The morning was cool and overcast, and clouds overhead threatened rain. The house was ablaze with construction; men and some women bustled about. Vic stepped out onto the back porch with a steaming mug of tea. A chill breeze caused her to pull her cardigan tighter, and the air smelled of Thanksgiving to come. She looked out across the overgrown garden. When the house was built it boasted a several-acre lot, now the backyard only spanned about 200 to 300 feet back. The garden took up all that space. Several flagstone walkways through the garden were broken up by various-sized beds. Everything had been neglected for a long time. The bushes were overgrown, weeds were everywhere and Virginia Creeper grew through all of it. It was the Middle of November now and everything was brown and dead.
Vic took the steps down into the garden, curious whether there were roses in it. She walked down the wide middle path that led to a circular sitting area in the center of the garden. It was twenty feet in diameter and held a stone fountain in the middle. It was full of dead leaves and mud. Around the fountain were several stone benches. She sat on one and sipped her tea as it cooled. It was nice out here. This garden must have been amazing when it was being taken care of. Now it was all weeds. Would she recognize a rose bush without roses? Maybe she should be looking for thorns instead.
In the distance, thunder crashed. She wasn’t ready to go back into the house, she stood and meandered her way around the garden. Every garden had roses, didn’t they? She thought. She was having no luck. She didn’t even know what most of these plants were. She was not a gardener and didn’t have a green thumb. She couldn’t even keep houseplants alive. Every time she tried they shriveled up and died. She was no good at watering them. She was always too busy reading to be bothered with watering plants. She liked them, but only if somebody else was caring for them. She dated a guy once who had turned his whole dorm room into a jungle. Now he had a green thumb.
At the rear of the property, a privacy fence ran the length of it. Over the top of which she could see the roofs of various houses. She wondered what the neighbors thought of this house. Probably that it would be nice if it weren’t in such disrepair. Or did they believe in ghosts and hauntings? She looked back at the house and it loomed over the garden. She could see the grandness in it, but it required a lot of love and elbow grease. The roof was intact only because the previous owner who had died and was the reason why Michael and Megan were able to buy the place had needed to replace it several years back. The house had a steep, imposing roofline, with brick chimneys rising through, many gables, and wrought iron fencing running along the peaks. There in one of the windows of the second floor stood a person watching her. She couldn’t see them clearly at this distance, but she knew that it wasn’t Michael, Megan, or the nanny Martha. Maybe they are working on something upstairs.
Without another thought, she turned back to the garden. Thunder crashed again, closer this time. She continued her search around the garden. Did roses die out if nobody cared for them any longer, she thought? In a garden bed around the border, she came to a thorny plant, but it wasn’t roses. It was wild raspberry. She supposed she could have gotten her arms ripped up reaching into those. She looked around the whole area for a patch of disturbed ground. Heavy raindrops started to fall. She didn’t see what she was looking for but she guessed that’s what had happened. No need to fret over it. She would lock her door that night to keep herself inside. The rain started slow, but it was beginning to come down hard by the time she reached the porch, and had her running the last few feet to reach the cover it provided. She turned to watch the torrent of rain as it fell. The garden would probably be the last thing they updated. Even more chilled by her wet clothes she went inside.
After having changed into dry clothes she went to find Megan and begin the day''s projects. She met Martha and the boys on the stairs as they descended to the main level. The boys, Liam and William each wore a yellow rain jacket and carried a child-sized backpack. They smelled like roses. The boys not waiting for the slow adults raced to the bottom, Martha calling after them to not run on the stairs. They ran into their dad at the bottom. Michael hugged them both and ruffled their hair, telling them to mind Miss Martha. There is to be no running down the stairs.
He looked up at Vic as she walked down the stairs. Martha caught up to the boys and took them to see their mom before she headed out with them.
“How are you doing this morning?” Michael asked her.
“Oh, you know. Getting rained on in the garden.” She stepped off the stairs and walked over to him.
“It’s really coming down out there. Like cats and dogs.”
“What does that even mean?” She asked.
“You know, I never thought about it. I don’t really know.” He looked at her arms, but they were covered by sleeves. “How are your scratches today? Do they hurt?”
Vic pulled up one of her sleeves and looked. The scratches were red and angry. “They look worse than they feel. There’s a little sting, but they’re also itchy.”
Workmen began putting up plastic sheeting at the end of the hallway.
