Steamy Stories (Volume 1)

by Malia Mallory

  Footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs and soon they were joined by the other visitors staying at the hotel. Annabelle realized that the major draw of the establishment was the couples’ outgoing friendliness and delight in providing for their guests, and she made a mental note to remember that customers came in all shapes and sizes and that she’d have to be on her toes to meet their expectations too.

  Breakfast was wonderful, she’d have to watch or she’d put on weight staying here, she thought as she went up to her room. Checking the notes, she verified that the cab would be arriving in a few minutes to take her out to the property. She was looking forward to seeing the building and assessing its potential as she stepped out onto the porch to wait.

  Chapter 4

  She sighted the cab coming down the street, and made a note to herself that having a car to pick up the guests at the train station could be part of the upscale atmosphere she intended to create, if the property met her expectations. Sliding into the rear seat, she mused that if this opportunity proved lucrative, she might eventually expand her ideas to another property.

  The ride to the estate took about fifteen minutes and as they passed out of town and into the nearby countryside, she enjoyed the multitude of trees lining the road and the open spaces that surrounded the homes they passed. She noticed from a sign on the road that they appeared to be heading to the ski resort in the distance. The cab began to slow down as it approached a freshly paved road that was offset by low stone walls. Attached to the stone pillars at the entrance was a large black wrought iron gate, which opened to the sides. The driveway stretched through a shaded wooded acreage, until the trees parted to reveal a broad expanse of lawn that framed the house on the sloped hill.

  Her breath caught at the sight of burgundy bricks highlighted by stunning white pillars at the front of the home, which appeared to be four stories in height. A multitude of chimneys on the massive roof gave the appearance of sentries, while the white-trimmed windows reflected the morning light. The landscaped areas around the front of the house were adorned with blooming pink and white azaleas that sat in beds of deep brown mulch. The occasional red bud trees with their airy limbs contained purple pink blossoms, and carefully placed white dogwoods were planted in front to offset their partners. The cab stopped at the bottom steps that lead to the wide double doors adorned with brass knockers, and while she sat there taking it all in, the doors opened to two gentlemen.

  The gray haired older man remained at the top as a slightly younger man came down the steps.

  “Annabelle Lee, I presume?” he said, as he helped her out of the car.

  “Yes,” she replied, holding out her hand.

  “I’m Edward Davis, the local real estate agent, and I’ve been requested to give you a tour of the home and show you the surrounding grounds. May I introduce you to the owner,” he said as they walked up the steps to the imposing figure that awaited them.

  His eyes were a shock of blue against the gray-white hair as Edward introduced her.

  “Mr. Andrews, this is Miss Annabelle Lee.”

  She offered her hand and he took it and held on, as his eyes seem to search hers, for what she did not know. She smiled tentatively, wondering if he really did intend to sell the estate. With a quick nod, as if coming to some internal assessment he said, “Call me John,” and released her hand to turn back to the open doors.

  Chapter 5

  Annabelle admired the large white doors as she passed through and paused to take in the deeply carved panels on its front. You don’t see workmanship like this anymore, she thought. The modern age may have gained something in its unique designs, but work like this was becoming a lost art. She turned to find both men watching her as she paused at the threshold and she smiled.

  “The doors are beautiful, I particularly like the detail of the carvings,” said Annabelle.

  As she moved forward to join the men in the entryway, she looked down to see a creamy white floor that appeared to have streaks of yellow or gold through it. She quickly looked up, “Is that marble?” she exclaimed.

  Both men turned back, but John replied, “Yes, it is.”

  Edward smiled and went into real estate mode and began explaining that when the house was being built, the original owners were involved with every aspect of the estate’s development. They had personally selected Italian marble for the entire home.

  “You will find that it was used for the entrance, kitchens and bathroom floors. The fireplaces and other fixtures in the house such as the work tables in the kitchens, counter spaces, vanities in the bathrooms, etc. were all laid with various shades and designs.”

  “It’s quite stunning,” she replied, “And this floor is in excellent condition from what I can see.”

  She walked over the floor admiring how the light from the windows reflected off the gold specks in the marble. Her eyes were drawn to the grand staircase and the mahogany balustrades that were on each rising step. From her view, she could see that the staircase split as it arrived at the first landing. She tried to keep her excitement in check when Edward continued with the tour.

  They made their way to the first room left of the entrance, and as they entered through the double doors, she saw that it must have been a formal sitting room. Although the room was empty, it did contain a beautiful onyx colored marble fireplace. The fire screen in front was a combination of black wrought iron and shiny brass. The ceiling and moldings were freshly painted white, along with the wood frames surrounding the windows. Blue painters tape was still present and it appeared that the walls had been prepped for painting, as their color was off-white.

  The end of the room contained a set of pocket doors, which opened into another room of a slightly larger size with the same features. Except this room had an elegant crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and the fireplace in here was a deep rose with streaks of gold running through it. The double doors at the end of the room led to a large connecting hallway. She could already picture using one room as a lounge for guests and perhaps the other as a dining room.

