Portersville: From the Shadows (eBook)

Chapter 2
Jeanne

Before sunrise on July 4, 1909, The Bay Shore train departed Mobile station pulling only passenger cars filled with excited guests. However, not every person on the train was a guest. Employees vital to the day-to-day operations at the Rolston also traveled aboard the Bay Shore, all looking forward to new opportunities. This day would be special, and everyone working at the Rolston needed to be prepared.

Big Mama gathered her kitchen workers, chefs, and waitresses in the dining room. She tapped the edge of a glass, and the room became quiet. “I got somethin’ to tell y’all. Today’s a big day here at our hotel, and Mr. Rolston, he wants everything to go along real good. We gettin’ a new worker, name of Jeanne. A few years back, I came to work at The Portersville Hotel, and she took care of my mother in New Orleans. Mama died a while back, and Jeanne asked if she could work here at the Rolston. I told her sure nuff, Girl! I hope y’all treat her with respect. She’s gonna be the best worker you ever saw … well, besides me that is.”

“Does she look like you, Big Mama?” asked one of the cooks. “Nothing meant by it. Just wondering.”

Big Mama grinned. “Put us side by side and you can’t tell us apart.”

Big Mama then grabbed her rolling pin and shook it playfully at the assembly of cooks and kitchen workers. “Y’all got to clear on outta here now. This old woman’s got to have a little beauty nap before she gets to cookin’ up a special feast for all y’all. Now shoo! Outta my way!”

As soon as the workers were gone, Big Mama signaled with a whistle and Jeanne stepped out of the closet where Big Mama had told her to stay “until the coast was clear.” Big Mama flopped heavily down into a nearby easy chair. “Come here, you pretty thing. I got somethin’ real special for you.” She pulled out a large box and handed it to Jeanne. “This is for you to wear tonight. I got me one just like it. Portersville ain’t ever seen nothin’ like us two before.”

Shushing Jeanne so she could not utter a word of thanks, the old woman rushed Jeanne out the door to her own room. Opening the box and clearing away a mountain of white wrapping tissue, Jeanne stared open mouthed at a gorgeous sparkling red dress. The urge to try it on was irresistible. She lost no time stripping out of her jeans and work shirt and wiggling into the form-fitting red dress that hugged every beautiful curve on her body. Another irresistible urge sent her straight out the door to see what kind of reaction the dress could provoke.

***

Alexi Papatonis, Cy’s youngest son and a chef at the Rolston Hotel dropped a pot on the floor startling everyone in the kitchen. He bent to pick up the pot and bumped his head on the corner of a table causing a plate to topple to the floor and shatter.

“Dammit,” said Alexi, nursing a lump rising just below his hairline.

“Child! What is wrong with you?” Big Mama fussed. “Thought I taught you better than that.”

Just moments before, a vision in sparkling red had drifted by the kitchen door stopping briefly to smile at Alexi. Her red dress fit tightly revealing her shapely body beneath. Within seconds, the beautiful young woman was gone.

Big Mama carefully bent over, picked up the pot, washed it out and handed it back to Alexi. He had not moved from the spot or even rubbed the pronounced bump on his head. As if under a spell, he gazed at the open door where the vision had been.

“You gonna stand there holdin’ that pot or put somethin’ in it?” Big Mama mumbled. “I don’t know what you thinkin’ about. Mighty dangerous cooking over a hot stove or handlin’ sharp objects when your mind is on something else. Give me that pot! I’ll finish makin’ that gumbo. You go take a break. Get your mind right!”

Alexi rushed out of the kitchen into the lobby running headlong into his brother Leonidas and his college friend, Bill

Bill laughed and asked, “Where you going in such a hurry? The building ain’t on fire that I know of.”

Alexi, with a blank look on his face, did not say a word. Looking in every direction, he said, “Did you see a girl wearing a red dress?’

“Sure, lots of girls wearing red dresses, white dresses, and blue dresses,” said Bill flashing a toothy grin.

“Shut up,” said Alexi. “This is not a joke! Believe me! You woulda noticed this girl.”

