by CeeCee James
“What are you talking about?”
“Elise, you’ve cringed at pillow fights. What do you mean you want to take a self-defense class? What’s going on out there? Are you in danger? What’s my aunt done to you?”
“Nothing really. Brad mentioned it a few days back and the more I thought about it, the more I thought it might be a good idea.” Elise eyed the doll on the dresser and quickly looked away.
“Of course I’ll do it with you. When is it?”
Elise was flabbergasted. She walked over to the edge of the bed and sat. “Really? I thought it would be so much harder to talk you into it. It’s tomorrow night.”
“Aww, you should know me by now. I’m always up for giving a man a good beating.” Lavina laughed. “And that gives me just enough time to get a new outfit. What is the proper attire for self-defense? I’m going to need to call my Nordstrom’s consultant.”
Elise could almost imagine Lavina checking her nails as she spoke. “Lavina, never change.”
“I never will, darlin’. Just keep getting better and better.”
Elise hung up, feeling lighter than she had in a long time. She replaced the phone in her back pocket. The diary caught her attention again, left open and forgotten on the quilt. She picked it up and scooted back against the headboard to read.
Dear Diary
I saw her today. She didn’t know that I saw her, but I did. She slipped the baby from the dollhouse. Later, I saw her outside. She was weeping and wrapping the doll in a corner of a silk handkerchief. She kissed its face and buried it under the old cherry tree that Myrtle likes to climb in the summer. It was then that I knew the rumors were true. Ms. Montgomery had lost the baby. I didn’t know what to do? Should I intrude on such a private moment?
Poor Anna.
Yours,
Constance
Frowning, Elise turned to the next entry
Dear Diary
She did it again today, took another person from the doll house. This one was her Father. Anna tiptoed past the school room as if I wouldn’t see her. I couldn’t help but try to follow and see where she’d take the doll. She somehow slipped away.
Later, Myrtle was awful upset at finding the Father missing. She carried on over dinner, while her mother scolded her for unbecoming actions of a young lady. I watched silently, hardly knowing what to do. Anna never mentioned a word, just sat there silently, eating her dinner. I dare say there was a look of triumph in that girl’s eyes. Why would she do that? Do I tattle on Anna? Her mother dotes on her, I’d be surely dismissed from my position. I hardly know what to do.
Yours,
Constance
The lunch bell rang, pulling Elise from Constance’s world. You and me both, G. G. Grandma. I don’t know what to do either. She found a thread and laid it between the pages, then shut the book. What was going on with Anna back then? Why take the house’s people? Her gaze shot up to the doll on the dresser. It seemed too coincidental. Was someone sending her a message instead of a gift? What would happen if suddenly her doll went missing, like the picture and globe in the dollhouse? Would she disappear too? Was someone actually after her?
But why would they be?
The thought of Brad pulling up in the police car flashed through her mind. He’d walked into the house fully decked out in police gear. Of course. Maybe someone didn’t like it that Brad had come over. Maybe it was a warning not to snoop.
She sighed and returned the diary to the dresser. Or maybe it really is some weird kind of gift. Someone trying to say that I’m included in the family now. I’m Important. She slid the drawer shut. Biting her cheek, she studied the doll again before covering it with a t-shirt. She really didn’t want to look at, or think about it, again. Still, she would ask at lunch and see what Aunt Myrtle had to say.
Elise shut the bedroom door. This time though, she grabbed a stray hair from her shirt and placed it over the knob. She wanted to know the next time someone entered her room.
She looked across the hall to Anna’s room and unwound another hair. Might as well keep an eye on this one, too.
16
Elise ran down the stairs, shaking her head at the yellow caution tape, the missing portrait, and the missing globe on the statue with its brown stain. It’s like a scene from Clue. Who know’s what else is missing?
She hurried into the dining room and stopped short. Aunt Myrtle looked up from her customary spot at the head of the table, but seated next to her was a man who looked to be in his forties. Dressed in a blue business suit and black striped tie, he leaned back in his chair to observe her. Catching her glance, he smiled.
