by HR Mason
“It seems like the Metzger men have a knack for getting involved with the women in your family line, Aubrey,” George teased.
“It never seems to end well for them, does it?” Aubrey stole a glance at Hank. The strange history between their families was just one more reason why Aubrey should keep her distance from him.
“So the mystery of Sheriff Howard’s disappearance was never solved?” she asked.
“No, it wasn’t. We don’t know what happened to Grandpa Howard. That’s actually one of the reasons why I became a sheriff. No one’s family should experience that kind of uncertainty about a loved one,” Hank explained.
“Our Hank keeps the citizens of Rossdale safe, don’t you, little brother?” Rebecca teased with a grin.
“I do my best, if they’ll let me,” he replied with a sideways look at Aubrey.
Her face flushed. She knew he was talking about her. Thankfully no one else at the table seemed to pick up on it.
They finished dessert, and Aubrey carried her plate to the kitchen. She offered to help with the dishes, but Jake refused.
“You’re our guest. You don’t need to do dishes,” he insisted.
“I told you I would show you the painting of Henry. Come with me.” Rebecca grabbed Aubrey’s hand and led her down the hall into the sitting room. “There it is.”
Hanging above the large fireplace was a very old painting. It looked to have been commissioned around the same time as the one of Marie and Marshall that she’d found at Desolate Ridge. The painting featured a handsome young man in hunting gear. Aubrey couldn’t believe her eyes.
“That’s Henry Metzger? The man who was in love with Marie?”
“It is,” Rebecca replied.
“He looks just like Hank.” Aubrey exhaled sharply.
“Yes, he does.”
The man in the portrait was the spitting image of Hank, but that wasn’t the only thing that surprised Aubrey. The hunting clothes were the same ones worn by the man in her dream—the man she now understood was Henry Metzger. Hank’s relative was the person whose face was covered in sadness as he watched Marie run away into the woods.
21
“Is something wrong, Aubrey? You seem startled by the painting.” Rebecca gently placed her hand on Aubrey’s arm.
“I’m just surprised by how much he looks like your brother.”
“Yeah, the resemblance is bizarre, right?”
Aubrey wished she could tell Rebecca about the man in her dream, but she couldn’t. It didn’t make sense, and Aubrey herself was still trying to wrap her brain around it. To add to the strangeness, Aubrey looked exactly like Marie, the woman Henry loved.
“I don’t mean to scare you, but I think my brother likes you,” Rebecca revealed with a grin.
“Why would you think that? Did he say something to you?”
Aubrey tried to still her pounding heart. The last thing she needed was her new friend playing matchmaker with her brother.
“No, Hank wouldn’t tell me, even if he did. He’s a bit gun-shy with women ever since Hillary.”
“Who’s Hillary?”
Aubrey wasn’t interested in Hank. Not in the least. But in spite of herself, she was curious about his past. She wanted to know more.
“Hillary was Hank’s high school sweetheart. They were together for a long time. Everyone thought they would be married by now. They were engaged for two years,” Rebecca answered.
“What happened?”
“She took off a year ago, told Hank she had to get out of Rossdale. She wasn’t cut out for small-town life, I suppose. She thought she was better than us country bumpkins. She went to Los Angeles to try her hand at acting. It totally broke Hank’s heart.”
Aubrey winced. “Ouch. Poor Hank.”
“Yeah, he was pretty torn up about it. He’s just now starting to get back to normal. That’s how I know he likes you. He hasn’t glanced twice at another woman in years, but he sure was checking you out at dinner.”
“I hope you’re wrong, Rebecca.”
“You don’t think Hank’s cute? I mean, he’s my brother and all, but he’s pretty easy on the eyes. He’s also the kindest man I’ve ever known.”
Aubrey noted the defensiveness in Rebecca’s voice, and she realized her friend completely misunderstood. Hank wasn’t lacking in anything. It was the other way around. Aubrey was the one who had nothing to offer. Any ideas about the two of them becoming a couple had to be squashed immediately.
“Hank is great. Really. I’m the problem,” Aubrey explained.
“What do you mean? Are you already involved with someone?”
“Oh, goodness, no. Nothing like that.”
“Then what is it?”
“Rebecca, I don’t do relationships of any kind. Ever. I’ve had exactly two boyfriends in my life. I’m not sure you’d even call them that,” Aubrey admitted.
“And what happened with them?”
“Not much. I ended both of them before they could evolve into relationships. My therapists have all said that fear of commitment is common in people who were abandoned as small children. I figured out pretty early on that the only person I could depend on was me. It’s just easier that way.”
“Do you mind talking about it?” Rebecca asked hesitantly.
“About my life?”
“I’m sorry, of course you mind talking about it. I’m sure it’s incredibly painful. That was a stupid question.”
“It wasn’t stupid.”
“Yes it was. It was dumb and invasive.”
“Look, I don’t usually talk about it, but… what do you want to know?” Aubrey offered.
“You said you were only three when your mother left you. Did you ever find out why she did it?”
“I always imagined that Anna was a horrible, selfish girl, but I don’t think that anymore.”
“Why is that?”
