House of the Forest

by Diana Wallis Taylor

“Maybe too capable, he’s so busy with meetings and plans.”

  Ginny was silent then, considering Laura’s words. Finally she put her hand over Laura’s. “You have time to sort things out, dear. Are you counseling with the pastor?”

  “We were going to, but it’s his father and well, you already know the rest.”

  Laura sighed heavily and set her cup down, glancing up at Ginny’s kind face. “I know I’m probably being foolish. Maybe it’s just wedding jitters. I was drawn to him right away. I do love him.”

  “Sometimes I think our hearts get in the way, Laura. We want something so much we rationalize that it must be right for us.”

  Laura frowned a little. “That’s true, but how do you know you have made the right choice?”

  “Do you have peace in your heart about your marriage, Laura?”

  She hung her head. “That’s just it. The weeks go by and I feel like I want to back peddle. I want to marry Alan and then I’m not sure.”

  Ginny smiled gently. “You’re a lovely young woman, Laura. I believe with all my heart that God will give you wisdom to make the right decision.”

  Nodding her head, Laura picked up her cup and swallowed the last of her tea. She looked around the kitchen and thought how homey it looked. It had character.

  Why don’t you stay here?

  That thought again. She shook her head slightly as if to clear it.

  “Ginny, do you and George know a good realtor?”

  Ginny appeared startled. “Why?”

  “Well, I can’t keep the house. My job is in San Diego and I have to be back at work in a couple of weeks.”

  Ginny started at her. “Why can’t you keep the house?”

  “Well, I, ah, my job, the upkeep, you know.” Excuses.

  “Laura, you have enough to take care of the upkeep on the house. Esty made sure of that. That’s why she left it to you. She wanted you to have a retreat from the busy world of the city.”

  A retreat? The idea intrigued her. “Do you really think I should?”

  “You just have the annual taxes to pay, and of course the utilities. You could bring your friends and it’s not that far to drive up for the weekend.”

  Laura laughed out loud. “You are a persuasive woman, Ginny. I admit the idea of keeping the house has crossed my mind but until I saw Aunt Estelle’s attorney, I didn’t think it possible.”

  Ginny lifted her eyebrows hopefully. “Then you won’t sell it?”

  Laura reached out and covered Ginny’s hand with her own. “I think you’ve been praying very hard about this. I’m not sure what I’m getting into here, but I’m going to keep it, at least for now.”

  “Hallelujah,” crowed Ginny, “Let’s have another cup of tea to celebrate.”

  Chapter Eleven

  When Deke wrote down the date and time of the memorial service after hearing the recording, he was relieved it was on a Saturday. He wouldn’t have to take any extra time off work. He could get up there, slip into this church and no one would be the wiser. People didn’t know everyone that came to a memorial service. The article mentioned a sister and a niece as next of kin. There had to be an estate and if this DuPont woman was married to Ray DuPont, there just might be something in it for him. He had his birth certificate showing Ray DuPont as his father. He smirked to himself. Maybe he’d just find himself an attorney up there and put in a claim on the estate.

  The other possibility was that he was putting too much hope in that yellow paper. Maybe this niece knew something about the money, maybe she didn’t. He’d have to find the house and then figure out a way to search it. He knew about breaking into houses. As a runaway, he was never caught. It gave him money for food and shelter before the police found him and finally sent him to juvenile hall.

  The map showed highway 18 up to Big Bear had a lot of curves. His tires weren’t in the greatest shape. He smiled to himself. A shop he knew about could provide him with some cheap tires. You just didn’t ask where they came from.

  Pleased with himself, Deke opened another beer and slowly circled Big Bear on the map with a red pen.

  His only hope, his one chance to get away was to find that money somehow, without whoever was watching him knowing. It didn’t matter what he had to do to get it.

