Adam was all cleaned up and sitting on the front porch with a beer in his hand. He looked up at his sister, who had just walked out the door. She looks beautiful, just like Mom, he thought to himself. LeAnn had dressed in black skinny jeans and a red V-neck tunic sweater.
“You clean up real nice, sis,” Adam said with a big grin.
“Not so bad yourself.” She went over and gave her brother a kiss on the forehead.
“I was going to see if you wanted a beer or something, but I’m glad to see you’ve already made yourself at home. Good. I’m going to get a glass of wine. Be right back.” Before going back in the house, she turned toward her brother, “You have no idea how glad I am you’re here.” She smiled and went inside to get a glass of wine.
While she was pouring the wine, Matt came behind her and put his arms around her waist. He started to nuzzle her ear.
“That’s enough, buster. I already shared my shower with you,” she said, laughing.
“Are you complaining?” he asked as he bent down to kiss her softly on the lips.
“Not at all, Mr. Weston.” They kissed a little and then he went for a beer as she poured herself a class of chardonnay.
“Where’s Adam? Should I get him a beer?” Matt asked, reaching in the refrigerator.
“He beat us to it. He’s already on the front porch with one.”
They went to join her brother on the porch and wait for Nick and Hannah.
The three sat talking small talk about the work that they had accomplished that day. No one brought up what they had found under the bed. LeAnn did not want her brother’s first night there to be all about negative happenings. It was a gorgeous late fall evening, and they were all going to have a good time.
They heard the motor before they actually looked out on the lake and saw Nick and Hannah coming from across the lake. As the two got out of the boat and walked towards the house, both Matt and LeAnn noticed how Hannah grabbed Nick’s arm as they walked by the boathouse. They tensed up thinking that Nick wasn’t going to be able to coax Hannah to walk past it.
Did Adam notice too? LeAnn wondered.
Luckily, when Adam saw them coming, he had gone in the house to get Nick a beer and Hannah a glass of wine.
Hannah looked pretty in her black jeans and pink turtleneck sweater. She wore her long curly hair down and it framed her petite face. The sweater made her blue eyes stand out. They were just reaching the porch when Adam came back out. LeAnn introduced Hannah to her brother, and they all sat down. No one said a word about the boathouse.
Hannah spoke spoke up, as she accepted the glass of wine Adam offered her. “I understand you guys had an interesting find today.”
“Yeah, you could say that.” Adam said before anyone else could. “Seems there are a lot of interesting things here at the island.”
LeAnn spoke up quickly. “Tonight we are going to have fun and only talk about fun stuff. No ghost talk. No island, no boathouse, and no ballroom. Understood?” She tried to say it jokingly, but it came out stern. Everyone knew where she was coming from. Well, maybe not Adam so much, but the rest did.
Matt decided to take charge. “All right, everybody, drink up, we have a party to go to.”
Once again Matt saves the moment. I sure love this guy, she thought.
They finished their drinks.
Hannah announced she needed to use the bathroom. LeAnn and Matt took the glasses and empty beer bottles to the kitchen. LeAnn told Matt she was going to go up to her room and get a jacket and would meet him outside. He asked her to bring his down.
When LeAnn entered her room, she found Hannah touching and looking at the letters. She jumped when she heard LeAnn come into the room.
“With a guilty look on he face, she said, “Oh LeAnn! I’m so sorry. I just wanted to see them.”
LeAnn, angry at first but then remembering what they had gone through together, softened. “Its okay, Hannah.” Walking over to the vanity and standing next to Hannah, she said, “Twenty-three letters, all unopened.”
Hannah touched them again.
“Why wouldn’t she have opened them?” Hannah spoke as if in a trance.
LeAnn looked down at the letters. “She didn’t know they existed. I’m guessing her father intercepted them and never told Amelia about them. He hid them under his bed beneath a couple of loose floor boards.”
“What a mean man,” Hannah responded, scowling.
“Maybe, but then maybe he wanted to save his daughter heartache. He knew Jonathan and Amelia could never be together. I’m just guessing, but I’m hoping to find out the truth.” LeAnn said, taking the letters and putting them in her vanity drawer with the velvet box.” She turned to Hannah and said with a grin, “Let’s go party!” The two girls walked out of the room together.
