His name is Ramsey McDowell and he’s an attorney. But I can assure you that he’s more than that. My last request of you is that you give the young man a chance to show you that he’s right for you. And, remember: I am never wrong about these things.
As for the house, there’s some furniture in it, but not much, and there are some tenants in the wings. They are both young women from families I’ve known for many years. Sara grew up in Edilean, so she can help you find whatever you need. Tess is new to the area, but I knew her grandmother better than I wanted to.
That’s all, my dear. I know you’ll make the best of all that I leave you. I apologize that my housekeeper won’t be there, but the poor dear was older than I am. I have a gardener, so maybe he can help you with whatever else you need.
I wish you all the luck in the world, and please remember that I’ll be watching over you every minute of your life.
It took Jocelyn the rest of the evening to recover from the letter. It sounded so much like Miss Edi that it was almost as though she were in the room with her. She slept with the letter curled up in her hands.
The next morning, her mind was so full of all that she’d learned in the last twenty-four hours that she could barely concentrate. Her job as teaching assistant had become uncomfortable because she’d had a year-long affair with one of the other assistants. When they had to work together, he sco
wled at her across the table and she found it very unpleasant.
He’d been the third man in a row who had been perfectly suitable for her, but in the end, she’d not wanted to go on with any of them. Jocelyn knew it was all Miss Edi’s fault. She’d told Jocelyn about the man she’d been in love with who’d been killed in World War II—a true love, and that’s what Joce wanted.
“He was my all to me,” Miss Edi said in the voice that she used only when she spoke of him. She had only one small photo of him in his uniform, which was inside a folding picture frame she kept by her bed. He was an extraordinarily good-looking young man, with dark blond hair, and a strong chin. The frame was oval, and on the other side was a photo of Miss Edi in her army uniform. She was so young, so beautiful. Beneath David’s photo was a tiny braid of hair, her dark intertwined with his blond. Miss Edi would hold the frame, say, “David,” then her eyes would glaze over.
Over the years, Joce had pressed her for details, but Miss Edi would just say he was a young man from her war experience—which had been brutal and she had the scars to prove it.
But at last Jocelyn had found out something about him. His name was David Aldredge, and he and Miss Edi had been engaged to be married in Edilean, Virginia. But David’s death in the war had ended that.
“No wonder she couldn’t bear to mention Edilean,” Jocelyn whispered.
To Jocelyn, Miss Edi’s love for the man had become a legend. It epitomized the love that she wanted. But so far, Joce hadn’t been able to find it. Miss Edi never knew it, but Joce had twice lived with young men, and she’d been quite happy with the arrangement. It was nice to have someone to go home to, to tell about her day, and to laugh with about what had gone on. But when the men started talking about rings and mortgages and babies, Jocelyn ran. She didn’t know what it was that was missing from her relationships, but it wasn’t there—and she was going to hold out until it was.
And now Miss Edi had given her a way to change everything. That evening, she looked through the legal papers, read them carefully, and held the key that was in the package. All the legal work was being handled by the firm of McDowell, Aldredge, and Welsch in Edilean, Virginia.
The name of “Aldredge” made her pause for a moment before she could go on. Did descendants of Miss Edi’s David still live there?
A letter was included saying that when she got to Edilean, she should stop by the office and she’d be told about the financial arrangements. The letter was signed by Ramsey McDowell.
Jocelyn shook her head at Miss Edi’s letter. “You never give up, do you?” she said, her eyes raised upward. But the truth was that Miss Edi was always right about the couples at church. Many times Jocelyn had caught Miss Edi staring at a young couple who were more interested in each other than what the pastor had to say. Afterward, she’d tell Jocelyn—and only her—what she thought of them. “True love,” she’d sometimes say, but not very often. “Pure sex,” she said once and made Joce laugh. She was right both times.
“Ramsey McDowell,” Jocelyn said, then looked back at the letter. He’d put his home phone number on there. It was only seven. On impulse, she picked up her cell, called him, and he answered on the third ring.
“Hello?”
His voice was nice, deep and smooth. Like chocolate, she thought. “Is this Mr. McDowell?”
“I think of that as being my father, but I guess I qualify. Is this Miss Minton?”
She hesitated. How had he known that? “Caller ID.”
“Can’t live without it,” he said. “You know how we lawyers are. We must fight off the masses because of our underhanded dealings. Are you going to be here soon?”
“I don’t know,” Joce said, smiling at his sense of humor. “This is all quite new to me. I’d never heard of Edilean, Virginia, until I saw the will, so I’m still in a bit of shock.”
“Never heard of us? I’ll have you know we’re the biggest small town in Virginia. Or is that the smallest big town? I never can remember what our mayor says we are. Ask me what you need to know and I’ll tell you everything. Oh! Wait! I need to fasten a diaper. There, that’s done. Now, what can I tell you about us?”
“Diaper? You’re married?” Her shocked tone told too much, and when he hesitated before answering, she grimaced.
“Nephew. I have a very fertile sister who pops them out like corn over a grill. She just stuck her tongue out at me, but then the baby kicked. The one inside her, that is. And the one on her hip. Excuse me, Miss Minton, but I have to take the phone to another room before my sister throws something at me.”
Joce was smiling as she waited, hearing footsteps, then a door close and, finally, quiet.
“There now, I’m in what passes for a library in my house and I’m all yours. Figuratively speaking that is. Now tell me what I can do for you.”
“I don’t really know. I didn’t know Miss Edi owned a house, much less a town.”