It turned out that my new family was wealthy.
Quite wealthy.
Then again, everyone on South Lincoln Avenue appeared to be. Wealthy and owning a taste for the old.
We wandered by their homes, mansions all.
“I suppose you’ve seen pictures of the place.” Laudia gestured around the historical district. “Does it compare?”
She paused in the middle of the road and turned a slow circle. From that vantage point, we were equidistant from four mansions.
It was a test.
“Of course, Dad’s shown us a bunch.” Izzy bit her lip and winced, offering me a quick shrug.
It would have helped matters had the homes been somewhat similar, but they weren’t. There were two with porches, two without. One brick, one stone, and two clapboard. Two white, one with a turret. And my favourite, one with towers rising on both ends.
“Of course, they were rather blurry images, Dad’s pictures being what they are,” I jumped in. “Most of the photos we’ve seen were taken on the inside.”
“Hmm.” Laudia was not smiling, and doubt filled her eyes. “We should get off the road.”
“Right.” I never was good at multiple-choice exams. “Well then, let’s get home.” I took a step toward the two-towered home, and Elias grabbed my arm.
“None of these. These don’t feel right. Is there a safer place to stay?”
Izzy rubbed her face. “Our home is fine, I’m sure. Dad wouldn’t purchase a home that’s not safe.”
Elias scratched his head. “I don’t even know your dad!”
Through it all, Laudia watched my face. I was her tell, my reaction the true or the false of it. Show panic, and our story would crumble beyond repair. I pasted on a broad smile.
“There is a time to work out our personal issues, but standing in front of our future neighbour, this is not it. Elias, you probably do have a better recollection of the place. Lead on.”
He nodded sharply and turned to Laudia. “Lead on.”
Laudia relaxed and laughed, and set off marching down the street. “It’s just another block.”
Izzy stepped nearer to me. “He’s going to blow this, you know.”
“Maybe, but he just saved us from intense embarrassment, and he’s the reason you’re not stuck in Wisconsin, so go with it. Nothing makes sense, and then it will, and when it does, nothing you knew before will make sense.” I threw my arm around her shoulder. “Welcome to the world of Elias.”
“I’ll be back in a moment.” Laudia returned from her home with a spare key, and soon we all stood inside. “I’m wondering if perhaps you should stay at our home, just until your parents arrive. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a trust issue . . .” She peeked at me. “Not completely. But until I can contact your father . . .”
Izzy eyed the key. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but we’ve been driving so long. We just need to rest, and I think we might best do that here.” She stretched out her hand.
Laudia exhaled. “Yes. I can understand that.” She dropped the key into Izzy’s hand, and again I thought our guard a genius.
Our new mansion had nine bedrooms, four baths, and numerous other sitting rooms and lounging areas. Slightly larger than the Phinn’s B&B, it nevertheless felt much smaller, with tinier spaces inside. Still, the porch was beautiful, the clapboard siding a brilliant restored white, and the eight columns majestic.
And it had a tower.
I dropped my bag on the foyer rug and breathed deeply.
It had been so long since I was home. Since I felt at home. And as I watched Izzy and Elias roam the bottom floor, I held no fanciful notions that I actually belonged here. Yet, in a strange way, I did. For this night, I belonged. I belonged here, with Elias. I looked up at the rising staircase.
Sure, there was reality. That was in England. London and the events that took place there, festering remembrances of Dad’s request, both felt like an anchor. Elias peeked behind an ornate mirror. He was not the only one to have slipped. I, too, had fallen through the cracks, as surely a resident of Salem as Elias was himself, and I didn’t want to return.
Maybe this was home.
Maybe Elias was happier in Salem as well.
I shook free.
“Thanks, Laudia.”
“I’ll leave the three of you to your explorations. There are . . . many things to discover in this home.” She gazed around the room and folded her arms, giving herself a squeeze. “Many things.” She turned to me. “You can see it’s been vacant for quite a few years. There are reasons for that, depending on what you believe about this town.”
A proper chill took me. “If there is something we should know, I would appreciate you telling us so we can sort it out.”
Laudia thought a moment. “What’s true, what’s rumour, it’s all hard to say after one hundred fifty years. Just perhaps stay above ground. And . . . if there’s something you wish to tell me, I’m right next door. I promise the result will be better for you than if you tell my husband.”
Izzy shifted, and I said nothing.
“You’re sticking with your tale? Very well.” Laudia licked her lips. “Peter will be so pleased to see you in person.”
Izzy yawned. “You know, we’re tired. I’ll just have the strength to move the truck and then I’ll crash. I have a feeling my brother and sister also need —”
“Food,” Elias said. “I really need food, and we accept your kind hospitality. You’ve shown yourself to be a kind and generous citizen of Salem, even in these hard times.”
“Hard times?”
“In these days following the death of the queen.”
Izzy slapped her forehead.
“The Queen of England?” Laudia glanced at me.
I stepped forward. “Well, you could say that. She was in England when she died.”
“You never mentioned that detail!” Elias glared. “Don’t you think I might be a bit interested in the location of her passing?”
“It slipped my mind. She was my mum, you know!”
“Wait.” Laudia held up a hand. “Who are the twins here?”
The next minutes saw our flimsy story crumble, followed by a long silence.
“We should, uh, all enjoy the pleasure of your company this evening,” I said. “What time should our family come over?”
“Six o’clock will do. The next brick house down.” Laudia looked each of us over and shook her head. “Welcome to Salem.” She slipped out the front door.
“Well, I think that went quite nicely, don’t you?” I stretched and rolled my eyes. “You know, she doesn’t believe a word we said. Izzy, will you go get the truck?”
She stomped toward the door, turned, and stomped back toward Elias. “One lie. That’s all I needed you to tell. One little lie. But no, you don’t do that for us. Instead, you develop a Winnie-the-Pooh-type fantasy world to live in, and you expect us to lie and live there, but if we make up our own Hundred Acre Woods, you won’t even visit.” Izzy shoved Elias in the chest. “You’re going to get us caught.” She spun around, pausing at the front door.
“I’m sorry about your mom. Whatever part of that is real, I’m sorry, Clarita.”
She too quickly disappeared out the front door.
“It’s just you and me. Just like when we left.” Elias climbed the stairs and out of sight.
Just like when we left.