LeAnn locked the front door, making sure that she had left the porch light on. She turned to her brother and said, “You, my friend, are in for a treat. Gus and Mary are the nicest people, and the food is incredible.”
“Can’t wait,” he said as he hugged his sister. “It sure is good to be with you again.” They smiled at each other and joined the others as they all headed down the path to the pier. As they got near the boathouse, Nick looked at Matt. They caught each others eye, and Matt knew what Nick was thinking. Matt, quick thinking as always, looked at the pier and suddenly said, “Nick, is that my boat you brought?” As he was talking, he quickly ushered LeAnn down the path.
Nick, picking up on what Matt was doing, held Hannah’s arm and answered, maybe a little too loudly, “Yeah, it was your Dad’s idea. He said to take your boat to bring Adam out. He said it was a bigger boat.”
“Oh, sure. He was trying to impress Adam, I’ll bet.”
Before anyone knew it, they had the girls corralled down to the waiting boat. Adam, on the other hand, was lingering back by the boathouse.
Matt, starting to get a little angry, called out to him. “Let’s go, buddy, times a-wastin’. We have reservations.”
Adam barely heard Matt’s voice. He was staring at the dark windows, thinking about what everyone had been telling him about the boathouse. Suddenly, he felt a grip on his upper arm. It was Nick, who whispered, “Let’s go before the girls get all upset. We’re trying to keep them calm.”
Adam looked at Nick as if he didn’t know him and then snapped back to reality. “Oh, sorry, man.” He followed Nick to where everyone was on the boat waiting for him. LeAnn and Hannah looked away from the boathouse, thankful they had walked by without looking at it. LeAnn knew that in some way she had Matt to thank for that.
They headed towards Gus’ Tavern, ready for a night of good food and good company.
When they pulled up to the pier at Gus’ Tavern, Nick jumped out to tether the rope. He helped the girls out, and then Adam and Matt got out. They walked up and could hear the music from outside. The marquee was lit up and read, “Tonight Greek Night!” Just seeing the marquee and hearing the music put the group in a party mood.
“Opa!” Gus called out to them as they came in the front door. Gus was wearing black slacks, a long-sleeved white shirt with the cuffs rolled up to his elbows, and a black vest trimmed in gold braid. “Matt, my good friend, how are you?” Gus greeted them at the door and held his hand out to shake Matt’s hand. He noticed the bandage and look at Matt with a frown.
“It’s nothing Gus. I wasn’t paying attention with some tools,” Matt said before Gus could ask what happened. Gus looked at LeAnn and grinned. “Hello beautiful lady. It’s very good to see you again.” LeAnn gave Gus a hug and then said, “Gus, I’d like you to meet my brother, Adam. Adam, this is Gus.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Gus. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Adam said.
“Thank you.” Gus grinned and shook Adam’s hand. He then turned and looked at Hannah. “Hannah, how are you?”
“I’m well, Gus. It’s good to see you. It’s been awhile.” She too hugged Gus.
“Okay, I have a nice table for you over here. Just follow me.” He led them into the small dining room. There were a lot of people already sitting and enjoying dinner.
Matt spoke up. “What’s the occasion, Gus?”
Gus gave a little chuckle, “It’s mine and Mary’s forty-fifth wedding anniversary. We can’t go out to celebrate, so we decided to celebrate with everyone. We have all Greek food tonight. Lamb with potatoes, spanakopeta, souvlaki, and a real Greek salad. Not the pretend kind that other restaurants have.”
They all laughed at his enthusiasm and at the way he said “other restaurants.”
“But first, you must have a shot of ouzo,” he said, turned and called out to the young girl holding a round tray.
“Merika, please bring six ouzos.”
The beautiful young girl smiled and said, “Okay, Papou.” She turned and walked towards the bar.
Then Gus announced he was going to go get Mary out of the kitchen to come and say hello.
“Wow, he’s full of energy, isn’t he?” Adam commented.
“That’s Gus,” Matt said. “He’s a great guy, And wait till you meet his wife, Mary. She’s wonderful.”
“I want to meet Merika,” Adam said, and turned to look at the pretty girl behind the bar.
