Mirror of Shadows

by T. Lynne Tolles

  He turned towards her with an, ‘Oh, come on’ look on his face, and then finished up pulling the boards from the last window.

  Disappointed by his lack of interest in conversation, she ran her hand over the holes the nails had left in the trim around the windows. “Can these be repaired?” she asked with concern. It was this concern that seemed to catch his attention more than anything she had said to him so far.

  “Yes. They can be puttied up and painted over,” he said.

  “Great. What’s next?” she asked.

  “The back.”

  “The back? Oh, the back of the house. Right,” she laughed, a little embarrassed.

  They had to walk through the rain to the back door, which was part of a mud room. They were soaking wet by the time they got there, but at least once inside, they could take the boards off without getting wetter.

  The nails seemed to squeal as they were pulled from the wood as if they were protesting this abrupt displacement. The feeling of a brush against her leg made her look down, revealing a small, thin black cat. She reached down to pet it. Starved for affection and probably food, it purred and leaned hard against her hand. Seeing that it was friendly, she picked up the black kitty with bright green eyes and brought its soft, warm fur to her cheek. It responded by rubbing its face against hers and purring loudly.

  “So you’re the little devil that scared me half to death. You poor little thing, you must be starving! I wonder how you got into the house.”

  She wandered through the mudroom door into the kitchen, talking all the while to the cat she was now sure was just a kitten, ignoring her non-speaking handyman. She hadn’t noticed that he had completely stopped working and was watching her coddling her new pet and speaking to it in some kind of high, squeaky, sing-songy baby talk.

  She looked through most of the cupboard for anything at all and found a little can of tuna far in back, thick with dust. She had to use a hammer and screwdriver to open the can, but the tiny cat was very appreciative and gobbled it up.

  After going through the cabinet, the realization of what she really needed to call this place a home was starting to come to her. Locating her purse, she used the back of an envelope and started making a list of things that she’d need.

  Food, obviously, cleaning supplies, kitty food, and a kitty box were just a few things that came to mind. She started wandering through the downstairs, pulling open heavy, dusty draperies and letting the gray light inside. She made a heaping pile of sheets in the entry hall as she started to uncover the furniture. The little cat thought this was great fun and every time she would toss a sheet to the pile, the cat pounced on the sheet, attacking anything that moved and sometimes things that didn’t move. She could tell by its playfulness that it was quite young—maybe only eight to twelve weeks old.

  Watching the cat play and jump into the pile of billowy sheets made Ella giggle and smile. Her next task was to check out the upstairs, so she made her way to the stairs avoiding the hall with the mirror, of course. She could hear the pitter patter of kitten paws following her up the stairs. At the top she bent down and picked up the eager kitten and hugged it to her chest and face.

  “Hey little one…are you following me? You can help me check out this old house and see what we need, okay?” The cat responded with squinting eyes and a purr as loud as a motor boat.

  Again she collected sheets from furniture, making another pile on the landing. The kitten happily obliged her, darting here and there and attacking dust bunnies and other objects only the kitten could see. Her trip upstairs revealed five large bedrooms and three bathrooms. After much deliberation she picked a room she would call hers and noted items she would need. Obviously, sheets were not an issue, but pillows, blankets, and some quilts were in dire need.

  Suddenly she heard a loud click and then a hum. Lo and behold, a light turned on. “Lights,” she said to herself and proceeded to flip switches whenever she came to one, to see what it lit up.

  With the lights on, curtains open, and the sheets off the furniture, the house didn’t look scary anymore. She could even picture it clean and primed to be quite beautiful. Grabbing a handful of sheets, she headed back downstairs to check on the handyman and add to her list, when there was a knock on the front door.

  *****

  She glanced down at her little shadow and tossed the sheets in the growing pile near the front door, then opened the door.

  “Marlin. Hi! Good to see you.”

  “I see you found your way in and got the electricity on,” he said looking around.

  “Yes, but the electricity was all the handyman’s doing. Thanks for sending him. He’s been a Godsend, but I don’t think he likes me much.”

  “Oh? Why do you say that?” Marlin said with a little concern in his voice, shutting the door behind him.

  “I ran into him still in my pajamas, running and screaming from the house. He thinks I’m nuts!”

  “My dear, why were you screaming?”

  “I thought I saw something in the mirror while I was exploring the house by candlelight. It was very dark and as you can imagine, rather spooky in here in the pitch black. Even this little thing,” she said, referring to the cat, “made me jump out of my skin when she rubbed up against me in the dark. I guess I was just a little jumpy.”

  “I’m sorry you got scared. I knew I should have come here with you, it’s just you threw me for a loop when you called this morning about your falling out with your mother. So what happened anyway?”

  “I think you can guess. You’ve known my family longer than anyone else I know. She’d gone through the papers you left me while I was asleep and when I got up in the morning she already had a list of things she wanted to buy.

  “When I told her that wouldn’t be happening due to the stipulation in the will, she went ballistic and started bad-mouthing Grandma. I told her not to talk about her that way and that Grandma was responsible for everything she had. She didn’t agree, to put it bluntly, and told me to leave. There wasn’t even time to put on any clothes.

