There was a knock on Matt’s condo door. He went to answer it.
“Well, how do I look?” It was Adam all dressed for his date with Merika. He looked handsome in his black casual slacks and black turtleneck sweater; his blue eyes stood out with the dark sweater. LeAnn had always admired how her brother kept fit. He never missed a workout, and it showed.
“Wow, brother dear, you’re going to knock her socks off. You look great. You know how to get Gus’ right?” she asked him.
“Yeah, good old GPS. Thanks again for the use of your car. Well, don’t wait up.” He kissed his sister on the cheek, said goodbye to Matt, and headed for his date.
Just then, LeAnn’s cell phone rang. She reach for it on the coffee table. “Hello?”
“Miss Klein?” said the female voice on the other end.
“Yes, this is LeAnn Klein.”
“This is Virginia Thomas, Mrs. Armstrong’s nurse.”
“Yes, Miss Thomas. How are you?” LeAnn’s heart was beating fast and her hands started to tremble a little.
“It’s Mrs., she said curtly. “I spoke with Mrs. Armstrong, and she would like to know if you are available for tea tomorrow afternoon at two.” Virginia Thomas sounded very stern and proper, but LeAnn heard annoyance in her voice. LeAnn didn’t think she was crazy about Phoebe inviting her over.
“Thank you, Mrs. Thomas. Tomorrow at two would be wonderful. I look forward to meeting her.”
“Very well. I will let Mrs. Armstrong know you have accepted her invitation, and we will expect you then. Good bye, Miss Klein, and Miss Klein?” as an afterthought.
“Yes?”
“Please remember, Mrs. Armstrong is not in good health. I hope you will not upset her in anyway.”
“I wouldn’t think of upsetting her, Mrs. Thomas.” LeAnn was confused by Mrs. Thomas’ comment.
“Good-bye, Miss Klein. And Miss Klein?”
“Yes?”
“Please remember that Mrs. Armstrong is not in good health. I hope you will not upset her in any way.”
“I wouldn’t think of upsetting her, Mrs. Thomas.” LeAnn was confused by the woman’s comment.
“Good-bye.” Virginia Thomas hung up.
“Wow, that woman needs an attitude adjustment!” LeAnn said closing her cell phone.
“Who needs an attitude adjustment?” Matt handed her a glass of wine and sat on the couch next to her.
“Mrs. Virginia Thomas,” LeAnn said, annunciating the Mrs. just as her caller had. “It looks like I will be having tea with Mrs. Phoebe Armstrong at two tomorrow.”
Matt almost choked on his wine. “What? You’re kidding? She called back?”
“Not Phoebe. Her nurse did. I guess Phoebe wants to meet me after all.” She took a sip of wine and looked at him.
“What are you going to say to her?”
“What do you mean?” She looked at him questioningly.
“Well, you just don’t go to a woman’s house and say, ‘Hey, I’m living in your dead husband’s mistress house’.”
“Matt!” her mouth dropped open, and then she paused, and thought for a moment. “Oh damn it! You’re right. What am I going to say?”
Matt laughed and reached for her. “That’s my girl. React now figure; it out later.”
He kissed her deeply and long. She responded. He pulled her robe open, feeling her soft skin. He lifted her, carrying her to the bedroom and gently laid her on the bed.
After they made love, they lay in each others arms looking out the patio window looking at the view of the lake. The sun had already gone down, so there was nothing but darkness over the water. But they could still see the moon and a few stars.
“Hungry?” he asked, nuzzling her ear.
“A little. Want me to fix something?” Her eyes closed, enjoying the feeling.
“No, I’m going to call for a pizza.”
“Pizza? You romantic fool, you!” She laughed and turned towards him. She liked how her body fit against his. They kissed again and then he reached for the phone next to the bed.
After he ordered the pizza they got up, showered, and got dressed.
Just as Matt pulled on his sweatpants, there was a knock at the door.
“Pizza’s here,” he called. He answered the door, paid the delivery guy, and went to the kitchen for dishes and more wine.
LeAnn came out wearing only his sweatshirt. “Hmm, I’m hungry!”
“Me too.” He reached for her again. “Down boy, I want pizza,” she said pushing him away.
