So Fell The Sparrow

by Katie Jennings

  She’d only found out about the home because her father’s will gave her sole ownership of the property. A house he’d kept secret, one she’d never visited, in a town she’d never heard of, was now hers.

  At first, it had seemed crazy to make the drive from Chicago to see this mysterious house. But somehow, she’d found herself packing her bags, breaking out her GPS unit, and climbing into her car. She’d arranged for her neighbor to watch her cat and hastily blocked her ex-fiancé’s phone number from her cell. The last thing she wanted was for him to come looking for her. Or for anyone to come looking, really. She had no surviving family members, though her co-workers and friends at the hospital had all tried to console her. Had pitied her. It had been enough to drive her crazy within twenty-four hours of the accident.

  Everyone has a different way of grieving. Hers was paved with a truckload of denial, indifference, passive-aggressiveness, and a hell of a bitchy temper. It was best for everyone involved that she simply leave, get some space…and find out why her father had left her a house in Mad Rock Harbor, Massachusetts.

  From her brief Google searches, she determined that Mad Rock Harbor was nothing more than a speck on the map. A tiny Eastern Seaboard town with little more than a splattering of pre-Civil War era homes and one main street that linked the east side with the west side. The west side had what looked like a few businesses—a diner, a pharmacy, a veterinarian. A small local market seemed to be the biggest place in town, second only to the courthouse and the paltry sheriff’s station.

  The east side of town held most of the homes, many of which lined the harbor with tiny docks built on the water. Her father’s home—her home—was one of these. She’d looked at it suspiciously from the comfort of her computer, unsure what to make of it. It didn’t look special. It certainly wasn’t a vacation home she would ever spend money on.

  Just why he had bought it, she had no idea. She liked to believe her father had never had an affair, but maybe this was a nest for an unknown mistress. If not, and her mother had known about the place, then she’d done an excellent job of hiding it from her only daughter.

  Which made Grace wonder what other secrets her parents had kept from her. Many of them she would likely never know.

  A tear slipped unexpectedly from her right eye, alarming her. She brushed it away callously and turned her full attention back to the road. No more daydreaming. She was only four hours away; she had to keep driving. Driving toward a future that seemed uncertain save for one, simple truth.

  Loneliness would be her new best friend.

  * * *

  Clouds rolled in, heavy with rain, as Grace pulled up to the house. She shut off the engine and stared out the window. Around her, the tidy suburban neighborhood was eerily still and quiet.

  The house looked just as she expected—two stories, colonial-style with pale blue siding and white trim. A wide, covered porch shaded a navy blue front door flanked by a collection of windows on both sides. A white picket fence lined the property, the paint beginning to flake and peel. Weeds grew among the wild grasses in the yard, complemented by scraggly rose bushes along the porch. There was a much smaller house to the right, almost like a companion to the main house. Grace wondered if it was part of the property, though the lawyer hadn’t mentioned it. Beyond the side of the house she could see the harbor, the water calm in the cool evening air. A man in a tiny metal fishing boat cut through the gray-blue surface, sending ripples out to the shore.

  Grace looked back at the house, uncertainty warring with her curiosity. What if she found out something about her father that she wasn’t prepared to learn?

  Not that it mattered. He was dead. It wasn’t like he could explain himself. All she could do was try to piece together this strange puzzle he had left for her.

  Climbing out of the car, she grabbed her purse and the key she’d gotten from the family lawyer. She cast an instinctual glance at the trunk where she’d stowed her suitcase and beloved cello. She had to stop and remind herself that she wasn’t in Chicago anymore. People didn’t just break into cars on quiet, residential streets in Podunk little towns like this. People in small towns had manners and morals…didn’t they?

  Feeling ridiculous, she rolled her eyes, hoisted her purse onto her shoulder, and pressed the lock button on her key ring before making her way up the shabby brick path to the house.

  She was a tall woman, willowy of figure with surprisingly strong and capable hands. They were her greatest tool as a doctor; second only to her sharp mind and iron composure. Although these days it felt more like tin foil, easily torn and crumbled.