“He came early,” Aunt Myrtle quipped. “Elise, this is Stephen. Son, this is Elise, that companion your cousin hired for me.”
Stephen stood up and stretched out a hand. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.” Elise tried to ignore how sweaty and disheveled she felt as she shook his hand. His dark hair was swooped to the side, perfectly gelled, and expensive cologne swelled in the air. Even his pocket handkerchief was folded into a crisp point.
“Hi. How are you?” Elise asked. She smoothed the back of her head that was in disarray from her time reading the diary against the pillow, and tried to bestow an air of confidence. She’d put his age at just a few years older than her. Which meant he must have been a late surprise to Aunt Myrtle and Caroline, even more surprising.
“I’m fine. Excellent actually.” His clipped words held a faint English accent. He smiled again and sat back down. Elise rounded to the other side of Aunt Myrtle and sat across from him.
“So, you are cousin Lavina’s friend?” He reached for his fork and knife and cut off a piece of roast. Elise watched, fascinated as he lifted the meat up to his mouth with the fork upside down. He’d apparently adopted more than just the accent from his stay in England. “Old school chums? How quaint.”
Snooty too. And, she was going to have to be nice to him. Lovely. “Err, yes.” She took a sip of water to hide her expression.
Matilda came by with a salad plate for her. “Shall I skip the soup course, mum, and bring out your main course next?”
“Thank you. That’d be wonderful,” Elise murmured and shook out the linen napkin across her lap. She picked up the heavy fork and cut a quick glance to Aunt Myrtle. Darn. The older woman was using a spoon in her soup.
Screw it. Let him think I’m uncouth if he wants. She started on her salad using the fork the way she normally did.
Stephen seemed amused by it. “It’s so nice of her to hire family friends. Mother has always had a kind heart.”
“What’s that you say?” The older woman glowered as she looked up, her hand shaking that held the spoon. “You’re talking about me like I’m not even here.”
“Now, Mother, I was just saying how nice—”
“How nice I am, how nice,” Aunt Myrtle interrupted. “You’ll see how nice I am at the next board meeting.”
Stephen paled at her words and took a sip of his wine. He set the goblet down. “Mother, you know how traveling taxes you. Tell me your ideas and I’ll share them.”
“Young man, I think the company’s getting too big for its britches in dealing with offshore investments. I’m putting it to the vote to reel things back in. This is never what your Grandfather envisioned when he started the company. Papa would be rolling over in his grave.”
Stephen snatched the glass back up and quickly drained it in a few swallows. “Mother, it’s part of the future. We have to change and adapt. The small country business Grandpa designed—”
“To lend a helping hand to those in need.”Aunt Myrtle interrupted sharply.
“Nowadays, we need to make money if we’re going to be there to help others.”
“The interest rate you’re charging is disgraceful.”
“If people want unsecured loans, they’ll pay for it.”
Aunt Myrtle’s face flushed. She began to cough. Grabbing the napkin from her lap, she waved it over her face as if to get more air. Her
coughing increased. Elise sprang from her chair and rushed to her side, Stephen following just a tad slower.
“Aunt Myrtle? Are you okay?”
She nodded, still coughing.
“Here, drink this.” Stephen held out a cup of water. Aunt Myrtle’s hand shook too hard to hold the glass, so he steadied it as she took a few sips.
“Better?” he asked.
She weakly nodded, looking deflated of all her vim and vigor that had just been on display a minute before.
“I’ve told you not to upset yourself. Maybe you need to go lie down?”
The old woman’s shoulders rounded. She didn’t look up from her soup. “Here, let me help you,” her son coaxingly helped her out of the chair. He offered her his arm and handed her the cane. Together, they slowly left the dining hall.
Elise watched, feeling slightly shocked. Poor Aunt Myrtle is really sick. Where is her daughter? I can’t imagine having that kind of relationship with my mom. I love her so much, I’d want to be there if she was ill.
