All Roads Lead Home (Bellingwood) Read online

  She went on, "No, I do remember. It was my freshman year in high school and it was on a band bus. We were coming back after an out of town football game. I have no idea where we'd been, but it was dark and chilly, we had our blankets and were all snuggled in. There had been a lot of chattering until finally everyone was worn out. I suspect there was more going on in the seats behind me, but Darrin, the boy I wanted to be dating at the time, was sitting with me. He started out by holding my hand and I think when he took my hand under the blanket, everything in my stomach did a flip flop. We were talking quietly because we didn't want anyone to hear us. I doubt it was anything important, but all of a sudden, he leaned over and kissed me. First it was a sweet kiss, and then all of a sudden it got a little more passionate. We did a lot of kissing on that band trip and on the rest of the trips that year. But, we broke up after the winter dance. Yeah. That's a sweet memory."

  Polly turned to Linda, "Okay, it's your turn, I guess."

  Linda asked, "What's your favorite childhood memory of your mother?"

  Polly stopped for a moment and thought. "You know my mom died when I was twelve, right?" Both women nodded and then she giggled and went on. "Oh, this will work right in with tonight's theme. I rode the bus to school every day. Mom always had questions for me before I walked out the door. Did I brush my teeth, did I wash my hands, did I have my school bag and one I could never figure out. She asked me every day if I had my panties on.

  "Well, every day, when she went down the list, I said yes, yes, yes, yes and trotted out to wait for the bus, but I think I must have been showing my rebellious streak early, because one morning when I was in first grade, I decided I wasn't going to do what she asked. I was going to lie and tell her I'd done all of those things. I did have to take my bag with me, because she would have noticed, but I didn't do anything else. I went skipping out to the end of the lane to wait for the bus and all of a sudden I realized how uncomfortable I was. What if my dress went up and the boys saw? I started crying and crying. I could see the bus coming down the road and I knew I couldn't get on it without my panties. I had to make a decision. Mom would be easier to handle than the embarrassment facing me otherwise, so I ran back up the lane, sobbing. Mom came out to meet me and waved off the bus. I fessed up to her and she smiled. We went inside and I ran upstairs to my dresser to get some panties, then she came up and I washed my hands and face and brushed my teeth.

  "She didn't say much to me, just knelt down and put her arms around me and told me she loved me and was proud of me for making the right decision. Then she drove me to school and dropped me off. She never said anything to me about it again and she never again asked me if I was wearing panties. I don't think she ever quit asking me about washing my hands and brushing my teeth, though."

  Polly hadn't been paying much attention to her surroundings with so many of the women stopping by to ask her questions and try to get to know her. As Angela Boehm sat down beside her, she heard Beryl cough and say, "Excuse me, excuse me!"

  Everyone stopped and looked up. “I thought you all should see what embarrassed little Dougie Randall this morning - well, yesterday morning, since it is already long after midnight.” She stepped to one side as Andy and Lydia held up either end of Polly's bright purple underwear with hot pink bows.

  Polly leaped off the couch and ran at the women, who darted to the side. Andy tossed the undies over Polly's head to Lydia who caught them and stuck them under her shirt. "Are you going to come get them now, girlfriend?" she taunted.

  "But, they're dirty!" Polly cried.

  "Oh, hell no they're not," said Beryl. "While you've been in here partying and drinking up all of those ... how many has she had, Andy? Three ... martinis, we finished your laundry for you. And if those are the fanciest panties you own, we're taking you to Victoria's Secret next time we go to Des Moines."

  Polly made a dive for Lydia, who backed into a cluster of women standing in front of the bar. They gave her a little push back into the center of the room and she faced off with Polly. All of a sudden chants of "Fight! Fight! Fight!" surrounded the two who were dancing around each other.

  Lydia pulled the panties out from under her shirt and tossed them up in the air. Polly leaped for them and grabbed them.

  "No fight today, ladies, back to your party." Lydia said.

  She walked to Polly with her hands up in surrender. As she got closer, she said, "I'm sorry, Polly. I couldn't resist. I hope I haven't embarrassed you too much."

