Unfortunately, its smooth perfection was indicative of cosmetic
surgery or at least Botox.
“You’re helping Agent Montague?” she asked Allison, who nodded.
“Well, naturally, Allison knows her history. We’re delighted to have such a
scholar among our guides, but…of course, I know the
history of the house as no one else does. So when you need my assistance…”
“Yes, of course. We’re scheduled to meet in the morning,” Tyler
reminded her.
“Ten o’clock. I believe we’ll be at Ethan’s place.” She
shuddered. “I’m glad we’re not meeting at the house. However, I look forward to
speaking with you tomorrow. Needless to say, the board is anxious about the
house. We take its preservation very seriously. Because of what’s happened—so
tragic—it seemed necessary to close for a period. But should you need my
personal assistance in any way, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I will make
myself entirely available to you.”
“That’s kind of you, thank you,” Tyler said. She still just
stood there, staring at him.
“Well, good evening, then, ma’am. I’ll see you in the
morning.”
“Yes, good evening. Allison, have the best night you can, my
dear,” she said, and moved into the restaurant.
Tyler held the door until she was inside. She looked at him
again, gave him a lingering smile and headed to the bar.
When he closed the door, he saw that Allison was grinning.
“Well, that was the famous descendent,” he said. “What’s so
funny?”
“She was ready to devour you.”
“I don’t think she expected to see either of us here.”
“I don’t think she could care less about seeing me. But you’re a big boy. You can handle her…and her assistance. ”
“What does that mean?”
“She is a Dandridge
descendent.”
“She doesn’t work at the house every day.”
“Technically, I’m part-time.”
He smiled and didn’t reply. She seemed to be in a good mood,
still amused by Cherry Addison’s reaction to him.
But as they walked, her smile faded. She moved more slowly as
they left the restaurant behind.
He was surprised. She was trying to draw out their evening
together.
Fine. He slowed his pace, as well, curious about her
reasons.
They walked back along Market Street and the quiet of night
made the experience of looking at the facade of Independence Hall seem even more
hallowed. He tried to imagine how the hotheaded politicians of the time had
managed to work together well enough to “make thirteen colonies chime as
one.”
“A penny for your thoughts,” Allison said.
“A penny? With inflation? My thoughts are worth at least two
cents.”
She laughed. “I’m not sure I could afford them these days.”
“I was thinking that it’s a miracle we exist as a nation. Could
you picture our Congress today cooperating to make that kind of decision?”
“Good point,” she said. “Patrick Henry and Sam Adams were
fierce and fiery orators, and they didn’t always agree with each other. They
made it work somehow.”
“They had the same goal.”
She laughed. “And they put aside their differences to achieve
that goal. We can keep hoping! They realized that society would change over
time. When you think about the past two-hundred-plus years, they didn’t do so
badly. Most of them knew the slavery question would arise, but they felt they
had to create a country before dealing with such a serious issue. We’ve made
mistakes as a nation and we’ll continue to make mistakes. That’s human nature.
The American dream is one thing, while men and women are flesh and blood and
real. All we can do is try to avoid those mistakes in the future. You know the
famous quote about learning from history or else being doomed to repeat it.”
He nodded. She was interesting, reasonable…and, yes, charming.
Fun to be with.
He realized it wasn’t a sudden desire for his company that had
her stalling, dragging her feet, walking slowly. She seemed loath to go in the
direction of her
surgery or at least Botox.
“You’re helping Agent Montague?” she asked Allison, who nodded.
“Well, naturally, Allison knows her history. We’re delighted to have such a
scholar among our guides, but…of course, I know the
history of the house as no one else does. So when you need my assistance…”
“Yes, of course. We’re scheduled to meet in the morning,” Tyler
reminded her.
“Ten o’clock. I believe we’ll be at Ethan’s place.” She
shuddered. “I’m glad we’re not meeting at the house. However, I look forward to
speaking with you tomorrow. Needless to say, the board is anxious about the
house. We take its preservation very seriously. Because of what’s happened—so
tragic—it seemed necessary to close for a period. But should you need my
personal assistance in any way, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I will make
myself entirely available to you.”
“That’s kind of you, thank you,” Tyler said. She still just
stood there, staring at him.
“Well, good evening, then, ma’am. I’ll see you in the
morning.”
“Yes, good evening. Allison, have the best night you can, my
dear,” she said, and moved into the restaurant.
Tyler held the door until she was inside. She looked at him
again, gave him a lingering smile and headed to the bar.
When he closed the door, he saw that Allison was grinning.
“Well, that was the famous descendent,” he said. “What’s so
funny?”
“She was ready to devour you.”
“I don’t think she expected to see either of us here.”
“I don’t think she could care less about seeing me. But you’re a big boy. You can handle her…and her assistance. ”
“What does that mean?”
“She is a Dandridge
descendent.”
“She doesn’t work at the house every day.”
“Technically, I’m part-time.”
He smiled and didn’t reply. She seemed to be in a good mood,
still amused by Cherry Addison’s reaction to him.
But as they walked, her smile faded. She moved more slowly as
they left the restaurant behind.
He was surprised. She was trying to draw out their evening
together.
Fine. He slowed his pace, as well, curious about her
reasons.
They walked back along Market Street and the quiet of night
made the experience of looking at the facade of Independence Hall seem even more
hallowed. He tried to imagine how the hotheaded politicians of the time had
managed to work together well enough to “make thirteen colonies chime as
one.”
“A penny for your thoughts,” Allison said.
“A penny? With inflation? My thoughts are worth at least two
cents.”
She laughed. “I’m not sure I could afford them these days.”
“I was thinking that it’s a miracle we exist as a nation. Could
you picture our Congress today cooperating to make that kind of decision?”
“Good point,” she said. “Patrick Henry and Sam Adams were
fierce and fiery orators, and they didn’t always agree with each other. They
made it work somehow.”
“They had the same goal.”
She laughed. “And they put aside their differences to achieve
that goal. We can keep hoping! They realized that society would change over
time. When you think about the past two-hundred-plus years, they didn’t do so
badly. Most of them knew the slavery question would arise, but they felt they
had to create a country before dealing with such a serious issue. We’ve made
mistakes as a nation and we’ll continue to make mistakes. That’s human nature.
The American dream is one thing, while men and women are flesh and blood and
real. All we can do is try to avoid those mistakes in the future. You know the
famous quote about learning from history or else being doomed to repeat it.”
He nodded. She was interesting, reasonable…and, yes, charming.
Fun to be with.
He realized it wasn’t a sudden desire for his company that had
her stalling, dragging her feet, walking slowly. She seemed loath to go in the
direction of her
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