by C W Lamb
All his research around spilt souls and possible reincarnates suddenly became relevant as he thought about the woman downstairs. If she were truly a Foxworth, and not just a look-alike, there were significant ramifications to her sudden appearance here. He knew he needed to renew his abandoned research now more than ever.
----*----
Charlie found her way back downstairs as she thought through the evidence Robert had just provided her. Someone was playing games with her life and she didn’t like it one bit. Her big hope of a home of her own was looking to be more of a cruel joke by some unknown antagonist.
So far, the man upstairs had been every bit the gentleman, his offer to stay a welcome surprise. She had been dreading the confrontation that would have resulted, had he showed her the door. With nowhere to go, it cost her nothing to stand her ground on this.
Even with that temporarily settled, she struggled to quell the fight or flight response building within her. She had known plenty of nice men who had turned on her, their generosity dissolving into more personal demands once they tired of her novelty or she wore out her welcome.
“Perhaps a little something to take the edge off?” she said to herself as she started opening cabinets in search of a little liquid courage.
----*----
Heading back downstairs after placing the diary, with the notes tucked safely inside, on the bookshelf in the study, Robert returned to the kitchen. That’s where he found Charlie adding a shot of rum to her coffee.
“A tad early for that, isn’t it?” he asked cautiously.
“Hey, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere. Besides, you can’t drink all day if you don’t start first thing,” she answered with a smile.
Not necessarily one to judge another’s drinking behavior, Robert dismissed the comment, as he doubted he would need her participation in anything important today. Considering what was going on around her, he suspected the woman was a bit stressed out. It would likely be a week or longer before his inquiries were all answered to everyone’s satisfaction. Until then he had to accept that she was on vacation and a thorn in his side.
“Look, my situation in LA was not all that great, and when that letter arrived, I might have let my hope for a fresh start get out of hand. Your kindness in letting me stay here is much appreciated, but I really don’t want to think about it right now. I’m probably gone in a few days anyway, right?” she offered in explanation.
“True enough. Ok, well, I have some work I need to get done this morning. I’ll be up in the study if you need anything, so just make yourself at home. There is a TV in there if you are so inclined,” he said as he pointed to the doorway on the south wall of the kitchen. He then turned and headed back upstairs.
Returning to his study, he checked his email, looking for replies to inquires he’d sent last night. Still fairly early in the business world, he found no responses, so he went back to his unfinished research. After spending some time on the subject of hauntings and souls, and making no progress there, he finally jumped over to his real day job.
Besides his renovation work, Robert had a very active consulting practice. Frequently other builders would contact him about restoring or repairing structures they were renovating. He usually only took a small fee for the service and his clientele always came back with more work.
It wasn’t long before he was deep in thought, working out the details of his latest requests. While keeping an ear out for his guest downstairs, he suddenly realized it had been several hours since he had spoken with her. Unconcerned at first, he paused as he heard rather loud music coming from outside.
----*----
Finishing the coffee in her cup as she sat inspecting the kitchen around her, Charlie went for a refill, the rum and coffee mix approaching an even amount of each. Cup in hand, she began to wander the first floor of the house, taking her time and examining each room carefully. The hound she found on her bed that morning followed her calmly, more like a companion than a watchdog.
As she walked, she found herself impressed with all she saw, the furnishings tasteful and well cared for. Something deep inside provided a warm sensation, a feeling like coming home. Eventually she made her way out onto the back porch, where she was surprised to see the pool and surrounding grounds.
Well into her third cup by now, inspiration struck, and she headed back into the kitchen where she swapped out her coffee cup for a glass, the rum and mixers. Returning to the back porch, she headed down the path until she reached to pool deck and commandeered a spot for herself.
Placing her refreshments on a small table by her chaise, she poured a new drink and then wandered to the edge of the pool. Barefoot, she dipped a toe into the clear water, surprised at its warmth. Setting her glass on the pool deck, it took no more than a few seconds for her to make up her mind.
“He said to make myself at home,” she said aloud as she began unbuttoning her jeans.
----*----
Heading to the tower area of the study, he peered into the backyard. Looking to see if Charlie had gone outside, maybe down to the river, he scanned the area. There, by the steps to the pool, he spied a pile of clothing. Not far away from the pile, Hunter was laying on the pool deck with what appeared to be the naked form of a woman stretched out, face down, on one of the nearby chaise lounges.
While not a prude, by any stretch of the imagination, he was unprepared for the woman’s casual acceptance of the term “make yourself at home”. Grabbing an oversized pool towel and a robe on his way downstairs, he headed out the back through the dining room double doors and on to the pool area.
Walking out onto the pool deck, the stereo system he had installed was blasting from the hidden speakers surrounding the pool area. While it had been loud from inside the house, here it was positively mind-numbing. Although the closest neighbors were both distant and out of view behind the trees, he had little doubt they could hear the one-woman celebration.