They enjoyed their pizza and watched a movie about a murder. When they finished eating, LeAnn paused the movie while Matt picked up the pizza box and dishes. He came back with a blanket and another bottle of wine. They snuggled together on the couch and watched the rest of the movie.
They woke up the next morning to a knock on the door. Matt pulled on his sweatpants and went to answer the door. He noticed it was nine-thirty. He opened the door to find Adam standing there.
“Hey, buddy. You two still in bed?” Adam walked in without being invited.
Matt closed the door. “Yeah. I can’t believe we slept so late.”
“What time is it?” LeAnn asked coming out of the bedroom while tying her robe. “Adam? What are you doing here?”
“It’s nine-thirty in the morning, and I came to see if you two wanted to go to the restaurant for breakfast. And, I wanted tell you about my wonderful date.”
LeAnn smiled at her brother. “Oh yeah, your date. I’ll go get dressed, and yes, you can buy us breakfast.”
Matt laughed at them both because he knew they weren’t going to get charged for their breakfast if he was with them.
Hannah smiled at the three of them when they came into the dining room. She was carrying a large tray of food.
Matt, LeAnn, and Adam sat a table by the window overlooking the lake. Matt asked LeAnn to please order him coffee and large glass of orange juice while he went to talk to his dad. Matt kissed LeAnn lightly and walked towards the lobby.
“So?” LeAnn asked her brother.
“What?” he teased. His sister gave him a dirty look.
He gave a small chuckle and said, “She’s wonderful. Not only is she beautiful, she’s smart. You should have heard her grandfather Gus when I picked her up. You think dad was rough on you? Not compared to the Greek!” They both laughed and talked about Adam’s date.
Hannah soon came over and gave them hugs. “I have to ask, did you stay on the island last night? If you did, what happened?”
LeAnn looked up at her friend. “No Hannah, we stayed here last night. In fact, I’m not sure when I’m going back to the island. Can you take a break and join us?”
“No. Hannah sighed. “Unfortunately, one of the girls didn’t show this morning so I’m it for the whole dining room.”
“Bummer. I wanted to tell you something.”
“Tell me what?” Hannah’s eyes lit up. “I have a minute.” She looked around the room and no one was signaling yet.
“Hannah, I’m meeting with Phoebe Armstrong this afternoon,” LeAnn said softly.
“What?” Adam and Hannah said at the same time.
“How did that happen?” Hannah asked, surprised.
“I called her. I didn’t get to talk to her directly, but her nurse called me back and said that I was invited for tea today.”
“Crap, hold that thought. I have an order up.” Hannah ran to the kitchen.
“LeAnn, what do you hope to accomplish by talking to two old ladies?” Adam asked, disbelieving what he had just heard.
She looked down at her cup of coffee then up at her brother, “I don’t know. I know that I want to give Amelia the love letters. At least I think they’re love letters. Anyway, she never knew Jonathan wrote her. Plus, I want to know what that thing in the ballroom is. Maybe these women can shed some light on what’s going on.” She paused for a long while, and Adam didn’t say anything so she continued. “Adam, that thing in the boathouse is very angry. It’s so angry and in so much agony it’s now attacking the house.”
“Do you think it’s Amelia’s father? Do you think he’s upset that we found out about his little secret with Carver?”
“I doubt it.” LeAnn shook her head and looked out the window at the lake. “Things were happening before we found the metal box and ledgers. Heck, maybe it’s Carver. Maybe he’s angry that his daughter was crippled by his son-in-law. That her whole life was in a wheelchair and he had no heir to his fortune because she couldn’t have children. Maybe he’s ticked off at his silent partner knowing Amelia was in love with his son-in-law.”
Adam shook his head, “That would certainly piss me off.”
“Who’s pissing who off?” Matt asked, coming into their conversation.
“We’re just trying to figure out what’s so angry in the boathouse,” Adam explained. “I’m also trying to figure out why my sister is so hell-bent on visiting these two old women. I think it’s ridiculous!”
“I agree.” Matt said, patting his girlfriend’s hand. “Well, it looks like I’m back in the work field again. Dad needs me to bartend tonight.” He looked at LeAnn and Adam. “You two are staying here for awhile.” Matt wasn’t asking them, he was telling them. “One, LeAnn, I don’t want you out of my sight, and two, Adam I hear from a reliable source you had a wonderful time last night. So, I gather you’ll be wanting the condo for a while longer.”