  Chapter Twelve

  The boxes of clothing were all stacked neatly in the entry waiting for George to come and get them. Ginny went home and Laura stood in Aunt Estelle’s bedroom looking at the empty closet. Some smaller drawers contained jewelry, letters and other items in them and since her aunt’s age and tastes were different, they were not things Laura could use. She’d tried to give Ginny some things, but the older woman smiled and declined, saying she already had more than she needed. Most of the jewelry went into small snack baggies to go out with the clothing, but when Ginny admired a jeweled pin and started to put it into a baggie. Laura reached out and retrieved the pin, putting it in Ginny’s hand and closing her fingers over it.

  “At least someone I know will enjoy it, Ginny.”

  The older woman smiled her gratitude and slipped the pin into her pocket.

  Laura decided to leave the knick knacks on the shelves and tables. No need to get rid of them. They added a little character to the room.

  After Ginny left, Laura hesitated a moment and then opened the smaller top drawer of her aunt’s dresser and pulled out a pack of letters tied with a pink bow that she’d seen earlier. She knew Ginny watched her when she discovered the letters and started to speak but apparently thought better of it. She just gave Laura a tentative smile and went on putting things in a box.

  Laura sat down on the edge of the bed and untied the bundle of letters.

  The first letter was dated October 10, 1971, from a Captain Richard Malone, with a military address.

  My Dearest Esty,

  Winter is coming to Viet Nam and more rain. It’s hard to stay warm these days. Only thoughts of you keep the embers of my mind aglow. Parting from you was like tearing out a part of me. I understand how hard things have been for you since your husband left, but Ray is chasing his own demons. I know you haven’t given up hope that he will come back again and find healing for the burden he carries. On one hand I pray that you will be united, even after all these years, because it is what is right, but on the other hand, you know my heart is leaning the other way. Those last few weeks before I left were wonderful. What I saw in your face gave me hope that one day, should Ray not return, there might be a life for us.

  The dinner gong has sounded so we’re heading for the mess tent. I don’t know how soon I can write again, our medical unit is waiting on orders and I hear we’ll be close to the front lines.

  Take care of yourself, my thoughts and prayers are with you, as I hope yours are with me. Write when you can, it blesses my day. Love, Richard

  Laura sat staring at the letter in her hand. Who is Richard? Did her aunt have an affair with him? How long had her Uncle Ray been gone, months, years? Knowing her aunt’s character, Laura dismissed the idea of an affair, but surely this man had cared about her aunt and she had a feeling her aunt cared for this man while trying to remain loyal to her missing husband. There was so much more to her aunt that she had imagined.

  As she read the other letters it seemed obvious that her aunt had written to Richard many times and had poured out her concerns and feelings. As Laura read the next to last letter, dated just before Christmas, she felt the tears begin to run down her cheeks.

  My Darling Esty

  Your recent letter gave me such hope that I’m fairly bursting at the seams with joy. That you are at last ready to move on with your life tells me you are resigned to the fact that Ray may never return. I know it has been a struggle to put the past behind you and look to the future. That I might be part of that future is what I have lived for. I look forward to returning to the States, the hospital there in Big Bear, and above all, to you. I won’t rush you, Esty, we’ll take all the time you need.

  Speaking of hospit
als, things are pretty rough here at the front. Trying to do surgery under these conditions seems impossible, yet we continue to try to save the lives of these young men the best we can. The carnage is beyond belief. Young men with injuries that will maim them for life, and then there are those we cannot save that bring me to my knees on a daily basis.

  When I am most down, the Lord and thoughts of you give me hope and strength to go on. In a few days it will be Christmas, yet a bleaker holiday I cannot imagine here in the rain and mud. Some of our nurses have been doing some planning and I’m sure they’ll come up with something to make the day more festive, but my heart will be back in the mountains and your wonderful house of the forest that has welcomed me so many times.

  Merry Christmas, my love, may the new year bring all we hope for.

  Richard.

  As she got to the last letter and started to open it, she realized it was not from Richard, but a Mrs. Evan Cartwright. Puzzled, Laura lifted out the letter and began to read.

