LeAnn’s cell phone started to ring just as she started up the stairs to the attic.
“Hello?”
“LeAnn, it’s Matt. What are you doing right now?”
“Well, I’m fine, Matt. How are you?” she said sarcastically.
“Oh, yeah, sorry. Rude, huh?” Matt said, embarrassed.
“It’s okay. Actually I was on my way up to the attic to clean things off for when you come over. You’re still going to help me right, or did something come up?” she said, hoping he hadn’t changed his mind.
“No, I’m still coming. I just was going to ask you to breakfast. I spoke with my mom and dad, and I have some news for you. I’ll tell you what, I’ll have the kitchen pack us a brunch bag, and then come right over.” He sounded excited. “Is that okay with you?”
“Yeah, that’s great, but what did your folks say? You’re really not going to keep me hanging, are you?” she asked, knowing deep down he was.
“You guessed it. See you soon.” He hung up, laughing.
“Oh, he didn’t just hang up on me!” she said with a smirk.
What could his parents have told him that had him so excited to the point he didn’t even ask if she was okay and if anything happened last night? “Great, this is going to drive me nuts until he gets here.” She said putting her phone in her back pocket.
She continued her climb up the stairs to the attic. As before, the horrible musty smell welcomed her. She went straight to one of the large windows and was happy to see that it opened. She immediately went and opened the other one so that she could air out the attic. There was a great cross breeze and she looked out over the lake and distant shore.
“This is amazing,” she said. “The views from these windows are incredible on both sides.” On one side was the forest and on the other the water. She could almost imagine making the windows larger and turning the attic into an entertainment room. Stereo, big TV, and a bar.
Adam and Matt would like that, she thought. Did she just include Matt in her future? A warm smile came crossed her face as she thought of his kiss.
Turning her attention to the two large trunks, she hurriedly wiped both of them off with a damp rag. She tried to lift one side of the trunk containing the clothes, but could barely get it off the floor.
Disappointed, she said aloud, “Oh, no, these are going to be too heavy for me and Matt to do together! Damn! I really wanted to get them downstairs today and start going through everything.” She walked over to the other trunk and the same thing happened.
Just then she heard a boat coming. She ran over to look out the window and saw Matt in a fishing boat. A large smile crossed her face.
Hmmm, no cruiser to impress the girl? Smiling, she ran down the stairs and out the front door. Walking quickly to the boathouse pier, she smiled and kidded, “Hi. What took you so long?” she asked, kidding. She knew it had only been about twenty minutes since she had talked to him. She grabbed the rope he threw to her.
“Ha-ha. Here take this.” He handed her a bag, jumped out of the boat, and gave her a hug. Then he reached in the boat and grabbed a cooler. “Hungry?”
“Very,” she said truthfully.
They walked up the path to the house. In the kitchen, LeAnn opened the bag and found cinnamon rolls and thermos of coffee. From the cooler, Matt pulled out covered dishes with omelets, fruit; then he took out two bottles, and the otheand the otheand the othe champagne and the othe orange juice.
“Do you have champagne glasses for the mimosas?” he asked her with a grin.
“Ah, yeah,” she said, a little overwhelmed. She pushed the swinging door that divided the kitchen from the dining room, went to the built-in hutch, and took out two crystal champagne flutes that had been her mother’s. When LeAnn returned to the kitchen, Matt had already popped the cork. He poured champagne and orange juice in the flutes and then dropped a strawberry in each glass.
Who is this man? She thought to herself in awe.
He handed her the two flutes and asked, “Where would you like to eat?”
“Oh,” she said, stumbling over her words. “Um, the dining room? Can’t put crystal on a kitchen table, right?”
They carried the food through the swinging door to the dining room. Matt put the dishes with the fruit and omelets down next to each other on the table. He went back to the kitchen and for the cinnamon rolls and butter.
“Okay, I think that’s it. Oh, did you want coffee?”
“No, not yet,” she said.
Matt pulled out a chair for LeAnn, sat next to her and picked up his glass. “I’d like to make a toast. To the secrets of Tabor Island, and to the island’s new owner.” He smiled at her.
