by C. L. Alden
“Well, this is a problem.”
***
“So you’re just gonna wake him?” Ali asked.
“I think we have to. We don’t know what he remembers. I think I have to convince him that this is all a dream.”
“Don’t you think he should remember something? Otherwise he’s just going to continue to try and push his agenda through.” Will said.
“What do you suggest, some scared straight scenario?” Ali asked.
Darcy’s phone rang. “Okay, we’ll meet you in the back in a few minutes.” Darcy said to the caller and hung up. “He’s here.” she said to Darcy and Will.
“Alright, let’s do this.” Ali said.
“Eddie. Wake up! Eddie!” Darcy called standing at the edge of concrete pad. He didn’t move a muscle. She didn’t want to go down there.
“Do you want me to go wake him?” Will volunteered.
“No, I’ll do it. Doesn’t seem like you two are the best of buddies.” She scanned the ceiling for the light string. It wasn’t so bad once she turned on the light. She stepped down into the gravelly rock and dirt. Almost immediately she could feel the tingling sensation of a mystical stone. “Huh.”
“What?” Ali asked.
“I think there’s one of those stones here. I feel a tingle.”
“Are you sure it’s a stone, and not ol’ Ed there in his pj’s?” Ali said teasingly. Darcy shot her a deadly look.
“Eddie! Eddie wake up!” Darcy continued to call with no effect. The tingling sensation was growing stronger. It wasn’t until she touched him that he stirred.
“Wha—what’re you doing here?” he looked around disoriented and still half asleep. “Wait, what am I doing here?”
“You’re dreaming.” She reached into her purse for the small bottle of dosed water. “Here drink this.” she said taking the cap off and handing him the bottle.
“Thanks,” he said still groggy and confused. He drank it without question. When he finished he looked around again. “Why are we in the basement of the Empire?”
“What do you remember?” Darcy asked.
“Um…” He thought for a moment and then answered as if it were the most natural response in the world. “I was asleep in my bed. I woke up and I was in the theater sitting in a chair on stage and there were all these lights and people dressed in old timey clothes...It was like I was on trial or something.”
“You were,” Will said walking over.
“What are you doing here?”
“You were in big trouble.” Will continued.
“They aren’t happy with you, you know.” Ali added walking up to stand beside Will.
“What are you two doing here?” He looked at Darcy. “What are we doing here.” he motioned to the two of them.
“We’re saving your ass, that’s what.” Ali answered in a smug tone.
“Saving my—Who were those people?”
“You’re dreaming.” Darcy soothed. “You’re at home in your bed.”
“They’re from the past and they’re not happy that you’re trying to screw them over by tearing down everything they’ve built.” Will accused.
“Screw them over? I’m gonna make this town great again!” Eddie argued.
“Well they don’t like the way you’re doing it, so stop!” Ali sneered.
“Dial it back, bad cop,” Darcy murmured. “Remember Stella said to keep it simple!”
“This is just a dream Eddie. You’re at home in your bed. You dreamt about Shoreton’s past again and want to find a way to honor and respect that while helping make the town prosperous again.” Darcy said trying to sound soothing and hypnotic.
“How are we gonna do this?” Will asked.
“Wing it.” Darcy replied. “Come with me,” Darcy said, holding out her hand to him. Eddie took her hand and they walked out of the basement. “You’re dreaming of our meeting today. We’ve finished our tour of the Empire. You realize that a restaurant isn’t the best way to preserve the Empire.”
“No grandfather is furious.” Eddie agreed.
“You and I agreed when we met that you would work on a solution with your grandfather.”
“Yes, he loves this theater.” Will and Ali stayed behind them as they made their way down the aisle to the exit. Darcy walked him to the open back door of the Town Car. “Grandfather, what are you doing here?”
“Get in. We’ve got a lot to discuss.” Barrett Sr. replied.
Eddie got into the back of the car. “You’re dreaming of your discussion with your grandfather.” she said as she closed the door.
Darcy handed Barrett, Sr. the key to the Empire and gave him a brief rundown of what they’d told Eddie.
“Thank you Ms. Adams. Rest assured that the Barretts will be keeping the promises made today.”
“I have no doubt, Mr. Barrett. Good night.”
They watched the Barrett car leave, standing in silence long after it was gone. Darcy was keenly aware of how quiet the world now felt to her. It wasn’t because there had been actual noise, but the storm, for lack of a better word, was over.
“Nightcap anyone?” Ali asked.
“Hell yeah!” Will replied. They both waited for Darcy to answer.
“Have you met me?”
***
They sat around Ali’s kitchen table, finally feeling the magnitude of what the events of the past days meant.
“Cripes almighty it’s been a week!” Ali finally said sounding a little punch drunk. “I mean can you friggin’ believe these last days?”
“Life is never going to be the same again.” Will said.
“No. It won’t! Unreal! Who knew all of this existed right under our noses?”
“Your aunt Ruth, and Stella.”
“Right?! My friggin’ aunt Ruth!”
