by Brynn Myers
“Y'all have a good night and I’ll call you in the morning.” I waved. “And Paxton, thank you for these,” I said as I shook the manila envelope.
“It’s no trouble at all. You let me know when you have those papers signed and I’ll stop back by and pick them up.”
“Will do.” I smiled and patted him on the shoulders. “Have fun tonight.”
As the three of them drove down the path, the chill that always seems to be in the air had begun to blow again and I closed the front door and locked it. The winds off the marsh I suppose. I turned and looked up, taking in the grandeur of this place, and reveled in the fact that it was now all mine. I patted the papers as I held them to my chest. Thank you, Corbin.
I stuffed the envelope into my purse and headed upstairs. The kitchen was important but I really needed to decide on the master bedroom so I could have that done before I moved my things here. The double doors were closed but opened with a soft creak. The room still took my breath away; it was perfect. The only thing I wanted to change was the bedding and the curtains.
I carefully pulled back the damask comforter, folding it slowly so as not to disturb the dust. I proceeded to do the same with the sheets and curtains, setting them all on the floor. The room was a blank canvas now instead of a stuffy old room in need of a makeover. As the moonlight shone in from the window, I moved to sit at the vanity table. The top drawer was slightly open and I pulled it out the rest of the way to find a stack of aged letters, a tube of ruby red lipstick, a dried up mascara, and a round disk of translucent powder with that distinctive smell that you’d know with your eyes closed. Looking through the drawer caused a mix of nostalgia and melancholy that had me longing for a rewind into the past. I felt intrusive as I opened the letters, but then again would it still be considered snooping since Rhetta was dead?
The letters were nothing special, just correspondence between her and her father, but in one of the envelopes was a baby blue sheet of stationary with the name Lura scribbled in a woman’s handwriting, “You know what to do, waste no time.” I folded the odd note and placed it back within the envelope, then tossed it into the trash.
One more look around the room and I headed back downstairs to add a bed and new comforter to the list of what I needed to buy/order before I met Mr. Yates here tomorrow morning. As I stepped onto the porch, a dense fog began to roll in slowly from the marshland. I headed straight for my car but as I reached for the door, something wispy and creepy fell against my skin. I jumped and began brushing my hands up and down my arms like I’d run head on into a spider web. God I hate spiders. My skin bristled and I started to panic. No matter how many times I wiped my arms, things continued to prickle my skin. I opened the door so the light could shine on whatever it was falling on me and muttered under my breath, “Stupid Spanish moss.”
I fell into my seat, locked the door, and turned over the ignition. I loved this house but between the rumors and creepy crap that kept happening, it was a bit unnerving. I had to keep telling myself, it was just a house and Rhetta was just a lonely old woman, nothing special about either of them…nothing at all.
c h a p t e r
SIXTEEN
I’d spent the rest of last night ordering new bedding, curtains, and towels for my new room. I decided to splurge on something different and use my current comforter for one of the guest rooms. The estate needed new things to give it a fresh perspective and a renewed vitality. This was a chance for me to forge a new path. This house was the beginning, a chance to live life on my terms and to finally stop worrying about when the bottom was going to fall out. Corbin would be returning on Sunday and by then, I would have made this house a home.
I was in such a fantastic mood this morning that not even the Flannigan sisters’ snide remarks about the house and Corbin were able to push me off track. I’d actually shut them both up with my own brand of snide as I was leaving the café. “I can see how you’d both be bitter; Corbin is a helluva catch, I’m lucky to have snagged him.” They both scowled. “He’s fantastic in bed too,” I said with a wink. “Curl your toes kind of amazing.” I couldn’t help the last part, not my usual style but in this instance, a little “Catitude” went a long way. I knew my best friend would’ve been proud.
