There was a knock at the door just as LeAnn was finishing combing her hair. She laid down the brush and went into the hallway to answer the door.
“Hi. Boy, is this weird answering the door to your place.” she said with a giggle as she opened the door to let Matt in.
“Can’t walk in and find you in a compromising situation, can I? Like in the shower.” He blushed, a little, bent down and kissed her.
“So, how was your day?” she asked picking up her purse.
“Busy! It’s hard when we have half the staff. I end up doing everything from waiting tables and bartending to mopping up messes in the bathroom,” Matt complained.
“Yuck!” she said wrinkling up her nose.
“Yeah, you want a job?” he teasingly asked.
“No, thanks! I don’t do bathrooms!” They both laughed.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready,” she said reaching for her sweater coat.
He closed the door behind them and took her hand as they walked to the main lodge.
When they walked in, LeAnn noticed it was a lot quieter than the last time she had been there. Matt guided her towards the restaurant, and she saw there was only one other couple. They were probably in their late sixties, and their attention was deep in their food. LeAnn smiled to herself.
Just then Hannah walked up, and said, “Hi LeAnn! Nice to see you again. How’s the island owner doing?”
“Hannah! Great, how are you?” Of course, LeAnn was lying. If she had been ‘great’ she wouldn’t be staying at Matt’s. Hannah didn’t need to know this.
“Slave driver here,” pointing to Matt, “is keeping me busy. At least, the crowd is getting smaller so I can handle it.”
“All right, that’s enough, I’m standing right here!” he said frowning at both of the laughing girls.
The girls laughed harder.
“Okay you two,” Matt said as he took LeAnn’s arm and led her to a table by the window. He held the chair out for her.
LeAnn sat down still giggling, and looked out the window. She wouldn’t be able to see the sunset, she realized, because the restaurant windows faced east. But the view of the lake was beautiful, and the eastern sky was a fiery orange and blue, its colors reflecting on the calm water.
LeAnn’s thoughts were interrupted by Hannah asking if they would like a cocktail.
“LeAnn, what would you like?” Matt asked.
“I would love a dirty martini, extra dirty.” LeAnn responded.
“Scotch and water, please,” Matt said.
“Coming right up!” Hannah said with a smile. She turned and headed for the bar.
Just as Matt was reaching for LeAnn’s hand, they heard, “LeAnn Klein! Oh my goodness, I can’t believe it!”
They both looked to the direction of the voices and saw Matt’s parents.
“Oh no,” Matt groaned under his breath so his parents couldn’t hear him. Then he said, “Mom, Dad, hi.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Weston, how are you?” LeAnn greeted them standing up. She gave them both a hug. “Please, pull up a chair and join us.
“No, no. We just wanted to say hello.” Margaret Weston said with a smile. She was a plumb, little woman, about seventy years old, and had a smile that covered her whole face.
“Look at my son with the most beautiful woman in the room. Well, next to my wife that is,” Ben Weston joked as he too gave LeAnn a hug.
Mrs. Weston, with her arm around LeAnn shoulder’s said, “Honey, we were so sorry to hear about your folks. We loved them so much, and everyone who knew them was heartbroken. They are truly missed.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Weston. I appreciate that. They loved it here and all of you too.”
“So, how’s that big house and island? Are your really going to live there by yourself?” Ben asked abruptly. Changing the subject for LeAnn’s sake.
“Yes.” LeAnn answered coyly. She didn’t want anyone to know what had happened to her the night before, and she gave Matt a pleading look.
“Okay, you two, say good night to the pretty lady, and let us enjoy our date.” Matt said.
“We’re sorry, honey, we’re going.” said his mom. “We just wanted to say hi to LeAnn.”
“I’m kidding, Mom. Actually, if two want to join us….”
His Dad cut him off. “No, no. Wouldn’t hear of it. You guys enjoy your evening and, son, you come in late tomorrow if you need to.”
“Boy, Dad, that’s real subtle.” Matt shook his head looking downward.
LeAnn laughed. “It is so good to see you both again, and I would love it if you would come out to the island sometime with Matt for a barbeque.”
“We’d love to, honey,” said Margaret. “Okay, Ben, let’s leave these two alone!”
After they all hugged again, Ben winked at Matt as they left. Matt rolled his eyes. “That wasn’t too obvious, was it?”
“Matt, your parents are great. It was good to see them again. They look wonderful.”
Hannah came over with their cocktails.
“Not a minute too soon,” exclaimed Matt. “Thank you, Hannah.”
“You’re welcome boss.” She smiled setting down the drinks. “Would you like to order an appetizer to go with those cocktails?”
