The Ghostly Hideaway

by Doris Hale Sanders

Chapter Seven

  True Confessions

  Johnny had stayed awake and walked the floor the night before wondering how much he should tell Ed and his family. It had started out as sort of a prank. He had been on his way down to see if Old Mister Coy had come home yet when he saw the car stalled on the road and the family of strangers walking down the road to Clifton’s house. He figured he owed it to Clifton to make sure nobody burglarized his place while he wasn’t there or take advantage of him if he had come back. He had watched as they entered the house unbidden and then Johnny had sneaked into the secret passage that Mr. Coy had shown him a few years earlier. It was built right on the side of the house with a sloping floor that led to the second story and on up to the third floor as well. A secret door was hidden back in the darkest corner of the Coy’s bedroom and the grill in the floor allowed heat to enter from the first floor and the person listening above to hear every word that was said on the first floor. When he had heard the women talking about the suitcases and how they wished they had them, he had sneaked down to the kitchen, got the car keys out of Ed’s pocket, went up the road to the stalled SUV and brought the suitcases back to the porch. Afterward, he put the keys back in Ed’s pocket. He had thought of it as a prank, but then he didn’t quite know how to tell them, so he just kept it to himself. The same with the five gallon can of gasoline he had put in the gas tank. He had to work hard not to laugh aloud as they puzzled about who, what, and how it had been accomplished.

  He had also known where the Coy’s family picture album was kept and had left it and the forget-me-nots on Chrissy’s nightstand. She had looked absolutely beautiful and innocent lying there asleep and he had wanted badly to wake her and hold her in his arms. But, of course, he knew he had to wait. He had been out behind the storage shed when he had heard Andy and his Dad talking about meat for the barbeque and had decided to get the rabbits for their July 4 celebration. He thought the fireworks had been a nice touch, too. As he was setting them off, he could almost see the reflection of the stars in Chrissy’s eyes. She still had stars in her eyes and he knew now they were there shining with love for him.

  They had been climbing steadily when they suddenly came in sight of a large house and several outbuildings. Johnny stopped before one of them and unbuttoned the door. He stepped inside pulling Chrissy with him. The light was dim inside but as her eyes adjusted Chrissy could see a shape in the corner and could just make out JoJo lying there wagging her tail. Johnny spoke softly to the dog and patted her head as they knelt beside her.

  “It’s alright, JoJo, we won’t hurt your puppies. I just want to show Chrissy how tiny and sweet they are. Okay, JoJo? That’s a good girl." Johnny reached to the edge of her belly and pulled out one tiny little fur ball that squeaked weakly as Johnny placed the squirming puppy in Chrissy’s hand. The puppy began to root around trying to find her mama’s nipple to feed on. Instead, it latched onto Chrissy’s little finger and began to suck hungrily. Chrissy stroked its soft almost white fur tenderly.

  “Oh, they are precious! How many puppies did she have?”

  “She had three and they all seem healthy. When they are old enough to be weaned, I’m going to see if your Mom and Dad will let the twins have one apiece."

  “Oh, they will be thrilled!" JoJo began to whine softly and exhibited some signs of anxiety. Johnny reached for the pup and put it back gently beside her. The mother dog sniffed the puppy and began to wash it gently with her tongue.

  “Maybe we can bring Andy and Candy next time to see them when the puppies are older and JoJo won’t be quite as protective. Now, I want my grandmother and you to meet each other. Will you come into the house?”

  “Yes, I suppose. Do you think she’ll like me? I’d just die if she doesn’t.”

  “You need to know, she doesn’t actually seem to enjoy much of anything these days. After her daughter eloped with my dad and moved to Ireland, she became very bitter. Please don’t be too hurt if she doesn’t seem too overjoyed to meet you. Okay?”

  Mrs. Thorne looked up as the two of them walked into the kitchen. “Johnny, where is our other milk cow? I know we had three and I can only find two.”

  “I know, Grandmother. I loaned it to some friends of mine and she’s being well taken care of.”

