CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO Van
Before leaving for dinner at Sadie’s house, John and Chip agreed with me that we should attend as a united front and disregard any past transgressions from Sadie. Mrs. Hatfield was elderly, set in her ways, and probably hated the idea of change in her world, so we decided to set the example.
“Even though you’re angry with her, I suppose you did all this,” I asked Chip when we pulled up to her house.
“I have every year since I was a teenager,” he confessed.
Sadie’s home sparkled with lights. Fresh wreaths hung in front of every window, with a larger one on the front door. The decoration was understated yet elegant and fitting for her Victorian-style home.
Sadie answered the door and exchanged looks with all three of us. I doubted this was what she’d expected to see.
“Do come in, gentlemen,” she said, giving me enough side eye to wilt a flower.
Her home smelled of cinnamon and holidays, taking me back to my grandmother and memories of childhood Christmases. A fantastically animated young man let out a squeal at seeing us enter.
Any questions I had concerning why John and Chip were positive that Sadie’s grandson was gay were put to rest the very moment we walked into her home and Sadie introduced him.
James jumped from the plastic-covered sofa, releasing several additional squeals. “Oh my gawd!” he trilled. “A bona fide trio of deliciousness. Hello,” he added, snapping his fingers in the air.
Sadie placed her hand through the space of Jame’s bent arm after he positioned his own hand on his hip, posing like the Grande dame he obviously believed he was.
“I told you these boys were all grown up, James,” Sadie said, stroking his arm. “Your choice will be a hard pick to make. Now, of course, Vance is just visiting, so that whittles your choice down a tiny bit.”
James ignored her commentary. He was too busy eye-banging the three of us. He exhibited zero inhibition as his eyes raked over each of us, paying particular attention to any possible bulge exposure.
“That’s quite the jacket,” Chip stated.
James separated from his grandmother and twirled around. “I do prefer the more subtle pieces,” he stated.
I immediately worried Chip would jump all over his ridiculous comment, but John beat him to it. “Hot pink is certainly subtle,” John observed.
James spun around again, beaming like a contestant on Toddlers and Tiaras. His subtle jacket was hot pink. The lapel was adorned with imitation diamond sequins. Well, I assumed they were imitations.
“I think you look amazing,” I said, holding out my hand. “And I’m very happy to meet you.”
James walked right past me and my extended hand, landing directly in front of John. “My oh my, John. You’ve certainly grown into quite the man,” he complimented, holding a limp wrist to John.
For an instant, I wondered if John would bow and kiss his hand. I’d come to learn earlier in the day that John was outrageously funny and full of life. I was immediately drawn to him.
“How about a hug instead?” John offered, causing James to giggle.
“Seems to me, Mrs. Hatfield, that James has already made his choice,” Chip quipped. “A fine choice indeed.” John shot Chip a death glare, knowing what Chip was trying to do. “And as you already know, I’m taken by Van, so this works out fantastically.”
“Until Van moves on from Missile, correct?” Sadie inquired. “I’m sure he has bigger and better places to be than our little hamlet.”
“You might be right,” Chip agreed. “But I’m afraid if Van decides to leave Missile, I’ll be right behind him, ma’am.”
Sadie clutched her neck in disbelief. “You’d never,” she huffed. “We depend on you and the mercantile, Calvin,” she added, using Chip’s formal name. “We simply couldn’t allow such a thing.”
Chip pulled me to his side. “Then I suggest you charm the pants off this little bugger here, ma’am. Because I’m as serious as a heart attack. If Van goes, I go.”
“Well, that is simply ridiculous,” she harrumphed. “You couldn’t possibly do that.”
Bertie, who’d apparently been in the kitchen, spoke up when she came through the swinging door and into the living room where we were.
“What’s even more ridiculous, you dingbat, is that you presume Chip would listen to your advice,” Bertie scolded.
Sadie gave her a dismissive wave, deciding Chip’s recommendation to charm me was in her best interest. “So, Vance. How are you enjoying your stay here?”
“I’m enjoying it very much, Sadie. I can see myself living in Missile.”
Bertie stepped beside Sadie. “Which means, Hatfield, you better concentrate on your grandkid being with someone else who’s not Chip,” she chirped. “Chip is taken, as you can clearly see.”
The six of us stood staring at one another. Sadie, I assumed, was wondering if Chip would actually leave, and whether she needed to suck up to me. Bertie appeared smug that her comments had rendered Sadie speechless.
James had sidled up so closely to John that no space existed between them. While Chip and I squeezed our hands tightly together, enjoying the absurdity of the evening thus far, John appeared horrified.
Sadie found her voice and turned toward John. “Are your parents driving themselves here, John?”
John met us at Sadie’s, so we hadn’t heard how his reunion had gone with them. “They won’t be coming, ma’am,” he reported.