Crossing to the other side of the pool, he grabbed the remote off the table next to her lounge chair and cut the volume to a third of its intensity. Lying on her stomach, eyes closed, he could tell now she wore her thong underwear, the string kind and light tan so almost invisible at a distance. To an outside observer, it appeared her charms were on full display for the world to see. She suddenly rose up, resting on her elbows.
“Hey, I was listening to that!”
“So was half the county,” he replied as he looked back at the little table. On it was a half-filled glass, a liter bottle of Coke, almost full, and the fifth of spiced rum, half empty.
“I brought you these, thought you might need them at some point,” he commented as he dropped the robe and towel on the chair next to hers.
“Thanks, but I like to dry in the sun, besides, you said for me to make myself at home and I don’t own a swimsuit at the moment,” she replied as she returned to her lying position, but not before draining the nearby glass of its contents.
It wasn’t her partial nudity that concerned him. Truth be told, she had a killer body and she knew it. That was part of the problem, because it set a precedent for her as acceptable behavior. The saying that came to mind was: Naked and drunk was no way to go through life.
Suddenly Robert realized he was staring and quickly tried to recover while she watched him out of the corner of one eye, a lazy smile on her face.
“I don’t care if you skinny-dip here, but let’s try not to upset the neighbors in the process, ok?” he stated as he started to head for the house.
“Before you go, can you put some sunblock on me? I am not used to this southern sun.”
She started to spin on the chaise, turning to lay on her back. Before she got very far, Robert touched her shoulder, stopping the action. The contact surprised Charlie, causing her to pause in her repositioning.
“You can handle that side on your own,” he replied.
Robert considered the view as she settled into a comfortable position on her stomach once more. He had to admit that
this sight was every bit as enticing as he imagined it might be. Snapping out of his trance, he quickly composed himself once more.
“No problem, you need sunblock,” Robert answered, as he grabbed the towel on the other chair and covered her from shoulders to toes.
“There, that will keep you from burning,” he replied with a smile before heading back up to the house without looking back.
Chapter 17
Foxworth House, April, 1864
The letter in Charlotte’s hand trembled as she sobbed quietly. Having read the carefully crafted sentences over and over again, she could find no escape from their terrible meaning.
It is with great regret that I must inform you of the death of your husband, 1st Lieutenant Jefferson Anderson Waters. Please know he died a hero, leading his men against the Northern forces at Cedar Creek.
Now, she would never again be able to look into the face of the man the war had stolen from her. She wanted to scream at the unfairness of it all, taking him from her only after she had come to love him as no other in her life before. All of her dreams of a happy life and family evaporated by the words she held in her hand.
Compounding her misery was the fact that they had not had the opportunity to bear children of their own. She would never know the joys her mother had described so many times in her childhood. For now, the shared experience of the boarder’s children would have to do.
All that remained of her life and her future was this house and the comfort it provided her. At that moment she made a vow that she would never forsake the one irreplaceable constant in her life. Her love, what remained of it, would be devoted to her home.
Later that night, she poured her heart out into her diary, daring to put on paper the words she could not risk speaking. Her grief was so great she feared that if she started, she might never stop as she railed against the unfairness of it all.
Foxworth House, 1948
Rebeca Foxworth was still confused about the invitation she had received to come south. In one way it had been a godsend, as things at home had not been going particularly well. Her ex-husband had been making things terribly difficult as they worked to finalize the divorce.
He seemed more than happy to be rid of her, as happy as she was to assume her maiden name once more. However, the state of their finances had created a rift in the divorce proceedings that was punishing them both. Neither of them had been particularly good financial managers and the results of their union had left the couple massively in debt. The fact that both of them had begun drinking heavily didn’t help matters either.
“Auntie, will you come swim with me?” Rebeca heard as little Victoria appeared on the back porch where she was sitting.
“Not right now, sweetie, maybe later,” she replied.
“OK.”
Rebeca watched her scamper off to the pier extending into the river.
“Maybe someday,” she sighed to herself as she lamented not having any children of her own. As it was, her older brother already had two sons, to her father’s delight, carrying on the Foxworth family name.
Foxworth House, Present day
One of the messages Robert had sent the night before was intended for Victoria Foxworth Baines. Since Charlie apparently didn’t believe she had any family in town, he thought it might prove helpful for the two to meet. He had been forced to go through his lawyer’s office as he had never been provided a direct method to contact the woman, she just liked to show up.
The few pieces of information regarding her were references to occasional visits to the park and organizational meetings she attended. It was almost as if the woman intentionally avoided contact with others, hardly business-like behavior.
While he considered it odd in the beginning, it was proving to be downright inconvenient at the moment. So, it was with some relief that he saw the old Mercedes pull into the drive as he returned to the house. Heading quickly to the back door once more, he yelled at the woman still laying by the pool.