“LeAnn?” Matt asked. “Our fried zucchini is the best, or our cheese, fruit, and crackers platter is also really good.”
“I love zucchini!”
“Fried zucchini, please, Hannah.”
“One fried zucchini coming up!” Hannah turned and walked away.
LeAnn took in a deep breath, a sipped her martini, and gazed out at the serene evening view. “This is so relaxing and wonderful.” She turned to look at Matt, “Thank you, Matt. Thank you for everything. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t….” She paused and then added, “rescued me.”
“You’re welcome, but you really don’t have to thank me. Are you ready to talk about last night?” He hesitated before continuing. He watched her closely. “I’m not going to push you, and if you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to. Just know that you were in pretty bad shape by the time I got to you and you scared me. Especially in the beginning when you didn’t remember anything. Then you said something this morning about the wind. I just don’t know how to help you.”
“Matt, you’ve already helped me a lot just by getting me off the island when you did. I haven’t really thought things out because I don’t know what really happened to me. And, I have to admit, I’ve purposely avoided thinking about it all day. All I know is I have never been so scared in my life. The music started up with no band, and then the wind knocked me down.” she said, her voice growing louder.
Matt reached across the table and grabbed her hand to calm her. “Easy, sweetie, easy,” he said in a soothing voice.
“Matt, there is something out there. Something is trying to get my attention. I know it!”
Matt just looked at her as if unsure what to say or how he could help. Hannah came over with the plate of zucchini and asked if they were ready for another cocktail. Matt said yes.
“Look, Matt, I’m reading the journal and something did happen out there on that boathouse. I haven’t got to the part in the journal yet about what happened at the ball, but you did see the newspaper articles. I really feel that something is out there and is trying to communicate. There is some kind of a secret. I feel it.”
Matt laid his hand on hers. “LeAnn, whatever is trying to, as you put it, ‘communicate’ with you tried to hurt you last night! It is not safe for you all alone out there. I think you should move here to Ridgewood’s until we can figure this out.”
LeAnn took another drink of her martini. Then looked at him in the eyes then said, “No. I can’t.”
Matt shook his head. He knew that was the answer she would give but he had to try to get her off that island. Just until he could figure out what was really going on out there.
“LeAnn…” he started.
She interrupted him. “Look, Matt, I know you mean well, and I appreciate it, I really do, but I have to find out what happened out there. If I don’t, I will never be able to live there, and my long time dream will die,” she said, her voice sad, yet determined.
Matt saw the sadness in her eyes. He knew how much she loved the island and the house. When they were kids, he would see her out in her dad’s fishing boat, anchor in the water, and she would just float there, staring at the house and boathouse, for hours.
After taking a sip of his drink, he asked, “Okay, so what did happen last night? Can you remember?”
She paused for a minute, trying to remember. Then she said, “I had been reading the journal. Mr. Tabor gave it to his daughter. He said it was from Amelia’s mother and that her mother wanted her to have it on her eighteenth birthday. This was also the year that Amelia would be presented at the ball. She wrote about how excited she was and how she couldn’t wait for the ball. It was as if she really was talking to her mother or her mother was really going to read the journal.”
“Then she wrote how she had danced with Jonathan Armstrong. About her romantic night of dancing, and drinking champagne for the first time with him.” LeAnn took a breath and smiled a little. LeAnn tried to imagine what it would have been like. This had been Amelia’s big night.
She suddenly came back to the present when Matt lightly touched her hand and said her name.
“Oh. Sorry.” She blushed, then continued. “I remember looking at the clock and seeing it was almost midnight. Midnight is usually when I hear the music and see the floating light. That’s when I decided that the light must have been Amelia’s mother and she wanted to communicate with someone. I changed my clothes into warmer clothes, grabbed a flashlight and a baseball bat.”
Matt smiled curiously when she said baseball bat.
LeAnn saw the look on his face and quickly explained, “Adam left it for protection.”
Hannah brought their second cocktail order. Setting them on the table she asked, “Are you ready to order?”
Matt looked at LeAnn, and then said they would wait until they finished their zucchini.
Hannah walked away, looking at them over her shoulder dying to know what they were talking about.
After Hannah left their table, LeAnn continued. “I’m positive it was Mrs. Tabor.”
“Why do you think it’s her?” Matt questioned.
LeAnn shrugged her shoulders, “Who else could it be? She died when Amelia was so young. Maybe she was Amelia’s guardian angel and is still at the house.”
“LeAnn, are you listening to yourself?” Matt’s eyebrows furrowed.
“I know. I’m sure I sound nuts. I just don’t know who else it could be unless it’s her father.” Before Matt could say anything else, LeAnn continued. “Anyway, I went up to the ballroom and started to unlock the door….” She hesitated. But, Matt, the door was unlocked.”
