Chapter 50 -And They Shall See

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For once, Sookie's luck seemed to hold. Contractors made arrangements and showed up when they said they would. There were no unexpected delays or stoppages and the house with its barn transformed as if by magic.

Of the two buildings, it was the barn that was truly the miracle. It started as a mere shell, it's shingle roof patched and sagging in places. A small excavator was brought in and trucks left, loaded with generations of old straw and cow manure. The carpenter told Sookie the architect was daft and for over a week, she was gifted with sideways glances and cuss words hissed low, but now, even the greatest skeptics were impressed. The main floor opened up, light and airy, new insulation and soft lights gracing the soaring ceilings. Sookie had given in, allowing a small loft of sorts to be built over the kitchen and dining room, but only after winning her argument to have the new design incorporate skylights with tunnels that cut through the kitchen ceiling, allowing shafts of light to flood in from the sky above.

As soon as the first floor was finished, Sookie moved her few belongings over from the main house. She thanked Joyce and moved permanently out of the B&B in Carreigh as well. She no sooner settled her clothes than she had Ian arrange to have the furniture from Slievemore pulled out of storage.

Sookie wasn't exactly sure what Pam decided was hers, and so she watched the unpacking with growing curiosity. About halfway through, Sookie realized Pam had sent every piece of furniture. There were also boxes, all labeled. 'Kitchenware,' said one, and 'Bathroom,' said another. It wasn't a large stack and Sookie could see that not one said, "Books.' It made Sookie both happy and sad all at the same time.

As Sookie directed the movers, telling them where and how to place things, she could see there would still be plenty of gaps, more furnishings she would need to buy. The Goat House was small and the space she now owned, the combined house and barn, was huge in comparison. As each piece came off the truck, Sookie found herself lost in memories. She thought of the times she'd sat behind a particular desk, or how she and Eric almost broke the small table, making love on it. The unpacking might have gone faster, except for the attention Sookie paid in placing each chair, each dresser, with care.

The one piece Sookie found most troubling was the attic bed. Technically, it was Eric's. It had been there under the eaves before she arrived and Sookie was surprised Pam sent it. When asked where to set it up, Sookie found herself directing the movers to the first-floor guestroom in the barn. For some reason, she couldn't stand the idea of placing it below, and so the master bedroom remained open without a bed and Sookie slept above.

The surprise had been the copy of Wuthering Heights she found tucked in the box with the linens. Sookie had been reading it when Eric left. It was one of his books, the only one now left in her possession. Just seeing it overcame her and she retreated to the ocean, walking down the beach, the book clutched to her chest. It had been weeks since she'd given herself permission to collapse, but now, holding this reminder, she let her pain flow.

She didn't know how long she sat there, wiping the snot from her face with her shirt sleeve, not caring how bad she looked. It must have been a while, though, because Ian came to look for her.

"Are you okay, then?" he asked, offering her his handkerchief.

Sookie took a deep breath. 'Enough for today,' she thought, and nodding, stood.

Baile Siochanta (Southern Vampire Mysteries)Where stories live. Discover now