“Thank you. To Tabor Island.” They clinked glasses and took a sip.
“I must say, Mr. Weston, this is most impressive. You are either trying to win me over, or you have some news about my new home and island.”
“Both,” he said as he took a bite of his spinach and bacon omelet. “You gotta eat first.”
She looked at him, dumbfounded. “You’re serious?”
“Yup. I didn’t have this food made to go to waste.” He took another bite.
She picked up her fork, stared at him, and took a bite. She hated to admit it; it was delicious. They ate silently for a few seconds, and then she couldn’t stand it longer. “Matt, please, I’m going nuts here. What did your folks say? What have you found out?” she begged.
“Relax, LeAnn. I’m just toying with you. First, did anything happen last night?”
She looked down at her plate, “Yes.”
“The light and the music?” he asked her, taking her hand.
“Yes. I even opened the window and called out to see if it maybe was you. I was even hoping it might have been some kids like you mentioned. Nothing. No one responded. Matt, I was scared. I know it might have been stupid to do that, but if it had been someone with a flashlight, maybe he would have shown it in my face. At least then I would have known there was someone there.”
“Instead of a ghost?” he softly asked.
She hesitated, “I guess so,” she said, looking away from him.
“Okay, listen. I talked to my folks early this morning. I asked about the murder. They said as far as they knew, it was only rumors, nothing more. My parents were born twelve years after the murder, so they really don’t know much. It’s like the papers said, no one was ever arrested, and there were no witnesses to the actual shooting. So, it’s still unsolved.”
Dad basically confirmed what I told you, that young boys used the haunted island story as a ploy to get girls out here. Let’s face it, LeAnn, over the years stories get twisted and changed. So everyone kind of forgets what the real story is.”
Matt noticed the disappointment in her expression. He gave her a small smile and continued, “But they did say that both Amelia Tabor and Phoebe Armstrong are still alive.”
LeAnn dropped her fork just as she was about to take another bite. “What did you say?”
“That’s right. They are both still among the living. So, I guess they’re not your ghost, are they?” he joked with a little laugh.
“I don’t find you very funny right now,” she said, giving him a dirty look. “This is happening to me. I am living this, not you or anyone else! I’m seeing a light and I’m hearing music that I can’t explain. Do not make jokes, please.” she was angry. Why couldn’t he and Adam understand? Is it a male thing? She was done with both of them. She got up to leave.
“Wait a minute!” He said grabbing her hand. He was a little surprised at her reaction. I thought you’d be happy. I’m just trying to get you to relax so that it doesn’t take over your sanity.”
“But, Matt, that’s what I’m afraid of, losing my mind. It doesn’t help that you and Adam don’t take me seriously. Something is going on out here. I’m not making it up!”
“Okay, okay. Sit down. Let’s eat our food and discuss this. I believe you that something is going on here. I’m trying to help you figure out what that something is. So, you did see and hear the same thing last night, right?”
“Yes.” She sat down and took a sip of her mimosa. She pushed her plate away. The last thing she wanted right now was to eat.
“Okay. Was it at the same time as the other two times?”
Bewildered she looked at him. “I–I don’t know. I never thought about it. Wait.” She paused, trying to remember if she had looked at the clock. Then she said, “I think the first night it was around two o’clock, but I had been asleep when the music woke me up, so I’m not sure when it actually started. The other two times I seem to remember it being around midnight or a little after. Why? Is that important?”
“I don’t know,” he answered and looked thoughtful. “This ghost thing is new to me, but if it’s the same time every night, and it is a ghost, then maybe that’s the time he was murdered. Maybe this ghost is trying to communicate.”
“Or,” she interrupted, “it’s looking for something or someone.”
They just looked at each other, not speaking for a moment.
LeAnn broke the silence. “Do your parents know where Ms. Tabor and Mrs. Armstrong were?”
“They weren’t quite sure, but they thought Amelia Tabor was still in Cable.”
“Matt, we need, well–I need, to go through those trunks and see if there is anything that can give me a clue to what’s happening here.”
