by Hope Jameson
“I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. Depends on what it says. Want me to bring it up to you?”
“I don’t want you to make a special trip or anything, but I do want to see what it says. Why don’t you just read it to me?” Jill looked up at the black fingers of smoke that had stained the ceiling and quickly looked away. Stark reminders of the fire were everywhere. She started down the stairs as she listened to her father’s response.
“The letter is sealed. That meant the Bub wrote it for your eyes only. If you share it after you’ve read it, then fine. But I think this letter was meant for you to read it in person.” Jack Rogers’ voice softened as he shared his opinion with his daughter. “I know you’re impatient to know what it says, but I think it’s best this way.”
“Well, then, if you and Mom bring the letter tomorrow, we could have lunch. If you don’t have other things planned, that is.” Jill’s voice went up a notch, hopeful that her parents would visit and bring the letter from Bub with them.
“That can be arranged. You know I’m always interested in getting some lunch…”
“Oh, Dad… come on.”
“With my two best girls.” He chuckled as he finished the sentence like he almost always did.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
“Yep. Bye, sweetie.”
Jill ended the call and headed for the front door. She needed to get out into the fresh air, but more than anything she needed to be out of that frightening building.
15
Jill waited for her parents on the front porch of the bed and breakfast. She sat in one of the rocking chairs with her laptop. She hadn’t been in the mood for ghost research the night before, but this morning she knew she had to muscle through it.
It was Saturday and the bed and breakfast was full of weekenders getting out of the city for some rest and relaxation. Suzie had been the perfect hostess that morning for breakfast making sure that everyone in the dining room had more than they needed.
She saw them pull up slowly in front of the quaint bed and breakfast. She waved as she closed her laptop and slid it into her computer bag and skipped down the stairs to meet them. She debated about telling them about her ghost encounters, but decided against it for now. Maybe later, but not today.
Jumping in the back seat, she dropped her bag on the floor. “Hey! So glad you could come up.”
“Hi, honey. You look good.” Her mother smiled and her youthful giggle sounded through the car.
“It hasn’t been that long since you’ve seen me. I look exactly the same as I did last week.” Jill laughed.
“I know. You still look good.”
Her mother giggled again and Jill immediately felt like things in her world were normal again. Of course, that was a temporary feeling and it wasn’t even the truth, but she was content for the moment to pretend that all was well.
“I thought we could go to this little sandwich shop on the square. They have terrific Reubens. How does that sound?”
“Perfect for me,” her father answered. “Do you think you want to read the letter there or wait until you get back to your room?”
“Jack, I thought you were going to be more subtle. Jill can decide how she wants to do it on her own.” Her mother clearly had an issue with making a big deal out of the letter. “He’s dying to know what it says, but he won’t come out and say it.”
“Well, it is a bit curious, wouldn’t you say?” He looked over at his wife with wide eyes.
“No need for either of you to wonder what’s in Bub’s letter. I’ll read and then you can read it for yourselves. Better yet, why don’t I just read it out loud than all three of us will know what it says at the same time? No argument, that’s what I’ll do.”
“Oh, whatever you want, Jill.” Her mother chimed in but didn’t look at her.
Her father looked at her in the rear-view mirror. “Sure, pumpkin. You decide what’s best.”
Jill laughed out loud shaking her head. “You two are so transparent. You’d burst at the seams with curiosity if I kept the contents of the letter a secret.”
“Whew. I thought she was going to make us wait.” Her mother looked over at her father with a look of relief mixed with mischief.
“Me, too. Good thing we know how to manipulate a situation.”
Jill sat in the back seat shaking her head. “The place we’re going is just up there on the left. Looks like there’s a parking spot right in front. Let’s get some lunch. I’m starved.”
Jill returned from the counter with cookies. “Here’s dessert. I got a variety, so we should all get what we want.”
“Peanut butter for me!” Jill’s mother smiled and grabbed a peanut butter cookie before anyone had a chance to choose.
“I guess I’ll have oatmeal, then. Good thing that’s what I like.” Jack gave his wife a sneer, then he smiled.
“Okay, shortbread for me. Now, Dad. Do you have the letter? I think I’m ready to read it now.”
“I’ve got it right here.” He reached into his jacket pocket from the back of his chair and pulled it out. He handed it to Jill and she took it, almost reverently.
“I feel a little nervous about reading it. And sad. I miss her.”
Her mother reached out and squeezed her hand. “I know, sweetie. I do, too. You can wait if you want to.”
“No, I need to do it now. There might be something important in it.”
Jill, pulled the side of the flap open and stuck her finger in the opening. Then she pulled her finger along the top, opening the envelope completely. She pulled the sides apart and took the letter out.
Her parents watched with blank faces as she went through the ritual of opening the letter.
“Just one page. Hmm. That’s not like Bub to be so brief.” Abbie laughed at her own jab at Bub.
“That’s the truth.” Jill looked up at her mother and smiled. “Okay, so here we go.” She licked her lips and looked at the paper she was holding. The handwriting was definitely Bub’s—smooth, neat, and proper.
