Cole and Barbara shook his hand again as he saw them out. Matthew had told them he should have the paperwork prepared for them within a week or so, at which time they could come back in to sign off on the sale. Cole and Barbara returned that evening to Wetheral thrilled that they had found what seemed like the perfect location for this new project. They wanted to collect Zady and Vince and come back in a few days to locate some temporary housing while the renovation of the Shawcroft House was underway. True to his word, Matthew Garrity called them in just three days to let them know that the British Heritage Society was thrilled that they were interested in the old school and that its use would be for such a noble cause. In actuality, the British Heritage Society was just as relieved and hopeful as Garrity over the proposed sale. They were hoping the dark cloud that had hung over Carlisle for so long was soon to be lifted. It seemed like the perfect solution for everyone involved.
Emotions Unblocked
In anticipation of taking ownership of the Shawcroft House, Cole and Barbara packed up their belongings and moved with Zady and Vince to a small country home in Brisco, a small village just south of Carlisle. It was peaceful and quiet for Barbara while she entered into the last half of her pregnancy, the boys loved the wide-open countryside that let them explore to their hearts’ content, and it was close enough to the renovation site for Cole to keep tabs on the progress there. What Cole wanted was for them to be in their new digs before the twins arrived. They could deal with whatever might get thrown at them, as life around the globe in not so modern locales had taught them over the years, but this was the plan.
To ensure that they stayed on track, Cole hired three different groups of contractors to take on the mammoth project of getting the run down and neglected Shawcroft House move-in ready in that time frame. He realized that the lower level where the children’s haven was to be located might take longer as the fire most likely had damaged structural parts of the old house. However, he was insistent that the 2-story upper level be a priority for his expectant wife. It was an ambitious goal that he had set before the teams, but everyone had full confidence that it could be accomplished on time.
The buzz of activity that the three teams of workers had created was impossible to conceal from the locals, and many of the overly curious began to drop by regularly to watch and comment on the progress of the renovation. Despite its growing size, Carlisle still retained a lot of the attitudes and behaviors of a small town. They were initially very stand-offish with the Carruthers as work began on the property. But as they talked with and spent more time with Cole and Barbara, they all warmed to them quickly. Idle gossip had originally passed around the rumor of wealthy outsiders that were creating an elaborate private retreat for themselves.
However, once more and more of the neighbors actually talked to Cole and heard of what he and Barbara had done previously and what they wanted to do by reviving the old school, the rumors just vanished. Cole had this way of charming almost anyone, a skill he had acquired from their work in getting various third world officials to work with them. After a few weeks, it was like they had known Cole and Barbara all their lives. It had been a long time since Barbara had felt this true sense of community and neighbors, but everything they were experiencing with the people of Carlisle made her sure finding this old stone relic had not been by sheer chance.
What had once been stares and whispers among the neighbors when they had first arrived were long gone, being replaced with wide smiles, warm inclusion as part of Carlisle, and offers of help to get them settled in and they were made to feel at home quickly. Part of the reluctance of the locals, other than a natural resistance based on the rumors about the Caruthers that ended up being false, was the memory of what the Hellingly School had once been. It was this sort of dark secret that they all harbored, not daring to even recall those horrific times for fear of the bad omens that might unleash. It was a modern city now, but a lot of the old superstitions and outdated ways of thinking still persisted as they often had throughout small villages in England.
Much as had been the case with Matthew Garrity, many of the local residents were burdened with guilt and shame over what this little dark secret represented to them. They could talk about it freely among themselves, but to open up about it with outsiders was another thing. It had become like a family humiliation that was only allowable for discussion if you were a member of the family. However, as time went by and the locals got more comfortable with the Carruthers and what they had planned for the property, tongues began to loosen and soon Cole and Barbara were taken into the inner circle, as it was, and the whole tale of what the Hellingly House had been was made known to them as well.
Barbara felt her eyes fill with tears when the total Hellingly disgrace was made known to her. Cole as well felt a stab of pain in his chest as he listened to all the details of the scandal. They had seen many examples of evil perpetrated in many countries during their years of service abroad. Some in a twisted interpretation of some religion, some when a grab for political or military power was the end game, and some just from delusional or uneducated people who simply did not or could not realize the damage they were inflicting upon themselves. Most of the time it was intentional to achieve a goal, while sometimes it was unintentional. But in all cases, Cole and Barbara chalked it up to a society that was still evolving spiritually and emotionally. To have this type of thing happen in Britain, though? It was soul crushing…
Later that night, once Zady and Vince had headed off to bed, Cole and Barbara talked it all over with the hopes that maybe they could ease each other’s minds with all they had just learned.
“You suppose it is really true, Cole?”
“I suppose it could just be one of those legends that gets created and then enhanced and over blown over the years. But in my gut? In my heart?”
“Yeah?”
