The Sugar Hill Collection Read online

  I raised my eyebrows at that. “I wouldn’t do that, Reed. I know you don’t know me, but I don’t operate like that.”

  It was his turn to raise his eyebrows. “No offense to you, cousin, but I saw the David Greeley interview.”

  My face felt hot, but I didn’t back down. “That’s not the same thing at all. Greeley was a public servant, and he knew full well what he was doing was wrong.”

  “Like I said, no offense to you.” There was an awkward pause in the conversation, and I pretended to look over the NDA he slid in front of me. Swallowing my irritation, I signed the paperwork.

  “Where am I staying? In one of the guest houses?”

  “Miss Anne is in the Rose Cottage. The Pepper Cottage is being remodeled. You’ll stay here.”

  “I’m staying here, in the main house? I just assumed there was some sort of guest house.”

  “There is a groundskeeper’s cottage but not much else near the house. You met the man who lives there, Handsome Cheever.”

  “Oh yes, I met him earlier. Is he the groundskeeper?”

  “No, just does some driving for Miss Anne. He’s something of an odd duck, but he’s harmless. Would you like me to call a local hotel? A bed and breakfast?”

  “Nope. Just wondering. Who else stays in the main house?”

  With a charming smile, he signed the paper as a witness and answered, “A small crew of people who take care of the house. As you can tell, there’s a lot of space to dust here. Dinah, who’s kind of the ‘senior’ housekeeper, will help you with whatever you might need around here. Sometimes Summer or I come stay to prepare for events. Besides using a bedroom occasionally, we also use the media room sometimes. But no one stays without an invitation from the matrone. This is her house and eventually yours.”

  That surprised me. I had visions of Reed handing me a giant key. “So Miss Anne is staying in the Rose Cottage, you said?”

  “Yes, but I’m sure she didn’t want to leave Sugar Hill. She just couldn’t stay here in the big house anymore. She’s sick, too sick to climb those stairs, I am afraid. We can talk more about that tomorrow. Here are the tapes. Let’s go up and find your room, and then I’ll take you on a tour of the house.”

  “Would you be too upset if I begged off from a house tour right now? I’m anxious to get some rest. I’m really exhausted.” It was not a lie; my scar was burning like crazy. I needed to apply the pain-relieving cream and take my antibiotics.

  “Sure. I should probably get going anyway. How about we take that tour in the morning? And of course, feel free to look around by yourself if you just can’t wait. It is a beautiful place with lots of nooks and crannies. When I was a boy, this was my favorite place in the world. Still is, I suppose.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  He rose to his feet, sliding the paperwork into his briefcase. I hadn’t seen the leather case before. “You know, I love Miss Anne, but it will be refreshing to have a young matrone with new ideas and vision. I think Miss Anne didn’t realize how many people she could help. That’s what the Dufresne fortune is for, right? To help the community, help the family?”

  “I say yes, but I have no idea what our aunt has to say about all this. I suppose she’ll tell me eventually.”

  “Sorry to get so carried away, Avery. It’s both an exciting time and a sad one for us all, for we all love Miss Anne so much. Anyway, get some sleep. Should I call Dinah and ask her to bring you up some supper?”

  “Thanks, Reed. You’ve been such a big help. And yes, that sounds perfect. Something light.” I set the box on a side table and walked my cousin to the door. He said a polite goodbye and looked around the entryway one last time before he walked out, his phone to his ear and the leather briefcase in his other hand. He looked tired but happy. He turned as if he wanted to say something else but merely smiled and shook his head. I closed the door behind him and leaned against the fragrant wood.

  I was finally home.

  Chapter Eleven – Avery

  This was real. It was really happening. I had a family, a large, weird, crazy family, and they were willing to trust me to be their matriarch, their matrone. This all seemed so impossible. I still wasn’t sure if I would be here forever, but for the moment this was home. The ring warmed on my finger, and I stared at it. Were the diamonds glowing slightly? I blinked my eyes. Yes, it looked as if they were. I stepped into the study to examine it under the light when I heard a woman’s voice call, “Avery? Avery Dufresne?”

