Iris Avenue (16 page)

He sat down in a rocking chair by the gas stove, took out his pipe and a rolled up packet of tobacco. Maggie and Hannah sat on overturned milk crates and watched as he went through his ritual of emptying and filling the pipe. He didn’t then light it, but clenched it between his back teeth, crossed his arms, leaned back, and got started on the latest gossip.

“I just got back from taking them monks that were staying with Miss Caroline up to the Pittsburgh Airport.”

“She got rid of the monks?” Maggie said.

“She did,” Elbie said. “They were the quietest passengers I have ever conveyed anywhere. If it weren’t for Miss Callie, I would’ve been starved for company.”

“Callie went along for the ride?” Hannah asked.

“Miss Callie is going with them all the way to Portland, Oregon. There’s a monastery up there that’s agreed to take ‘em on, and she’s going to work there in the kitchen. She has a degree from a culinary institution, she says. She is what you call a vegan, and vegans don’t eat meat, nor eggs, nor drink a drop of milk, on account of that’s considered cruelty to animals.”

“Is she happy to be going?”

“Well, you know, that gal was disinclined to say anything untoward about anybody, but I got the idea she wasn’t too happy at Pine Lodge.”

“Really?” Hannah said. “Why’s that?”

“I guess Miss Caroline is sorta nervy and het up most of the time. She likes things a certain way but doesn’t want to be bothered with the details. Miss Callie also thinks Miss Caroline’s got her religions a mite mixed up, on account of she doesn’t want to settle on just one.”

“When I was up there Caroline was complaining about the snow, saying how she wanted to go somewhere warm,” Hannah said. “I bet she takes off before long.”

“I was coming to that,” Elbie said. “Miss Caroline is taking Mrs. Anne Marie Rodefeffer out to California to visit a lady that speaks to spirits. They’re leaving tomorrow.”

“How did Caroline get involved with Anne Marie?” Maggie asked.

“Knox told Miss Caroline about Miss Anne Marie speaking to spirits,” Elbie said. “Miss Caroline said she knew somebody out in California who could help her control that.”

“Caroline Eldridge is a danger to herself and others,” Maggie said. “I wouldn’t put her in charge of a stinkbug, let alone another human being. Anne Marie has had some sort of mental breakdown and should be under a doctor’s care.”

“It all makes sense, now,” Hannah said. “I saw Knox up there and wondered what he was doing. Drew hasn’t said anything about Caroline leaving.”

“He probably doesn’t know,” Maggie said. “She’ll dump him right before she gets on the plane. No, I want to amend that. She’ll probably take off, and then he’ll get a postcard from her next fall saying she’s sorry she forgot to tell him goodbye, and p.s. she’s now in Bali.”

“What about Petula and Sven?” Hannah asked.

“They’re staying on to look after the place,” Elbie reported. “Somebody has to be there when the cell phone people come to put up the new tower.”

“The what?” Maggie said.

“One of those cell phone companies is paying Miss Caroline upwards of a million dollars to put a cell phone tower on her property.”

“Where?” Maggie said at the same time Hannah said, “That big fat hypocrite.”

“Now, that I don’t rightly know,” Elbie said. “Somewhere on the property up there, and you know those Eldridges own just about everything between here and the State Park.”

Hannah told Maggie and Elbie about her experience at Caroline’s, and what she’d claimed about cell phone transmissions’ purported effect on honeybees.

“What do you wanna bet Knox is involved in that, too?” Maggie said. “All that land is supposed to be protected. It would take some shady legal maneuvering to get around that.”

“He was out there,” Hannah said, “and after he left, when I went back in, she was reading contracts.”

“Poor Drew.”

“I bet Drew doesn’t know about any of this,” Hannah said. “He was telling me yesterday about his plans to renovate the barn out at Pine Lodge and put his practice in it. He has a whole business plan drawn up and blueprints of the layout. He’s excited about it.”

“This is classic Caroline behavior,” Maggie said. “He won’t know what hit him.”

