Henry forced a smile. She could see the disappointment in his eyes, but there was nothing she could do to help the poor man.
****
After brunch, Jake tried everything to keep Amy’s visit from coming to an end.
“I’d like to show you guys the pictures from the party. Is there any chance you could hang out here for a while longer?”
Jonathon spoke up. “I think we need to get Amy back to the bookstore and then we need to be getting back on the road before dark, if that’s possible. I have an early meeting tomorrow, but thank you for brunch just the same. Those Amish women can certainly cook.”
Jake raised an eyebrow at Amy. “How about you, Amy? I could take you back home later, or I could have Hollis drive you.”
Amy looked at him with a crooked smile. “I’d love to see the pictures, but I need to get back too. Besides, I have to see my friends off.”
Jake extended a hand to Jonathon. “It was very nice meeting you.”
Jonathon shook his hand and nodded.
Suddenly, Natalie came squealing around the corner and threw her arms around Amy. “I know you were not going to leave without hugging me.”
Amy hugged her back.
Natalie smiled and winked at her. “I’ll see you next Sunday for brunch—if not before then.”
Before Amy could say a word Natalie ducked back into the room she came from.
****
All the way back to the bookstore, Amy and Jake sent one text after another. She put her phone on silent and asked Emma to turn up the stereo so neither of them would hear her texting. She felt a little guilty, but it was tough when her giddiness overpowered the guilt.
****
Jonathon kissed her quickly on the mouth. It was so fast and so unexpected Amy didn’t even have time to react.
“I know things have been strained between us this weekend, but I blame myself for not coming to visit you sooner. I’d like to come visit you next weekend if that’s okay with you.”
Amy smiled and gave him a hug that lingered just a bit too long. “Of course you can come back next weekend. I’d really like that.”
She wasn’t lying to him. She knew that would give her time to sort things out, and prepare for the talk they needed to have. She hugged them both again.
Emma looked at her sternly. “I’ll be back in two weeks with all my things and my own car. Behave yourself until I get back.”
Amy knew what she meant, and she hoped Jonathon hadn’t caught it.
After a lengthy good-bye, Amy went directly to her room, intending to fall onto her bed from sheer exhaustion, but her grandmother’s dress taunted her, making her feel guilty she hadn’t returned it to the steamer trunk in the attic. But not guilty enough to leave it sitting there until the morning.
****
Amy’s sleep was restless. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop the dreams that plagued her. At first, she tried to ignore them, but the more she tossed about, the more intense they became. She dreamt that her grandmother’s dress came to life and went after Jake with the intention to harm him. The dreams frightened her, but she couldn’t shake them or the fear that rattled her to her very core.
Amy rolled over with a deep groan, searching her dark room for her grandmother’s dress that no longer seemed to be there. She sat up in her bed quickly and turned on the lamp. The clock on her bedside table read 3:27. Had she taken the dress to the attic before she went to sleep? She was certain she hadn’t. Was it possible she’d walked in her sleep? She certainly hoped not, but couldn’t be sure either way. Her heart beat fast at the thought of it, but it was better than believing the dress was haunted and made its way to the attic on its own.
“There’s only one way to find out the truth,” she said aloud.
Amy shivered when her feet touched the cold, wood floor, but she couldn’t be sure she wasn’t shivering partly from fear from the nervousness of not knowing where the dress was or how it came to leave her room.
Amy tip-toed up the attic stairs, unsure of what she might find when she reached the trunk. Before her foot touched the top step, she could see the wedding dress spilling out of the trunk. Her heart beat hard against her chest while she scrambled to recall how it had gotten there. The last thing she remembered was getting into bed at seven o’clock after seeing the dress on the chair in her room. Had her guilt caused her to replace it in the trunk while she was too sleepy to remember? She’d never sleep-walked in her life, and she was sure she hadn’t suddenly started. It was absurd to even think such a thing. But she had to admit; she preferred that explanation over the possibility the dress made its way up to the attic on its own.
Amy turned on the lights, and walked mindfully over to the trunk; her heart doing summersaults in her chest. She stood beside the trunk for several minutes, taking in air like there wasn’t enough in the room. She didn’t take her eyes off the dress, and her ears strained in the silence; aware of every little noise in the building. By now, she’d learned the sounds of the bookstore and the apartment, but the attic sounds were new and somewhat frightening.
Amy reached out a shaky hand, intending to touch the dress, but couldn’t quite force herself. It was silly, she knew. After all, it was just a dress. A dress that she’d worn happily as she danced the night away with Jake. He’d kissed her in that dress, and kissed her like he meant it. He’d whispered that he loved her, and asked her to marry him. So why was she now feeling so uneasy as she stood beside it? Was it the late hour? No. It was fear that made her wonder what possessed the dress.
If I fold it and put it back the way I found it then maybe everything will be alright.