Gus returned to their table with Mary. She was wearing a long floor length satin lavender skirt with a long-sleeved frilly blouse and a black velvet vest.
“Hello.” Mary said, “How wonderful you all came.”
LeAnn stood up and gave Mary a hug. “Mary, you look beautiful and happy anniversary!”
“Thank you. You like my Greek costume?” She turned in a circle for them to see.
“Very much,” they all agreed.
Merika came over with her tray of shot glasses filled with ouzo.
“This is our granddaughter Merika. In Greek it is pronounced Mareeka. You have to roll the ‘r’. Beautiful, isn’t she? She’s helping us out for awhile.” Gus said with pride.
She was beautiful. She had long brown hair, large saucer-shaped dark eyes. She had a sweetness like her grandmother and grandfather, that showed in her smile.
“Merika, blushing, scolded her grandfather. “Papou, you’re embarrassing me.”
“What’s Papou?” Hannah asked.
Mary replied, “That’s grandfather in Greek, and I’m called Yiayia, which means grandmother.”
“Nice to meet you,” Adam said with one of his best smiles and he stood up to shake Merika’s hand.
LeAnn rolled her eyes at Matt and then said to her brother, “Down boy.” Everyone laughed, and Merika blushed again.
Gus passed out the ouzo to everyone except to Mary and Merika.
“Okay, everyone, let’s hold up our glasses, and toast to life, then down the hatch!
The group sniffed their glasses then looked at each other skeptically. LeAnn spoke up. “Oh, what the heck. To life!” The others all chimed in and downed their ouzo.
“Opa! Gus and Mary shouted, and the whole restaurant yelled out, “Opa!”
“Whoa! That’s strong stuff. It tastes like black licorice.” Hannah made a face. “But, you know, it’s not half bad. I kinda like it.” Everyone laughed as Hannah licked the inside of her glass.
Nick shook his head and said, “That’s my girl.”
Gus ordered them another round and then said he would get them started with appetizers. He walked towards the kitchen.
Merika brought the next round of ouzo. She served everyone a small glass, and before she walked away, she smiled at Adam.
LeAnn couldn’t remember when she had a better time. The food was incredible, and they all learned that a true Greek salad is tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, feta and Greek olives, with olive oil and vinegar Then seasoned with garlic salt, salt, pepper and oregano.
Later Gus got everyone up to Greek dance.
What a wonderful night! When LeAnn came out of the ladies bathroom later on, she noticed Matt and Nick talking at the bar. There was a concerned look on Nick’s face. Then he nodded at whatever Matt had said. Adam was a few bar stools away from Nick and Matt, talking with Merika.
Matt noticed LeAnn, said something to Nick, and then walked over to her.
“What’s wrong, Matt?” she asked, concerned.
“Nothing. Why?”
“I saw you and Nick over at the bar talking, and Nick looked worried about something.”
“Oh, that. No we were just talking about how late it was, and he and I agreed that everyone should stay at your place tonight. If that’s okay with you. Is it?”
“Well, of course it is.”
“The problem is Hannah.” Matt looked over to the table where they had all been sitting. “Nick wasn’t sure how she would react to staying on the island.”
They both looked at Hannah, who was sitting, but swaying a little. How many ouzos did she drink?
LeAnn smiled, “I don’t think this will be an issue. I think Nick will be carrying her up to the house when we get there. Someone liked the ouzo just a little too much.” They both laughed.
“You’re right. I think it’s time to round up the troops and get home.”
LeAnn nodded in agreement.
The only one who was not ready to go was, of course, Adam. He was too busy flirting with Merika. He did manage to find out that she was going to be with her grandparents for quite a while and therefore would love to go out with him. He got her phone number and said he would call her soon.
They all hugged Gus and Mary, told them how wonderful the food was and what a fabulous good time they had. They wished them a happy anniversary and walked out of the tavern, Nick practically holding up a tipsy Hannah.
“Please don’t throw up in my boat,” pleaded Matt, and everyone laughed.
As they approached Tabor Island, they could all hear music. LeAnn and Matt knew it was coming from the boathouse.
