by Sharon Hays
The day before this visit, Hanna Michelle had overheard a conversation between two nurses outside her room. They were talking about the Valencia Manor. Hanna stood inside her room, next to the door, listening to the conversation. They spoke about Maryanne O’Donnell being given the title to the property. Hanna heard them speak about finding her there, prior to being sent to this institution. They said the new owner of the Valencia Manor was going to renovate the property and put it up for sale when it was ready. Hanna was more informed on the current status of events prior to Maryanne’s visit than Maryanne was aware.
Hanna came into the room where she was waiting at a table. Hanna looked so incredible. It astounded Maryanne. As she approached the table, Maryanne stood up and opened her arms. Hanna wrapped her arms around her like a long-lost friend.
“How are you doing, Hanna?” Maryanne asked.
Hanna stepped back away from her and looked at her with a disparaging expression. She came forward again and embraced her, quietly whispering in Maryanne’s ear.
“Hello Mother…I will be seeing you very soon.” She stepped back away from Maryanne and stood for a moment, looking at Maryanne with a cold, emotionless stare. She walked back to the exit door and the guard opened it. She looked back at Maryanne with an icy, blank gaze.
It was disturbing to see Hanna change so quickly from only a few weeks ago when she last visited. Maryanne wondered why Hanna had addressed her as Mother. That was out of left field and did not make any sense. She sat, staring at the doorway where Hanna had just left. She would speak to Hanna’s doctor about the sudden change, and her reversal of attitude.
Maryanne met Mario in the waiting room and they left the hospital. She was quiet on the way home. Her thoughts about the visit were unsettling. A sudden change had taken place in Hanna’s personality which was quite different from her last visit. She explained it to Mario, but he advised her not to be concerned about it, that Hanna was still in recovery and had only started talking recently.
The memory of the visit stayed with Maryanne for several weeks. She continued to check on Hanna, but felt very uneasy about the recent change. When she spoke to the doctor, he told her he hadn’t noticed any change at all in her outlook; that she seemed quite happy and content. He said she was learning and remembering extremely fast. He was sure she had received some formal education, but had repressed it until recently. He said she did not talk about a mother, but she seemed to talk about a father whom she was very afraid of. When they mentioned him, she would become agitated. He did feel she would soon be ready for placement in a rehabilitation home outside the institution, maybe in three or four months, if she continued to improve as she had been. Maryanne was happy to hear of her improvement, but still felt uncomfortable about the unsettling visit. She planned to make another visit soon and would continue to see her as long as Hanna felt the need. Maryanne did not want to put any pressure on her, but let Hanna make the decision herself. When it came time to visit she would call the Doctor and find out if Hanna was receptive to her coming.
The detectives had not come up with any concrete evidence of who broke into Maryanne’s house and made the mess and disturbed the clothing. They had some small leads but would still keep the investigation going, until they solved the very strange intrusion. They had thought it was a possible teen age prank. Maryanne did not feel comfortable with that conclusion. The Sheriff had recently informed Maryanne that some of the items were recovered from the Manor that had been in her purse when she was abducted. One item in particular was the poetry book by William Cullen Bryant, which made her extremely happy. Her credit cards and miscellaneous items, along with her cell-phone were part of the items returned to her, as well. It was explained to her that Hanna Michele Smith, her abductor, had given them the information where to find the items.
Maryanne was making plans to secure a substantial bank loan for renovation of the Valencia Manor. The project would take about a year to complete. She realized that if her parents had not left her a small trust, she would have been financially bankrupt by now. She was seriously considering Joan’s offer to work at her real estate office until the renovation was completed. Since she began her quest at Valencia Manor, Maryanne had not contracted any clients for antiquities. The trust, which had been set up when she was very young, by her Mother, was running low. When the loan was secured and the renovation complete, she would list it on the real estate market. When, and if the Valencia sold, her plan was to use profits of the sale to set up a financial trust for Hanna Michelle Smith, as well as a nest egg for herself.
Maryanne and Mario remained inseparable. They planned to be married within the year.
To be continued…
Coming soon… A sequel of Mysteerie Manor, where more unexplained phenomenon, mystery and supernatural terror take over what Maryanne thought to be cleansed of its evil. Some of the questions about the mysterious Manor are answered, but new and frightening scenarios will come into play at the Valencia Manor, as the story continues. Unimaginable surprises, that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat. A nail biting, spine chilling, supernatural treat, for those of you who love to be…afraid…
