LeAnn collapsed onto the chair on the porch, out of breath, and scared.
Whose voice had she heard? Who had whispered in her ear? She could almost feel the breath on her neck again, and she again grabbed at it. What had the voice said? It sounded like one word, maybe a name? Thinking about it gave her the chills. She tried to calm her breathing. As she looked down at the boathouse, it looked like it was mocking her.
She was frightened. She really thought that by going in the boathouse during the day she would be fine. There was definitely something in that boathouse, and it was not human. But what was it? Why in the world had she gone back?
Trying hard to compose herself, she glanced over at her cell phone on the table. She picked it up. Just as she was about to call Matt, she noticed there was a voice message. She listened; it was from Matt.
“LeAnn, I know you’re mad at me, and by now I’m sure you’ve heard from Adam. I just wanted you to know that I care a lot about you and I’m concerned for your safety. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll never want to see or speak to me again. I’m calling to tell you that I took the liberty of hiring a couple of guys to come and help you with the trunks in the attic. They’ll come over whenever you’re ready. Even today if you want. Just give me a call. Leave a message and I’ll set it up for you. I really am sorry things worked out the way they did. Take care. Bye.”
Looking at the time on her cell phone, LeAnn saw that it was already four o’clock. It had been forty-five minutes since he had called. Had she really been gone that long? He must have called right after she had started down the path.
Dialing Matt’s number, she braced herself for his voice on the other end of the line. The call went straight to his voice mail, and for that she was grateful but also a little disappointed. She listened for the beep signaling her to start talking and tried to keep her voice calm so he wouldn’t be suspicious.
“Matt, thank you for the call, and finding guys to help with the trunks. I think it’s a little late for today, but tomorrow around ten would be perfect. Thank you again.” She hesitated before hanging up. Should she tell him what had just happened to her? Should she have him come out? No, he would just come up with some logical explanation and try to take her off the island again. Plus, she didn’t want to hear any “I told you so.” Instead she just said, “I really do wish you hadn’t called Adam.” Then she hung up.
She started to get up from the chair and laughed when she saw the bat on her lap. “Yeah, great, a lot of good you were,” she said to the bat. She took the bat with her into the house, set it in the corner by the front door, and walked back into the kitchen. When she reached for a bottle of water, she noticed her hands were shaking. She closed the door to the refrigerator and then went to the living room.
She spotted the newspapers on the desk in the library. She needed to take her mind off what had just happened to her, but more importantly she needed a clue as to what was going on here on her island. She headed for the porch. Setting the water on the table, she picked up the journal, sat down and started to read.
July 7, 1941
Mommy, Papa just got back from Hayward with some news about Phoebe Armstrong. She’s regained consciousness, but it looks like she will never walk again. Oh, poor Phoebe and poor Jonathan. The guilt he must be feeling! It has got to be torture! My heart goes out to both of them. How awful for both of them! I know it’s not right, but I do wish I could see him again. I still love him so much.
God forgive me, for he is a married man and now his poor wife is crippled! What an awful person I must be!
LeAnn skimmed over the next few pages. Most of the entries were about a few lunch and dinner dates Amelia’s father had set up for her with local boys. It was clear that she hated going out with other boys when she loved Jonathan so much. Amelia wrote how much she missed him. She could not forget the love she had for him and his love for her, even though it was not “proper….”
November 2, 1941
Mommy, Papa’s bank is done, and there is a large dinner party being held this weekend. Papa would like me to go, but I’m afraid to see Jonathan again. The party is in Hayward, and we will be staying in town when it’s over. What do I do if I see Jonathan? Jonathan will surely be there since he started the project in the first place. I’m sure his wife will not be there since she is so ill.
November 3, 1941
Mommy, I just found out that Jonathan and his wife will not be at the bank celebration. He and Phoebe are leaving for Europe. There is supposed to be a doctor, a surgeon, in Germany who can maybe help her walk again. For her sake I hope so. For Jonathan’s sake I hope so, and then he won’t feel so guilty. Many acquaintances have said that he has been very depressed since the accident and just not himself. He is blaming himself for the accident. I do pray this doctor can help Phoebe.
