Sunshine spilled in as well, creating dappled pools of light on the floor. This was the type of thing Katie remembered from her time in the country…nature in all its glory. She wanted to smell and hear it, feel and enjoy it, even when working inside.
The intense satisfaction from that simple act made Katie sigh with happiness. Yes, this was a far cry from a condo at the beach—or even a rustic cabin in the mountains. But her jet-setting days of glamor and glitz were behind her. Lacewood was home, providing a haven she needed and longed for.
Katie walked through the imposing foyer, trying to avoid the shards of glass glittering in the sunlight. Her mother would never approve of this, that’s for sure. She often scolded Katie for wrapping herself in a cloak of isolation rather than enjoying the spotlight. Katie always responded by pulling the cloak even tighter.
The mere thought of what her mother’s reaction would be made Katie cringe, and then smile. For the first time, she was in charge of her life. No more trying to be what someone else wanted—or the world expected.
Turning her attention back to the house, Katie took in the desolate, dark, and barren room. Once she’d unpacked her things it would feel more like a home and less like a dirty, dilapidated barn. She’d bought a small microwave and coffee maker on her drive down, and packed everything she’d need to get by for a week or so. In addition to the necessities like her laptop and clothes, she had two coolers of ice, food, and a variety of flashlights and lanterns.
This wasn’t going to be easy, but this is what she wanted, Katie reminded herself. Instead of being waited on hand and foot, she would be able to measure the result of a hard day’s work by her aching muscles and the calluses on her hands…the way her father had, and his parents had, and certainly their parents before them. When her father reminisced about the old days, he always had a special glint in his eye. Now she was beginning to understand why.
Katie’s sandals made a scuffing sound as she walked down the corridor to the room in the back. This was where she planned to put her air mattress and belongings until other parts of the house were made livable. Sizeable yet homey, the room had a masculine feel to it, and an aura of protection and warmth.
Infatuated by the floor-to-ceiling bookcases encompassing two entire walls, Katie stood in the doorway and pictured the cherished volumes that once filled the shelves. Nothing remained of them now except the faint, musty smell of mildew, and a few scraps of paper that appeared ready to turn to dust.
Walking over to a built-in seat on the far wall, Katie rested her knee on the wooden ledge, and unlatched the French-style window behind it. She gave the pane a hopeful push outward, and was surprised when it creaked open with relative ease. A gentle breeze lifted the tattered remnants of a lacy curtain, rewarding her with the sweet scent of lilacs.
Leaning forward as far as she could, Katie tried to find the source of the fragrance, but discovered nothing but a tangle of weeds and untrimmed trees. Disappointed, she lowered herself to the window seat, trying to imagine the multitude of generations who sat in this very spot, reading, daydreaming, or simply gazing out over the wide expanse of flowers in the garden.
Of course, she had to use her imagination a little. The confusion of vines and vegetation that stretched out before her resembled a rain forest or a jungle more so than a garden. But even without flowers, this house was abundant with exactly what her soul needed.
Peace and quiet.
No more disruptions or distractions. No more interruptions or intrusions. On any given day, she could do as much—or as little—as she wanted. The debilitating headaches that had plagued her since childhood had all but vanished in the last month. She hadn’t even bothered to refill her prescription medications, or pack anything stronger than aspirin.
In that regard, the healing powers of the house were already evident. “I’ll fix you and you’ll fix me.” Katie felt silly making the promise out loud, but it was true. The house’s issues were countless and vast—but they were mostly superficial, paling in comparison to her deep-seated ones.
Pulling out her phone, Katie prepared to make the call she’d been dreading. Better to get it over with before the news begins to spread.
As she dialed the number, she steeled herself for the conversation to come. Her mother would be frantic with disbelief and dismay when she learned Katie made this decision without her. She would ask the inevitable question and demand an immediate answer. “What in the world are you DOING?”
Katie smiled with a deep sense of contentment at what her response would be.
Living.
Don’t stop reading! Lacewood won three awards in 2020 and is a top book club pick!
Two love stories in one in this dual era novel!
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About the Author
Jessica James’ novels are inspired by her love of the land, her belief in everlasting love, and her curiosity about the past.
She is a four-time winner of the John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction, and has won more than a dozen other literary awards, including a Readers’ Favorite International Book Award and a Gold Medal from the Military Writers Society of America. Her novels have been used in schools and are available in hundreds of libraries including Harvard and the U.S. Naval Academy.
Jessica loves to write about the historical places she visits on her blog Past Lane Travels. When not on the road, she can be found in her own 200-year-old house in Gettysburg that has a new Sycamore tree in the yard.
Duty Bound (Shades of Gray Civil War Serial Trilogy Book 1) Page 24