  Eyes like the grayest skies could fill with both resolve and sympathy, but rarely were they prone to tears. She’d learned long ago how to shield herself from emotion. In her line of work, it was a matter of survival.

  As a result, she was quite the cynic. Though, as with her iron composure, she felt her hardiness weakening with each day that passed. Each day that the truth became more real to her.

  Her designer heels nearly slipped through the cracks on the porch stairs and her weight had the wood creaking. She grimaced as she realized if the porch needed fixing, who knew what else needed to be repaired. She paused before the entrance, key out and ready. Her eyes fell upon a small, wooden sign nailed into the siding just to the left of the door.

  It read: Welcome to the Sparrow House.

  She suppressed a laugh. Where had her father come up with that? With a disheartened sigh, she shoved the key in the lock and opened the door, surprised it didn’t groan as loudly as the stairs had. Maybe the house wasn’t as dilapidated as she assumed.

  The entryway was high-ceilinged and airy with stairs to the right and a wide hallway leading to what looked like the living room straight ahead. To the left was an open doorway that led into the kitchen and dining room, and to the right before the stairs was what she assumed to be the parlor.

  There was no furniture, no belongings, no curtains, no rugs…not even a speck of dust. The house was spic and span with white plastered walls and an ancient looking wooden floor, carefully polished. Grace wondered who had been taking care of the house as she made her way down the hall.

  Her eyes took in every aspect of the first floor hungrily, as if searching for some clue, some evidence to explain why her father had purchased this home. She had expected to find something of his here—maybe a photograph, a book, some silverware. Instead, she found nothing. The cherrywood kitchen cabinets were vacant, the smooth white and gray marble counter free of crumbs. The old fridge was empty and unplugged. A butcher block island filled the middle of the kitchen, its surface weathered and worn. She wondered who had used it for so many years.

  Beyond the kitchen was the spacious living area, the long wall covered with windows and a set of French doors leading to the back porch. Through the glass, she could see a beautiful view of the harbor, growing dark in the dimming light. She even spotted the little dock, sitting boatless in the water. It looked as lonely as she felt.

  “Who are you?” A voice barked from behind Grace, startling her. She whirled around to face the intruder.

  A short, older woman was standing inside the living room with her hands resting on her generous hips. Her brown eyes were mean and distrusting, and she had a frizzy mass of gray and white curls atop her head. Wrinkles fanned out from her eyes and lined the grooves of her face and her mouth was set in a glower. She wore faded jeans with weathered work boots and a loose brown and white plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. From the dirt on her knees, Grace imagined she’d been working in a garden somewhere.

  “This house isn’t for sale, if that’s why you decided to just wander on in,” the woman said with a derisive sniff.

  “I own this house,” Grace informed her, regaining her wits. She stared down at the woman. “Who the hell are you?”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Dr. Allen Sullivan owns this house. I don’t know who you think you are.”

  “His daughter.”<
br />
  The woman’s face softened. “Oh. I see. Is Dr. Allen here?”

  Grace imagined a fist squeezing the blood from her heart, draining it dry. “He’s dead.” Now the woman looked completely devastated. Grace took a moment to relish it before she spoke again. “He left this house to me. Who are you, exactly?”

  “My name’s Nellie. I live in the little house next door.” The woman ushered forward and stretched out her calloused hand, eager to shake Grace’s. When they did, their eyes met and held. “I’m so sorry to hear about your father. He was a wonderful man. And your mother, too.”

  So, her mother had known of this place…

  “Unfortunately, she’s also dead. Car accident.” Grace released her hand from Nellie’s as she turned away. She walked to one of the windows and stared out at the water.

  “Oh no,” Nellie murmured. “God bless them. You know, they told me all about you.”

  “Did they?” Grace asked, though she found she didn’t really care. All she wanted was to be left alone in this empty house—one that bore no memories of her parents. Had she been hoping it would?

