Shadow by the Bridge

by Suzanne Zewan

  I reached over and pulled two spoons out of the drawer behind me. “So, did you two talk about where you were going to live?” I shoved a big spoonful of soup into my mouth.

  “A little bit. Joseph wants to live in Batavia.” She glanced up at me with uncertainty.

  “Do you want to move to Batavia?” I asked.

  “Well, I thought about that a lot today. Batavia is only a few miles away. And I can always drive out here to visit,” she said and then sipped from her spoon.

  “What about the house?”

  “Now, you have a decision to make. I already discussed this with Joseph. We can sell the house and both of us move to Batavia. Or you can live here because it is closer to the farm.”

  “I’ll probably stay here most of the time. I don’t want to leave Valerie.”

  “That’s what I expected you to say. I’ll go ahead and sign the house deed over to you when you turn eighteen.”

  There was a knock at the door. I turned.

  “It’s Helen.” My mother pulled her ring off. “Don’t say anything to her about the wedding, or everyone in Linden will know before the sun goes down,” she said cheerfully. She dropped the ring into her purse and headed over to the door. “Hello, Helen, come in. We’re in the middle of supper; would you like to join us? We’re having turkey soup.”

  Helen stepped through the door. “No, no thank you. I stopped by twice earlier, but no one was home.”

  “Is everything all right?”

  “No, it’s not. I’m glad I stopped, because you must not have heard. Someone tried to set the Nelsons’ house on fire today.”

  “What?” my mother said as she placed her hand over her mouth.

  “Someone broke into their house, poured kerosene all over Marty and Emma’s bed, and set fire to it.”

  “Are they all right?”

  “Yes, they’re fine,” Helen replied.

  My mother turned to me. “Did you know about this?”

  I nodded. “Valerie and I found out on our way home. I was going to tell you, but…”You were too cheerful to hear any bad news. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you.

  “Joseph and I drove in through Alexander, so we didn’t drive by their house.”

  “I rushed right over there after Doty called and told me about the police cars in front of their house. Emma showed me the kerosene can. It was left right in their bedroom. It’s the same can of kerosene that Martha sells at the store. And I already talked to Martha; she doesn’t remember anyone buying any kerosene lately. So Merle must have sold it.”

  “Maybe he did, but doesn’t everyone have a kerosene can in their house? They only sell one size at the store,” I pointed out.

  My mother glanced back at me. “You’re probably right about that, honey.” She turned to Helen. “We probably have the same can here.”

  “I don’t know if we have one like that. But maybe we do. Travis would know better,” Helen said. “Well, I just stopped by to let you know what happened. Where were you earlier?”

  “Joseph and I had dinner with his parents.”

  “Did you have a nice time?”

  “Yes, we had dinner at the Richmond Hotel.”

  Helen looked at me. “Did you go with them, too?”

  “No, Valerie and I took a drive to Silver Lake instead.”

  “How nice. We haven’t been there in years. Well, it sounds like both of you had a wonderful afternoon,” Helen said.

  I finished my soup and placed my bowl into the sink. “I’m going to take a walk.” Listening to Helen could be exhausting.

  “All right, honey,” my mother said as Helen sat down at the table. “Would you like some tea, Helen?” my mother asked.

  “That sounds good, Ella. Thank you.”

  I stepped out the door and headed down the driveway with my hands in my pockets. I strolled down to the bridge and leaned over the railing to collect my thoughts. The streaming water below me relaxed me as I sorted through the events of the afternoon: thoughts of boating on Silver Lake, someone setting a fire in the Nelsons’ bedroom, and my mother starting her new life with Joseph tumbled around in my head.

  I pulled out my pocket watch: 4:40. I held it tightly as if I were squeezing my father’s hand. I gazed past the line of rustling leaves over to the waterfall that was hitting the rocks below. It was as if a blanket knitted with tranquility wrapped itself around me and held me still. On the shelf of my tucked away memories, I noticed a dark violet vase filled with buttery daffodils.

