Taylorwood (Alexandria Whitney Mystery)

by McCarthy, G. L.

  “Now don’t go and get all crazy on me. This is supposed to be fun and not a chore. I’m sure whatever you come up with will be great. No pressure. Just remember I ‘m easily impressed, and as long as food is involved in some way I’m a happy camper.” Alex gave her friend a big smile.

  Just then two other teachers walked through the door and were surprised to find Alex already there having coffee with Cyn. A few of the teachers lived on campus in small cottages provided by the school, acting as counselors, and making sure the girls didn’t sneak off during the night. There wasn’t really any place for them to go, but having twenty-four hour supervision kept the local boys from thinking they could come and go as they pleased.

  “What’s the occasion Alex? We never see you in here at this early morning hour.” Lucy asked. Lucy Daniels, also gay, was the PE teacher. She and her lover, Bonnie Hazelton, who taught Math, lived on campus and were usually the next ones to arrive at the teachers’ lounge after Cyn.

  “Dez did an all-nighter at a client’s so I was up and out of the house in record time.” Alex never realized what she was missing coming to school moments before the bell rang. This lounge was a little pre-class party room. “I should get in here early everyday and get the best toast and jam I’ve ever eaten, not to mention outstanding coffee.” Alex was licking her lips and had a big smile on her face.

  “You got some of Cyn’s toast and jam! What did you do to rate that? She never shares with us.” Bonnie was looking a little hurt and made a pouty face.

  “She was starving. What was I supposed to do, turn her down?” Cyn answered as if her arm had been twisted.

  “Oh, she was starving,” Lucy and Bonnie said in unison. “Well, that’s different. We couldn’t have the best looking teacher at Taylorwood starving now could we?” Lucy gave Cyn a look as she made the comment and smiled wide.

  “Best looking you think so?” Alex was surprised at the comment, as she never really thought of herself as good looking. She was nice looking at best.

  “Oh you’re kidding, right?” Bonnie looked at Lucy who still had her mouth open at Alex’s response.

  “No I’m not. Cyn is very cute and both of you are attracttive.” Alex was surprised both Lucy and Bonnie had so little confidence in their looks.

  “Alex, do you get dressed in the dark, or don’t you ever look in the mirror?” Lucy who was the more outgoing of the couple looked at Alex with disbelief.

  “Yes, I look in the mirror, but it’s the same face that has been looking back at me for forty something years and I don’t see anything so special.” Alex was beginning to feel embarrassed at all of this talk about her looks.

  “I should start heading for my classroom, since it’s on the other side of the campus.” Alex figured she needed to make a quick exit and end this line of conversation.

  “I’ll walk with you. I have a pop quiz for my first class and I need to have the test out on the desks.” Cyn could tell Alex was wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible.

  “Okay. You two run off to class and we’ll stay here and gossip about you.” Lucy was smiling, but both Cyn and Alex knew that was exactly what they were going to do.

  As Alex and Cyn walked to class Cyn looked at Alex and asked, “Do you really think they’re going to talk about us?”

  “Of course, they’re lesbians and we’re lesbians. It’s what we do. Don’t worry. The fact that we’ve eaten lunch with each other every day since school started, makes me sure this isn’t the first time we’ve been at the top of the gossip list.” Alex looked over at Cyn and gave her arm a little punch as she turned off the path to her classroom.

  “See you at lunch. Oh snap!” Alex was annoyed with herself. She had forgotten to bring her lunch. What an airhead she was this morning.

  “What’s wrong?” Cyn started to head back in Alex’s direction thinking she had seen something.

  “Nothing, just a senior moment. I forgot to bring my lunch. How about we try the cafeteria today, my treat. Although it is cafeteria food, so it may not be such a treat.” Alex thought it was a good opportunity to officially meet Ruby and Joey, the cafeteria ladies.

  “Okay, but the food isn’t that bad. Ruby and Joey do a good job. I mean it really is good, not to mention nourishing and hot. Stick with me lady. I have an in with the help.” Cyn was having fun and hoping she was impressing Alex. She couldn’t wait until lunch when she could tell her the entire history of Taylorwood School for Girls, if she was up for it.

