Dad stopped me as I was going out the door and handed me a wad of cash. “Just in case you need it.” He said, stuffing it into my sweaty hands.
It was kind of overcast as I stepped out of our house and walked down to the black car. I don’t think it was a limousine, it wasn’t that long, but it was still longer than your average car and the inside was all black leather with really nice black carpet on the floor.
I tried to ask the driver if he knew why Mrs. Orric wanted to see me, but all he said was that he had been instructed to pick me up and take me to the Pine Club.
“What’s the Pine Club?” I asked him.
“It is a very nice restaurant.” He said and then added, “Too fancy for my liking, but then again, I’m happy with a beer and some wings.”
As I exited the car, I saw that the sign on the front of the building read, “The Landmark Pine Club since 1947” and just from the outside of the building, I knew that I was way out of my element.
As I stood there I mumbled myself, “You’re not in Kansas anymore Maxwell Riddle!”
A gentleman was standing outside and greeted me as I walked up to the door, “Good evening Mr. Riddle. I am Mrs. Orric’s personal assistant, Oscar Huggins.”
I stuck my hand out to shake while wondering how he knew it was me. Then the car pulled away and felt stupid. Of course he knew who I was, I just got out of the car Mrs. Orric had sent for me.
“Hello Mr. Huggins.” I said.
“Oh no, please call me Oscar.” He said as he showed me into the restaurant.
A lady in a fancy long draping black dress took my coat and things and when she walked away with them, I asked Oscar. “Uh, how will she know which coat is mine?”
Oscar smiled knowingly, “It is their job to remember these things.”
My eyes were working overtime to take in all the wonder that is the Pine Club. I’d never been to such a ritzy place before. Heck, a few minutes ago, I hadn’t even heard of the Pine Club.
Mrs. Orric had spotted me coming before I had seen her. She walked over to me and dismissed Oscar.
“Max, my dear boy,” she gave me a full embracing hug before saying, “I have a wonderful surprise for you tonight! But first, I want you to meet some friends of mine.”
“Max, this is Sharon Monroe. She’s married to Judge Cartwright Monroe.” A lady with long dark hair and probing eyes stood and shook my hand.
“It is a pleasure to finally meet you Mr. Riddle.” She said.
“Oh please Sharon, call him Max.” Mrs. Orric said, putting one arm around the small of my back, and with the other hand patting the middle of my chest and asked me, “You don’t mind if we’re unceremonious here, do you?”
I shook my head because I thought that is what was expected, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure what she had meant by what she had said.
“This is Herriot Johanna, and her husband is the Lieutenant Governor of Ohio.”
I was sweating like a turkey on Thanksgiving-eve, so I wiped my hand on my trousers before presenting it to Mrs. Johanna to shake.
“P-pleasure to meet you.” I said, moderately showing how nervous I really was.
“Max, relax!” Mrs. Orric said, putting that same hand on my chest again, “We are all friends here.”
There were two other ladies at the table. Mrs. Orric introduced me to them as well.
“And this is Roxanne Stenenbaulm.” Mrs. Orric said, and not really thinking, I said, “Stenenbaulm? I think I’ve heard that name before.”
She stepped away from the table, walked around and took my hand, “I should imagine so, Max.” she said in a calm and familiar voice.
“Doctor Stenenbaulm?!” I exclaimed, “You were the doctor that took care of me when I came into the hospital a couple months ago.”
She smiled, “How’s your head?”
Instinctively, my hand went to the back of my head, “Uh, fine! Hardly having anymore headaches. Uh, if you don’t mind me saying so, you sure look a lot different than you did in the hospital.”
She smiled and the other ladies all chuckled at my remark.
“I’ll take that as a complement.” She said.
I think, I may have blushed a little at that.
“You two already know each other! That is so very wonderful!” Mrs. Orric proclaimed with sincere delight.