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  At Seddon Station

  The Girls Series, Book Five

  Sheila Horgan

  At Seddon Station — The Girls Series, Book Five — Copyright © 2016 by Sheila Horgan. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, or distributed without the written permission of the author, with the exception of short quotes for purposes of review.

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, businesses, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. No reference to any real person is intended or implied.

  Special thanks to Darlene Davis MacLean and Deb Hawrylyshyn for all the help and support.

  Proofreading by J. Jeffers www.JJeffersEditing.com

  Interior Design by CyberWitch Press LLC CyberWitchPress.com

  Cover art by David Avila

  ONE

  “GIRLS, I KNOW we have just gotten back, but I’m afraid I must leave for a few days. I’m headed back up the map to the northeast.”

  Carolyn worried they’d made the wrong decisions about Adeline’s older children, and it would come back to haunt Adeline before long. Could it be happening already? “Is everything alright?”

  “Yes, the truth of it is, if I had the inclination, I could simply do all of this business online or over the phone, but as Cara is quick to point out, I am old-school and am more comfortable doing these things in person. Normally I would have all involved parties come to me, but one of the attorneys involved is a lovely young man with a very pregnant wife, and I can’t bring myself to pull him away from her and perhaps cause him to miss the birth of his child. Nor am I willing to take this opportunity from him by having someone else cover the meetings and set his career back, as the partners would undoubtedly find fault with his lack of loyalty.”

  “That’s very considerate of you.” Carolyn felt better already.

  “Is there anything we can do to help? My Jordan still isn’t ready for his road trip. My brother-in-law will be hounding me before long. I’d love to be able to tell him that I’m just too busy to bring him around and introduce him to everyone I know. He’s a grown man. He should be able to do this for himself. The good Lord knows when I lost my husband, he and his wife were hardly chomping at the bit to make my life easier.”

  “I’m sorry the conflicts with my children have created hardship for you, Anna.”

  “It’s not really all that much of a hardship. More of an annoyance. I think I’m going to look online and get him some contact information for single people sites or maybe for some generic get-together sites. He’s bored. He has plenty of money, a couple of kids, and he’s healthy enough. He’s got no cause to sit in that big house and stew.”

  Adeline had a twinkle in her eye. “Maybe you should introduce him to our Carolyn.”

  The look on Carolyn’s face had the girls laughing.

  “No unkindness to your brother-in-law, but finding myself in a romantic relationship is the very last thing I want right now.”

  “You know what they say, Carolyn. A heart in love is a healthy heart.”

  “Where did you get that? A butter commercial?”

  Anna laughed. “I just made it up.”

  Carolyn shook her head. “Keep your day job.”

  “There’s truly nothing for you girls to help me with on this adventure, but you’re more than welcome to join me. I’m always happy to have your companionship.”

  Carolyn thought about the next few days. Nothing pressing on her schedule. To be truthful, there was rarely anything on her schedule at all. “Where exactly are you going? How long will you be gone?”

  “I will be in Virginia. My plan is to be there approximately four or five days. Two days for meetings, and then I thought I might take a bit of time to explore. Being in the city with you girls awoke something in me. I have spent far too much time holed up in my house. It’s time to be out among the living. Perhaps I’ll take in a museum or two. They change out the displays with some regularity.”

  “Last time I was there, I was assigned the mission of bringing back a picture of the ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz movie. They closed that portion of the display the day before I got there. Thought my niece was gonna cry. Not Morgan…” Anna chuckled. “A much younger grandniece.”

  Carolyn shook her head. “Last time I was there, I brought my niece. She bought an eighteen-dollar sandwich. She took one bite and said she didn’t want it. I seriously thought about making her a part of a display at one of the museums, but couldn’t figure a way to get her behind the glass.”

  Anna’s eyes were huge. “They charge eighteen dollars for a sandwich?”

  “This was a little place down the street. Can’t remember just where. All I remember is the décor was very bright. Bright orange and white, if I recall. Very modern. When they told me the total for her lunch and my drink, I about fell down.”

  Adeline cut in. “Are you girls interested in joining me?”

  “I am.” Anna volunteered. “But I’m not comfortable doing the same kind of thing we did last time. I’d be more comfortable paying my own way.”

  “Me too.” Carolyn nodded.

  “Well, we’ll not be paying for our accommodation. I have a condo in the area.”

  “How many properties do you own?” Anna blurted out.

  Before Adeline could respond, Anna raised her hand. “I’m sorry. That’s none of my business. Please, do not answer.”

  Adeline looked completely unperturbed. “I consider very few of the properties I own to be mine. I do, however, have a number of places I consider business investments. I have several domestically. A few internationally. I’m certainly not in play with the likes of John Malone.”

  Anna pulled a face. “Who is John Malone?”

