The Haunting of Crawley House (The Hauntings Of Kingston Book 1)

by Dorey, Michelle

  The sisters waved their hands and smiled at her, standing side by side holding hands. Agnes’ face wasn’t as sad anymore. Sarah turned and went into the kitchen. Thank goodness she had her real mommy and not a mean stepmother like that Bridey lady.

  Chapter 31

  “Whew!” Maureen flopped down onto her bed and wiped her brow. What a day to be climbing up and down a stepladder; it was way too hot and muggy.

  Gillian appeared in the doorway, taking in the newly hung rose-colored curtains and the matching bedspread. “This looks pretty nice. It’s starting to feel like home.” Handing a glass of ice water to her, she said, “Would you mind watching Sarah for a while this afternoon? The university emailed me that there’s an orientation tour that I’d like to go to.”

  “Sure. I haven’t really gone into the backyard to see what’s what out there.”

  “Thanks Mom. I’ll only be a couple hours.” She stepped away and her footsteps sounded in the stillness, thudding quickly down the stairs.

  ***

  An hour later, Maureen held Sarah’s hand coming back from the playground in the park. Her back had felt a little stiff and they’d abandoned the gardening in favor of a trip to the nearby playground. As they approached the house, she looked at all the ivy clinging to the brick around the front door. She’d read once that the foliage could damage the brick and knew that spiders liked to hide there too. There was just too much of it; it needed to be cleaned up. You could hardly read the house number.

  They crossed the street and Maureen looked down at Sarah walking beside her. “I’m going to snip some of those brambles off the front of the house. Why don’t you get your drawing book and pencils and work on that while I’m working on the veranda?”

  “Can I play on the swing instead?”

  Maureen fished the front door key from her pocket and slid it into the lock. “Sure, go ahead.” As she rummaged in the kitchen for garden shears, she heard the back door open, a giggle of laughter from Sarah before it closed behind her.

  Clearing the ivy at the front wouldn’t take that long. She tugged the branch of ivy that was threatening to cover the house number, and sliced through it cleanly. She tossed it aside and tackled another gangly twig, pulling it out and snipping it off.

  She discovered a brass plaque above the house number, covered in thick brambles.

  Suddenly, she stopped and looked over her shoulders. The air was filled with fragrance from the rosebushes which lined the front and side of the house. She inhaled deeply, feeling the fresh scent fill her head. What a special aroma.

  Turning back to her work, she tugged at the stem and set of leaves which covered and clung to it. More tendrils of the ivy had curled under the plate and resisted her first tugs. Her fingers coiled around it and she pulled harder against the gnarled vines and finally it gave.

  A large embossed ‘C’ could be seen on the plate but the rest was still hidden. Once more, she attacked the growth, tugging and slicing until finally clearing the plaque of the overgrown coverage.

  The brass plaque was almost black with age, the letters on it difficult to make out. She wiped the surface with her hand. Reading the word, her mouth fell open, gazing at the letters on the sign. She stopped breathing.

  ‘Crawley.’

  In silent astonishment her eyes and her fingers glided over the letters. Slowly, she exhaled. This couldn’t be. The coincidence was too unreal. Crawley? Her family name?

  “What are you doing, Mom?” Gillian’s voice interrupted, bringing her back to the heat and brightness of the day. “What’s that you’ve found?”

  Maureen turned to look at Gillian, still unable to speak. She pointed to the plaque.

  Her daughter’s brow furrowed and she strained forward to read it. Her eyes grew wide and her head jerked back. “Crawley? What the hell?”

  Maureen felt her head get light and she caught herself from swooning. Her hand rose to grip Gillian’s arm. “Don’t you see? We were meant to live here!”

  Chapter 32

  The following evening as they were preparing supper, Gillian looked over at her mother. “The more I think about it, the idea of buying this house makes sense. Chances are, I’ll stay in Kingston when I graduate. There’re lots of employment options for nurses here.” She brushed her hands together. “You’re sure you’re going through with this then?”

  “Absolutely.” Maureen opened the oven door and took the meatloaf out. She set it on the counter and then turned to face her daughter. “This house was built by a Crawley. It just seems right that a Crawley own it again. Our home in Lanark would never have worked out. You weren’t interested in farming and I’m not getting any younger.” She gave her daughter a smug look. “And when I gave the university a really low offer, they jumped at it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime deal if you ask me!”

  “Well, it’s your money; and if you’re happy, I’m happy.”

  A loud thud vibrated the ceiling above them.

  Gillian and Maureen jerked back and their eyes were round staring up at the ceiling.

  “What in God’s name was—”

  “Sarah!” Gillian raced out of the room and her feet flew on the stairs.

