The Clockwork House

by Wendy Saunders

  ‘No,’ he laughed as they walked side by side, not quite touching. ‘My uncle owns the bar and grill, but he has a bad knee. Played some football in college, was good enough to have gone pro, but an injury shot his knee. It’s been getting steadily worse for the past couple of years, but he was too stubborn to do anything about it. The last few months he’s barely been able to walk, so I’ve been helping out as much as I can. He’s going in for surgery on the mainland next week, so I’ll run the bar for him while he recovers.’

  ‘That’s good of you,’ she murmured.

  Kelley shrugged, ‘it’s what you do for family. His kids, my cousins, are all married with families of their own and demanding jobs. They don’t have the time to help out. They would if they could, but I’m the only one who doesn’t have a life outside his job.’

  He laughed, but it wasn’t filled with self-derision or mockery but a genuine amusement and affection for his family.

  ‘You’re a very easy-going guy,’ she remarked.

  ‘I doubt my students would agree with you,’ he chuckled.

  ‘Did you always want to be a teacher?’

  ‘Yeah,’ he nodded, ‘I did, even when I was a kid. I’d grade my brother’s papers for him, it drove him nuts. Killian hated school, he just loved to build things.’

  ‘But not you?’

  ‘I hate to ruin your manly image of me but I’m pretty much a spaz if you put any kind of tool in my hand. Now if you want someone to quote you Hemmingway, I’m your man.’

  ‘Hemmingway?’

  ‘Or Shakespeare, Poe, Yeats?’

  She stared at him.

  ‘The mighty pyramids of stone, that wedge-like cleave the desert airs, when nearer seen and better known, are but gigantic flights of stairs… of course, that was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, an American poet from the late 19th century, but it’s one of my favorites.’

  He glanced at Ava as she watched him quietly and he smiled.

  ‘Of course, I also love Harry Potter,’ he shrugged, ‘I mean, who doesn’t. What about you?’

  ‘What about me?’

  ‘Favorite book?’

  ‘I don’t read much,’ Ava murmured.

  ‘Okaay,’ he replied slowly, ‘well how about work then? What do you do when you’re not renovating old haunted houses?’

  ‘This and that,’ she shrugged, ‘waitressing mostly.’

  ‘Wasn’t there anything in particular you wanted to do?’ he asked curiously. ‘I mean when you were a kid, astronaut? Rockstar?’

  ‘No,’ she smiled.

  ‘What did you want then?’

  A home was what she’d always wanted more than anything, but that seemed way too personal to share with him, so she merely shrugged instead.

  ‘I like to cook,’ she answered finally.

  ‘Never thought about being a chef?’ he asked.

  ‘Never stayed in one place long enough,’ she answered honestly.

  ‘You looking to change that?’ he asked seriously as they stopped along the railings, looking down at the beach.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Ava replied quietly as she stared out at the glittering ocean. ‘There’s something about this place, it calls to me.’

  She turned to look at him and flushed, she hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

  ‘I’m glad,’ he smiled, ‘because selfishly I want you to stick around.’

  ‘Trust me,’ Ava scoffed, ‘I’m nothing special.’

  ‘Why would you think that?’ he asked seriously.

  ‘Because it’s true,’ she shrugged.

  She really believed that, he realized as he studied her dark eyes. She was carrying so much baggage and he was willing to bet every dime he owned that most of it wasn’t hers. She was like a fascinating puzzle that he was dying to take apart and figure out.

  ‘Well you’re wrong,’ he replied confidently, ‘and sooner or later I’m going to prove it to you, but for now I believe I promised you lobster rolls.’

  ‘Where are we going?’ she asked as he grabbed her hand, trying to ignore the warm fluttery feeling in her stomach as he towed her along, ‘because you know, most restaurants won’t allow dogs…’

  ‘Just there,’ Kelley pointed to a small… well it was little more than a wooden shack, with plastic furniture set out in front of it, covered with bright red and white checked paper tablecloths. ‘Most places on the island serve lobster, but if you want the best, then you want Ma James. That’s her place just ahead, and she doesn’t mind dogs.’

