Secrets of Hallstead House

by Amy M. Reade

  It was a beautiful, but unfinished, watercolor of two Canada geese flying low over the surface of the river in what looked like a narrow cove between two wooded islands. A gray, overcast sky was reflected in water that looked blue-black. A lone figure in a rowboat drifted nearby, fishing peacefully. The islands, which were only sketched in pencil, were covered with dark fir trees that reached loftily to the sky. Looking at the painting, which showed a great deal of talent, I could almost hear the geese calling starkly over the silent water.

  I turned from the easel and walked around the perimeter of the large room, drinking in the breathtaking views on all sides. I could see all of Hallstead Island from this room, as well as the trees and homes on the neighboring islands. The river stretched away on either side of the island, and I could see other islands dotting the surface of the water far into the distance. As I walked around I peeked at some of the paintings that were stacked against the walls. There were some lovely waterscapes, as well as a few amateurish paintings of wildlife. There was even a charcoal sketch, signed by Alex, of that strange tree I had seen leaning over the water on the other side of the island.

  This was such a tranquil room. I hoped I would be able to visit it often. The art books on the coffee table looked very interesting, and I sat down and began to look through them. I leafed first through the pages of a landscape book and had just turned my attention to a beautiful volume on watercolor painting when I heard a noise. I looked up, expecting to see a visitor emerge from the turret stairway, but no one appeared. I had probably heard something from outside. I got up to look out one of the windows and I could see Pete on the balcony below, just outside my room, using some sort of tool on one of the railing slats. I must have been so engrossed in the books that I hadn’t heard him working.

  I needed to check on Alex and see if she was ready to go for that walk, so I put the books back the way I had found them and started downstairs. I had already decided that I would try to peer inside my room, as though I were an Industrial Age entrepreneur spying on one of my guests. At the bottom, though, I gave a start when I saw that the door to my room was already ajar.

  I cautiously opened the door further and looked around for whoever had been here while I was upstairs. The person must have entered the turret from the balcony—that must have been the noise I had heard. Nothing seemed to be amiss, but I took a quick look around anyway. I noticed with dismay that the nightstand drawer was partially open and I knew before I looked inside what was missing.

  My album was gone. Why? Who would have taken it? It was of interest only to me, for I was the only person who knew any of the people in the pictures. Thinking of all the pictures of me and my parents that had been in the album, I grew very upset. Then I got angry. I wanted that album back. I didn’t know where to start looking, though. Then I remembered that I had seen Pete on the balcony while I was up in the turret. But why would Pete call attention to himself if he were going into my room? And why would he take an album full of pictures of strangers? It didn’t make any sense. Of course, maybe it hadn’t been Pete. It could have been anyone else on the island: Stephan or Will or Vali or Leland. Not Alex, since she couldn’t have gotten up to the balcony. I was getting more confused. I checked my room quickly to see if anything else had been taken, but everything else seemed to be untouched. I let myself back into the turret stairway, locked my bedroom door from inside the stairway, then went out onto the balcony, locking that door behind me, too.

  I went back into my room, then headed downstairs to talk to Alex. On the way, I met Vali dusting in the library. She scowled at me. “If I were you, I wouldn’t go disturbing Miss Hallstead constantly like you’ve been,” she said. “She likes to be left alone while she works.”

  I was already flustered by the loss of my album, and I had no patience right now for Vali’s insolence. “I’ll let Alex tell me that herself, thank you.” And I left her glowering after me.

  I found Alex still at work in her office. Stephan was with her. I asked her if she was ready to take a break and go walking with me, and she smiled and agreed. Stephan excused himself from the room and Alex and I set out. Though it was a beautiful day outside, I was preoccupied by my missing album and Vali’s admonition in the library. I broached the subject of Vali’s warning.

  “Alex,” I began, “would you prefer that I not disturb you when you’re working? I thought that perhaps you would rather summon me than have me just show up unannounced.”

  “No, Macy. I want you to feel comfortable coming to get me at any time—and for any reason. Anyone is welcome to pop in without giving me advance notice. Why do you ask?”

  “No particular reason,” I answered, deciding not to reveal my brief conversation with Vali. “I was just wondering.”

  We walked in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the beautiful afternoon. The sunlight slanted through the trees, dappling the flagstones where we walked. The breeze carried a slight chill, reminding us that colder weather would be here soon.

  Finally Alex spoke. “This weather reminds me so much of Forrest. This was his favorite time of year. He didn’t like really hot weather, so he was happiest when it started getting cooler outside.”

  I thought of the portrait of the man above the living room mantel and smiled. “I think I know just how he felt,” I told her. “Fall is my favorite season. Summer, especially in New York City, can be uncomfortably hot. When fall comes I feel like I get my energy back.”

  “That’s exactly what Forrest used to say.” Alex laughed. She looked wistful, as if she were remembering happy autumns past, and fell silent again.

  When she next spoke, she changed the subject. “Did you visit the turret?”

  “Yes, I did. Oh, and here’s the key.” I reached into my pocket for the key and handed it to her.

  “What did you think?” Alex asked.

