I smiled at how nice the blue dress looked against my skin, and how much bluer it made my eyes. Grandmother loved me in this dress. She had helped Mom pick it out on one of our rare shopping trips together.
Isaiah showed up exactly at the planned time. He was never late. I waved at him, watching as he parked his car. I realized as he was getting out of it he was alone. Since Samuel usually came so he could visit Stacy, I asked him, “Where is your brother?”
“He didn’t want to come today. He and Stacy had a fight last night on the phone, so I felt it best not to interfere, or bring him with me. I wouldn’t want to have to cut our day short to come back to pick him up if they didn’t make up.” He smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
He looks so cute when he does that. “I guess that was a smart thing to do. I would hate to have our day cut short, as well.”
He took my hand and we went in to get my things, and let Mom know that we were taking off. Of course, Mom was in the kitchen, baking bread for dinner that night.
“Mom, I just want to let you know that we are going to stop at the bookstore in Hyattsville before we go to Grandmother’s, is that okay?” I always liked to ask her instead of tell her, even though I knew she would say yes.
“That will be fine, did you let your grandmother know? I don’t want her to worry.” She brushed a piece of her dark hair back from her face, and smiled at Isaiah. “Hello, young man. How are you today?”
He smiled back at her. “I’m doing really good, and I hope that you are the same today, Ms. Emma.”
I waited until Mom replied to him, and then said, “I did tell her, Mom, she is expecting us for an early dinner, remember? So don’t wait on me for dinner tonight.” I gave her a hug, and she smiled at Isaiah.
“You have a wonderful time, and do not let Elizabeth’s grandmother intimidate you! She loves to do that.” Mom laughed at the look of surprise on Isaiah’s face.
“Yes ma’am, I will try not to.” He winked at her, and we headed out to his car.
Today, he had brought his sports car. He opened the door and helped me in. It was even fancier on the inside than it was on the outside. This is going to be a really exciting day! I thought to myself, feeling the excitement racing through my body. I had never been in a car so fancy, and when Isaiah started the engine I could feel the power pulsing through me. I don’t think I had ever enjoyed a ride more than I was enjoying this!
All to soon, we were turning onto the road leading to Tucker Hill, and I felt myself grow anxious again, my pulse racing, a dread spreading over me. I don’t understand why, because all we were doing was driving past a house that was built long ago. I turned towards Isaiah. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea, after all.”
“Why not? Are you getting worried about your own theories?” he asked me, raising his eyebrow, a small grin on his face.
“I don’t know what it is, Isaiah, I just suddenly have this foreboding feeling, like something I don’t want to know about is going to happen. How silly is that? After all, it is only a house, right?”
When he looked at me his face suddenly clouded with worry. “Are you okay? You look very pale. Do you want me to turn around?”
“I don’t know, no, I guess not. Maybe I’m just feeling this way because of all the research we’ve been doing.” I replied, not really feeling like that was it at all.
“Are you sure? We don’t have to do this today.” His brows were drawn together and his mouth was curved down into a frown. I could see the worry in his eyes.
“I don’t know if I’m sure or not, but we’re here, so let’s go look at the house.” I tried to smile at him, but from the look on his face I knew I wasn’t very convincing. We slowly approached the turn in the road, and I knew that the house would soon be coming into view.
Suddenly there it was, sitting on the hilltop looking very imposing with a massive pillared porch surrounding it on three sides. As I looked at the house, I felt like I knew what was inside every room. Almost like I would know the layout perfectly, details, such as the fact that there was a central hall extending through the house, flanked by two large rooms on either side. There’s a fireplace in the kitchen with a pine mantel of very plain Greek revival design. The original woodwork and pine floors are still intact throughout the house.
I knew beyond any doubt that there were Victorian marble mantels and arched openings in the dining room, and in the parlor across the hall. In the library, I could see that there was a dumb waiter, which connected that room to the original kitchen below. A springhouse and a brick carriage house were going to be standing in the north yard.
These things I knew, even though I had never seen this house before. It terrified me at how sharp the details were. I turned towards Isaiah.
“Please, get me away from here,” I whispered, feeling like I couldn’t breathe, the images overwhelming me.
He looked at my face, and, asking no questions, sped off up the hill, and away from that house as quickly and safely as he could. “Elizabeth, are you going to be okay?” he asked me.
“I feel like I can’t breathe. Drive to the park, it’s down the next road to the right.” I laid my head back against the seat, gasping for breath. Why did I feel like this? How stupid to panic about a house. Maybe I read those details somewhere in my research. That had to be it.
I would look over my notes when I went home, and I was sure that I would find the information among them. This calmed me down, and my breathing started to even out. The shaking was starting to subside. I reached over and found Isaiah’s hand, and took it in mine again, feeling his warmth and comfort at how easily my hand fit in his.
“You’re cold again, Elizabeth,” he said softly. “Do you want your sweater from the back seat?”
“No, I’m fine. I’m feeling better now. I’m sorry, Isaiah. I didn’t mean to freak out back there. I guess my imagination is running away with me.” I smiled at him tentatively, hoping that he wasn’t thinking I had completely lost it.