  December 30, 1972

  Dear Estelle,

  My brother, Richard Malone, gave me your address and told me that if anything should happen to him, that I was to contact you. I have been praying for you and for the words that I must share My heart is breaking, yet I am sustained by the loving arms of the Lord that we both serve. I pray that His everlasting arms will hold you and give you strength to read this letter.

  My brother, Richard, and his unit fell under heavy fire in an attack during what should have been a cease-fire. A bomb fell on the camp directly striking the tent where Richard was in surgery. All there were killed instantly. It was the day after Christmas.

  Richard has told me about you and his hopes for the future. I grieve to be the bearer of such news. I have enclosed my phone number should you need to speak with me. If there is anything I can do, please do not hesitate to ask. Please know that you are in our prayers, as I pray we will be in yours.

  Dorothy Cartwright

  “Oh, Aunt Estelle, how terrible,” Laura’s eyes watered and a tear trickled down her cheek. “To think you went through Tommy’s death, your husband’s desertion, found a man who loved you and wanted to spend his future with you and he’s dead”.

  Laura wondered if her aunt had called Richard’s sister to share their mutual grief and loss. It would have been like her aunt to comfort Richard’s sister even when her own heart felt broken.

  Aunt Estelle never married again, and Laura now realized why.

  She glanced at her watch. Beth said she’d try to make it up there by 6 p.m. or so and it was nearly 5:30. Not enough time to go next door and talk to Ginny. She must know about Richard. I wonder if she’ll tell me more of the story.

  As she walked by the desk in the corner of the living room, she noticed the red light. She’d purchased an inexpensive answering machine and put on a message about the memorial service. She’d forgotten to check it for messages when she got home. There were three messages, condolences from another neighbor, a message from a Rose Cleary, head of the women’s auxiliary at the church assuring her that everything was in hand but if she had any suggestions or requests to please let her know. Laura wrote down the phone numbers. The third message must have been a wrong number as the caller left no message.

  The sunshine faded suddenly as the rain started up again, lightly at first, but then becoming a heavy downpour. As she went to make sure all the windows were closed she decided to check the kitchen and realized she’d forgotten to pick up something for dinner. They just may have to eat soup.

  The sky darkened suddenly and Laura said a prayer for Beth’s safe arrival. Driving a big Ford Expedition, Laura knew Beth could handle the weather, but having driven up in the rain herself, she prayed Beth would not have any problems. She turned on some lights in the living room and the porch light.

  Just as Laura reached the kitchen, there was a sharp crack and the house seemed to shudder as all the lights suddenly went out. She stood in the inky darkness and tried to think of what to do. A small flashlight hung from a cord in the kitchen and she grabbed it and switched it on as she tried to remember where the main power box was located. Did a fuse blow? Did her aunt still use fuses? She searched the house but couldn’t find a fuse box. No doubt it was outside. She listened to the heavy rain pelting the skylights. A flash of lightening and the ready answer of thunder told her the storm moved almost directly overhead. It wasn’t the best time to go outside and look for an electric box.

  Just then she saw headlights moving slowly down the street in front of the house. Beth! Laura hurried to the front door and blinked the flashlight off and on again rapidly. The SUV went on down the street and Laura felt foolish. They must have wondered what she was doing. In a few moments the SUV came back, turned slowly into the gravel driveway and stopped. Laura opened the front door and stood on the front step under the overhang. The driver rolled the window down a couple of inches.

  “Laura, is that you?”

  “Beth, you made it.”

  Beth hopped out and ran for the front porch as Laura whisked her inside the stone entry.

  “You didn’t order another flood, did you? I looked for the ark all the way up here.”

  Laura laughed and hugged her friend. “God promised He wouldn’t wash away the world again, so I’m hoping this is temporary.”

  Beth hung her raincoat on a hook by the front door and the two women hurried into the warmth of the house.

  “What happened to the lights?”

