Pushing the button again she finally has success.
“Can I help you?” The nurse asks in a snippy tone.
“Yes please, did anyone come to my room this evening after dinner?”
“Visiting time is over so I doubt anyone has been to see you.” She replies impatiently.
“Are you certain?”
“I’m reasonably sure.” She replies in the same tone.
“Okay.” She thinks, “Would you mind coming in my room for a moment? Something has dropped from my bedside table and I can’t reach it.”
She sighs, “Can’t this wait until morning? I have my rounds to make and this will cause me to fall behind.”
Ellen quickly replies, “I’m sorry to be a bother or cause you to get behind in your rounds but I need you to come to my room and assist me.” Her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Fine. Be there in a sec.” She replies in a huff.
A few moments later she enters the room as if a gust of wind blew through the doors. She flips on the overhead light then briskly walks to Ellen’s bedside.
“So, where is it? Where’s the ‘thing’ you dropped that could not wait for the morning?” She snaps at her.
“Whoa, what’s with the rude bedside manner?”
She snorts in response, “All of you Hollywood types are the same, you expect special treatment just because you are famous. Your entitlement is disgusting, and I want to keep my job so that’s the only reason I am in here serving you.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you but I am far from the entitled Hollywood type you assume that I…”
The nurse cuts her off, “Who are you kidding, you broke up a marriage and then fled back here to hide when the going got tough. No, maybe you aren’t the entitled type. I mean that takes a lot of courage to demand so much of others, you are just a coward.”
“How dare you!” Ellen spats.
“How dare I what?” The nurse challenges.
“They should not allow you to speak to any patient that way. I don’t care one bit about who you think I am, but I am lying here in a hospital after a vicious attack on me and my family. You have no right to address me that way.”
The nurse shrugs her shoulders while moving around to the other side of the bed. Leaning down she picks up the object then examines it before holding it up for Ellen to see.
As Ellen’s blood turns cold, the nurse turns the object over in her hand again then holds it out, “All of this over a stupid figurine?”
Snatching it out of her hand, Ellen ignores her last comment while muttering “Thanks. That’s all I needed.”
As she exits the room in yet another huff, Ellen is so fixed on the small yellow bird figurine she hardly notices the nurse leave.
Her mind races as she tries to remember the last time she saw the little bird. Turning the bird over again in her hand, she examines every inch of the little object made of resin. Chipped in several places she runs her finger over the dents as if something injured the bird.
Soft tears trickle down Ellen’s face as she remembers a time when her life was simple and carefree. The life she is living now is anything but the life she had imagined when she was a child.
But then rarely do the daydreams of a child come true.
She drifts back to sleep with all the lights on in her room and the little bird clutched in her hand.
Chapter Six
“Let me show you how to fire this baby up.” Ron, the alarm technician motions for Tim to follow him to the mudroom.
“As you can see, this keypad is a state-of-the art, top of the line technology. You can arm, disarm, and set off panic from any of the pads I installed. Oh, and the best part is you can do all of that from your cellular device too, just as long as it’s a smarty phone.” He says excitedly.
“That’s good. I want to feel safe in my own home and this seems capable of doing the trick. Now Ron, how much did you say this is setting me back?” Tim asks with a raise to his brow.
“Okay Tim, it’s all installed, it’s too late to back out now, and you said whatever it costs, and don’t forget this is the Safeguard Home 3000.”
Tim scoffs, “Oh no, I’m not trying to back out, I’m all in and I meant what I said about the cost, I just have to break the news to the head of finance, that’s all. Surely you know what that’s like.”
“Oh boy do I ever.” He leans in “I’m already giving you the friend discount, but I will knock ten percent off that if you get that girl of yours to give an autograph for my niece. She’s a huge fan.” He chuckles.
Tim lightly slaps Ron on the back, “You got it. Let me go fetch my checkbook.”
As Tim goes the den, Ron presses buttons on the alarm pad causing bleeps and dings to fill the otherwise silent house.
Ellen steps out from the shadows once she is certain Tim is out of earshot.
“Ron?” She says quietly.
He doesn’t answer. She says his name softly again but with the bells and bleeps he is creating he still does not hear her.
“Ron!” She says quickly with an exclamation point.
“Huh? What?” He shouts.
“Shhhh. I don’t want him to hear me.”
“Well hello Ellen, I didn’t see you standing there, you sure gave me a fright though. Good thing I don’t wear a pacemaker otherwise the medics would have been dispatched by now.” He says in a boisterous voice which causes Ellen to wince.
“I’m sorry, I just don’t want my dad to overhear me in here. I want to pay for the alarm system and whatever other security measures you can think of. When I told him that I wanted to pay, he wouldn’t hear of it, but I don’t care, it’s the least I can do for them.”
Patting her on the arm, he says in a kindly voice, “You’re a good daughter but I can’t think of much else than this system unless you are inclined to get a Doberman frothing at the mouth.”
Ellen giggles “Yeah, I don’t think even a ferocious dog could have stopped that guy the other night. It was like he was the Terminator on steroids.”