Adam’s face turned red. “Who? Who’s your source?” They were all laughing when Hannah came over to take their orders. They all ordered the special house omelet and coffee.
“Hannah, is my mom in the kitchen?” Matt asked.
“Yeah, but she’s pretty busy. If you want, I can go get her.”
“No. Just tell her we’re here. I know she’ll come out when she can. Thanks, Hannah.” Matt smiled.
One of the many things LeAnn loved about Matt was that he didn’t act like the boss’s son. He treated everyone as equal’s.
Matt’s mom came out of the kitchen just as they were finishing their breakfast.
“Hi, everyone,” Margaret said with a smile. She looked a little frazzled to LeAnn, probably from the breakfast rush. “It sure was busier than usual! A lot of locals were here, which is surprising for a Monday.” She went over to LeAnn and gave her a hug. “Did you get my note?”
“Yes, Mrs. Weston. Thank you very much. As a matter of fact, I’m having tea with Mrs. Armstrong today.”
Shocked, Margaret’s eyes were wide when she asked, “What? You’re kidding, right?”
“No. I called yesterday, and her nurse called back and said Mrs. Armstrong wanted me to come over today.”
Matt’s mom stared at LeAnn for a minute, and then said, “I’m truly surprised. Phoebe Armstrong hasn’t let anyone visit her in twenty years. Why in the world would she all of a sudden want to have you for tea? Please, LeAnn, I’m not trying to be insulting. I’m just shocked that’s all.”
“I’m not offended. I didn’t know she didn’t receive guests. Twenty years? No wonder her nurse acted the way she did.” No one said anything for awhile, and then LeAnn said, “I also called Amelia Tabor. She wasn’t very excited to hear from me either. I haven’t heard back from her. I really would like to see her, though.”
“LeAnn, honey, I’m not sure what’s going on but….” Mrs. Weston stopped talking, choosing her words carefully. “Try not to uncover old wounds. I only know what my mother would talk about with her friends when I was growing up, and it was pretty awful what those two families went through.”
“I don’t have any intentions of harming anyone, Mrs. Weston. I know you know what has been happening on the island. The island is my home and right now I can’t live there. I can’t because there is an angry presence who, I really believe, wants to kill me or anyone else that inhabits the island.”
Margaret Weston looked at her son and then back at LeAnn, not knowing what to say. Margaret was very afraid of what LeAnn was about to do.
“Just be careful, okay?” She bent down and kissed the young girl on the top of her head, then returned to the kitchen with tears in her eyes.
Everyone at the table was quiet. No one said anything for what seemed like an eternity.
Adam couldn’t stand the silence anymore. Needing to change the mood, “Okay, so what’s the plan? I’m on my own right?”
LeAnn looked at her watch and saw it was eleven-thirty. “I need to go and get cleaned up. It’s a forty-five minute drive to Hayward. I’m not sure where the house is so I want to make sure I give myself plenty of time.”
“And I need to go to work,” Matt said. “So Adam, I guess you are on your own. Do you want to play golf this afternoon, say around two or three o’clock? I’m off then until I have to work tonight.”
“Awesome, yeah, definitely! I think for now I’ll go for a hike.”
They all stood up and headed their separate ways.
Matt pulled LeAnn aside. “I want to hear from you when you’re on the road to Hayward.”
She could see he was really serious. “Matt, I’ll be fine. Why so serious?”
“I just don’t have a good feeling about all of this. You are extremely important to me, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Matt, she’s ninety-three years old. How dangerous can she be?”
“LeAnn, it’s not just that; it’s everything. None of this is normal, you know?”
She smiled up at him. “I love you, Matt, and this is going to end. I have to make it end so I can reclaim my house.”
He bent down and kissed her. “I love you, LeAnn. More than I have ever loved anyone in my life. I would die if anything happened to you.”
She smiled up at him. “I promise to be careful.” She turned and went to the condo to get ready.
LeAnn took a shower and dressed in her black dress slacks but she couldn’t decide whether to wear the white lacy blouse or black and red sweater. She decided her sweater would be better.
She made sure her make up was perfect and redid her hair. She looked at herself in the mirror and said, “This is as good as it gets. Here goes nothing!” She turned off the light in the bathroom, got her purse and car keys and went to meet Jonathan Armstrong’s widow.