  Polly shook her head. "I don't know what to do with you! You are like no one I've ever met!"

  Beryl had walked up as she said the last, "And it's a very good thing, too, Polly. She keeps us all on our toes!"

  The rest of the night passed quietly. Polly answered questions and suddenly felt as if she were at home. These women wanted to be her friends and were having a good time, all because of Lydia Merritt. They genuinely liked Lydia and Polly found she couldn't imagine living here without knowing this wonderful lady. At one point, she sat back on the couch and looked around. Women were laughing and eating, drinking and talking. No one paid any attention to who was drinking alcohol, water or soda. It was a wonderful party.

  Polly checked her cell phone for the time. Two in the morning. She should be asleep. A few of the women said something to Lydia, who then turned and announced to the room. "It's time to pick a winner. Who has the best story about Polly?"

  Each story was read out loud and Polly posed with the woman after she read her story so Lydia could snap a picture. Then it was time to vote. Polly expected the women to yuck it up with the panty story she had told Linda Morse, and it did come in second, but the largest round of applause went to the story Adele Mansfield told about the first morning Mary had shown up to make breakfast and ensure Polly got to school on time.

  Polly listened as Adele read what she had written down:

  "Mary had never had children of her own and both of Polly's parents had always let her be part of Polly's childhood, so she felt as if she knew the little girl well already. She worried, though, that Polly would resent her in her mama's kitchen. She got everything together at her own house so she wouldn't make too much of a mess and clutter up the counters. All she had to do was reheat the gravy and pour it over some biscuits. When she set the table and everyone sat down, Polly sat down beside her. She reached out with her little hand to hold Mary's while her daddy offered grace. When he said "Amen," Polly squeezed the woman's hand and smiled up at her."

  Polly looked over at Adele. "That's not the story I told you," she said, with a quiver in her voice.

  "No it's not, honey. Your Mary was my sister's best friend. She told me that story and I thought I'd share it with you today. She loved your mama and she loved you and would be awfully proud of you, I think."

  Polly stood up and walked over to hug Adele. "I'm glad you're getting the prize. That's the best story of the night," she said, tears threatening. "Will you promise to tell me more about Mary and your sister someday?"

  "I certainly will. Maybe you can come over for lunch one of these days when you're not too busy." Adele responded.

  "It's a date. I'll call you," Polly said.

  "Well, Adele," said Lydia. "It looks like you're the winner!" and she pulled out a beautiful satin, purple robe with a hot pink sash. All of the ladies laughed and then oohed and aahed over the robe.

  Since Adele was one of the women who was heading home for the night, Polly gave her a quick hug before they all left by the back door.

  When they were gone, Lydia said, "I can put a movie in, or you can all go to bed. Most of you know where the bedrooms are upstairs. Anybody who wants to crash on the sofas down here is welcome to do so. No one has to worry about cleaning things up. From here on out, you can do whatever you like and tomorrow morning there will be coffee and cinnamon rolls at the bar."

  A few more women, who decided their own beds sounded like a good idea, said their good-byes. Several went upstairs and crashed in beds and still other
s snuggled into the sofas and recliners in the basement. Polly stayed awake for a while longer, talking with some of the women and before she knew it, she saw sunlight.

  She tiptoed over to the bar where Lydia and Beryl were setting coffee and breakfast pastries out and whispered, "Do you ever sleep?"

  Beryl laughed, "Don't kid yourself, tootsie pop. When you are gone, Lydia will sleep the rest of the day. That woman prowls around at all hours of the night and always seems to find plenty of time to sleep."

  Lydia poked her friend's arm, "It's that whole menopause thing. I figured I didn't need to fight it, just roll with it. It keeps everyone around me happier."

  "Here, Polly, have coffee. You might need it. You're looking a little ragged."

  "Well, I did have … how many was it, Beryl? Three martinis." she said. Then, she blinked her eyes. "And my head hurts."