  “Dr. Grace. Your father was so proud of you. After he retired, he said he missed being at the hospital with you.”

  “How often did my father come here?” Grace continued to watch the harbor, her arms crossed defensively. She realized then just how cold it was inside the house.

  “Not often. Once or twice a year, maybe.” Nellie ventured forward to stand beside her. She watched Grace through troubled eyes. “Your father loved this place. That’s why he asked me to take care of it for him.”

  “If he loved it so much, why is it empty?” The question seemed hollow, much like the house itself.

  Nellie’s face creased with pity. “I don’t know, child.”

  Grace gritted her teeth, clutching her arms tighter to ward off the chill she felt from discussing her parents. She tore her eyes from the harbor and looked around the house. “I suppose I’ll have to go find a hotel. I honestly thought there’d be some furniture,” she said with a tired sigh.

  “Why don’t I call up Johnny Hayes? He owns the antique furniture store in town,” Nellie offered with a smile. “He may have a bed frame you can use. And I’m sure we can hunt down a mattress. No need to go to the hotel. This is your house. You should stay here.”

  “I need more than just a bed. The damn fridge isn’t even plugged in. I have nowhere to sit, nowhere to eat, no towels, no television…”

  Nellie rested her hands on her hips again. “Don’t you get all ‘woe is me,’ city girl. You clearly haven’t been in enough small towns to know that people like to help one another out. I’ll make some phone calls and get you what you need.”

  She left before Grace could argue, leaving her speechless. The woman went from rude to comforting to sassy so fast her head was spinning. Nellie had managed to squash Grace’s negativity with her old-fashioned hospitality.

  Grace stared at the front door, shaking her head. There was no way she’d have a bed by nightfall. Much less sheets, blankets, and food. “Better look up the hotel,” she muttered to herself, grabbing her cell phone from her purse.

  She made her way into the kitchen and felt behind the fridge for the cord. She may as well plug it in—if the electricity was even turned on.

  It hummed to life as power shot through it, and she flipped on the kitchen light. A pale-yellow glow filled the kitchen. Staring at her cell phone, she realized the battery had died. She slapped the device down on the kitchen island. Why shouldn’t her cell be dead? Everything else in her life was a mess.

  It was like they always said—when it rains, it pours. And she had her own personal storm cloud.

  * * *

  The self-absorbed and distrustful nature of city dwellers had long since hardened Grace’s outlook on humanity; however, she couldn’t deny that the people of Mad Rock Harbor came through for her.

  Nellie dragged Johnny Hayes from his well-worn sofa at home and persuaded him to call his three best employees to help haul an antique, wrought iron bed frame, mattress, and an oak dining table set over to the Sparrow House. Then she rallied together a few of the neighborhood wives to contribute linens, cookware, plates, and food, which they brought over in waves of welcoming smiles, chenille sweaters, and flowery perfume. One of them thought to bring over a bottle of Merlot to Grace’s enormous relief. After the day she’d had, she desperately needed a drink.

  “There.” Nellie beamed as she laid the last casserole dish in the fridge, labeled with baking instructions on the lid. She faced Grace with a pleased smile. “See? Didn’t I tell you I’d get you what you needed?”

  “Thanks.” Grace nodded absently and uncorked the Merlot. She fought back a tired yawn as she poured herself a glass.

  Nellie looked around the room as if to assure herself she hadn’t forgotten anything. “Think nothing of it, child. Now, you get some rest in that nice new bed of yours, and I’ll be by to see you tomorrow.”

  Grace leaned against the counter, wine glass in hand. “Let me know what I owe you for the bed and the table.”

  Nellie waved her hand in the air. “Consider it a welcome home gift.”

  Grace pondered the word ‘home’ and wondered why it irritated her. “You really don’t have to do that.”

  “Shut your mouth and accept the gift,” Nellie stated flatly, eyes bright with humor. “See you tomorrow.”

