The Woman In The Shadows

Part Three - The Vision

It wasn't long after the girls had chosen their rooms when the moving truck had arrived - a father and sons company, the man and his two sons had the entire truck unloaded within an hour of arriving.

"Wow, you fellas weren't kidding with that ad!" Jim exclaimed, patting the man on the shoulder. "Best movers in the business, hands down." He continued, praising the trio for their work.

"Well we appreciate that very much, Jim." The man responded, looking on at his boys with pride.

"Care to stick around?" Jim asked as he walked to the kitchen sink to get a glass of water. "We're going to get a pizza if you boys are hungry."

In the shadows, the woman watched, annoyed by the intruders standing in her kitchen.

Get out she whispered, the kitchen door flying open as it cascaded into the wall with a loud bang.

"Whoa there!" the man yelled, jumping from the noise.

Jim looked at the door, puzzled as the water from the tap filled the large glass. The woman looked on from the safety of the dark corner, enraged as she glared at the man by the sink. The water became hotter with each moment she watched as it left the faucet.

"Son of a - " Jim yelled, dropping the glass hard into the sink, the steam from the now boiling water fogging the window looking out onto the deck.

"Honey!" Sheila yelled, running to the freezer in search of ice, Jim holding tight to his hand, wincing from the pain.

"Better get that hot water tank looked at, sir." one of the boys suggested, a look of genuine concern on his face as he looked on at Jim's hand.

His hand in his mouth, Jim nodded in agreement.

"First thing on my list, kid" he managed to say as he flinched, his wife now holding his hand as she slid the ice cube up and down his burnt hand.

"Well we appreciate the offer and your hospitality, Jim but we best be getting on our way." The father said, smiling at his sons. "Long drive back home and the wife is waiting."

There was a moment of silence that fell between the two men as they stood, looking at one another in the kitchen of the hundred year old home.

Sheila cleared her throat loudly as she nonchalantly nudged her absent-minded husband.

"Shit, right!" he said, shaking his head as he retrieved the cheque he had left by the door. "Suppose I should pay you - here you go and thanks again. If you have a card I'll gladly pass it along." he offered with a smile.

"Much appreciated." the father said as he retrieved a business card from his breast pocket. "If you have a pen I'll scribble a ten percent discount on the back."

"Oh" Jim chuckled, "no need - we don't like our friends that much."

The two laughed and headed for the door, the wall behind had a small hole from the impact of the door handle.

"And that would be item number two on my ever growing list." Jim suggested, looking at everyone in the room. "I'd shake your hand, but - " he held up his red, swollen hand for the man's inspection.

"Don't worry about it." The father said. "Get that looked at and have a good one."

Jim winced, the pain from his hand radiating up his forearm as the woman in the shadows glared at the injured man by the door.

"Not a bad idea." Jim replied, his words chasing after the father and sons moving crew.

Closing the door, Jim turned to see his wife, white as a ghost, looking in the corner of the room.