  “That’s when I called you from the car,” she finished.

  “Hmm. I see. Well, I guess the blow up about the money was going to happen eventually. I just didn’t think it would happen so fast. I brought the papers for you to sign. You know, you don’t have to do this if you think it’s too much of a strain on your relationship with your mother.”

  “I’m not worried about that. We’ve never had the relationship that Grandma and I had. My biggest concern is how big this place is. I feel so silly living alone in such a big place and there are so many things I need, it’s all a bit overwhelming.”

  “Like what, dear? What do you need?” Marlin asked.

  “Well, I’ve got about a million sheets,” she said as she pointed to the pile the kitten had now curled up atop, “but no bedding, like pillows, or blankets.

  “The washing machine in the mud room looks to be about 200 years old and there is no dryer. The refrigerator, well, I don’t know if it works, I didn’t check when the electricity came on, but it’s stinky and small. I also don’t think my car is going to be appropriate for going up and down this hill all winter. It barely made it up here this time.

  “Then there’s cleaning supplies, dishes, silverware, food…that’s definitely on the list. I could go on and on.”

  “You’re right. It does need some updating. I tell you what. I brought some cash for you since we don’t have a credit card associated with the account and your name yet, but I’ll give you a bunch of my business cards. You go into town and have a shopping spree. Pick out appliances, bedding, whatever you want, and give the store manager my card. I will cover the costs with your account until we can get things in your name. I suggest a small SUV with four wheel drive if you can find one.

  “There’s a box in the car with some milk, eggs, bread, toilet paper, toothpaste, paper towels, and a pan of lasagna from Meme. That woman’s a saint. She’s always thinking about others. Good thing she�
��s on my side; I might need a little of her karma when we get to the pearly gates.”

  “Don’t be silly. Tell Meme thanks for the food and the much needed necessities.”

  “I will. I’ll have my assistant set up an account for you at the grocery store in town as well as the hardware store for Jeremy,” Marlin said.

  “Who’s Jeremy?”

  “Your handyman. Didn’t he introduce himself?”

  “Only as the handyman, but then remember, our meeting was a little out of the ordinary,” she said and smiled.

  “Right,” Marlin chuckled. “Are you going to be okay up here all by yourself? At night?”

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ve got lights now. ‘Course, I might sleep with them on for a while,” she said jokingly, but with a note of underlying truth.

  “Hmm…you do know that the power goes out a lot up here in the woods. That’s why there’s a generator in the back near the mud room.”

  “No, I didn’t know. I’ll have to figure out how to run that. Can I get internet out here?”

  “Well, there are phone lines out here, but we might have to talk to the cable company and see about the best way to get you set up. I’m more concerned about your being alone.”

  “I’m sure I’ll be fine,” she tried to assure him.

  “If you are sure that you’re happy with this, then here are the papers for you to sign. I must tell you though that I’ve already had a very substantial offer on the place, just this morning.”

  “An offer? How would anyone know the house was available?” she asked.

  “Well, this gentleman’s been trying to buy this property from your grandmother for, well, as long as I can remember,” Marlin admitted.

  “Why?”

  “I’m not sure, but he’s awful stubborn. Guess he figured with it changing hands that he’d see if you would be as stubborn as Rose.”

  “Well, if Grandma refused to sell it to him she must have had a good reason. It’s not like she was using it,” Ella said.

  “True, but part of it was to make sure it was here for you. She was very adamant about that.”

  “Well, you can tell the man that I’m stubborn too. The house may not be in great shape now, but it has a ton of potential. Where do I sign?”

  He handed her the papers and a fancy black pen. “Just sign where the little red stickers are.”

  “All right,” she said taking the papers and pen from him and finding a small table to write on. She proceeded to rifle through the stack of papers, pausing to sign wherever she saw a “Sign Here” sticker. “Done and done,” she said, handing the packet and the pen back to him.

  “Good, here are a few of my business cards to give to store owners for stuff you need. I’ll make arrangements to have everything delivered and installed, if need be. I’ll also get you copies of these papers by tomorrow and start setting up your accounts and changing the deed over to your name. Here is an envelope with five thousand in cash you can use to pay for the handyman and any other little odds and ends you might need until I get the accounts set up.”

  “Wow. You’ve thought of everything.”

  “Well, you are practically family, you know. Plus, it is what I do. And…I’ll have a little talk with Jeremy on the way out,” Marlin added.

  “Why?” she said a little embarrassed.

  “Well, we can’t have him thinking you’re a nut, now can we?”

  “Really, it’s okay. You don’t have to talk to him,” she said worriedly.

  “I want to tell him to contact the phone and cable company about the internet stuff and also tell him I’m setting up an account he can use at the hardware store.”

  “Oh, okay then. Thanks again, Marlin, for everything.” He nodded. She hugged Marlin tightly and reminded him to thank his wife for the provisions she had sent, and then he turned and let himself out.

  She turned and stroked her little black kitten, which was taking a cat nap after her food and fun on top of the sheets, and smiled. “Shopping spree,” she said quietly to herself excitedly and trotted off to the kitchen to add to her list.