Matt shrugged. “So, maybe you forgot to lock it the last time you were in there.”
“No.” she shook her head. “I remembered locking it, Matt. I definitely locked that door. I don’t want anyone coming out and vandalizing the boathouse or ballroom. I’m afraid some kids will go up there and break the mirrors. No, Matt, I know the door was locked.”
Neither one said anything for awhile. LeAnn reached over and absentmindedly ate some of the zucchini.
“I do remember I was really scared and actually scolded myself for going to the boathouse that late.”
“That’s good to know!” Matt said in sarcastic tone.
LeAnn gave him a dirty look and continued. “I opened the door slowly, holding the bat because I really wasn’t sure what I was going to find behind that door. Of course, the room was dark, and I switched on the chandeliers. I didn’t see anything, or anyone, in the room, and I did feel a little stupid carrying the bat. I called out to Mrs. Tabor. I asked if she was looking for Amelia. I asked her if she was the light I was seeing at night. At first, there was nothing and then…” LeAnn stopped as if she couldn’t continue. Her hands started to shake and her heart started beating faster as she began to relive the night before.
Matt reached for her hands, feeling them tremble beneath his. “LeAnn, you don’t have to do this. It’s okay. Stop.”
“No. I’m all right. I need to tell you.” LeAnn took in a couple of deep breaths and a long sip of her martini.
“Want another?” Matt asked.
“No, I better not.”
“How about I order a bottle of wine?” He knew she liked wine and she might need it after she finished her story.
“Okay.” She nodded.
Matt signaled Hannah as she was carrying a tray to one of the tables with waiting patrons. She nodded, showing him she had seen him and would be over when done serving.
“Go ahead, LeAnn.”
“I heard it low at first, very low. But, then the music just got louder and louder. Unbearably loud. I looked at the band stage and of course there was no band. I remember running to the door and….” She paused and tears welled up in her eyes. “Matt, the door was…locked.” The tears spilled down her cheeks. “It was locked, and I couldn’t get out, Matt. I couldn’t get out!” A small sound escaped her throat.
The people at the table next to theirs turned to look at LeAnn.
As Hannah came over, LeAnn turned her head toward the window so that Hannah couldn’t see the tears.
Hannah looked at LeAnn questioningly and then at Matt.
Matt ordered a bottle of Merlot, ignoring Hannah’s look. He added that they would both have the prime rib dinner. After Hannah walked away, Matt still holding her hands asked if she was all right.
She nodded her head, and then excused herself to go to the ladies room. LeAnn looked at herself in the mirror and saw that her makeup wasn’t as bad as she expected. She added more eyeliner and mascara, then decided to put on more blush. After a few yoga breaths, she laughed as she remembered doing the breathing going to the boathouse. “Stupid! Stupid!” she scolded her reflection.
When she returned to the table, Matt was opening the bottle of wine. He smiled at her and stood up to hold her chair as she sat down. “Everything okay?” he asked as he pushed her chair in.
“Everything’s fine. Really,” she responded.
“I hope it was okay that I ordered for you.”
“Definitely,” she said smiling over at him.
“LeAnn, you don’t have to tell me anymore. I can see that it’s just too frightening for you.”
“You do believe me don’t you?” she asked concerned that he didn’t.
He carefully answered, “I think that something happened to you, but a ghost?” He paused before continuing. “LeAnn, I just think there is a logical explanation for everything.”
With a disappointed look on her face, she said, “Okay, forget the music. What about the wind? It knocked me down, it blew open the locked French doors!” she said raising her voice again.
The people at the next table were looking at her again.
Matt reached for her hands again, but she pulled away. “No, Matt! Tell me, what about the wind?”
Matt didn’t say anything for a while and then, softly, in almost a whisper, he said, “LeAnn, it could have been a microburst. They come up very suddenly and for a short period of time, just a few minutes only. Then just like the door not being locked, you may not have latched the French doors.”
She lowered her eyes. “You don’t believe me,” she said quietly, hurt that he didn’t believe her. He thinks I’m nuts, she thought. Maybe he’s right. Her eyes filled with tears again and she felt she wouldn’t be able to control them this time.
“LeAnn, I think something did happen to you. I think that the microburst blew the French doors open and the main door shut. I think the main door slammed so hard that it jammed and you had a hard time getting it open. Therefore, you thought it was locked. The music could have come from anywhere on the lake.”
LeAnn’s mouth fell open. “I’m going home Matt. I’m not going to sit here and have you rationalize what happened to me. You found me on the floor in my own home, and you have the nerve to say it was a microburst? I can’t believe this!” Dumbfounded, she stood up, grabbed her purse, and left the dinning room.