“What’s going on in there?” Vic pointed.
“We have to remove the plaster from one whole wall. It’s all come loose from the slats.” He put his hands in his pockets.
“Why didn’t you put up plastic sheeting when they were sanding the woodwork?” She inquired.
“We forgot. We were so excited to get started that I was ordering everybody around and we all forgot about it. At least Darryl was smart enough to pull out the vacuum and gather it up while it was being done.”
“I need to go find Megan and get started. Talk in a little bit?” She waited for him to answer.
“Yeah, that would be good.” He smiled at her.
Talk in a bit? What was she thinking? Looking at his handsome face she couldn’t help it. She wanted to spend time with him, only as friends though. Yes, friends, she could be friends. She tucked that thought away and went in search of Megan. She entered the dining room. Rain pattered off the windows at the end of the room. All the lights were on, and it was still gloomy in there. Megan was going over the fabric choices for the drawing room.
“Morning Vic,” Megan looked up. “This is what I’ve picked out. I want your thoughts on the style.”
Vic walked halfway down the twenty-foot length of the table and stopped in front of a pile of fabric samples. Right away she saw several that didn’t match the time period and she pointed them out.
“This pink one here is a design that came about from the 1930s. It’s a nice print, but doesn’t match.” Vic explained. “Is it the color or pattern that interested you first?”
Megan picked up the sample and ran her hand over it. “I like the color. The pattern is cute, but now that you’ve pointed out that it’s not the right time period It would look silly with everything else.”
They spent the morning going over the fabric choices for the draperies, chairs, pillows, settees, sofas, and the like. At lunch, they made something quick in the kitchen and went back to work. After lunch, the women grabbed their bags and headed out to “Time Warp Fabrics,” a business that specialized in vintage reproductions of fabrics. They walked through the barren great hall, Megan poked her head through the plastic at the end to tell Michael where they were going. And then the two women exited the house.
From the front the house rose up menacingly, the paint peeled in many places and dark windows looked down. The rain from earlier had stopped, but the sky was still dark with clouds threatening more rain. The two women climbed into Megan''s sporty red car and zipped off down the road.
Detroit traffic was always busy, especially on Woodward Avenue. They headed north towards Highland Park. Orange and white traffic barrels lined the avenue, construction was always going on in Detroit. Once one project was done another began and before too long It always came back around to the first project. The freeze/thaw cycle of Michigan winters made road construction a constant in the State. They passed the historic “First Congressional Church” on the right and the “Wayne County Sheriff''s Headquarters” on the left. Modern buildings mingled with historic ones and they drove north on asphalt in need of repair, and into areas where the road was pristine and new. Empty lots dotted the roadside between condos, churches, and office buildings. After driving several miles they came to their destination on the right.
A stylish two-story building with full windows displayed fabrics of all types in the form of curtains, furniture, pillows, and clothing. They parked in the back and entered through double doors into the saleroom. Aisle upon aisle, bolts of fabric were displayed. Each section was organized by type of fabric and then by decade or time period. The marble floors gleamed, and bright, modern light fixtures illuminated the building. The store bustled with people as they worked their way through to a help desk. They waited for a few minutes and then a grandmotherly-looking woman with short, gray curls and glasses came to greet them. Her name was Nancy.
Megan introduced herself and Vic, and Vic told Nancy what they were looking for. Nancy took them through a few sections and they collected different bolts of fabric made of cotton, linen, silk, and wool to look over. They were shown to a tabled area to set everything upon, and Megan pulled out their extensive catalog and the two women spent the rest of the afternoon going through their choices and looking at, and feeling the fabrics they selected. They made a list of the fabrics, their name, number, and the amount they needed. They took it to Nancy, ordered and paid. Nancy told them that their order would be available to pick up in two weeks and the women left.
They stopped at a few other places and arrived at the house just as the workmen were leaving for the day. A slight drizzle had started up while they were out, and the two women ran from the car to the house. Inside the lights were on, and two rambunctious boys came running to throw their little bodies against their mother. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
“Mommie, mommie,” they shouted.
Megan hugged them and drew them away into the house with her. Vic walked to the dining room, took off her coat, and hung it on a chair. Then she went in search of Michael. She entered the library, but he wasn’t there. She smelled cigar smoke. She didn’t know Michael smoked cigars. It wasn’t that unpleasant a smell. He was probably in the kitchen making dinner with his family. She decided to go up to her room and work on her notes.
