by Hazel Holmes
“It doesn’t sound like it’s been what you’ve envisioned though,” Ezra replied.
“Not exactly. Being the manager of a place that’s so busy hasn’t allowed me to interact with people on the level that I wanted to. So, I guess if I could do anything, I’d own my own hotel.” She paused. “No, I’d own an inn, or a bed and breakfast. Something quaint in a cute small town where people get to know each other, and nature is all around.
“I’d want it to be somewhere peaceful. I’d love to decorate it, make it into one of those Victorian-era places. Something old-fashioned and inspired by the looks at the time. It’d give me the chance to talk to people, listen to their stories. I don’t know. I’d like to create a lovely space for people to be.”
She smiled at the thought of it. Ezra loved the dreamy look in her eyes. “Maybe someday,” she said. “How about you? If you could do anything, what would you do? Though I mean, I guess you are kind of already doing your dream job.”
“I am,” he nodded. “Though I don’t know, it’s been different than I thought it’d be. Maybe I’d take on a position where I could do more cooking, yet somewhere I could still be creative. I love making menus and having such an active say in food quality, ingredients used, plating, all that intricate stuff. But I also miss the cooking aspect of it sometimes, so I’d move more in that direction.”
“You should explore it more,” Clara said. “You have the money to create the life you want. Why not take some time to try to find a job like that?”
“Maybe I will,” he said, an idea taking root and blossoming in his mind.
6
Clara’s footsteps dragged as she entered the apartment Friday night. She was grateful she had the weekend off and only hoped she wouldn’t get called in to clean up some sort of mess someone else made. It had been a long week and she needed some time with Ezra to make it right.
When she opened the door, she was surprised by the scent of pizza warming their apartment. Ezra wasn’t due to be home yet. He always worked late on Friday nights. But the lights were on and she found him in the kitchen, grabbing some plates for the pizza.
“What are you doing home?” she asked. She would’ve been more concerned if they didn’t have a million dollars waiting on them, but there still was some worry there. Ezra hadn’t reacted normally to his father’s death, and she couldn’t help but wonder if the grief would still come out in other ways.
“I took the weekend off,” he said. “Vince has said a few times that I could take time off to process the death of my father, so I told him the grief has caught up to me and I need the weekend off. We’re going for a little trip. I already have your things packed. You just have to eat dinner and get ready to go.”
“Go where?” she asked, setting her purse down. He slid a plate with Hawaiian pizza over to her. Her hunger outweighed her curiosity, so she took a big, greasy, cheesy bite. It was just what she needed after such a stressful day.
“We’re going to look at properties,” Ezra explained. “I have a couple of hotels booked for the weekend, and some properties chosen to check out. We’re meeting with the realtor tomorrow so you can share some ideas of places you’d like to see if you have any.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, her mind spinning as she sat at the kitchen island. She was too tired to keep up with his crazy energy, but he looked like sleep hadn’t crossed his mind ever. He bounced on the balls of his feet, fueled by a happiness she hadn’t seen since his father passed.
“I was thinking about what you said, and I want to make that dream come true,” Ezra explained. “I haven’t known what to spend my father’s inheritance on because nothing seemed right. I don’t want to blow it on frivolous stuff, and that amount of money isn’t something to be taken lightly. I want to use it to better our lives and this is the perfect way to do so.
“I want us to buy a bed and breakfast together. We can fix it up, rent it out, and live in the home of your dreams. We’ll buy a nice property in a small town and get away from the crazy streets of Chicago. I’ll cook real meals that people will enjoy. It’ll give me the chance to make a menu, get creative, be in charge, while still truly using my skills and enjoying my passion. It’s the perfect way for both of us to do what we love, follow our passions together.” He paused as he looked at her with an abundance of hope and excitement. “What do you think?”
“That’s a lot,” she admitted. “A huge change. Are you sure it’s what you want to do? You always said you wanted to be a head chef at a renowned restaurant. This would be stepping away from that dream.”
“It’d be stepping away from that dream and onto something better. That’s what I wanted before, but I’ve realized it doesn’t make me happy the way I thought it would. I think this will though. I think it’ll be a good change for both of us.”
Clara took a moment to assess the situation. She wanted to make sure Ezra was doing this solely because it was what he wanted to do, rather than being driven by grief or reckless impulsivity.
“I think so too,” she admitted. She smiled and left her pizza for a moment to stand and hug him. The promise of leaving her job behind was a relief she never thought she’d be gifted. A huge, overbearing weight lifted from her heart.
She always felt like she didn’t quite belong here. She was different than the people she worked with. The city was too fast for her, too loud, too much. She often felt like she got lost in the shuffle. She had to shift, conform to what everyone else was doing. This was her chance to find her place with Ezra. An opportunity to live out her dreams. She could barely wrap her mind around it.
“I love you,” she said, followed by a kiss.
“I love you too. Now get to eating. We have an adventure to start.”