  Her heart did a little flip and then a long slow roll when she realized he’d chosen a place that would include her dog.

  ‘Take a seat,’ he steered her toward a nearby table where she’d still have a perfect view of the ocean, ‘I’ll be right back. What do you want to drink?’

  ‘Anything is fine,’ she shook her head. ‘I don’t mind.’

  Bailey hunkered down beside her as she slid onto one of the seats beneath a huge yellow umbrella and anxiously toyed with the salt and pepper shakers on the table, beside a metal napkin dispenser with the Coca Cola logo splashed across the side.

  She’d never really done the whole dating thing. Usually if she wanted to get laid, she’d pick some guy up in a bar, not that that happened very often. She wasn’t one to sleep around after all, but this whole getting to know each other, sitting having a meal overlooking the ocean? The whole thing just smacked of romantic intentions and she had no idea what the hell she was doing.

  Kelley, who she’d originally dismissed as a player, had not only turned out to be highly educated but really intelligent and interesting. She hadn’t even finished high school for god’s sake. In fact, who was she kidding, she’d never even gone to high school. He was so far out of her league it wasn’t even funny.

  She watched him as he approached the open front of the hut and greeted a short plump woman with curly iron gray hair, ruthlessly pulled back from her tanned, heavily lined face, while her huge golden hooped earrings swung, every time she moved her head.

  Ava couldn’t hear what they were saying but every now and then Kelley would glance back at her and smile, almost as if he was reassuring himself that she hadn’t disappeared. When he finally returned to their table with a heavily laden plastic tray, the first thing he did was place two disposable bowls down on the ground in front of Bailey, one filled with water and one filled with meat.

  ‘What’s that?’ Ava asked.

  ‘Chicken, sorry no steak for you today Bailey,’ he petted her head as he stood and took a seat opposite Ava, ‘and no lobster either. Ma James says shellfish isn’t good for dogs.’

  Ava blinked as she sat staring at him.

  ‘Damn it, Kelley, stop it,’ she frowned.

  ‘Stop what?’ he replied absently as he placed a soda in front of her, alongside a small oval, red plastic basket lined with paper and containing a sub roll stuffed with a delicious smelling meat and dressing.

  ‘Stop making me like you,’ she frowned.

  ‘Can’t,’ he grinned, ‘it’s all part of my devious plan.’

  She watched as he picked up his own sub and took a huge bite, his eyes rolling in pleasure.

  ‘Sorry if I’m being rude,’ he apologized after he’d chewed and swallowed, ‘I’m literally starving.’

  ‘I have no idea what to do with you Kelley,’ she murmured.

  ‘I have a few ideas,’ he grinned, ‘but for now, it doesn’t have to be any more complicated than two people sharing a meal and talking.’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘Anything you like,’ he took another bite, ‘anything you like.’

  And they did. They talked for hours, about everything, about nothing and all the little things in-between. The weird thing was, it wasn’t hard. Just like the night they’d fallen asleep side by side in a pokey little tent with the rain drumming down on the canvas and the thunder crashing high above them. Being in his company was effortless.

  By the time the long afternoon passed toward evening
they were walking along the docks, side by side, eating ice creams just as he’d promised.

  ‘You were right you know,’ Ava finally said.

  ‘About?’

  ‘The lobster rolls were amazing. Now I’m going to have to learn how to cook them,’ she mused. ‘Do they really boil lobsters alive?’

  ‘I try not to think about that part,’ Kelley winced. ‘I’d rather it just ended up on my plate; I don’t need to know how it got there.’

  Ava laughed as she looked out across the marina. The last of the boats were coming in and the docks were still laden with huge crates of fish and lobsters.

  ‘What’s that big building over there?’ she pointed to a large warehouse sitting slightly back from the dock.

  ‘That’s where they pack and process the catch,’ Kelley licked his ice cream. ‘Just around the corner is the fish market.’

  ‘Fish market,’ Ava stopped suddenly. ‘Uh, we should probably go back.’

  ‘Why?’ Kelley asked curiously.

