SOMEWHERE by the Sea

Stone House

Over the next week Faith explored much of Somewhere, and the more she saw, the more she fell in love with the town and its residents. They were quirky, kind, funny, and intriguing. She returned to Mama Pink's Diner for the meatloaf special and enjoyed every bite. She even felt like she'd gained a few pounds since arriving, which was a good thing.

A few days after her visit to the museum, she returned and continued discussions with Vicky about the early settlers of town, and when her new friend invited her to coffee on Saturday, she readily accepted.

Now, relaxing in a small room that had once belonged to a servant, but was furnished as a tiny sitting room and fitted with a sink, hotplate, and microwave, Vicky poured jasmine tea from an ornate teapot into dainty teacups painted with Monarch butterflies and said, "As you can see, I love everything Victorian." She handed the lovely teacup and saucer to Faith and then invited her to enjoy the bonbons, nuts, cookies, and sweet breads set before them. The women faced a small window with only the sky visible to them and Vicky continued, "I've remodeled this top floor in my mind many times, replacing the window with a large one, but, of course, that will never happen. I would refuse such a change because it would damage the originality of the house. The only concession I made when I moved in was for Leo to create this tiny sitting room and a bathroom.

Faith said, "With this being a museum, I can understand your reasoning, but if it weren't, would you remodel it like Gabby has? I haven't seen the third floor, but I imagine it's quite nice."

Vicky sipped her tea and smiled. "Yes, her remodel is lovely. They knocked out walls to create a large sitting room, added a bathroom, and updated the two remaining servants' bedrooms for themselves. But to answer your question, I guess I'm a throwback to another age. Even if this weren't a museum, I wouldn't remodel." She looked sheepish. "Sometimes I even pretend I'm living in the era of this home. And when things go bump in the night, they don't scare me. I figure it's just a previous occupant experiencing a moment of nostalgia."

Faith's eyes widened. "Are there many bumps in the night?"

Vicky laughed. "No, not many, but if you want a place with more than that, you should go to Stone House out on the northern peninsula."

"You mean the first house built by the town's founder?"

"Yes." She leaned forward. "It's locked up, but ever so often tourists or locals who explore the grounds tell of strange happenings."

Faith also leaned forward. "Like what?"

Vicky said softly, "They tell stories of voices coming from inside the home and a dog's bark outside, but no dog around. There have even been reports of male and female apparitions in Victorian clothing."

Vicky's cell phone rang and the women jumped. Vicky laughed and glanced at the caller ID. "It's Mr. Constanzo." She answered, "Hi, Leo," and smiled at Faith. She listened and said, "That's great. I'll be right down with my new friend, Faith Bennison, who's staying at Gabby's place." She paused and listened again. "Okay. See you in a second." She hung up. "The owner of the museum is downstairs. He wants to see my idea for a new brochure. Come on. He's really nice."

Faith followed Vicky downstairs to the foyer and saw a tall man reading entries in the guestbook. He glanced up when he heard them and smiled warmly. He was probably in his late fifties or early sixties and still a very handsome man: tall with a touch of gray at his temples blending into thick black hair, a lithe but solid body evidencing a healthy lifestyle, and a friendly smile with beautifully straight white teeth. Faith wondered if he wore dentures, but quickly cast that notion aside when she stepped close enough to shake his outstretched hand after Vicky made introductions.

Leo Constanzo said, "It's a pleasure making your acquaintance, Ms. Bennison. I hope you're enjoying your stay in Somewhere."

"Thank you, Mr. Constanzo, but please call me Faith. And yes, I love everything about Somewhere."

"And you must call me Leo. I'm addressed as Mr. Constanzo every day at work and frankly, after hours, I ask everyone to call me by my first name."

Vicky had walked to her small desk and removed a piece of paper that she now handed to her employer. As she began explaining her drawing for a brochure, Faith noted that she was an excellent artist. Leo added a few ideas and they quickly decided to go with the new look. He then engaged Faith and Vicky in a short conversation about a storm expected to arrive within a day or two. After he left, Faith returned with Vicky to her sitting room, where they warmed their tea in the microwave and spoke about the town's annual outdoor market. Vicky said, "Main Street will be closed at both ends and filled with vendors. We get lots of artists, photographers, health food merchants, farmers, jewelry makers, birdhouse builders, junk food peddlers, and more. I'm manning a booth representing the museum and that's why we redesigned the brochure."

Vicky's cell phone rang again and she frowned. "Excuse me. This is my mom."

Faith glanced at her watch. "No problem. I need to leave anyway. I'll pop into the museum next week to say hi. Don't worry about showing me out."

Vicky nodded and answered her phone. "Hi, Mom. Are you feeling better?"

**********

The next day after breakfast Faith stepped onto the balcony and scanned the sky. In the distance gray clouds contrasted with blue skies directly overhead. Leo had said a storm was approaching, so Faith vacillated between staying in her room and writing her pirate story or taking a walk in the woods. The walk won.

The foyer and dining room were empty and she considered going to the kitchen to let someone know where she was headed, but since she had her cell phone, she decided it wasn't necessary.

After her first excursion into the forest she had returned only once and still hadn't gone as far as Stone House. Now, with the sun shining and clouds far in the distance, the day was perfect for an adventure to the headland of Gabby's peninsula.

She walked past the private beach and a few sunbathers to reach the scattered boulders, and then the trailhead. When she came to the fork, she reconsidered going to Stone House because if she veered north, she would once again find herself at the lovely overlook of the adjoining cove. But then she might run into Baxter. Although she saw him almost every day, she always felt tongue-tied around him. He was very attractive and carried a commanding persona that intimidated her.

She continued westward with the sun dappling the ground through leaves in the trees, but the air suddenly cooled and the sky darkened. The storm clouds that had been so far away were now overhead. For a moment she considered running back to the B & B, but a fat raindrop made it through the tree branches and landed on her cheek. She was closer to Stone House than the B & B, so she rushed forward. She figured she could take cover under an eave at Stone House.

The sky blackened even more and a bolt of lightening temporarily illuminated the trees before thunder shook the ground like an earthquake. It was then that Faith wished she had told someone where she was going. They probably would have talked her out of it. She reached into her pocket to retrieve her cell phone and check the signal strength. There were no bands.

By now, torrents of water were breaking through wind slashed trees and soaking her. She started running as fast as feasible toward the house at the end of the trail.

Another lightening bolt streaked the sky, closer. She ran faster. When a third flash lit the air, she stopped and placed a hand over her heart. In front of her on a bluff was Stone House and beyond it, the raging sea.