  “You’re sure they’re feeding her good and keeping her milked morning and night? You know she’ll be ruined if she isn’t kept on a regular schedule.”

  “Yes, Grandmother.”

  “Well, are you going to introduce your girlfriend or not? I assume she’s your girlfriend since you haven’t turned loose of her hand since you came in here." She still sounded cross and irritable, but she hadn’t ordered Chrissy to get out or anything, which let Chrissy breathe easier.

  “Grandmother, this is Chrissy Wroe, the girl I plan to marry sometime next spring. Chrissy, this is my grandmother, Lydia Thorne.”

  Chrissy blushed prettily and offered her hand. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Thorne." We just came from seeing JoJo’s puppies. They’re such sweet little balls of fur. And JoJo seems so proud of them.”

  “Well, sit down girl so I can get a look at you without breaking my neck looking up. I guess if you’re going to marry my grandson, you may as well call me ‘Grandmother.’ You are a pretty little thing, you seem to have good manners, and you like animals. Those are all points in your favor. I’ll have to have more time, though, before I decide if you’re good enough for my grandson." Her voice was somewhat gruff but she almost smiled.

  They visited a few more minutes and they said their good-byes. “Will you come back and see me again, Chrissy?” she asked and Johnny almost gasped in surprise.

  “Of course, Grandmother. I’ll be back real soon.”

  Johnny could talk of nothing else except his grandmother’s seeming acceptance of Chrissy. “I can’t believe she treated you so civilly. She almost smiled at you and asked you to come back. That’s absolutely unbelievable, Chrissy. I am so glad she likes you, Honey.”

  “Me, too." Chrissy was elated.

  When they returned to Crissy’s house, she talked a mile a minute.

  “You all should have seen the puppies! They are the sweetest little things. They're so tiny and nothing but little balls of fur. They don’t even have their eyes open, yet. They are absolutely adorable. And Mama, I want you to go with me next time we go to see Grand—Mrs. Thorne. She appears to want to be disagreeable but she can’t quite make herself. I think she’s lonely, that’s what I think. Anyhow, she asked me to come back soon. One of the puppies, when I held it in my hand, it nuzzled my hand and found the tip of my little finger and thought it had found its mother’s nipple and she tried to suck on it. It was so sweet. You could tell JoJo was not too happy about me getting too close to her babies, but she was still gentle and when she began to whine and get nervous, we gave the puppy back and left quietly so we didn’t get her too upset. She’s a good little mother, though, and she wants to protect her babies—“

  “Chrissy, —“ Her mother tried to get a word in edgewise.

  “But she was really patient and sweet with—“

  “Chrissy, can you be quiet for just a minute, please, dear?” her mother asked with a very serious look on her face.

  “I was just telling you about my afternoon. I thought you’d be interested, but if you’re not I can go back outside or something." When Chrissy turned as if to go, her mother reached out, took her left hand and turned it to expose the Sweetheart Ring that Johnny had given her.

  “I think I’d rather hear about this, if you don’t mind.”

  “Oh, that." Chrissy blushed furiously and snatched her hand away. Johnny took her hand gently in both of his and looked at the four pairs of eyes waiting for an explanation.

  “I’ve asked Chrissy to be my wife and she said ‘yes.’ I have an engagement ring and a wedding band ordered and they should be here before long." He looked at Candy and Andy and lightly asked, “What would you think of having me for a brother? When Chrissy
and I get married, you’ll be my little brother and sister. I think that’ll be fun.”

  The twins were still somewhat shocked by the whole thing. They didn’t completely understand what ‘wife’ and ‘marriage’ was all about but they did think they would enjoy having Johnny for a big brother.

  Chrissy was still waiting for whatever would be forthcoming from her mom and dad. She had turned nineteen only a few weeks ago but she was still worried about her folks’ reaction to Johnny’s proposal.

  Her mother’s smile finally shone through and she hugged Chrissy. Johnny and Ed shook hands and Ed said, “Welcome to the family, Son." Of course, Chrissy and Penny both had to blow their noses and, as if on cue, a door slammed loudly upstairs.

