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Eddie continued back up the stairs.
Mary followed then stopped on the next landing between flights. “Where’s this door go to?” She turned the locked doorknob.
“That must go to the second floor of the rest of the house.”
“So there is a way to get through from here.” Mary fumbled for the lock. “It must be locked on the other side.”
“I’d keep it locked, you don’t want too many ways for a burglar to enter the house.”
“If I weren’t such a brave woman, Eddie, I’d say you’re scaring me.”
“Sorry, Mary, just worried about you. I hope you really are considering calling Moose’s niece to come out here and stay with you.”
“Are you married, Eddie?”
“Married? No. Why do you ask?”
“Oh, just wondering. But Madisyn is a pretty young thing.”
“You’re not thinking of playing matchmaker, are you?” Eddie continued up the stairs.
Mary only smiled as she followed Eddie up to the second floor. Two small bedrooms, a sitting room, and a storage room completed the servants’ living quarters.
“Let’s move on to the rest of the house,” Mary said, making note that Pickles never did follow them upstairs.
By the time they had gone back downstairs and up the main staircase, Mary was out of breath. She looked back down at Pickles who refused to follow once more. “I guess he doesn’t like the upstairs.”
“I’m sure he’ll get used to it.”
Still breathing heavily, Mary said, “A person can get a real workout walking through this house.”
“No need for a gym membership,” Eddie said.
“Quite right. And I’m taking this first bedroom. But I fear, at some point, I might have to change one of the rooms downstairs into a bedroom if my heart or my knees begin to give out.”
“That would be easy enough to do. You can always call our office, or Moose for that matter, if you need recommendations.” Eddie motioned for Mary to enter the bedroom at the head of the stairs.
“Oh, this is much nicer than the servants’ bedrooms. It’s roomier and not stuffy at all.” Mary pulled the bed blankets to the side. “It looks clean. I shouldn’t have to wash it before I sleep here tonight.” She pulled the covers back across the bed and said, “You wouldn’t happen to know which room my great uncle slept in, would you? I’d feel rather—uncomfortable—sleeping in the same bed as he. The same bed he died in.”
Eddie shook his head. “No, I don’t. But I wouldn’t concern myself with things like that because it really doesn’t matter. Horace is now in heaven, well at least I guess he is, so worrying about things like that are a waste of time. Besides, the master bedroom is at the end of the hall, I would suppose that would be the room he died in.”
“You’re right, Eddie. I shouldn’t worry about such things. You know,” Mary said, looking around, “this room is above the library, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I believe you are right.”
They continued their inspection, walking through the other rooms, a total of three bedrooms, a sitting room, a bathroom, and a few closets.
“Everything looks in order, Eddie. I’ll even bet that door by the stairs goes to the servants’ quarters?” Mary opened it, surprised to find a smaller room and a hall with a bathroom. She walked to the door straight ahead and unlocked it; it opened into the back staircase. “This is the door that was locked in the servants’ quarters. I must say though, I don’t like how this house is so compartmentalized. And what an odd place for a bathroom. I suppose this section could be opened up to the servants and the door by the staircase locked instead of this one.”
“Must be if the servants need more room they can open up this tiny part of the house to them,” Eddie said, making sure Mary had locked the door before leaving the area. “We have one more floor and then we can inspect the grounds.”
Mary climbed the steps slowly, fearing she would lose her breath like she had earlier. “This needs an elevator, I’m surprised my great uncle never put one in.”
Eddie stopped at the top landing and looked down at Mary as she crept up the steps. “You can always put one in. And...don’t take this the wrong way, but do you have heart problems or anything like that? If you do, I’d have Madisyn tend to this part of the house.”
Mary halted and looked up at Eddie. “No, I don’t have any such ailments. I’m healthy as a horse.”
“Sorry, Mary, I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Mary began climbing again, this time at a faster pace. The doctor had diagnosed an irregular heart rhythm a while back, but it wasn’t severe enough to prescribe medicine. But truth be told, if old Doc Henley had prescribed heart pills she would not have taken them—too many side effects; and she was healthy, anyway. What really bothered her, was the time she almost died as a teenager after having a surgical procedure; that was what she hated to think about, let alone talk about. Even now she could burst out bawling, never really getting over the whole ordeal. Mary put the thought into a box and stashed it in the corner of her mind. “See, Eddie, I just need to get back in shape, that’s all. I’ll have Madisyn help me set up a walking path on the island.”
“Sounds like a clever idea.”