“I am afraid it may have been very real. All too real. Just what my instincts are telling me.”
“Me, too. I was hoping maybe I was reading it wrong, but if both of us are picking up that feeling, then it sure does seem likely it is true.”
“Guess that is why it has been sitting empty for so long.”
“Yep. And all those odd looks you mentioned when we first began to ask about the property? I think you may have been right. I just did not notice.”
“We’re way into the renovation, too. What are your thoughts on it all now? You know, considering what we have learned now.”
“Does seem like we have passed the point of no return on it, doesn’t it? Even if we call off the renovations at this point, it seems we will still own it. Only then all we would own would be a half-finished pile of stone.”
“I agree. I guess we could always claim that this should have been disclosed at the time of sale. Go back at Garrity with something.”
“Perhaps. But he did give us some of the back story. My guess is the town just wanted the place off their hands and we just did not probe deep enough. From what I know from my limited background in this, I am not sure we would have much of a leg to stand on in that regard. And would it really be worth the money and ill will we would create for all these poor people here with a messy legal wrangle?”
“Probably not. So I guess that leaves us with two options. One…we pull the plug and start over from scratch. Huge downside there is financial and whether we can even find anything else. Remember how long and hard we looked to find this place?”
Barbara nodded and pressed her lips together in a grim smile.
“You said two options?”
“Uh-huh…or we can just move ahead with our plans and like many of our new neighbors have mentioned, hope that this new chapter in the house will cleanse it of its ignominious history.”
“You have strong feelings one way or the other?”
“I do. But I’d like to hear your opinion. I would accept whatever you feel is best.”
Barbara sighed and ran her hand over her swollen belly.
“I’
m for moving ahead. I think we can make a real difference in the lives of the people and the children here in Carlisle. I am not minimizing or diminishing what went on here. Not at all. But maybe we can wash away the misguided actions of the old Hellingly School.”
“That would be my choice as well. With one condition.”
“Yes?”
“Maybe shield as much of this story from Zady and Vince as we can? They are at critical ages. I am sure they could handle it based on all that they saw when we were abroad, but I am not sure I want them to have to.”
“Yeah…good point. At some point they are bound to discover it anyway, from school mates or elsewhere, but if we can delay that? I am all for that…”
“Good enough then. We move ahead.”
…………
The locals were somewhat afraid that once the secret of the Hellingly School had gotten out that the Carruthers would turn tail and head back to Wetheral. When work continued as if nothing had changed, Cole and Barbara gained a newfound respect and admiration from their new neighbors. There was nothing said directly to them, but in the faces and eyes and smiles of the Carlisle residents, Cole and Barbara were now held in high regard. Just as Cole had requested, five months after the first team had begun on the upper levels of the house, it finished right on schedule. A very waddly Barbara along with Cole, Zady, and Vince moved into the incredibly wonderful 2-story living space above the old charred lower level, which Cole and Barbara now referred to as the gate house. They considered for a time a change in the name of the Shawcroft House, but in the end, they saw no reason for it. Old mayor Shawcroft, they had learned, had been instrumental in the downfall of the abysmal Hellingly School. It was the least they could do to continue to honor his name by keeping the title of the property unchanged.
The locals, who had been highly impressed with the intentions and character and persistence of the Carruthers already, were now holding them in almost mythic proportions when it was announced that the Shawcroft House would continue to be recognized as such. Cole and Barbara could hardly believe what the gate house had become based on what the work crews had had to start with. They stood in utter awe of the skill and craftsmanship of the space they were now to be living in. After fifteen years of living like nomads, they would have loved anything. But this? It was beyond mere words, Cole thought to himself…
The construction crews move on to tackle the real challenge once the Carruthers were settled into the gate house: bringing the charred remains of the ground level back to an equally praise-worthy space for the abandoned and orphaned children that would soon fill its walls. Barbara progressed into her third trimester and was soon finding that the stress and toll of carrying twins was more than she had ever experienced with either of her previous pregnancies. She had tried mightily to stay actively involved in the design of the twins’ new nursery, but she just could not physically do it anymore. She loved the boys dearly, but having twin girls was a dream come true for her.
She did what she could and then turned over the final design work and decorating to Sylvia Bearsted, a woman in town who was highly regarded by all the mothers in the neighborhood that Barbara had met. She was asleep one afternoon when Cole came and gently roused her.
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
“No, Barbara. I just need for you to see something.”
He helped her to her feet and then supported her as she walked gingerly down the hallway. Just as they approached a T intersection, they turned left and Cole held his hand over her eyes.
“What are you doing?”
“You trust me?”
“Of course.”
“Then just relax and come with me.”
Cole used one arm to help her along, and the other hand to cover her eyes. They walked a few more steps and Cole led Barbara to a doorway and dropped his hand from her face.
“Voila, my dear!”