  I spun around to see who had called me. If it had been a disembodied voice, I would have left immediately. Then I wondered, could this house be haunted? It looked old enough to be. “Yes, I am Avery Dufresne. May I help you?”

  An older woman was walking down the stairs; her dark brown hair was short and arranged in neat curls, but even from this distance I could see the sprigs of white hair shining through her careful coiffure. She had a friendly, oval-shaped face and in her younger years must have been what Vertie would have called “quite a looker.” She wore a black skirt, a white long-sleeved shirt with a cameo pin at the throat and sensible low-heeled black shoes. “I am so sorry I wasn’t able to greet you when you came in. I don’t like crowds. I hung back and watched, though.” I discerned a slight English accent, and as I came closer I saw she had pretty skin and friendly eyes.

  “You must be the housekeeper I heard about, Dinah?”

  “Dinah, the housekeeper? Don’t make me laugh. I am Edith, Edith Roberts. I’ve been the housekeeper here for more years than I can count, and there are quite of few of us here. Did you know there are four wings, and each wing has its own housekeeper? Yes, and the bottom floor has a full-time staff that cleans the floors and windows every week. We are not complaining, mind you. This is a labor of love for us all, but it is sad to see no one live in it like they should. Until you, miss. I am so glad you are here.”

  “Thank you, Edith. Would you mind showing me the Yellow Rose Room?”

  “Yellow Rose Room? Oh no, that’s not for you. Not big enough. No, it’s the Green Room you want for the best view here at Sugar Hill. It’s not far up the stairs. Would you like me to help you find it?”

  “Would you? Oh, hold on a second. I have to get this box of tapes. Lead the way, Edith. If you say the Green Room, it’s the Green Room.”

  She chattered away as we walked down the hall and then stopped in front of one door. “Now this is the Yellow Rose Room.” She reached inside and flicked a light switch. “See? Nothing special.”

  I begged to differ. The Yellow Rose Room was perfect, with a white shiny fireplace, yellow rose wallpaper and, of course, white vases full of yellow roses all over the place. The carpet was a pale yellow, and the huge windows were covered with cream-colored damask. Boy, the Green Room would have a challenge beating this room. “Of course, you can have this room if you like, but the fireplace smokes a little and it isn’t the best view. Now come see the Green Room before you make up your mind.”

  “Very well. Lead the way, please. I’m quite lost already.”

  She chuckled pleasantly. “And you will be for a while, but I’ll be around to lead you in the right direction. Now this, this is the Green Room.” She walked in and turned on the lights. She was right. This was a breathtaking room. In the center was a massive king-sized bed with a luxurious green comforter. The floor was covered with a mossy green and tan carpet that was a lovely addition to the room. There were wide windows on either side of the bed, and Edith was right—the view was exceptional. There in the distance was Mobile Bay. I couldn’t see much activity on the water, but I imagined that years ago, there would have been plenty to see. On the ceiling were intricate medallions, and then I spotted my favorite feature—a massive wooden desk in the corner right by a wide bay window. Now this was the life! I could work from here anytime I liked. I imagined my laptop and monitors set up here, the fax machine there. Oh yes! This could work! I tossed the box of tapes on the bed and wandered into the bathroom. I wasn’t disappointed.
There was a squeaky-clean claw-footed tub in one corner and a completely modern shower in the other. Were those multiple showerheads in there? A television was mounted in the bathroom mirror, and there was a large television in the bedroom that could be hidden behind a panel. All I had to do was press a button. If I could remember which button to press.

  “This is amazing. It’s the perfect room, at least for me.”

  “I knew it would be.” She smiled, proud that her hunch had been correct.

  “I don’t even want to see the Mirror Room now. This is my home for now, anyway.”

  Edith drew back in surprise. “Why would you want to be going in there? Nobody goes in the Mirror Room. Not anymore. I am sure the matrone would not approve of that.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was off-limits. It’s just that Summer suggested that I stay in there.”

  “She did, did she? I suggest that you stay away from anyone who suggests such a crazy thing. She can only mean you harm.”