  Maureen’s voice called after her. “She’s outside on the swing, Gillian.”

  Gillian’s hand rested on her chest and she sighed with relief walking into her daughter’s room. The bed hadn’t broken and the desk and bookcase were still upright. Even the easel in the center of the room was the same...

  Her eyebrows drew together. Except it wasn’t. The drawing which Sarah had made of the three girls was different. The children were no longer stick figures. Sarah had fleshed them out so they more closely resembled actual people—showing a talent for depth and proportion beyond her years.

  “Gillian? Did something fall over? What made that racket up there?” Maureen’s voice, calling up the stairwell, interrupted her daughter’s thoughts.

  Gillian peeked into the bathroom and her bedroom. Again, nothing was amiss. She strode down the hallway and opened the door of her mother’s bedroom. The room was tidy, the comforter on the bed smooth and straight and the dresser and upholstered chair tucked neatly against the wall. She sighed and walked across the room to peer out the window. The noise had to have come from outside. Street repairs?

  She turned and started to retrace her steps when the corner of a thick book caught her eye. It was half hidden behind the door and she’d missed it at first glance in the room. She picked it up. The family Bible? She shook her head and propped it up on the shelf, next to the ancient photo album which her mother cherished.

  She walked out of the room and peered at her mother’s face as she stepped down the stairs. “One of your books fell off the shelf.”

  “Which one?”

  “The family Bible. No wonder it made such a thud, huh?” Gillian cocked an eyebrow at her mother. “The holy book scared the bejesus out of me,” she said with a half smile.

  “Har-dee-har-har, such a punster.” Maureen shook her head. “How about giving me a hand with supper?”

  “Sure.”

  When dinner was just about ready, Gillian headed out to the backyard.

  Sarah raced over and held her arms high, pressing her body against Gillian’s thighs. “Are you coming outside to play with us?”

  Gillian scooped her daughter up and balanced her on her hip. She gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Hungry moppet? Dinner’s just about ready.” She walked to the doorway and stepped up into the house. Her head tilted to the side and she looked into her daughter’s eyes. “Hey, I noticed your drawing. You’re really getting good at it.” She tickled her daughter’s waist. “Did Nana help you with it?

  Sarah laughed and pushed her mother’s hand away. “Nope.” She looked over her mother’s shoulder back at the tree and smiled and waved. “See you tomorrow!”

  “Who you talking to?”

  Sarah looked at her like she was too stupid to live. “Agnes and Alice, silly!”

 
“Who?” Gillian turned around to the backyard. “Sarah, there’s nobody there.”

  Sarah giggled. “I know. They go home really fast!” She shrugged her shoulders. “They were with me on the swing, but left when you came out.” She gave a small pout. “They’re shy I guess.”

  “Shy, huh?”

  Sarah nodded.

  “Shy like in make-believe?”

  Sarah looked off to the side and spoke slowly. “I don’t think sooo...”

  “But maybe…”

  Sarah shrugged. “I like them! They’re nice!”

  Before it got any further out of hand, she gave Sarah a kiss on the nose. “Well, you’re nice too!” She’d have to talk about this with Mom later on. “Let’s head in.”

  When Gillian stepped into the kitchen she peeled Sarah away from her body and set her down. “Would you get the cutlery and set the table, moppet?” She smiled when Sarah raced over to the cabinet and pulled the drawer out.

  She finished tossing the salad and watched her mother mash the pot of potatoes. Once more she was reminded how much weight Maureen had lost and how the lines on her face seemed deeper. “Mom?”

  “Hmm...” She glanced up and her eyes met Gillian’s.

  “In a few weeks Sarah and I will be in school. I was thinking... After you go to the lawyer’s office and get the paperwork going, why don’t the three of us take a vacation?”

  “Go on a holiday while I’m buying a house?” Maureen’s eyebrows lifted in puzzlement.

  “Well, you’re paying cash, and there’s only been two other owners since it was built from what Jeremy Sloat said.” She held up her fingers one at a time. “The guy who built it, the second owner who then gave it to the university. I don’t think it should be very complicated.”

  Maureen shook her head. “Yeah, I’ll be a real big shot, on the phone with my lawyers from poolside at a hotel.”

  Gillian nodded. “That’s right, but nothing exotic and expensive. Maybe a week in Niagara Falls. We’ve never been there and Sarah would enjoy it. By the time we get back, the deal ought to be pretty much done!” Giving a cheesy grin she added, “After all, we’re already moved in, right?” She folded her arms. “What do you think?”

  Maureen’s hands stopped and a slow smile brightened her face. “It’s been years since I’ve been there. That sounds wonderful. God knows, when you start school, there’ll be no time for anything like that.”