When Mary reached the top step, she forced herself to not huff and puff. “Let’s continue.”
Eddie’s concerned look did not change to a smile. “All right then.” He looked down the hallway. “There should be three bedrooms up here, along with a bathroom, a storage room, and the sitting room over here.” He pointed to the room directly to the left of the landing.
Mary and Eddie walked into the room.
“Oh, look, Eddie, the third floor to the servants’ quarters has a separate roof. There’s no way to get over there from here unless a person climbs out the window, across the roof, and then in a window on that section.” Mary walked to a window overlooking that part of the house. Bright sunshine reflected on sheet metal flashing before streaming in through the embroidered sheers. “This is the place to come and relax if one wants privacy.”
“I agree.” Eddie sat in a leather wingback chair. “If I owned this place I’d make this into my office. I’d be away from noisy kids—if I had any—and my wife would know where to find me.”
“Yes, this is the perfect house. Especially for a big family.”
“Or families,” Eddie said putting his feet on a footstool. He leaned back and put his hands behind his head. “It would make a nice bed-and-breakfast. That’s something you could do, Mary, entertain people who are on vacation.”
“I don’t think so. I like my privacy and it’s not like I need the money any longer.”
“I’m with you on that,” Eddie said. “I’m not even sure I want a family; I’m too busy. Especially if I start my own law practice later.”
“You have your whole life ahead of you, Eddie. I’m rather envious.” Mary sat in a recliner next to the fireplace. “My life is coming to an end.”
They both jumped when they heard movement at the door. Moose was standing there smiling.
“I have everything brought into the house for you, Mary. I even put some of it in the kitchen cupboards and refrigerator.”
“Thank you, Moose.”
“Damn, Moose,” Eddie said. “I can’t believe you were able to sneak up on us.”
“It’s a well-built house,” Moose walked in and sat on an embroidered bench that creaked under his weight. “It has good bones—unlike this bench. Ender House needs a lot of work, but it’ll be here for years, nonetheless.”
“I suppose that when we’re done inspecting the grounds it’ll be time for you two to leave,” Mary said. “Then I’ll be alone in the house.”
“I can stay the night if you like,” Eddie said. “I’ll give Mr. Stine a call and I’m sure he’ll be fine with it.”
“I can, too,” Moose said. “There are no other charters for the day.”
“I’ll be fine. I’m going to have to get used to being alone here.”
Moose cleared his throat. “If you don’t call Madisyn, I will. If that’s okay with you, Mary.”
“Don’t worry, Moose, I’ll call her in the morning. I can tell already this is going to be too big of a place to manage by myself.” Mary looked around the room. “I just remembered, there is no telephone here. I won’t be able to make or receive any calls.”
“You can use my phone.” Eddie reached into his pocket and extended a cell phone to Mary. “You can use it until you get your own.”
“Thank you, Eddie, but I can’t take your telephone. I’ll be fine here for one night without one.”
“You’re taking it,” Eddie said, continuing to hold it out until Mary took it from his hand.
“I’ll come back out to the house tomorrow and take you into town,” Moose said. “Is nine in the morning fine for me to arrive? I have a fishing charter in the afternoon.”
“That would be fine, Moose.”
Eddie leaned forward. “When you get your phone tomorrow, you could also call the Simmons.”
“I’ll think about it.” Mary stood up. “Okay you two lollygaggers, let’s get the outside inspection done before it gets dark.”
Eddie stood up. “I haven’t seen the keys to the Simmons cottage.”
“I bet I know where they hid the spare,” Moose said, looking down at the bench after he stood as if making sure it was still intact.
The three of them walked outside and down the paved path to the Simmons quaint cottage.
Eddie tested the door. “At least they locked it.”
Moose lifted a ceramic garden gnome by its red pointy hat. “Yep, just as I thought.” He reached down and picked up a key. He handed the dirty key to Eddie. “Here ya go.”
Eddie wiped off the key before placing it into the lock.
When they walked inside, it was obvious the Simmons were not planning on returning. There were no personal belongings, the refrigerator was empty, and the rooms were clean and ready for the next occupants.
“Yep, I didn’t think they were returning,” Moose said.
“Mr. Stine thought the Simmons wanted to stay and help,” Mary said.
“Maybe if you ask them, they’ll come back,” Eddie said.
“Mary, you could always stay here,” Moose said, “if that big ol’ house gets to ya. It does have a—rotten—reputation.”
“Not again, Moose,” Eddie said. “Please stop making the mansion sound like a house of horrors.”
Moose shrugged.