“Brother,” said Leonidas. “Let’s go up the stairs and look out across the yard. Maybe you’ll spot this girl of yours.”

Alexi turned, taking the stairs two at a time.

When Bill and Leonidas caught up with him at the observation deck above the top floor of the Rolston, Alexi was still running around in circles looking in all directions.

“Calm down, Little Brother,” said Leonidas in a low voice. “We’ll help you look.”

The sight from atop the Rolston was something to behold. The afternoon sun was setting, casting orange rays across the blue July sky. Carried by a gentle north breeze, music from the bandstand drifted across the bay. The fragrances of pine, cigar smoke, and Creole gumbo filled the air along with a sweet smell of perfume.

While the three young men leaned on the rail of the Widow’s Walk, two girls stepped onto the deck to join them. Leonidas and Bill turned around and came face to face with two of the most beautiful girls they had ever seen. Alexi did not even notice them as he continued his search for the red dress.

The girls smiled and made their way to the rail. Leonidas turned and motioned for the blonde to take the space at the rail next to him. Bill did the same for the other. The girl with Bill had dark hair and big brown eyes. Both had shapely figures and smelled like candy.

Leonidas and Bill had forgotten about Alexi until he screamed, “There! There! On the top of the bathhouse on the pier! I see her!”

“Well, damn, Alexi,” said Bill. “You better get your butt on out there before you have some sort of breakdown.”

The beautiful blonde girl slipped her arm around Leonidas’s waist and pulled him close to her. She blinked her crystal blue eyes and asked, “What’s your name?”

“Leonidas is my name, and this fella is Bill. We attend Spring Hill College in Mobile.”

The girls looked at each other, smiled, and said that they were here with their parents and would be staying at the hotel overnight. Their fathers, both state representatives, were traveling with the Governor. The girls attended Livingston Teachers College near Tuscaloosa and were not interested in anything going on at The Rolston. Their attention was focused on the two good-looking fellows by their sides.

“How about we go for a boat ride after the sun goes down?” said the brunette looking at Bill.

“Fine by me,” answered Bill. “Leonidas there is a boat guy. He’ll be in charge. How about it, Captain? Reckon we can commandeer a rowboat?”

Leonidas shrugged and cast a doubtful look at Bill, who nodded and put his hands together in a silent plea. “Aargh!” said Leonidas. “I guess a couple of old pirates can commandeer a rowboat. Meet us at the end of the pier before they shoot the fireworks. We’ll watch the show from out in the bay.”

The girls giggled and skipped down the stairs. Bill and Leonidas looked at each other as if questioning what they had just agreed to do.

***

Alexi pushed and shoved his way through the crowd on the pier. He scampered up the steps to the top level. There she was. Without speaking they were drawn to each other. Alexi faced the girl and reached for her hand. She did not resist as her dark eyes peered into his soul. Completely caught up in each other’s eyes, time stopped as Alexi and Jeanne lost contact with the rest of the world.

After a few moments, Fate intervened in the form of Big Mama’s raucous shouting. “I need all cookin’ hands on deck right now! Drop whatcha doin’ and come to Big Mama NOW! No lollygaggin’!”

Alexi knew better than to linger. He looked helplessly at Jeanne who gave him a gentle push and a smile that let Alexi know that they had unfinished business.

***

Alexi had listened to Big Mama’s instructions as attentively as his whirling love struck mind would allow. After dressing for the Fourth of July party, he bustled around Big Mama arranging Creole dishes and decorating Big Mama’s huge red, white, and blue cakes.

During the afternoon hours after her brief excursion in the red dress, Jeanne had stayed in her room as instructed by Big Mama. She napped and thought of a handsome Greek boy. The trip from New Orleans had taken its toll, but excitement overtook her exhaustion. Dressed in her work clothes, she occasionally sneaked onto the porch and stole a look into the kitchen where Alexi, Big Mama and many others scurried around preparing meals. Her excitement grew each time Alexi walked near the doorway.

Alexi was beautiful. He was tall with muscular arms and shoulders. His shiny black hair bounced with each step as he listened and gave...