“You scared me a little. You got very pale for a few minutes, and looked like you were miles away in thought. You wouldn’t answer me.” He was looking at me out of the corner of his eye every once in a while. “I’m going to find a place to pull over and park.”
I was so glad that he had to focus on driving. I decided I didn’t want him to find a place to park, because I didn’t want to have to describe to him what had happened back there. “Why don’t you turn around and we will just head to my grandmother’s? I’m okay now.” I squeezed his hand.
“Are you sure?” I nodded my head, yes, and tried to smile at him, not feeling calm inside.
“Okay, if that is what you want.” I could tell from his voice that he was not quite convinced that I was telling him the truth.
I directed him to Grandmother’s house, and we pulled into the drive about ten minutes later. I was still mulling over what had happened, and had finally convinced myself that I must have read about the inside of the house somewhere. I still didn’t understand why I had gotten so anxious.
Isaiah got out and was around the car, opening my door before I had picked up my bag. He reached in, and took my hand. I let him help me out of the car, and was very glad I did. I stumbled a little on weak knees. He looked at me again, his brows drawing together in that expression I was seeing way to often today. “I’m fine, I promise.”
We walked up the steps onto the front porch, and Grandmother opened the door on my first knock, so I knew she must have been listening for us. She gave me a big hug, and before I could say anything she was hugging Isaiah. I saw surprise go across his face as he hugged her back.
My grandmother is four feet ten inches tall, with the wisest blue eyes I have ever seen. She has beautiful long brown hair that she wears up in a French twist, and the cutest little petite body. But what a spitfire she is! She grew up in Pennsylvania on a farm with one older sister, and three older brothers. She was born premature, and was so little that the doctor had not expected her to live throug
h the night. But she was a fighter then, just like she is now, so she beat the odds.
She loves to tell stories about how she taught school in a one-room schoolhouse until she married my grandfather, who was a surveyor for Geological Survey in Washington. He moved her to Hyattsville, and they built the house that she is living in now. She started teaching in the elementary school, saying she was meant to be a teacher because she loved teaching the kids.
Isaiah looked down at her, and said, “Hello, how are you today, Mrs. Bard?” His face was glowing when she winked at him.
“I am right as rain. How are you, young man?” She put her arm through his, and was leading him into the front room before I could even say anything to her. “I’m so glad that you brought Elizabeth to visit. I have seen so little of her this summer. I suppose that is because she is spending so much time with you?”
“I’m fine, and I guess I’m guilty. I can’t seem to spend enough time with her.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, her mother tells me that you are a fine young man, so I guess I can’t say too much about all the time you are spending with her.” She looked at him and winked again. “Of course, it wouldn’t matter what I said anyway, now, would it?” When she saw the look on his face, she started laughing.
Isaiah joined in like he had known her forever. I smiled at him and turned towards her. “Grandmother, you are something else. Stop teasing him. Is there anything that you need me to help you with?”
“Well, you two are here earlier than I thought, so do you mind if we visit for a while, and we can start dinner in just a bit?”
“Of course we don’t mind. We came to spend time with you.” I hugged her, and looked over at Isaiah to make sure it was okay with him. Of course, he nodded letting me know it was just fine.
“Good. Do you want some iced tea, and, if you like, we can sit either on the porch or out in the backyard?”
“Whichever you would prefer, Grandmother,” I said, smiling. I knew that she’d pick the front porch, because at his time of day she thought it was much too hot out back.
I loved her front porch. She had a cushioned glider where you could sit and watch the people and the cars go by. The porch is screened in, so we don’t have to worry about the summer bugs, or later in the evening, the mosquitoes.
“Good. We will get the drinks and sit on the porch. I like to watch the people walking by, you know. Let’s go in the kitchen and get the glasses and ice ready. I have the tea chilling in the fridge.”
Isaiah said, “Let me help you. Elizabeth can wait for us on the porch.” He looked at me, his eyes narrowed and his mouth set letting me know if I protested he would tell her I wasn’t feeling well.
“That would be nice, young man. Come this way.” She was chatting with him easily as they headed for the kitchen. I walked out onto the front porch, and sat down on the glider. I put my head back and closed my eyes, listening to the familiar sounds of her street. I could feel myself relaxing. Suddenly, I heard the drinks being set down, and Grandmother’s voice.
“Elizabeth, are you all right, honey?” she said as she reached over and felt my forehead.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I said as I opened my eyes. “I was just relaxing, and listening. I have always loved the sounds of your street.” This seemed to reassure her, so she busied herself with picking up the pitcher, and poured three drinks.
She handed one to me, then one to Isaiah. She took hers, and sat down on her rocker. “I love the sounds of my street too,” she said.
The three of us sat there quietly, listening for a while. The only sounds were the noises made when the occasional car drove by, the birds singing, and the clicking of the ice in the glasses when we would sip the tea. Each minute that ticked by made me calmer, making what had happened earlier seem foolish. I was glad we had come to Grandmother’s did, I hadn’t realized how much I had missed her this summer.