Her parents leaned forward in anticipation.
“Dear Jill. I’ll be brief which I’m sure you’ll find amusing.”
Everyone laughed at Bub’s self-deprecating joke.
Jill continued in an even tone. “Maybe I should have left this with the will, but I thought it might be better for you to read this at least a little while after you found out about your inheritance. I wanted you to see the place first and get a feel for it before you heard the reason I bought it and the reason I left it to you.”
“Hmm. That’s interesting.” Abbie interjected. Jill looked up and nodded.
“Now that you’ve been there, you probably notice something strange about the place. Maybe eerie, maybe even frightening. There’s a reason for that.”
“Is the place eerie?” Jack tilted his head toward his daughter and raised an eyebrow.
“Well, yes, it is. There have been a few incidents. Let me finish reading this and I’ll tell you about it.”
Both parents nodded, but looked concerned.
“But first, let me tell you why I bought the place. You see, I grew up there. My parents died shortly after we got here from Poland. I barely remember them. I’m sure that news is a shock. I never talked about it because it was such a difficult life for children in that place. I wanted to forget about it.
“Then the night of the fire was such a horror. The fire was started by a few of the older children—mostly boys who were the biggest troublemakers. They stole gasoline and doused everything they could and then set it all on fire. But it went up too fast and we couldn’t get out.
“We tried to get out through the windows, but we couldn’t open them. Finally, someone broke a pane out and we tried again. The fire was getting more intense by then. I got pushed to the window and I climbed out on to the roof. I called back for my friends to follow me. I told them I’d wait to help them. Then there was a loud thunder from inside and all of them were gone. I didn’t know what else to do
, so I climbed down the drain pipe to the ground. The reports always said that none of the children made it out, but one did. Me.
“One of the firemen found me and took care of me. I was fourteen when that fire happened, so they sent me to a home for teenaged girls. I always felt guilty that I survived when no one else did.
“I bought the place to make it something happy and to have it serve a good purpose instead of being the burned-out memory of a terrible history. That terrible history is why I think the old orphanage is haunted. The children can’t move on, but they need to.
“You may think I lost my marbles in my last days, but I assure you I didn’t. The place is haunted. The most recent attempt at a renovation failed because the children wouldn’t let it happen. The contractors refused to continue, so it sat unfinished for several years. But, you probably know this by now.
“I went there only once after I bought it. I saw Elise. She was my dearest childhood friend. She knew it was me and she kept saying my name over and over. I couldn’t hear her, though. I could see it in her face. She’s tormented. She needs to find peace. You can push her to it. Go through the ritual. Send the children away to peace. Make the place special and happy – something it never was before.
“And, my dear, I have one final request. Regarding the renovation, whatever you decide to make of the place is fine with me. Just please have them remove those gargoyles. They always frightened me to pieces. They don’t belong on what you’re going to create.
“Remember, I have loved you like you were my own. I think of you as my own. Until I see you in Heaven, Bub.”
16
Jill wiped a tear away that had rolled down her cheek. Her mother did the same. Jack cleared his throat and looked at the ceiling.
“How did we not know all this?” asked Abbie. “Why didn’t I push harder to know about her past?”
“You did the right thing, Abbie. We all did. Bub didn’t want us to know. It was painful for her.” Jill’s father reached out and took his wife’s hand. “Don’t be too hard on yourself. If Bub had wanted us to know, we’d have known.”
“And now, it’s up to me to make this happen. And I will. I understand it now.”
“So what’s this about the ghosts? You asked me if I believed in ghosts and I made a joke about it. I’m sorry for blowing you off that way, Jill. I didn’t know what was going on.”
“I know and it’s fine. You know now. I just wish Ghostbusters would really help us out. I have no idea how to get rid of ghosts. I was going to Google it, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.”
“Yep, that might prove to be a little tricky since you’re a novice. I’m going to let you handle it and you can tell us how it all goes. Okay?” Jack stood up and took his jacket off the back of his chair. “Ready to head back?”
“Do you guys want to drive over to the property? See what it looks like?” Jill looked back and forth between her parents and saw little enthusiasm for that idea. “It sorta looks like you two have somewhere you need to be, so maybe you can check it out next time you’re in town.”
Her parents looked at each other and laughed a little uncomfortably.
“Shall we, then?” Her father gestured towards the door and they all headed out to the sidewalk and the car.
After her parents were on their way back to Helmsworth, Jill went to sit on the front porch hoping that the fresh air would clear her mind. Thinking about Bub’s letter had changed her whole opinion of the Briarsville Orphanage, the property she now owned.
She’d been considering just gutting the place and selling it as is for whatever she could get for it. Now, she was sure she’d finish the job. For Bub.
Lost in thought, she didn’t hear Suzie join her until she was already sitting in the chair beside her. “Oh, Suzie. Hi. I didn’t hear you.”
“Looks like you’ve got a few things on your mind. Want a friendly ear?” Suzie smiled and tilted her head to the side.