LeAnn noticed the sun was going down. How long had she been sitting here? She was dreading the coming night. She took a quick glance at the boathouse and hurried inside her house.
Just as she got into the house her, cell phone rang. She didn’t recognize the number.
“Hello?” she answered cautiously.
“LeAnn, its Hannah.”
Hannah? Why, was the waitress from Ridgewood’s calling her? “Hannah? Hi.”
“I know it must be strange my calling you, but I really don’t know anyone here in Cable. I have two tickets to a wine tasting in Hayward. One of the girls I work with was going to go with me. Unfortunately, she got sick and left work early. I really don’t want to go by myself and, well, I thought of you. I hope you don’t mind Matt giving me your phone number.”
“Ah, no that’s fine. What time is the wine tasting?”
“Seven o’clock. I know that’s only a couple of hours away, but it should be fun. And there’s going to be food too. So what do you think? Do you want to go? Kind of a girl’s night out thing.” Hannah giggled.
LeAnn could hear the desperation in Hannah’s voice.
She was shocked Hannah had thought of her, but again why not? It sounded like it would be a lot of fun. Plus it would be great to get off the island, especially after what had happened earlier. “You know, Hannah, I would love to go. What should I wear?”
“I am so glad!” LeAnn could hear the excitement in Hannah’s voice. “Dressy casual. So, can you be here at Ridgewood’s at six-thirty?”
“Yes, see you then. And, Hannah, thank you for thinking of me.”
They both said good bye and hung up.
With a smile, LeAnn put the journal down on the hall table and ran upstairs to take a shower.
After putting on her make up and blow drying her hair, she quickly went to her closet and pulled out a red silk blouse and black skinny dress jeans. She slipped on a pair of flats but also took a pair of heels to change into.
“Can’t ride in a boat in heels.” She chuckled to herself. She thought she’d better take her black jacket in case the night got chilly. She was actually excited to be going out and into Hayward. A change of scenery would definitely do her good.
Hayward was forty-five minutes from Cable. It was considered the “big” town with a population of 2,129 people compared to the 819 of Cable. It was where the Cable residents went for large shopping. There were more stores for grocery and clothes shopping and there was even a movie theater! Hayward was where all the tourists, went so in the summer Main Street was jammed with people.
She packed a small overnight bag in case it got to be a late night and she didn’t make it back to the island. If that happened, she would definitely get a room at Ridgewood’s. She paused when she realized she might run into Matt if she stayed at the resort. “Well, I’ll deal with that when and if I have to,” she said with a shrug.
Her reflection in the beautiful carved mirror made her smile. She liked what she saw. Her mind wandered to a young girl, Amelia, realizing Amelia had looked at herself in the same mirror. For just a moment, LeAnn was sad, but then smiled as she headed for the stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs, she switched on the entry and porch lights, then the floor lamp in the living room. After locking the door behind her, she turned to go down toward the boathouse. Suddenly, she stopped. It was a quarter past six and getting darker. She forgot that she had to get her boat out of the boathouse. Her feet wouldn’t move.
“LeAnn, get moving, you’re going to be late, and Hannah’s waiting,” she said, coaxing herself. Slowly, she stepped off the porch and walked down the path to the boathouse, hesitating every couple of steps. Again, she felt the eerie feeling of being watched, of faceless eyes watching her as she walked closer to the boathouse. Faceless haunting eyes. LeAnn forced herself not to look at the windows and walk faster.
“LeAnn, the faster you get that boat out of there, the faster you get away from those…” What was she about to say? Those windows? Or those eyes.
Forcing herself not to look up, she quickened her steps. She reached the side door to the lower part of the boathouse and hit the switch that turned on the overhead light and opened the large doors. She hurriedly threw in her overnight bag and purse into her twelve-foot boat and then stepped in. Not moving for a few seconds, she listened to see if she could hear anything from above in the ballroom.
She prayed silently, “Oh, God, please don’t let me hear anything. Let there not be anything up there.” She started the motor and slowly backed the boat out of the boathouse and onto the Namakagon towards Ridgewood’s. Pushing the button on her remote control to the doors, she forced herself not to look back at the boathouse and those faceless eyes!