At eight o’clock sharp, there was a knock on the door. LeAnn went over to let Matt in.
Neither one said anything.
Matt broke the silence, “I don’t suppose you’d like to have breakfast first? You didn’t eat dinner,” he asked. He saw dark circles around her eyes, and guessed she hadn’t slept either.
“No, thank you. I’m anxious to get home,” she said coldly. She had been out of bed and dressed by six o’clock. She had sat just staring out at the lake towards her island. She was remembering her parents and brother and all of the good times they had had here. She missed all of them, a lot. She wanted to be happy here, and she had hoped to be happy with Matt, but maybe that wasn’t such a good idea after all. Right now all she wanted was to go home.
Matt grabbed her bag and opened the door. She walked out and down the stairs. They walked down the pier to Matt’s boat in silence. It was a chilly morning, and LeAnn was glad she had brought her jacket. She needed it now, especially riding in the boat.
Matt started the motor and guided the boat out onto the open water.
LeAnn found herself excited to be going back to her home, her island, but there was an underlying fear that went with the excitement. As the boathouse started to come into view, her heart started to beat faster. The boathouse windows looked like eyes welcoming her back and telling her they had some unfinished business.
Matt was watching her, and he could see that her hands were starting to shake a little. Was she cold, or was she scared? He didn’t know what had happened to her, and he really did want to believe her about all that she said, but it just was not logical. It made no sense.
As they got closer to her pier, Matt slowed the motor. She reached for the cleat and helped pull his boat closer to the pier. She jumped out with the rope and tied it to the cleat.
Matt broke the silence, “LeAnn.”
“Don’t, Matt. Please, just don’t.” She reached out for her bag.
“Do you want me to come in with you?” he asked, looking at her hopefully but knowing she would say no.
“No, thank you, I’m fine,” she answered coldly. “I want to thank you for coming out here and getting me, and for allowing me stay at your condo.” He handed her the bag. “Thank you, too, for bringing me home.” She turned and started to walk away.
“LeAnn?” She turned to look at him. “I want you to call me if you need anything. If you need me to, I will come back out.” Then he added, “Please?”
Without saying anything, she turned and walked towards her house. The boat motor idled loudly as she quickly walked up the path. She knew Matt wouldn’t leave until she was in her house.
As she approached the boathouse, she could see that the doors were all closed. None of them were open. Her breathing and heart rate started to race, and she looked away from the boathouse. She fought the urge to run, mostly, not wanting Matt to see her run past the boathouse. “If I don’t look at it, I’ll be okay,” she whispered to herself, afraid the boathouse was listening and would hear her.
She hurried and felt better once she was clear of the boathouse and the peering eyes in the windows.
When she reached her front porch, she dared to turn around. Matt’s boat was pulling away. A feeling of loneliness came over her as his boat sailed farther away from the island. She cared deeply for Matt, but he had hurt her by not believing what she had told him.
After unlocking the door, she walked into her home. It felt good to be back. It seemed she had been gone a long time instead of just overnight.
She headed up the stairs to her bedroom to unpack but stopped in the doorway, “Wow, did I really leave my room in this much of a mess?” she said, surprised by the condition of her room. Her bathrobe and towel were thrown on the unmade bed, the closet door was left wide open, dirty clothes were scattered on the floor, and the light was on in the bathroom. “Of course, I did leave in a hurry,” she said out loud, trying to make it sound like a joke.
It was no joking matter, though. She had had a bad experience and was going to get to the bottom of it. With help or without help, she was not nuts. There was something out there and it was trying to get her attention, but who? Was it Mrs. Tabor?
Placing her bag on the floor, she walked over to her bed, picked up the towel and robe, and threw them into the laundry basket. After making her bed, she started to unpack and found the journal in the bottom of the bag. Slowly, she pulled it out and laid it on the bed. She just looked at it for awhile and then took the empty bag and put it on the closet shelf. LeAnn went back to the bed and picked up the journal. “You and I have some mystery solving to do.” She turned and went down to the kitchen.
Setting the journal on the counter, LeAnn decided she needed coffee. She put the coffee on and went to the refrigerator. She really wasn’t hungry, which surprised her, since she hadn’t eaten dinner. “Good thing I had the zucchini, or I’d be famished,” she said out loud. Maybe a piece of raisin toast and coffee would be enough.
Carrying the journal under her arm, toast and coffee in her hands, she went out on the front porch. The sun felt good, and the temperature was perfect. It was going to be a wonderful day. She placed the coffee and raisin toast on the small table between the rocking chairs, then the journal. After she sat down she took a bite of her raisin toast, and a sip of coffee. She said smiling, “Nothing like the great outdoors.”
For just a moment her mind wandered to Matt, and then she decided not to think about him. It would only make her angry, and she really didn’t want to be mad at him.