  Suddenly, I was taken back to my childhood. My father held my hand as we carefully stepped, stone by slippery stone, at the water’s edge. In my other hand, I was holding a small bouquet of daffodils. I had picked them for my mother. I remembered holding them in my hand and climbing the steps up to our side door. The scent of daffodils brushed past my nose as if I were holding one close to my face. I recalled my father telling me that daffodils were the first sign of spring as life began again. When my mother opened the door, she picked me up, thanked me, and kissed me on the cheek.

  I had to believe this was my dad’s way of telling me he was giving us his blessing for our new beginning.

  “Thank you, Dad,” I whispered. “I love you.” Grasping my tarnished gold watch, I smiled, and placed it back into my pocket.

  Nineteen

  Almost a week had passed. Amber and gold had begun to lick the leaves that were rustling around me, announcing autumn’s arrival. Their shadows danced beneath my footsteps. Once the foliage rested, the sounds of the waterfall filled the air again. I stepped onto Mrs. Adleman’s porch. The drapes moved. Valerie waved and smiled at me through the window, and then opened the front door.

  “I thought I’d stop by before supper because I’m really tired. I didn’t sleep well last night.” I leaned in and kissed her.

  “We have to be quiet out here; Mrs. Adleman just fell asleep.” Valerie grabbed my hand and we sat down on the steps. She looked at me for a moment. “You do look tired. I can see the dark circles under your eyes.”

  “I haven’t slept that well all week.”

  “I’ve been waking up at every noise too,” Valerie said. “You said that you didn’t eat supper yet?”

  “No, I came right over. Helen and Martha were just left leaving my house. My mother had them over for tea this afternoon. She finally told them that she was getting married. They’re really happy for her.”

  “Are you happy for her?”

  I turned to Valerie and felt my eyebrows slightly twist. “Yes, of course I am. Why would you ask that?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe deep inside, I thought it might bother you a little and… maybe that’s why you haven’t slept well all week.”

  “No, I think that has more to do with the fire over at the Nelsons’. It’s just everything adding up.”

  “I know; I feel the same way. But I’m glad that it’s not the wedding that’s bothering you.”

  “No, it’s hard to put into words. It’s a big change, that’s all. I really like Joseph, and I know he will take care of Mom.” I glanced over at Valerie and grasped her warm hand. “But do I wish life hadn’t turned out the way it has? Yeah, I’d rather have my father here.” My eyes settled on Valerie’s deep blue eyes for a moment. “It’s like the sourest lemons sprinkled with a lot of sugar,” I replied, almost tasting the drops of lemonade on my tongue.

  “Bitter at first, but the sugar makes it better.”

  “I guess. Yeah, that would be the best way to put it.” I nodded. “I remember when my mom first met Joseph; I’d catch her smiling to herself when she was cooking. It’s been good to see her happy. That’s really all that matters now.”

  “Well, I’m really happy for them!” Valerie smiled.

  “So am I.” I nodded and pressed my lips for a moment. “But I’m going to have to get used to living in the house alone. It’s going to be so different. I’m used to having my supper ready for me every night.” My eyes swayed over to Valerie.

  “Is
that a hint? You want me to cook for you?”

  I grinned and gently moved my knees toward her. “It’ll be good practice.”

  “Practice? Is that your strange way of proposing to me?”

  “No, one proposal was enough for this week,” I said and followed with a chuckle.

  “You think you’re funny, don’t you?” Valerie said, then she pressed her lips slightly to one side.

  “Yeah, I do!” I started to laugh. “And you have to admit… You think I’m funny too!”

  She grinned, let go of my hand, stood up, and peeked in the window. “Still sleeping.” She sat back down. “Okay, when your mom moves, I’ll make you a plate at home and bring it with me. I’ll give it to you when you stop by here. And for all my hard work, you’re going to have to take me out to some place really nice. How about the Richmond Hotel?”

