Seventeen

Richard changed from his work shirt to a dress shirt and headed toward the center of town. All things considered, his uncle and aunt had taken the news fairly well. He knew he wouldn’t need to tell Cook. If she hadn’t heard him explaining to them, she would hear it before he returned home.

He stopped briefly at the bank and gave a note to the manager, saying he would return in an hour to pick up the requested information. Nathaniel Farris’s jewelry shop hadn’t survived the fire. However, many of the items had been locked in the safe the night before the fire hit. He’d heard Nathaniel was working out of his home until the shop could be rebuilt.

Richard knocked on Nathaniel Farris’s door, and a gangly ten-year-old girl with red hair and freckles answered it. “Is your daddy home?” Richard asked.

“He’s working,” she answered and started to close the door.

“Would you tell him Richard Southard would like to speak with him.”

She shrugged her shoulders and yelled, “Daddy, a man wants to see you.”

Richard held back a chuckle. He’d done the same thing on more than one occasion when he was that age.

“Richard, what can I do for you?” Nathaniel asked.

“I need an engagement ring.” He grinned.

“Come on in. Who’s the lucky gal?” Nathaniel stepped aside, opening the door farther.

“Isabella Fernandez.” Richard entered the roomy two-story house and followed Nathaniel to a front study converted into a small jeweler’s shop.

“I don’t have much, but let’s see what you like first.”

“I know nothing of women’s jewelry. Nanna wore a few pieces, but by and large I haven’t been around a lot of feminine jewelry. What is appropriate?”

“A solitary diamond is a traditional gift. But I’ve seen pearls, emeralds. . .anything that seemed special to the couple.”

“Her family is very traditional.” A smile curled his lips at the thought of how untraditional Isabella was. “However, she’s more unique.”

“Hmm, do you like diamonds?”

“They sparkle pretty enough; but I’m not the one who should like it, she should.” Richard released a nervous chuckle.

“Ah, but a ring should reflect the beauty you see in her. Here, let’s look at some stones, then I’ll show you some settings.”

Nathaniel gave Richard an abbreviated course in gemology. He soon knew more about clarity and carets than he ever wanted to know. In the end, he picked out a three-quarter caret white diamond with two small amber stones. Nathaniel said he could have the ring finished by the evening and delivered to his home. They guessed on the ring size, and Nathaniel agreed to change the size to fit if they’d gotten it wrong. Thankfully, Nathaniel’s wife Julie’s fingers were long and slender like Isabella’s.

The engagement ring and matching wedding band out of the way, he went back to the bank.

“Welcome, Mr. Southard,” Nick Farley said as he entered the bank. The short balding man sat behind his desk. “I have the figures ready that you asked for.”

“Thank you.”

“This is such an odd request from you. You’ve always known exactly where your accounts stood.”

“True, and I still do.” Richard examined the financial statement. “But I needed a statement from the bank for a certain matter.”

“Ah, yes, I’ve heard of that mess in Havana. I had hoped you wouldn’t have to pull out such a large sum. The penalty payment will be so high.”

“True, and I’m not withdrawing any money to secure the ship.”

Farley’s eyebrows raised.

“I also know if I pulled out such a large amount of capital, the bank could be put in a tough situation. I’m assuming these funds were used to secure the loans to the islanders?”

“Yes. You understand the banking business well. Many don’t. They think we keep everyone’s money in the safe at all times.”

“I was taught that great wealth came with a great responsibility to others. My funds here are only some of my funds, as you well know. I would never compromise the security of your other loans. The truth of the matter is, while the Sea Dove is a fine ship, she’s not the only ship; and once the funds are returned, we can purchase another vessel. And the value of one man’s business does not exceed the needs of the community. At least not this family’s business.”

“Thank you. Now, what else can I help you with?”

“I do need to withdraw some money from this fund.” Richard pointed to a small fund he had with the least penalties on it. “I would like you to put five thousand dollars into my personal savings account.”

“Very well, you do understand—”

“About the penalties, I know. Do what you must.” This fund was the balance of all his earnings over the years working for his uncle. He’d saved most of the money and used some for schooling. It was perhaps the money he was most proud of because he’d earned it himself. What better fund to use to purchase your fiancée’s engagement ring? he mused.