  Chapter 6

  The morning flew by and as always, Cyn entered seconds after the ringing of the lunch bell.

  “Are you ready to go try a new culinary experience?” Cyn looked at Alex and couldn’t help but stare.

  “What’s wrong? You have a funny look on your face.” Alex was wondering if Cyn was having second thoughts about hanging out with her.

  “I guess I’m having mixed emotions about all that’s been going on since the start of the school year.” Cyn now had a very serious look on her face.

  “What do you mean exactly?” Alex was wondering what Cyn was getting at.

  “Well, the creep that’s been harassing you has been in a very weird, screwed up kind of way – good luck for me. You know, we’ve become much closer friends. Do you understand what I mean by that?” Cyn didn’t want Alex to think she was happy she was being harassed.

  “Yes, we certainly have been getting closer. I guess it’s really unfortunate that it took a stalker to make us better friends.” Alex thought about what Cyn had said and wondered if she could possibly be the one behind the whole thing, hoping for this result. But then why would she mess with her own car? Well, it did get Alex to follow her home. Hmm…No it couldn’t be – she had to get a grip. The two walked in silence until they reached the cafeteria.

  “Ruby, Joey, this is Alexandria Whitney, English teacher extraordinaire. This might be her first time to the cafeteria.” Cyn was in her glory introducing Alex.

  “Nice to meet you both. Actually, I have eaten in here before, but it was a long time ago.” Ruby looked familiar, but Joey was a new face.

  “Hello, Ms. Whitney. Yes, you used to come in when you first started teaching here. But then after a couple of weeks we noticed you started to bring your lunch and usually ate out by the big oak tree. I hope it wasn’t our cooking that kept you away.” Ruby spoke out of concern and didn’t mean to embarrass Alex.

  “Oh no, it wasn’t the food. In fact thinking back now, it was very good. Too good in fact. I found myself eating a little too much of it. So I started bringing my own pathetic sandwiches to keep from becoming a blimp. Do you still make that wonderful corned beef hash and eggs?” Alex suddenly remembered her favorite dish.

  “You bet. In fact, you’re in luck as we’re having it today. We have it every Wednesday as it’s one of the girls’ favorites, along with pizza and the usual grilled cheese sandwiches.” Ruby was happy to hear that it wasn’t her food that kept Alex away, just the calories.

  “Hot grilled cheese sandwiches! To think I’ve been suffering with cold ones from home all this time.” Alex was wondering if she could request lite cheese in the future as hot beat cold sandwiches any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

  “Ruby do you take special requests?” Alex was hoping so.

  “What kind of a special request?” Ruby had a wary look on her face.

  “If I bought some lite cheese, could you make my grilled cheese sandwich with that, instead of the regular?” Alex was hopeful.

  “No need to, dear. We make all our sandwiches with lite cheese, lite mayonnaise, etc. The girls asked for it a couple of years ago. We’ve changed our menu since you first started here. We’re much more calorie conscious these days,” Ruby said with pride. The cooking staff was now looking out for the health and girth of the girls.

  “Fantastic! I think I’ll become a regular customer again.” Alex looked over at Cyn who had found the pizza and was patiently waiting for Alex to get her food. “Ruby, I’
ll have some of your fantastic hash and eggs. It won’t be hard deciding between hash and grilled cheese every Wednesday.” Alex’s mouth was starting to water as she watched Ruby spoon up her lunch.

  “No worries, dear, we have grilled cheese every day. It’s just the hash and pizza that are on Wednesday only.” Ruby handed Alex her plate with a generous serving, a little perk for being with Cyn she thought.

  “Thank you, Ruby. That looks absolutely delicious.” Alex followed Cyn outside to a table near the back of the lunch area. “Why back here? Are we hiding from someone?” Alex hoped for an open table out in the sunshine, as it was a little chilly in the shade.

  “No, I just keep thinking about what Lucy said this morning about the gossip and all.” Cyn knew Alex was concerned about her teaching career and wanted to protect her friend.

  “Well girlfriend, if we eat back here they’ll be sure to talk. Let’s eat up front for all to see. Then they can’t say we were hiding, now can they.” Alex knew Cyn was worried, but they had a bigger problem with their “little friend” who disables cars and leaves bad poetry.