7
Ezra and Clara made the trek to the first region they wanted to check out for their new bed and breakfast. They stayed the night at a cute little bed and breakfast that inspired them, then started the viewings first thing Saturday morning. They saw some incredible properties, each with a Victorian-era air to it. Ezra had kept his wife’s tastes in mind as he was picking places, and after talking with the real estate agent, Clara picked out a few properties of her own.
By Sunday, they had narrowed their list down to two properties they really loved. They had a couple of more to see that day before heading back home and taking time to think about which one they wanted most.
They left early that morning and drove out to the mountains of Illinois. The brilliant red, orange, and yellow leaves were fading, falling to the ground; a signal of the new season waiting impatiently to rush in. Miles upon miles of dying colors stretched before them in one glorious show before unforgiving white stole them all.
Driving under the shadows of mountains rather than the stares of skyscrapers was a relief to them both. They talked freely as they admired the cozy area with unique houses and big properties. Small shops replaced ridiculously-priced clothing stores. A few people walked around, enjoying their Sunday in a carefree way that was seen far less often on the busy streets of Chicago.
“I like it here,” Clara said as she admired the quaint brick library. She imagined spending a full day there, leafing through their collection.
“It’s a nice area,” Ezra replied. “It attracts leaf peepers and snow lovers; a lot of skiers will come out to the region to hit the slopes. There’s also a lot of hiking trails and a gorgeous lake that draws outdoorsy people to the town.”
“Sounds like a solid customer base,” Clara said. Though they were idealists, they were also business minded. They wouldn’t settle for anything that didn’t have good prospects. “And they seem like just the sort of customers I’d like to serve. People who are looking for adventure and prefer to be outdoors.”
“Exactly. It definitely has potential.”
“More potential than the amazing properties we’ve seen so far?”
“I guess we’ll see.”
It wasn’t long before they reached the long driveway th
at led up to the three-story Victorian-style bed and breakfast. The unique purple walls were trimmed in grey, protected by towering pine trees. Unlike the other bed and breakfasts, this one came with an attachment to it. Conjoined with the house, but somehow still separate, was a circular room with windows as walls that looked out into a carefully tended garden. Based on the exterior alone, it was the most unique house they’d seen so far.
“I love it,” Clara said, already visualizing her dream bed and breakfast here.
“Me too,” Ezra replied. “Let’s hope the inside looks just as fantastic.”
As they got out of their car and waited for Sana, they watched the clouds pool around the mountains. They were situated close to the most popular slopes, which was a major draw to the guests before. Clara peered around the house.
The gorgeous lake was laid right beneath them, down a little slope. The blue water was starting to get frosty, preparing for the deep freeze that would pause the region soon. Pine trees bordered the edges as peace settled over the property. Lights were strung up, following the path that led to the water.
“It’s gorgeous,” Clara said.
“Isn’t it?” Sana replied with a warm smile. Her curly brown hair bounced in the chilly wind. Touches of orange in her dress brought out a golden glow in her brown eyes against rich caramel skin. “I think you’ll like this place. It’s one of my favorites.”
She led them inside, opening the door to reveal the most welcoming foyer they’d seen. Golden light brightened the area, which brought in a certain warmth that fought the chill of the cold. Clay colored walls were tastefully decorated with succulents and artwork. The wood floors added to the earthy, comforting atmosphere, while cozy orange couches offered up a place to relax while waiting for the owners of the home. Though with all the care already shown, Clara and Ezra doubted guests ever had to wait very long.
“It seems like this place was well loved,” Ezra noted.
“Very much so,” Sana said. “You’ll find everything is in incredible condition. It’s one of the best properties we have.”
She led them into the living room next, which had a bit of a brighter color scheme. A stone fireplace was settled amongst rich red walls. Wood flooring and nude-colored furniture kept it from being too bright though. A large wood bookshelf gave the space a literary feel that Clara loved, while a big screen TV provided modern comforts.
This seemed to be the theme of the house. It was rooted in warmth, a peaceful place tucked away in the mountains, while still providing modern luxuries. It was a perfect mix of both worlds.
Ezra was most enchanted by the kitchen though. It was spacious with dark marble countertops. Professional with grey and blue décor. It was an industrial-sized kitchen, big enough for a café or small dinner service. A bit much for the typical bed and breakfast. He wasn’t complaining though.
“This kitchen is conjoined with another room that’s open to a couple of different possibilities,” Sana said. She led them through the door and into the room they spotted earlier that was attached to the house. A separate space for business to overflow into.
Ezra’s imagination ran wild. It looked like the perfect area to set up as a small café, with plenty of seating and those gorgeous views of the mountains and garden. Silver walls occupied the small space where windows weren’t taking over. White floorboards dusted in blue sparkles gave the place a delightful wintery vibe. It felt like they were in a snowy wonderland.
“This could simply be an area for people to relax in,” Sana continued. “There’s a path leading from it right to the lake. It’s certainly a bonus.
