by Paula Mowery
I looked again into Chase’s eyes. As his mouthed curled up into a pleasant smile, little crinkles appeared at the corner of his lids. I could certainly get lost in those baby blues if I allowed myself. But, that would never happen. He was just being kind because of the situation. “I guess we go back to the house and search some more.” I shrugged.
We rode in silence. This was indeed hard. With all of the scurrying around, my grieving had been put on hold. Yet my heart seemed hollow and my chest ached.
Upon entering the house, I turned to Chase.
“Where do we start?” Chase asked.
“We can continue in the study, which is where I found some important papers. I keep thinking maybe there is a safe or a metal box somewhere that might contain the manuscript.”
Chase placed his hands on my shoulders and looked into my eyes. His touch sent tingles down my back. “It’s enough for today. Go take a bubble bath or something. Go to bed early and try to rest. I’ll see you in the morning. Okay?”
I nodded wearily. I was relieved. I truly wondered how I would find the motivation to start searching the house in my present state. Actually a bath and a good cry would be welcome.
CHAPTER SIX
Sheer exhaustion must have been the reason I slept through the night and awakened more refreshed than I thought possible. When Chase arrived I steered him toward the kitchen where I had hot biscuits ready with Granny’s apple butter on the side.
“Ooo, something smells good.” His eyes danced.
“That’s the biscuits, but it’s the apple butter that will keep you coming back.”
He wiggled his eyebrows.
My stomach fluttered. “Just eat your biscuit.”
“Mmm, you’re right.” He lifted the jar turning it around, searching. “What kind is this?”
“Granny’s homemade.” I grinned.
“You’re kidding me. What all did that woman do?”
“You’d be surprised.”
We savored in silence.
“I thought we might start in the bedroom closet. I haven’t looked there at all yet.”
“Okay. Lead on.” He bowed slightly and swept his arm forward.
We discovered several shoe boxes with lids in the top of Granny’s closet. Chase handed me the boxes one by one, and I placed them on the bed. Then I hopped up in the middle of them all and opened the first one. It was full of envelopes. I pulled one out and removed the letter inside.
Dear Mother,
Please pray for me as I brave this new experience. Robert made it quite clear that his only involvement with the baby would be to help me get rid of it. The thought made me sick to my stomach. I told him I never wanted to lay eyes on anyone that could even think of doing anything to harm a precious child. He obliged. I am sorry for any embarrassment or shame this might bring upon you. Thank you for not turning me away when I visited to tell you of the pregnancy. I will try to visit soon. Pray for a healthy baby. Pray for me to be a good mother.
I love you,
Michelle
I hugged the letter to my chest.
“What is it? Your face is pale.” Chase sat on the side of the bed, looking at me intently. “Do you feel all right?” He rubbed my arm.
I handed the page to him. “This letter is from my mother to my Granny. It’s about me.”
“Are you sure you want me to read it?’
I nodded and dug into the box for another letter.
Dear Mother,
Alexandra is growing so fast. I can’t wait to bring her again to visit. You will not believe how alert she is. I’m so happy she looks like you and me. I’m not sure she will be happy with that fact. When she coos, my heart sings. I cannot describe it, yet you are a mother, I suppose you understand. Trying to work and go to nursing school with a baby is grueling, but I know I would have it no other way. I received some more scholarship money today. I wanted to tell you so you wouldn’t worry. God has taken care of me through this scholarship. My babysitter is a wonderful woman from the church. She adores Alex. I do long for the time when I can be with her more, to have school behind me. Patience is not something I have a lot of. Continue to pray that I will be a good mother just as you were and always are to me.
With much love,
Michelle and Alex
“I had no idea what a struggle it was for her when I was a baby. By the time I was old enough to know, she made it look so simple.” I shrugged.
“I didn’t know.” Chase’s voice was low and full of emotion.
“I wasn’t sure how much you knew about me.”
“Not as much as I’d like to.” He leaned my way, bumping his shoulder against mine.
I grinned.
“Now, there’s some color in your cheeks.”
I shoved his arm. “I’m sorry. This isn’t helping your quest for the manuscript.”
He placed his hand lightly on my arm. “We’ll find that. I think you need this.” He indicated the letters.
“Thank you. I think I do.”
Each letter described what new milestone I had reached whether it was walking or talking. The next box held letters and copies of some sort. Upon closer inspection, the papers discussed the scholarship my mother mentioned getting for her nursing school. There were money order stubs signed by Granny. A letter at the bottom of the box explained more fully what we had found.
Dear Mr. Cunningham,
Enclosed you will find the funds for Michelle Lyndon’s nursing school this semester. The enclosed document is for her. Please do not reveal the donor of this money for I prefer to do this anonymously. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
Olivia Lyndon
I placed my hand over my opened mouth.
“What have you discovered now?” Chase eyed the documents I held.
“Granny paid for Mother’s schooling under the guise of a scholarship. I bet my mother never knew.”
“Wow, your grandmother was quite a woman.”
The next box was full of pictures of a very young Granny Olivia.
Chase pointed toward the photo in my hand.