“In that case, you might want to consider a taser gun. That’s ‘bout the only thing left. Knowing how your mama feels about guns, I bet that won’t even slip past her, I would go the big dog route.”
Shaking her head with a slight scowl, “I am with her on the gun subject and I can’t imagine that going well. I just see myself dropping it on the floor or worse yet the intruder getting control of it and turning it on me. A dog, I daresay, is a better prospect as I can’t even imagine a taser working for me either.”
Ron laughs, “Judging by your maneuvers in the movies I’d say you are selling yourself short.”
“Oh Ron, surely you don’t believe I do all those stunts myself?” She laughs but stops once she sees that Ron has a straight face with the look of disappointment plastered on it. “But I have a few moves that I might have been able to use had the circumstances been different.”
He smiles then says, “Listen, I am all for you paying, just how do you want me to handle old Tim? He’s a stubborn one.”
“You don’t have to tell him. Let me give you my card information and you can run it back at the office. Take his check but just shred it.”
Nodding, “Sounds like a plan little lady.” Ron says in his best southern drawl.
“What’s a plan?” Tim’s voice bellows from the doorway.
“Oh, nothing he was just saying that he could come back to do more training on the system if we need to. I told him that we would let him know once mom is back.”
She winks at Ron and he nods with gusto.
“Well yes, that does sound like a plan. Now that the system is installed I will feel better about having both of my favorite ladies here.”
As Tim and Ron put their heads together to discuss the details of the system, Ellen slips out the French doors to the deck for some fresh air. The sun is sitting low over the hills casting a yellow and orange glow off the water. She wanders down to the dock with her eyes fixed on the place wh
ere she found the locket just weeks ago. Reaching into her jacket pocket, her fingers wrap around the worn bird figurine. She hasn’t shown it to Tim yet. When she does, a whole another inquiry will ensue.
They thought the figurine was lost a long time ago when they moved from their cottage to the manor. It was a gift from Ellen’s grandmother visiting from Switzerland. It was part of a larger set, but over time, Ellen lost or broke the little resin family of birds. The little yellow bird with the cracked beak is all that is left.
At the end of the dock, Ellen sits down with her feet in a crossed position under her. She pulls the bird out of her pocket to give it further examination which takes her back to a time that her life was innocent and carefree. A time that she now mourns.
Like most people, she has zero recollection of her early years. These memories though are quite vivid to her. Though having heard her dad tell this story, several times has likely influenced her recollections. Her grandparents were visiting from Geneva and brought the set of birds with them. Though she was young, being only three years old, Ellen still remembers her grandmother smelling of something sweet like sugar cookies and how warm the August day was when she gave her the gift. It was a warm summer day when they arrived. Ellen had been playing in the yard when Tim pulled up in the family station wagon. It was exciting to see the people get out of the car with suitcases, talking in a strange language. Her mother came bounding out of the house chattering away in the same tongue further confusing Ellen.
Scooped up by the old man, Ellen screamed for her mommy. Melody laughed and taking pity on the little girl, she wrapped her in her arms and carried her inside following their guests through the door into the little cottage.
Once settled, they gathered outside by the lake under the cascading willow tree. Sitting at the white iron table drinking fresh squeezed lemonade and eating little cookies from a tin that her grandmother produced. She called Ellen over to her and pulled her onto her lap. She whispered in her ear, “Would you like a present?”
Nodding with her blonde piggy tails bouncing, the old woman pulled out a small package with pink and white floral print wrapping. Excitedly she ripped open the package much like any small child would do. The small pieces of torn paper fell to the ground like confetti at a parade. Opening the box, she tossed the tissue to the side to reveal the little family of three resin birds in bright yellow, blue, and white.
“What do you say to grandma?” Her mother coaxed.
“Thank you,” She squeaked.
“You are welcome.” She replied with her thick accent.
Ellen studied the little birds lined up on the table then pointing with her little finger she said, “Daddy,” to the blue bird, then she pointed to the white bird, “Baby bird.” Then pointing to the yellow bird, she exclaimed in a high-pitched voice, “That’s mommy!”
“Ellen?” Tim shouts from the covered porch. “Ellen?”
Quickly wiping away a stray tear, she stands up to respond while placing the bird back in her pocket. “Over here!”
“Oh good. Hey, do you want to ride with me to town to pick up Kathy? I thought maybe we could stay and eat at Galucci’s?” He is still hollering over the expanse between them.
Running up the path she hollers back, “Sounds great! When do we need to leave?”
“Now. She will meet us there, she’s getting a table as we speak.”
“Sounds good. Let me just grab my purse and change my jacket.”
“Meet you at the truck.” He says over his shoulder.
Running up the stairs into the house on up to her room, she plays the scene with her grandparents over in her head while humming an unfamiliar tune. In her room she stows the bird under a stack of sweaters in the walk-in closet. Slipping into a warmer coat, she grabs her purse then meets Tim out in the driveway where he is waiting in the truck with the motor running.
“Now check out how slick this is, I will set the alarm from my phone. Can you believe this technology?”
“Yeah, that’s pretty advanced, especially for you.” She teases.
