House of Shadows

by Melissa R. L. Simonin

  “Paul, I want to ask you a question. This is going to make me sound terribly insecure, but I’m asking anyway. We’ve had several people claim that Miles was quite the player before the accident, and I’d like to know what you remember.”

  Jenny looked surprised, she didn’t know about this.

  Paul laughed in surprise, and shook his head as he handed me the card he wrote his contact information on.

  “He didn’t date unless it was when he left on break. None of us did, that’s the downside of an all-male prep academy. I can’t tell you why anyone would lie about it, but that’s what comes to mind. You have nothing to worry about, I know Miles. Or knew him, I mean. A player, he was not. Unless you’re talking about video games.”

  “Thanks, Paul,” I said, lifting the card in the air. “I’ll give this to Miles. I’m sure you’ll hear from him.”

  We waved, and Jenny and I continued on our way to her vehicle.

  “You’ve had people do that?” she asked.

  “Yeah, remember Blondie, just the other day? Then there was another guy who claimed to be a friend, and he had a lot to say about Miles’ pre-coma exploits.”

  “That’s nuts. I only knew Miles from a distance, but I can tell you, that’s not at all how I remember him.”

  “I wasn’t worried, Jenny, really. It validates our suspicion that there are people trying to make Miles sound like something he wasn’t. I don’t know why… but there are.”

  I bounced off the couch, ran to the door, and threw it open when Miles knocked.

  “Hi,” I smiled, as he put an arm around me, and kissed the side of my face.

  “Hi back,” he smiled. “What have you been up to, while I slaved away in class?”

  “I think I finally met someone who really knew Second—um, you—at the academy,” I said, glancing over my shoulder. I was glad to see that Jenny wasn’t paying attention to what I just said.

  I held out the card that I’d been on pins and needles to give him ever since Paul gave it to me.

  “Really?” asked Miles in surprise. “Tell me everything.”

  I told Miles what happened.

  “He sounds like a decent guy,” Miles concluded. “I appreciate him reassuring you about my ambiguous past. That isn’t what we’re used to lately, is it. I’ll definitely call him. I feel bad that I won’t be able to remember being friends… I can’t really do anything about that, though.”

  “He seems like a nice guy. Someone I could see you being friends with. Would that be weird, though?”

  Miles thought about that.

  “I don’t know. It could be. It would depend on expectations. We know I’ll never remember, but someone from the past isn’t likely to be as convinced of that, as we are. I’ll call Paul right now, and… we’ll see.”

  Miles sat at the kitchen table and called, and I sat beside him, which made listening-in so convenient.

  Miles turned to me when he and Paul hung up.

  “He sounds like a nice guy,” Miles said. “Feel like getting coffee?”

  “Sounds great,” I smiled. “Let me get ready, and grab my purse.”

  I was back in seconds, and we were on our way.

  Miles and I reached Java Joint first. After we picked up our drinks, we sat at a corner table. A few minutes later, Paul arrived.

  I touched Miles’ arm, and nodded toward the door.

  “That’s him,” I said, and waved so he would see us. He waved back, and after picking up his order, he proceeded to our table.

  “Hi, Paul,” I said, as he approached. “Miles, this is Paul.”

  The two shook hands.

  “Hi, Paul, it’s good to meet you,” Miles said.

  “Good to see you, Miles,” Paul replied, looking at him intently, as if searching for the friend he once knew.

  We spent the next two hours getting to know Paul, as he told Miles all about the three years that he knew Second-Miles. He had photos on his iPhone, which Miles and I looked through as we talked. It gave me a strange feeling to see them, knowing Second-Miles’ life had been cut short, just as Miles’ once was.

  Second-Miles’ hair was longer and shaggier than Miles’, and he was thinner. Miles looked stronger even when he was in semi-transparent guy mode, but physical therapy made him even more so. Miles continued to work out regularly, even though physical therapy had ended. I felt very safe with him, even without his semi-transparent guy superpowers. Second-Miles didn’t have the happy light in his eyes like Miles did, either. There were definite differences, but no one was likely to notice and wonder why, since Polly hadn’t.