“Are you thinking about finding and speaking to them?” he asked curiously.
“I don’t know. Eventually, but first I just want to explore and see what I can find here. Then, well, maybe. How do you barge in on someone after….” she paused, doing the math in her head. “Oh, Matt, sixty plus years! I can’t, how cruel!”
‘Okay, I’m with you. You don’t need to be the cause of anyone’s ‘death by shock’.”
“Gee, thanks.” She looked at him with disdain.
“Let’s go upstairs and see what you’ve found, okay?” he said, ignoring the look on her face. “Boy, I’m not winning any brownie points here,” getting up from his chair.
She got up from the table and cleared the dishes. Matt followed her into the kitchen and put the remaining champagne and orange juice in the refrigerator along with the fruit.
“Ready?” she asked a few minutes later. “I need to warn you. I don’t think we’ll be able to bring the trunks down. They’re pretty heavy.”
“Let’s go check it out,” Matt said, as they walked into the hallway. He followed her to the attic stairs.
LeAnn had left the attic door open and could feel the breeze coming down through the opening. She was glad she had left the windows open. The air, when she reached the top of the stairs, was fresher.
As they stood in the attic, Matt was amazed at how big it was. Most attics are just a small portion of a house with low ceilings.
“Wow! I can’t believe how big this is!”
LeAnn laughed. “Wouldn’t this be a great entertainment room? Look at the views! I can picture a bar, big TV, couches, the works.”
“It’s incredible LeAnn. You’d probably have to put in heating and air conditioning, but I know some people who could do it for you.”
“What about expanding the windows?”
“Oh, yeah, that too,” he said walking around the room.
“Well, here’s the first trunk.” LeAnn knelt in front of it.
Matt came over to where she was kneeling. He lifted the handle on one side. He was able to lift it but knew there was no way she was going to be able to help him.
He sighed and looked at her, “LeAnn, it’s really heavy. Well, this one is anyway. There is no way you are going to be able to help guide this through the attic opening and down that ladder. Let me get some help. We might even have to empty them first.”
Her heart fell at her disappointment. “Matt, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to waste your day, but maybe we can at least move the mirror down and that small wall table?”
Matt walked over to the carved mirror. “Wow, this is really beautiful!” He said as he gently touched the carved letters AT and then the roses.
“Isn’t it though,” she said with a smile. “I really would love to have it in my bedroom. What do you think? Can we do it?”
“I think so. Try lifting it.”
LeAnn walked over to the mirror and grabbed one side. She lifted it with no problem. “It’s really not as heavy as I thought it would be,” she said, lying. She just really wanted to get it down and in her bedroom.
“Okay, Matt said, lifting the other side, “I’m going to go down the ladder first and you’re going to lift it down to me. You’ll guide it from the top, okay?
“Yeah, I can do that,” she said excited she was going to get her new mirror. At least that would be something accomplished. She would come back up and empty the trunks so that they could be moved, but she needed to clean up the attic first. If anything happened to the clothes in the first trunk, she would never forgive herself. Especially now, knowing Amelia Tabor was still alive. Maybe Amelia would like her things back.
Matt and LeAnn carefully lifted the mirror and carried it over to the opening. It wasn’t the weight that made it difficult to carry. It was just awkward in size and shape. Matt started down the stairs first.
When Matt was on the third step he said, “Okay, LeAnn, slowly hand it down to me.”
LeAnn lifted the mirror as best she could and scooted it along the floor toward the opening. As it started to go through the opening, LeAnn thought for sure Matt would miss it and the mirror would go crashing down to the floor. Maybe she should have waited for Matt to get help.
Matt grabbed the bottom of the mirror and yelled up, “Keep hold of it, and try to get your foot on the first step as I move downward.”
“Okay.” She did as he said. Not only did she get on the first step, but they were both moving carefully in unison. Before she knew it, the mirror was on the landing.
She was so excited she didn’t know what to say. She ran over to Matt and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you! Thank you!” She kissed him on the lips and hurried back to the mirror.
