What Happened to Anna?

by Jennifer Robins

“Pour me a cup of coffee. I can smell it through the thermos.” Carl reached for the dial on the radio. “You gonna have some?” he asked.

  “You bet. I love this new brew we bought last time we went shopping. It’s the best I’ve tasted in a long time.” She poured two cups of the pleasant-smelling beverage and handed one to him. “Did you bring enough for the weekend?”

  “I have a whole can of it packed in the cooler. Don’t forget to turn the temp down in the fridge for the perishables when we get there.” He turned the dial on the radio to a music station. “We always forget about it until we’re there awhile.”

  Sunshine brought warmth to the cool October day, but not for long as the huge red ball in the sky descended in the west—an orange glow extending above the horizon. The van was on the road to the park in the Catskill Mountains. Their small cottage awaited them.

  The next exit, the one they would take, was only a few yards ahead. Carl slipped over to the right lane and flipped the lever for his turn signal. From the back seat, Tabitha let out a little meowing sound as though she knew they were getting close. She peered out from the barred door of her carrying cage to look at Beth, who turned around when she heard her.

  “Yeah, baby, we’re almost there.”

  Tabitha replied with another “Meow,” then the sound of her purring could be heard over the music on the radio.

  “She’s happy as long as she can see us,” Carl murmured

  Beth smiled. “She loves coming up here. Did you bring along her litter box and litter? We can’t let her out in the woods; she’d get lost.”

  “Yes, of course I did. It’s in the back with everything else,” he told her. “I wouldn’t forget it.”

  From the looks of things, it seemed like the whole state of New York had decided to drive on this particular weekend. Traffic had been heavy but thinned out a bit as they approached the entrance to the park. “I wonder how many fish I’ll catch with all these people here.” He made the turn to his left on to the road leading back to the open area of land with vacant lots still for sale.

  “They’re not all here just for our area. Most of the traffic is going toward the big year-round housing. You’ll be all right,” Beth told him. “Maybe this time you can catch something.”

  The park association offered small lots to those who wanted to build a condensed version of the larger houses with higher price tags, cottages decked out with furniture, appliances, and a carport on a gravel driveway. This was something many like Carl and Beth could afford. Not too far from the city, close enough to stores and gas stations. The park was an ideal place for camping, a real time-out from the hustle and bustle of the busy city.

  They pulled into the drive of their little getaway home just as the sun disappeared from the sky, leaving only a trace of pink and orange streaks along the western edge of the mountains. Twinkling stars above the colorful display danced across the black back drop of night.

  Carl stepped out of the car onto the gravel driveway and looked around. “They still have several empty lots around here.” He grabbed his jacket off the backseat and swung it over his shoulder. “I don’t think they’ll be building any more until spring.”

  “I like the privacy. It would be great if it stayed this way.” Beth told him. “If we have another bad winter like last year, though, I know we won’t be coming up here in the snow.”

  The cool of the early evening wrapped around them as they went to the door and unlocked it. “I’ll get the carrier and bring Tabitha in,” Beth shouted as Carl came around the other side of the car.

  She went right in, reached for the light switch on the wall then went to the living room where she set the carrier on the floor.

  “Let’s build a fire tonight. They say the temperatures are going to drop into the low fifties. To me that’s cold.” Beth shivered to show him her concern. “Nothing like a nice dancing fire in our wonderful stone fireplace to warm not only the body, but the heart, as well. I love it.”

  “All right, we’ll have a fire. I stacked up all the wood last time we were here on the side of the cottage over by the oil tank. We have plenty.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Come on; let’s get unpacked.” Carl went out the door with a joyful step to his stride.

  Beth battled the full blast of the cold wind blowing across the yard, sweeping the colorful leaves up from the ground and into flight across the landscape of the park. Fall was her favorite time of the year, mostly because of the gorgeous colors it offered. She shivered but smiled with delight.

  “It’s not that cold yet. What’ll you do when winter comes?” He lifted the suitcase from the back seat. “What the heck do you have in this? It’s so heavy.”

  Beth followed him in the front door, carrying a plastic bag that held the blankets. The lamp on the end table next to the sofa flooded the room with a friendly glow.