  “Well, apparently somebody doesn’t approve of the idea, the way the door is banging,” Penny laughed.

  “Oh, but maybe, that showed their approval. Maybe it was meant as applause. Was that what it was?" She looked up and sure enough, the door banged again. Everyone laughed but somewhat nervously.

  Johnny was still debating if he should tell the Wroe family about the part he had played in stirring up “ghosts” but, for sure, he hadn’t been up there making noises that time.

  A couple of weeks later, Chrissy and Penny walked up the hill to visit Lydia Thorne. “Mom, she asked me to call her ‘grandmother,’” Chrissy told her mom. “I didn’t want you to be surprised and I’d feel funny calling her Mrs. Thorne after she specifically asked me to use ‘grandmother.’”

  “Yes, of course, Honey. You should certainly do as she asks on that. It would be disrespectful if you did otherwise”

  When they arrived and knocked on the door, Lydia opened it with her usual frown in place but her face brightened considerably when she saw Chrissy. She wasn’t smiling and bubbly but she did look fairly pleasant and when Chrissy introduced her mother, Lydia shook her hand affably and invited them in. Chrissy had been so nervous she had barely looked at the room when she had been there the first time. While Lydia poured them all coffee, Chrissy took time to notice the neat, clean kitchen. There was nothing fancy about it, but, apparently, she had a place for everything and everything was in its place. The linoleum on the floor was worn but no dirt was visible anywhere. A small pot of begonias was blooming brilliantly on the windowsill that faced the east. There was also a large pot of purple African Violets beside it.

  “This coffee is delicious,” Penny said sincerely. “Do you have a secret? I seem to detect a hint of another flavor to it but I can’t tell what it is.”

  This time Lydia did smile and Chrissy almost gasped. Lydia had a beautiful smile. It completely transformed her face and showed more than a hint of the beauty that had obviously been something really special in her youth.

  “Yes, there’s a secret ingredient that I add; but I’ve never told anyone what it is." Lydia seemed almost shy about it. “I think I want to share it with you, though. I add just one square of a Hershey’s Candy Bar to a pot of coffee. It gives it a slight mocha taste, I think.”

  “Absolutely, that’s it! And thank you for sharing that with me. I will start doing that at home, too, if I can hide the candy from the twins. That could be a problem, though,” Penny laughed.

  “Oh, you have more children than just Chrissy?”

  “Yes, I have twins that are almost five years old: a boy, Andy Ray and a girl, Candy May. Would you like to meet them sometime? We’re all almost as much in love with your Johnny as Chrissy is.”

  “I’ve been alone for a long time,” Lydia spoke hesitantly and Penny was wondering if she would feel that two rambunctious children that age would be too much for her. “I think I’ve grown lonely and fed up with only myself and Johnny for company. Yes, I think I’d like that very much." Her face brightened again as she spoke decidedly. “When can you bring them to see me?”

  “Lydia, I have an even better idea. Next Thursday is Thanksgiving and we’d love to have you come to our house for our Thanksgiving meal….that is, if you’ll make the coffee.”

  Different emotions and changes came across her face as she thought about it, “I haven’t been off this Hill since my husband died eight years ago. I never thought I would. I had expected to live and die right here; but—yes, I’d love to come for dinner if you’re sure you want me.”

  “Of course, we want you, Lydia. We’re going to need to get started planning Chrissy and Johnny’s wedding anyway as soon as they set a date. Oh, I’ve been lonely, too, without any other women to talk to and visit with. This is going to be fabulous! I’m so excited.”

  “I am, too, Grandmother. We’ll be a real family." Chrissy knelt down by Lydia’s chair, threw her arms around her, and kissed her cheek. All three women had tears in their eyes when Penny and Chrissy left a short time later.

  “We’ll see you next Thursday, Lydia.”

  “I love you, Grandmother.”

  “I—I’ll bring some pumpkin pies for dessert. They have a secret ingredient, too. We’ll see if you can figure out what it is." Lydia had wanted to say, “I love you, too." However, it had been such a long time since she had thought she was capable of loving anyone, she had to think about it a while before she would feel comfortable saying it. Of course, she was fond of Johnny but she hadn’t thought about actually loving him. Nevertheless, she could almost feel the ice around her heart beginning to thaw and she found herself wanting to believe she might be able to love again after all.