“LeAnn, wait!” Matt called after her. He didn’t want to make a scene. Just as he stood up to follow her, Hannah, brought over their salads. “Cancel our dinner order.” he said to Hannah as he rushed past her.
“But -” she said.
“Cancel it!” he said sharply.
Hannah, carrying the salads, hurried back to the kitchen to cancel the order.
Matt caught up to LeAnn as she was crossing the parking lot going towards his condo.
He grabbed her arm, “LeAnn, stop! I’m just trying to make sense of all of this! I didn’t say nothing happened to you. I just don’t believe it was ghosts.”
LeAnn wiggled out of his grip. “Leave me alone, Matt. I’m going home to my island. I will find out who or what is out there. There is a light; there is music! I was knocked down by wind! Wind that was inside the boathouse! Inside! There is something and it tried to kill me!” She was yelling at him by now.
She ran toward the stairs to the condo. When she reached the top of the stairs, she stopped dead realizing the door was locked. “Damn!” she said to herself, angrier than ever. She’d have to wait for him to unlock it. She folded her arms across her chest and tears started to creep into her eyes. I will not cry; I will not cry. She thought.
Matt walked slowly up the stairs holding the key. She turned and looked away from him. Matt didn’t say anything as he unlocked the door and let her go in ahead of him.
LeAnn walked briskly to his room to get her things.
Matt closed the front door and laid the keys on the kitchen counter. He could hear her in the bathroom throwing her things into her bag. He walked over to the bedroom doorway and said softly, “LeAnn, will you calm down and talk to me for a minute?”
At first she ignored him. Then she answered, “I am calm, and you’ve said quite enough. Maybe we both have.”
He could tell she was on the verge of tears again.
“LeAnn.” He slowly walked into the room toward her. “Honey, how are you going to get to your house?” He paused. “I’m not going to take you until we’ve talked, so how are you going to get across the channel to the island?” He was going to throw in the word swim, but then thought he was in enough trouble as it was. This was definitely not the time for sarcasm.
LeAnn stopped what she was doing. Suddenly, she realized she didn’t have her boat. She had come over with Matt. Feeling defeated, she sat on the bed, covered her face with her hands, and started to sob. Matt went over and sat next to her.
“Don’t!” she said as she turned away from him. She hated that she was crying, but she hated that she was in a helpless situation even more. Matt put his arm around her. She didn’t push him away.
“Listen, stay here tonight like we planned, so you can get some sleep. We can talk if you want or we don’t have to. I promise I will take you back tomorrow morning if you still want to go home. I won’t stop you. I give you my word.” He took a tissue from the box on the nightstand and handed it to her.
LeAnn took the tissue and wiped the tears and blew her nose. Neither one of them said anything for awhile. Then, she softly answered, “Okay, but you promise to take me home in the morning?”
“If that’s what you want.”
“That’s what I want.” She sniffed. She knew she was stuck and that she’d have to stay after all.
“Do you want to talk?” he asked her, his tone guarded.
I don’t think there is anything to talk about. I told you what happened and you don’t believe me. Period. The end.”
“LeAnn, like I said before, it’s not that I don’t believe you. I know that something happened. I know that the island gets a lot of microbursts and that you probably got caught in one.”
“Okay, fine, but what about the light? Wait, forget the light, what about the music?” She was getting upset again although she was trying to stay calm. She didn’t want to yell at him again.
“You said it yourself, the first time it happened. You said that the music could carry over the water and—”
She interrupted him. “Matt, I was in the ballroom, and it was before the doors blew open. The music was deafening! Trust me, it was not music from across the water!” She shook her head, “Forget it Matt. You don’t believe me, and that’s fine. I’m sure you think I’m nuts, and that’s fine too.” No matter what she said, she was not going to get him to believe her. She was tired but most of all, she was tired of trying to make him believe her.
“Wait, I didn’t say you were nuts,” Matt said quickly.
“You didn’t have to.” She looked out the bedroom patio door toward the lake. Dark now, she could see the lights reflecting on the water from three fishing boats. She turned back to him and said, “Tomorrow morning I would appreciate it if you would take me home. I’m tired now and would like to go to sleep.”
Matt saw that she was done and wasn’t going to listen or talk anymore. She had turned cold towards him. He knew it wouldn’t do any good to continue with this.
Matt said softly, “I’ll pick you up at eight.” He started to walk out and then turned to her, “LeAnn, I’m sorry. I really am, and I do believe that something happened to you. I’m just trying to help you figure out what.”
“Don’t worry about it, Matt. I’m fine.” She got up from the bed, walked into the bathroom, and closed the door.