  Carl took the cat carrier to the kitchen and set it on the table so Tabitha could see them. “You stay in there until we get everything in from the car. Don’t need you wandering out the door and getting lost.” He hurried back out to retrieve what was left in the van.

  Beth stood in the kitchen, taking the blankets out of the box when he returned. “You never did tell me what mom said about your dad. Did he see the doctor?” he asked as he poured the last of the coffee from the thermos.

  “Yes. He went to the doctor, and they wanna run tests. He’s going in for them Monday. Mom says he’s not happy about it, but she convinced him to do it. You know how my dad is.”

  She opened the refrigerator door and turned the dial on the side to a lower number. “Put the bottle of wine in to chill for tonight,” she said as she watched him take Tabitha out of her carrier.

  Unpacking the cooler kept her busy putting things away. “I see you packed enough food. Let’s see… Bacon, eggs, hot dogs, two steaks for grilling…and what’s in this white box?”

  “Potato salad.”

  “So you went to the deli?” Carl opened the container, dipped a finger and gave it a taste.

  “Yes, I know how much you like their stuff. I also bought some of the fried chicken from the Chicken Works. It’s in the bag on the counter. I thought we could have that tonight.”

  “I love their chicken, and I’m hungry,” Beth said as she took the bag to the table. “Mmm, smells good.” She opened it and grabbed a chicken wing to munch on.

  He walked over to the cooler, took the cans of cat food out and set them on the counter. “Being a Friday, I thought for sure there’d be more like us wanting to take advantage of probably the last weekend here before the snow flies. Even though there are only a few others who have built here so far, some still come in with their trailers and tents. I guess we’re alone this time.” He looked out the window over the sink. “It sure looks that way.”

  “That’s all right with me. I like the privacy…love the quiet. I want to relax and do nothing this whole weekend but dig into the new romance novel I bought,” she told him as she raised her hands over her head to stretch.

  With the sun gone, she made sure the lights were on in the kitchen and in the living room where Carl knelt by the fireplace, ready to start building the fire.

  “I’m glad we have enough wood in here to get started.” Beside the hearth lay four logs along with a few small kindling. “I can get things going without hauling in more wood right now.”

  “You left those pieces of wood in here when we were here the last time, remember?”

  “Yeah. I’m glad I did.” He set the kindling in the fireplace, then three larger logs on top of them. “This should take off without any trouble. The wood is dry and ready to burn.”

  Once the fire gleefully danced and crackled, Beth took to the kitchen to get the chicken ready for dinner while Carl opened the bottle of wine.

  The howl of the wind outside brought with it a sense of the wilderness that had once existed in the Catskill Mountains so very long ago. She looked out the window to watch the few colorful leaves sailing down to the waiti
ng earth below. The brisk air, the falling leaves—all signs of fall and the first cold week of October. To her, the winding down of a busy summer, the peaceful feeling of rest and the approaching holidays that she loved so much, was truly the best time of the year.

  The darkness of the evening closed in on the deep forest of trees lining the base of the stately mountains. Sounds of the awakening night life filtered in through the partially open window in the living room. Carl had opened it to air the place out and forgot about it.

  “Better close the window. I can feel the cool air coming in,” she said. “You have a nice fire going, so let’s not spoil it with the cold of the night out there.”

  “All right. I think I’ll get more wood from out back before we go to bed.” He took a sweater down from the hook by the kitchen door. “Did you get enough to eat? There’s still another piece of chicken out here. If you want it, go ahead; otherwise, put it in the fridge.”

  “I had plenty. Just put it away while you’re there.” She turned to face him from her position on the sofa not far from the entrance to the kitchen and held her glass to her mouth to drink the wine. It felt so good to just sit back with nothing to do or to worry about. She’d had a very busy week at work. Never having a minute of peace to herself gave her no time for anything other than work. Both of them enjoyed what little time they spent together, since they had such demanding jobs, so she sat back with every intention to relax for the few days they would stay at the cottage.

  He returned with an arm full of logs and set them down by the hearth. “I bet we see a frost by morning. It’s cold out there.” After putting another log on the fire, he returned to the sofa and picked up his glass of wine. “Come here,” he said as he playfully put his arm around her.

  “It seems strange out here by ourselves, doesn’t it?” she commented.