Adam spoke up, “Boy, Gus’ music carries far across the water, doesn’t it?”
LeAnn started to tremble. Luckily, Hannah had passed out halfway across the lake.
“LeAnn, come over by me,” Matt said. LeAnn couldn’t move. Her eyes were darting all over the boathouse, looking to see if the floating light was anywhere in sight.
“LeAnn, come here, honey, please,” Matt repeated, this time time more sternly.
Adam looked at his sister and then at Matt. “What’s wrong? Why are you acting funny, LeAnn?”
“It’s after midnight,” LeAnn whispered
“Adam, go over to your sister and put your arm around her,” Matt ordered as he steered the boat. He had to get her to the house but not by way of the boathouse. Adam moved fast to his sister’s side. He put is arm around her and felt her trembling, not understanding why.
“LeAnn, what is it? Are you cold?” He could barely see her eyes in the darkness, but the boat light showed she had a terrified look.
“It’s after midnight,” she whispered again, like she was in a trance—she spoke softly, afraid if anyone spoke too loud it would hear them.
Matt was trying to figure where he could park his boat without going into the boathouse or even to the outer pier. “Nick, where can I park my boat other than the pier? Do you know?”
Nick tried to remember what he had seen when he had jogged the island. He remembered there was a shallow area not too far, left of the pier. “Yeah, if you stay left, I’ll guide you. It’ll be dark but there are trees we can tie the boat to and we can carry the girls through knee-deep water, then we’ll be able to cut through to the upper end of the path.”
Adam was confused but stayed quiet, holding on to his shaking sister. He could still hear the music, but it wasn’t the Greek music they had been listening to all night. It was soft yet growing louder and louder. Then, just as Matt was guiding the boat to the left side of the island, Adam saw it. “What is—?” He started to say, but Nick interrupted him.
“Nothing, Adam. A shooting star.” Nick saw the light on the walkway just as Adam did and so did Matt. Nick had to interrupt Adam before he said anything out loud to upset LeAnn anymore. Adam looked at Nick like he was crazy, but with his sister trembling in his arms, he finally got it. Everything they had told him had been true after all. That was the floating light on the walkway. The music, all of it, had been true. His sister and the guys’ reactions convinced him.
Matt slowed the boat almost to a stop. With no outside lights, except for the boat lights, Matt had to be careful not to run the boat up on land. He reached over and turned on the large spotlight on the front of the boat. “Nick, can you help me out? Can you go up front and tell me if I’m getting too close?”
Nick gently laid Hannah’s head on the seat next to him, thankful she had passed out and was not going to see the floating light or the boathouse.
He moved up to the front of the boat. The spotlight was shining in the water, and Nick could barely make out the shoreline. Then, he saw it roughly fifty feet in front of them. “Stop it now, Matt!”
Matt slowly stopped the boat. As they coasted a few feet closer to shore, he dropped the anchor, and Nick jumped off the front of the boat with a rope. He found a tree he could tie the boat to. After Nick secured the line, he went back to the side of the boat. The water was about shin high. Not as bad as he thought it would be.
Once the boathouse was out of LeAnn’s view, she began to relax. She looked at her brother and smiled. “I’m okay now, Adam.”
“Are you sure?” he said, not letting his sister go.
“Yeah, thank you.” She smiled, assuring her brother she was fine.
Matt came over to where Hannah was passed out. He gently tried to wake her up.
“What? Oh, man, let me sleep. My heads’ dizzy.” Hannah said, her speech slurred.
“Nick, how do you want to do this? Should I just lift her and hand her over the boat, or should I try to wake her?” Matt asked.
“Try to wake her. I don’t think I can grab her from you. Once she’s over the side, I can get her.”
LeAnn started to realize what was happening and went over to Hannah.
“Hey, sweetie. You need to wake up now. We’re home, and you need to get off the boat.”
“Why? Why can’t I just sleep here? Wow, LeAnn, that ouzo’s some strong stuff, isn’t it?” Hannah giggled.
“It sure was. Come on, now. Nick’s waiting on the shore for you.”
“Nick? I love Nick, LeAnn. He’s the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
LeAnn giggled. “I’m sure. Now help me get you over the side of the boat,” LeAnn coaxed.