  “That’s fair! And thank you.” I leaned over and kissed her again. “You’ll make somebody a good wife someday.”

  “Yeah, you’re funny all right!” She knocked my arm with the back of her hand.

  The 5:10 train whistle blew. The sound of the freight cars droning over the tracks continued on and on. After a few minutes, the sound of the train faded away into the distance.

  “Would you ever want to live somewhere else?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. Why?”

  “I’ve been thinking about it lately. After all that has happened around here, I’m not so sure that I want to live here,” I said in a somber tone. “I’ve known these people all my life, but I think there’s someone living here that’s not as neighborly as they pretend to be.”

  Valerie nodded. “Whoever set that fire lives here,” she said with conviction.

  “I’m also thinking that this might not be the best place for us to raise our children.”

  “So that was a proposal!” she said jokingly.

  “Not the official one,” I said gazing into her eyes. “But seriously, I think that’s part of the reason I couldn’t sleep most of the week. I don’t know that I want to stay here. There are only a few people I know I can trust. And the rest… I question.”

  “I know what you mean. I get the sickest feeling when I think about Florence, and now the Nelsons.” Her voice faded.

  “We still have some time to decide… at least a couple of years,” I said, forcing a smile and trying to change the mood.

  “A couple of years? That long?” Valerie’s eyes widened.

  “Yeah, I want my mother to settle into her new life. That’ll give me time to save some more money for a house. She’s planning on turning the house over to me, but I’m going to tell her that she probably won’t need to.”

  Valerie smiled. “She won’t, not if we’re going to move.”

  I nodded.

  “I better head back inside. I am supposed to be working. I have to heat up Mrs. Adleman’s supper, and I’m sure she’ll be waking up any time now.”

  “Okay; my supper is waiting for me too.”

  Just as I stood up, two black touring cars came around the bend. We watched them pass us, then drive over the bridge and up the hill.

  “The police again?” Valerie cried. “What’s going on now?”

  “Listen, go inside and lock the door. I’m going to take a walk up the road and see where they’re going. Maybe they’re just passing through.”

  “Please come back and let me know!” Valerie pleaded.

  “I will. Just lock all the doors.” I leaned in and kissed her.

  “I think two more years in this town is two years too long!” Valerie said in a panicked, higher-pitched tone.

  I nodded. “You’re probably right.”

  As I stepped off the porch and headed toward the road, my chest tightened as if there were thick ropes trying to suffocate me. I began to gasp for air. My heart thrashed against my chest. I made it over to the bridge and leaned against the railing, thinking I might vomit or pass out. Feeling light headed, I didn’t move. As I hung my head over the railing, saliva dripped off my lip into the water.

  After a few minutes, the feeling began to fade. I wiped my mouth and stared out at the waterfall for a moment. Then I glanced up the hill at the Morgans’ store. I could see the back ends of the two black touring cars parked in front.

  What the hell is going on now?Finding my strength again, I walked up the hill. Merle was standing on the porch, talking to one of the officers. I watched the officer go inside the store. Merle waved and met me by the Depot.

  “What’s going on here?” I asked.

  “Someone cut Martha’s phone wires,” Merle replied nervously.

  “What? Cut them? Are you sure? Do you think it could’ve been from a squirrel or a raccoon?” I asked. “I’ve heard about them chewing through wires before.”

  “No, it was sliced clean, not gnawed. I saw it for myself, so Martha called the police from Helen’s house.”

  I scanned the houses nearby with suspicion. “Someonehere is sending us a message. Or he’s getting his thrills by taunting us.”

  “Yeah, it’s beginning to feel like that,” Merle said in a deflated tone.

  “I don’t know... I don’t know what to think anymore. Why would someone cut her phone wires?”

  “I don’t know, but I started thinking… Weren’t Flo’s phone wires cut too?” Merle asked.