  As if a rabbit ran over my grave, I shivered despite the warm afternoon. Then Edith brightened and said, “I am so happy you like this room. I’ll go fetch your towels and get the things you need. Should I bring your luggage in here from the Yellow Rose Room?”

  “I can do that.”

  “It’s no bother. I’ll leave you to unpack it, though.”

  “Thank you, Edith. I appreciate your kindness.” She turned to leave, but I stopped her. “Edith, did you know my grandmother? Vertie was her name.”

  “Did I know her? I practically raised that child as if she had been my own. When she and Miss Anne were young, they were inseparable. Oh, the mischief those two got into—and their devil of a brother, young Asner. Well, I’ll go now. I’ll be back with those towels and see what’s happened to your dinner.”

  I smiled again as she left, her honey-vanilla perfume lingering behind for a few moments. I left the box on the bed and, on a whim, turned the fireplace gas on. It was such a luxury running a fireplace in the summer, but it was cool in this room and I could do with a small fire. I heard a knock and found suitcases outside the door, but Edith was long gone. Probably had a lot to do anyway.

  I tossed the suitcases on the bed. If I stayed much longer than a few weeks, I’d have to send for my things. I wasn’t really considering staying at Sugar Hill, was I?

  So nice to meet people like Reed and Edith. They made me feel as if I had made the right decision coming here and meeting the family. To think, Edith knew my grandmother when she was a little girl. She’d taken care of her as a child.

  What a…wait. That couldn’t be right!

  She must have been pulling my leg. No way could Edith be that old. My grandmother was in her late seventies when she died, and her sister was not much older than that now. How could she have taken care of “the girls”? That would make her…that would make her…a hundred? Ninety? She sure didn’t look that old. I felt the hair on my head creep upwards like an invisible hand subtly pulled it up. I shuddered and refused to think about it anymore. How could I have believed that? I was a reporter! Didn’t I know when someone was lying to me? I was tired, I told myself. I hadn’t lost my edge at all. My scar began to sting, reminding me of the attack. Perhaps this was all in my head. Wasn’t PTSD a real thing? Did it make you hallucinate?

  I walked into the bathroom and put my toiletries in the cabinet. As I was walking out, I saw another woman. This one wore modern dress and had a quiet demeanor. I hadn’t even heard her come in.

  “Goodness! I didn’t hear you.”

  “Sorry, Miss Dufresne. I didn’t mean to startle you. I did knock. Reed told me you were hungry, so I made you some soup and a sandwich, I promise going forward I’ll have decent meals made for you. For some reason, the chef didn’t have anything prepared for tonight. Assumed you ate at the family dinner this afternoon, I expect.”

  “No, that’s fine. This looks and smells delicious.”

  She put her hands in her pockets and jangled some keys as she looked around the room. She had light red hair that was thinning slightly. She must have been in her forties. She had dull gray eyes but a pleasant smile.

  “You must be Dinah. I’ve already met Edith.”

  Dinah gasped in surprise. “What are you talking about, miss? There is no one here tonight except you and me and a few of the downstairs maids who are working on the big champagne rug in the dining room. Where did you come up with that name?”

  “I met her. Right here. In fact, she was the one who suggested this room. She showed me the Yellow Rose Room, but I like this one better. What is the matter with you, Dinah?”

  The woman sat on the bed and clung to the corner post trying to catch her breath. I thought she might faint. “I hate to tell you this, Miss Dufresne, but you didn’t see anyone alive. That was a ghost you seen. That was Edith Roberts, the old housekeeper. She thinks she’s still running the place, but she’s wrong! I am the housekeeper here now! She died out in the rose garden one afternoon last spring. I guess she never left this place, but so many of them don’t. Please, Miss Dufresne, don’t look at me like I’m crazy. I know what I am talking about. She’s not gone, not really. Oh Lord, that means she’ll want her keys back.” She clutched the key ring protectively, and I took a step back from her.