Nick heard what Hannah had said and smiled, glad to hear that her feelings matched his.
Matt came to the back of the boat and carefully, picked Hannah up. She looked up at Matt and with a slur said,
“Hhhiiii Mattie.” Everyone laughed.
“Hi, Hannah,” Matt said, and lifted her over the side of the boat, careful not to reinjure his hand.
Nick reached up and grabbed his girlfriend. “Hmmmm. Hi, Nick,” she said as Nick grabbed her and she nuzzled his neck.
“Hi, cutie. Time to get you to bed.”
“Okee dokee,” she said giggly.
Matt helped LeAnn over the side where Adam waited to help her down. Adam carried his sister over to the shore. The water was cold but the guys didn’t seem to notice.
Matt climbed over next and joined the others on shore. He double checked the line and saw that Nick had done a great job of securing the boat.
They could all hear the music coming from the boathouse with the exception of Hannah. She had passed out on Nick’s shoulder.
Matt put his arm with his injured hand around LeAnn. With his good hand he held a large flashlight he kept on the boat. He led the way to LeAnn’s house. Thank goodness she had left almost all the lights on in the house as well as the lights on the porch. It was easy for them to find their way in the darkness.
After a few minutes, they came into the clearing above the boathouse near the house. Realizing this, Matt decided to get a couple workers out here to cut the bushes and make a new pier away from the boathouse.
After everyone was inside the house, Nick carried Hannah upstairs to the guest room where she had stayed the last time.
LeAnn hurried and locked the front door. She covered her ears, trying not to hear the music.
“LeAnn, everything is all right. You don’t have to go near the boathouse again. I’m going to take care of it,” Matt said.
She looked at him, dumbfounded. “Matt, what are you going to do? Kill the floating light? Burn down the boathouse? How do you think you are going to make all of this stop? How?” She asked him urgently. “Until I figure out what that damn thing wants, it will never ever stop. It’s going to haunt me forever! Unless it kills me first!” LeAnn broke down in sobs then ran up the stairs to her room and slammed the door.
Adam looked at Matt. “I feel so lost. I want to help my sister, but I don’t know how. I’m going down to that damn boathouse and see what I can figure out.” Adam turned toward the door. Matt grabbed his arm,
“No! Adam don’t. If you want to help your sister, you need to stay here. You have no idea what that thing is, and neither do I, and I saw it. I witnessed what it has the potential of doing. Please just stay here. Right now we need to ride this out for the night. Then we can put our heads together and see what we can do together.”
Adam looked at his old friend with frustration. “But….” he started.
“You have to trust me. Just stay here. Do you have any idea what it would do to LeAnn if anything happened to you?”
Adam sighed heavily, frustrated. He looked out the front-door window and then turned and went to get a beer from the kitchen. As he walked away, he asked over his shoulder, “You want one?”
Matt knew what he meant and said yes.
Nick echoed, “Yes,” as he came down the stairs.
Adam came out of the kitchen, carrying three beers. They went into the living room. Matt looked up the stairs and decided that LeAnn needed some space and stayed with the guys. They sipped their beers in silence.
The music kept playing over and over again and kept getting louder. No one wanted to look out the window to see if the floating light was there.
“What is that tune?” Adam asked, breaking the silence. No one knew. They just knew they had never heard it before.
After they quietly finished their beers, Matt said he was going to go up to make sure that LeAnn was all right. He said good night and headed up the stairs. Halfway up, he turned to Nick and Adam. “Would you guys leave the lights on? I know the front door is locked. Will you make sure the back door and windows are?” Nick and Adam said they would. Nick stood up and said he was ready to go up too.
They checked every window and door on the first floor. Then headed for the stairs.
When they reached the top, floor Nick stopped outside the room where Hannah was.
“Night, buddy,.” Nick said to Adam.
“Yeah, you too. Let’s hope we can get some sleep. I just wish that damn music would stop! Same tune over, and over. Same tune, over and over. It’s annoying,” Adam said.
Nick nodded in agreement.
Adam switched off the hallway light as Nick went in to join Hannah. Adam walked to his room. Before he turned on his bedroom light, he went to the window and looked at the boathouse. The floating light was there on the walkway.