  "Polly, I know you're pooped and you have a big week ahead of you. Drink your coffee and Beryl will take you home. She should be able to get there without getting too lost. I'll get everyone else on their way. And then, check your email later, the pictures will show up."

  "That sounds wonderful," Polly said. "Lydia, I don't know how to thank you for last night. It has to be one of my top ten extraordinary life experiences! You are a wonderful, wonderful friend." She reached out to hug the woman. "I don't know how to say thank you for everything."

  "There is no need, honey. I love doing this stuff and having someone new around to appreciate it makes it that much more fun for me! Now go home and rest up for your week. I'll check on you later."

  Polly and Beryl went back down the hallway and found not one, but two laundry baskets filled with her clean, neatly folded clothes. Beryl picked one up and before Polly could protest, said, "Just be quiet. If she didn't have people around to take care of, she wouldn't know what to do with herself. Lydia Merritt has more energy than she knows what to do with and her dear, sweet husband spoils her rotten. She has to turn it around on everyone else so he doesn't turn into a marshmallow. Take the basket and thank her later."

  Polly picked up a basket and her overnight bag and followed Beryl to her car.

  Lydia was right; she did want to go back to sleep, so after hauling the laundry upstairs, she left it at the end of the bed, dropped in and promptly fell asleep.

  Chapter Five

  Despite a building full of people, Monday morning found Polly in the basement looking through boxes for heavier blankets for her bed when she heard a crash and then a very masculine screech. She ran up the steps to the main level to find everyone else heading to the second floor. She followed the crowd and when she got upstairs, the activity was in the old girl's bathroom. Doug Randall was limping out, his hair and clothing filled with plaster dust. Jerry Allen was right behind him with his hand on his back.

  "Okay, buddy. Breathe. Just breathe."

  "Did you see that?" Doug asked. "Did you see that? There were bones and skulls!"

  Polly pushed through the people standing around.

  "What are you talking about?" she asked.

  "Bones. And skulls." He took a breath. "In the ceiling!"

  Polly cocked her head and looked at Jerry quizzically. "In the ceiling? I thought it was concrete and they were going to drop a new one to hold the infrastructure."

  Jerry shook his head. "So did I. Doug must have pushed in the right place, because what we thought was concrete wasn't at all. It was dry wall made to look like concrete. Someone dropped that ceiling years ago."

  Doug sat down on the floor. "Bones. And skulls." he said again.

  Polly tried to step past Doug and Jerry to get into the bathroom. She wanted to see what in the world had happened.

  Jerry stopped her. "Are you sure you want to see this?"

  "I think I need to!" she said.

  He let her through and followed her back into the bathroom. The ceiling had taken a beating when Doug pulled his hand back out of the drywall. It looked as if he had grabbed the ceiling to maintain his footing on the ladder and pulled an entire section down on top of him. He was absolutely right. Two skulls had fallen out of the ceiling onto the floor, as well as a number of bones. Polly saw there were books and clothing as well. She started to step further in, but Jerry stopped her again.

  "We need to call the police. You shouldn't disturb anything." he said.

  "Right. Right. Alright. You're right." She used her phone to snap pictures of the room, the floor and the mess as well as the ceiling. "I wonder if the other bathroom's ceiling is this low," she said out loud.

  "That's a good question. I can't believe no one ever noticed this." Jerry said.

  "I suppose the only person who might have noticed it would have been the custodian." Polly mused, and then said, "Who are these people and what are they doing here?"

  "We aren't going to know anything more until the police show up and start investigating," he said. "Do you want to call them or should I?"

  "Oh. Yes. That." Polly walked back out into the main hall. "I'll call them. Will you take care of making sure no one else goes in there and messes things up?"

  She looked at her phone. In all of her life, she'd never had to call the police. Should she call 9-1-1 or contact the police department. And which police department handled something like this. She walked over to the top step and sat down.

  Then, she realized she wasn't thinking straight at all and dialed the number of the one person who could help her.

  "Hello, dear. How are you today?" said Lydia when she answered the phone.

  "Lydia, I need your husband. How can I reach him?" Polly asked.

