Secrets of the Morning (Cutler 2)

"I don't know . . ."

"How would she go about it? Who would she call? What should I do?" I pleaded.

"There is so much to do now that she's gone, isn't there," he asked. "I suppose, the first thing is to call Mother's attorney, Mr. Updike. He handles all her affairs and has been the family attorney for as long as I can remember. He's not much younger than Mother," Randolph added.

"Mr. Updike?" I said. I looked at Jimmy, who widened his eyes hopefully.

"Yes," Randolph said, ris

ing slowly. "I've got to phone him. He's also a close family friend."

"Will you ask him if he knows anything about my baby?" I cried as he moved around Grandmother Cutler's desk to get to the phone. I could see that he wouldn't dare sit in her chair.

Jimmy sat beside me on the sofa and we waited and listened as Randolph called the attorney. He began to choke up as soon as he told him what had happened.

Then he just listened and nodded every few moments. I thought he was going to hang up without asking about my baby, so I jumped up.

"Can I speak to him, please," I pleaded. He looked at me a moment as if just remembering I was there and then handed me the receiver.

"Mr. Updike?" I said.

"Yes. Who might this be?" a deep, resonant voice inquired.

"My name is Dawn and . . ."

"Oh yes," he said, "I know who you are. In fact, I was about to tell Randolph to be sure that you are present at the reading of the wills."

"I doubt very much, Mr. Updike, that I will be included in any way in Grandmother Cutler's will. What I wanted to know is do you know anything about arrangements that were made for someone to take my baby."

There was a long pause.

"This wasn't something you had consented to?" he asked finally.

"Oh no, sir. Never."

"I see. And you are now telling me you want the child then?"

"Yes, sir."

"This is all unfortunate, very unfortunate," he muttered. "Very well. Give me some time. I will have information for you at the reading of the wills."

"I want my baby," I insisted.

"Yes, yes. I understand. Let me speak to Randolph, if he is still there, please," he said.

I handed the receiver back to Randolph and joined Jimmy.

"He knows about it?" Jimmy asked quickly.

"Yes," I said. "And he's promised to do something. We'll have to stay at the hotel for a few days until the reading of the will while he makes arrangements. And then, finally," I said sighing, "it will be all over.

"Come on," I said, taking Jimmy's hand, "let's pick out a room for ourselves."

"Do you think that's really all right to do? I mean . . ."

"Who's to say no?" I replied with a smile. I was so happy at the prospect of getting my baby back. "Besides, if my mother is the new queen, I'm one of the new princesses."

We went to the lobby and I had Mrs. Hill give us a key to one of the nicer suites. Then Jimmy went out and brought in his things. I didn't go up to tell my mother anything, but when Jimmy and I returned from dinner in Cutler's Cove, we found her dressed and in the lobby speaking to some of the staff. I was amazed at how strong and authoritative she sounded as she gave them instructions for the next few days. When she was finished, she approached us.