“I hope she writes that big check for my feral cat project before she goes,” Hannah said.

“Don’t count on it,” Elbie said. “Miss Callie said Miss Caroline’s been living on credit cards and they haven’t been paid for weeks.”

Hannah and Maggie parted ways after Elbie left with the food pantry deliveries. Maggie went back to the bookstore and Hannah crossed Rose Hill Avenue and then Pine Mountain Road to get to the veterinary clinic.

Drew’s newest receptionist was Dee Goldman, a former nurse married to lawyer turned dairy farmer Levi Goldman. They owned a company called Pumpkin Ridge Farm, which sold organically produced eggs, poultry, and dairy products to area grocery stores.

Dee and Levi had come to Pine County from Princeton, New Jersey. They were part of the “back to the land” movement of the late sixties and early seventies, a few of those who stayed once the romance of the idea wore off.

“Hello, lady,” Dee said when she saw Hannah. “Drew said you’d be here this afternoon. How are ya? How’s that handsome husband?”

“I’m just peachy. How in the world do you have time to work here with all you guys have going on out at the farm? Bonnie said you were building a new dairy.”

“Well, I told Levi it was me or the new dairy. I’m almost sixty years old and I’m tired of working so hard. He said if I got a job that would pay for my replacement I could retire.”

“Some retirement.”

“Hey, this is a piece of cake compared to the farm. I’m still taking care of the house, but I have been kicked by my last cow. That didn’t come out right, but you know what I mean.”

“I sure do. They seem nice, but they’re secretly waiting for you to let your guard down.”

“Well, I guess if I were pregnant all the time I’d be grouchy too.”

“How do you like the job?” Hannah asked, to change the subject.

“I love it. It’s warm, it’s inside, and Drew is the easiest guy in the world to get along with. I forgot what it was like for someone to tell me ‘thank you.’ He appreciates everything I do.”

“I bet he does. Your predecessors were all idiots, every one of them. How do you feel about assisting with surgeries?”

“My nursing skills are rusty but I’m used to doctoring cows and chickens. I should be able to learn it pretty quickly.”

“You don’t need a dog or cat on the farm, do you?”

“We’re just as covered up in feral cats as anyone in this county,” Dee said. “Our old dog died this past winter. I don’t know if you knew that or not.”

“No, I didn’t. I don’t have any good farm dogs right now, but I’ll be on the look out for one for you.”

“It’s got to get along with cats, can’t chase the cows, and can’t kill the chickens.”

“I’ll find something. I always do.”

The bell hanging on the front door rang and Caroline came in.

“Dee, hi! Hannah, hi!” she said. “How is everybody?”

Drew came out. They embraced and kissed.

“Look, Hannah, it’s true love,” Dee said. “Aren’t they precious?”

Hannah said nothing but observed them closely. She quickly decided Drew didn’t have a clue what was coming. Anne Marie came in behind Caroline and was introduced to everyone. She shook hands with Dee and Drew, and then said, “Of course, I know Hannah,” as she shook Hannah’s hand.

Her hand was warm to the touch, and to Hannah’s surprise, Ann Marie held on and didn’t let go. She looked off over Hannah’s shoulder and her eyes seemed to go out of focus.

“Something’s wrong with Anne Marie,” Hannah said. “I think she’s having a seizure or something.”

“She’s fine,” Caroline said. “Just relax and go with it.”

“What’s she doing?” Dee asked, and Caroline shushed her.

“She’s in a trance state,” Caroline said. “She’s a conduit for the higher planes of consciousness.”

Hannah was pulling hard on her hand now but Ann Marie could not be detached. Hannah was about to kick her in the shins when Anne Marie spoke in a low, sonorous tone.

“With child,” she said. “All will be well with the son. The mother and father were together in many past lives and still have lessons to learn together in this life.”

“Stop her,” Hannah pleaded with Caroline. “I don’t like this.”

“Listen to her,” Caroline said. “You’re privileged to have the opportunity to communicate with your guiding spirits.”