  "What? You need Aaron? Whatever for? Are you alright? Did someone break in and steal something?"

  "No, Lydia. Doug Randall broke my ceiling and two skeletons fell out on the floor," Polly said.

  "Well, leave it to Doug. Wait, did you say skeletons? Are they real?" Lydia gasped.

  "I don't know anything other than that there are two skeletons in my upstairs bathroom and I think I need Aaron as quickly as possible." Polly's body shook as a small shiver passed through her.

  "Don't worry," said Lydia. "I'll call him and get him over there immediately. Tell everyone to stay away from it. I know those boys and they're going to think this is fascinating!"

  "Fascinating. Yeah. That's exactly what I thought," Polly sighed. "Thanks Lydia. I'll talk to you later."

  She pressed the 'end' button on her phone and turned around. Everyone was still standing around, talking quietly about what was in the bathroom. Doug wasn't paying any attention to the conversations taking place over his head, he just sat there.

  Polly stood up. "Jerry?"

  "Yes, Polly." he responded.

  "I think Doug might be in shock. I know I'm a little shook up. But, he might need to be distracted or something. Would you send someone downstairs for something hot to drink for him and some sugar? I know there is plenty out on the table." Polly had taken to putting baked goods on the kitchen table so the guys who were working could have snacks with their coffee. She figured she was spoiling them, but they certainly didn't mind eating the sweet stuff and she was glad they kept showing up and working.

  One of the other electrician's apprentices, she thought it must have been Billy of the lost power stapler, took heed of Jerry's nod and started down the steps. Then, he looked at Polly. "Can I bring you something too?" he asked.

  "Sure," she said. "Coffee would be great."

  She watched as another man followed him down the steps. In her shock she couldn’t remember his name. Oh yeah, it was Marvin. He was one of the guys who spent a lot of time in the kitchen making sure the coffee pot was full. He and Billy could make sure there was coffee coming.

  Polly sat back down on the step to wait for Aaron Merritt to show up. She was a little ashamed that her next thought was about how this was going to mess up her work schedule. She just knew they'd be investigating for weeks and wouldn't let any work continue. Then, her subsequent thought was about whether or not they
would let her stay in the building.

  "Damn," she said out loud.

  "Ma'am?" said one of the workmen, Leroy, who heard it. Even with the distraction, it occurred to her to be proud that she’d remembered two names today.

  "Oh, sorry," she said. "Just thinking out loud."

  “Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked again.

  “I’m sure. A little shook up is all.”

  She was going to have to find a place to stay. There was no way they would let her stay here while the investigators were in and out, was there?

  "Breathe, Giller. Just wait until Sheriff Merritt shows up. Then you can ask questions." She muttered her words quietly under her breath, looking around to see if anyone heard her. Leroy was still standing there watching her, but he turned around and began talking to someone else

  Billy came back up the steps with a cup of coffee and some cookies. She took the cup from him and he put a cookie with a napkin in her hand. "I'll bet this will help you too, ma'am," he said and smiled a sweet little boy smile.

  Marvin carried another cup and walked over to hand it to Jerry, who had his hand out, then stepped back.

  Polly smiled back at Billy and he walked over to kneel in front of Doug. Jerry knelt down and pressed the coffee cup into Doug’s hand. "Drink the coffee, Doug. Eat a cookie."

  Doug shook himself a little and looked up at Jerry. "Coffee? Okay."

  Billy set a napkin with three cookies on Doug's leg. Doug took a drink of coffee and looked around the large hallway.

  "Did I really pull bones out of that ceiling?" he asked.

  "You really did, dude," said Billy. "That's so cool!"

  Polly chuckled. She was only ten or twelve years older than those boys, but they seemed so much younger. Both were good kids. She thought it was great Jerry was teaching them a trade. He treated them like they were his own sons and both boys seemed to like him a lot.

  She heard the door open and got up again. Walking down the stairs, she hoped it was Lydia's husband. No one else needed to be here now. When she got to the front door and opened it, both Lydia and Aaron were waiting there.