“You’re welcome,” he said stunned. Then he said, “To your room?”
“To my room!” She really was excited.
They each grabbed a side and moved it down slowly to LeAnn’s bedroom. She wasn’t sure where to put it. For now they placed it in the corner by her closet.
“Isn’t it exquisite?” She asked as if she really wasn’t asking anyone but herself.
Matt agreed with a smile. He liked seeing her happy. “Now, about the trunks. Let’s go up, take a look and see how we are going to move them down here.”
“Sure,” She said in a hypnotic voice, not taking her eyes off the mirror.
Matt cleared his throat, “LeAnn?”
“Oh, Matt, I’m so sorry,” she said. She looked at him, then turned to look at the mirror again. “I don’t know what it is about this mirror. I guess I’ve never seen anything so beautiful before. I was imagining a young Amelia looking at herself when she got dressed for the balls.” Then she had a shocking thought and turned to him. “Matt, what if she wants it back. I mean, it belongs to her. Look at the initials.”
“LeAnn, you said you weren’t even sure you wanted to see her. Now stop worrying, and let’s go upstairs and see what else you want down here, provided it’s not too heavy.”
“You’re right. Let’s go.” The two climbed back up into the attic.
Matt brought down a small hall table, two crystal lamps, a high backed wing chair, and a bird cage. The leg to the broken hall table could not be found, so Matt convinced LeAnn that the table needed to be hauled away. They found a brass head and foot board for a bed and took it to one of the two guest rooms. Matt said he could help her get a mattress for it since he got a discount for the resort. There were a few more lamps under dusty blankets, which she carried down, and they both struggled to carry three large rugs downstairs. Actually, the rugs were the easiest because they just slid them down the stairs. Everything ended up in the hallway, and LeAnn said she’d decide where everything would go later.
Then, there were the trunks. “Matt, I have to go through them. I have to know what is in them.”
Matt stretched his back. “I understand but how about we take a break? We’ve been at this all afternoon.”
“I can’t take a break. I have to do this now. Matt, please?”
He smiled down at her and pushed a strand of hair off her forehead. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll go to the kitchen and get the rest of the mimosas from this morning and maybe something to nibble on. Okay?”
“Yes, but Matt?” she said shyly, “Not my moms crystal up here, okay?”
He laughed lightly, “Wouldn’t think of it! Do you have paper cups?”
“Pantry, next to the mudroom She smiled gratefully.
He went down to the kitchen shaking his head and laughing to himself.
LeAnn reached for the broom and swept a very large area around the trunks. She sprayed polish on a dust rag, then wiped both the trunks. Slowly, she opened the trunk where she had found the beautiful gown. There it was again. She didn’t know where to lay the dress so she could go through the rest of the trunk. Maybe she should leave it in there and just push it aside then reach down to the bottom of the trunk.
As she reached her hand under the dress, she felt more fabric. “This trunk is full of clothes. Maybe it’s all of the gowns Amelia wore to all of the balls. Wouldn’t that be great if that was true?” She was so excited. Then she felt something on the bottom that felt like a book. She got her fingers around it and pulled it out.
It was a black leather bound book with the gold initials AT on the front. Amelia Tabor’s journal? Diary, maybe?
She opened the cover very gently. There in beautiful handwriting she read, “To my beautiful daughter Amelia - Heart of my Heart. From Your Loving Mother.”
LeAnn’s hands started to shake a little. She felt she as if she were invading someone’s privacy. Should she read further? Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Matt coming up the stairs.
“Hey, can you help me?” he called out. LeAnn saw he had the champagne bottle under his arm and was carrying the two plastic glasses. “I guess it was kind of dumb to fill them downstairs, huh?”
She laughed and ran over to help, “Yeah, I would say so.”
“What did you find?” he asked noticing the open trunk. “Wait, don’t answer that. I left the fruit and cheese on the hall table.” He went down the attic stairs again and came right back up with a plate. “Okay, now what did you find?”
“Look at this.” Handing Matt what she had found.
Matt took the book from her. “What is it? A diary?”