  The photos proved Paul’s association with Second-Miles, fully backing up his claims of friendship. The more Paul talked, the more relieved I was to hear that Second-Miles was a decent guy without anything in his past that could hurt my Miles. As I continued to look at the photos, the conversation went on around me.

  “You were a great skater, have you tried getting back on the board? Maybe it’s like riding a bike, it’ll come back to you.”

  Miles laughed at the thought.

  “I’d end up needing physical therapy again, if I tried. I had to start at the beginning and learn to drive after I was released from the hospital, and I have no idea how to ride a bike. There’s so much that just—isn’t there. It’s gone, and there’s no getting it back.”

  “Have you seen a therapist, or a psychologist or someone, isn’t there anything that might help retrieve those memories?”

  I felt bad for Paul, he couldn’t possibly understand that we knew with absolute certainty there was nothing Miles could do to gain access to those memories that were never his.

  “I did,” Miles said, which was a surprise to me. “You wouldn’t believe what I was put through after I came out of the coma. Neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, counselors… you name it. Everyone wanted to try and get my missing memories back, but no one could.”

  “That’s a lot of doctors,” I commented, and Miles nodded.

  “Yes, it is, and that’s one of the reasons it took so long for them to release me from the hospital.”

  “It must drive you crazy not being able to remember,” said Paul sympathetically.

  If Miles really lost memories, it would. But he hadn’t, so…

  Miles shrugged.

  “I’m thankful, very thankful, to be alive. I’m not troubled about what I’ve lost, although I do appreciate hearing about the life I don’t remember.”

  “Your fiancé said you’ve had people claiming you were someone you weren’t,” said Paul.

  “That’s right. It’s very strange, and I’m not sure what to make of it.”

  Miles told Paul about Blondie and the other guy whose name we never heard, and then about the phone call I received.

  “That’s crazy,” said Paul. “You and I were very good friends. I don’t recognize the guy that approached you on campus, and you weren’t anything like what these people described. What do you think they’re up to? I know your family is wealthy, could it have something to do with that?”

  “It seems like someone is trying to cast doubt on Miles’ character,” I said.

  “It looks as though they want Anika to doubt that I’m committed to her,” added Miles.

  “I’ve wondered if it was another girl, hoping to get me out of the way, thinking that would give her a chance with Miles,” I said.

  “It could also be a guy, wanting to get Miles out of the way by making you doubt him,” Paul suggested.

  I thought about that for the first time.

  “I can’t think of anyone who would do that,” I said. “I really can’t.”

  We puzzled over it some more, but came to no conclusions.

  By the time we left the coffee shop, Miles and Paul were on their way to becoming good friends. He was a nice guy, and we invited him to our next movie night, as we said goodbye.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m relieved and intrigued at the same t
ime,” I said, as Miles wove through traffic on the way back to the apartment building.

  “Me too. I didn’t like the idea of having to live down someone else’s past, now that my life has re-started.”

  “Now we know for certain that someone is intentionally lying, because they want us to believe you aren’t trustworthy. If we can just figure out who, and why…”

  “We will,” Miles said firmly. “They have no idea who they’re dealing with. Look what we accomplished before… we found the evidence that proved I was innocent. Compared to that, figuring out who’s doing this and why, should be easy.”

  “That’s right,” I smiled, and squeezed Miles’ hand. “We’re an unbeatable team, and whoever is trying to break us up is going to end up regretting it.”

  One of the beauties of living in the mountains, is that you don’t have far to go if you like to ski. Xander, Jenny, John and Annette, do. A lot. They planned a ski day at one of the mountain resorts, and Miles and I tagged along. Neither of us knew how to ski, and weren’t interested in trying to learn. With Miles’ previous knee injury, it didn’t seem like a good idea, and we both agreed we’d rather be inside a lodge with a soft couch, mugs of cocoa, and a crackling fire.

