and secure.