Read Online Crestmont by Holly Weiss - Free Book Online Page B

dinner, I think we had best turn a blind eye.”
    “Your mother would be appalled, Margaret.”
    “And Father would have approved. The guests have a right to conduct themselves as they see fit as long as they are circumspect and respectful of others. I think we can no more ask them to check their liquor at the door than we can demand they attend church services or participate in water activities on the lake.”
    William’s eyes flitted from desk to ceiling, floor and window. The cleft in his chin twitched as he pondered her point. Margaret waited calmly.
    Finally, he wagged a playful finger. “No one can quarrel with those dark, knowing eyes of yours, my dear. Time for me to scout out the gentlemen’s activities on the lawn.”
    “Good, I’ll see to Miss Woodford. She brought a new music box this summer and I know she will want to show it to me.”

     
    ****

     
    Mr. Woods made his daily stroll around the grounds to ensure that things were running smoothly. He slipped quietly into the two lane bowling alley. PT was tactfully advising the bowlers on their form. He had quite a knack in dealing with bowlers who liked to brag about the quality of their technique. Tightening his lips in a slight grin, PT gave his boss an imperceptible nod as he erased the slate scoreboard in preparation for a new game.
    PT was the kind of employee William Woods could trust with responsibility and discretion. He was mature, polite, and a man of carefully chosen words. “PT must be twenty-eight by now,” Woods pondered. “I wonder how many more summers we will have him? Soon he will surely find something full-time instead of dividing himself between the Crestmont in summer and Philadelphia in winter. As a reward for his loyalty to us, I must remember to have him play piano for one of our functions.”
    Continuing down the back lawn, he noticed the wood pile was low. Fires in the lobby and parlors provided not only warmth on cool evenings, but more importantly, ambiance. Masculine cries of “Got it!” and “A slam dunk!” greeted him as he paused at the shuffleboard courts.
    He cheered when a round of applause indicated that a game was over. “Mr. Swett , you are a winner again.”
    They invited him to join them, but he waved them away with, “Would love to, but must keep my boys running this place efficiently. I’ll see you tomorrow on the baseball field for sure. Gents, bring your families to our water games on Saturday morning. In my humble opinion, the Crestmont hosts the most exciting sailing races on Eagles Mere Lake .”
    He headed down to the garage and was annoyed to see Otto, white shirt and tie under his dark blue mechanics overalls, sitting on the hood of the Crestmont touring car, smoking a cigarette. Otto jumped down the minute he saw his boss and guiltily squished the butt under his heel.
    “Afternoon, sir.” His eyes struggled to meet his boss’s.
    “Good afternoon, Otto. I noticed the wood pile is very low. Instead of dithering away your time down here awaiting a repair, I suggest you find one of the lawn boys and get to chopping.”
    “I ’ ll get right on that, sir.”
    “That’s the ticket, Otto. There are times when you can be downright responsible. Come to my office on Monday. I have an idea for keeping the garage open year round for the general public. I’d like to discuss your role in that.”
    “Yes, sir.” Otto tightened the buckles on his overall straps envisioning a brighter future for his mechanic skills.

     
    ****

     
    It was Gracie’s Sunday morning to work, but bad dreams woke her up before daylight. She lit the kerosene lamp next to her bed, put on her pink shrug, and decided to get the letter over with.

     
Sunday, July 3, 1925
 
Dear Lily,
 
I sincerely hope you are well and that you and George have found marriage pleasing. I was so proud to stand up for you at the wedding. I think of you often and miss you.
 
It must have seemed unbecoming of me to leave home with no explanation.