  In the hallway directly across, was a set of matching doors that opened into what appeared to be the transition area off the main kitchen. The room was lined on each side with cabinets running along the top and bottom of the room. The marble counter space on each side was pure white. A large service table ran down the center of the room and someone had installed work lights above the table. Opening the doors, she saw shelves and pullout drawers of every size imaginable. Her previous assessment appeared to be correct. She could picture linens, dinnerware, flatware, and other things necessary for the setting of dinner tables and some of the larger cabinets could well hold the coffee urns and buffet serving trays. Like the previous rooms, it still had the blue painters tape and the primer on the open wall spaces. She could imagine a cozy seating spot off to the one side while the other side could contain a desk and filing area. The ceiling was again painted white.

  Through the archway, she could see into the kitchen and headed there next. Her inspection revealed an appealing mix of modern appliances along with traditional wood cabinets and a long work island spanning its center. The kitchen was equipped with an extra-large double sink and she was amazed to see the professional size refrigerator, double ovens and cook tops, along with the industrial size dishwasher. There at the end of the long room she saw a set of doors, which opened to a walk-in pantry lined with shelving and a dry goods area. The upright freezer tucked in the corner would be ideal for her plans. They must have entertained on a regular basis in the past she thought, as the appliances appeared new.

  The men followed her silently, except when Edward pointed out the pantry or answered some of her inquires. John followed silently, his blue eyes occasionally following her gestures, but he made no comments. Edward pointed to the other set of doors, which led out of the kitchen into the intersecting hallway. It appeared that the first floor of the house was connected with a series of hallways, which ran alongside, an
d behind the grand stairs to the other rooms. She saw doors leading out towards the back of the house, but the group continued on to another room. The rooms on the other side of the house mirrored those she had already seen and as she waited to enter, she had the feeling that something slid down the length of her hair. Putting her hand up to check she found nothing. Brushing the end of her shoulder off, she focused on the next area.

  Chapter 6

  They entered the room through the doors directly across from the kitchen. This could have been a private sitting room; it had patio doors opening to a terrace in the back of the house. Turning, she saw it also had doors that opened to the intersecting hallway. As they crossed the hallway to the next room, she realized that its counterpart was the dining room. This room however had different lighting and French pane doors leading out to a terrace on the side of the house. Perhaps this could be used as a breakfast room, she thought. It too had pocket doors and led to the room in front of the house. The library she thought, as she ran her hand across one of the empty shelves that lined the walls. The gleaming black marble fireplace in the center wall had a built-in box for wood. She could imagine sitting here in a comfortable chair, reading. Walking through the doors, they came full circle and were back at the entranceway, in front of the grand staircase. Edward then guided her down the staircase hallway and pointed out the powder room. He also advised her that there was another on the opposite side. They continued along the hallway and he showed her doors to closets that contained shelves for linens, cleaning equipment and supplies

  “Yes…we’ve ensured that the estate is ready for the next owner. The only thing you have to worry about is the interior decorating. As you can see, all of the walls are prepped ready for painting. Of course, any carpeting you want down here is for you to decide. The hardwood floors are in perfect condition,” said Edward. “Would you like to take a break or move on to the next three floors?”

  Annabelle looked from Edward to John and said, “If you don’t mind, can we continue?”

  With a wave of his hand, John replied, “You two go on ahead; I’ll wait here.”

  Chapter 7

  They turned and headed up the stairs, and when Annabelle glanced back, she saw John watching intently. I wonder what’s going on, she mused. She clutched the leather portfolio that she had been making notes in tightly to her chest. So far, she hadn’t seen anything to dissuade her from making the purchase. She felt slightly uneasy, wondering what the catch was, as they reached the first landing. A note to have a building contractor come out and inspect it was definitely a priority she thought as they stopped. Edward continued with the real estate pitch on the landing.

  “Now that we’ve reached the second floor, you will see that there are two bedrooms on either side of the house and two larger bedrooms here at the back of the house. Each bedroom has a full master bath, while the two larger bedrooms here at the back also contain sitting areas.”

  He patiently showed her each room and explained that the hallways down each side met in the front of the house to the next set of stairs. As they continued up to the next floor, she glanced over her shoulder to look out the large paned windows, which gave an amazing view of the front lawns. Side chairs with tables and lighting could be arranged there, she thought as they continued up the stairs and on with the tour.

  The third floor was slightly different as there was a master suite with an additional room, which ran the length of the back of the house. Each room opened to a covered terrace that allowed for an outside area. It appeared that the current owner had combined the two original rooms to allow for perhaps a study or office off the bedroom. The other rooms were similar to the floor below so they continued on to the fourth floor.

