Secrets And Tea

Chapter 21

Rhionna stood by the railing, letting the wind blow across her face. The warm sun felt great.

Damien stood next to her, quiet. She had thought he was just enjoying the day like her but his brows had been furrowed since they had boarded the ferry with his truck.

They would have to wait until they were the only people on the ride back if they had furniture. The ferry wasn't all that big so the extra weight could pose a problem. They had already talked to the captain of the ferry and agreed that if weather persisted they would be picked up after the first initial rush.

"What's on your mind? You are quiet today," asked Rhionna.

"Hmmm? Oh it's nothing. I didn't sleep well last night. Someone was knocking on my walls and stirring up my ghostly companion," Damien replied, "I wanted to go catch the kid, but Mrs. Joplin refused to let me go out even though the knocking was disturbing her too."

Worry filled Rhionna, "Did you call Abigail? She is our resident spirit talker. She would have come out to see what was going on."

"It was 3 in the morning I didn't want to disturb anyone at that hour." Damien said, "I'll be fine. I slept less while in the military. Just a few cups of strong coffee and I'll perk up."

Rhionna placed a hand on his shoulder just as the captain announced over the speakers that they were approaching the mainland dock and to get in their vehicles.

"Please tell me you will call Abigail when we get back to the island Damien. I don't like that something is threatening you."

Damien just patted her hand, "I'll call her when I get back."

They climbed into his truck and followed the three cars ahead of them off the ramp and onto the pavement.

They dropped the talk about the knocking walls and made plans for dinner that afternoon.

As they stopped at nearby furniture stores and second hand shops. Rhionna gave her opinion on the colors of the fabric or leather.

Damien chose a brown leather love seat and armchair. Some lamps and a few other things.

They had rented a small enclosed truck from a small company to load up the furniture. Rhionna would drive Damien's truck back to the dock parking lot.

They had lunch at a small little family owned bistro and then waited for the ferry to return to the dock.

Damien's cell phone jingled and he picked it up stepping away from Rhionna. He spoke quietly into it.

At first Rhionna wondered if he was talking to a girlfriend. Her heart ached at the thought of him having a girlfriend somewhere else in the world.

She shook her head. It was ridiculous for her to get worried over something small. It wasn't like they were dating. They were just friends.

Damien returned to the truck and sighed.

"Everything okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, that was just my mom. She wanted to know if I was settling in alright." He said, "They are a little offended I didn't want to return home to settle down. Mom was looking forward to setting me up with some 'wonderful friends' daughters."

Rhionna felt a twinge, jealousy? She focused on the dock. The ferry was slowly trucking towards them. No one on the boat.

The ride back to the island took a little longer than she thought it would. She was happy to see a few guys she knew standing by Damien's fence as they pulled in.

"Hey Rhi, we were called in to help move the furniture in." Greeted one of the men.

"Thanks Patrick," Rhionna said as she watched them all line up behind the truck. She took the keys Damien handed her and entered the yard. The front door opened on its own accord.

"Thank you, Mrs. Joplin," Rhionna spoke to the entry way. She wasn't able to see spirits but she could feel the subtle warmth flow around her with the floral scent Mrs. Joplin had always worn.

She entered the house and went to stand in the empty living room. She was picturing the best placement of the furniture when she heard the front door slam shut.

A strong wind flew through the house. She rushed to the front door and tried open it. The door jiggled but didn't give way.

She looked out the side window, the men were just starting to haul out the love seat from the back of the truck.

Trying the door again Rhionna felt a small bubble fear. The door wouldn't budge. She let go and headed towards the kitchen and the back door.

A gust of wind blew by her, when she tried the back door it wouldn't move either. She felt something stir and smelled the warm scent of Mrs. Joplin but the door still wouldn't open.

Heading back to the front she tried the front door and looked out the window again. The men were now coming up the walkway.

She turned the knob, but the door seemed to be jammed. Trying not to panic she looked around to see if something could possibly be blocking the door. There wasn't anything in sight.

She pounded on the door. The men looked up at her which was a relief since that told her they could hear her. She tried to tell them that the door wasn't opening.

They continued up onto the porch. The one holding one of the lamps tried the door and it wouldn't budge.

Rhionna gave a shrug when he made an open the door gesture. Shaking her head. She tried again but returned to shrug.

Damien set his end of the couch down and stepped up onto the overhead porch. He tried the door and it wouldn't open. He threw himself into it hard enough to rattle the solid wood frame.

He said he was going to try the back door and disappeared from out of sight.

Rhionna followed Damien to the back door and heard the thump as he tried to open the door with his whole body.

She now was starting to feel the panic. Why was it so hard to open the door? She went to the window and opened easily. Then a gust of wind ruffled her hair and the window slammed shut and locked.

Rhionna stared in shock at the window. Something was in the house, and it wasn't friendly. She spun when the whirlwind blew by her again. She spun back to the window and tried to open it but there was no budging it. 

She heard curse words flowing through the back door as Damien tried to work on the lock. She didn't know what was going on. 

"Damien, can you hear me?" she shouted.

"Yeah, I can hear you. Are you okay?" he demanded through the door. 

"I'm okay, call Abby. Please Damien. Call Abby. She will know what to do," Rhionna cried out, "Whatever is here isn't friendly and it's not going to let you in or me out. Mrs. Joplin won't be able to get it out either." 

She heard a few moments of silence. 

"Fine, I'll call her but I don't think she will be much help either. We have to get you out of there." Damien said. 

Rhionna sighed with relief, she knew he was still having a hard time with the fact that he was now part of a supernatural community.