Amy clenched the material of the dress in her fist. She was a logical person, after all, and was not about to let a dress get the better of her. She slowly lifted it from the trunk and began to fold it until something at the bottom of the steamer trunk caught her eye. She let the dress fall from her grasp as she knelt down beside the trunk and looked inside. At the bottom, the mysterious, leather-bound book lay open to a page with faint writing. She lifted it up toward the light and began to read:
Beware descendants of Ellen Louise Jacobson:
Whosoever appears in this book is subject to the curse of the widowed bride. The one who marries her one true love shall cause him to perish after the consummation. Let this curse be a warning for all generations to come. Only a selfless act can spare the fate each female descendant will suffer.
Alison Lucile Marrietta
Amy’s heart caught in her throat when she realized the book was written to her great grandmother. She let her eyes drift over to the next page and began reading again…
Robert Allan Williams; Ellen Louise Jacobson
Henry Stewart Bennington; Annabelle Louise Gerard
Henry and Annabelle…how are their names in this book? Is Henry’s Annabelle related to me somehow?
Her gaze fell to the next names on the list. Her real father and her mother.
Benjamin Maxwell Lucas; Sandra Louise Mayfield
Was this some kind of joke or gag-gift that someone had given to her great grandmother? But why had someone written her parent’s names in such a book?
Before she could think another thought, her eyes fixed upon the faintly hand-written names at the bottom of the page…
Jakob Stewart Bennington; Amy Louise Lucas
Amy dropped the book on the floor, releasing a cloud of dust that billowed up in front of her. Her heart beat like it was going to push through her ribcage. Shallow breaths accompanied the dizziness she struggled to control. Why was her name written in the book beside Jake’s?
She carefully leaned over the book and studied the pages trying to find some sense to it. Upon closer examination, she realized that the names where all written with and old fountain ink pen, and bore the same slanted handwriting. It was frightening to think that someone could have been in the attic recently to have written her name. Since her grandmother was traveling, there was no tellin
g who it could have been. Did someone else have a key to the store? And she had only just met Jake. How did his name get there? How did her name get there? Her mind could not grasp the meaning, much less the when and how her name and Jake’s could be involved. She had to talk to Grandma Annie, and soon, but it was the middle of the night, and she would reluctantly have to wait until morning.
Amy struggled with her thoughts, wondering if she should take the book downstairs to the apartment, or leave it in the attic. Fleeting thoughts of burning the book alarmed her logical side, but nothing about this book seemed to make any sense. She worried about Jake’s safety, and wondered if he would get upset if she called him. She decided against it, realizing there was no reason to alert him to the contents of the book until she could get some answers. Hopefully, her grandmother would be the one to supply those answers.
Too tired to make any decisions, she left the book and the dress where they were and hurried down the attic steps. Pushing the door closed, she turned the lock with the skeleton key that always remained in the lock. This time, though, she removed the key and put it on the gold chain around her neck. If someone had tampered with the book, she was determined to make it as difficult as possible for them to do it again.
****
Amy punched the snooze button for the third time, then, rolled over in her bed, pulling a pillow over her head. It was Monday, so she knew Cindy would be at the store in about fifteen minutes, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t planning on going in this morning; her only focus was on getting in touch with her grandmother—even if she wasn’t quite prepared to hear the explanation. She hoped it was a hoax, but suddenly she had another thought that worried her. What if Emma had written in the book while she was here? After all, she was the only other person that knew it was there. But how would she know the formal names of her family? Of course, Amy had told Emma about Henry and Annabelle, so maybe that would explain why their names were in there.
Amy sat up suddenly, grabbing her cell phone and dialing Emma. After three rings she answered.
“Did you write in that weird book in the attic?”
“Good morning to you too, Amy.”
Amy was growing impatient. “Don’t mess with me, Emma. Did you write in that book we found in the steamer trunk on Saturday?”
“What are you talking about, Amy?”
“The strange book at the bottom of the steamer trunk where I got my family’s wedding dress. Did you touch that book or write anything in it?”
“When would I have had time to do that?”
“Maybe when I was still at Jake’s party, or while I was asleep in the morning. Please tell me this is a joke you played on me!”
There was a pause. “Amy, I didn’t touch the book. Why are you asking me about it anyway?”
“Em, please. If you wrote in it, I promise I won’t be mad. I just need to know the truth.”
“Amy, I swear to you. I didn’t touch the book. What’s this all about?”
Amy could barely speak over the lump that formed in her throat, making it difficult to breathe. She tried as best she could to tell her the whole story, careful not to leave out a single detail.
Emma listened intently until she couldn’t hold it in anymore. “This is a joke, right?”
Amy answered quietly. “I hope it is. I’m going to call my grandma and ask her if she knows anything about it. If she doesn’t, then I don’t know what to think.”
“There’s only one thing I don’t understand, Amy. Why would Jake’s name be in that book with yours? Didn’t it say something about true love? Oh-my-gosh, Amy, do you like Jake?”