I noticed John swallow hard and look away. His answer was succinct, which, to me, sounded like bad news. Chip told me John’s parents were never thrilled about their relationship and that John rarely saw them when he lived here. Witnessing John attempting to act like he was okay broke my heart.
“Their loss,” Bertie stated, seeming to sense John could use support. “I’m just happy you’re here with us, kiddo,” she added.
Knowing that Bertie cared deeply for Chip’s ex didn’t bother me in the least. In fact, her feelings about John only solidified that mine were accurate. John was good people.
After the meet and greet calmed down, and the guests found areas to chat in, I wandered around the interior of Sadie’s first floor. The charming woodwork was original to the era and well-maintained. Her furnishings were Victorian antiques and complemented the overall appearance of the house itself.
While admiring the many figurines she had displayed on a large teak shelf, Sadie came up behind me. “An old woman’s hobby,” she said. “They give me joy and keep me company.”
I picked one up carefully and checked the bottom of the porcelain little boy. “Hummel,” I quietly stated. “I figured that’s what they were.”
“You recognize Hummel figurines?” she inquired, perking up considerably and taking the small statue from me. I figured she didn’t want me holding her collection, but instead, she handed me another one. “Check her out,” she encouraged. “My very first one. A gift from my husband.”
“Adorable,” I agreed. “I know that Sister Maria Hummel made drawings of children in traditional Bavarian settings, most with innocent expressions and rosy cheeks,” I began.
“And then when her drawings became all the rage in Germany, the Goebel company secured the rights and produced figurines to match her artful drawings.”
“Wow,” Sadie exclaimed. “What else do you know about them, Vance?”
I turned the figurine over and spotted the Goebel bee logo stamped there. “The official logo,” I stated. “Proves them to be originals.” I backed up a tad and gestured at her collection. “All Goebel’s?”
“Every last one of them,” she declared, clutching her hands together over her heart. “I adore them all.”
“See the crown here, or what’s also known as the full bee?” I asked, showing her the bottom of the porcelain piece. She moved closer, lifting her glasses and squinting at where my finger was. “This piece is original to the 1930s to 1950s. Quite valuable, actually.”
I returned the porcelain piece and grabbed another very recognizable statuette. “The one you’re holding now came from my mother-in-law, and it’s titled Adventure Bound,” she proudly announced.
I gasped, doing my best to excite her. “No way,” I argued.
“As you kids say. Yes, way.”
I leaned into her like we were long-lost buddies sharing a secret. “Adventure Bound is worth more than three thousand dollars, ma’am.”
She seemed delighted with my news. “Oh my,” she said, leaning closer to me. “And I have soooo many.”
We shared a laugh, and then she reached for my hand. I whispered in her ear. “I won’t tell anyone you’re sitting on a gold mine, ma’am.”
Sadie’s eyes softened. “You are truly a kind soul, Vance.”
“I miss my grandmother,” I admitted, placing her figurine on the shelf and facing her. “Gee-Gee educated me in collectables and art. She adored Hummels.”
“Do you have any of hers?”
“My mother has them all,” I explained. “So one day… hopefully a long time from now… I bet I’ll get them from my mother. I’ll share some with you, ma’am.”
“Oh, son,” she began. “I only wish I’d be around then. Of course, only if your mother were still on earth with us, too. But I’m almost ninety now. My time is short.”
“How about we share some wine in the future and discuss your collection in more detail?”
“You’d do that with me?”
“I’d be delighted,” I responded. “Let’s see where I’m at after the new year. We can decide once I know.”
She studied me carefully before speaking. “I hope it’s here in Missile, son,” she said. “And I want to apologize for my behavior earlier this week. I guess I’m a bit too protective of my young boys.”
“Could you possibly add me to your list of protected boys?”
Sadie teared up, and I noticed that the woman who put on such airs and built tall walls around herself was, in fact, a lovely woman worth knowing.
“If you decide to stay, Vance, I’ll do just that.”
Sadie and I were in mid-hug when Chip came across the room, shoving his cell phone into his back pocket. “I’m sorry, Van. Tow call just came in. I gotta run, but if the job is quick, I’ll be back in time for dessert.”
“I’m going with you,” I insisted.
“No. You stay and entertain Mrs. Hatfield.”
Sadie repositioned me facing Chip. “You’re not leaving your guy alone here on Christmas Eve, Calvin. I simply will not allow that,” she instructed. “I’ll keep plates of food warm for you both. Now, hurry back.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Chip said, turning to leave.
“Hang on, Calvin,” she said. Sadie stepped closer and adjusted Chip’s collar, looking him directly in the eyes. “You’ll do well to keep young Vance in Missile, son. Please do not disappoint me,” she warned.
Chip glanced toward me and then back to Sadie. “He’s a charmer, ain’t he, ma’am?” Chip asked.
“That he is, Calvin. Be sure to do your best with this one; is that clear?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed, impulsively hugging her.