“Well, I think she was probably suffering from depression or something. She killed herself, and people who knew her said she was always unhappy. I’m learning that mental illness seems to run rampant in my family,” Aubrey explained.
“Why do you think that?”
“I’m assuming my mother suffered from depression or some sort of anxiety, and I was told my grandfather died in a mental institution. My grandmother was diagnosed with schizophrenia, although apparently she disagreed with the label. I’m beginning to wonder how much deeper it goes,” Aubrey answered.
“What about you?”
“You mean am I crazy too?” Aubrey smirked.
“Well, not exactly in those words. It just seems to me that someone with your background couldn’t have escaped without some wounds.”
“You’re right. I guess I kind of teeter somewhere between illusion and reality. I live in my head a lot. The things I imagine are always better than real life. I’ve never asked for a diagnosis because I’ve always wanted to avoid labels, but I’ll be the first to admit I have issues.”
“Issues?”
“Yeah, I’ve struggled with anxiety, depression, a bit of paranoia. I don’t know if any of it is hereditary, or if it was all brought on by my circumstances. You know, the old ‘nature versus nurture’ argument. I spent most of my childhood in therapists’ offices. One of my foster parents even wanted to have an exorcism performed.”
Aubrey chuckled and rolled her eyes. The look on Rebecca’s face made it clear that her friend didn’t find anything funny about the concept.
“An exorcism? Aubrey, you must be joking.”
“Unfortunately, no. Some people are frightened when a kid insists bad things are going to happen before they do. It’s even scarier when those things come to pass. I learned to just keep my mouth shut.”
Rebecca’s eyes widened. “You mean you have premonitions?”
“Something like that. I usually know when something bad is coming. I always have some sort of physical reaction.”
“Physical reaction?”
“I get goose bumps, the hair
on the back of my neck prickles, and my eye twitches.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I also see things sometimes… especially since coming to Desolate Ridge.”
“What kind of things?”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
Aubrey rolled her eyes. She was certain Rebecca wasn’t far from reaching the conclusion that Aubrey was too crazy to be her friend.
“Try me. You might be surprised at what I’m willing to believe, Aubrey.”
“Well, I’ve had strange encounters in different rooms of the house. They’re intense, surreal moments. They’re honestly terrifying. It’s like I’m experiencing horrible things that have happened to other people. The feelings are so strong. It’s almost as if during the episodes, I actually become another person. I experience these terrible moments inside their skin.”
Aubrey laughed derisively. “Now’s the time when you tell me I’m off my rocker.”
“I think there are some things that can’t be explained by logic, Aubrey.”
“You sound like your brother now. Hank actually told me he thinks Desolate Ridge is haunted.”
“Anyone who grew up in Rossdale believes Desolate Ridge is haunted,” Rebecca explained.
As if they had conjured him out of thin air with their words, Hank appeared, sticking his head into the room.
“Hey, ladies, I’m going to go home now.”
“Bye, little brother.” Rebecca blew a kiss in his direction. “Thanks for coming.”
“You know I never pass up a chance to eat Jake’s pot roast. It was good to see you again, Aubrey.”
“You too, Hank.”
She glanced in his direction, and their eyes met. The strange, familiar sense of safety enveloped her. She couldn’t explain it, and she tried to ignore it, but it was undeniably real.
She looked back to her friend. “I’m going to head home too, Rebecca. Thanks again for the meal and the information.”
“You’re welcome anytime, Aubrey. I mean that. Hey, Hank, will you do me a favor?” Rebecca asked as she turned toward her brother.
“Anything for you, sis.” Hank grinned.
“Follow Aubrey home. It’s raining, and I don’t like her being on the road alone.”
“He doesn’t need to—”Aubrey began.
“Humor me. Please. I’m a worrier,” Rebecca insisted.
“I honestly don’t mind, Aubrey. I’m going your way anyhow,” Hank interjected.
Unsure of what else to do, and not wanting to make unnecessary waves, Aubrey agreed to the arrangement.
“Is this what it’s like to have friends? I suppose it might grow on me eventually,” she relented.
“Yes, this is what it means to have friends. I think you’ll like it.”
“I’ll have to take your word for it,” Aubrey replied.
Rebecca wrapped her arms around Aubrey and hugged her tightly.
“Aubrey, I think you’re wonderful to have survived being abandoned and growing up alone. You are my new hero.”
“I’m no one’s hero, Rebecca.”
Aubrey awkwardly returned Rebecca’s hug and then took a decisive step away from her friend.
“Then we’ll agree to disagree, because I think you’re pretty amazing.”
Rebecca walked her to the front door. Aubrey said goodbye to the Metzgers, thanking them for the information about her family. After that, she thanked Jake for dinner, and then she and Hank walked toward her car.
Aubrey wanted to tell the sheriff to leave her alone. She wanted to insist she didn’t need an escort. She wanted to scream at him to stop confusing her with emotions she didn’t understand. But Aubrey didn’t say a word, because deep down, that insecure girl inside of her craved the feeling of shelter he provided. It was dangerous ground, and she was dancing on a minefield.
“I hope the information my family gave you will help,” Hank said as he opened her car door.