On his way out of the bank, he ran into Marc Dabney. “Hi, Richard, how are you today?”

“Fine, Mr. Dabney, and you?”

“Fine, fine. Life couldn’t be better.”

Richard resisted the urge to question the man about Arcney Transport.

“You’re just the man I was looking to find. I heard about your skiffs being lost. And a friend of mine has some used skiffs. He’s pulling out of the sponging business. I was wondering if you might be interested in purchasing them?”

“Be glad to look at them. Where are they located?”

“Key Visca. I’m about to meet up with him. He’s here in Key West for the day.”

“Sure, what’s he asking for the skiffs?”

“Says he’s willing to let them go for a couple hundred.”

“A piece?” Richard halted.

“No, no, for the whole lot of them.”

“Lead the way.” Richard followed as Marc Dabney waddled down the street toward one of the taverns. “What’s the name of your friend’s sponging business? Perhaps I know it?”

“Arcney Sponges.”

❧

Isabella couldn’t keep her mind on her work, and she left the Bowers’ office early, her mind flooded with bridal gowns, white satin, and lace. Adding and subtracting numbers were buried somewhere in the midst of all that lace, but where she couldn’t figure out. The additional worries of not having spoken with her father this morning only added to her concerns. She should have faced him. Then she would have known how he was feeling, if he still loved her in spite of her having shamed them.

“Mima, I’m home,” she called and dropped her purse on a table in the hallway.

“Isabella, come in the sitting room. We have guests.”

Isabella walked in to see Bea Southard, Peg Bower, and Lizzy Greene. “Hello.” She found a seat and sat down, looking to her mother for an answer.

“These ladies are here to help us with the wedding dress and anything else we have need of.”

Isabella looked at Bea Southard and flushed. “How, how, soon is the wedding?”

“We still don’t know, Niña.” Yolanda reached over and placed her hand on Isabella’s.

“Isabella, we know your family is alone on Key West. Each of us has a good hand for stitching, although no one compares with Peg here.” Bea winked at Peg. “We’re only offering to help. Richard is special to each of us, and since you are special to him, you are also special to us. However, we do not want to impose on any plans you and your mother are making. We are the laborers; you and your mother are the designers.”

“Mima?”

“Sí, Isabella, this is good. We spoke this morning about how long it would take us.”

“Sí.” She turned to the women. “Thank you, it’s a very kind offer.”

Lizzy spoke up. “We’re here to help in any way we can. The wedding dress is one thing, but if you need help with anything else, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Peg Bower, brushing back strands of her light brown hair, added, “I also would like to make something special for your wedding gift. What do you have in the way of linens in your wedding trunk?”

“Mima?” She looked to her mother. She hadn’t put anything in the trunk. Her mother might have been putting in things, but she hadn’t been planning on marriage, hadn’t even been thinking about it until she met Richard. And since then there hadn’t been any time.

Yolanda stood up. “Follow me.” All three of the ladies followed her mother down the hall. Isabella sat stunned. Her future mother-in-law, or aunt-in-law. . . How does that work in our situation? A warm thought fluttered through her mind. Our. She was thinking in terms of Richard and herself together.

Isabella got up and followed the ladies’ murmurs. She was surprised by the contents of her trunk. When had her mother gathered those items? After the women left, she sat with her mother and asked, “Mima, when did you have the time or money to gather all those things?”

“Niña, I’ve been collecting since you were first born.”

“I never knew.”

“Sí, it is something I wanted to do. Your papá allowed me to save and collect.”

Isabella looked over the matching silver service for eight. She picked up a spoon and looked at the design. A small rose had been stamped on the handle. “They are beautiful, Mima. Muchas gracías.”

“You’re welcome, Niña.” Yolanda placed the items back in the trunk.

“I want to tell Richard about these and the women coming to help, everything.”

“All in good time, Niña, all in good time.”

“Sí, Mima. I will wait.”

“Bien. Now, why did you come home early from work?”

❧

Meeting Marc Dabney hadn’t been providence. Richard suspected the man had been waiting for him, as if he’d been aware of all his actions. The mention of his visit to Nathaniel Farris’s house triggered additional caution.

“Yes, I was looking to purchase some jewelry.” Richard sipped his now cool coffee.