  When they arrived at the landing on the fourth floor, Annabelle felt a slight shiver go down her back and made a note to check for drafts as they continued. Edward went on to explain that this floor was exactly like the second. They went to each room and Annabelle was again amazed at their condition. It seemed as if the entire house was primed and ready to go for painting and decorating. The bedrooms and bathrooms were in excellent shape and every room had a fireplace that was a work of art. Annabelle could imagine the color palettes that matched or complemented the colors of the marble in each room. She made notes and jotted down impressions and ideas as fast as she could write. By the time they reached the stairs to head back down to the main floor, she’d already made up her mind to purchase the estate if the inspection came back clean.

  Chapter 8

  Walking down with the real estate agent, she could sense his excitement of a pending sale, and she was just as excited at the idea of acquiring the property. By the time they’d started down to the main floor, her hand was tapping the railing—so much for the businesswoman persona. Annabelle could see the current owner standing there waiting for them, when suddenly, on the next to last step, a cold breeze seemed to slide down her back and encompass her entire body. She froze and held on to the banister, wondering what was going on. She looked back up the staircase searching for the source of the draft.

  Annabelle felt her hair ruffle with the cold air and as she shivered, couldn’t help saying, “Oh my God, where is that draft coming from?”

  Edward had stopped behind her and seeing his face, sensed that he was holding his breath.

  She turned around as she heard John stride forward. Reaching for her hand he said, “Ah…now we come to the part I wasn’t looking forward to.”

  Annabelle searched his blue eyes, not sure what he was implying. He looked at her and said, “It’s my obligation to inform you that this house is supposedly haunted. That is the main reason why the asking price for the estate is below normal. Nothing has ever occurred to me personally, so I find this difficult to believe, but we’ve had several prospective clients come through these doors. They had a tour of the house, and like you, some have experienced things. One claimed he saw shadows on the staircase. Another felt something brush repeatedly against her. Still another claimed they actually felt a hand grasping their arm. After each episode, they all backed out. Nothing Edward or I said could persuade them to reconsider. I don’t believe in such nonsense. I do admit that I have felt the cold air on occasion, and heard noises when I was alone; but when you’re in a house of this size and age, it’s just something you expect. All houses have their own sounds and just because they do, that doesn’t mean that they’re haunted.”

  Annabelle stood there silently, assessing his words and trying to make sense of what she was hearing. She had her own beliefs about supernatural events, but had to admit that she’d never encountered one. Standing there considering what he said, she concluded that she and John seemed to be on the same page. Neither of them would believe it unless they had seen or experienced it personally. She wasn’t going to let an isolated episode dissuade her from her goal of acquiring this property.

  “I’ll take it,” said Annabelle.

  “I can see you’ve made your decision and know what an excellent opportunity this is,” Edward said. “I’ll have the preliminary paperwork drawn up.”

  She noted she would be signing a release form on what they had just discussed, and that a non-refundable deposit was required. Annabelle agreed to meet him the following day, and as they all walked to the front door, she gazed back one last time.

  John watched the fleeting expressions that crossed her face and felt compelled to question her further as they started down the front steps.

  “Do you have any questions concerning the supposed haunting?”

  “No,” she replied. “No conclusive evidence has ever proven that ghosts actually exist. I have to think that if they do, they can’t really do us any harm. If troubled spirits are present in this house because they never passed over, it’s not something I can control. This house is going to have a change in ownership, painting and decorating. Perhaps this will be the catalyst, which will move it on. I must admit that if something is present, helping it to move on does appeal to
me.”

  Edward understood her reasoning but didn’t want this line of conversation to continue. He wanted her in his office the next day to sign the preliminary papers. So shaking hands and saying goodbye to John, he placed her in his car. By the time they arrived back at the hotel, the details of the property transfer had been ironed out and a meeting was set for the next day.

  ***

  A month later, she sat in her condominium recovering from the whirlwind that had taken place after her first walk-through of the estate. The building inspection passed with excellence. The deposit was accepted and papers had been signed. Not long after settlement took place, more papers were signed, money was exchanged and she found herself the proud owner of a bed-and-breakfast.

  Her portfolio of notes on room sizes, marble colors of the various fireplaces, and a million other details sat atop the desk. Multiple contractors were scheduled to paint her color selections for the walls, carpeting for guest rooms, and other details before the actual furnishings would follow. She had the keys in one hand and a picture of the estate in the other, when she felt a slight shiver go through her. Her imagination continued to touch on the supposed haunting, and she wondered if it would be a draw or a deterrent of her budding business venture. Only time would tell, as she once again started to make a new list of what she would need for the next several months. She would be staying on site to monitor the painting and landscaping she wanted to put in place. She was going to need more than an overnight case and she didn’t want to leave anything behind.

  ***

  The key turned slowly and she entered the estate’s front doors. Looking around, she smiled with pleasure — it felt good to be back. The drive from the city was tiring, but she’d wanted to bring her car so she would have access to the town and surrounding area. Taking her bags up to the master suite, she kept one ear open for the delivery truck that would be bringing her bedroom furniture. There was no way she’d be sleeping here without her own creature comforts. She’d be working hard and needed her rest.