Barbara shrugged it off wondering if the stories all her friends joked about with what they called “pregnancy brain” was responsible. Several of her old college friends had told stories of how they were sure they had done certain things or remembered to do certain chores while expecting, only to discover later they had been mistaken. It had something to do with how the hormonal changes, especially right at the end of the term could play tricks on the mind. She had never experienced such a phenomenon with either of her previous pregnancies, but she guessed there was a first time for everything. She must have been considering a new layout…or maybe had just zoned out in one of her many daydreams about what it was going to be like with little girls in the house. There seemed to be no other rational explanation.
She laughed at herself and simply rearranged all the things so that it all was as she had remembered it from before. She thought of mentioning the incident to Cole when he got home later, but the whole thing now seemed silly and she felt a bit embarrassed. The next morning, though, a new episode unfolded and Barbara knew this one was not due to her condition. Cole was even home at the time to witness it as well. They were all sitting around the dining room table enjoying breakfast when this inexplicable racket came from the nursery. They stopped mid-conversation and looked to one another. No one spoke. It was not a loud disturbance, but it definitely indicated that something across the hall was amiss. Cole left the table and went to investigate, followed closely by Barbara and the boys.
They crept into the nursery to find the old-fashioned train set which circumvented the room had derailed. Not only was there no apparent explanation for the derailing, as the setup had an elaborate system of miniature guard rails to prevent such a thing, but none of them had been in the room to have initiated the train’s circuit in the first place. They all looked to one another in astonishment and utter disbelief. There was no way to explain this other than an electrical surge that might have set the train in motion on its own. Cole knew it was an old building and certainly that was possible even though all the wiring had been redone during the renovation. He would have one of the electricians check it out.
Barbara thought back now to what had happened the day before. It seemed as if there was a possibility that something untoward was going on, but she kept the previous day’s event to herself all the same. Apparently, she was not suffering from “pregnancy brain” but if not, then what the hell was going on here? Her mind flashed for a quick second on the history associated with the house, but she brushed it away immediately as just too illogical and crazy. They returned to the dining room and it was not discussed further. When no additional oddities came on the heels of the train incident, everyone just went about their normal routines and it was soon forgotten.
……….
More weeks went by and the restorative construction to the lower level, the soon-to-be safe haven was moving along with great success. There had been significant damage to the whole floor from the fire, but the foremen of all the crews were relieved when they found that the foundation and major supports around the floor had suffered no serious damage. They shored up the affected supports and were making rapid strides in bringing the new space for the children that would be arriving here to fruition. Cole was amazed at their progress and sighed deeply in relief when he found out there had been no serious structural issues.
As Cole was going over the family’s finances one afternoon, the foreman from the largest construction crew approached Cole with the weekly status report on the safe haven rebuild.
“Mr. Caruthers? Is this a good time to go over the week’s progress notes?”
“Jeremy! Certainly…come in have a seat. Can I get you a drink?”
“No thank you, sir. I need to get back home as soon as we go over this week’s report.”
“Of course. Everything seems to be going well.”
“For the most part, sir. We have cleaned out all the debris from the fire and reinforced all the areas where there was any damage to supporting structures. That gave us a foundation to begin the new building of the walls. So far we are up to the height of the windows in the main room.”
“But you said for the most part?”
“I did, Mr. Carruthers. That is why I wanted to talk to you in person rather than just drop off a written report as we have been doing.”
“Problems?”
“In a manner of speaking. The work is no issue. It is some concerns that have been coming from the workers about working on site after dark.”
“Really? Do you need more lighting? Something like that?”
“No sir. Nothing like that. You have been exceptionally generous when it has come to providing us with whatever equipment and materials we need. And until the last week or so, everyone has had no problem with working days and then into the night. As you can imagine, these guys appreciate the bonus for working non-standard hours. They also know you want this completed as soon as possible and they want to accommodate your wishes.”
“But now working after dark is a problem?”
“For some of the men, yes.”
“What exactly are they worried about? Maybe I can fix this.”
“They have been vague, sir. And I was wondering…since we are ahead of schedule could we just have them continue in daylight hours?”
Cole had a feeling the stories about the old school were behind this. It could have been simple superstition or perhaps someone had seen something odd. Certainly after the incident with the miniature train in the nursery he was not about to trivialize anyone’s anxieties. He considered pushing the man for more information, but since they were way ahead of schedule he let it go. Cole figured having a content and unworried crew was more important than making this an issue. Besides, he thought Barbara might appreciate the extra peace and quiet that a normal daylight-only working schedule might entail.
“And it is not just my crew, sir. The supervisors from the other crews have come to me with similar requests after a couple of close calls this week when their guys were working at night.”
“Was anyone hurt?”
