Page 51 of A Matter of Pedigree
“Well, it’s a condo, right? Everybody owns their apartment. Hosea couldn’t make her leave.”
Carole bit her lip and considered. “Maybe there’s a special clause in the deed, like in the hoitsy-toitsy gated community we looked at. You know, no RV parked in the yard, no motorcycles, campers, or clotheslines.”
“No bastard babies? I never heard of a clause like that,” said Frank.
“There might be something about upholding the moral tone of the place,” said Polly. “They wouldn’t want some madam setting up shop in the family manse; they’ve probably got a way to deal with a situation like that.”
“Maybe Connie could find out,” suggested Carole.
“She hasn’t been much help so far,” grumbled Frank.
“They work her like a slave at that place,” replied Carole, eager to defend her cub.
“So we won’t give her more to do,” said Frank. “You and Mom can go back there, do your cleaning lady routine again, and see what you can find out.”
Carole didn’t like the sound of this at all. “Oh, Frank, it’s a waste of time …”
“No way. They saw you there before; they’re getting to know you, so you’ll be able to chat up the residents.”
“Celerie did say that Jon Browne is out of the hospital and has taken up residence in his apartment,” said Polly, earning an evil look from Carole.
“That settles it then,” said Frank. “You and Mom go over there, and you find out about the Black kid, and maybe see if you can do anything for Jon Browne, and while you’re at it, just casually ask about deed restrictions.”
“Okay,” said Carole, in a sarcastic tone, “how exactly do you suggest two down-at-heel cleaning ladies turn the conversation to deed restrictions? Hunh? And don’t forget, he might remember me from the accident.”
“I hardly recognized you, and I’m your mother,” observed Polly.
“See? You’ll think of something,” said Frank. “So how about some coffee and maybe a biscotti or two?”
Angelique was surprised when she opened the door on Thursday morning and found Mom and Carole standing on the stoop with their cleaning gear for the second time in one week. She didn’t hesitate to express her displeasure.
“I thought I made it clear that you would come on Mondays,” she said. “And frankly, I have to say that I was not happy with your work. I don’t think you even got past the hall.”
“Emergenshy,” said Mom, nodding furiously. “Het to leeeeve and no finish.”
Beside her, Carole joined in the nodding. She overdid it, and her wig slipped a bit, but Angelique didn’t seem to notice.
“All right,” said Angelique, with a big sigh. “But I hope you understand that there will be no additional payment for today’s work, and in the future, I expect you to keep to the schedule we agreed upon.”
“Yesss,” hissed Mom. “Unnerstan’ goot. Nott pwoblem.”
“I think you should consider yourselves on probation,” continued Angelique. “If I’m not satisfied with your work today, we will not continue this relationship.”
“Ookey-dookey,” said Mom.
“I hope I’ve made myself clear.”
“Ver’ kleeeer,” said Mom.
“All right, then,” said Angelique, stepping aside and admitting them to the building. “I think you better start downstairs. Millicent complained that the hallway and stairs down there weren’t even touched.” She opened the door to the basement stairs and watched as they went down, toting the vacuum cleaner and their buckets of cleaning gear.
When the door closed behind them, Mom whispered to Carole, “Do you think she suspects something?”
“No,” said Carole, sticking a finger under the wig and scratching. “Help is hard to find, and she wants to keep us, believe me.”
Carole was looking around the hall, a narrow, dark space with one door leading to the outside, another to Millicent’s apartment, and a third to what she discovered was a communal storage area used by all the tenants. She made a mental note to give that area a thorough search, but first they needed to get started on the cleaning. She could see why Millicent had complained; the carpet was soiled with leaves and dirt tracked in from outside. She got busy with the vacuum, and Mom manned the duster, whisking cobwebs out of the corners and running it along the moldings and baseboards. They were so absorbed in their work that they didn’t notice Millicent until she tapped Carole on her shoulder, making her jump.
“Oh, I didn’t mean to startle you,” she said, apologizing.