“Careful there, I might just surprise you. Just as much as you surprise me sometimes.”
He looks at her with a knowing nod of his head, “Ron told me that you settled up my bill. I told you that you didn’t need to do that.”
“What I need to do and what I want to do are entirely different things and it is my pleasure to do something for you and mom.”
“Why couldn’t you just treat me to an ice cream? You didn’t need to spend a fortune and I know it was a small fortune despite the friend discount.”
The truck hits a pothole sending the occupants lurching forward.
“Oof, now maybe I should help pay for repairs on this road!”
Laughing in unison, they forget the torment of the past several days for the moment, but tomorrow’s troubles are just around the next bend.
Chapter Seven
She says sleepily into the phone, “Hello?”
“Ellie! Wake up! I have news for you!”
“Who is this?” Ellen replies while struggling to sit up in bed.
He sighs heavy into the phone, “Come on, don’t play these games. Something big just came in for you. Now wake up and I will tell you all the juicy details!”
“Okay Vincent, just give me a sec.” She moans.
“Hey, hey, why so formal?”
“No reason, I’m just groggy. Give me a minute to go downstairs.”
He scoffs, “Go get caffeinated, I’ll wait.”
“Wouldn’t you rather if I called you back?”
“Nope, I will wait right here. This is too good to wait for you to call me back in two hours.”
“Fine. Suit yourself.” She says as she enters the kitchen to find a full pot of coffee sitting on the counter next to it, a plate of what appears to be cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven. “Ugh, I’m going to put on weight at this rate.”
“No! No! You may not put a single ounce on little lady. And if you’ve had your coffee, I would love to tell you why.”
Taking a long satisfying sip of coffee, she sits back in a chair that offers her a panoramic view of the lake. After taking a large bite of the decadent bun she says, “Okay, let me hear it.”
“Uh-uh, tell me you didn’t just shove something fattening in your mouth?”
“Vinny!” She scolds.
“Okay, anyway. Remember that new director based in France, Jacques Laurent? I was telling you about him before you ran away.”
She rolls her eyes, “Yes. You mean the one rumored to still live with his mother?”
“And what is wrong with that?”
She starts to respond, but he interrupts, “Oh never mind, don’t answer. He landed that epic film starring Gerald Montague.” He exclaims.
She yawns.
“Hello? Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“Oh, sure. Congratulations to uh, whatever his name is.”
“Congratulations to what’s his name? Is that all?”
Growing impatient she takes another large bite of the bun, “What does any of this have to do with me?”
“He wants YOU to star opposite Gerald-Monta-Freaking-Gue... can you imagine? Gerald Montague! That’s what it has to do with you. Do you have any idea what this would mean for me? I mean you?”
She scoffs, “Yeah, I know what it would mean for you. What’s the script?”
“Well. I was getting to that.” He says with a tinge of hesitation.
“Out with-it V.”
“It’s about a woman who gets abducted then she falls in love with her abductor. Right in your wheelhouse wouldn’t you say?”
“Uh, well I guess if you like to romanticize Stockholm Syndrome.” She snaps.
“I thought you’d be excited. What’s with the lousy attitude? You don’t even have to read for the part. The director said, and I quote, ‘I want Ellen Jackson and there is to be no other auditions for this role. You get me her and I will let you stay in my chateau whe
never you want. So, you see, I simply must get you to say yes. Oh, and the money they are offering you is ridiculous.”
She sighs.
“You know V, I’m just not in it for the money anymore. I need substance. Have you personally reviewed the script yet?”
He clears his throat, “Well not yet but let’s just say that I’m certain that if Jacques Laurent is willing to put his name to the production, it should be good enough for you! Now what’s it gonna be?”
“I guess I can look at it.”
He squeals.
“But no promises Vinny, I mean it. Send me the script and I will let you know. When do they go into production?”
“They want to go into production in March. Before you say it, I know that is cutting it close with ‘The Sisters of Monarch Valley’ but it is due to wrap no later than late February. I will make a few calls and make certain that they know you are on a tight schedule.”
“My contract is iron-clad. If they want to keep me into March that is their right. Don’t forget we might have delays already because of my injuries. I just wonder why they waited so long to cast for such a large role? It seems so last minute.”
“That’s Hollywood baby. And, details you need not concern yourself with, now why don’t you just leave those annoying little details with me? Okay! Now, be a love and tell me more about the rugged wilderness where you are communing with nature, it will serve as a reminder for me to appreciate the concrete and skyscrapers I am looking at. And just how bad is your face? Do you really think you won’t need surgery? I’m relieved because the studio found a body double since you have that vile cast.” He gushes.
“Oh Vinny, just send me the script.”
“It’s already on its way, I overnighted it to you yesterday. It should be there by late day. Bye!”
He hangs up before she chastises him for his assumptions.
“Unbelievable.” She mutters under her breath.
Placing her coffee cup and the breakfast plate in the dishwasher she runs upstairs to put on warm clothes before she heads outside for a walk along the shore. Later in the morning she is to meet Amber at her shop to help her decorate the little boutique for the holidays.
Secrets of Thunder Valley- The Locket Page 6