  Sipping her wine, Grace watched Nellie turn to leave. The woman paused in the doorway and faced Grace. “Welcome to the Sparrow House. You’re going to love it here.”

  Grace held onto the words as Nellie left, an odd feeling settling over her. She drank more wine and closed her eyes, more tired than she’d ever been. Even the long hours at the hospital didn’t compare to the overwhelming feeling of exhaustion that now plagued her.

  It wasn’t just physical, but emotional, too. Her soul was lonely, her mood dark. It grated against her insides and crept into the recesses of her mind, burrowing to fester like a disease.

  Depression was a disease. One that she’d never experienced before. She regretted all those times she’d tried pathetically to talk others out of depression. It wasn’t something you could switch off. It was internal. And it was now a part of her.

  Much like the house was now a part of her. She knew she should just put it on the market, take the money, and vacation in the south of France. That’s what the old Grace would have done. Before it happened.

  Now everything had changed. What would she do with the house, if not sell it?

  Never had her future felt so bleak and out of focus. She felt lost in her own skin, unable to find her purpose. How could she cope with the mortifying blow that life had dealt her?

  Her eyes stung as she imagined her father’s face, laughter lines fanning out from his brilliant blue eyes. He had been her rock, her protector, and her hero, all wrapped into one; by far the greatest man she had ever known.

  She could almost picture him walking toward her in the kitchen of the Sparrow House with a good-humored smile, salt and pepper hair neatly combed. He would reach out and cup her face in his gentle, comforting hand, and tell her she would be okay. Tell her the world wasn’t so bad, that it wasn’t actually out to get her.

  If only he’d known he would be taken from her so violently, so pointlessly. Maybe then he would have realized that the world was bad, and that it was always out to get everyone. That was just how it worked. That was life.

  Feeling bitter, she downed the last of the wine. She grabbed the bottle and stormed out of the kitchen and up the stairs, furious at the tears that burned in her eyes. The last thing she wanted to do was cry. She knew once she got started, she’d be unable to stop.

  She tore into the master bedroom, ignoring her new wrought iron bed. Instead of choosing the comfort of fresh blankets and pillows, she stumbled into the corner of the room and collapsed onto the floor. Setting aside the wine, she pulled her knees up tight against her chest. Her body tremble
d as she wrestled with her grief, unwilling to let it win.

  Moonlight crept in through the open window, casting strange shadows along the wood floor. Her cello lay in its case in the corner, neglected. Since the accident, she hadn’t been able to play. It reminded her too much of what she had lost.

  Outside, she heard nothing. Silence. It was a cold, lonely contrast to the city that had been her home all her life.

  At that moment, Grace had the harsh realization that coming to Mad Rock Harbor was a grave and terrible mistake. If she had thought she’d find comfort, she was wrong.

  She only felt haunted.

  CHAPTER TWO

  The sparrows woke her. They flew and sang in the trees outside her window, cheerful despite the gloomy fog that spread its greedy fingers over the town.

  Grace opened her eyes, only to shut them again and wince as pain pounded in her head. She groaned and regretted polishing off the bottle of wine. It had been stupid, really stupid, but she’d been in too desperate a mood to do anything else. Alcohol had never been a crutch for her. Then again, her parents weren’t dead before. Things were different now. She was different now.

  With a groan, she sat up, her mood sour. She glared out the window, irritated with the birds. What right did they have to be so chipper?

  She rose unsteadily to her feet and grabbed the wine bottle, taking it with her as she headed downstairs. In the kitchen, she found a mug and loaded the coffee maker Nellie brought the night before. Once it was brewing, she leaned against the counter and shut her eyes.

  Her entire body ached from sleeping on the floor, and she knew she’d need an Excedrin once she ate. She also needed a shower and desperately needed to shave her legs. Thankfully, Nellie confirmed that the upstairs bathroom was updated with modern fixtures and that everything worked. Otherwise, she’d be hightailing it over to the hotel after all. Dealing with no furniture was one thing. Living without decent plumbing was another.