Corbin’s crew of contractors had done a lot but there were still things I wanted to change and since this was now my house I wanted to do everything immediately rather than wait. I was pleased to see Mr. Yates waiting on the front porch when I pulled up. He said he was anxious to take a look at the areas I wanted stripped and painted, and that he too had been an admirer of this house and was sorry that he’d missed the auction. I quickly responded with the fact that he really didn’t miss anything other than a spectacle. He chuckled and followed me from room to room, making marks on the walls with a wax pencil and jotting down measurements.
“I think the best thing will be for us to start with a blank slate. We’ll remove all this old paper and refinish the wall with a fresh coat of plaster before painting. I know Richard was here last week doing some work, so I’ll call him and then we can tag team the job and get it done within the next few days,” Mr. Yates said, obviously excited by the challenge.
“That would be wonderful, thank you.” I returned the same level of eagerness. “I have the movers scheduled to deliver everything on Saturday and I’d be happy to help do some of the prep work. I’ve had some experience with historic restoration.”
He looked up. “I remember your father talking about you getting your masters in that, he and your aunts have always been so proud of you.” He nodded. “If you’d like to get started, I’ll have a small dumpster brought out this afternoon and my crew and I’ll be here first thing tomorrow.”
I extended my hand. “That would be great, Mr. Yates.”
The moment he left I ran out to my car to grab the things I’d packed up last night and dumped them all in the foyer, opting to sort through it all later. Right now I was dying to get my hands on the floral striped wallpaper in the hallway and since my afternoon was wide open, I was starting now. I grabbed the box of contractor bags, flipped on the Bose stereo, and ran up the stairs.
The green and ivory stained paper came off in tiny pieces at first, but then began to peel off in larger strips. Five, thirteen, twenty-two. I gave myself a mental high five every time I managed to pull off a huge section. The wall underneath was in fairly good condition and I knew it would make things easier for Mr. Yates and Richard. It appeared as though this wall was newer than some of the others in the house, which was odd but certainly wouldn’t be the first out of place thing I'd come across here.
I scooted over to the next section but as I ran my hands over the surface, I felt something underneath. I peeled more of the paper and discovered a recessed spot with a strange red symbol in the center of a circle. It felt like sandpaper as I ran my fingers over it, the surface scratching and cutting the tips. Dammit. Instinctively, I stuck them in my mouth as they beaded up with little trickles of blood.
The wall moved and an opening emerged. What the hell? I pushed it open further and found a narrow passageway. Dust flew everywhere as the wood creaked and moaned. Spiders scurried away as the light from the hall hit their webs. “Ugh, why do you have to exist? You’re so creepy.”
The door wouldn’t budge any further so I shoved my shoulder into the side of it, still nothing. I looked down and saw the etched groove on the floor which indicated that this was as far as it would go. I shimmied into the space, swiping at the webs and dust as I inched further in. I couldn’t imagine where this was leading but curiosity got the best of me.
The gap went from cramped to spacious about six steps in and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was a secret room with wood beams overhead, high enough that I didn’t need to duck to stand inside, the walls a combination of brick, lath, and plaster. It even had some personal belongings stashed here too, a rocking chair with a blanket draped over the back, a few small trinkets, and a knitting basket like
in the carriage house. There was also a hope chest set along one wall with a journal set on top. Yet another room in this house that had me wondering who the hell Rhetta had really been.
The floor beneath me was unsteady in some spots, so I walked closer to the wall for support just in case it gave way. I reached for the journal and leaned against the exposed lath to see if my suspicions were correct. Was this indeed Rhetta’s or had someone else built this room? As I opened the ragged leather bound book, I saw the same elaborate cursive I’d seen before in the file Paxton gave me. I flipped through the pages, hoping to find the missing half of the torn journal page and there it was…this was indeed Rhetta’s journal. There wasn’t a lot of light in here, only slivers of the sun's rays glinting in from the attic vent above, so instead of diving into the text now, I held the journal tight as I stepped gingerly back towards the open doorway.
