The Vault

13.

"Something bad happened in that vault," Abraham said after sipping from his glass of water.

Alice watched him with concern as he sheepishly held the glass with both hands. It was a lousy attempt to hide the fact that he was shaking after his intense nightmare.

"I can't remember what it was, but I feel like I was there."

"You're taking a lot of medicines at the moment, and you're under too much stress," Alice said softly. "Things will go back to normal once you get rest."

Abraham smiled at her. "You have so much strength, you're just like your mother."

She smiled back to him as the candlelight flickered softly.

"I should have been so much of a better father, I never told you enough how proud I am of you, I'm sorry."

"Don't be silly," Alice said sternly.

"It's true. I was always too absorbed with my profession, I never had time to focus on what is really important... and now look at me." He let out a self-deprecating laugh as his head dropped. "We only came to this place because I was too obsessed with work. I should have listened to you."

"It's okay, don't blame yourself."

"No, it's not okay," Abraham said earnestly. "I have done something terrible. I do not know what it is, but I know it in my heart," he continued.

Alice looked at him worriedly.

"If I had the strength of heart you and your mother possessed, or the loving, caring nature... I know I would have made a better man."

"Get some rest father," Alice said politely, and went back to sitting by the window.

He watched the little light of the candle flicker as it fought the air around it, before slowly closing his eyes.

"Thanks dad..." Alice whispered under her breath.

She looked down at the gardens beneath her, the eerie ambience of the shuffling shrubbery left her feeling a sense of unease. Tomorrow she would take a shovel to the whole lot of it she decided.

Alice assumed it was Mildred when a noisy knock came echoing from the front door at around midday. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, she breathed a sigh of relief as she knew full well that her friend would help her weed out the entire garden.

Hurrying towards the door with her sleeves rolled up and her messy apron over her blouse, she was in absolute horror when she pulled the door open to reveal the handsome Doctor Kelston standing there.

"Doctor Kelston, I did not expect you until tomorrow," she said nervously as she desperately rearranged her scruffy exterior.

"Well, I thought I would stop by today, I hope that's no inconvenience," he said politely.

"Not at all, though my father is resting at the moment."

"Actually, it's not you father I came to see," Caleb said as he scratched the back of his neck uneasily.

"What do you mean?" Alice asked.

"I was nearby and I thought I would check on how you are coping."

Alice looked at him, weighing up his sincerity and judging the truth of his claim.

"Very well, I suppose it is no bother you come in, I am only gardening after all."

Caleb nodded respectfully and entered.