  ‘Because Bailey…’ whatever she was about to say was drowned by a joyful bark, and as Ava blinked, all she saw was a blur of black and gold fur disappearing toward the warehouse. She raised her left hand to find a bright blue leash dangling from her wrist, gnawed off at the end. ‘Shit,’ Ava swore, ‘hold this.’ She thrust her own ice cream at Kelley and sprinted after her dog.

  She ran flat out, rounding the corner of the building.

  ‘BAILEY!’ her voice cracked like a whip causing her dog to skid to a halt.

  Ava approached her slowly. Bailey was standing quivering, her body trembling at all the scents surrounding her. Her ears pricked up and her nostrils flared.

  ‘Stay,’ Ava commanded as she edged closer, the smell of fish so strong, she gagged a little.

  Bailey’s eyes flicked to the right and Ava’s followed. Her stomach clenched as she realized why the smell was particularly strong here. There were barrels and barrels of fish guts. Her eyes flicked back to Bailey who wagged her tail.

  ‘DON’T…YOU…DARE…’ Ava whispered; her eyes wide in warning.

  Bailey wagged her tail again and lunged at the nearest barrel. Ava dived for her, but it was too late. As she grabbed her collar, they both tumbled into a barrel, overturning it and sending it careening into the next one, showering them both with slimy fish parts.

  Ava wrestled her dog, but it was no use, the floor was too slippery. She had no purchase to climb to her feet and haul her dog away. Bailey was having the time of her life rolling over and over, rubbing her fur into the smelly fish goo.

  Ava finally managed to grab her and haul her against her body, holding her in place. She looked up as the sound of laughter rang in her ears. Kelley stood almost doubled over with laughter, an ice cream in each hand.

  ‘You think this is funny?’ she asked angrily.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he drew in a deep breath and started laughing again, ‘it’s just…’ he continued to laugh.

  Ava’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

  ‘Bailey,’ her voice was ominously low, Bailey thumped her tail against the ground making wet slapping noises.

  ‘Ava, wait!’ Kelley sobered, reading the intent in her eyes. He held up his hands, but it lost the desired effect as he was still holding two melting ice cream cones.

  Ava’s eyes flashed as she lifted her hand from Bailey’s collar and released her.

  ‘Sic him girl,’ she whispered, and Bailey leapt forward.

  Kelley took an involuntary step back as she pounced and tackled him to the ground, rolling over and over him, rubbing her face against his, licking him ecstatically. He gagged at the stench of her rotten fishy breath.

  ‘Bailey stop!’ he tried to breathe through his mouth as she began to lick the ice creams he was miraculously still clutching, although he’d now crushed the cones in his fists as he fought off the giant playful, rancid smelling dog.

  Ava climbed to her feet marching over to Kelley as he lay on the floor. She leaned over him, saluted him with her middle finger, before turning and stalking away, whistling for her dog, who once again in a mad scramble after her mistress managed to crush his balls, leaving him groaning on the ground amongst the fish guts.

  It had taken him more than a few minutes to catch his breath and several more for the ache in his groin to ease, after which he’d tenderly hauled himself to his feet and gone after Ava. He hadn’t found her anywhere. He’d stalked back to the school to retrieve his own car and driven straight up to the house on the cliff with the windows cranked down and his head hanging out to try and avoid the smell which was emanating from every inch of him.

  He should have driven home, showered for an hour straight after burning his clothes, but he hadn’t. He hadn’t even given it a second thought; he was climbing out of his car in front of her parked truck before he could even question his motives.

  He was pissed off, really pissed off. Okay maybe he shouldn’t have laughed but dammit, did she really have to set her tame bear on him? He doubted he’d ever be able to get the stench off him and the nasty oily goo was now beginning to dry on his exposed skin, making it feel stiff and itchy.

  He climbed out of his car, not even bothering to slam the door. After all it would need a good airing, for probably the next thousand years or so.

  He marched over and pounded on the door of her RV but got no response. Glancing around, he couldn’t see her or her damn dog anywhere. His gaze tracked over to the dark boarded up house looming over him and he involuntarily shuddered. If the house had eyes, he’d have sworn it was watching him.