“Though the last owners took it a step further and turned it into a little dining area of sorts, for guests and a few people from town.” She motioned to the door leading out of the building. A stone path led up to it, so visitors wouldn’t need to enter the house to reach it. “It was known for delicious breakfasts and desserts with a lot of heart in them. We left some of the furniture in the home because we thought it went so nicely with it. But this area we cleaned out completely so you could see all the possibilities.”
“I was curious about that,” Clara said. There wasn’t a lot of furniture, but there were those key pieces in the living room and foyer. “Does that come with the house? Don’t the owners want their things?”
Sana looked away for a moment, some of her former confidence fading. She shifted, then looked back up at them. “Well, you see, that’s one thing I do have to disclose about this house. You’d probably hear about it anyway if you decide to buy the property.
“The previous owners… They… Well, something terrible happened to them. No one knows exactly for sure what went on that night, but about a year ago the owners, Lyla and Richard, disappeared.”
Clara and Ezra shared a disheartened look. They’d already fallen in love with the place, but they didn’t want to steal a house from someone. They didn’t want any part of something that might become complicated.
“Disappeared?” Clara asked. “What happens if they come back?”
“I don’t think they’ll be coming back, though the house would be yours regardless. You see, the couple had two children, Olivia and Kyle. Sweet darlings, they were friends with my daughter.” Sana wiped away tears. “Their employee, Paul, came to work one day and noticed the house seemed empty. He went about his day, but when no one arrived, he became suspicious. To make a long, horrible story short, he found the children in their beds. They died in the night. Their parents were missing.
“The autopsy concluded that the children were poisoned. A search of their parents was conducted, everyone was worried that whoever killed their children killed Lyla and Richard as well. They have yet to be found. Now the most popular theory is, well… the darkest worry is Lyla and Richard killed their children. However, no one really knows for sure what happened. It’s safe to say though, they won’t be returning to their home. It’s yours if you want it.”
8
“Thoughts?” Ezra asked as they sipped hot chocolate in an old-fashioned, family-owned restaurant by the lake. It was small, the likes of which they couldn’t find in Chicago. It looked like a log cabin from afar, but Sana had assured them it was the best restaurant in the area. She wasn’t wrong. Homemade comfort food made them sad they’d be returning home soon.
“I love the one on the lake,” Clara admitted.
“The one people died in?”
“Yeah. I know it sounds weird, but it has such a unique look and it’s in a prime location. I love the town; I love the nature surrounding it.”
“I love the fact that I could set up a little café,” Ezra added his enthusiasm to hers. “It’d be great to be able to serve and feed people on a smaller scale. We could still make money, but I could cook food that means something to me. I could put my heart and soul into it, plan out menus while still showing off my skills.”
“I knew you’d like that.” She smiled, then took a bite of her mashed potatoes. “It has everything we want.”
“But there is the fact that two children were murdered there,” Ezra reminded her. “By their parents, nonetheless. None of the other places we looked at have that kind of dark history.”
“True. I’m not a fan of it and it does give me pause. It’s tragic that could happen to children. Even more tragic if their parents killed them. I wish it didn’t have that history, but bad things happen in many different places. Bad people live everywhere. If you think about it objectively, it doesn’t have anything to do with the house itself.”
“True. There are plenty of criminals in Chicago.”
“Exactly. And we don’t know that these other places didn’t hold horrible people. They just may not have been caught over it. I don’t think we should avoid a house just because it has a tragic history.”
“I agree,” Ezra replied. “It is just…”
“Unsettling,” Clara admitted. “It’s super unsettling.”
“But its history has made it cheaper,” Ezra said. “Sana
pointed that out. It’s the best out of all the options and one of the cheapest because people are so reluctant to buy it.”
“I do like that feature. I don’t want to blow through all the money you got from your father right away. Maybe with the extra money, we can do some updates. I don’t want to change everything; I do like the house as is. But maybe we can make enough changes so people can separate the bed and breakfast we own from the one they owned. Hopefully we can do enough work to set us apart so that way, we won’t be plagued with the past.”
“You think we can do so?” he asked. “People will probably be more reluctant to stay there at first considering what happened.”
“I’m sure they will be, but I know we can do it.”
“Let’s do it then.”
9
About two months later, Ezra and Clara welcomed the movers into their new home. By then, winter was in full swing. The property was shivering under a dusting of snow. It wasn’t at its peak yet, but the trees were naked. The lake was freezing over. It wasn’t quite safe enough for ice skating yet, but it would be soon, and Clara couldn’t wait to get Ezra out on the ice. In her mind she was already reliving childhood memories of ice skating with her sisters, giggling under snowflakes.
In the meantime, they gave the movers a little tour and told them which boxes would go where. They had accepted a lot of the previous furniture that was already in the home, as they didn’t have a whole lot of their own. The result was a project that bordered on complimentary, while needing some work to bring it all together.