“What the hell is that? What’s going on here?” he asked himself. He really wanted to go down to the boathouse and check it out, but he knew that if LeAnn was still awake, and knew he was down there, she would flip out. He decided, for his sister’s sake, he wouldn’t go down. But, it was going to drive him nuts, and he wouldn’t be able to sleep.
Matt found LeAnn asleep in her clothes. He figured she had fallen asleep crying. He quietly and gently took her clothes off and then his. Matt switched off the light and crawled in next to her and cradled her in his arms. She moaned a little but didn’t wake up.
One by one they all turned out their bedroom lights, trying not to hear the music blaring outside at the boathouse.
BOOOMMM! BOOOOMMMM! BOOOOMMMM!
It felt like an earthquake as all their beds shook!
BOOOMMM! BOOOOMMMM! BOOOOMMMM!
“My God! What is it! The whole house is shaking!” It was Nick calling out over the loud banging! He and Hannah were the first in the hallway.
BOOOOOMMMMM! BOOOOOOMMMMMM! BOOOOOMMMMM!
All of the lights throughout the house started flashing off and on.
The girls were screaming. The walls were shaking. Windows were rattling so much they sounded like they were going to break.
Adam came running out of his room. “WHAT THE HELL?” “WHAT IS GOING ON?” He had to scream above Hannah’s hysteria and the loud banging outside the house. “WHAT IS IT? WHERE’S LEANN?”
“SOMETHING IS TRYING TO GET INTO THE HOUSE!” LeAnn screamed, “IT’S GOING TO BREAK IN!” She was standing in the hall outside her bedroom, her face pale.
LeAnn turned to look into her room for Matt and started to scream! “THE WINDOW! LOOK AT THE WINDOW!” She said in fright pointing at her bedroom window. Adam ran over next to his sister to look at what she was pointing at.
There it was the black mist—a large ominous cloud that was changing from black to red to black like it had colored lightening in it. They could see it swirling angrily outside the window. It was dark outside, but they could see it.
BOOOOMMM! BOOOOMMMMM! BOOOMMMMM!
The doors and windows were going to fall apart!!
Hannah was hysterical on the hall floor. She had her hands over her ears. Nick was trying to calm her as he held her tightly.
“IT’S HIM! IT’S THE MIST THAT ATTACKED ME AND LEANN!” Hannah screamed. “HE’S TRAPPED US AGAIN! THIS TIME HE’LL KILL US! Hannah was getting out of control, “HE’S GOING TO KILL US ALL!”
Nick held her down in his arms and trying to shush her.
LeAnn put her hands over her ears and started to scream, “STOP IT! STOP IT! LEAVE US ALONE! WHAT DO YOU WANT?” She too slid down to the floor.
They all were together in the hallway waiting for the end. They felt sure that whatever was attacking the house was going to get in and kill them. Or that the roof was going to crash on their heads. The flashing lights outside looked like an electrical storm, except for the red!
If anyone had come out of their house across the lake from Tabor Island, they would have thought a large, rolling thundercloud had come down from the sky and enveloped the house—the kind of thunderclouds one sees in the distance in the middle of summer, on the horizon, flashing many colors. The loud noise was deafening in the house. They all huddled together, the girls crying and screaming.
“PLEASE, DEAR LORD, NOT AGAIN!” Screamed LeAnn, out loud, “PLEASE MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT GO AWAY!”
Then they heard it—the thing that LeAnn and Hannah said they prayed they would never hear again. It howled! The horrible howl of agony! LeAnn didn’t think she could take much more of this. She started to break away from Matt’s arms, but he wouldn’t let her go. His grip tightened around her.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he screamed.
Banging, wind, howling, lights flashing off and on! It continued endlessly.
“LET ME GO MATT! I WANT OUT!
Silence….
Darkness.
It all stopped at once.
They were all motionless. No one moved a muscle; they were afraid to. No one spoke.
They just listened. Listened for the noise to come again. Listened for the earth-shattering banging, that would surely destroy the house. Listened and waited for whatever would happen next.
After about fifteen minutes, Adam slowly got to his feet. LeAnn grabbed at him, and he put his finger to his lips and mouthed, “sshhhh.”