Slowly she sipped her coffee and then looked down at the boathouse. From the safety of her porch, she wasn’t afraid, but one thing was for sure, she wasn’t going in the boathouse again, not for awhile, anyway. LeAnn looked at the journal on the table. She placed her hand on it, just touching it, then slowly picked it up and opened it up to where she had left off.
April 30, 1941
I know, Mommy, I haven’t written for a while. I’ve been busy working on the ball. I’m trying not to think about Jonathan, but it has been hard. There have been rumors about his marriage and the baby. I’m trying not to think about it. It is so hard, Mommy, since this is the man I thought I would be spending the rest of my life with. I love him so much it hurts.
I ordered the flowers today, Mommy, just as you would have. Papa is giving me full control for this ball. Is he trying to keep me busy, or is he just letting me take charge as you did? I really wish you were here to talk to instead of me writing to you. I love you and miss you.
LeAnn skipped forward. The month of May pages were about the preparations for the ball and contained nothing about Jonathan Armstrong or his wife and baby.
June 23, 1941
Tonight’s the ball, Mommy, and my new dress is unbelievable! Papa picked it out again in Chicago, and it’s a replica of one that Ginger Rogers wore. I can’t believe how beautiful it is. It has one shoulder strap and is fitted in the waist. Then it flows out at the bottom. It’s covered in sparkly sequins and crystals. I absolutely love it. I must say, Papa does have good taste! I do hope I can have a good time. I keep thinking that last year was when I met and danced with Jonathan. But tonight is different. I am not going to think about him. Hopefully, I will meet someone else who will take my mind off of Jonathan. I really don’t want to embarrass Papa.
Oh, Mommy ! What a horrible night! How cruel, how cruel!! I couldn’t believe that Papa invited Jonathan and his new wife to the ball!!! I hate Papa! I hate him!
I was making sure that I was the perfect hostess that Papa wanted. I was greeting the guests and making sure that everything was as it should be. All of a sudden, I turned around, and there was Jonathan, with a beautiful woman on his arm talking to Papa. I couldn’t’ catch my breath, and I thought I was going to be sick to my stomach, Mommy. When Papa was alone I ran up to him and asked him why he would hurt me by inviting Jonathan. He explained that Jonathan was a business associate and that Jonathan had hired him to do the new bank. Out of courtesy he needed to invite him and his wife. I could not believe my ears, and I ran off.
I made sure, Mommy, that I did not come in contact with Jonathan, but I did notice that he was drinking quite a bit. I also noticed that his new wife was keeping an eye on him.
Later, during the ball, Jonathan came up to me and said he wanted to talk to me, and I said no! I told him we had nothing to say to each other. He begged me to meet him out on the walkway, and again I said no. I noticed his wife was walking towards us, and I could not walk away because it would have been obvious and rude.
She approached and introduced herself. She said that her name was Phoebe and that she was glad to meet me. She thanked me for inviting her and Jonathan to the ball. I smiled, Mommy, and was very gracious to her, as I’m sure you would have been. I said that I hoped that she and her husband were enjoying the ball, and I excused myself, saying that I had to attend to the other guests.
I tried all I could not to cry. I watched Jonathan from afar and noticed that he was drinking way too much. His wife said something to him, and he got angry and walked away from her.
During the fireworks, Jonathan came over to me and took me by my arm and walked me to where no one else was standing. He pleaded with me to listen for just a minute. I did not want to cause a scene, so I agreed.
He told me that before he met me, he had dated Phoebe that, in fact, they had dated for quite awhile and their families thought they would get married. He said that from the first time he saw me walk into the ball, he knew I was the girl he wanted to marry. He tried to break it off with Phoebe but she wouldn’t hear of it. She called him constantly and went over to his house. One day she met with him and told him she was pregnant. He said he couldn’t believe his ears. He told me that he was in love with me and wanted to marry me but, with Phoebe having his baby, he had to do what was right and marry her.
I asked him why he didn’t tell me this before. He said he thought it would be better if I was mad at him and hated him. He said he couldn’t stand to see the hurt in my eyes.
He continued his story and said that after they had gotten married Phoebe had a miscarriage. He said he wants to divorce her and marry me. He told me he is madly in love with me and can’t live without me. He grabbed me by the shoulders and tried to kiss me, but I pulled away. It was so hard to pull away from him, Mommy. I so wanted to kiss him, but he was drunk and, worst of all, he is married!
I started crying, Mommy, and I told him we were never to see each other again. Then I ran away from him.
LeAnn put the journal down. Staring at the boathouse, she tried to imagine where Amelia and Jonathan had been standing when he told her about Phoebe and the baby. How awful for Phoebe. To be with a man who loved someone else and then to lose her baby! And poor Amelia, now knowing the truth about the man she so desperately loved.