  “Cyn, since you seem to know everyone at Taylorwood, can you think of anyone who could be behind this?” Alex was smiling but she was dead serious about the question.

  “Not really Alex. I can’t think of anyone. Don, Marty and Gus are great guys and are all happily married. Javier and Raul keep to themselves, but I think that’s because their English isn’t very good. Javier is very shy, and only says “Good Morning” or “Buenos Dias,” to be exact. Raul has never said a word to anyone within ear shot of me. Besides, the gifts were too pricey for either of them, and the poem not likely.” Cyn didn’t want to think it was one of the staff. She liked all of them.

  “You’re right, and the more I think of the staff the more it doesn’t fit. Most are younger than me, and the ones that are older are a lot older.” Alex was wishing she could turn to the last page of the story and find out who it was right now. “Plus the part that seems the strangest about this whole mess is that no one has come forward. I don’t know that much about stalkers but aren’t they supposed to confront you and be a pest? This person hasn’t done a thing except leave gifts and notes. But the poem was weird, and I can’t shake the feeling sometimes that I’m being watched. So if we just ignore the whole thing what do you think he/she will do?” Alex looked at Cyn for confirmation.

  “But you are being stalked. If someone is watching you, that’s stalking. It’s like when a tiger stalks it prey, waiting for the right moment to pounce. It’s just a question of the right time.” Cyn felt that Alex wasn’t taking this problem seriously enough.

  “Oh, is that where the term came from? Lovely.” Alex was trying to blow off this whole thing but realized she wasn’t having much luck. “Why me?” Alex looked at Cyn with her hands open.

  “Well, think back to what Lucy said, “the best looking teacher at Taylorwood.” I guess it could be about you as Alex, the good looking woman and not Alex, the gay English teacher. Just the other side of the coin, so to speak.” It was truly the only reason Cyn could think of to be stalked, but she knew it wasn’t what Alex wanted to hear.

  “Great, so if I was average looking this wouldn’t be happening?” Alex never thought of herself as attractive, but right now wished she was a dog.

  “I could be way off. Maybe it’s just someone after the English teacher position.” Cyn said it before she realized it wasn’t helping Alex’s frame of mind.

  “I mean, it isn’t you personally. I will shut up now. I think I’m making things worse.” Cyn wished she could have back the last two minutes.

  “Okay, I’m going to go into denial now and we’re going to change the subject. My brain is in overload.” Alex looked off across the campus so Cyn couldn’t see the tears forming.

  “Tell me what amazing thing you have planned for this evening’s activities?” Alex needed a diversion quickly.

  “Okay, how does this sound? Now remember, I can do better with more time. I was thinking we could have a picnic in the gazebo at the edge of the campus. I could tell you the history of Taylorwood, since you feel so ignorant about it all. I know it isn’t great, but we don’t have the right clothes or shoes to take our picnic and go for a short hike. But someday, I would love to show you the view from the top of Old Woman Hill. So what do you say we do our paperwork before we go and meet up around five o’clock?” Cyn wished she had a week to plan instead of three hours.

  “Wow, that sounds great. I would love to hear the history of the school.” Alex was looking forward to it and figured she would call home and leave a message for Dez to let her know her evening plans. Plus in the back of her mind, she was hoping that Dez would be a little jealous. But being realistic she knew Dez wouldn’t be jealous of Cyn, or at least not yet.

  Chapter 7

  It was ten minutes before five when Alex put a red B+ on the last paper in her stack. She quadruple checked her door and headed out to meet Cyn. As she walked down the hall, she realized she had never really put much thought into what went on at Taylorwood after she went home. The cafeteria obviously stayed open for dinner for all the students and faculty that lived at the school. Somehow, she used to think everybody was like her and went home at the end of the day. She never realized how unaware she was of the world around her. She really was a hermit in a way. If she hadn’t met Dez she would be even more of a recluse, but on second thought, then Beau wouldn’t be in a pasture getting fat, and she might have made a lot of new friends at the stables.

  Alex headed to the parking lot to put her purse and books in her truck, when she noticed the car that had been parked there early this morning was gone. Rats! I need to check this stuff out when I first see it and not ten hours later. Alex put her stuff behind the seat and headed back. She spotted Cyn coming her way from the direction of the cafeteria, with a big smile on her face. She had a blanket tucked under one arm, a bag in one hand, and two boxes balancing in the other.