Grandmother looked at me, and said, “I do love that sundress on you, Elizabeth. I’m so glad that we found it that last shopping trip.” She glanced at the watch on her wrist. “Oh, my. Where did the time go? It looks like it is about time we got started on dinner.”
She stood up and reached for the pitcher. Before she could get it, Isaiah was up, and had it in his hand. “I’ll take it for you, if you don’t mind.”
She laughed and marched off to the kitchen, as Isaiah and I followed. The three of us chatted the entire time we were making dinner. Grandmother mixed her special flour mixture up and started making the fried chicken; she never let any of us see what she was putting in, saying it was a secret recipe. I prepared the coleslaw, chopping the cabbage just as she had shown me, sprinkling a little sugar on it before pounding it to bring out the juices and make it tender. While I made the dressing for the slaw, Isaiah helped by making a salad.
I put the slaw in the refrigerator to chill and then set the table. When the chicken was done, we sat down and started eating.
Isaiah bit into the chicken, and his eyes flew open in surprise. “Wow, this is the best fried chicken I have ever had!”
Grandmother laughed. “Thank you. It’s something that I’ve always been told that I make really well.” She has always had a special touch with her fried chicken. I don’t know of anyone who ever tried it that didn’t think it was the best chicken they had ever eaten. I thought back to the story my mother loved to tell us about going into labor with me when they were at Grandmother’s house for her fried chicken. Mom said that she had refused to leave for the hospital until the chicken was done, and she had a piece! I always understood why Mom insisted on waiting for the chicken—I think I would have, too.
Later that night, as we were washing up the dishes and putting them away, I quietly asked grandmother, “Do you ever remember any strange things happening in this town when you first moved here?”
She looked at me. “What are you talking about? This is the nicest little town you ever wanted to live in. Nothing bad has ever happened here.” She set her shoulders in that particular way that said she would say no more on the subject.
I glanced over her head at Isaiah, and shrugged my shoulders. I knew I wasn’t going to get anywhere with her. Even if she did know something, she wouldn’t tell. Grandmother was very good at keeping secrets—plus, she never talked about anything that she didn’t think was on the up and up. Strangely, the one thing that she was really good about was gossiping about other people. She loved to go to church on Sunday, and then mind other people’s business during the week! I didn’t think that she meant to, she just seemed to always do it.
When it was time to go, Grandmother walked us out onto the front porch. “Don’t walk down the steps, we will see ourselves out,” I said, as I hugged her goodbye. “Thanks for having us.”
“You’re very welcome, Elizabeth, come anytime you want, and bring that nice young man with you,” she whispered.
Isaiah thanked her again. We climbed into his car, waved goodbye, and headed home. He looked at me when we got to the stop sign. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. What did you think of Grandmother? She is a character, isn’t she?” I asked, quickly wanting to change the subject.
“She’s so nice, and what an awesome dinner that was! It really was the best fried chicken I have ever tasted.”
He looked genuinely happy that we had gone to see her. But I could tell that he was still worried about what had happened at Tucker Hill.
“Isaiah.” He turned towards me. “When we got to that house today, it was like I knew what was inside. I knew what each floor looked like, even small details about the rooms, and the fireplaces. It scared me, not because I was thinking what it looked like, but that I knew what it looked like! Then I panicked, but once we drove away I started to feel a bit better, and I think maybe I must have read about the inside during one of our trips to the library. Do you think I’m crazy?” I looked at him, anxious for his answer and to see his reaction.
“No, I don’t think you’re crazy, but I
agree with you. You probably read that stuff somewhere during all the research we have done. I just couldn’t figure out why you went so pale, and got so upset about it. You probably did read about the inside of the house somewhere. I wouldn’t worry about it.” I reached over, and took his hand in mine. “I swear, Elizabeth, I have never known anyone whose hands are as cold as yours! Are you sure you’re not cold? I can put these windows up.” His face was full of worry.
“No, Isaiah, I’m fine. I don’t feel cold at all.” I laid my head back against the seat, his hand making me feel warm and safe. Before long, we were pulling into the driveway. I turned towards him. “Will you call me tomorrow?”
“Of course I will.” His brows furrowed with worry as he looked at me. “Thanks again for taking me to meet your grandmother.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for going with me, and putting up with her.” I leaned over and gave him a kiss on his cheek. He smiled at me, but I could see the worry still in his eyes as he walked around the car to open my door. He held my hand, as he walked me to the porch steps. “Thanks again. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
He took me in his arms and held me for a minute before he leaned down and kissed me softly on my lips. “I’ll call you tomorrow Elizabeth. Good night.”
I stood and watched him return to his car. As soon as he drove off I went to my room and started going through my notes, wanting to see if I could find any information about the inside of the house. I looked for a few hours, and couldn’t find anything. I started getting that anxious feeling again, the same one that had come over me when I was looking at the house today. Again, images started to flash through my mind of what the inside of the house looked like. This time I could even see the curtains hanging in the windows, the covers on the bed, and the tiles in the bathrooms. I felt myself starting to panic, feeling like the images were more like old memories, not details I had read somewhere. I couldn’t catch my breath again.
Magic and Shadows: A Collection of YA Fantasy and Paranormal Romances Page 178