She missed Jace and wondered where he was.
* * *
SHELDON KENDALL IV stood at the end of the long drive. Trees lined both sides of the white fence. It was a different fence, he thought. The mailbox with Kendall Farm printed on it in red letters had also been changed. The old crooked one sitting askew on a rusting post had been replaced with a large white replica of the house. It sat sideways on the post with the doors open to accept the mail.
Cars constantly turned at one end of the property and drove down a paved road that hadn’t been there two years ago. Sheldon thought this must be one of many changes he’d encounter. Never had he expected to be here. But he’d come this far. He had to go the last mile. He may be leaving today with more scars than expected, but he knew he had to take this journey to its conclusion.
Another car passed him, driving too fast along the narrow road. He felt the wind whip through his secondhand suit in the aftermath of the car’s speed. Sheldon had shaved and had his hair cut for the trip. By the time he reached the end of the road, he’d removed the suit jacket and carried it over his arm. People were getting out of cars and crossing through a gate, then going to a small station on the side before heading up the seven steps that led to the large porch and the front door.
“What is going on?” he wondered.
Heading for the same small house, he looked inside.
“Ticket, sir?” a young blonde girl asked. She looked about nineteen.
“Ticket?” he questioned. What would he need a ticket for?
“For the tour? It’s $35.00.”
Sheldon calculated how many groceries he could buy for $35.00. He shook his head. “Is the owner here?” he asked.
“Ms. Ashton. I don’t know where she is. I’ll give her a call if you like.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“What’s your name?” the blonde asked.
Sheldon told her, just giving his first name.
The girl made a call on a cell phone. After a moment, she began to speak. Her head snapped up at him. “Sheldon Kendall?” she asked.
He nodded.
Then she was back at the phone. A second later, she clicked if off and said, “Please go to the front door.” She pointed the way as if he didn’t know.
When he arrived there, a redhead was smiling at the guests going in and then she approached him.
“Sheldon Kendall?”
“Yes. I’m looking for Jason. I got a letter saying he’s living here.”
“I’m Kelly Ashton.”
“Are you the new owner?”
“I am. Let’s go somewhere more quiet.” She walked to the end of the porch, away from the crowds. “Jace isn’t here anymore. I’m sorry, but I don’t know where he went.”
Sheldon’s disappointment was telling. He gazed out at the lush lawn. It looked wonderful.
“Have you traveled all the way from North Carolina without telling him you were coming?”
“The letter I got is only a few weeks old. He said he was here.”
“He was, but he and Ari left about three weeks ago.”
“Ari?”
“His son. I guess he didn’t tell you about the boy, either?” Kelly said.
“His letter was very short.” It was so short that Sheldon could interpret little if anything from it.
“Why don’t you come inside and have something to eat and drink. And I’ll make some calls.”
“Thank you.” Sheldon had nothing else to say. He couldn’t just turn around and go back to the bus station. In any case, there wasn’t another bus until tomorrow night at the earliest. He adjusted the knapsack on his shoulder.
Kelly pointed to the parking lot. “As you can see we’re having an open house today.”
“Open house?”
“It’s a long story and Jace didn’t agree with it, but I offer paid tours of the house and grounds to the public. People love history, especially when there are period costumes and furnishings to see.” She started walking. Sheldon followed her. “I’ll cordon off the upstairs rooms for us.”
“I’m sure that will be fine.”
Kelly led him through the front door. At the grand staircase, she secured the velvet cord after the two of them went up the first step. At the top of the stairs, Sheldon looked back. There was a lot of coming and going. He remembered the parties they used to have when his father was alive. The foyer would be full of women in fancy dresses and men in formal attire. Now he looked at people wearing shorts and T-shirts with earbuds hanging around their necks.
“Sheldon?”
He caught up to Kelly. “You’re perfectly welcome to join a tour, or you can wait in this room until we find out where Jace is. He told me it was yours.”