  While our friends strapped on skis and hurtled down the side of the mountain, Miles and I enjoyed the beautiful scenery and browsed the resort shops.

  The sky was clear, a soft pale blue. Snowflakes floated down lazily at intervals throughout the day, dusting the pine trees that grew thickly around the resort. After our walk in the cold, we ate amazing barbeque at one of the resort restaurants, then spent the rest of the afternoon at the lodge, waiting for our friends in front of a roaring fire. We had lattes, and sitting with Miles and watching the snow fall outside the huge picture windows, and the skiers as they rode up, and raced back down the mountain, I had a wonderful time.

  “We should go skiing more often,” I said, and Miles laughed.

  “You like this, do you?” he asked.

  “Very much,” I smiled back. “What’s not to like? I’m with my favorite guy ever, the fire’s warm, the lattes are hot, the snow is falling outside… it couldn’t get more perfect.”

  “Really?” asked Miles, with that melting look in his eyes as he leaned over and kissed me.

  “Okay, fine,” I said a few seconds later. “I’m kissing my favorite guy ever, the fire’s warm, the lattes are hot, the snow is falling outside… it couldn’t get more perfect.”

  Miles laughed.

  “Unless,” I amended, “I was kissing my husband. That would be even better.”

  Miles gave me a serious look.

  “I think you should have told me about this husband of yours, before I proposed.”

  It took me a second, then I laughed.

  “I agree with you though,” he said. “I love kissing my fiancé, but I would love even more to be kissing my wife.”

  “May feels so far away,” I sighed.

  “It does,” Miles agreed. “I’m as ready for it to get here, as you are. But, after we’ve been married fifty years, we’ll look back and it will seem like it took no time at all.”

  “That’s true,” I considered. “So we should appreciate every moment as it happens, and not try to rush it.”

  “That would be wise,” agreed Miles. “Once a moment’s gone, we can never get it back.”

  “Then I’ll enjoy kissing you as much as I possibly can, before my husband gets here.”

  Miles laughed.

  “That really does sound terrible,” he said. “I’m glad no one’s around to hear us.”

  “That goes for a lot of our conversations,” I replied.

  “No kidding!” Miles agreed.

  Our friends eventually returned, chapped with the cold and in high spirits. Their idea of fun is just a little different than mine!

  “You guys totally missed out!” said Xander, shaking snow out of his hair. “I completely wiped out skiing moguls. It was awesome!”

  John, Annette, and Jenny, were snow covered as well, and just as enthusiastic. It’s great they have something they enjoy doing together. I remembered the day I spent with Miles, and didn’t envy them.

  As we all loaded into Xander’s big SUV, I got a funny feeling. Not Red Alert, more like Yellow. I looked around as I put my foot on the running board of the Yukon, then stopped and grabbed Miles’ arm.

  “Who is that?” I pointed. He turned and looked.

  “I don’t know, I don’t recognize her,” he said, as the woman I’d pointed to, hurried into a building.

  “She was watching us. When she realized I saw her, that’s when she turned and went inside.”

  “Are you serious?” asked Miles. “Are you sure, maybe she was just staring into the distance, or looking behind us.”

  “She was watching us,” I said with certainty. “And she had a camera with a telephoto lens.”

  Concern filled his eyes, as he stared back at me.

  “She was taking pictures of us,” I added.

  “Why?” Miles wondered. I shook my head.

  “I don’t know, and I don’t like this. I wish I knew what ‘this’ is, though!”

  “Me too,” Miles said thoughtfully.

  “You guys coming?” hollered Xander, from his place on the driver’s side of the vehicle.”

  “Yeah, we are,” Miles said, and we both turned and took our seats in the middle row.

  “Is there anyone here who doesn’t already have plans for this evening?” Jenny asked, as Xander started the SUV, and we began the drive back to Glen Haven.

  “What did you have in mind?” Annette asked.

  “There’s a new movie out, I’ve heard it’s good. I thought I might go, if any of the rest of you are interested,” Jenny said.