  “Dinah, calm yourself. I am sure you two are having great fun at my expense, but that is enough. Do I need to call Reed? If you wouldn’t mind leaving, I have some tapes to watch and I’d like to eat my supper.” I opened the door, irritated that she would go to such lengths to pull a prank. It must have been Summer’s idea.

  “Good night, Dinah.”

  “Please don’t be angry. I didn’t mean to scare you, but I am not lying to you. Edith Roberts is a g—.”

  “If you say that to me once again, I’ll fire you, Dinah. And if I can’t, I’ll ask my Aunt Anne to fire you.” That was it. No more foolishness from this woman. She seemed not quite up to speed mentally anyway, but I wasn’t going to tolerate being made fun of.

  “If you say so, Miss Dufresne. I was just trying to help.” She walked out of the room with her head down, and I stared at the dish she’d left behind. It didn’t look very good, and I couldn’t bring myself to eat it. I’d completely lost my appetite. No bother, I think I have a bag or two of barbecue potato chips in my overnight bag.

  Hoping that doing something normal would help me stop shaking, I began hanging up my clothing and putting things away. It felt good to do that. It felt right, strangely enough, and after a few minutes I was feeling better.

  I heard another knock on the door. I opened it to find Edith standing there with an armload of taupe-colored bath towels, washcloths and hand towels. “Excuse me, Miss Avery. I’ll just put these in your bathing area.”

  I blinked at seeing her. Ghost, indeed. She was as real as I was. With a sigh, I let her in. I hoped she wasn’t in on Summer’s joke. It had to be her, right? I would completely hate it if Edith had participated in the hoax on any level. “Did you know that Dinah thinks you’re a ghost? She is pretty convinced of it. I think that lady has problems. What’s her story, if you don’t mind me asking? Is she a relative of the Dufresnes?”

  “Yes, she’s a cousin of Miss Anne’s. Dinah always was a bit strange. Slow-witted, if I may say so. But she has other talents. No one can fold sheets like Dinah Sweatt. She has a knack for details, but you are right, miss. She does tend to get into mischief.”

  “I can believe it. Thank you for the towels. I think I’m going to go to bed soon. My aunt wants me to watch those movies, but I’m so tired already.” I glanced at my watch. Goodness, where had the time gone? It was after seven o’clock already, and I hadn’t even started watching those videos.

  “Well, you do what you think is best,” she said with a smile. She walked to the door and opened it. “If you need me in the night, ring that bell over there on the wall. I’ll hear it downstairs and come up.”

  “Thanks,” I said as she slipped out of the room with the swishing of he
r skirts.

  I ran to the door and opened it, hoping to be able to ask her about my grandmother and great-aunt. It would be rude to ask her age, but I had to do it. I had to know. I stood in the hallway and saw no one.

  Not a soul.

  My skin crawled at the sight of the emptiness.

  “Edith?” My voice echoed in the empty hallway. I thought I heard the swishing of her skirts, but I did not see her. I ran back to my room and pressed the button on the wall repeatedly. Finally, a stranger’s voice spoke to me.

  “Yes, may I help you, Miss Dufresne?”

  “I want to speak to Edith when she returns. Please ask her to come see me or call up.”

  “Who?” the young voice asked.

  “Edith Roberts. The housekeeper here at Sugar Hill.”

  “Um, I think you must be mistaken, Miss Dufresne. Miss Roberts hasn’t been here since last spring. My name is Robin. Can I help you with anything?”

  “No, I want Edith. She brought me towels just a minute ago. I know it was her.”

  “Um, no, ma’am. Nobody brought any towels up there. Should I come up? Do you need towels?” Robin’s young voice irritated me, and I felt as if I were being played for a fool.

  “No, Robin. Thank you.” With shaking fingers, I released the button.

  In the words of my Grandma Vertie, What in the Sam Hill is going on around here?

  I walked to the bathroom and flipped the old-fashioned light switch. The light came on with a loud click. There were the towels, hanging neatly over my towel rack. I touched them just to make sure I wasn’t imagining they were here. No, they were real, soft and slightly warm as if Edith had just taken them out of the dryer.