My Story: The Winchester House [Completed]

52: Return

Luke walked to me as he carried the laundry basket for me to the laundry room. He placed the basket down, and took off his suit jacket. He rolled up his sleeves, and then quickly slipped his jacket back on, adjusting the jacket to his needs.

"Luke, darling, you don't have to help me. Go play with your sisters," I told him as he turned the knob in order to turn on the sink.

"Don't worry, mother, I can help you wash clothes," he smiled. I smiled back as he moved the step stool closer to me, allowing him to wash clothes while being next to me.. I remembered when the step stool was his primary tool to wash clothes when I was around. "What's the matter, Mother?"

"Nothing, Luke. Just remembering the very first time you washed clothes with me," I told him as he turned off the water. I grabbed an extra bar of soap and went to work. Sometimes I can't understand how some of these clothes could be so filthy and covered with dirt, considering that Mrs. Winchester and Marian never went outside. Luke went on scrubbing as well, yet he was never able to pair up to my speed.

"Mother, I was thinking that, maybe, I'll take four years off from baseball when I turn eighteen and join the army for a bit. Then I could return and play baseball once more," he stared blankly at the skirt in front of him, not daring to meet up with my eyes.

"How would you find a team?" I asked.

"The Brooklyn Dodgers have offered me a position, only if that I serve for four years in the US Army, preferably fight in the Great War in Europe.," he said with a wide smile. I laughed and hugged him. Tightly, he hugged me back.

"You found a team that wants you," I said enthusiastically. He nodded.

"You have no idea how happy I was when their manager announced it to the team. They want a pitcher, but they also want me to have a military background so that I'll be different from the rest of the team," he said. I gave him another hug, feeling the tears start to trickle off of my face.

"I am so proud of you, Luke," I told him, and he pulled back for a moment to look at me.

"Thank you, Mother. I could only hope to make you and Father proud," he said. I kissed his cheek.

"I am always proud of you, darling," I said. He smiled as he went back to washing the clothes in the sink.

"Thank you, Mother," he said. I smiled, a mixture of emotions went through me like a wild horse.

The sadness struck me as I realised that I was watching my baby boy grow up so quickly and that he was going to leave in such a short time. Yet I was filled with pride and happiness for the exact same reason.

~*~

"When will Father come back?" Syren asked at dinner that night. The table was only filled with my daughters and me, since Luke went out with his girlfriend.

"Next week. He promised to take us to a nice dinner when he returns," I announced with a happy tune. Syren smiled as she continued eating the chicken that I had cooked for tonight.

"Mrs. Winchester said something weird today, Mama," Amanda said. I looked at her, tilting my head in confusion.

"Amanda, we don't say that Mrs. Winchester is saying something weird! It's disrespectful," Syren told her. I put my hand up, pointing my finger at the ceiling to sign to Syren to be quiet. I continued to stare.

"Amanda, what did Mrs. Winchester say?" I asked. Amanda adjusted her seat, sitting up straight.

"She was saying that Luke was walking around on the second floor. I was confused, and told her that Luke was on the first floor washing clothes with you. She insisted that Luke's namesake was walking around on the second floor," Amanda said. I was taken aback. It was sixteen years since anyone mentioned Luke Burbidge aloud to me that wasn't Max or myself.

"Luke's namesake?" I asked. Amanda nodded with a grin.

"She told me not to tell you, but I had to," Amanda sighed, and stuffed another piece of chicken in her mouth. During the rest of dinner only the girls talked.

"Go get your books. I'm going to take you to go read with Adalynn," I told the girls. They ran upstairs to get their books as I put on my coat, getting ready to leave. I knocked on Connor's door.

"Samantha? What's the matter?" Connor asked as he answered the door.

"I need Madalynn to join me in the house. Can you watch the girls for me?" I asked. He nodded, not asking any more questions.

"Madalynn, Samantha needs you!" Connor called out. Madalynn came to the door as the girls ran into the house.

"What's the matter?" Madalynn asked.

"Mrs. Winchester said that Luke was roaming the second floor," I told her as she grabbed her coat, and closed the door behind her.