A board snapped and I fell into the bricks beside me, causing a few of them to give way and crumble. Maybe I should’ve bought this house for five dollars; it’s going to cost me a fortune to get this damn thing up to code. As I steadied myself I noticed something tucked away into the empty space where one of the bricks had fallen from. It was probably a rat or something dead, but I stupidly stuck my hand in there anyway.
Wrapped in a felt cloth was a gold chain with an oval ruby pendant dangling from the end. It was beautiful and mesmerizing. The clasp on the side indicated a possible secret held within. It was weighty, too, and looked to be at least ten carats, not that I was an expert at jewelry size, but it was huge. I ran my finger over the surface and it sparkled, yet refused to open as I flicked at the locket's catch. Hmmm, maybe I can use this to pay for all the damn remodeling this place is going to require. I tucked the necklace into my pocket and replaced the fallen bricks before I headed back out of the passageway. Maybe Mr. Yates would have some insight on why Rhetta would have this room, because for the life of me, I couldn’t see its purpose and it wasn’t part of the original estate.
The rest of the afternoon flew by but I had the kitchen, hall, and master bedroom all prepped and ready for tomorrow. The house was a shambles again but in the next forty-eight hours, this place would become my palace. I’d texted Corbin the pictures of the now bare walls and he responded with clever comments about how that wouldn’t have been his decorating choice but if it worked for me. I replied, giving him a list of all that would be done by the time he returned.
“As long as you are naked and waiting in that new bed of yours, I’ll be happy,” he responded.
“Guess I won’t need to shop for a new lingerie ensemble then,” I texted back.
“No, you are all I need.”
“Have to go into a meeting.”
“Miss you and see you soon.”
Three rapid fire texts and my phone fell silent but I was swooning like a lovesick school girl. I looked out the window and watched as the sun began to set over the oaks. Time to leave––I wasn’t about to get trapped in another Spanish moss, spider web dance. Besides, Vivian and Heddie were cooking supper and I was starving.
The three of us drank too much wine, ate too much food, and laughed until our sides split. We talked about Rhetta’s secret room and the oddity of it all. Then switched topics to joke about what Daddy might think or say about Corbin. I wasn’t completely convinced that he’d like him, but Vivian was sure of it. Heddie’s opinion was probably the closest to being the real version; he would’ve liked Corbin as a person but would’ve hated him for me. Then again, Daddy hated all but one of my boyfriends and the one he did end up liking was more of a friend than an actual love interest.
Cat had called during the middle of one of our giggle sessions and added her two cents. She'd also informed me that her assignment was extended and that she’d be gone for another two weeks. My laughter halted then, but as she explained, she couldn’t turn down the money and/or the notoriety. She also joked that she refused to turn down the kickass clothes and shoes either. She promised to bring me a pair of the latest Louboutin’s but only if I promised to make one of the rooms in the estate all hers. I agreed and mentally made a note to have Mr. Yates finish that second guest room.
The rest of the week, the house was flooded with workers of all kinds doing a level two renovation on the place. Mr. Yates said it was in serious need of repair beyond just aesthetics and had Corbin given the first round of workers more time, they would’ve found and repaired most of the issues. When I told Mr. Yates about the hidden room I’d found, he was not only perplexed but also had decided to bring a bigger crew just in case there were more things hidden within the walls. Between his crew and Richard’s, I’d lost count of how many people were actually roaming about.
As the week progressed, we’d found gaps in the walls that looked like tunnels and a hidden stairwell that lead down to the kitchen from the attic, but the reason for their existence remained a mystery. None of us could understand why she would’ve needed passageways in the walls, but at this point it was irrelevant. Instead, we agreed it would be best to just enclose the spaces and restore the home to its original state; I certainly had no need for them.