LeAnn picked up the journal and continued reading the next entry.
June 24, 1941
Oh, Mommy, it’s horrible, just horrible!! Jonathan and his wife were in a terrible accident last night after the ball! They think that Phoebe is going to never walk again!
Jonathan was driving when the car went off the road and flipped over! Oh, Mommy, Jonathan was so drunk when they left the ball. Oh, poor Phoebe. To have lost her baby and now maybe never to walk again! I feel so bad for her. They are both in the hospital but Jonathan is going to be all right. He has a couple of broken ribs and is badly bruised. He’ll go home in a couple of days. Phoebe is unconscious, but the doctors say she should come out of it. I can’t believe it, I feel just awful. My poor, poor Jonathan!
LeAnn couldn’t believe what she had just read. Her thoughts were interrupted when her phone rang. She looked down at the caller ID to see who it was. Definitely she did not want to talk to Matt. To her delight it was Adam.
“Adam! Hi! What a great surprise! How are you?” She said, happy to hear her brother’s voice
“I’m great, sis. How are things with you and that special island of yours?”
It was so good to talk to her brother. “Good. I miss you though.”
“I miss you too. In fact I’ve been thinking about coming out and visiting you this weekend.”
“What do you mean this weekend? Aren’t you and Pete leaving for Alaska for the big fishing trip with your college buddies soon?” This fishing trip was too important for her brother to suddenly decide to come see his sister. She knew exactly what was going on. Matt had called her brother, she just knew it. Anger stirred inside her chest.
“Yeah, but we can go anytime. I’d rather come see my little sister,” he said, trying to sound convincing.
“You’re only four minutes older than me, and I know what you’re doing! Matt called you, didn’t he?” She was angry. Matt had no business calling Adam. “No! You are not going to cancel your trip, and you are not going to come out! I mean it Adam! No! I’m fine and I don’t need you coming out to check up on me!”
“Doesn’t sound like you’re fine from what Matt said,” Adam said, concerned about his sister.
“Oh, and what did Mr. Matt Weston say?” She didn’t want to take her anger out on her brother, but Matt had no right calling Adam.
“He said that you called him, that you had been hysterical, and that you wanted him to come out to the island in the middle of the night. When he got to your house, he found you on the floor in the hallway - in shock.” Adam paused as if waiting for her to say something. When she didn’t he continued. “LeAnn, he’s worried about you, and frankly, so am I.”
“What else did he say?” she asked, trying to stay calm.
Choosing his words carefully, Adam replied, “He said something about you finding a journal and reading it all the time. You told him there’s a light and music down at the houseboat, and….” Adam took in a deep breath and continued. “That you believe there is a ghost. LeAnn, what’s going on with you?”
Hurt and furious, LeAnn responded, “Adam, I’m sure Matt thinks I’m nuts, but this is real. I know I’ve been hearing music, and I know that I’ve seen a floating light. Whatever is in the boathouse is very angry and I really think it’s trying to tell me something!”
“By hurting you, LeAnn?” he asked, his voice angry.
“It didn’t hurt me, Adam.”
“No, just scared you into a possible heart attack. I’m coming out.”
“Please, don’t, Adam. I don’t want you to change your plans with your friends because of me. I know how long you have been planning this trip.”
This was always a father-son trip that Adam had done with his dad. This would be the first time he had gone to Alaska since his parent’s death. It would be the first time without their dad. That’s why Adam had set it up as a trip with his college buddies.
“Please believe me when I say I’m fine. Adam, promise me you won’t come out and will go on your trip.” She hoped her voice was sounded convincing.
After a long pause Adam reluctantly said, “Okay, I’ll agree on one condition. You go stay at Ridgewood’s.”
“No, Adam, I won’t.” LeAnn said, annoyed. “This is my home, and I’m staying here, ghost or no ghost. I just don’t want you to change your plans because of me.”
Knowing the strong will of his twin, he said, “Okay. I give up; you win. I’ll go on my fishing trip, but when I get back I’m flying straight there. If you’re a good girl,” he added with a chuckle, “I’ll bring you some white salmon. You can cook it up like mom used to. Deal?”
There was a pause on both ends of the line, as they both thought of their parents and how they had laughed at the fishing stories Adam and his dad told when they returned from Alaska.
“Yeah, but you have to catch one first.” They both laughed, clearing the air of the tension. “All right, deal.” Deep down LeAnn really wanted her brother there with her. “So, when do you actually leave for Alaska?” she asked.
“Ah,” he hesitated. He knew what her reaction would be. “Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow! You’re supposed to leave tomorrow, and you were going to disappoint Pete and the guys by canceling twenty-four hours before?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“That’s how much I love you and how concerned I am,” Adam said.