Barbara squinted against the sudden flood of sunlight from the window after Cole removed his hand and her jaw dropped in amazement. She covered her mouth with her hands as her eyes filled with tears as she looked upon the new nursery. The room was awash in organza, the pastel hues a delight in every direction. The room had been outfitted with every imaginable finery available. Entertaining mobiles of animals and cartoon characters spun lazily in the shaft of sunlight over the cribs, humorous and delightful stuffed animals inhabited nearly every available space, the walls were decorated with images to capture the imagination of the soon-to-arrive twins. It was a paradise, Barbara thought, as she wiped away her tears. It was everything she had had in her mind’s eye when beginning the design of the room. But the creativity and vision of Sylvia Bearsted had by far surpassed anything she might have been capable of just on her own.
“You like it, Barbara?”
“Oh, Cole…it’s…”
She could not find the words. How was it she had come to be the recipient of all of this? Barbara Carruthers was not a woman prone to uncontrolled emotional outbursts. The demands and challenges of working in the third world for struggling indigenous peoples had not allowed for it. But for the first time since she was a little girl, she was at a loss for words and just let her emotions out to speak for her…
Oddities
Barbara and Cole spent the next few weeks discussing the logistics of getting the safe haven up and running once the extensive repairs from the charred bottom level were completed. They had contacted a number of social services agencies both in and out of England who had expressed interest in their project. Within the immediate area, they already had a few governmental departments that were more than thrilled at having a well-funded outlet at their disposal as many were already operating on budgets that were currently being pushed to their limits. In addition to those contacts, many agencies that were well acquainted with Cole and Barbara from their years of service in just about every underdeveloped place known that catered to the needs of children at risk, had let them know they were open and ready to offer any assistance, both financial and otherwise, that they might need.
The peace and solace of their new digs, the gate house, was broken only by the occasional clatter of the construction work that was in full swing below. The on and off racket might have annoyed most, but each sound of a hammer or a drill or some other worker’s tool only let Cole and Barbara know that their dream was closer to realization. The boys, who had their own rooms across from the new nursery, were spending time making their own private spaces unique for themselves. The whole idea of having their own rooms was so new that at first they both seemed a bit overwhelmed at the prospect itself. But they soon reverted to the mindset that young boys everywhere possessed and if a stranger had dropped by to visit they never would have known.
The remaining bedroom suite was a large master room for Cole and Barbara that was adjoined to the nursery so they could keep a close watch on the twins once they arrived. Otherwise it was an expansive, yet modest layout. A large living area with a huge fireplace that the workers had skillfully crafted to rescue the original that had been part of the school’s headmaster’s suite when the building went up near the turn of the century. It led into a formal dining room and was offset by a sunny and open solarium across the hallway. The original room had been some sort of playroom for the children of the Hellingly School—at least that was what it had been intended for. But when the truth about the school came out, it was anyone’s guess what the room had actually been used for since there had been no evidence of play anywhere at the Hellingly.
Cole and Barbara tried not to think about that too much and just saw the potential for converting the space to a solarium which they were sure would thrill their kids as well as themselves on cooler days. The last room of significance was a large and well-appointed kitchen that had all the bells and whistles that Barbara had dreamed of in a permanent home of her own. It was not extravagant, just efficiently and smartly designed to accommodate the growing family. And for those first few weeks of their new residence, life
was quiet and nothing out of the ordinary happened. They were just another average family in Carlisle going through the everyday routines that all the residents around them pursued.
However, a few days later, Barbara dropped by the nursery just to look around as she did routinely a few times a week. She would just sit and daydream about what it was going to be like when the twins came home after their births. She gazed at the toys and paintings on the wall and the delicate fabrics that made up the magical room and just sighed in appreciation and happiness. But on this day, when she entered the nursery she could not help but notice the usual order of a lot of the stuffed animals and toys were conspicuously out of their normal places. It was not a big deal, but it did catch her eye immediately.
“Zady! Vince!”
The boys came running immediately finding their mother standing in the center of the room.
“Do either of you notice anything different in the nursery?”
They peered around, then looked at each other with puzzled expressions,
“We don’t come in here, Mum…” Zady replied as his brother gazed at the display with wonderment. “This is not our space. It’s just for Chloe and Yolande when they arrive.”
“So neither of you has been in here? Maybe just to peek around and play?”
“No, Mum…” they both replied in unison.
“OK…thank you.”
They both returned to the solarium where they had been playing wondering what she was talking about. Their father had mentioned to them in private that they might notice some behavior from their mother near the end of her pregnancy that might seem odd or out of place. They just shrugged and assumed that maybe this was part of that. Barbara stared at them as they ran off. Neither Zady nor Vince had ever been anything but completely open, honest, and forthright with them since they had been very young and she saw no reason that this was not the case now.
Haunted House Tales Page 35