An Obstinate Headstrong Girl. Abigail Bok
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options. Normally our group is only ten people, but we’ve opened up this meeting to anyone in the community who wants to honor your aunt. I expect a lot of people will want to attend.”
Chapter Six
On returning to the motel to find the rest of the family, Lizzy was greeted with enthusiasm by her father. “You were sorely missed this afternoon,” he said. “I went to find that real estate agent the lawyer mentioned, Morris Collins. What a character! And I had nobody to share the joke with. But you’ll meet him: he’s coming by here to talk further with us after he closes his office for the day.”
“You weren’t able to determine when you met him whether he had any rental listings we could look at?”
“Not in so short a time as half an hour, as you’ll understand when he arrives.”
“I would’ve thought that five minutes would’ve sufficed for such a simple question.”
“Five minutes didn’t suffice for mutual introductions,” said Mr. Bennet, his eyes alive with laughter. “Wait and see.”
Considerably intrigued, Lizzy sought out John for enlightenment, but he said their father had been no more forthcoming with him. They had not long to wait, however, before Mr. Collins put in his appearance, in a well-polished sedan that from behind could almost be mistaken for a Lexus. Family members were duly gathered in the motel lounge, where they discovered a man of about thirty, tending slightly to corpulence, who bobbed bows to each one in turn.
“Welcome, my dear Bennet family, welcome!” he cried. “As the mayor of Lambtown—for just last month I took that title, having been selected for the office from among the ranks of the Town Council, to which I had the honor of being elected in November, though I had no expectation of being singled out from among my peers in my first term—though perhaps it was due to my position in life, and in the town—my work as a Realtor allowing me to mingle with all my constituents, but especially my membership in the Enclave providing connections to our most exalted ranching families—”
“What is the Enclave?” demanded Mrs. Bennet, the phrase “exalted ranching families” having captured her attention.
Mr. Collins looked shocked. “Surely you’ve heard of the Enclave, ma’am! Though, of course, you arrived only yesterday, but I would have thought that even in Ohio, word of—but perhaps you don’t move in circles where—well, in any case, in sum, the Enclave is the premier social organization of the Santa Ynez Valley. It was founded by the earliest families to settle here, the Fremonts (now, unhappily, all died out), along with the de Bourghs and Darcys. The Enclave owns the polo grounds out on Old Coach Road, a beautiful facility, with meeting rooms and a dining hall and stabling for over a hundred horses!”
“So it is, in fact, a physical enclave, not just a state of mind?” inquired Mr. Bennet.
“Of course! It’s a country club. Membership is by invitation only, but anyone who wishes to be a person of prominence must belong. It’s much more than just the polo team and tournaments: they host charitable events and social occasions, and support many good works in the community. I have the honor of the patronage of the greatest lady hereabouts, Catherine de Bourgh—owner of considerable property just outside town—she is much interested in land use issues, and I’ve been able to be of service to her in such matters with the Realtors’ association, so she put me up for membership in the Enclave with the idea that I could fill the post of recording secretary. And it was she who advised me to run for the Town Council, where I could assist her further in promoting the kinds of policies that will most benefit the first citizens, and, by extension of course, all the lesser inhabitants of the valley. As I said, the council voted me, among all their number, to conduct their meetings and serve as first among equals, as the mayor! So it is in that capacity, as well as in my professional position as a Realtor, that I have the honor of welcoming you to Lambtown.”
John and Lizzy were struck dumb by all this eloquence, while the younger members of the family had already wandered away. But Mr. Bennet’s greater preparation for this speech, or more tenacious mind, had allowed him to follow all the twists and turns, and now he judged it time to turn the conversation into a more fruitful channel. “I congratulate you, Mr. Collins, on achieving so fortunate a position in life, and at such a young age. We’re pleased to be settling for a time in Lambtown, where my sister Evelyn Bennet lived for many years, and are looking for a suitable house to rent. My daughter Lizzy tells me that my sister’s house would not be large enough for our whole family—”
“Ah, yes, the Evelyn Bennet residence,” interrupted Mr. Collins. “Four bedrooms, but only two baths, alas, as is frequently the case in older houses. Such a pity; the absence of modern amenities takes so much value out of our older homes. In a newly built house of that size, of course, you would see at least three full baths, plus a half-bath downstairs and maybe another in the service quarters. Should you wish to put it on the market, however, I’ll do the best I can for you. There are those who find the Craftsman style charming, and will put up with the inconvenience for the sake of curb appeal.”
Finding her voice, Lizzy thanked him politely but said her aunt’s house was not at present for sale. Mr. Collins seemed inclined to dispute the wisdom of this, but Mr. Bennet cut him off.
“It’s our present need for housing that concerns us,” he said. “We don’t expect to live here permanently, so our interest is in rentals, not houses to buy; and we hope to find something of five or six bedrooms.”
“Allow me to persuade you to reconsider,” protested Mr. Collins. “Even if your stay is not permanent—though who would not wish to remain in such a beautiful place as the Santa Ynez Valley, which, I flatter myself, has no equal anywhere in the country—as a business decision it is always to your benefit to own, not rent. Whatever norms may apply in Ohio, in California the advantages of home ownership are unequaled. The market here is almost continuously appreciating, and in this area, a small ranch on land that can be subdivided is an excellent investment, even over the short term. I could show you—”
“Thank you, Mr. Collins, but we are not equipped to take on the responsibilities of a ranch: we are city folk, and know nothing about farming or animal husbandry. And as I still own my house in Columbus, buying a second property would have tax disadvantages. We want to keep things simple, and are looking to rent, not buy.”
Mr. Collins tried to argue the point from a variety of directions, but was at last compelled to divulge that he knew of no rental houses in the area of the size desired by the Bennets, though he would let them know if anything turned up. Mrs. Bennet, who had been favorably impressed by the young mayor’s account of his social connections, now tried to redeem her family’s standing in his eyes by asking casually if they would be seeing him at the Red and White Ball.
Unfortunately, this sally backfired. “The Red and White Ball? Oh, no, Mrs. Bennet, by no means. I don’t know what you’ve heard, but allow me to give you a hint, as one who understands the local society best. It can do you no credit among those who really matter to be seen at that event. I’m sure it is all for a very good cause, and many of our Latino residents are respectable members of the community. As mayor, I naturally stay on good terms with everyone—but that doesn’t mean I would rub shoulders with them at a public event! You won’t wish to confine your acquaintance to row-crop farmers and the managers of convenience stores. To be sure, some of the best families will buy tickets, as a courtesy to their employees. Still, you should choose wisely where you go while you’re making your first impression here. I assure you, people will be watching, and if you aspire to be noticed by the leaders, you’ll be careful what company you keep.”
Fortunately for the Bennets, since Mr. Collins proved to be of no use whatever in locating accommodations for them, the client Melvin Perry had mentioned expressed her willingness to lease her house to them for a year. It was a brand-new construction in a planned community on the outskirts of town, intended eventually to face a new golf course. The golf course itself was still under construction, however, and the owner preferred not to move in until after all the sod was laid and the tractors and odors of fertilizer had dispersed.