At last the motor began to gear down as the grate settled gently on the ground, the gravel crunching beneath its weight. Abby’s head bobbed slightly as the lift came to a stop. Darrow removed the parking brake and rolled the wheelchair onto the gravel pathway that ran from the detached carport to the front doors of the mansion. His demeanor changed instantly as his frustrations at the slow moving lift slipped away. He smiled at his wife almost lovingly. Anyone witnessing the tirade just seconds before would be hard pressed to believe it was the same man, but Abby knew his rage could be flipped on and off like a light switch when he hit the bottle.
“Are you cold honey? I bet you are. It’s chilly out here. Let’s get you bundled up.”
Darrow removed a faded loose-knit shawl from the interior of the van and wrapped it around Abby’s shoulders. Then he grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and pushed her up the path. The chair vibrated on the uneven terrain jarring Abby’s body and making her head bobble up and down like a novelty dashboard figurine. Abby looked around at the surroundings that were to become her new home. It was peaceful, tranquil and serene. Tall pines encircled the mansion and lined the dirt road leading to the estate, isolating it from the nearby town. She had grown up in Arizona among the cacti and the sage. The sparse foliage of the desert had given her a refined appreciation for the trees and plants of the Pacific Northwest. She marveled at the ferns and grasses that grew in the shadows of the trees, the mosses that scaled their bark, and the fresh scent of blossoming flowers. It was one of the few joys in her life now. She often sat for hours admiring the beauty of nature, a beauty she did not fully appreciate before the accident.
Despite the splendor of the lush surroundings there was something odd about the woods that encircled the manor, something Abby could not quite put her finger on. It was as though something were missing. Darrow hunched over as he pushed her along talking softly in his now cheery mood.
“You’re going to love it here baby. I’ve got your room all picked out for you. It’s got a large plate glass window overlooking the creek in the back, with lots of pretty trees for you to stare at. Would you like that baby?”
Abby willed herself to speak. “Yes, I would like that.”
The words came out: “deyes iwoo ike da.”
Abby gazed upward, watching the sunlight filter in through the narrow openings between branches creating individual spots of sunshine that danced in rhythm to the swaying of the trees. It was like the light from a disco ball without the music. And then Abby realized what had been bothering her about the woods. Where were the birds? The tops of the trees were desolate and empty, the air eerily quiet. There was no chirping, no fluttering of wings, no cries of warning to the other forest creatures that humans had entered their domain. In fact Abby could see no signs of life at all, no chipmunks, no squirrels, no insects of any kind. A striking and terrifying epiphany dawned on Abby. The woods surrounding Talcott Manor were dead.
Dread and panic overtook Abby as Darrow pushed her along, slowly making their way to the mansion growing ever larger in the distance. She was trapped, like a fearful child on a roller coaster wishing she could get off, listening to the clicking of the track as the car neared its first big drop. Darrow’s boots echoed on the gravel in tune with the roller coaster in her head. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Click. Click. Click.
The gravel path ended and they began the journey up the cement ramp leading to the front porch. They paused briefly in front of the large French-doors that folded inward. At that moment Abby was sure she was looking at the gates of hell itself.
“Welcome home baby.” Darrow whispered before opening the doors.
Had she been able, Abby would have turned and fled, screaming and running as fast as she could in the opposite direction.
FIVE
It felt like a jackhammer in her head, each ring reverberating around the inside of her skull like a pinball. Ellie rolled over and reached across her body to the bedside nightstand fumbling blindly in the dark and knocking over the orange plastic container in the process. She had forgotten to tighten the lid and her medication went everywhere. The small blue pills bounced off the hardwood floor in rapid succession like popcorn exploding in a microwave. The phone rang again, aggravating her pounding head and darkening her mood. Mercifully she located the receiver and placed it to her ear before it had a chance to ring a third time. When she spoke her voice was deep and groggy with sleep.
“Hello?”
The voice on the other end was annoyingly cheerful.
“Good morning Ellie.”
For a brief moment Ellie was stooped in confusion before it all came back to her: her return to Saltar’s Point, the all night conversation, and the beer. God how much beer did I drink last night? She did her best to sound attentive but the haze of alcohol made it difficult for her to focus. She hoped Randall couldn’t tell how hung over she was.
“Hi Randall.”
“I didn’t wake you did I?”
“No, no, I’m always awake by…” Ellie squinted at the alarm clock. “Six-thirty.”
“Sorry, I guess I’m just used to country living. I can’t sleep after the rooster crows.”
“Maybe you should shoot the rooster and get some rest.”
Ellie chuckled at her own joke making her head throb. Despite the pain, hearing Randall’s voice made her smile.
“God Ellie you sound awful.”
“That obvious huh?”
“Maybe I should call back later.”
Ellie sat up causing the room to spin. “No, I’m fine. It’s good to hear from you.”
“Well I don’t know if you’re up to it, but the reason I called was to invite you to a barbeque that Denny is having over at his place tonight.” There was a crack in his voice that sounded like nerves to Ellie. “And, um I was wondering if you’d like to go.”