“It will. I’m more determined than ever. Something isn’t right. My mother mentioned a family curse in her suicide note. At first, I laughed it off, but I’m beginning to think there might be something to it,” Aubrey answered.
“I told you before that I’ll help you. The offer still stands.”
“I’m not used to having help. I do things on my own, Hank.” Aubrey slid into the driver seat.
“Maybe it’s time to try a different approach.”
“Maybe.”
Aubrey shrugged as tears glistened in her eyes. She was so confused. It would be comforting to have someone on her side. She’d never craved companionship before, but something about Hank made her want it so badly, it nearly broke her heart.
Hank didn’t push Aubrey farther. He didn’t take advantage of her vulnerability and confusion. Instead, he closed her car door, waited for her to pull out of the driveway, and then followed closely behind her in his patrol car.
When Aubrey’s BMW reached the driveway of Desolate Ridge, Hank watched her vehicle disappear into the forested twists and turns. He hesitated for a brief moment, wanting to follow her, to help her. But he didn’t. In time, he hoped she would trust him.
22
“I’ve finished polishing the floors in the library, Aubrey,” Mrs. Bonaventure said as she came into the kitchen.
“Thank you. I think the floor in the sitting room will need polishing as well. I want the house ready to be shown within the next few weeks. I have an appointment today with Mr. Lemon, so I should have concrete details after that.”
Aubrey took a sip of her coffee and tried to ignore the look of disapproval on the housekeeper’s face.
“You’re really going to sell Desolate Ridge?” Mrs. Bonaventure frowned, not hiding her displeasure.
“I have no reason not to sell it, Mrs. Bonaventure.”
“Well, perhaps you’ll find one.”
“Is it so wrong that I don’t want it? I understand the house has been in the Ross family for two hundred years, but that doesn’t mean anything to me. I didn’t even know about it until a few weeks ago, and I can’t imagine living here for the rest of my life.”
“There are things you need to understand about this house and your family, Aubrey.” Mrs. Bonaventure fiddled with her apron and chewed her lip nervously.
“Like what? How am I supposed to understand anything when no one will tell me?” Aubrey placed her hands on her hips and glared at the older woman.
Mrs. Bonaventure simply shook her head. Aubrey knew the woman wanted to say more, but of course, she didn’t. Just as the house held on to its secrets, so did Mrs. Bonaventure.
“Aubrey, will you come take a look at the hedge to see if you like the changes I’ve made?” Anson popped his head into the kitchen.
“Lead the way,” Aubrey replied, happy to be free of Mrs. Bonaventure’s lecture.
She followed Anson around the house and through the backyard. She had only spoken to him a few times, but she’d experienced the same strange, unexplainable feeling on each and every occasion. When she looked at him, she felt connected, as if they were tethered by an invisible rope. Being around Anson made her both sad and uncomfortable.
“I thought it would look better if I trimmed the top. Do you like it?” Anson motioned toward the tall hedge, which he’d expertly sculpted to perfection.
“It looks great. You’re very good at what you do. Thank you, Anson,” Aubrey said with a grin.
“Your smile lights up your face.”
“What did you say?”
“I used to tell your mother the same thing.” Anson’s voice was so quiet, Aubrey almost couldn’t hear it.
“Everyone says my mother was always sad. Did you know her well?”
“Anna wasn’t always sad. There was another side to her. It didn’t come out often, but I saw it.”
“Were the two of you friends? I’ve heard she didn’t have many.”
“That’s because your grandparents tried to control every second of her life. But they couldn’t. Stuart a
nd Elizabeth couldn’t control Anna, and it angered them when she made decisions on her own. ”
The fire in his voice surprised her. It was as if the words had been percolating inside of him for years, waiting for the right moment to bubble free.
“Do you mean the decision my mother made to run away?”
“I mean the reason she was forced to run away in the first place. They left her no choice, you know.”
“No choice about what, Anson?”
He stared right into Aubrey’s eyes. “About you. She left to protect you.”
“Protect me from what?”
“They were going to take you away from Anna. They were going to force her to give you up. They locked the two of you inside her room. The servants were told to give you food and water, but nothing more.”
“What?” Aubrey couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It couldn’t be true.
“I heard Anna banging on the door, screaming to come out. It was awful. I tried to get help. I told my mother she had to do something. She said she would talk to my father—” Anson’s voice cracked with emotion.
“What about your father?”
“I can’t….”
Aubrey didn’t want to push him to the point that he stopped talking, so she didn’t force him to continue. She gave him a moment to compose himself as she tried to process the awful details Anson had thrown at her. In the letter, Anna had called Desolate Ridge a madhouse. Aubrey assumed it was an exaggeration. Maybe it wasn’t.
“Why would my grandparents do that to their own daughter and grandchild?”
“Because they were insane. Haven’t you figured that out by now?”
“Why should I believe you? If things were really as bad as you say, someone would have stopped Stuart and Elizabeth, right? They wouldn’t allow them to get away with imprisoning me and my mother.”
Anson scoffed. “You have no idea who the Rosses were, Aubrey. You can’t imagine the kind of power they wielded. People were terrified of them, especially their employees.”