  “I loved it! It’s so bright and peaceful up there. And the views are gorgeous!”

  “I knew you’d like it. That room used to be my haven. I could spend hours up there painting and drawing. Sometimes I would go up there to take a break from my work. To me, it is a place of refuge, and I wanted to keep it separate from all the things that used to take up my time. Now, of course, my work takes up even more time than it used to and I haven’t been up there in quite a while.” She pointed to her hip. “Plus, this keeps me pretty well confined to the first floor of Summerplace and this path we’re walking on now.”

  “There was an unfinished painting on the easel up there. It’s beautiful,” I said.

  “Yes, I remember that,” Alex mused. “I had only to finish the islands and the trees around the edges of the picture.”

  “Why don’t you finish it?” I urged. “I could bring your supplies downstairs and you could start working on it again.”

  “No, dear, I don’t think I could paint anywhere but in that turret, and of course it’s impossible for me to get up there.”

  “Then that will be one of our goals for your recovery process, for you to get back up into that turret and start painting again.”

  Alex’s eyes shone and she turned to me excitedly. “Do you think we could do that?” she asked hopefully.

  “Absolutely!”

  “Oh, I hope so.” She sounded almost girlish in her enthusiasm. It made me happy to watch her.

  We had reached the front of Summerplace again and Alex said she was a bit tired and wanted to rest for a little while. “I think that’s a good idea,” I agreed. “We need to make sure that you’re not working too hard.”

  I had been trying to think of a casual way to ask whether anyone knew I had been up in the turret earlier but could think of nothing to say that wouldn’t arouse Alex’s suspicion, so I remained silent.

  I saw that Alex was resting comfortably in her bedroom before heading outside again. It was too nice a day to stay indoors. Aimlessly, I wandered down to the boathouse. Pete was walking up one of the docks toward me. Despite his behavior since I arrived on the island, I felt a
sudden determination to win his trust.

  “Hi,” I called out to him. “Is there anything I can do to help you down here?”

  He came to stand near me and asked, “What exactly did you have in mind?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just such a nice day and Alex is resting right now. I thought maybe you could use a hand with something.”

  “Is Alex all right?” Pete asked quickly.

  “She’s fine,” I assured him. “We went for a walk and she’s just a little tired. She spent most of the morning working in her office.”

  “There’s really nothing you can do down here,” Pete said shortly. He chuckled. “I don’t know what you thought you could possibly help me with, especially after that fireplace episode last night.”

  My anger flared up at him again. Why bother trying to gain his trust, anyway? I was getting sick and tired of his snide comments. “You know, just because I’m a woman and from New York doesn’t make me a useless half-wit,” I said hotly. “I may not have been brought up around here, but I’m willing to learn what I need to know to help out.” I turned on my heel and started to stalk away, but Pete called me back, laughing.

  “Whoa!”

  I was infuriated, and his laughter made matters worse. “What do you want?” I snapped.

  “I’m sorry if I underestimated you,” he said with mock formality. “Maybe I can find something for you to do after all.” He smiled, and I softened a little bit, in spite of myself. I followed him into the boathouse and stood watching while he took down several ropes from a large cabinet. “It’s busywork, but you can start by getting all of the knots out of these lines,” he said. “When you’re done, if you’re still looking for something to do, come and find me and I’ll get you started on another job.”

  “Thanks.” I smiled. Pete picked up a wrench and walked toward the mahogany boat I had ridden to the island. I turned and put the twisted pile of ropes on a large workbench in the rear of the boathouse. The ropes were damp and it took me quite a while to get all the knots out. When I finished, I coiled the ropes on the workbench and called out to Pete, who was still working on the boat.

  “I’m done with these ropes, but I think I should go check on Alex. Could I start a different project on another day?”

  “Sure. And thanks for helping—I appreciate it. Tell Alex I said hi.” He smiled at me and went back to his work.

  I found Alex working in her office again.

  “HSH Oil must be a great success, since the lady in charge so rarely takes a break,” I teased.

  Alex laughed. “I love my job,” she said happily.

  “It’s almost time for dinner,” I noted. “Are you going to join us in the dining room tonight?”

  Alex’s smile faded. “No, Macy, not tonight.”

  “I wish you would. It would be good for you.”

  “I know. I like eating in my sitting room, though. Sometimes I talk to Forrest while I have dinner. I can’t do that in a room full of people.”

  I felt a stab of pity for Alex. I could imagine her sitting on her beautiful gold sofa, alone, talking to a ghost. “You’re right. But you might enjoy conversation with Stephan and Will and me too. I’m not trying to force you. Just think about it,” I said softly. After seeing this glimpse of Alex’s pain and vulnerability, I felt somehow closer to her. We shared the ache of loss, and I thought again of my own parents. Alex sensed my thoughts.

  “Do you ever talk to your parents, Macy?”

  I thought for a moment. “I think about them all the time, and I feel like they’re with me, but I don’t actually speak to them aloud. Maybe I talk to them silently, without even realizing it,” I said slowly.

  Alex nodded. “I’ll bet you do.” She opened her mouth as if to say more, then apparently changed her mind. She brightened and asked, “Have you been in the boathouse? I smell grease.”