  “Oh my gosh, let me help you with some of that! What can I take?” Alex reached out to grab something.

  “Can you handle the boxes? I can carry the blanket and bag.” Cyn felt the blanket starting to slide out from under her arm and didn’t want to trip over it if it did hit the ground.

  “I’ve got them. Oh wow, they’re hot. Did you burn yourself?” Alex took the boxes moving her hands to the edges that weren’t quite so hot.

  “No, but it was starting to get hotter by the minute. I didn’t realize it until I was half way over here.” Cyn was shaking her hand trying to cool it off.

  “Where to now, Professor? This is your field trip!” Alex could smell their dinners and was getting hungry, again. “Follow me and don’t wander off. This field trip is on a tight schedule and there’s a lot of material to cover.” Cyn was in heaven and could only think about what a fool Dez was for not spending as much time as she could with Alex.

  But maybe this is what they did on the weekends. Cyn didn’t want to picture them doing anything fun together. That was too hard to think about. It was just a short walk to the gazebo, which was out of sight of the main buildings. Cyn placed the blanket on the bench, as it hadn’t been cleaned in some time. She had brought two small bottles of sparkling cider. The main course was Yankee Pot Roast, with sides of red potatoes, green beans and rolls. For dessert there was New York Cheesecake. As she laid everything out, Alex kept saying, “oh my” and “wow” at every new dish she produced. She placed everything on two Corelle dinner plates she procured from the cafeteria, and even brought real silverware no paper plates or plastic utensils at this party. She even had real glasses for the cider.

  “Cyn, you have outdone yourself, girlfriend. I couldn’t have thought of all this even with a week to plan it. You are truly amazing.” Alex was more than amazed. She couldn’t help but wonder how this cute, intelligent, funny woman didn’t have a lover. But then there weren’t that many eligible lesbians in the area. So it wasn’t so hard to understand after al
l. “How about we eat first before it gets too cold, and you give me my history lesson during dessert?” Alex wanted to dig in, and trying to pay attention to Cyn at the same time could prove to be a bit of a challenge especially if there was a test later.

  “Sounds good to me. I am really getting hungry. I guess it’s the smell of all this food.” Cyn handed Alex her silverware and they both dug in. There wasn’t much talking while they ate, only the sounds of very satisfied diners. As Cyn was handing Alex her piece of cheesecake the history lesson began.

  Cyn seemed to know everything about Taylorwood, talking at length and in great detail about it’s origin and history. She told Alex how the County had built the main building as an orphanage in the early 1900’s, along with multiple smaller buildings to be used as classrooms to educate the orphans as well as the other children in the area. “The name “Taylorwood” came from the lumber used for construction. Each piece of lumber had “Taylor Wood Products” stamped on it. When the locals would talk about the progress of the new buildings they would refer to it as the “Taylorwood job.” Upon completion, the buildings were christened Taylorwood Orphanage and School. Now some say that the company only charged the county half of what they should have for all the materials, and in appreciation for their generosity the county decided to keep the name. When the county no longer needed the orphanage in the late 40’s it was closed for a long time. Finally our Mrs. Rebecca Greenway bought it back in the 70’s, brought it up to code, and it has been a go ever since.”

  Alex raised her hand with a question. Cyn chuckled, “Yes, Ms. Whitney, you have a question regarding this subject?”

  “Why didn’t Mrs. Greenway change the name to Greenway School for Girls?” Alex was curious as most people like to see their names on buildings they own.

  “Well, the building had been blessed when it was first opened. You know, so that nothing bad would ever happen there. I guess Mrs. Greenway didn’t want to mess with that kind of karma. Can you imagine what the locals would have said if she had changed the name and then tragedy struck? They may have run her out of town.” Cyn looked over at Alex and noticed her eyes were now closed. “I hope you’re paying attention. This material we have covered this evening will be on your final exam, which I’m sure you’re aware will count for ninety percent of your grade.” Cyn was hoping Alex wasn’t starting to fall asleep during her lecture. Just then a big smile appeared on Alex’s face.