Ellie’s face reddened a bit. “Randall Jackson, are you asking me out on a date?”
“No it’s not a date, really.” Now he sounded flustered. “Just a get together with some friends and I thought you might like to come. Besides it will give you a chance to meet Denny.”
“I already met Denny.”
Ellie was enjoying this, making Randall squirm just a little bit. It had been a long time since she had been asked out on a date and she was eager to play hard to get.
“Well Laura’s going to be there and I thought you might like to meet her. You know, so you could have a girlfriend to hang out with.”
“Who’s Laura?”
“Denny’s wife.”
“So it’s a double date then.”
Randall gave in. “Alright it’s a double date. So do you want to go or not?”
“I’d love to. So you’ll pick me up at?”
“Seven. Oh and bring Aiden, I’m dying to meet him. Denny’s got a big back yard and a new puppy that’s always looking for a playmate. He’s not scared of dogs is he?”
“He loves them.”
“Good, so seven it is then,” Randall said just before hanging up.
Ellie put the receiver back in its cradle. She had that giddy schoolgirl feeling again. She wasn’t sure how dating was going to be with a child but Randall seemed to love kids and that filled her with hope. Don’t get ahead of yourself Ellie girl. After all they had just seen each other for the first time in nearly twenty years and she was just a kid the last time he saw her.
She swung her legs over the bed, looked around, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, letting them adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings. She was in the small apartment Cletus had built upstairs from the general store. It had one bedroom and a tiny bathroom complete with a sink, toilet, and a circular shower stall that you had to pull the curtain all the way around to keep the water from splashing out. Ellie couldn’t help but feel like she was at summer camp. Cletus slept there occasionally when he tended bar late or he had a few too many to drive home, even though his house was less than a mile away. He had placed a small cot next to Ellie’s bed for Aid
en. The cot was empty. Aiden! Oh my God where was Aiden? Her panic shattered the fog of her hangover. There was a knock on the bedroom door.
“Ellie you awake.” Cletus’ voice came through the door faintly. It escalated Ellie’s already frantic state.
“Don’t come in! I, I’m not dressed.”
Her pills were still scattered about. Ellie dropped to her hands and knees then frantically began the painstaking process of collecting them all, making sure to get the ones that managed to work their way under the nightstand and bed.
“Just want to know if you want some breakfast.”
Ellie did her best to sound calm. “That’d be great. Is Aiden down there with you?”
“Yep, he’s downstairs.” Relief rushed over Ellie. “He’s been up for about an hour, seems he’s got that Pritchard blood in him. Gets him up early.”
He certainly didn’t get it from me Ellie thought. “I’ll be right down.”
“I’ll put some coffee on.” Cletus said as his footsteps echoed back down the stairs.
At last Ellie corralled the final pill and dropped it safely back in the bottle. This time she twisted until a gentle click assured her that the lid was sealed tight. She checked around once more to be sure she hadn’t missed any pills. When she was satisfied she pulled a small black duffle bag from underneath her bed and unzipped the large pocket. Inside were a dozen plastic bottles of various shapes and sizes. Ellie placed the bag on top of the bed causing the pills to rattle back and forth in their bottles simulating the sound of an African rain stick. She had started taking the Zoloft shortly after her divorce to cope with her depression, and now she couldn’t seem to function well without it. Other pills had followed. Paxil for anxiety, Valium for panic attacks, Vicodin for pain, and so on. The list read like a well-stocked pharmacy. She had been to dozens of doctors faking countless illnesses and ailments, having the prescriptions filled at different locations, always paying cash. She told herself that she would quit just as soon as she got over the pain Michael had caused her, but the pain never really did go away and she started taking more and more pills to cope. The habit was getting expensive and out of hand she knew, but she kept telling herself that it was not a big deal. Some people drank to forget their problems, others smoked. She took pills.
She unscrewed the cap on the bottle of Vicodin, shook out four pills, and swallowed them dry in one big gulp. Just enough to take the edge off. She placed the medication back in the bag and slipped it under the bed. Lord I need a shower.
Ellie made her way down the stairs and through the door leading to the kitchen on the tavern side of the general store. She wore a white terrycloth robe and a towel wrapped around her still wet hair. As soon as Aiden saw her his face lit up like a candle.
“Mommy’s up!”
Aiden climbed down from the barstool that Cletus had set up for him at the small breakfast table, and ran across the room to his mother. Ellie snatched him up in one fluid motion.
“Good morning sunshine” Ellie cooed.
“I made breakfast!” Aiden’s grin widened into a full smile.
“You did! All by yourself? What a big boy you’re becoming!”
Ellie tickled his ribs causing Aiden to giggle and squeal with glee.
“Grandpa helped a little.”
As if on cue, Cletus butted in. “You want some coffee.”
“God that sounds great.”
“Late night huh Ellie girl?”
“You could say that again.”
Ellie placed Aiden back on the ground and he scrambled back to the barstool climbing it like a jungle gym before sitting down on the padded cushion. Cletus handed her a mug of steaming hot coffee. The mug warmed her hands and the black liquid smelled like heaven.