“Charlie, put some clothes on, there is someone here I want you to meet.”
Returning inside, he was just in time to greet Victoria at the front door.
“Robert, so good to see you again. I cannot tell you how impressed and pleased I am at what you have done with the house,” she declared as she took his offered hand and stepped inside.
“I see you got my message,” Robert said as he led her into the parlor.
“About Charlotte, yes. I had no idea she was even in town,” she replied as the subject of their conversation entered the room, wrapped in the robe Robert had left her, drink in hand.
“Oh, you’re here,” Charlie responded at the sight of Victoria, not a particularly excited or warm reception.
“Charlotte, my dear. So nice to see you again,” Victoria replied in a much more pleasant tone than her kin.
“You know I hate that name. Why are you here?”
“Yes, dear, but it is the one your parents gave you. Mr. Garrison let me know you were visiting and asked me to stop by,” she replied in a more neutral, less friendly manner.
“You had mentioned you had no family in town, so I thought you were unaware Victoria still lived nearby,” Robert explained to the younger of the two women.
“She is not family. Family doesn’t sell your house out from under you and then send you a note taunting you about it,” Charlie replied, sounding like a spoiled child in the process.
“I sent no note. Honestly, dear I had no idea where you were,” Victoria replied, confused by the reference.
“Someone sent her a letter claiming you sold me her inheritance, right out from under her, and she needed to come back to reclaim her future,” Robert explained.
“And I know it was you!” Charlie screamed before thrusting the contents of her drink at Victoria.
For once, Robert was pleased that she had emptied most of the contents before entering the room, but there was still enough to dampen the older woman’s face. Robert scrambled for some napkins he kept in the parlor sideboard. By now, Charlie had turned her back to the pair, intent on leaving the room. As she did so she dropped her robe on her way out of the parlor, leaving it for someone else to pick up.
“I am sorry, I had no idea….” Robert started as he turned back to the older woman, passing her the napkins to dry with.
“No apologies necessary. My family has a history of irresponsible young women. I sometimes think that was why my father moved away from this house,” she replied dabbing the spots from her face and blouse.
“You mean the drownings?”
“Yes, and more. Ever since the first Charlotte lost her life here, so long ago, there has always been one Foxworth in each generation that has struggled with her role in life. More than one has watched their future go by the wayside,” Victoria explained as they walked back to the front door.
“Mr. Garrison, that note you mentioned can be interpreted many ways, but one thing is for sure. This house was never Charlotte’s inheritance, it was her dowry. It is not this Charlotte’s house either, but the note is correct, she can reclaim her future here,” Victoria stated cryptically as she walked out the door, closing it behind her.
Robert wanted to press her further on the statement, but Charlie’s behavior had put a damper on the atmosphere. One thing was for sure, Charlie wouldn’t be staying with her aunt anytime soon.
----*----
Now confused more than ever by Victoria’s comments, Robert was convinced that she knew more than she had let on about the haunting. Was this the third replay of a reincarnation event? Was Charlie destined to drown in the river like her ancestors before her?
Robert had no idea what his role in this play was, but he was damn sure he wasn’t going to let the woman he had just met die on his watch. With a self-acknowledged white knight complex, Robert had always had issues with women in distress. On many an occasion he had found himself changing tires or fixing cars by the side of the road for a female he had never met before.
Collecting the robe Charlie had discarded in the foyer, he returned to the pool to find her back on the chaise, face down and music blasting away once more. Next to her, an empty rum bottle told the story of her current state, likely inspired by the earlier confrontation.
“You dropped this,” Robert almost shouted as he tossed the robe on her chaise. Reaching down for the remote, he cut the volume in half once more.
“You shouldn’t have called her!” Charlie snapped, on the verge of tears.
“I needed to see if she was the one who sent the notes!” he snapped back.
“AND?” she asked pointedly.
“No. It wasn’t her. She did have a good point about its contents though,” he said, but realized he had lost her interest with the first words.
Before he could engage her further, his cell phone interrupted them.
“This is Robert,” he answered rather sharply as he walked away from the blaring music.
“I’m sorry, is this a bad time?” a familiar voice asked on the other end of the connection.
“No, I’m sorry Alice. Bad day. Is this about the party?” he answered as he continued up to the house. He had forgotten that the woman planning his housewarming party was supposed to call that afternoon.
“Sounds like you’ve started already,” the woman said with a laugh.
“No, just testing the sound system to see if it will piss off the neighbors,” he replied with a laugh of his own, trying to forget his current frustrations.
“Well, you needn’t bother, they are all coming. That’s why I am calling, your guest list is substantial, and everyone is RSVPing because they are dying to see what you have done to Foxworth House. I just wanted to double check that you are ok with the numbers and let you know the riverboat is confirmed.”