“Fortunately, no. Kevin’s crew was set up inside in the back of the house last Monday. They had good visibility from those flood lights you had sent over. They were running it off the main generator we all share. Kevin was kneeling down to take some measurements on the foundation to make sure of our last reinforcements there. He was alone and from seemingly out of nowhere, this brick flew across the room just missing his hard hat and smashed on the back wall. If he had not been bent over so low, I am sure it would have hit him directly in the temple.”
“My, God!”
“Based on the flight of the brick, it had to have come from somewhere inside the house. But as I said he was all alone that night.”
“No one knows anything?”
“No one is saying anything. The crews all get along great, too, so that made it even more curious. A couple other minor mishaps. Nothing as serious as that, just human error. But once the story about Kevin got out? Well you know how it is when rumors and idle talk start.”
“I do, Jeremy. Sure. Let’s cut back to just daylight hours then. No point in taking unnecessary risks. And if it makes the men feel better, I’m all for that. Your guys have been very professional and the work is extraordinary. No problem.”
“Thank you, sir. I will pass this along. We will have all three crews back at it first thing tomorrow morning. Please send all my best to Mrs. Caruthers and your boys.”
“I will, Jeremy. Thanks again for all your hard work and for coming to me with this.”
Cole sat silently at the table and mulled over the conversation he had just had with his chief foreman. He did not know exactly what to make of it other than he wanted the men to feel safe and worry-free so the safe haven could be ready as soon as possible. Cole was not a man prone to taking stock in bad auras being attached to buildings based on past history, but after what he and Barbara had come to accept as the truth of the old Hellingly Scho
ol, it gave him pause.
The Nanny
Cole gave Barbara a broad overview of what Jeremy had come to him with. Not to scare her, but just to get her insight based on what they had observed in the nursery as well as her intimate knowledge of the dark past of the old school. Barbara agreed that it was odd as well, but like Cole she was not prone to belief in any kind of forces from the past reaching out to harm them. She had spent a large proportion of her time working with various native inhabitants around the globe dispelling such beliefs and dogma. After all that, she hardly felt like she could fall prey to it herself.
Despite their best efforts, though, and the new work schedule to have the renovations just continue in daylight hours, the incident of accidents and mishaps continued. Materials went mysteriously missing, workers were coming down with odd fevers and other maladies, and the frequency of miscellaneous construction accidents began to rise. No one was ever seriously injured, and all were eventually written off to human error through either inattention or carelessness, but it seemed to Cole and Barbara like it was an unusually high count. Jeremy and the other foremen agreed. In all their combined years in the industry, none of them could recall such a run of accidents. And their crews were all seasoned, experienced builders.
Soon, though, the renovation was nearing completion and the offset part of the safe haven, the section that sat adjacent to the gate house but not under it was fitted with a roof. You could see the relief in the eyes of everyone as the final few pieces of the project were nearing completion. The one major installation left was the insertion of a wide staircase that joined the large lower level of the haven to the smaller upper level that would run up even with the 2nd floor of the gate house. It was a huge object and all three crews were on site to make sure everything went smoothly. The risers were being secured and Cole looked over as he saw Jeremy sigh deeply with relief, and he gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up in thanks.
Cole and Barbara then ascended the newly installed staircase walking gingerly using a section that the foremen assured them was fully secure. They topped out on the upper level and stood to watch as the workers continued, securing the remainder of the steps that would finish the rough construction of the new space. They both smiled broadly as they peered around, both imagining what the final version would look like when it was full of children. Barbara took a step closer to the edge of the stairs as Cole glanced away hearing a sound that startled him unexpectedly. He heard Barbara gasp and cry out and he spun to see her teetering on the top step, her balance awkward from the pregnancy and making her tip toward the flight of unfinished stairs.
He quickly reached out and caught her falling body, pulling her roughly onto him as he pulled them both back onto the landing, sending a huge cloud of sawdust upward as workers ran to them immediately to help. It was a panic that Cole had never experienced before in his life and he held to her tightly as he pushed them away from the edge. Once the emergency was over, the workers dispersed and Cole got Barbara to her feet.
“You OK?”
“I…uh…yeah, I think so.”
“You just lose your balance, Barbara?”
She did not answer right away. Partly she was catching her breath and partly she wanted to make sure what had just happened had not been her imagination.
“Barbara?”
“It, uh…promise you won’t think I am crazy?”
“Crazy?”
“My balance was fine, Cole. Someone tried to push me down the steps, Cole!”
He looked at her with disbelief in what he had heard.
“It was just you and me, Barbara. What are you talking about?”
“When you looked away at that loud clatter? I felt hands on my belly that shoved me toward the steps?”
“You what?”
“I knew you would think I was insane!”
Barbara was now shaking and sobbing even though it was all over and she was safe.
“Maybe just a contraction pain, and…”
“Goddamn it, Cole! After three pregnancies, I think I know the difference between a contraction and the sensation of hands on me shoving!”