In her room, Vic turned on the lights and decided it would be nice to start a fire in the fireplace. Michael had previously placed a few logs in there in case she wanted to use it. All the chimneys in the house had been inspected and only a few were usable. A few could be repaired, but the majority of them were not able to be repaired due to the high cost it would take to remove them brick by brick and rebuild them. It’s much easier to build a chimney than to rebuild a chimney.
She spent a few minutes getting the fire started in the fireplace and then she picked up her laptop off the desk and sat in a chair near it. She woke up her computer and opened her file. She typed up her notes about the day, the projects that were worked on in the house, and the fabric choices selected. The notes of this type probably wouldn’t make it into her paper, but they were still important.
She had been typing for about twenty minutes when a knock came at her door. “Come in.” She called. The door opened and Michael walked in carrying a tray with a steaming bowl placed on it, with some bread and a glass of wine. He carried it over to the small round table near her and set it down.
“What’s this?” She closed her laptop. “You didn’t have to bring me anything.”
“Nonsense. You and Megan did so much today that I took it upon myself to cook dinner with the boys.” He placed the soup in front of her, then the plate with bread, and lastly the glass of wine with a generous portion.
“You’re my boss. You’re not required to feed me. I could have come down.” She placed her laptop on the floor.
“I might as well. We have to cook our own meals. One more serving is nothing. Besides, Megan insisted.” He placed the empty tray on the bed.
“Your wife is wonderful. I really like her.” She picked up the spoon and scooped up some soup. She blew on it before bringing it to her mouth and eating it. Her eyes lit up. “What is this? It’s good.”
He smiled at that. “Albondigas, a type of Mexican meatball stew.”
“It’s amazing,” she ate another spoonful.
“Come on down to the library when you’re finished. I have something to show you,” He turned towards the door.
“Sure,” was all she said.
Vic picked up her book from before and read it while she ate. When she was finished she loaded up the tray and took the servants'' stairs directly to the basement. More lighting should be added to this stairwell, she thought. Shadows coalesced where the light didn’t reach, and it felt like someone was watching her as she descended. The narrow stairwell, along with the darkness gave it an eerie feeling.
She stepped out into the main hallway in the basement. Dimmed lighting lit the length of it. She thought she saw a figure at the far end, but couldn’t make out who they were. It was either Michael or Megan, being the only other people in the house. Then the light at the end of the hall went out.
“Hello,” her voice came out in a creak.
Another light went out. Darkness shrouded the end of the hall. Footsteps came towards her down the hall. Then the light in the middle of the hallway went out. She hurried to the kitchen door. The light near the stairwell went out. She could not see whoever it was. She could hear the figure getting closer. And then the last light went out shrouding the hall in complete blackness.
She balanced the tray against her hip and fumbled to open the kitchen door with her other hand. It cracked open and she pushed her way inside and leaned back against the door. A loud bang hit the door as if someone had thrown themselves against it. She dropped the tray and shrieked. All the items clattered to the ground. The wine glass splintered into pieces. After a moment she was able to compose herself a little better. The flutter in her chest began to settle. She flipped the switch near the door and white light flooded the room. The tray and its contents scattered across the floor, broken glass glinting in the light.
She turned slowly and prepared herself to open the door. She could hear the rush of blood past her eardrums, and time stretched. She placed her hand on the doorknob and turned it. She slowly pulled it open a crack. Nothing but blackness greeted her on the other side. She didn’t like being down here. Somebody must have snuck in to play pranks on them. She let the door close and then she hurriedly picked up the mess on the floor. She deposited the broken glass in the trash and put the rest in the sink and then she made for the stairs in the pantry. There was no way she was going back out into that blackened hallway. Not with whoever may be lurking there.
She rushed up the darkened stairs, through the pantry, across the dining room, and into the hall. From there she made her way into the library. Its lights were aglow and Michael sat at the desk, his head buried in a book. He looked up at her as she came in and hurriedly shut the door behind her.
“Were you just in the basement?” Fear tinged her voice.
“What?” He set the book down.
“Tell me that you were not in the basement a moment ago pranking me.” The pitch of her voice rising.”
“No, I wasn’t in the basement. I’ve been here. I’ve been reading this diary that Megan found in the kids'' room.”