“Maybe a journal. Course I don’t know the difference. Usually a diary has a lock and key with it. Read the inscription.”
Matt opened and read the message. “Wow LeAnn! This is from Amelia’s mother.”
“Yeah I know,” she said, carefully taking the book back. She opened it to the next page, and read out loud.
My dearest Amelia,
I regret that I will not be able to be with you as you grow up. I want you to know that I love you very much, and I give this to you so you can talk to me through these pages. Even though you will not see me in the flesh, know that I am with you always and will be watching over you everyday.
All of my love forever, Mommy (February 1927).
“Oh Matt! Her mother died! How awful! I can feel the sadness in these words. Look at the date. I wonder how old Amelia was when her mom died.”
Comforting her, Matt said, “We don’t really know that she died, LeAnn.”
“I know, but why else would she say the words. ‘you won’t see me in the flesh.’ And ‘I’m with you always and will be watching you everyday’?”
“Good point.” He had to agree.
LeAnn read on.
May 7, 1940
Mommy,
Today is my eighteenth birthday. I do miss you so. Papa gave this to me this morning and said it was from you and that you gave it to him just before you died. He said you wanted him to give it to me on my eighteenth birthday in time for my presentation at the Summer Ball. I wish you were going to be here to help me dress and do my hair. You would love the dress Papa bought for me in Chicago. It’s breathtaking, with shoes to match!
I have a secret, Mommy, to share with you. Two years ago I snuck into the ballroom and hid behind the drapes on the stage. I watched all the beautiful people dancing and laughing. Everyone was so beautiful. The room was incredible with candles and flowers! The crystal glistened like diamonds. I can’t wait until June for my turn!
Then I saw him Mommy, the most beautiful man I have ever seen. Oh, Papa’s very handsome, and I love him, but I couldn’t take my eyes off this man. He was tall, and he had dark hair and the most fabulous smile I have ever seen. I was watching and then I felt someone behind me grabbing my arm. Papa caught me peeking and sent me back to the main house. I begged him to let me stay, but he said no sharply and sent me off.
Mommy? Do you think this wonderful man will be at my ball? I hope so.
I must go now. I will write later. Papa’s planning a special dinner for me, and I need to get ready.
I love you, Mommy, and miss you greatly. Thank you for my wonderful birthday present. I will talk to you all the time!
LeAnn stopped reading and looked up at Matt. He was just staring at her.
“Matt, if Amelia’s mother wrote in the journal in 1927 and Amelia’s eighteenth birthday was 1940 then…. LeAnn paused to do the math. “Matt, Amelia was only five years old when her mother died! How terrible! That poor little girl! To grow up with no mother…” Her voice trailed off as she looked down at the journal.
Softly, Matt asked, “LeAnn, do you think you have found your ghost?”
“Amelia’s mother, you mean?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know, could be. Maybe she misses her daughter so much that she just never left this place.” She looked down at the journal. “Where are those mimosas?”
Matt reached next to him and picked up the two plastic glasses he had put on the floor and handed her one. There was no orange juice in them this time, just champagne.
Sitting on the floor side by side, they didn’t say anything for quite a while. LeAnn couldn’t stop looking at the journal in her lap. She wanted to keep reading but saw that the sun was going down. How long had they been in the attic?
Looking toward the window, then at Matt, she said, “Matt, the sun’s going down. I’ve wasted your whole day off! I am so sorry.”
Matt gave a small laugh and put his hand on hers, “No, you didn’t. I had planned on being here with you all day. I’m just feeling bad that we couldn’t get as much done as you wanted to. How about we put everything away, and I’ll take you to dinner at the Ridgewood’s?”
LeAnn looked at him and said, “Would you mind terribly if we just stayed here, and I thaw a couple of steaks? We can cook them on the grill and maybe eat outside if it’s not too hot.”
With a big smile, Matt said, “I like your idea way better than mine.” He helped her up, and she went to the trunk, straightened the gowns, and closed the lid.
While she did that, Matt closed the two windows. “You know,” he said, “this would make a great entertainment room.”