'Yes sir. You must have been really tired.'
'It's been a long week. Your mama got her money's worth out of me yesterday. I spent several hours in the crawl space underneath the house spreading tar paper on the ground and treating for termites. Do you want me to take over?'
'Yes sir, I'll pull off at the next exit. I don't trust myself shifting gears on the short streets of Savannah.'
WE ENTERED the historic section of the city, and I gave directions.
'You already know your way around pretty good,' he said as we made the third turn in four blocks.
'Yes sir. It's not far to her house.'
The spring flowers I'd enjoyed during my first visit were giving way to summer's less-vibrant colors. Daddy had never been to Savannah.
'It doesn't remind me at all of Los Angeles,' he said as we passed the James Oglethorpe statue in Chippewa Square.
'It's not Powell Station either,' I said, wiping perspiration from my forehead. 'There aren't any mountain breezes.'
We made a final turn, and I pointed to the house.
'That's it, the one with the two large live oaks in front and ironwork up the steps. You can park at the curb.'
'How is living in a fancy place like this going to affect you?' he asked as the truck rolled to a stop.
'Don't worry. I'll be living in the basement like a scullery maid.'
Daddy didn't smile. 'Don't underestimate the power of the world to pull you into its grip.'
I pointed to my heart. 'The truth you and Mama put in here is as alive as you are.'
I led the way up the steps and pushed the doorbell. Mrs. Fairmont answered wearing an expensive blue dress with pearls around her neck and the same diamond rings on her fingers. I introduced her to Daddy. He shook her hand and bowed slightly.
'Hello, dear,' she said to me. 'Did you have car problems? I was expecting you yesterday.'
My eyes opened wider. 'No ma'am. I thought you were out of town at a friend's funeral. Mrs. Bartlett sent me an e-mail the other night telling me you wouldn't be home until this afternoon.'
Mrs. Fairmont waved her hand in dismissal. 'I told Christine about the change in plans. Didn't she get in touch with you? And it was a cousin who died, not a friend. The funeral was yesterday morning, and I came directly home. Sometimes Christine is worse about remembering than I am.' The older woman's eyes brightened. 'Today is a good day. I woke up feeling chipper this morning. How do you like my dress?'
'It's beautiful,' I managed, still processing the information that Daddy and I could have driven to Savannah on Saturday.
'You have your father's eyes,' Mrs. Fairmont said. 'Come inside.'
'But thankfully she mostly looks like her mother,' Daddy said as we entered the foyer.
I turned to Daddy and mouthed an apology. He smiled and shook his head.
'Would you like to see Flip? I told him you were coming.'
'Yes ma'am.'
'Have a seat in the blue parlor while I get him. He's in the courtyard.'
We went into the blue parlor. It was exactly the same except for a new arrangement of flowers. I heard the patter of little feet. Flip dashed into the room and began barking furiously. Daddy and I both lowered our hands in greeting. The little dog sniffed me briefly then spent more time examining the back of Daddy's hand. Daddy scratched the dog's neck.
'Another friend.' Mrs. Fairmont beamed as she came into the room. 'Your whole family must have a way with animals.'
Mrs. Fairmont sat down, and Flip jumped into her lap.
'I never let him do that when Christine is here,' she said. 'Now, Mr. Taylor, I want to thank you for letting Tami stay with me this summer. Are there any instructions about her conduct you want to share with me? I've raised two children, imperfectly I must admit, but I'm willing to do what I can to help mold her character.'
To my surprise, Daddy launched into a laundry list of guidelines, most of which would have been suitable for the twins. He included everything from cleaning my living area and helping with household chores to not staying out late at night and notifying Mrs. Fairmont when I wouldn't be home for supper. She nodded her head in agreement.
'That's very helpful,' she replied when he finished. 'I'll try, but you know how young people can be.'
'Tammy is a fine young woman,' Daddy replied. 'All her mother and I ask is that you do the best you can. Now, we'd better unload her things from the truck.'
Daddy got up from the chair and left the room. Slightly numb, I followed him outside.
'What was that all about?' I asked as soon as we reached the front steps. 'Why mention all the rules to her? It sounded so juvenile.'
Daddy put his hand on the side of the truck and faced me. 'You'll do all those things and more, but it satisfied Mrs. Fairmont, didn't it?'
'Yes sir.'
'It was for her benefit, not yours. She needs to see herself giving you more than a bed to sleep in at night.'
We each carried a box into the house. Mrs. Fairmont was standing in the hallway with the door to the basement open.
'I'd better stay here,' she said. 'I don't want to chance my luck on the stairs.'
Daddy followed me into the basement.
'It's a plain room,' I whispered. 'Mrs. Bartlett thinks the dog lives down here. It was rented out years ago when this was a boardinghouse.'
I pushed open the door and stopped in shock. The efficiency apartment had been completely redecorated with new carpeting and furniture. I peeked into the bedroom. Light streamed in onto a pretty twin bed. There was a white chest of drawers with matching nightstand. I opened the door to a bathroom that was sparkling clean.
'It's been totally redone,' I marveled.
I bounded upstairs.
'Mrs. Fairmont, it's beautiful! You shouldn't have gone to so much trouble.'
'Gracie and her nephews did all the work. It was fine as a hideout for Flip when Christine came for a visit, but not fit for a young lady like you.'
I leaned over and hugged her.
'Thank you,' I said.
None of my secondhand furniture would look right in the garden apartment, so it only took thirty minutes to unload the truck. Everything else would spend the summer in Powell Station. It was work, but not as much as I'd expected. Mrs. Fairmont went into the den. Every time we passed the room on the way to the basement door, I could see her sitting in a chair, staring out the windows.
'I'll unpack the other things after the sun goes down,' I said to Daddy after I hung my dresses up in a long, narrow closet in the bedroom.
We went upstairs. I knocked on the door frame of the den. 'We're finished,' I announced.
Mrs. Fairmont didn't respond. I couldn't see her face. I turned to Daddy, who gave me a questioning look. I walked softly across the room.
'Mrs. Fairmont? My father is leaving now. He'd like to say good-bye.'
I reached the chair. Flip was curled up on the floor at Mrs. Fairmont's feet. The old woman continued staring. I reached down and gently touched her on the arm. She jerked so violently that I stepped back.
'I'm sorry,' I said. 'I didn't mean to startle you.'
Mrs. Fairmont rubbed her temples. 'I have a headache. Did you hear the bird flying around inside the house? We need to open all the doors and let it out. It came in through the veranda.'
She pointed to a screened-in porch that overlooked the garden. I opened the door. All I saw was a set of beautiful wicker furniture and some green potted plants.
'Mrs. Fairmont,' I said calmly, 'there's not a bird in the house. The doors are all closed.'
Mrs. Fairmont frowned and shook her head. 'I heard it as plain as you talking right now. Be quiet and