  “Great! I’ll pack while you visit the lawyer.” Gillian picked up the salad and set it on the table. She ruffled Sarah’s hair. “What do you say, moppet? Would you like to go to Marineland and see the Falls?”

  Sarah was carefully placing the cutlery on paper napkins. She looked up at her mother and then stared out the window at the swing for a few moments. “Can Agnes and Alice come? They play with me in the backyard all the time!” Sarah looked down at the floor and a dark look came over her face. “Bridey probably won’t let them though…” she added in a soft voice.

  “Your friends from the backyard?” The hair on the back of Gillian’s neck stood up. What the heck was this now? Her imaginary friends had a mother named Bridey? “Who’s Bridey, honey?” The expression on her daughter’s face was disturbing for some reason. Gillian wiped a wisp of hair which fell forward behind Sarah’s ear.

  “Their stepmother. She’s not very nice…”

  “Oh?” Gillian tried to keep her voice light. “How do you know Bridey’s not nice?” Who in the world are these people? She glanced over to Maureen asking the question with her eyes and got a shrug and a headshake reply from her mother.

  “Alice and Agnes told me.” Sarah was still looking intently at her toes. “They said it’s a secret.”

  “Well, the next time you see your friends, let me know, and I’ll ask their mommy, okay?”

  Sarah’s head whipped up. “She’s not their mommy!” Her face was defiant; her lips pulled tight against her teeth and her hands had balled into fists.

  “Sarah!” Maureen said, her own hand flying to her mouth, shocked at the little girl.

  “Well, she isn’t! She’s mean and… and…” looking to her Nana and Mommy, Sarah burst into tears. Gillian scooped her up in her arms, and Sarah clung to her neck like a drowning man. She stared wide-eyed at Maureen to see the same expression returned.

  “It’s okay, baby, it’s okay,” she said, rocking the child.

  “I think Bridey’s bad, Mommy. I think she’s bad, bad!” Sarah had nuzzled into her neck at this point. Gillian held her, rocking her back and forth. In a few moments, Sarah’s breath had evened out. Gillian kept gently rocking the child.

  “Gillian,” whispered Maureen. “She’s asleep!”

  “What’s happening, Mom?”

  “I think she’s just overtired.” The look in Maureen’s eyes showed she was anything but certain of her diagnosis.

  “Hey… hey moppet…” Gillian rubbed Sarah’s back as she cooed.

  Sarah’s head rolled in the crook of Gillian’s neck. She leaned back, blinking her eyes open and smacked her lips. “Hi Mommy,” she said. “Was I having a nap?” She smiled, thank God.

  “Yes, moppet, you dozed off for a bit. Feeling better now?”

  Sarah looked puzzled. “Sure! I feel great! What’s for dinner?”

  Neither woman mentioned Bridey, nor Agnes, nor Alice that evening.

  Chapter 33

  Time flew, and before she knew it, Maureen had shook hands with the lawyer and stepped out of the office to join Gillian and Sarah in the reception area. She felt light, like she was floating on air walking over to them. In her hand was the folder containing the deed and survey of 8 Harvest Street.

  Gillian looked up from the magazine she’d been perusing. “All done?”

  Maureen smiled and nodded her head, not trusting her voice to answer. Her insides were quivering with excitement and she wanted nothing more than to race out of the building and get home as fast as humanly possible. The time spent in Niagara Falls had been fun with Gillian and Sarah. They had spent the days wandering around, seeing the sights and attractions with no timetables to meet.

  When they returned home, they all decided not to do any more fixing up on the place until the deal had closed for once and for all. Now that the house was officially hers, she had plans.

  “C’mon Sarah. Let’s go home.” Gillian tapped her daughter’s knee and rose to her feet.

  Sarah closed her coloring book and poked it and the box of crayons, into her knapsack. She scampered up to her grandmother and took her hand. “Nana? Now that you own the house, can I get a dog instead of a cat? I think I’d rather have a dog.”

  Sarah’s big blue eyes, and hopeful smile tugged at Maureen’s heart. She chuckled and turned to Gillian. “Did you put her up to this?”

  Gillian’s eyes widened. “No!” She glanced down to her daughter. “This is news to me, Mom.”

  Maureen gave a little snort. “Must run in the family then. I had my first dog when I was five, we got you Clifford when you were five, and now here’s moppet keeping up the family tradition.” She turned her gaze down to her granddaughter, but continued addressing Gillian. “You’re okay with it?”

  “It’s your house, Mom,” Gillian said with a crafty smile. “But I think it’s a good idea. Sarah’s old enough, and the company would be good for her.” She gave a little nod to Sarah who was watching the exchange between the two women. “Having a real life companion would be a good thing, don’t you think?”