Deciding to forgo her main dish, Elise headed to the kitchen hoping to make a sandwich. Even a peanut butter and jelly would be good right about now. Cookie was not happy to have the meal she’d prepared go uneaten but quickly cut two thick slices of homemade bread for Elise.
“Raspberry?” Cookie asked.
“That would be lovely.”
“I preserved this jam myself,” Cookie volunteered. She put the sandwich on a plate and poured Elise a glass of lemonade. “And this is freshly squeezed. Just like I used to do with my young ‘uns,” she said, passing it over.
“Thank you so much. I’m sorry again about lunch.”
Cookie shrugged. “It happens. More and more of late, every time Stephen visits. She misses him, but every visit seems to take a toll on her health.”
Elise took a bite and nodded. “Mmm, so good.”
Cookie blushed with a happy smile. “Thank you, mum.”
“So, would you say that she’s getting sicker? Does her daughter come to visit?”
“No, it’s only during his visits that she seems to fall ill.” Licking her lip, Cookie glanced to the entrance before whispering, “And as for Caroline, not too often. Not since her father died.”
Elise nodded. Picking up the plate, she thanked the cook again and headed back to her room. At least I can finish the diary.
Taking a drink of lemonade—so amazing—she looked up just in time to see Stephen walked toward the study whispering, “I’ve got her handled. Just give me more time.”
Elise hid behind the cornice and pressed her spine against the wall.
“No! I don’t want you to do that. Didn’t you hear me? I told you I—” He closed the door, cutting off his last words.
At the sound of the door closing, Elise hurried for the stairs. She checked for the hair on her doorknob, but it hadn’t been disturbed. Once inside, she set the plate and cup on the dresser and rubbed her forehead. That was weird. There was no denying how weird that was.
Sighing, she picked up the diary and took it to the window along with the sandwich and stood in the light to read.
Dear Diary
Anna has done it again. Like a squirrel, she has gathered every person from the dollhouse. She seems to do it in her sleep, or maybe she is pretending she’s sleep walking. I can’t tell. Myrtle got into trouble for it today at lunch, and I couldn’t allow it to go on any further. I sent Myrtle outside on assignment to gather a list of signs of Autumn from the garden and then drew Anna aside.
She seemed surprised when I confronted her, and vigorously shook her head adamantly. She even cried. Diary, I hardly knew what to do. She seemed so sincere. Perhaps she really was walking in her sleep. I took her to the cubby and asked her to draw the lid. She stared at it as if she’d never seen it before. When I further requested that she open it, she shook her head in denial, even going so far as to withdraw away from me. Exasperated, I pulled the lid aside.
Well, you can hardly imagine my shock at what I saw. Not just little people, but other things! Jewelry. Her father’s good fountain pen. Dollhouse accessories. Anna shrieked and ran out of the house.
I fear for my job.
Yours,
Constance
Elise shut the diary. Has this house always been a maze of deceit? What else was she going to find?
17
The following evening, Elise pulled into Lavina’s driveway. She turned down the volume on the radio and glanced at the porch, frowning at the dark windows. What the heck, Lavina? Your car is here. Where are you? Normally, Lavina’s house was lit up enough to threaten a town brown-out.
Elise shifted the car into park and glanced at her watch. Just fifteen minutes until class started. Swallowing hard, she tried to ignore the butterflies freaking out in her stomach. You better be here, Lavina, and not off with Mr. G. somewhere.
The car door sounded overly loud when she shut it as she went to knock on the door. Why the heck am I freaking out about this? It’s just a defense class. She started to pound on the door.
Her fist hadn’t hit the door twice before it swung open, showing a very cheerful Lavina. Clad head to toe in ridiculous yoga gear—a sport’s bra halter and painted on pants—with her red curls pulled away from her face, she said, “You about took my front door off. What are you all in a stir for?” Lavina pushed her out of the way and locked the door.
“I was sure you were asleep.” Elise grumbled. “Or out with Mr. G.”