  An icy chill shot through my veins and landed deep in my gut.Her wires were cut. Suddenly, my heart began to pound.I had forgotten about her phone wires being cut. I nodded.

  “Yeah, I think they were,” I replied in a soft voice. “I don’t like this at all!”

  “Martha is really upset, and I can’t blame her. I can’t think of one person who would do this to her and Gerry. At least they didn’t set the store on fire.”

  “…or kill anyone,” I said under my breath, glancing over at the store for a moment. “You know, I’m really fed up with this shit! I was just talking to Valerie about moving the hell out of here.”

  “I know. It’s disturbing. And you’re not the first person to mention moving either.” Merle turned to the voices that were coming from the store. Two officers stepped out the door and were talking on the porch.

  “I have to go tell Valerie what happened. We saw the police cars go by, and I wanted to see where they were going.”

  Merle turned and headed back to the store. “Okay, I’ll see ya later.”

  “Yeah.” I nodded and stepped over the railroad tracks. When I looked up, I saw Valerie standing in the middle of the road with her shotgun by her side. We met on the bridge.

  “Mrs. Adleman woke up. I told her that you were going to be stopping by and that I was going outside for a few minutes. So what happened?”

  “Someone cut the phone wires over at the Morgans’.”

  “What! Why would—?”

  “I have no idea, other than someone finds it amusing,” I replied, shaking my head with disgust. “And Merle reminded me that Flo’s phone wires were also cut.”

  “That’s really scary!” Valerie said.

  I nodded. “I know.”

  “I think that I’m going to ask Junior to stay here tonight with me. He’s working close by this week.”

  “That’s a good idea. I’m sure he won’t mind.”

  “I don’t want to scare Mrs. Adleman, though,” Valerie said.

  “You have to tell her the truth. Just tell her that someone cut the phone wires at the Morgans’ store and you’d feel better having your brother stay here tonight. It’s understandable. She’ll probably feel better, too,” I assured her.

  “I know. I’ll call Junior in a little while. He’s usually home around 6:30.”

  “It makes me feel better knowing he’ll be staying with you.”

  “Maybe the whole week!”

  “Even better!” I gave her a quick kiss. “I better go, I’m sure my mother is wondering where I am. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Okay. Try and rest if you can.” She opened the front door and stepped insi
de.

  I nodded. “I’ll try.”

  I left the porch as Valerie closed the door and ambled up the road toward my house, sharing the road with scattered leaves and two squirrels who were chasing each other. I stood on my porch steps for a moment, angry and reeling from the loss of control that resonated inside of me. As I stared out into the hamlet, questions swirled through my head as the last hint of the sun faded away, and the shadows disappeared—all but the one shadow who lived among us and in our nightmares.

  Twenty

  1924

  The aroma of roasted turkey rushed me as I opened the door. I kicked off my snow covered boots and hung my wool coat on the hook.That smells good!

  “Mom!”

  “In here, honey,” my mother replied from the parlor. “I didn’t expect you home this early.”

  “We finished a little early today,” I said from the doorway. My mother was standing on the wooden footstool in a silky, dusty rose colored wedding dress.

  “Doesn’t she look beautiful?” Helen smiled as she stepped out from behind her.

  My mother turned around, her eyes sparkling with delight. She was beaming with joy.

  Martha was on her knees, holding the hem of the dress. She pulled a pin from between her lips and placed it into the fabric. “Isn’t your mother going to make a lovely bride?”

  “Yes, Mom! You look beautiful!”

  “So do you like it?” she asked anxiously.

  “Yes! Very much!” I nodded.

  “Your soon-to-be Grandmother Genevieve called me this morning and asked me if I wanted to shop for my dress. We found this one at C.L. Carr’s. I thought this was such a lovely gown.” My mother motioned with her hand from her hip to slightly down her leg. “The sales woman told us that the drop waist is the latest style in wedding dresses, and I thought the color was perfect for a second wedding.”