“Who’s the guy?”
I studied it more closely. “I guess that must be Granny’s husband, Hayward. She didn’t speak of him very much. She was widowed quite early in their marriage.”
We sorted through pictures, even finding one that must have been the day the two were married. On the very bottom were a death certificate, obituary, and a newspaper article. “This death certificate lists cause of death as accidental, but look at this article.”
Chase scanned the article and then looked wide-eyed at me. “This states that your grandfather was found dead at his office desk with some type of pills nearby. It was thought to have been accidental death because it was assumed he took too many of the pills.”
I crossed my arms. “Yes, but did you read the part about Granny Olivia? The reporter quotes Granny as saying there was no way it was accidental. She felt he had been murdered. Something about a jealous partner.”
Chase’s eyes widened, and he snapped his finger. “Oh, wait. This is in one of her books. The Lone Survivor has this scenario in it.”
“Really? I haven’t read that one. The things she lived with during her lifetime. She was stronger than I ever realized.”
Before I knew it, we had spent the whole day going through shoe boxes. I asked Chase to replace them in the closet. Those were treasures I couldn’t dispose of. It seemed Granny kept just about everything, but I was glad. I was beginning to piece together the story of her life and even parts of my mother’s. Parts I would’ve never known otherwise.
I walked Chase to the door. His shoulders slumped in a defeated manner. “I’m sorry. I know we made no headway on what we are really trying to find. But...”
He put a finger to my lips to stop me. “I’m not sorry. I could see how important finding those things was for you. I would never take that away from you—not for thirty manuscripts.”
“We can tr
y again tomorrow. I’ve only scratched the surface in the study. We’ll start there.”
Chase tilted his head, eyeing me. “Do I get more apple butter and biscuits?”
I tapped my chin with my finger and pursed my lips. “Umm, unless you like pancakes?”
Chase’s face lit up. “I’ll be here at eight!”
I chuckled. “Okay.”
I closed the door behind him and sighed. I was beginning to really enjoy his company.
CHAPTER SEVEN
I flipped off the downstairs lights mindlessly. My mind was on where else we might search for that manuscript. Admittedly, I was glad we had discovered the boxes today. The letters and pictures cleared up many questions I had about my mother and Granny. Of course, there were other things I would have never thought to ask but was revealed in those letters and documents.
As I settled between the covers of the bed, I relished in the idea that I knew my mother and grandmother a little better. I was truly proud to be a Lyndon woman. I could only hope to live a life with as much care and influence. Would God give me that opportunity? To be someone who made a difference?
I woke to a noise downstairs. Still, the house remained dark. The glowing hands on my clock showed 2:30. Was I only dreaming? Was that why I awakened? I turned over and began to settle in to drift off to sleep again when a loud echo sounded from the first floor. Goosebumps spread up my arms. Someone was in the house. I rose from the bed, being careful to avoid the place I had learned creaked. I scanned the room for some kind of weapon. A vase perched on a small shelf near the record player. I tiptoed over and lifted it slowly. I stepped into the hallway and froze. There was definitely someone walking around on the first floor. Not knowing the location of the creaks in the wooden floor boards, the intruder stepped on each one. My heart pounded so hard I was surprised I heard anything.
The vase began to tremble in my grasp. I steadied it with my other hand. I eased to the top of the stairs and looked down into the dark. All that could be seen were shadows due to the neighborhood lights shining in from outside. Suddenly, a shadow darted in front of the steps below. I gasped and the figure turned toward me. Upon noticing me there at the top of the stairs, the figure spun around and sprinted for the exit. I scurried down the steps in time to see the retreating form rush out the front door and into the night, leaving the door wide open. I ran to the door, slammed it shut, and locked it. I eased the vase down on the entry table. I feared in my violent shaking, I might drop it. I bolted up the stairs and dialed Chase’s cell number before I thought about the time.
“Hello?” His voice was groggy and barely audible.
“Chase, it’s Alex. Someone was in the house.” I wrapped my arm around my waist.
“Are you all right? Is the person gone?”
“I saw him flee out the front door. I’m really shaken, but I’m okay.” I worked to slow my breathing.
“I’m on my way.”
“No, I hate that I called you at this time of night. I dialed before I thought.”
“Good, I’m glad. I’ll be right there.”
I immediately flew to the living room to wait for Chase. Every noise jolted my nerves. I sat still glancing around the room, looking for any movement. My breath caught in my throat when a knock sounded from the front door. I sprinted to the entry and paused, listening.
“It’s me.” Chase’s familiar voice seeped through the door, reaching me with welcomed relief.
I jerked open the door and fell into his arms. He embraced me and eased me inside, closing the door behind us. He led me to the couch and sat down still holding me. He placed his hands around my face and looked into my eyes. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, but tears slid down my cheeks. He pulled me close again. His hand smoothed my hair gently. My tension released slowly. I buried my face in his shoulder and let the fear drain through the tears. Reluctantly, I pulled away, swiping at my wet cheeks with the back of my hand.
Chase looked me in the eyes. “We should call the police.”