  Adeline smiled. “I believe him to be the largest land owner in the United States. At last count, to my knowledge, he had well over two million acres.”

  Carolyn shrugged. “I thought Ted Turner was the biggest land owner.”

  “I think the two of them jostle for the title. I believe, but could be mistaken, at present it is John that holds it.”

  Anna was incredulous. “What would you do with two million acres of land?”

  Adeline’s head tilted to the right. “There’s a belief by some that the most treasured asset is land. There will never be more of it.”

  Anna shook her head. “If the global warming people are right, there’s going to be less. The ocean is going to eat up a good bit of beach and maybe some cities along the way.”

  Adeline ignored the comment. Unusual for her. “So, shall we go to Virginia and perhaps spend a few days in our nation’s capital?”

  Anna smiled. “Count me in.”

  “Me too.”

  Anna started making notes on her phone. “I’ll look up some flights and see about cars and that kind of thing. I think it’s about a two-day drive if we drive during the day. Maybe a two and a half hour flight, give or take.”

  Carolyn raised a finger. “I vote flight.”

  “As do I.” Adeline nodded.

  Anna took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Adeline. Did you want to take your own plane?”

  “Not at all. Commercial will be fine. I’m not trying to make an impression on anyone at this point. That theater with the plane and the limousines and all the rest was for my children. We now have them well in hand.”

  Anna didn’t question how Adeline’s children would be aware that they had come in on a private plane when visiting New York, but the thought hit her—and she noted to herself—she was having more and more q
uestions about Adeline. They had formed their friendship so quickly they hadn’t had a lot of time to get to know each other.

  She had known Adeline had money, but she had no clue she had so much money.

  She had known Adeline had problems with her older two children, but had no idea the problems were so serious or her children were so resentful of her and so—she wasn’t even sure what term she would use—but she thought maybe they had problems more serious than spoiled-child syndrome, if there was such a thing. She also had to wonder how Adeline had arranged for her grandchildren to take up residence so quickly. True, they were young adults, but still, what parent would allow such a thing? All parents have pull, even with their adult children. And how many children would drop everything on a grandparent’s whim? You must assume each of them have relationships, friendships, perhaps family. Did they walk away from everything?

  She also wondered how Adeline had gotten so far afield. Everything she had gleaned from their trip to New York screamed at her that once upon a time, Adeline was not the kind, caring, loving woman she presented herself to be now.

  That made her wonder which Adeline was the real Adeline.

  She knew better than to try to research her. Roland probably had some type of gadget or software application that traced what she did online, and if he was told Anna was checking out anything that alluded to spying on Adeline, she’d better have been told by Adeline to do so. Besides, wasn’t friendship about meeting people where they were?

  Adeline hadn’t asked anything of the girls other than good company and fun. What difference did it make to Anna or Carolyn if she’d been different in years gone by? Hadn’t they all changed over the years? Didn’t Adeline deserve to be what she was?

  Adeline and Carolyn were talking, and Anna had no idea where the conversation had gone while she was lost in her own thoughts.

  “But Anna will,” was the statement from Carolyn that brought Anna back to the here and now.

  “I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else. I didn’t catch that.”

  “Is everything okay?” Carolyn was genuinely concerned.

  “I’m fine. I should probably send a little something to my brother-in-law for all his help with the New York situation. It crossed my mind, and then I got lost in thought. Age is showing its ugly little head, I guess.”

  Carolyn warmed to the idea immediately. “Actually, that’s a really good point. I was going to ask you. I wondered if there was something we could do for him. Any suggestions? I thought maybe we could take him out for a nice meal. You said he wanted to be more sociable.”

  “I think he would actually like an evening out. I’ll give him a call.”

  Adeline was suspicious there was more going on with her friend than she’d admitted to. “Are you sure that’s all it was running, Anna? You seem troubled.”

  “No, not at all. My mind just got away from me.”

  “Very well. Is there anything you would like to see in the area?”

  Anna laughed. “You know me. I’ve gotta get online and see what there is to see. We will be staying in your condo, is that correct?”

  “Yes, that was my plan, but I am amenable to staying wherever you girls would prefer.”

  “I think your condo would be great. I’m sure it’s much fancier than my little condo here in town.” Carolyn smiled.

  “It’s not nearly as grand as the place in the city. It serves its purpose. It’s there for business, mainly. With the number of executives in and out of the area making deals or checking on them, and of course the tax benefits, it pays for itself. I have spoken to my people and asked for a complete reassessment of all my property holdings. I believe now that the grandchildren are in residence at the house here, I will keep that plant for the time being, but I’m uncertain about the rest. I have found in the past, holding on to property during economic strife has been beneficial. I have even enlarged my holdings at times like this, but I was talking to one of my little dancers’ fathers, and he went into some detail about his theory that much of property ownership is an old-school idea and no longer applies. It is his considered opinion that when you own a home—as opposed to renting—you’re paying a high price for a lifestyle. The days of property ownership as an investment, especially a residence, are gone. Times and attitudes have changed. Homeownership is no longer the American dream. These next two or three generations are more content living in smaller urban homes and have planned their lives accordingly.”