  I smiled. “Yes, I helped Pete while you were resting and working this afternoon. I didn’t realize that I stink! I should shower before dinner.”

  I left her with a promise to see her later, and I went up to my room quickly to shower. When I went to the dining room for dinner, Stephan and Will were already there, talking. Stephan pulled out my chair and we all sat down together.

  Dinner was quiet. We talked benignly of stories from the newspaper. A couple of times Will tried to steer the conversation to New York City, but that was a topic I was bored of discussing with him, since his main interests tended to be high-end places I did not frequent. How like Alan he is, I thought, surprising myself. I had not thought consciously before of the similarities between Will and Alan, but there were several. They were both handsome and knew it; they both enjoyed patronizing trendy hot spots. Just thinking of Will’s similarities to Alan was enough to make me find him disagreeable.

  Alex did not join us for dinner. I thought of her talking to Forrest in the soft lamplight. It must be very comforting for her.

  After dinner I went to check on her and found her reading in her sitting room. She seemed tired and said she might go to bed early. I was concerned, since Alex didn’t seem the type to tire easily, but when I checked her pulse, blood pressure, and heartbeat, everything was normal. She didn’t need me for anything else that evening, so I went up to my room, built a fire—correctly this time—and read until I was ready to go to sleep. I was thoroughly absorbed by Paul Malo’s book. How interesting it must have been to live on the river all those years ago!

  I had the nightmare again that night, no doubt because of the conversation with Alex about my parents. I awoke in the middle of the night trembling, with tears streaming down my face. I got up and pushed open the doors to the balcony. The cold assailed me when I stepped outside, but it felt good. I needed a few moments away from the bedroom, to allow the nightmare to fade again from my mind. I stood with my hands on the railing, looking out over the trees on Hallstead Island. The moon shone with a bright white light, and now and then clouds scudding across the sky would throw shadows onto the ground. It was tranquil and I could feel my heart slowing down, calming the pounding that had begun while I slept.

  After a few minutes, I became acutely aware of the cold again, and shivering, I turned to go inside. As I turned, though, I thought I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye. It was down among the trees, and I stood very still, waiting to see it again. But though I stood there for several moments, there was no more movement. I must have been imagining things, my mind still restless from my dream. As I went back inside, I pulled the doors closed behind me, grateful for the locks.

  CHAPTER 6

  I must have slept well the rest of the night, because I awoke in the morning feeling refreshed. The memory of the nightmare remained with me, but I didn’t feel exhausted and drained, as I so often did after the dream. The clouds I had seen in the night had evidently thickened, because it was raining hard. I peered between the drapes covering the doors and saw the raindrops falling heavily from the tree branches. It’s beautiful here even when it’s pouring, I thought. I dressed and went downstairs for breakfast.

  By now I was getting used to making my own breakfast. Vali cooked breakfast for Stephan and Will, but I wasn’t about to ask her to make mine too. Besides, I was sure she would refuse. She always seemed to have me fixed with a look of loathing, and I talked to her as little as I could. I ate alone but as I was finishing, Will walked into the dining room. He nodded in greeting and sat down to look through some papers while he waited for Vali to bring him his food. I gathered up the plates and silverware I had used and started to walk out of the room. Will called me back as I left.

  “Macy, I know this is going to sound very lord-of-the-manor-ish, but I am wondering if it’s a good idea for you to be bursting in on Alex whenever the mood strikes you. She seems to be distracted and I think it’s because she’s been unable to concentrate on her work. As I’m sure you’re aware, her work is very important to her.” He went on reading as if he expected me to submit to his suggestion without comm
ent.

  I looked at him evenly. “It’s interesting that you should say that, because Vali told me the same thing yesterday. I did, in fact, discuss it with Alex, and she told me that I, as well as everyone else in Summerplace, am welcome to see her at any time. And I’d hardly call the work that I do ‘bursting in’ on her. I am here to do a job and I’m responsible for Alex’s health as long as I’m here. But thanks for the suggestion,” I added sarcastically. He raised his eyebrows at me and said nothing as I left the room.

  It rained most of that day. A couple of times I went to Alex’s sitting room to work on her physical therapy exercises, but most of the day I spent in my room reading some books and articles on recovering from hip surgery. Alex’s doctors had left them and I was grateful to be able to do some extra reading on the subject. I also looked in vain for my photo album. It had to be somewhere around Summerplace. Who could have taken it?

  I asked Vali and Leland about it when I went down to the kitchen for lunch. “What would either of us want with something like that?” was Vali’s reply.

  Late in the afternoon, I went to Alex’s rooms to check on her. I had expected to find her working in her office, but to my surprise she was in her sitting room before the fire. Brandt and Giselle were chatting with her.

  “Alex, are you all right? I expected to find you working,” I said with concern.

  “I’m feeling just a little run-down right now, dear. Brandt and Giselle called to say they were coming over to the island, so I decided to take a break to visit with them for a little while.” She smiled at Brandt, who was seated next to her on the sofa. He patted her hand.