Despite the situation, his gaze melted me.
“Chase, I don’t know what we’ll say. There’s nothing missing—not even valuables that were in plain sight. He was looking for something, and I startled him before he found it.”
“Him—it was a man?”
“I can’t say for sure because I only saw a shadow. I guess I say ‘he’ because the build and height seemed more like a man than a woman.” We still sat close, our legs touching.
“Well, it’s too early for pancakes.” He glanced around the room. “Do you have an extra blanket?”
“Why?”
“Because I’m sleeping right here.” He indicated the couch.
I shook my head. “No, I can’t ask you to do that.”
He caught my hands and squeezed. “You didn’t ask me. I’m doing it. I can’t leave you here alone.”
Fetching a blanket gave me a good excuse to leave the room and regain my composure. If I didn’t move away, Chase would surely detect my strong attraction to him. I sprinted up the stairs and returned with one of Granny’s quilts and a pillow.
“Thanks.” He touched my cheek again.
“You’re welcome.”
His gaze and hand lingered a moment, bringing a peace to my body. I closed my eyes momentarily and his lips lightly brushed mine. My whole body tingled at his touch and kiss. My eyes flew open. His expression was soft, and his eyes intense with concern. “Try to sleep a little more. Go ahead.” He directed me to the steps, and I meandered to the bedroom.
As I settled between the covers once again, I smiled. As I closed my eyes, I hoped he had experienced the same feeling I had during that intimate moment. If not, I was on a course to make a fool of myself.
About eight the next morning I decided to give up on sleeping. Between the break-in incident and the fact that Chase was asleep just downstairs, I couldn’t seem to doze off again for very long. I donned some sweats, ran a brush through my hair, and dabbed at the dark circles under my eyes with some makeup powder. Then I eased down the stairs and peeked toward the living room. Chase was lying on his back. I watched the rise and fall of his chest under the blanket. His lashes lay feathery against his cheek. I couldn’t deny he was an attractive man in looks as well as personality. But, what did I have to offer him in return? He was way out of my league.
I tiptoed to the kitchen to begin preparing pancake batter as I had promised. Chase deserved a hearty breakfast even more for running to me in the middle of the night and then camping out on the couch. As I flipped the first pancake over on the griddle, Chase trudged around the corner, nose in the air sniffing. His hair was mussed and his chin covered with a shadow made of stubble. Even in his disheveled appearance, he was beautiful. Is this what it would be like…? I bit my lip to stop that train of thought.
“Morning. Thanks again for staying last night. I know that couch was probably not as comfortable as your hotel bed.”
“I could’ve never gotten comfortable back at the hotel knowing you were here alone.” He looked over my shoulder. “Mmm, that smells good. What should I do?”
I nodded my head toward the table. “Just sit down. These are ready.”
I scooped off a stack from the griddle and placed them in front of him. In minutes I had a matching stack. I sat down across from him and began to slather my pancakes in butter and syrup. The first bite filled my mouth with sweet maple warmth.
Chase licked his lips. “These are so good.”
“I’m glad.”
He set his fork down intentionally and looked straight at me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I think so.” I took a gulp of milk. “I can’t lie. Having an uninvited intruder in the house is unnerving.” And, having Chase near was unnerving in a different way.
“I can imagine.” He sighed.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. “Do you think they were after the manuscript?”
“I don’t know. Miss Olivia’s books made quite a bit of money
, as you have discovered. The only reason I would suspect that he was after the book is because there were valuables, as you said, in plain sight that were untouched. That lets me know he wasn’t just some thief looking for items to steal and sell.”
“He obviously didn’t find what he was looking for. I just hope he doesn’t come back.” I shuddered at the thought.
He pointed his fork at me. “Until we make sure he isn’t coming back, I won’t let you stay here alone.”
“Oh, Chase, I’m sure I’ll be fine.” I forced a smile, trying to reassure him or maybe myself.
“I’m sure you will be too with me camping on your couch.” He gave me an emphatic nod.
“I’m gonna get this cleaned up, and then we can nose around the study.” I stood, collecting our plates.
“Here, let me help.” He jumped up, scooping up the silverware and glasses.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I want to. You made these wonderful pancakes. The least I can do is help you clean up the mess.” He proceeded to roll up his sleeves in a dramatic manner.
I laughed. I washed and he dried. The task took a little longer because Chase had me laughing about his inadequacies when it came to cooking.
“Growing up my mother would never let me help do anything except dry dishes. When I got out on my own, I couldn’t even make toast. Trust me when I say the whole apartment building knew when I tried. I set off the fire alarms regularly.”
“How about now?” I stifled a giggle.
“Let’s just say I thank the good Lord for all of the one skillet meals available these days. I can make those without summoning the local fire department.”
I stacked the last utensil in the drawer. Chase draped the drying towel over the side of the counter and ran his fingers through his hair.
“I think I’ll run to my hotel and grab a quick shower. Be back in thirty. You’ll be all right?”
“Of course. I’ll freshen up myself.”
“I don’t like the thought of leaving you alone.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll lock the door and keep my cell phone close.”