“Where is Megan?” She was trying to hold it together.
“Upstairs with the boys.” A look of concern came across his face.
“I think there’s an intruder in the house,” and she recounted what had happened.
Michael pulled out his phone and called upstairs to Megan.
“Megan, are you and the boys safe?” He asked.
“I don’t want to alarm you, but there may be an intruder in the house.”
“No, I want you to stay there and lock the doors. I’m in the library with Vic. I’m going to call the police.”
“No, we can’t come up. They could still be in the house.”
“Calm down, everything is going to be okay. We have to be safe about this.”
“Yes, as soon as the police are here.”
“No, No, I’ll stay on the line,” Michael looked to Vic. “Can you call the police? Megan doesn’t want me to hang up.”
Vic nodded and called 911. The operator picked up and asked her what the emergency was. She told them they thought there was an intruder in the house. They have small children here. The operator tells her that she is sending it through to dispatch and officers should be there shortly. Michael continued to talk to Megan over the phone. Shortly there came a loud knock from the front door. Michael skurried out of the room to answer it. Vic was hot on his heels. No way was she going to stay alone. There was safety in numbers.
Michael unlocked the front doors and opened them. Two officers stood on the porch. They exchanged brief greetings and he let them into the house. The first officer was a tall African-American Man named Jones, and the other was a shorter African-American man named Smith.
Vic told them what happened to her. They asked her and Michael if one of the crewmen might have stayed behind to play a prank. They didn’t think so. Vic didn’t find it funny. The officers told them they should stay in the library until they were done searching the house. Michael told them he had to go get his wife and kids from upstairs. He was told to hurry up.
Megan and the kids were at the stairs and coming down by the time Michael got to them and Megan wrapped her arms around him. He held her close. The boys wanted to know what was going on. They were frightened and Liam was crying. Vic went over to Liam and took his hand. Michael ushered them all into the library.
“Now you lock that door. We’ll let you know when it’s safe to come out.” Officer Jones said.
Vic sat in one of the armchairs and pulled Liam into her lap. “It’s okay. There’s nothing to be worried about.”
Michael sat Megan down on the settee, and he sat with her. William clinging to her skirt. Michael had told her what had happened while they were on the phone waiting for the police to arrive.
They waited for what felt like ages. The boys finally fell asleep, Liam in Vic''s lap and William in Michael''s lap. The adults talked.
“Did you leave a door unlocked?” Megan asked.
“No, I always lock the doors every evening when the crew leaves,” Michael said.
“Maybe we should keep them locked even when they’re here,” Megan suggested.
“They come and go too often to be able to do that. I’ll have to double-check them later.” Michael said.
They sat there and waited for over an hour. The house was huge and there were many places someone could hide. Just when they thought that something had happened to the officers a knock came at the door.
“We’ve checked the whole house,” Came Officer Smith’s voice through the door.
Michael handed William over to Megan. He stood and went to the door, unlocked it, and opened it to let the officers in.
“Well…this house isn’t easy to search, that’s for sure,” said Officer Jones.
“The good news is that we didn’t find anybody here. We looked everywhere, and I do mean everywhere.” Said Officer Smith.
“But we did find a broken window in the basement. It’s more than likely somebody from the neighborhood, or a thrill-seeker broke it to get in.” Said Officer Jones.
Vic interjected. “I found the window broken yesterday. There was a bird that had gotten in.”
“Then the person probably found it while looking for a way in. When you went downstairs and saw them you startled them.” Said Officer Jones.
“They charged me! All the lights went out. I was terrified.” Vic said.
“Be that as it may the lighting in these old houses is wonky. It’s just a coincidence. I’m sure you spooked him as much as he spooked you. He must have gone right back out that window. I’d get that fixed sooner rather than later.” With that, they said their goodbyes and left.
“I’m going to check that window right now and make sure it’s boarded up properly. It must not have been secured right yesterday. You ladies head up and get some rest.” Michael went to lock the door behind the police.
Vic picked up Liam and carried him up behind Megan and helped her put the boys to bed. She then walked back down the hall to her room. When she stepped inside she locked the door behind her and then put the key in the desk drawer. She checked under her bed, behind furniture, and in the bathroom just in case. There was nobody there. She didn’t think she could sleep yet, so she grabbed her laptop and crawled under the covers.