He slowly went to LeAnn’s room. He didn’t turn on the light. His eyes focused on her window where the horrible dark cloud had been. He didn’t see anything as he got closer and closer to the window. When he reached the window, he peeked out and saw nothing. He could see the moon in the clear sky, but nothing was outside the window. He looked down at the boathouse. Nothing but darkness. No light, no music, nothing but darkness and silence.
Adam jumped as Nick and Matt came up behind him.
“I guess it’s over,” Adam said. “I just don’t know what it was.”
“We’re never going to get these girls back to sleep. Hell, I may never go back to sleep again,” said Nick.
Matt sighed, “Yeah, we will, cause I know where LeAnn’s Valium is and I think this qualifies as an emotional emergency!”
“She still has those?” Adam asked, in a concerned voice. He was remembering their grief therapy sessions and the doctor who prescribed the Valium for them both. Adam had thrown his out. He didn’t know LeAnn still had hers.
Matt wasn’t sure if he should answer, but then said, “Yes. Is there a problem? Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“No. No, it’s okay. It’s just that I didn’t know she was still taking them. She had a really hard time after our folks were killed, and I thought she was better and didn’t need them anymore.”
“I think she has them as a ‘just in case’ or safety net,” Matt said. “I did give one to her because of the boathouse incident. But only once.”
“That’s good to know. Thank,” Adam said, looking grateful to Matt. He knew that Matt was good for his sister. It made him happy to know that Matt cared for his sister so much.
Nick spoke up, “Now what?”
They didn’t see LeAnn come into her room. “Let’s go downstairs and I’ll make coffee. If you guys think that I’m going to close my eyes after what we all just went through, you’re all nuts.” She sounded more angry than anything else.
Matt took her hand and nodded his head, and they went back into the hallway. Hannah was still crouched in the corner crying. Nick and LeAnn went to her.
“Hannah, honey, let’s go downstairs,” Nick coaxed. He tried to get her to stand up.
“I told you! I told you I never wanted to stay here again! Why did you do this to me, why?” Hannah pushed Nick away.
LeAnn spoke up before Nick could, “Hannah, we all had too much to drink at Gus’ Tavern. Do you remember? We all needed to stay here because of that. Don’t be mad at Nick. He did the right thing.” Hannah just stared at LeAnn. “I love you, LeAnn I just can’t stand your island.”
The guys chuckled a little and got Hannah to her feet. Hannah didn’t think it was very funny.
LeAnn walked over and switched on the hall light. Adam led the way down the stairs.
He switched on the light in the entry at the bottom of the stairs. They all stood motionless, waiting for anything that might jump out or start banging.
LeAnn grasped Matt’s hand and led him into the kitchen, “Don’t leave me alone,” she whispered, looking up at him earnestly.
“Never,” he responded, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. They went into the kitchen together while the other three went to the living room.
It was one-thirty, and they were sipping their coffee. LeAnn had brought out brandy for anyone who wanted to calm their nerves. They all did.
It was amazing how getting scared to death could sober you up. They had all felt the effects of Gus’ ouzo, but they hadn’t kept on doing shots like Hannah. Even she was very sober now.
Adam turned to his sister, “Do you know what it was?”
“No, Adam, but it was definitely like what Hannah and I went through. It’s never come up to the house before.”
No one knew what to say. They just sipped their coffee for almost a half hour.
“I really think we should try to get some sleep,” Nick said.
They all reluctantly agreed.
Hannah looked at them and asked, “Can we leave all the lights on?”
No one said anything at first. Hannah had passed out and didn’t know that the lights had all been left on when the guys went to bed.
“Definitely, Hannah. You leave on as many lights as you want,” LeAnn went and hugged her friend. They went arm in arm up the stairs.
“I suggest we all leave our doors open in case someone needs something. Okay?” It was Adam.
No one opposed his idea. They all reached the top of the stairs and said good night.
Before LeAnn would go in her room, she asked Matt to close the drapes on the three windows. Hannah looked at Nick, and he nodded his head, understanding before she even said anything.
All was quiet and the five of them did fall asleep even though they didn’t think they would ever sleep again.