This was an invitation Jill couldn’t pass up. She did need a friendly ear. And she needed the insight from someone like Suzie. Someone who believed in Tarot card readings and other things that Jill had always thought were on the fringe of normal.
“I’d love to tell you what’s on my mind, Suzie. You may even be able to help me sort it out.”
“Let’s have it.”
“You know I’m renovating the orphanage—or I’m planning to do it. We’re not quite to the renovation stage yet.”
Suzie nodded, waiting on Jill to continue.
“It turns out there are some issues. Things I didn’t think were possible until I saw it with my own eyes. The place is haunted by the children who died in the fire.”
“I suspected as much. When news that the previous work stopped, I heard rumors that odd things happened to the contractors on the site. They quit, didn’t they?”
“They did. I’m pretty sure if I don’t find a way to help the ghosts move on, my current crew will quit, too. There have been a few minor accidents and the foreman seems to know something isn’t right.”
“So how can I help with it?”
“Do you have any experience with ghosts or the supernatural? I have no idea what to do. I was going to Google it, but who knows if I can find the right information. I won’t know silliness from truth.” Jill sighed heavily as she hoped for help with this burden.
“As a matter of fact, I do. I’m not considered an expert, but I do know what to do. I’ve been a participant in the process and I can help you.”
“You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say it. I’ve been tied in knots the last few days trying to decide what to do. Thank you, Suzie. You’re a life-saver.”
“When do you want to start?”
“Tomorrow? Is it okay to do it on a Sunday?”
“Sunday is the perfect day. I’ll get everything we need and we can go over after lunch. That work for you?”
Jill exhaled loudly again and slumped in her chair. “It’s perfect. I’ll treat you to lunch.”
“A free lunch? Then I’m definitely happy to help!” Suzie stood up and went to the door. “So, I’ll see you around lunch time tomorrow. Have a good night.”
Jill waved and closed her eyes in relief.
17
Jill led Suzie into the huge building. “This is it. The scourge of all children’s homes. Just put your bag on the table and I’ll help you get it all together.”
“Not much to do, really. We can do all of it today if your ghosts show up. If not, we’ll get it started and I can help you know what to do next time you see them.”
Jill nodded soberly. “Do you think it’s going to work?”
“It should. There are drastic measures you can take if your ghost is stubborn. Ready?”
Jill nodded again. She was excited about sending Elise and the children on their way, but she was nervous about the process. The whole experience had been harrowing for her. Dealing with a ghost had pushed her to edge and she was ready to be done with the whole thing.
“Okay. We’re going to go through a cleansing. Of the building.”
“What do we do?”
“Simple. We’re going to burn this sage and make sure we touch it to the walls and the corners.” Suzie handed Jill a bundle of sage and then struck a match to start it burning. Then she lit her own bundle. “Now, just wave it along the walls and in the corners. It burns slow. Why don’t you take down here and I’ll do upstairs.”
Jill started walking along the walls and waving her burning sage against the walls. She made it to the first corner and turned to head down the next wall.
It took about forty minutes for the complete building to be cleansed. Jill was just finishing when Suzie came down the stairs after finishing the upper two floors.
“I didn’t see Elise while I was doing my cleanse. I was hoping she’d show up, but she didn’t. I guess she’s not going to make it easy for us.” Jill frowned in disappointment.
“Well, I saw her. At least, I think it must have bee
n her. She was hiding around the corner while I was in the dining room. I didn’t speak to her, but I knew she was there.” Suzie smiled and bobbed her head. “She could see something was going on. Something different.”
“Nobody else has been able to see her. Why did you?”
“Because I know about her. I believe that she exists.”
“I didn’t believe in ghosts when I first saw her. I thought she was a living child. And I had no idea she existed. So why did she show herself to me, then?”
“Not sure. There had to be a reason, though. You may never know. Let’s call her and see if she’ll join us.”
“Me?”
“Sure.”
Jill looked like she wanted to be somewhere else—which was exactly the truth. She wanted the ghosts to be gone, but she didn’t want to be doing this. Not at all.
“Elise? Elise? Come here and meet my friend. Her name is Suzie.”
And then she was there. Jill’s jaw dropped as she looked over at a smiling Suzie. “I thought she’d come if you called her. She’s agitated and she wants something, too.”
“Hi, Elise. I wasn’t sure you’d come.”
“Cynthia,” said Elise in her voice that Jill couldn’t hear.
It was annoying that she could only read the ghosts lips. It didn’t matter, probably, since Elise was only saying one word to her.
“Elise, I’ve told you many times already. I’m not Cynthia. She was my grandmother.”
Suzie stepped close to Jill and smiled at Elise. “Elise, you think this is your friend Cynthia?”
The ghost shook her head. Then she pointed to Jill, the area near her chest and neck.
Suzie looked at Jill and narrowed her eyes. “She doesn’t think you’re Cynthia. Something else is going on.”
“What?” Jill shrugged. “How in the world can we figure it out?”
“Elise? Cynthia was your friend, right?” Suzie’s voice became soothing.