Darcy listened as they worked through the repercussions of the week. All she felt at the moment was peace and light, like a great weight had been lifted from her. She could see that Ali and Will were just starting to fathom what she had already accepted.
“We talked to dead people.” Will added sounding as if the fact was finally sinking in.
“We talked to friggin’ dead people, and Stella is a witch!” Ali added.
“And the kibosh has been put to Fast Eddie’s plans. Yes, it’s been a helluva week!” Will said sounding triumphant.
“Hey Darce, are you with us?” Ali asked, noticing her friend had been quiet for awhile.
“I’m right here with you!” Darcy answered, raising her glass in salute to them both, and taking a drink. For her, the realization that she’d soon be separating herself from this new found bond was beginning to sink in.
“We make a great team.” Will said.
“Yes we do,” Darcy agreed feeling a twinge of sadness.
“We need a special toast,” Ali declared. She went to the freezer and pulled out a bottle of Cold River vodka and poured three shots.
“To old friends and new adventures! The best is yet to come! Cheers!”
thursday
CHAPTER Twenty-seven
Darcy sat on the granite stones in front of the house, watching the sunrise. It was that moment when all was still, dark, and quiet. She watched as a fox scampered up the rocks near her and ran across the lawns of her neighbors disappearing again several houses down.
“Clear skies, Darcy girl.” her mother said, now sitting beside her.
“Yes, it was quite a stormy week.”
“And a clear heart for you now?”
“How did you know?”
Her mother didn’t answer, just chuckled to herself.
“Why did you want me to come back? This whole thing could’ve been resolved somehow without me.”
“Maybe. But this is your legacy. You needed to come back. This is where your heart is.”
“I know…”
“Clear skies, Darcy girl. Enjoy them while they last.”
The sun was rising, and she knew that meant her mother was leaving her. There was nothing s
he could do to change that. “I love you mom.”
“Love you forever Darcy Jane.”
***
Darcy woke up feeling at peace. She realized that she’d had a storm all her own that had been brewing unnoticed for years. The supernatural energy swirling around Shoreton was all that was needed to charge and release it. It felt good to let it all go.
***
She spent the morning hanging out at the cafe counter chit chatting with her dad, Susan and Mary. Her great grandfather was there sitting at the counter with a coffee and a newspaper. She guessed the dead had their routines too. He winked at her and smiled when she went around the counter to pour herself some coffee. She sat down beside him, comforted by the closeness of her family, past and present.
About ten o’clock Eddie wandered in. He looked tired and a little disheveled. Susan sprung into action ready to take his order.
“Could I get a coffee please, dahlin’?” Eddie never wasted an opportunity to flirt.
“Good morning!” Darcy said wondering how the rest of his night had gone, and just what he remembered.
“Good morning. Could we talk for a second?” Eddie asked motioning to her booth that was empty as usual.
“Sure.” she said getting up and heading to the booth. When they got settled she asked, “How are you? You look tired.”
“I am. More strange dreams last night.”
“Really? About what?”
“It’s all jumbled. You and I were at the Empire, in the basement of all places...then I was up on stage in front of these people. Next thing I know I’m in the back of grandfather’s car being lectured about the Empire and our duty to preserve what generations of our family helped build.”
“Wow! That’s quite the dream!”
“It was weird. Probably overtired or maybe I’m coming down with something.”
“That could be. Combine that with your grandfather being unhappy about your ideas about the Empire…” The story seemed to be falling into place.
“Oh I got an earful alright. Says he’s going to be taking a more active interest in the Barrett’s impact on the town.”
“When did he say this?”
“Yesterday after we met. I got to take a “ride” too.” he said, emphasizing ride with air quotes. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out with the Empire.”
Internally she breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever she had said last night in conjunction with whatever Mr. Barrett had done, had apparently worked. “That’s okay. It was great wandering around the place again. I love that theater.”
“Me too. Grandfather wants to make it his special project.”
“I’m sure the two of you will come up with something great!”
Eddie rolled his eyes. “It’s been a helluva week, hasn’t it?” He stood up and leaned over the table and kissed her.
“Was that for my dad?” she asked as she discreetly looked over to see both him and Susan gaping at them.
“No. Well, yes, but mostly for me. It was great seeing you again, my friend.” he said with another wink.
“You too, Eddie. Take care.” He turned and met Susan halfway to the counter with his coffee. “I’ll take that, Susie dahlin’ and I’ve got to have one of Mary’s scones!” Susan was aflutter once again as she made her way behind the counter to get Eddie’s scone.
“Good morning Mr. Adams.” he said in his usual cheerful tone.
“Eddie” Hank replied with a nod and a barely veiled look of disapproval.
Darcy laughed. She didn’t know if Eddie set the fire or not, no one did, and probably never would. Part of her was okay with that. She didn’t want to believe it was true. Whether he did it or not, she knew that the speculation about whether he did would always surround him. It was something he’d have to live with. Maybe that was good. Maybe that would be a reminder to him in some way about the “crazy dreams” of this week and the importance of the past.