  Chrissy and Penny chatted excitedly all the way home making plans for their big meal on Thursday. When they arrived back at the house, they had even more to celebrate. Johnny had stayed with the twins while Ed went to town and when he came back he had stopped by the mailbox and found a big envelope from Attorney Lee inside. It contained the deed to the house and one hundred thirty-three acres.

  “I didn’t realize that much acreage went with the house. This is a nice-sized farm, isn’t it?”

  “And it’s completely ours, now, Ed. We have a place that we love that belongs to us. I can hardly believe—“

  “You’ve got to be kidding!" Chrissy had been extremely excited about Grandmother Lydia planning to come there for Thanksgiving, she couldn't wait to tell Johnny first thing. “You’re sure? You’re absolutely sure she agreed to come here for a meal? That is unbelievably wonderful. What did you do to her to get her to agree?" He picked Chrissy up and swung her around and around in celebration.

  “She’s going to make pumpkin pies to bring." Chrissy was bubbling over.

  “Now do me,” Candy said lifting her arms and Johnny obligingly whirled her around, too. Next, he tackled Andy, wrestled him to the ground, and tickled him until they were both breathless.

  “Honey, I’ve got to go home,” Johnny kissed Chrissy fervently, turned to Penny, and hugged her. “I can never thank you all enough for breaking through Grandmother’s shell and giving her back to me. I do need to go home, though, and make sure she’s okay. I sure do hope she doesn’t change her mind. I’ll see you all tomorrow. Bye.”

  “I didn’t mean to take away from the importance and excitement over the deed and it all belonging to us, now. That is exciting and I’m truly pumped up about it. Johnny had talked to me, though, about how much he wished that his Grandmother did have friends and would stop being a total recluse; but he didn’t really believe it would happen, no matter how much he wanted it. He had said he didn’t expect her even to come to our wedding; but now she’s agreed to help us plan it. Everything is wonderful!”

  None of the Wroes would have felt quite so confident or happy if they had seen the stealthy figure that crept around the bend in the road and stood looking at their house for a long, long time that night. Norman didn’t know what in the world he was going to do. That was definitely Ed’s SUV setting out front. He sure as hell didn’t want to go to jail and he knew if Ed saw him, that would be exactly where he was headed.

  He wondered where in the world Ed had got the money to buy that huge old house. It just isn’t fair, he was thinking, for E
d to have a three-story house and a big farm and me to have nothing. Haven’t I always worked hard, the same as Ed? And, now if I can’t take care of this problem some way, I’ll have to take off again and this time I’ll have absolutely nothing; not a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. I just can’t let that happen! But what can I do? There has to be some way to fix this, but I’m damned if I know what.

  Then in his mind’s eye, he suddenly saw that big old house erupting in orange flames. He could almost see the smoke and fire as they engulfed the entire house. The colorful red and gold and orange tongues of fire flicking and flying, licking, tasting and then devouring everything until the whole structure came crashing onto itself and eliminating immediately all his problems. They would all be gone. There would be nobody left who could point a finger at him for any of his crimes. Hey, that could work. But could he actually set Ed’s house on fire knowing that his wife and children as well as Ed might be burned alive? He shivered in the November chill but part of the feeling was the excitement of thinking about doing a deed like that. Could he do that? If he didn’t do something, how long would it be before his past crimes were exposed? Rape, burglary, perjury. Any one of which could net him a long time in the penitentiary. Would arson really be any worse? However, that arson could lead to murder, too. Nevertheless, again, it was either him or Ed, so it would be sort of like self-defense, wouldn't it? This man had been his friend since first grade, though. He couldn’t do that. Could he?

  After a while, he turned and walked back around the bend in the road, got in his car and went back to his motel room in Dundee.

  This wouldn’t be the last time, though, that Norman considered arson and homicide as a solution to his problems.