All the Right Strings

Chapter 1-2

She came in about once a week to look around and I was always the one she wanted to wait on her. She’d try things on and ask my opinion, or I’d suggest something or tell her where she might find what she wanted. It seemed that she was my regular customer. My co-workers were always teasing me about it because she spent more than any other customer did. It was too bad that we worked for a standard wage because if we had worked on commission, I’d probably be rich right now.

I didn’t see her again until the next week. She came in on Tuesday looking for a pair of high-heeled, black sandals, and a silk jacket. We had a lot of both of those, but she wanted the jacket in a special color to match a dress she’d bought a few weeks ago. I thought the company who handled the label of her dress might have such a jacket.

“I think we may be able to order one for you,” I told her. I looked at my watch. It was five-thirty. “I can call tomorrow morning and see.”

“I’d really appreciate that,” she said. Then she handed me her business card. “You can call me anytime.”

She paid for her sandals with the platinum Amex card.

The business card said Weldon Brokerage House, C D Weldon, CEO. There were phone and fax numbers and an address in a very ritzy neighborhood, just up-state. I’d never been there but I’d been told that there were massive estates there on acres and acres of land and mansions hidden away behind trees and fences that had a view of the river and the city.

CEO? Platinum Amex? Of course. That meant money.

I called her early on the next afternoon and told her they had the jacket she wanted and would deliver it as soon as possible. She was ecstatic.

When the delivery arrived from that company, the jacket was with the shipment, so I called her again.

I don’t know what I was thinking. Maybe I just wanted to see how someone like her lived.

“I can bring it out to you tonight, if you want,” I offered.

“Would you? I’d be so grateful.” She sounded excited. “It would save me having to go into the city again this week.”

So, there I was. I’d never been to this area before but I knew it was where the very, very wealthy lived. My friends always laughed and said that when they won the lottery, they’d get a house there. Somehow, I don’t think they’d ever win a lottery that big.

When I had finally found the entrance to her estate, I was shocked. There were two tall brick towers at the entrance with the name Weldon spelled out on a metal beam across the top. Tall wrought iron fences came out of each tower and continued around the property, or as far around the property as I could see. There was a gate and a guard house. I could see at least two surveillance cameras pointed at where I was stopped. There were probably more. A woman with an older alto voice answered when I pressed the call button.

“Christine Anthony with a delivery for Ms. Weldon,” I announced.

The gate slowly slid to the side and I pulled into the driveway of a magnificent estate. The driveway must have been a half-mile long and the grounds were superbly manicured. I wanted to come back during the day so I could see all of it. It must have been beautiful, but the light was beginning to fade so I couldn’t see a lot.

I pulled up in front of a wonderful stone house that sat atop a small hill. It almost looked like a castle. It was big, but not huge. It looked like most of it was only two stories tall, but each floor looked taller than most houses. It seemed long and wide. It still didn’t look like the home of a large family, and unless there was a playground in back, there weren’t children here, either.

I got out of my car with the garment bag in my hand, walked up the front stairs, and rang the bell beside the door. It took a moment for the bell to be answered, but when it was, I was facing an older woman.

“I have a delivery for Ms. Weldon,” I told her.

“She’s on the upstairs terrace. Just go up the stairs and through the French doors to the right.”

I smiled. It sounded like the voice that had answered at the gate.

I went up the long circular staircase. Every room I could see was magnificent. The furniture looked old and heavy. Yes, this woman had money; lots and lots by the looks of it.

I walked down the long hallway and, as I opened the doors and walked out onto the terrace, she looked up from where she was lounging in the twilight. A glow of yellow lights warmed the area.

The ‘terrace,’ as the housekeeper had called it, was more of an outdoor living room. There were a couple of chairs and a couch and a dining table with chairs that sat four. It looked like they were made of material that would withstand heat, rain, and maybe even snow. There was a long cabinet against the house that must have kept utensils or items for whatever was needed here. It also could be used for a serving table. Perhaps it was a bar or something like that.

“That was quick,” she said to me. “How did you get it to the shop so quickly?”

“I caught them just in time to add this jacket to today’s delivery,” I told her.

“That’s wonderful. You’re very efficient. I like that.” Then she looked around. “I can’t tell the color in this light,” she said as she rose from her chair. “Let’s take it inside and see if it matches.” She had on two-inch heels so we were the same height.

Wow, was all I thought as we entered her bedroom. It was almost as large as my whole apartment. A king-sized bed was on a six-inch platform against the far wall with a bench or counter across the foot. A white cabinet went all around the room on every wall, stopping only at the four doors. The top of the cabinet was uninterrupted, although there were doors or drawers every two or three feet. It was about thirty inches high and twenty-four inches deep. There was spectacular pottery artwork scattered across the top. Two walls were covered with dramatic prints in bright colors.

The terrace wrapped around the side of the house along the glass wall on the side of the bedroom. From the room, one could see out onto the terrace, and, I imagined, out to a magnificent vista. The darkness was almost total but you could see the city lights in the distance.

I heard chuckling behind me. “It looks gorgeous, doesn’t it? You should see it during the day.”

I was a little embarrassed to have been caught gawking.

She walked to a door at the back of the room, opened it, and flipped the light on.

It was the most organized dressing room I’d ever seen. Everything was hung according to color and little boxed shelves held carefully folded sweaters and purses of every color. There were shelves and shelves of shoes of all colors and heel height. A full-length closet was filled with long gowns behind a glass door.

She held her hand out and I unzipped the garment bag and passed her the jacket. Against some of the clothes hung there, it matched almost perfectly.

“Just dark enough to show this off,” she commented. She held the jacket next to the one dress. “Did you charge it to my credit card?”

“No!” I was aghast. “I’d never just charge anything to someone else’s credit card without them telling me to.”

She smiled. “Then, charge it tomorrow. You should have my Amex on file.”

“All right. I will.”

She turned to me.

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” she asked.

I was surprised. “I have plans to go a movie with a friend.”

“A special friend?” She smiled at me.

I shook my head. “No. Just a buddy.”

“Cancel it and come back here. Seven-thirty. I’ll tell Judith to have dinner ready then.” She hung the jacket up and I followed her back into the bedroom.

“Judith?”

“My cook. You’ll love her food. She’s the best cook I’ve ever had here. Is there anything that you especially like to eat?”

I shook my head as we walked back onto the terrace.

“I’ll let her surprise you.”

“I’ll have to call you tomorrow after I talk to my friend,” I said.

“Nonsense,” she said. “I’ll expect you at seven-thirty.”

She leaned forward and placed a light kiss on my lips. Then she turned away and I walked back out through the French doors and back to my car.