***
Darcy made a dramatic entrance at the SHS after Stella told her that Ali was holed up in her office going through paperwork. She opened both of the large wooden doors at once to find Darcy sitting with her feet propped up on her desk reading a document from a brown overstuffed accordion file of paperwork on her desk. “What have we here? Discovering all of Shoreton’s secrets?”
“Yeah, no. So far it’s been a mountain of lawyer speak, most of which I don’t even understand. When am I gonna get to the fun stuff?” she asked whining like a child.
“It can’t be all secret potions and magical stones.”
“It’s hard to unring that bell!”
“Have you figured out what your training is?”
“No, but Aunt Ruth assured me that everything I need is in this folder.” she replied with a frown.
“I saw that she connected with you at the stones. Did you learn anything?”
“She showed me a bunch of stuff, none of which made any sense to me. ‘It’s in the paperwork’ she said. Blah, blah, blah.” she added a groan for good measure.
“Wanna play hooky?”
“I can’t. I’ve got meetings later on with some big donors.”
“Alright. I guess I’ll have to find some troubleon my own.”
***
Darcy spent the rest of the afternoon driving around. She drove past the high school, the ball fields, up to the lake, into Bay View and Weskeag. It was a day full of trips down many different memory lanes. On her way back through Shoreton she stopped at Hannaford’s for supplies. She hadn’t spent much time with her dad, so she thought she’d cook dinner and spend the evening hanging out with him.
It was late afternoon when she headed towards the beach. On impulse she turned down Harper to take a look at Will’s house. It was probably too early for him to be home yet, but at least she could see some of what he was doing since it had been dark when she dropped him and Millie off the other night. She turned into the half circle drive. There was a large dumpster on the lawn and some scaffolding set up on the side of the house. The front door was extra wide topped by a large paned semi-circular window and sheltered by a columned porch. It looked like Will was neck deep in projects. She got out of the car so she could wander around to the back and maybe take a peek inside through one of the windows.
She was heading to the back of the house when Millie came running from the back yard and right to her. “Hey Millie,” she said as the dog sniffed her hands.
“Millie!” Will came running out with a leash in his hands.
Darcy took hold of her collar. “Hi! I’ve got her.”
“Oh hi! Thanks!” Will said as he reached down and attached the leash to Millie’s collar.
“I’m sorry to drop by without calling. I was on my way back home and just turned on impulse.”
“I’m glad you did.” he said looking into her eyes.
Suddenly she was feeling very awkward about just stopping by. “I didn’t think you were home. I was gonna just sneak a peek since I couldn’t see anything the other night when I dropped you off.”
“No need, I’ll give you the grand tour.” he said with a smile. “Come on. Yeah I parked out back because I had a bunch of stuff to unload.” He lead her up the front steps and through the front door.
“I’ve always wondered what this house looked like on the inside,” Darcy said as she walked through the threshold. The front door opened into a large foyer with a central open staircase that curved slightly up to the second level which was enclosed with a white banister with dark wood hand and top rails. There was an open area at the top with a walkway to halls to the left and right. A large crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling just inside the doorway reflecting off white painted walls and gleaming dark wood floors that matched the staircase handrails. Under the balcony area on either side of the staircase were double doors that stood open and led to the rest of the house.
“Wow! This is gorgeous!” Darcy said looking around. The walls were large wood panels with detailed frames. “I love that the ori
ginal wood panel is still here. The detail of the woodwork is incredible!”
“Unfortunately only parts of the house have newer insulation.”
“A bit drafty is it?”
“Oh yes! A lot of the house still has the original horsehair plaster. The good news is that the fireplaces have been kept up over the years and repaired, so they are in amazingly good shape, and baseboard heat was added at some point, but the boiler needs to be replaced.”
Will slid open the double pocket doors to the left of the front door to reveal a large study, with walls lined with built-in bookcases. Large front windows and a side window hung with ceiling to floor drapes gave the room plenty of natural light.
“Oooh…. I love this!”
“I thought you might,” he said beaming.
“It’s so cozy! Perfect for rainy or snowy day.” she said turning around to take in all the wood trim details. The room was practically bare except for a rather shabby couch and a floor lamp set up near the only bookcase containing books.
“Obviously I still have a lot of decorating to do, but I wanted to wait until I got the bulk of the repairs and renovations done first.”
They wandered around from room to room with Will sharing the ideas he had for each.
“I saved the best part for last. Well, what I know will be your favorite part.” Will said. They were on the second floor. He walked to the end of the hall and opened the door to the attic. The stairway was narrow and steep. Darcy followed him up and found a large open space. “This is a great space,” Darcy said. “What do you plan to use it for?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m still trying to decide. It kind of depends on what I end up doing with this.” He said as he pulled on a rope hanging from a trapdoor in the ceiling. The door swung down and he pulled a set of steps down to the floor. “You’ve gotta see this.” Darcy followed him up the steps and through a second door that opened onto the deck of the widow’s walk. Will helped her up. “Watch your step near the railing. It’s solid up here but some of the railings are loose.”
“Oh wow! This view is spectacular! I always wondered what the view would be like from up here.” Darcy said keeping a step away from the railing that had a direct view of the ocean.