  “I guess, but it’s kind of nice. Last time we were here, there was so much noise we had to shut the place up and turn on the air so we could hear the television.”

  “That group from New Jersey partied until three in the morning.” She took another drink of wine and stared into the flames leaping up and down in a rhythmic beat.

  Suddenly the lights went out, leaving only the glow from the fire. Carl stood up. “Great, I hope this isn’t one of those long blackouts. I’ll go get the candles from the kitchen. Stay here and don’t move. I don’t want to run into you when I come back.”

  “There’s a candle right on the mantel. Light that one to take with you.”

  “I thought it was one of your fragrant candles you saved for the holidays.”

  “Just use it; I can get another one.”

  He made his way to the kitchen, holding the lit candle. As he passed by the window over the sink, he tried to peer outside, but the darkened night made it impossible to see anything. This part of the park had no outside lighting yet, so unless there was a bright moon and no clouds, it became very dark.

  Curled up on the end of the sofa, Beth gazed into the fire, waiting for his return. As he came into the room, he handed her several long candles and candle holders along with a book of matches.

  “Take some of these and light them in here.” He gave her two candles. “I already lit one in the kitchen. I’m going to put one in the bathroom, maybe one in the bedroom.” Carl left the room.

  She set both candles on the table by the window at the side wall of the room. After lighting both of them, she returned to the sofa and brought one of her legs up underneath her as she settled down to get comfortable. The warmth from the fire felt good as she sat back, cuddled up to a sofa pillow. It would have been nice to watch her nightly show on TV, but that was now out of the question. She didn’t even have enough light to enjoy the novel she’d brought with her. Maybe we should have stayed home at the apartment, ordered in a pepperoni pizza, watched a little TV, she thought. Oh, well, we’re here now.

  Carl came back and went right to the fireplace to put another log in. “I hope this won’t last too long and they get the power back on. I wonder what happened. There’s no storm. Everything seems okay. There shouldn’t be a power failure.” He set the log in the fireplace then stepped back. “Could be just this section of the park, but I couldn’t see anything from the kitchen window. The furnace won’t come on without the thermostat working, but we have the fireplace.”

  “Come sit with me; it’s kind of romantic this way.” She motioned with her hand for him to join her. “Have more wine. Get cozy here by the fire. It feels good.”

  “If the power stays off for a time, I wonder if the heat from the fire will warm the bedroom?”

  “The bedroom’s just a few feet away from here. With the door open and the blankets we brought, it’ll be okay.” She placed her leg up over his lap and giggled. “You like to go camping, so here we are—only in a cottage instead of a tent. I wouldn’t even be here if it was a tent.”

  Carl wrapped his hand around her ankle and let his fingers slide up toward her thigh. Not only had the fire in the fireplace had a spark to it. His passion had ignited the minute she put her leg on his lap. The bear rug in front of the hearth looked inviting. He put his arms around her while he nibbled at her neck, letting his mouth make its way up to her lips.

  Draining the last drop of wine from her glass, she set it on the table beside the sofa. He still held her as they slid down to the soft round rug on the floor. He watched the fire dance in her hazel eyes and light up the highlights of her hair. Her heartbeat hastened as the romance of the evening grabbed her. She felt the warmth of the fire, the soft touch of her husband’s hands, and she was ready.

  He pulled her sweater up over her head. They both struggled to remove their clothes while he continued to kiss her passionately. After four years of marriage, the romance was still exciting, passionate. The ripples of his muscular chest, his strong arms, sent tingles exploding through her like the Fourth of July.

  For one brief moment, she held her fingers to his lips and looked away from him with a strange look on her face. “It sounds like drums. Can you hear that?”

  “It’s my heart you hear.” His mouth came down on hers. He smothered her with kisses, wrapped his arms around her. The flickering light of the fire danced over them and circled the room.

  The dark of the night closed in while black clouds above covered the stars like a large blanket. Echoing sounds from the night penetrated the walls. Crickets, locusts, and frogs in perfect harmony joined the concert of the cool evening.

  They rose, and Carl carried her to the bedroom, set her on the bed, then joined her for a night’s rest. Sleep came easily as the two tired campers lay comfortably in each other’s arms with the thick blankets over them and Tabitha at their feet.

  Astraea Press

  Pure. Fiction.

  www.astraeapress.com