  “I’m in,” Xander promptly replied.

  Before Miles could say anything, I squeezed his arm and shook my head slightly. He looked back at me, and smiled.

  “That sounds like fun, but Anika and I won’t be able to make it this time,” he said.

  “Yeah, I almost forgot, me and John have plans too,” said Annette. I heard her making violent shushing noises as he started to speak, and then there was whispering.

  “Oh… yeah, we do,” John said.

  “Looks like it’s just us then,” said Xander. “I’ll drive, if you want to ride together.”

  “Sure, that sounds great,” said Jenny.

  I smiled. They may not be going on a date, but they are going out! I guess Miles didn’t consider that interfering, or getting involved, since he went along with it.

  I grinned up at him and squeezed his hand with both of mine, as I held in a squeal.

  Miles put his arm around me and just laughed softly.

  It was Halloween week, and a big costume party was scheduled on campus. This being our first year at the college, we’d never been before, but from what everyone said, a lot of work went into the decorations, food, music, and activities. Jenny was on the food planning committee, so we knew that part would be amazing!

  For weeks, all anyone talked about was costumes. What should they be, what might they be, and what they were going to be wearing to the party.

  “That’s it, that’s mine. Hands off to the rest of you,” said John, as we all sat around the TV watching a movie, and eating popcorn. “I’m going as Jack Sparrow.”

  The rest of us laughed, we couldn’t even imagine John in that role. We were watching the first Pirates of the Caribbean, which prompted John’s choice.

  “How about you, Annette?” I asked.

  “Why don’t you go as Will Turner, John? Then I can be Elizabeth Stone,” said Annette.

  “No me hearty, I be Captain Jack Sparrow,” said John as he walked to the kitchen, strutting for all the world like the Captain of the Black Pearl, as we all broke down laughing.

  Who would have thought he had it in him! Serious John, a pirate, and that pirate no less.

  “Oh fine, then,” Annette resigned herself. “
I’ll probably choose something totally different, we just won’t match.”

  “That’s fine though,” said Jenny. “How about you guys?”

  Miles thought that over briefly.

  “Anika will go as a crimson rose, and I’ll be a bee.”

  Everyone died laughing, but I hit him with a throw pillow.

  “Perish that thought!” I said, as he grinned.

  “I wasn’t serious!” he said, wrestling the flailing pillow out of my hands.

  “So what about you, Jenny?” asked Xander.

  I quit trying to pummel Miles, and the room got quiet. Was he about to ask Jenny on a date?

  “I don’t know,” she replied. “I’m trying to think of something, that’s why I keep asking everyone else.”

  “You could be Giselle, from ‘Enchanted’,” I suggested. “You’ve got the hair.”

  “Oooh, I like that idea!” she said.

  “How about you, Xander?” asked Annette.

  “Captain Kirk,” he replied.

  We all thought about that. I could kind of see it. His hair wasn’t as dark, though.

  “The castle attic has amazing dresses and hats from the 1800’s, we could maybe find something there,” I thought out loud.

  “Ooh, that would be neat!” said Jenny, but Miles made a face.

  “Believe me, the clothes we have now, are much more comfortable than what we wore back then. I wouldn’t—”

  I jumped up and spilled my popcorn all over him, and the floor, which served the purpose of distracting everyone. It’s not that anyone would suspect Miles had first-hand experience with life in the 1800’s, but he wouldn’t be able to give a good reason why he said what he did without pausing for thought—and it was just easier to clean up popcorn, than a sentence like that!

  “Oops, sorry everyone!” I said, as we all scrambled on the floor to pick up the spilled popcorn.

  “Be a Disney Princess, Annette, we girls could all do that,” suggested Jenny. “You’ve got the right color hair, go as Belle, from ‘Beauty and the Beast’.”

  Annette thought about that.

  “I’ll bet it would be easy to find a costume for it, too. Okay, that’s what I’ll do.”

  “If I do that, I’ll have to go with a wig,” I said. “There are no princesses with hair like mine.”