  Deliberately turning his back on it, he reached for the door handle on the RV. He froze at the distant sound of barking and once again glanced around. He couldn’t see them, so he followed the sound of Bailey’s playful barks.

  It led him to the edge of the cliff and upon closer inspection he realized there were stone steps carved into the cliff face leading down. Curious, he followed them, winding slowly down until he found himself stepping out onto a small hidden beach.

  It was a tiny little paradise, flanked on either side by the curve of the cliffs. Huge boulders and craggy rocks piled up on one side of the small cove where the cliff at some point had crumbled and crashed into the beach below. Kelley had no idea this place even existed. Then again, he’d never been brave enough to explore anywhere near the infamous Lynch House.

  His anger had simmered down to irritation on the long climb down from the top and even now the irritation was giving way to a peaceful sense of wonder. It was like being inside a painting; the sky was streaking with deep stains of pink and purple as the sun began its descent and the dying light caught on the rippling waves making them sparkle. He moved further out from the base of the steps onto the beach, his ruined sneakers sinking into the sand as he once again followed the sound of barking. He rounded a huge rock and stopped dead.

  Every thought drained from his head, and his jaw went slack.

  Ava rose out of the water like a mythical Siren, her back to him and the beads of sea water glistening off her golden skin in the dying light. Her hair spilled down her back, slick and glossy like a streak of black paint, to the top curve of her buttocks which were just visible above the water.

  Alerted to his presence, Bailey, who’d been frolicking happily in the waves, began to bark in earnest causing Ava to turn her head, her midnight eyes locking on his.

  He spun around quickly putting his back to her to give her some privacy as every inch of his body grew warm despite the rapidly cooling evening air.

  ‘Uh sorry,’ he stuttered. ‘I was looking for you, I didn’t mean to intrude. I mean, I didn’t know you were… you know… naked.’

  Ava waded across to one of the larger rocks jutting out of the water, where she’d rested her soap and shampoo, and crossing her arms on top of it she leaned against it, effectively shielding her body from prying eyes.

  ‘It’s okay Kelley,’ she replied, ‘you can turn around. I’m decent… more or less.’
>
  ‘I uh…’ he turned his head and found her leaning against a rock like a mermaid, watching him curiously.

  He was so cute, she thought to herself, all embarrassed and trying not to look at her.

  ‘I’m sorry I laughed at you,’ he stuck his hands in his pockets and kicked the sand like a surly teenager.

  Definitely cute.

  ‘I’m sorry I set my dog on you,’ as the corner of her mouth curved into a smile.

  ‘Well okay then,’ he nodded, trying desperately to resist the temptation to look at her and all her glorious, wet, naked skin, ‘I should probably go.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘What do you mean why?’

  ‘Does my body bother you?’ she tilted her head as she studied him.

  ‘Is that a trick question?’ he replied. ‘I don’t think there’s any way for me to answer that without sounding like an idiot or a creep.’

  Ava laughed.

  ‘Kelley,’ she shook her head in amusement, ‘get your clothes off and get in here, the water’s lovely.’

  ‘I’m sorry what?’ he blinked, pretty sure he misheard.

  ‘I said, get naked and get in here,’ she laughed again.

  ‘That’s what I thought you said,’ his eyes narrowed as he stared at her, not sure if she was serious or not.

  ‘I’m not inviting you in for sex, let’s get that straight now, but seriously, I can smell you from here.’

  ‘And who’s fault is that?’ he crossed his arms.

  ‘Yours, for laughing at me,’ she smiled. ‘Come on, I’ve got soap… and shampoo,’ she picked up the bottle and waved it at him.

  He had to admit, he wanted the soap and shampoo more than anything at that particular moment. Every time he got a whiff of himself it turned his stomach.

  ‘And it doesn’t bother you?’ he asked curiously, ‘skinny dipping on a secluded beach with a guy you’ve only just met?’

  ‘Kelley, I was raised by a bunch of hippies. We spent entire summers naked when we were kids.’

  ‘We’re not kids,’ he pointed out.

  ‘I’ll behave myself if you will,’ she grinned, ‘besides we have a giant lumbering wet dog as a chaperone.’