“Asleep? Why on earth would I be asleep?” Lavina walked briskly ahead, her new white tennis shoes squeaking from not having a chance to be broken in. “Now no more shimmy-shammying. Get in. We’re going to be late.”
Elise blinked hard at the quick turn of events, almost disappointed that Lavina was ready. It had been in the back of her mind to not go if her friend couldn’t make it. Elise blew out a breath and hurried to the driver’s side.
Lavina dropped into the passenger seat, bringing a heavy scent of lavender and rose with her. “All right. Let’s go.” She brushed her red hair off her shoulder.
“Seatbelt,” Elise directed, hand hovering with the key over the ignition.
Lavina rolled her eyes and snapped the seatbelt into place. She stretched out her legs looking to get comfortable and adjusted the belt across her chest. “Seatbelt doesn’t work for a woman as well-endowed as I am, you know.”
Elise snorted. “Lavina, you’ve been using that excuse since you were ten years old. Just wear it and shut up about it.”
“Whatever you say. Now can we go?” She looked at her nails. “Just to warn you, I may be more of a watcher than a participator. I just had a manicure, you know.”
“Where’s all your big talk about beating men?”
Lavina smiled slyly, her eyeliner perfectly winged. “Depends on how good-looking the man is.”
Elise turned up the hill that led into town. The Pinto shuddered for a moment before gearing down.
Lavina frowned. “Is this thing okay?”
“It’s fine. Not every car is like your Camaro.”
“Watch out for that pop can,” Lavina shrieked in fake alarm, pointing straight ahead.
“Whatever.” Out of spite, Elise purposely aimed for the aluminum can and ran it over.
“My gosh, woman. So daring. You must have a death wish.” Lavina’s eyes were huge, before she leaned back with a sarcastic grin.
“Very funny, Lavina. But if you want to talk death wishes, what the heck did you get me into out there at Montgomery Manor?”
“I did warn you that she was my crazy aunt.”
“I don’t recall too much of a warning, more like begging that she had to have a companion. And that you didn’t want to do it.”
Lavina’s green eyes narrowed. “I’m sure I told you she was crazy.”
Elise shrugged. “Well, crazy or not, something really strange is going on up there.” With the throttle to the floor, she mentally coaxed her car. Come on. You can do it! Don’t embarrass m
e and bog out now.
“More than dead bodies?” Lavina asked.
“Uh,” Elise darted a look toward her friend. Lavina rubbed her temple as though a headache were starting. “Yes.”
“Like what?”
“How often did you visit your Aunt Myrtle?”
“Christmas and Easter. Aunt Myrtle didn’t hold to any Sunday dinner gatherings.”
“Did you ever hang out with your cousins?”
“Oh, do you mean Stephen? That man acted like he was the king gator in a goldfish pond. Always bragging. I could hardly stand to be around him. Always teased me for living in a rattrap of a house.”
“Well, the Manor might have some rat problems now. Aunt Myrtle still thinks there is a ghost.”
Lavina stared at her askance. “Even after the police told her it was the derelict?”
“Yeah, she says she still hears it. And it’s not just her,” Elise continued hurriedly. “Although they don’t come straight out and say it, so does the help. I’m kind of freaked out.”
“Elise, you can’t believe the ramblings of an old woman and her compliant staff. Honestly….”
“I’m telling you, I’ve heard weird stuff at night myself, and seen things disappear.”
“Elise, are you serious? Do you hear how you sound?”
Elise sighed. “I know, I know. It sounds crazy.”
Lavina stared at her a second longer. “You okay? Maybe this job was too much after the whole cruise ship debacle.”
Elise braked at the stop light. “Honestly, Lavina. Do I look loony to you? Anyway, speaking of cruises, when is your next one? Surely Mr. G is about to whisk you away again.”
“Oh, he’s got some plans,” Lavina laughed. “But I don’t want to make you jealous. Poor thing.”
“Poor thing? You still on me for not having a man?”
Lavina shrugged.
“Well, you’ll be happy to know that Brad and I are dating.”
Her friend gasped. “What? And you didn’t tell me?”