Haunting at Remington House. Laura V. Keegan

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СКАЧАТЬ done this afternoon, too. I’m sure you have everything under control. You call me if you need anything. Wake me when you get home.”

      “I wouldn’t think of waking you, Viv. I know you need your rest. See you tomorrow.” Sara hung up the phone. It immediately rang again. She lifted the receiver. Dead air. “Tom, what in the world is going on with the phone?”

      Unplugging it, Tom said, “Must be from the storm.”

      “You fell down the stairs? Is that why you told me to come over when I called earlier? Because you were hurt?” She studied his face. “There’s more to this, isn’t there? If you want our relationship to go anywhere, you can’t keep things from me. Did something happen? Does it have to do with all these phone calls?”

      “I didn’t fall. And yes, the phone calls have something to do with all of this but . . . I have so much to explain to you. Trust me, Sara, tonight is not the right time.”

      Sara squeezed his hand. “What is it?”

      “I have some issues I’m still dealing with, having to do with my wife’s death. I want to talk to you about her, but not tonight. Can you accept that?”

      “Tom, I’m sorry. I had no idea. No one told me. Of course I’ll give you time. But you have to trust me, too.”

      “Elise’s death has been a difficult and painful ordeal. I’ll tell you everything. In time. In my own way. I promise. But I’m not ready yet.” Tom put his arms around Sara, pulled her to him. “Now, will you stay with me, or do you want me to take you home?”

      “Of course I’ll stay, Tom. I want to be with you, too.”

      Taking her hand in his, Tom led her up the stairs and into his bedroom. He removed her muddy clothes, slowly without urgency. Sara stood before him, skin white as lily petals, soft as velvet to his touch. He lifted her into his arms, surprised at the lightness of her. He carried her across the room to the bed where he gently laid her on the blankets.

      As she watched, he removed his own clothes, then lay beside her, relishing the warmth of her skin next to his as his thighs touched her thighs, his chest melted into her breasts. As their lips met, they forgot all else, save their passion.

      Chapter 24

      With dawn comes the sound of the awakening earth. The ritual of transition from dark of night to light of day begins. Birds sing, welcoming the amber orb of sun as it rises above the horizon. Today’s is truly a magnificent sunrise. Even the pounding of the waves on the beach seems more serene this daybreak. Dawn is a peaceful time. A time of gentle quiet. A time to ponder the wonders of nature. . . . For some.

      In the upstairs hall of Remington House, the rooms are still dark; the light of morning has not yet penetrated here. The disquieting shuffle of footsteps can be heard pacing back and forth, back and forth. As the sun begins to cast its light into the attic, we see a woman, slight of stature, delicate of feature, pale as mist. She paces, livid with rage, pounding the air with flailing fists. Her lips are pulled back tightly exposing tiny teeth. Listening, we hear her angry voice spitting out obscenities. As the sun continues its ascent, Elise continues her ravings, vile and bitter. One is shocked to hear such dark words spew from such an exquisite creature.

      As we watch quietly, not wanting to disturb her even more, we see two others—a grizzly almost skeletal, old man and a shriveled old woman. They watch Elise from the far side of the hall. Both appear happy to have Elise in their midst. They go to her. Their hands reach out to touch her but are lost in empty air. They smile knowingly to each other. Elise is gone. For now.

      Chapter 25

      For Tom and Sara, the day dawned clear and quiet. “Morning, Sara. You look ravishing.” Tom playfully pulled the covers off Sara.

      Sara rolled on top of Tom. “Definitely too early to get out of bed. Good morning, my love.”

      They made love again. From overhead, Tom thought he heard the creaking of floorboards. Feeling Sara’s caresses to his thighs and buttocks, he put the sounds out of his mind and concentrated on Sara’s demands to his quickly responding body.

      After they made love, as they lay together watching the sun continue its morning ascent, Sara turned to Tom. “I better get back to Vivian’s before anyone notices I’ve been gone all night. I don’t think I’m up for the third degree. I don’t want anything to spoil our night together.”

      Tom watched sullenly as she walked naked across the room. “Do you really have to go? I think we can explain to Vivian that this is what we both want. We’re all adults, after all. I don’t see any reason you can’t stay. At least have breakfast with me.” Tom followed her across the room.

      “Tom, you don’t know Vivian. She wouldn’t understand how we can feel this way, this soon. We need to be realistic.” Sara continued dressing. Tom tried to pull her back toward the bed. “Now, stop. I have to go, Tom.” She teasingly stroked his face, then pretended to fight him off as he carried her back to bed.

      Tom gently tossed her to the bed and removed the clothes she had just put on. “Not yet. You can’t go yet,” said Tom.

      They said their goodbyes on the front porch. Sara kissed Tom then ran down the stairs and disappeared into the trees. She took the back path to Vivian’s hoping no one would see her.

      A car came up the drive, taking the final curve just as Sara ducked into the trees. Tom watched the car as it stopped in front of him. A middle-aged woman got out, smiling as she held her hand out to him. Tom had no idea who she was. “Hello, are you lost? Can I be of some help?” he asked.

      “Oh goodness, no. Mr. Gardner? I’m Nellie. Nellie Swenson.” Seeing he was still unsure about who she was, she added, “I was hired to cook and clean. Joe Tilson called me yesterday. He said you approved my hiring.”

      “Of course. Yes. Come in please. I’d forgotten you were coming today.” Tom held the door open for her.

      “What a lovely home. I haven’t been in here in years. Not since before the Lindemans bought the house.”

      “Well, ah… Miss Swenson? Let me show you around.”

      “Call me Nell. Everyone does. And it’s Mrs., although my husband died many years ago. Look at this huge kitchen. What a joy this will be.” She smiled at Tom, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

      Another happy soul. Must be the sea air. Seemed like all the locals were happy. Maybe it’d rub off on Tom. “Glad you approve. Trust me, for the next few weeks, you’ll be very pleased you have this much space. My sister, Cassie, loves to cook, too, so she will no doubt be in here shadowing your every move.” Tom turned. Joe was coming up the back steps.

      “Hey, Nell,” Joe said. “I see you’ve met Tom.” Joe entered the kitchen carrying a box of Nell’s spices. “I’ll set these here on the counter. Be right back, gonna get the other bags of stuff from Nell’s car. Morning, Tom. You look pretty chipper this morning. Hope the sea air is starting to work its magic.”

      “Something like that, Joe. Can you show Nell around? I need to make a couple of calls, then I’ll be back.”

      “Glad to.”

      Later that afternoon, as it was getting СКАЧАТЬ