  Chapter 5

  Ella was putting some final items on her list which now filled almost every white space on the envelope, when Jeremy walked in the back door.

  “Hey,” she greeted him enthusiastically.

  He nodded in acknowledgement as he went to the kitchen sink seemingly to check that the water was working. It sputtered a bit and the first bit of water that came out was a horrible rust color, but it started to come out more clearly with time. He held his hand under the water for a while to check that the hot water heater was working. When he was satisfied that all were in working order he turned off the water and spun toward Ella, drying his hands on his jeans.

  “You want to go into town with me?” she asked.

  “No. I have work to do,” he replied.

  “Oh, come on. It’ll be fun,” she coaxed.

  “I don’t have time for fun. I’ve got a lot to do before I call it a day,” he explained, not unkindly, but sternly.

  “I could really use your help; besides, aren’t there a few things you’ve found that you need for repairs? We can stop at the hardware store first,” she said trying to persuade him. She could see that she had hit a chord—he undoubtedly had come across some things he needed.

  “We could get some food and bring it back—make a meal out of it to show you my appreciation.”

  “You don’t need to do that; you’re already paying for my services,” he said bluntly.

  “Please. I’d like the company,” she pleaded.

  The statement seemed to surprise him and he looked up from restlessly fiddling with his gloves.

  “Seriously? Aren’t you from around here? You must know plenty of people in town that you can go shopping with,” he said sharply.

  “Actually…I may be from Dead Oaks Hollow, but I was never very popular. I’ve always been rather…quiet.” This caught his attention and she wasn’t sure, but she almost thought he started to laugh.

  “Liar,” he retorted. Her face went expressionless. “I mean,” he quickly interjected as if realizing he’d offended her, “I find that hard to believe,” he said more kindly.

  “It’s true. Ask anyone. I’m not very social and I’m usually pretty quiet. There’s just something about you…maybe it’s your reticence…that makes me open up to you. I can’t really explain it, but…”

  “Hmm,” was all he said, but somehow it seemed as if he might agree with her thinking.

  “So will you? I’d really like your opinion. I’ve never bought appliances or dishes, or anything for a home of my own. All I own is in that bag in the foyer, the contents of my purse, a few items at my mother’s, and my laptop. I’d really love the company.”

  “Really? Why? You don’t even know me,” he asked, seemingly puzzled.

  “You seem to need a friend about as much as I need a friend; I mean what can it hurt?” She smiled coyly.

  She felt silly pleading with a complete stranger, but she felt some kind of connection with him that she herself did not quite understand. He certainly wasn’t the most friendly guy she’d ever met and she wasn’t even sure he liked her, but there was definitely something there that had brought out a part of her she’d never known existed. He piqued an interest in her she’d never experienced before. She’d never really opened up to anyone but her grandmother in all of her life, but with this complete stranger she couldn’t seem to keep quiet and it felt nice—really nice. She wondered if he felt the same.

  She saw in him the social awkwardness that she often felt in herself. His sometimes harsh, short responses caused by being out of practice with communicating with others—she’d had this problem herself in college. Many thought her to be snobbish or arrogant when she spoke, but it was a lack of confidence and social skills that kept her from having many friends. Knowing this about herself, she could see, as plain as day, the same traits in him.

  Her smile seemed to
melt his icy exterior and a slight curl of the lips, a smidgen of a smile, was all she needed to know she had hooked him.

  She exclaimed, “You’re driving.”

  As they exited the house he argued, “Why? Why am I driving?” to which she only giggled.

  *****

  During the ride down the hill, Ella spoke nonstop and it wasn’t until they got into town that she realized this.

  “I’m sorry…I’m not usually so talkative, especially with strangers, but for some reason when I’m with you I can’t seem to hold my tongue.”

  “Lucky me,” he said sarcastically and without much emotion.

  “No, really. I’m sorry, it was rude of me. I guess just so much has happened in the last couple of days with the funeral and the house, I’m just not acting like myself.”

  “Hmm,” was his only acknowledgement as he parked the truck in front of Hal’s Hardware Depot.

  “So what do we need to get here? I didn’t make a list of things to get at the hardware store, except some spare light bulbs and some cleaning supplies,” she asked as she pulled out a wad of papers and rifled through several sheets until she came across one that was obviously for cleaning supplies.

  “I need to get some putty for the holes around the windows and some bearing grease for the generator mostly, but there are a few odds and ends for the plumbing and electrical problems I will most likely find in such an old house.”

  “Right. I’ll meet you back at the checkout counter in 20 minutes. Here,” she said, shoving an envelope into his hand.

  “What’s this?” he asked.

  “Money,” she replied offhandedly.

  “Why are you giving it to me?” he said uncomfortably as he looked in the envelope. He waved it in front of her for her to take it back, which she refused to do.

  “Because you are going to need it for repairs and what not. Marlin has set up an account for you here, but you’re not going to be able to get everything you need here, so this is for you to get whatever you need…that includes tools. You can set up shop in the shed I saw over near the boathouse. I mean, this is a big job. Do you think that shed will be big enough for you to work in and house your tools and supplies?”