Weeping Willows

Bump in the Night

Chapter 27

Back at the house Elizabeth made a beeline for the front door carrying as many bags as she could tote at once. The plastic bit into the skin on her arms as she hustled up the steps and flung open the screen door. Opening the door, the cold air didn't faze her as she hurried to take her things to the kitchen. Dropping bags on the floor she rubbed the angry red marks along her arms. Elizabeth was panting with the exertion of her activity. Leaning back against the table she shivered as the sweat that soaked through her clothes began to cool. She took deep breaths trying to get her breathing under control. She inhaled deeply, the cold air stinging her throat. She exhaled making her eyes widen in surprise as her breath formed in front of her. One would think it was the middle of winter in there. Elizabeth finally noticed just how cold the house was. She rushed over to the thermostat in the living room to turn the temp up. When she reached it however the thing was showing it was seventy-five degrees in her home. She stood there shivering in confusion staring at the black number. Tomorrow she would ask Jan or Ryan who to call to look at the heating and cooling. Before going back outside she threw open the downstairs windows to allow the heat of the outside to invade her home.

By the time she was done bringing everything in, the temperature was finally returning to a more comfortable level. She decided to go ahead and bake the pieces now since the house was so cold. While those were baking, she moved about the kitchen putting things away making sure to check her snack cupboard for fresh rodent droppings. Still fearing new critters would move in and eat her goodies before she could. That was one thing she didn't share but much to her relief there were no new sightings. Clayton and Tyson's family pest business was well worth the prices they charged. Once everything was put away and all the art supplies had been returned to her make-shift studio the projects were done. Turning off the oven she left the door open for them to cool off slowly.

Freshly bathed and dressed for bed in another set of ratty comfy jammies Elizabeth made her way to the kitchen for something to eat. She closed the door to the now cold oven leaving the projects to deal with another time. Not wanting to cook she went to the cupboard getting out a package of cookies and a bag of chips. Grabbing a water out of the fridge she headed to her studio. Early evening had set in leaving a dusky pinkish light spilling through the windows giving the house a rather eerie aura. Shaking off her misgivings about the night to come she turned on the light moving about to deposit her meal on the glass tabletop. Opening up the drawer she removed the calligraphy supplies and a piece of the old stationary. Popping a cookie in her mouth she began to write her next letter.

Dear William,

As I sit here writing to you my mind is reeling with all of the new things I learned about people here. You see I teach art to a group of elderly and I must admit I fell into the pit fall of seeing them as nothing more. I was fascinated and a bit heartbroken by the lives they have lived that I, up until that point, had not given much thought to. The trials of one that effected so many and still clearly does. The loneliness and secrets that were kept hidden and the damage caused when they came to light. I found myself yearning for a way to have prevented these atrocities. The one bright lining was a whirlwind romance I learned about. Maybe it is because I am a hopeless romantic at heart, but I found the tale swoon worthy. It did make me a bit envious that I have never had such a grand love of my own.

Do not take that wrong I have thought myself in love a time or two in my life, but they were obviously not what I thought them to be. After hearing about a true love this woman had with a man who may not have seemed perfect to everyone else but was perfect for her. I must confess that it has ruined me for all future relationships. I will inadvertently find myself comparing everyone now with the ideal she has planted in my mind I just know it. How will I ever be able to find someone who measures up to a fantasy? I will be destined to either settle for less or just live with being an old spinster. My future is bleak I tell you. I have met someone that could possibly be right for me, but I am having a hard time coming to terms with my feelings. I do like him well enough, although I do not truly know him well yet, but the timing is bad.