“Perhaps you truly did not need my offer.” Marc wiped his mouth with his napkin. “I don’t understand where Raphael could be.”

“You’ll have to tell him that I couldn’t wait any longer. I have other family matters I need to take care of.”

Marc grabbed his wrist. “Give him another minute.”

Richard looked down at his wrist, and Marc released his hold. “All right, just another minute, but then I must go. Are you making a profit on the sale?” Richard couldn’t help but ask. The fact was, he knew Marc Dabney had to be the owner of Arcney Sponges, just as he was the owner of Arcney Transport.

“A small finder’s fee for locating a buyer. Only a trifle.”

Richard scanned the dimly lit room. Seeing no one new enter, he rose. “I’m sorry, Mr. Dabney, I really must go. Tell your friend to bring the skiffs by my wharf in the morning and I’ll give them a look over. If they’re in fair condition I’ll buy ’em. If not, you know the answer to that.”

“Very well. Saw you coming out of the bank. Did you secure a loan to get your ship back?”

“Nope, brought the papers to Manuel a couple days ago. The ship belongs to him.”

“That’s rough. How you going to keep the business afloat?”

“With the Lord’s help, we’ll find a way. Good day, Mr. Dabney.” Richard didn’t hang around for an additional comment. Dabney was fishing for something. There probably wasn’t another man representing Arcney Sponges. He didn’t know how he knew, but he firmly believed Marc Dabney owned the other business.

At the house, he found his uncle and a room filled with the men to whom he’d loaned money. “Come in, Richard, these men are here to see you, not me.”

The men nodded and waited for Richard to sit down. The spokesman of the group, David Zachary, cleared his throat. “Richard, we heard about the loss of the Sea Dove and we’ve dug up what we could, but I’m afraid it still won’t cover the debt.”

Richard looked at the itemized list of names and numbers. Each man had put down their debt and how much they had paid.

“We feel bad that you extended yourself so far on our accounts and lost the ship,” David continued. “We can’t do much, but anything we can do to help rebuild your warehouse, stock it, whatever, we’re ready, willing, and able.”

Richard didn’t know what to say. “Thank you. Don’t feel badly about the ship, not that I won’t be taking all of you up on your offers, mind you.”

The tension in the room broke and the men started laughing. Ellis tapped him on the back and whispered, “Well done, Son.”

“I could use a favor, though.” The room hushed. “What do all of you know of Marc Dabney’s businesses and Arcney Transport?”

“You borrow from him, he’ll own you for life,” Ben Greely offered.

“Thankfully, I noticed it on the contract long before I signed,” Richard added.

“You know, I ain’t never done business with the man. Avoided him actually, but I did find it odd he went to Cuba a week after the fire and didn’t bring anything back with him. I thought for sure he’d have filled the ship and charged folks triple the asking price for it. Guess I might be wrong about the man.”

A week after the fire? About the time Manuel got the offer from Arce Transport. “Has anyone known any of his businesses’ names?”

“Afraid not,” David put in. “He’s one you need to watch yourself with. Something about a man who owns a business that no one sees. He’s got an office and all, but nothing else.”

“Interesting.” Ellis rubbed his beard. “Why are you asking, Son?”

“I ran into him when I was leaving the bank today, saying he had a friend with some sponging skiffs for sale. His friend never showed, and his friend’s business is Arcney Sponges.”

“Arcney, that’s the name I heard once,” Ben offered.

“Arcney Transport was the name in real fine print on the contract Marc offered me.”

“If we hear anything, we’ll let you know.” David rose to leave and extended his hand to Richard. “Pleasure doing business with you, Richard. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call on me.”

“Thank you.”

Each man gave his salutation, and when the dust settled behind them, Ellis walked back into the room and asked, “What was all of that about Marc Dabney?”

“I have a feeling he’s behind the offer in Cuba, and I don’t trust him about the skiffs. Here’s the real interesting thing, Uncle Ellis. He knew I’d been to visit Nathaniel Farris. How could he? Nathaniel lives out from the center of town, and yet Dabney knew it right after I visited him. Granted, island gossip spreads faster than rain but. . .”

“But he may have had someone watching you,” Ellis finished.

“Yeah, how’d you know?”