“I want her to stop,” Hannah said.

“Caroline,” Drew said. “Hannah shouldn’t have to humor her if it makes her uncomfortable.”

“The mother is here to care for the beasts of the field and forest,” Anna Marie interrupted. “When she petitions the source, assistance will always come.”

“That’s good news,” Caroline said.

“Ask for a lotto number,” Dee suggested in a loud whisper.

“Caroline,” Drew said. “This can’t be good for Anne Marie. Don’t you think we should…”

“Don’t take them all. Leave some to maintain the balance,” Anne Marie said.

“Leave some what?” Dee asked.

“Thanks, Anne Marie!” Hannah said loudly, snapping the fingers of her free hand in front of the woman’s transfixed face. “You can wake up now!”

“Don’t break the trance,” Caroline said. “It could be dangerous.”

“Caroline,” Drew said. “I don’t think this is what you think it is.”

“The vessel needs to eat,” Anne Marie said. “Feed the vessel.”

Anne Marie’s face went pale, she let go of Hannah’s hand and fainted. Drew and Caroline caught her and laid her on the hard bench in the waiting room. Caroline cradled her head while Drew ran to get the smelling salts.

Hannah shook the hand that Anne Marie had clutched so tightly. It was bright red and hot like it had a fever. She felt a little woozy, herself.

“That was some show,” Dee said as she came back with a cold wet cloth. “I’ve heard about this kind of stuff but I’ve never seen it before. Is she okay?”

“She’s fine,” Caroline said. “She needs to eat something. You heard her, ‘the vessel needs to eat.’ Anne Marie hasn’t been cared for properly and her gift has been abused by people who wanted to take advantage of it. I’m going to see that she gets the proper care and training so that she can use it for its intended purpose.”

“What’s that?” Drew said as he came back into the room.

“To help people, of course,” Caroline said. “And to teach us what the universe wants us to learn.”

Drew broke the capsule and waved it under Ann Marie’s nose. She immediately revived. Dee gave her the cloth and Anne Marie wiped her face.

“Wow, that was a strong one,” she said. “Was I out long?”

Hannah was hanging back, holding her sore hand, and Anne Marie looked right at her.

“You’re going to have a son,” she told Hannah. “And he’s going to be funny, just like you.”

Everyone looked at Hannah.

“Sorry,” Hannah said, although she could feel her face flush. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Anne Marie continued to look at Hannah with a smug smile on her face while everyone else looked at Anne Marie.

“Let’s get you something to eat,” Caroline said, and helped Anne Marie up from the bench. “Can you walk?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” Anne Marie said, still looking at Hannah with that strange smile.

“We’re going to run over to the bookstore and get something to eat, want to come?” she asked Drew.

“I can’t,” Drew said. “I have patients.”

Caroline waved good-bye to everyone and led Anne Marie out. Hannah put her hands behind her back as Caroline pulled Anne Marie past her out the door.

“Are you okay, hon?” Dee asked Hannah.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Don’t put too much stock in anything Anne Marie says,” Drew said. “I personally think she’s schizophrenic and should be treated by a psychiatrist.”

“Then why is Caroline taking her to California?” Hannah asked, and then clapped her hand over her mouth.

“She’s not,” Drew said. “Where’d you hear that?”

“From a very reliable source,” Hannah said.

“She isn’t going anywhere,” Drew said. “She’s taking care of the monks.”

“They left this morning,” Hannah said.

Drew looked like he’d been hit by a bad news bus.

“Has Caroline given you the grant match check?” Hannah asked him.

“Yes, it’s in my office safe.”

“I’d get that in the bank right away, if I were you,” Hannah said. “Just to be safe.”

Drew looked at Hannah curiously and then looked at the door Caroline had recently exited through.

“She wouldn’t do that to me,” Drew said.

“She might,” Hannah said. “She’s done it before.”

“I’ll be right back,” Drew said, and took his coat off the rack by the door as he went out.