  “I don’t know. I heard a big noise and they all went out. I think the fuse box is outside and I’m not about to go out there and look for it.”

  “Good decision. I don’t want you to be electrocuted when I’ve only just gotten here.”

  Beth stood in front of the fireplace to take the chill off, while Laura used the flashlight to locate some candles in the pantry. She found some dishes to put them in and placed the candles all around the living room, with one on the kitchen table.

  Looking around the living room, Beth grinned approvingly. ‘This is a great house. I can’t wait to see the rest of it.”

  Holding the flashlight, Laura obliged and took Beth from room to room.

  “Oh, Laura, this is awesome. What a great place for retreats, parties during snow season. We can all go skiing “Beth stopped and looked at her. “You aren’t going to sell this darling place, are you?”

  “It appears I’d be in trouble with most of my neighbors, not to mention friends, if I did.”

  “Well, I’m glad that’s settled. Now sit down and tell me all about what’s happened since you got here.”

  Laura shook her head. “You won’t believe it, Beth.” She stopped suddenly. “Oh, I’ve got to do something about the electricity. “She went to the cork bulletin board on the wall in the kitchen and shined the flashlight on some business cards that were tacked there. Sure enough there was a card that read, Matheson and Son, Electric.”

  “This looks like someone Aunt Estelle used for electric work. I’ll call them.”

  Beth looked hopeful. “Would anyone be there this late?”

  “Maybe they have an emergency number.”

  She picked up the phone, relieved to hear a dial tone. At least the power failure didn’t affect the phone service.

  “Matheson Electric, Jake speaking.”

  Thank goodness. “Mr. Matheson, this is Laura Kingsley, I’m here at the home of my aunt, Estelle DuPont. I found your card on her bulletin board and took a chance I’d reach someone or at least be able to leave a message on the answering machine.”

  “Yes, Ms. Kingsley, your aunt mentioned you many times. Please accept my sincere condolences. We’ll miss her.” He paused a moment. “What can I do for you? I’m catching up on some paper work. Another five minutes and I’d have been out the door.”

  “Well, I heard some kind of a loud noise and all the lights went out. I don’t have power anywhere in the house.”

  “Did you check the electric box, maybe check the circ
uit breakers?”

  “I don’t know where it is. If I find it, how do I check the circuit breakers? What do I look for?” For some reason Laura sensed Mr. Matheson smiling on the other end of the phone.

  “You see if ON is not in the on position and then flip the switch off and then on again.”

  “Oh.”

  “On second thought, it might not be a good idea for you to do that in this weather. Can you manage until the morning?”

  “I think so. My friend Beth just arrived and we have candles around the house.”

  He paused again. “Do you have any other source of light?”

  “We have flashlights, and oh, I remember there is a kerosene lantern in the laundry room.”

  “Do you know how to light it?”

  “Yes, I can do that.”

  “Is your stove gas or electric? “

  “It’s gas.”

  “That’s fine. You should be able to still cook on it if you need to, using a match to light the burners. If you can make it until morning, I’ll have someone there around eight o’clock to check things out. It will be easier to work in daylight. We’ll get it fixed for you.”

  “Thank you so much Mr. Matheson. I’m sure we’ll be all right until morning.”

  “If you think there might be a more serious problem or anything else happens, here’s my cell phone number. You call me and I’ll come over, okay?”

  She wrote it on the back of his card and felt relieved. If things got serious, someone would come to help. At least knowing that gave her courage. “We’ll be fine. Thank you so much, Mr. Matheson, have a good evening.”

  “I appreciate your call, Ms. Kingsley. If I didn’t have to get to a board meeting this evening, I’d come out. Unfortunately, I’m the chairman of the board.”

  She nodded at the phone. “I understand. We’ll see you in the morning.”

  As Laura hung up the phone, she turned to Beth. “He’s going to send someone tomorrow around 8 o’clock.”

  Beth grinned. “Well, we’ll just have an adventure. How about eggplant parmesan and a tossed salad for dinner?”