LeAnn’s voice took on a serious tone, “Oh, Adam, I really am okay and I will continue to be okay. Matt really should not have called and worried you. Please go have fun, catch a lot of fish, and don’t worry about me. But, definitely come see me when you get back, okay?”
“Okay, I will. That’s a promise,” Then, “LeAnn?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too, Adam.”
LeAnn looked at her cell after they hung up. She had a good mind to call Matt and tell him off. Truth of the matter, she didn’t want to talk to him. Not right then, anyway. Lucky for him she didn’t!
When she had placed the phone back on the table, she looked at the journal and then stared again at the boathouse. Without really thinking about it, she went into the house to get the keys. What was she doing? Was she that angry with Matt that she had newfound courage? Maybe she truly was nuts.
While walking down the path toward the boathouse, she noticed how warm the sun was on her face. How could anything bad happen on such a beautiful day? The closer to the boathouse she got, the more nervous she felt. But surely nothing could happen to her in broad daylight. She looked at the windows that always made her feel there were eyes staring at her. Faceless eyes watching her approach and beckoning her in.
She paused before ascending the steps. She took a few deep breaths and then she started her climb one step at a time. Would she find the door unlocked? She definitely didn’t remember closing it as she ran out the other night, and if it was closed and locked, who, or what, had done it?
Reaching the top of the stairs, she stood in front of the beautifully carved door. She reached her hand out to turn the door knob but hesitated and pulled her hand away. Her heart sped up. Even though it was daylight and the temperature was probably eighty degrees, goose bumps broke out all over her arms. Suddenly she was very cold.
LeAnn what are you doing? She thought to herself. Why didn’t you call Matt to do this with you? Then she remembered she was mad at Matt. Who the hell told him he could call her brother? What right did he have? Using that determination and anger, LeAnn found the strength to try the door. It was locked.
“Okay, LeAnn, be calm,” she said aloud. “Maybe Matt locked it.” Even as she said the words, she knew they weren’t true. After a deep breath, she whispered to herself, “It doesn’t matter. It’s locked, and you have the key; unlock it and go in.” She slipped the key in the lock and turned it. With a click the door unlocked. With a shaky hand, she turned the knob and entered the ballroom. Damn! Where was the bat? Suddenly she remembered when she had seen the bat last and turned to see it on the floor in front of her.
Shivering, she slowly walked into the ballroom, her eyes darting all around. She cautiously bent down and picked up the bat. It gave her a small sense of bravery and comfort. There was no need to turn the chandelier switches on because the sun shone through the French doors. LeAnn stood in the middle of the room and then looked over at the band stage. The drapes were not moving and the only sound was her shoes on the hardwood floor.
Everything looked as it had when she had first come there with the realtor. Doors closed and locked. No wind, no music, no sound at all. Should she call out as she had before? What was she looking for? Or, what was she hoping for?
“Hello?” she called out. The sound of her voice scared her a little. “I only want to help you. Please don’t be afraid of me. I mean you no harm.”
Silence.
“You gave me quite a fright the other night. I am so sorry if you felt I was intruding.” She listened for a response. Any response.
LeAnn started to feel silly talking to an empty room. Maybe Matt was right, maybe it was just music on the water and a microburst of the wind. Then she remembered the wind was inside the building, not outside. Explain that, Mr. Weston! she thought sarcastically.
As she turned to leave, something brushed by her left ear. She whirled around, but nothing was there. It was like the slightest breeze had touched her. She thought she heard a voice. The hair on the back of her neck rose.
“Hello? Who’s there?” she whispered barely hearing her own voice.
Silence.
“Is someone here? Are you trying to talk to me?”
LeAnn slowly turned for the door panicking that the same thing was going to happen. She clutched the bat tightly and looked at the stage. Did the drapes move? What was that, a shadow?
Again she felt a breeze on her neck and heard the whisper. What was it saying? She couldn’t figure it out.
She whirled around and around swinging the bat at nothing.
Frightened, she started to run to the door. Just as she reached the open door, she felt the breeze on her neck, but this time it felt like fingers, and again she heard the low whisper.
She slammed the carved door behind her as she ran out and down the stairs.
Not until she was half way up the path did she turn around. She stopped and looked back at the boathouse. She placed her right hand on the back of her neck. What had touched her neck? Had she really heard a voice whisper in her ear? She could not make out what it had said, but thinking about it gave her the chills again. What did it say? Who was it? What was it?
Staring at the boathouse, she allowed her eyes to look at the windows. It felt as if she was being watched. She started to walk backward, not taking her eyes off of the upper floor windows. Feeling almost hypnotized, she stared at the windows and walked slowly away from the boathouse. Suddenly an eagle screeched overhead and scared her back to the present. She turned and ran up to the house.