  Anna shook her head. “I’m not sure that I understand what that has to do with your holdings.”

  “The only reason I would hold on to many of my properties would be in an effort to make the lives of my grandchildren—or those working for me—a bit easier. If, in fact, they do not appreciate having the properties, or worse, if they would prefer to be ensconced in a hotel rather than the properties I own for business residences when they travel, perhaps it is time to reevaluate. If property values continue to fall and taxes continue to rise, and if the property does not bring with it a level of comfort and efficiency for those utilizing it for business purposes, then the advantages of having those properties become harder to identify.”

  “Oh, okay. Got it.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay, Anna?” Carolyn was concerned. Anna’s mind had always seemed to be the most nimble of the girls’. She seemed off today, missing comments that were far from subtle.

  “I’m fine. Really.”

  Anna wasn’t prepared to ask the questions she wanted answers to. Until she was prepared, she would simply keep her troubling thoughts to herself.

  It seemed to be haunting her. It hadn’t been so blatant until they had traveled to the city and saw with their own eyes the type of life that Adeline had when she was away from them. The woman that amassed such fortune and the woman they spent time with were two distinctly different women.

  There was bound to be a good reason for the turn around in Adeline. Probably somewhere in the last decade or so. Maybe it wasn’t her business to know what that was, how a woman went from heartless mogul to the soft touch they knew—or thought they knew—Adeline to be. Maybe it was all just a matter of maturity. For now, at least, that was the story she would tell herself and the one she would force herself to be comfortable with.

  Anna always went with her gut, and although her gut told her there was more to the story of Miss Adeline, it also told her Adeline was a kind and caring woman that had been nothing but lovely to her since the day they’d met. She would not disrespect their friendship—or her friend—by asking trifling questions.

  She would observe.

  She would pay attention to the minutia.

  She would figure it out on her own. In the background. Without upsetting or hurting anyone. That was her plan, and by God, she would see it through.

  TWO

  WHILE ADELINE WENT to business meetings during the first two days of their adventure, Carolyn and Anna wandered around Washington D.C. and some of the surrounding areas.

  It wasn’t until the third day that Carolyn had a request.

  “Anna, do you have a specific plan for today?”

  “No, is there something you would like to do?”

  “I would like to go to Arlington.”

  “The National Cemetery?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve never been. I think that’s a great idea. I read online that you can walk the place, or that there’s some sort of trolley to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I believe Kennedy’s buried there. I think it would be quite interesting.”

  Adeline had walked in the room just as Anna finished her comment. “What do you find so interesting, Anna?”

  “Carolyn thought we might go to Arlington National Cemetery.”

  “And when would you do that?”

  “Today. While you’re at your meetings.”

  “If you can delay until this afternoon, I would very much like to join you.” Both the girls looked over to Carolyn, as the adventure had been he
r request.

  “That would be fine.” There was something in her voice. She didn’t sound like she was on an adventure; more that she was on a journey. More melancholy. Anna and Adeline exchanged a look of concern, but didn’t comment.

  The girls enjoyed a nice lunch at a small café located in the back of a museum in town.

  They drove out to the cemetery, only getting lost once, and found a parking space quite near the entrance. As they approached the building, they noticed a long line of cars being waved through. Anna’s heart sank. There was no doubt in her mind it was a funeral procession. Why she hadn’t given such a solemn event any thought when she imagined the cemetery took her by surprise.

  This wasn’t a tourist destination; this was sacred ground where some of the finest people ever to grace the planet were buried.

  She took a steadying breath.

  The welcome center was huge and beautiful. Anna’s eyes had just adjusted to the light, and she was about to suggest that they examine the displays in a clockwise fashion so that they wouldn’t miss anything, when Carolyn started walking straight through the building to the actual cemetery.

  The girls immediately picked up on the sense of urgency Carolyn felt and followed without saying a word.

  Carolyn took a path that meandered through the cemetery. She obviously had a destination in mind. After several minutes of brisk walking, Carolyn left the path and stepped up onto the grass. She was careful where she walked, avoiding the area directly over a buried casket when possible.

  Anna and Adeline followed but stayed well clear of Carolyn. She seemed to be in a world of her own.

  About fifteen headstones in, Carolyn opened her purse, took out a single rose, and placed it on top of a headstone. She stood staring at the stone for several minutes. When she was again aware of her surroundings, she noticed that Anna and Adeline stood approximately six headstones closer to the path. They were motionless, save the tears running down their faces.

  Carolyn took a tissue from her purse, wiped her own tears away, and joined the girls.