Cole went silent as her outburst had drawn the attention of the workers.
“I felt hands on me, Cole…” Barbara continued in a quieter voice, the workers turning away and going about their work as before. “I felt fingers and hands on my belly and someone or something tried to shove me down the stairs!”
He pulled her close not knowing what to think or say.
“Let’s go home and we can talk.”
“OK…sure…we can…”
Barbara’s reply was cut off as she cried out in pain and sunk to her knees.
“Barbara!” Cole shouted as he fell to collect her.
“Well…it’s contractions, now. Better get me to the hospital…”
………..
Cole got a couple of the workers to help him and he got Barbara to the car and rushed her to The Carleton Clinic, just west of Upperby Park. The shock of the episode apparently had brought on her contractions and the twin girls, Chloe and Yolande, were born later that night. Despite the rush to the hospital, Barbara delivered the twins with no complications and a few days later, after her doctors had cleared her completely, Barbara and Cole returned home to Carlisle to join the rest of the family at the gate house.
Despite her assurances that she was fine, Cole could see that Barbara was worn out upon her return home. He waved off her refusals for extra help, as she tried unconvincingly to tell him this had been just another pregnancy. Cole knew her well enough, though, to see the real fatigue and weariness in her face. He knew the twins would require more attention than Barbara was anticipating and he was also not so sure her near fall on the staircase just prior to the twins’ delivery was not contributing to her lagging energy level as well.
“Barbara…I am sure you are more than capable. But how about we look into some help, at least initially, until you get all your energy back?”
Barbara sighed with resignation, admitting to herself that he had a point. The delivery of Chloe and Yolande had been more of an ordeal than either of the boys had been, even though there had been no complications. She would have been fine, but she also realized she was not as young as she had been in her previous pregnancies, and she appreciated his concern. Though they had not discussed it openly, her near fall was still much in her mind as well, and she was sure Cole was considering this as well.
“OK…you may be right. Maybe a part-time nanny, just until I am back on my feet more completely.”
“That’s my girl! I’ll talk to some of the neighbors and see who they might recommend and get you some assistance right away. In the meantime, the boys and I are at your disposal.”
True to his promise, Cole went to see a number of the mothers in the area and they all agreed that this was an excellent idea. Almost without exception, the women recommended Laura Houghton. She had worked for a number of the mothers in a similar capacity and they all raved about her. Laura came by the Shawcroft House to meet with Barbara and Cole formally following his offer to her based on references and recommendations of the mothers in Carlisle. Barbara was immediately impressed by her experience and demeanor during the interview and she agreed to come work for them beginning the next day.
Initially, Laura’s tenure with the Caruthers was uneventful. Her interactions with Chloe and Yolande were evidence of her vast experience and expertise in dealing with newborn infants, and each successive day seemed to be a boon to Barbara as she was able to rest more and gain back her old vitality much sooner than had Laura not come onboard. However, with no warning Laura informed Cole and Barbara that this Friday would be her last day with them. She had only fulfilled two weeks of the originally agreed upon one to two month tenure.
“Is something wrong, Laura?” Barbara asked as she peered into the pale and drawn face of the woman.
“Just my health, missus. This malady has come on me and I am afraid I can no longer perfo
rm the duties required to the level I expect of myself.”
“Would you like to take a few days to rest and come back?” Cole asked.
“Thank you, sir, but no. This is not something that is just going to resolve itself on a few days’ rest. I appreciate your kindness in the offer, but I am afraid I must leave immediately. Please accept my deepest apologies for the abrupt notice.”
Cole looked at Barbara and she just nodded with a raise of her eyebrows.
“Certainly, Laura. We understand. Your health is the most important thing.”
“I hate leaving you in a lurch.”
“It will be fine, Laura. We will manage.” Barbara said as she shook her hand and wished her well.
Cole saw her to the door and returned to the nursery to talk to Barbara.
“Let me ask you something, Barbara. You read these things much better than I do, but did it seem like she was hiding something? Maybe using declining health as an excuse to cover something?”
“I am not sure. From my experience, though, her body language and her facial expressions sure did point in that direction.”
“She was pretty pale and drawn-looking, though. Certainly not the robust and energetic girl we hired.”
“True, but it was her facial expression that made me suspicious.”
“How so?”
“She just looked very nervous and anxious. Almost to the point of being frightened about something. Her eyes were jumpy and darting around like she could not wait to get away.”
“Think maybe she saw or heard something here like what happened to us before the girls arrived? That she knew of the history of this place and put two and two together?”
“Very likely. Her reaction to me was more of fright than ill health.”
“So what now? Want me to see if I can find a replacement?”
“It would be nice. I am feeling much stronger lately, but if we can find some help for just a couple weeks more that would be great. In the meantime. I will be fine.”
Haunted House Tales Page 36