Amy was quiet.
“Answer me, Amy.”
“I don’t know, Em.”
“What do you mean?” Emma was practically shouting.
“I don’t know.”
She couldn’t say anymore than that. Even though Emma was her best friend, she just couldn’t bring herself to saying the words out loud to her—even if they were true.
CHAPTER SIX
“I’m on my way home. And don’t say a word about any of this to your mother.”
That was all Amy’s grandmother had said. Why couldn’t she have answered her questions over the phone? Now Amy would have to wait until tomorrow for her grandmother to drive back to Indiana before she would know the truth. How was she going to get through lunch with Jake today and tomorrow with this hanging over her like a rain cloud?
****
Jake entered the bookstore unaware of Amy’s apprehension of their having lunch together. She couldn’t help but smile as he sauntered in the door looking like a model on a runway. His crisply pressed suit and his strikingly handsome features took Amy’s breath away every time she laid eyes on him. But all she could think about now was whether her grandma had a good explanation as to why Jake’s name was written beside hers in a book that contained a curse she’d never been told about.
Jake approached her and placed a gentle kiss upon her lips, sending a shiver to her very core. “Isn’t it a beautiful November morning?”
Amy nodded and hooked her arm in his so they could walk across the street to the diner to have lunch. Cindy gave her a “thumbs-up” when she looked back before exiting the store, and she was glad Jake hadn’t noticed. She was nervous enough without worrying over such trivial things as the approval from her employee.
Jake sat across from her in “their” booth, while the waitress handed them menus.
“You’re being awfully quiet. Did you have a rough talk with Jonathon?”
She’d forgotten that she promised to tell Jonathon about her engagement to Jake, and wasn’t prepared to tell him she hadn’t talked to him yet.
“No. My grandmother is on her way home and I’m just anxious to see her.”
It wasn’t a lie, but she couldn’t answer his question. But how could she avoid it until the weekend? She would have to tell him Jonathon planned to visit.
“I can’t wait to meet her, but I’m afraid I have to leave tomorrow morning for Chicago on business, and won’t be back until Sunday night.”
What luck! Maybe Amy wouldn’t have to tell him after all. She could spend the week with her grandmother, then, take her time over the weekend to talk things over with Jonathon and set everything straight. Then, when Jake returned, they could begin their relationship with nothing to stand in their way.
Jake touched her hand, drawing her from her thoughts. “You’re being quiet again. Are you sure everything is okay?”
She smiled as she looked into his handsome face. “Everything is as it should be.”
Jake brought her hand to his lips and placed a kiss on the back. “I’m glad to hear that. Now; I’d like to take you for dinner tonight. Where would you like to go?”
She thought about it for a minute. “Italian sounds good. There’s a nice little bistro around the corner I’ve been wanting to try.”
“Then I’ll pick you up at 5:30 after I leave the office.”
That would give her time to change into a nice dress since Jake would still be wearing his suit. Maybe a nice blue dress to bring out the blue in his eyes. She’d seen another of her grandmother’s dresses in the attic that would compliment his look perfectly.
****
Jake opened the car door to his Mercedes and helped Amy into the passenger seat. She thought he must have just sprayed cologne because he smelled better than he did at lunch. When he slid in behind the wheel, Amy couldn’t help herself. She reached over and grabbed onto his tie and pulled him toward her. Their lips met with warmth and a hint of cinnamon from Jake’s lips. The gear-shift pressed into her hip, but she didn’t care; she was too busy tasting the sweetness of Jake’s mouth as his tongue swept across hers.
Jake stopped to take a breath. “I could kiss you all night, but I’m actually pretty hungry. Can we go eat?”
Amy giggled. “I’m starving, but I couldn’t help myself. I just had to kiss you.”
Jake smiled as he turned on the engine and
pulled away from the curb. Even though they were going two blocks, Amy turned the up the heat. It was getting very cold, and the slight drizzle of rain didn’t help.
Amy pulled her long coat close to her as they walked from the parking lot to the restaurant. The wind had picked up, and the drizzle stung her cheeks like little ice pellets. They stepped inside the cozy, dimly lit bistro, and warmth immediately welcomed them. After the hostess led them to a table in a quiet corner, Jake assisted her with her coat and pulled out her chair for her.
Such chivalry.
Jake took her hands in his to warm them. “Do you want to order a glass of wine?”
Amy perused the wine list, and they agreed on a brand before the waitress appeared to take their order. While they ate, the rain turned to heavy, icy sleet, and Amy worried that if it didn’t let up soon, Jake would have a treacherous drive back home. They lingered over tiramisu, hoping the sleet would let up but it didn’t.
Jake walked carefully to the car, leaving Amy to wait at the door while he pulled the car around for her. She was grateful because she worried she would slip in the high heeled shoes she’d worn.
A Secret in the Attic (Mystery/Suspense/Romance) Page 7