“Two eggs over medium, bacon extra crispy. I assume that’s the way you still like your breakfast?” Cletus placed the plate on the table and returned to the stove. “Hash browns will be up in a minute.”
Ellie sat down at the table and watched Aiden eating a bowl of Cheerios. She glanced at the three-foot high barstool with a nervous eye.
“I appreciate you cooking breakfast and all, but do you think that barstool is safe for a four year old?”
“Ain’t nothin’ but a country highchair Ellie. You use to eat up there all the time when you were a little girl, or don’t you remember?”
“Yeah I remember falling off a few times too.”
“Explains a lot now, don’t it Ellie girl?” Cletus winked as he plopped a wad of hash browns onto Ellie’s plate. “By the way I’m heading out to Crawford Lake to do a little fishing today, and wondered if Aiden might like to go along?”
Aiden’s eyes went wide with excitement causing him to drop his spoon, splattering milk on the table.
“I don’t know granddad. Isn’t he a little young for fishing?”
“Nonsense, I was already tying trout lines when I was just half his age. Besides I could use the company. Isn’t that right Aiden?”
Aiden clapped his hands together enthusiastically. “Fishing, fishing, fishing!”
“Who’s going to watch the store?”
“Got a high school girl comes in during the summer.”
Ellie paused, trying to think of another reason not to let Aiden go, but her mind drew a blank and she relented. “Okay. I guess it’s alright.”
“Yeah!” Aiden shouted.
“But you need to have him back by six so I can clean him up. Randall invited us to a barbeque over at Denny’s.”
“You two really hit it off last night didn’t you?” Cletus asked.
Ellie took a sip of coffee, hiding her blushing cheeks behind the mug. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Well I hope things work out between you two. He’s a good man that Randall Jackson. A good man.”
“He is isn’t he?” Ellie said, her mouth full of hash browns.
Cletus finished cooking his own eggs and sat down at the table. “I’m glad you’re in a good mood, ‘cause the garage called and left a message last night and it’s not good news. Seems the engine was so hot you blew a head gasket and it’s gonna take a lot of work.”
“That’s just great,” Ellie quipped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “I guess I’ll head into town and talk to them in person.”
“You want a ride?”
“No it’s a beautiful day. I think I’ll walk. Besides you two have some trout to catch.”
When they were finished eating Cletus took Aiden out to his truck to get the tackle ready while Ellie cleaned up the kitchen. After the dishes were done she sat down to have another cup of coffee. The Vicodin had taken affect and she felt better, but she couldn’t stop worrying about the repair bill for her Bronco. Her money was in short supply to say the least, and she didn’t need another problem. She hadn’t told Cletus but she had lost her job waiting tables. The child support she was awarded didn’t even come close to paying for rent, childcare, and the monthly bills. She was forced to rely on a close circle of friends to watch Aiden while she worked, but they weren’t always reliable and she had to miss a lot of shifts, driving her manager up the wall and forcing him to give her the axe. Her rent had gone unpaid for three months and an eviction notice quickly followed. Truth be told, Ellie hadn’t returned to Saltar’s Point by choice, she returned because it was her only choice.
After she finished her coffee she made her way outside to bid the boys farewell. Aiden was wearing a fishing vest six sizes too big for him. His adorable appearance lifted Ellie’s spirits. When they were ready to go Ellie lifted him into the passenger seat and kissed him goodbye.
“You be good Aiden and do what your grandpa tells you. Okay?”
“Okay mommy.”
Ellie looked at Cletus with a furrowed brow but he beat her to the punch before she could speak. “We’ll be fine Ellie. Don’t worry.”
And with that the truck sped off. Ellie watched them all the way until they disappeared in the horizon.
“Twenty-three hundred dollars!”
Ellie shouted. “I don’t have that kind of money.”
They stood in the single stall garage of Saltar’s Point Auto Body and Repair Shop, the hood of Ellie’s Bronco propped open like a Nile crocodile, mouth agape, cooling itself in the North African sun.
“Look I’m sorry Ellie but that’s the best I can do. You got a real mess in here.”
Vern tapped his monkey wrench on the engine block for emphasis producing a clanging sound that echoed throughout the garage. Vern had been the town mechanic for as long as Ellie could remember, and as far as she could tell he hadn’t changed one bit. He still wore grime-covered overalls and a baseball cap so dirty that it was impossible to say with any certainty what its original color had been. He didn’t look a day older than when she left, but then again his face was always plastered beneath a layer of engine grease so thick you could have sworn that he perspired motor oil.
“Come on Vern can’t you do any better than that? The car isn’t even worth twenty-three hundred dollars”
“Ellie your granddad and I go back a long ways, so you know I’m shooting you straight. You blew a head gasket. You got oil where your water should be, water where your antifreeze should be, and antifreeze everywhere except in your radiator where it ought to be. Now the way I see it is, you got three options.” Vern counted on his fingers pulling each one back with his opposite hand as he talked. “One, get a new engine, two, rebuild this one, or three, sell the rest of the car for scrap. Now even if I rebuild it using old parts we’re still talking twenty-three hundred dollars parts and labor. So what’s it gonna be?”
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