When I told Corbin about the secret room and all the repairs I was having done, he offered to come back sooner to help, but I told him it was unnecessary. Initially he tried to argue, but I finally convinced him things would be perfect in a few days. He relented when I told him I had a huge surprise for him when he returned. His initial comment was a teasing one, but then he asked if I'd found anything of interest, but I refused to answer. I intentionally left out the little tidbit about the necklace. I figured since Rhetta had taken such great care to conceal the ruby pendant, that maybe it was a family heirloom and the treasure he’d hope to find. I’d decided to wrap it up and give it to him as a present upon his return…me and the pendant. I was pleased with my cleverness. It was the only way I could truly thank him for this house and for my new found freedom.
By Saturday morning, the last of the crew had filed out the door and the house was finally complete. It wasn’t restored to circa 1900s, but was now a modernized version of an old civil war estate and it was absolutely stunning. “Ah, a moment of silence.” I no more said the words when someone rang the bell. Damn, I guess I jinxed myself.
“Ms. Graham?” The gentlemen in the royal blue shirt asked. “We’re here to deliver your furniture.”
I inwardly did a touchdown dance. Everything was working like a well-oiled machine today, a few more hours and I’d be done. The mattress and box spring had come earlier and were both propped up against the bookshelves in the study and now I could get the rest of the house together. By tonight, it would be exactly how I’d envisioned.
“Thank you, please come in.”
“Your…” He referred to his clipboard. “Your aunts made sure each room and all the boxes were loaded with extreme care.”
I chuckled at the worn out look on his face. “Yes, they are a meticulous twosome, aren’t they?”
“Yes ma’am, they are.” He returned a rueful smile. “Where would you like us to start?”
“Doesn’t matter to me, whatever works best for you.”
He pursed his lips as if he had to reconcile my casualness to my aunts' staunch demeanor. “We’ll make sure to still take great care. Your aunt Heddie said our lives depended on it.”
I laughed out loud. “Let me show you where I’d like the big stuff and what rooms are what.” He nodded and followed me, taking notes as he listened. “There are water bottles in the fridge for you and your crew, please feel free to help yourself and if you need me for anything, just holler. The house echoes a bit so I’ll hear you.”
We went our separate ways and once again, the house was filled with men carrying stuff in and out. I’d made arrangements for them to load the unwanted antiques into their truck and have them delivered to a storage unit on the south side of town. I’d worry about getting them to their new owners later. Today was all about me.
Nightfall settled in and
I was alone…finally. Lulu meowed several Siamese “hellos” and I opened her cage so she could get acquainted with her new home––our new home. She stretched and then rubbed up against me before taking off up the stairs, no longer concerned with what I needed. I walked into the kitchen, poured a glass of wine and silently toasted the house, Rhetta, and Corbin before heading upstairs myself. I needed a shower and then that new comfy cozy bed and I had a date…I was exhausted.
c h a p t e r
SEVENTEEN
I woke to the sound of glass crashing and my heart began to thrash in my ears. I slipped out from under the covers and clicked on the lamp. Lulu was perched on the vanity staring towards the window with her tail bushed and her ears back.
“Lulu, what’s wrong?” She responded with a hiss and low growl. “Sweet girl, what is it?” She continued to howl as she jumped down onto the seat and ran under the bed. I saw one of the empty perfume decanters on the floor and looked back over my shoulder to check on her. “It’s nothing, you just knocked this over. You’re freaking me out, settle down,” I pleaded.
As I picked up the fragmented pieces of bottle, a chill came over me. The same eeriness I’d felt by my car the other night. I’d never been one to believe in the afterlife, not even after Cat told me about an earthbound spirit she’d helped find her way into the next life. But as I dumped the broken glass into the trash, I wondered if that was possible. I had no connection to the spirit world but could this be Rhetta trying to communicate? Did she have things she needed to say or do before she left this world for good? Had I pissed her off somehow with all these renovations?
My voice quivered, “Rhetta?”
Silence.
“Rhetta if you have something to say, say it, because right now, I’m just some crazy chick talking to an empty room in the middle of the night.”
