Chapter 38 The Summer of ’23 was unbearably hot, and everyday, the banks of Richmond’s swimming holes were lined with half-naked boys. Sometimes, a harmonica or a fiddle were played, and the gang had music. Add Tobacco, or alcohol and it was an all-out party. These were the days that Eddy pined for… especially as he sat far away in the stifling hot office of Ellis & Allan’s. He knew he should be working, or at least looking for Juliet’s papers, but with remaining hope of talking her out of leaving, he spent his time getting lost in books and poetry. He was well into one about a haunted castle when a dead calm had replaced the otherwise bustling sounds outside the shop. Eddy went to the window, and looked outside. There were no pedestrians. No horses. No noise at all. Then his eyes landed on a lone figure down the street. A man stood on the sidewalk, removed his hat, and looked to the ground. Eddy stepped outside to investigate. The faint, hollow sound of horse hooves echoes on the cobblestones. The sound was eerie, and eerier still when he spotted the huge black hearse making its way directly toward him. Eddy knew conventional etiquette dictated he look down to show his respects, but he couldn’t help himself. It was just too beautiful and haunting to turn away. He stood watching as the beasts neared. They were huge once they reached him, riding past with nary a whinny, nor a snort. Eddy spied the undertaker at the reigns. Thin, pale and gaunt, he was almost as devoid of life as the poor wretch in the casket. Eddy caught his own reflection in the glass as the hearse passed and for a fleeting moment he wonders if he would ever have a funeral so ornate. Now other pedestrians had come to pay their respects, so Eddy looked down, but cocked his head for one last glance at the passing sight. The black feather plumage decorating the hearse danced in rhythm with the clop, clop, clop of horse hooves on cobblestone. An idea struck. A moment later, Eddy rushed back inside grabbedg the nearest piece of paper, and dipped his pen in the well. [1] “Shook as the quivering plumes upon the hearse. That’s good!” Eddy stood back to to admire his work, and only then thought to turn to page over to see see what he had been writing on: a check for goods and services. Eddy panicked. Pa would go extra hard on him for this one, but only if he were caught. He searched the office for a match. If he could forge a new document, and shred the evidence, no one would have to know. All those years of practicing Pa’s signature had to be good for something. He opened a ledger and began to flip pages. There were amounts paid to the Bank of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and investments in the James River and Kanawha Canal Company. A random letter fell out. Eddy leaned down to pick it. “To: Mr. John Allan in London Novr. 27th, 1817 Dear Sir, I take upon myself the liberty of writing to you this note, relative to Master Edwin Collier, whom you placed under my tuition in the spring of … 1815 .… His mother informs me that she has frequently re- minded your partner Mr. Ellis to mention Edwin's situation to you… She has accordingly solicited me to write… and to present a statement of Edwin's account …. The note was signed Mr. William Erwin. Eddy knew the name having attended Erwin’s school for a briefly as a child, just before Pa transferred him to Burke’s Academy years ago. “Who the hell is Edwin Collier?…..” he wondered. Next to the boy’s name was a list of expenses totaling $84 and a date. Eddy wondered why Pa was supporting this boy: a scholarship maybe? Charity? But then he read a carbon copy of Pa’s response. London March 21, 1818 SIR I received your favor of the 27th Nov. last; but I cannot pay any more expense on account of Edwin, you will therefore not consider me responsible for any expenses after the 15th of the month. My thanks for the solicitude you have so kindly expressed about Edgar & the family, Edgar is a fine Boy and I have no reason to complain of his progress. I am etc., JOHN ALLAN [2] The letter was clearly Pa- short; the point; matter of fact. Plus the beautiful penmanship was unmistakably Pa’s. Doing the math, Eddy realized this boy, Edwin Collier, had been born after Ma and Pa were married. “You god damned bed swerver,” he whispered. It had to be. Edwin was John’s illegitimate son. It made perfect sense. The perfume on Pa’s coat, business trips, meetings in taverns. It even lined up with Ma’s fading spirit. But if Ma knew about Edwin, so did Aunt Nancy, and everyone knew Nancy couldn’t keep a secret. No, Ma couldn’t possibly know about Edwin, but according to the letter, Mr. Ellis did which made him a conspirator. Furious, Eddy began to pour through books to find an address for a Mrs. Collier. He found no such thing, but then he remembered Pa kept his address book at home, so he locked up and left for the day. He was halfway through the yard when Juliet stopped him. “Hello Eddy.” “Hi,” he continued, hoping the short greeting would suffice. “Any luck with those papers?” “What?!” He snapped. Did she know too? “My freedom papers,” she whispered. “Find them yet?” “Oh, um. I’m sorry,” Eddy suddenly felt very guilty. “Um… something came up. I will find them, I swear, Jules. Have I ever let you down before?” “Well, no, but— “ “Then don’t worry about it. I’ve got it. Now if you’ll please excuse me, I have some records to dig through.” Technically, it wasn’t a lie. “I’m sorry, Eddy. Guess I’m jus’ getting’ nervous is all. There’s a ship leaving not too long from now and they’re saving a spot for me. Ain’t gon’ hold it forever.” “Don’t worry.” Inside the empty house, Eddy dug through ledgers, and journals with one eye out for Juliet, and the other out for anything about Edwin Collier. By supper, all he had to show for his efforts was a splitting headache.