Janet Dean - Wanted - A Family

“Sitting in an empty house isn’t good for a person, either.” Mrs. Uland laughed. “I’m not in mine, more than I have to be.”

He motioned to the wagon. “Let me help with that.”

“Oh, a knight in shining armor.” She wagged a knobby finger. “Just keep your nose out of them. Took me hours to get those issues in order of publication.”

“They’re safe with me.” His mind raced like a hound dog after a fox. The information in this wagon could possibly unlock his birth mother’s identity. If he examined these newspapers, he might find his birth announcement.

“I’m not following you,” Mrs. Mitchell said, looking slightly dazed.

“Of course, you’re not, dear. If you have time for tea, I’ll explain.”

“I do.”

Jake scooped up an armload of newspapers. “Where do you want these?”

From the flicker of dismay in Callie Mitchell’s eyes, she didn’t want them anywhere, but she didn’t let on. “Follow me,” she said, gathering the scrapbooks, then taking the older woman’s arm. “Watch your step, Mildred.”

They picked their way across the dilapidated porch. “A strong man around the place comes in mighty handy.” She lowered her voice, but not so low that Jake couldn’t hear. “Maybe you can find a way to keep him around permanently.”

For a moment, Mrs. Mitchell hesitated, and then hurried her elderly neighbor along, as if fearing what would come out of her mouth next.

The women entered the house and led him down a wide hallway, the wooden floor gleaming, past a magnificent staircase nestled into the curve of the outside wall. The house was an extraordinary example of Victorian architecture.

At the back of the house, they stopped at a door opening into a small library, the book-laden shelves rising from floor to ceiling. He stacked the newspapers on the large desk, a desire to look at them building inside him. As soon as he finished the porch, he’d ask permission. He suspected both ladies would question his interest. But he wouldn’t open that Pandora’s box.

With the contents of the wagon stowed in the library and the wagon back in Mrs. Uland’s yard, Jake returned to the porch.

Inside, Callie Mitchell sat across the table from her neighbor, a pot of tea and some kind of secret between them.

Callie poured Mildred’s cup of tea. “What’s this about?”

“I’ve spent days rummaging through every nook and cranny in my house searching for that memorabilia, then getting it in order.”

Callie’s usually dapper neighbor looked like she’d gotten into a brawl and lost. Her hair appeared uncombed. The lapels on her dress tipped like a bird in flight. Her stockings were drooping around her ankles. Finding and putting those newspapers in order had taken its toil.

“I’ll tell you it wore me out. I’m not what I used to be. Why, last week I had to rest while weeding the garden.” She smiled. “Isn’t the early lettuce yummy? I love wilting it, though it’s tender enough to eat straight out of the garden.”

Though she had a sharp mind, upon occasion Mildred went off on some tangent and forgot the point of the conversation.

Her eyes met Callie’s. “Oh, sorry, dear. You asked about the newspapers.”

“Why did you bring them here?”

“Those newspapers and scrapbooks are records you’ll need.” Her voice had a slightly impatient tone, as if unable to understand Callie’s dim-wittedness.

“Why would I need them?” Callie asked gently.

“So you can write our town’s history.”

“Why me?”

“Your wonderful essays and poems used to make me cry. You love history. Told me that yourself. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with the job.”

“That’s nice of you to say, but why do you want a history written?”

“I’ve lived in Peaceful all my life. One look at the obituary column makes it clear we oldsters are dying off. Soon no one will be left to answer questions about the town. Down the road, young people will want to know.” She rolled her eyes. “They don’t realize that now, of course, but it’s true. Most of us never think to ask our elders anything until it’s too late. I know my ancestors came over from England. But I have no idea what part and…”

As Mildred went on about her heritage, Callie thought about the countless times she’d wished she could’ve asked her parents some detail about their lives. Like when and where her father and mother first met. Either Aunt Hilda couldn’t remember or never knew. Her pulse tripped. These articles might reveal something new about her mother or her mother’s parents. The prospect of learning even one fact to fill the blanks on her family tree was reason enough to take the job.

“You’ve got the talent. And I’ve got the facts.” Mildred sat back, looking pleased.

Callie hated to refuse her friend, especially since she’d enjoy delving into the town’s past, but could she squeeze in another task? “It’ll require a lot of time to organize the information and write it up.”

“I know. That’s the reason I will pay you and pay you well.”

Was this God’s answer? Not only for her longing for information about her family, but also for her financial predicament? As certainty filled her heart, a smile curved her lips. This put the lie to Commodore’s prediction that she’d lose the house. God had provided a way to handle expenses, not with a miracle but through Callie’s hard work.

She’d need other sources of revenue to increase the number of women she could help. As soon as the house was safe, she’d seek community support. If her plan were God’s will, He’d provide. Her eyes misted. She’d been unsure, even discouraged about how she’d manage. God cared about every detail of her life. She’d lean on Him, the one constant in her ever-changing circumstances.

“I have the money,” Mildred was saying, “and I’m running out of time to spend it.” She grinned. Every line in her face stood at attention like a squad of eager recruits. “Mr. Uland, God rest his soul, always said I could squeeze a penny until Mr. Lincoln hollered.”

Knowing the truth of that statement, Callie bit back a grin.

“All my life, I fought letting go of a dollar. Last I looked, those dollars were breeding. Why, I’ve got more than enough money to last me and then some. And you…” She paused. “With Commodore’s attitude toward this house, I doubt he’s helping with your bills. You need income, especially with Elise living here.”

Who would’ve thought Mildred Uland, a tight-fisted friend, and Jacob Smith, a closed-mouth drifter, would be the keys to launching her dream? “Thank you, Mildred, for the opportunity. I’ll work on the town’s story in the evenings.”

“I’ll help all I can. It’ll be good to have a new purpose, since that husband of mine up and died on me. Why, I’m as adrift as a rudderless sailboat.”

Though her husband had been gone for more than twenty years, Mildred often groused about his passing, as if the poor man had died just to annoy her. Perhaps her way of handling grief was better than holding everything inside, as Callie often did. “I’m sure Elise would help, too.”

“If she does, tell her to keep quiet about the book. It’ll be my gift to the town at Peaceful’s seventy-fifth anniversary two years from now. I don’t want it blabbed about until it’s in print.” Mildred reached a blue-veined hand. “I’m paying for your talent and your reticence. Agreed?”

“Agreed.” Callie gave her neighbor’s hand a squeeze. “You’re an answer to a prayer.”

“Not surprised. God’s been nudging me to get moving on this.” She sighed. “Lately it’s been more of a shove. I don’t hanker to wrestle with God and end up with an out-of-kilter hip. Got me enough aches and pains as it is.” She smiled. “I’m late learning the lesson, but when God says, ‘Do it,’ I do it.”