Disclaimer: These characters and this
narrative are mine, so there is nothing to disclaim in this here story. You will need an open mind to read it,
though. If you find something you think
needs disclaiming, you are more than welcome to let me know. It won’t change anything, but it may make you
feel better. Ugliness will earn you a
smack to the back of your head.
Thanks:
To my
truly awesome Beta Team. Thanks to
Carol, Marsha, Phil and Liz for the editing and for the questions, comments,
steering and encouragement. You guys
ROC!
Special Thanks: To the webmistresses
who have to put up with my funky, pain-in-the-ass formatting and post my
stories anyway. J
Author’s
Note: This
story is not part of the Valiant Series.
It is a stand alone story with two completely new characters. The Storyteller’s Cardinal Rule is in effect.
Most Cherished Dreams
Prologue: Once Upon a Time....
April 1847
Journal
entry: I had the dream again last night,
and I am beginning to go mad because of it.
Those eyes surround me and invade my soul, and yet I cannot find them
when daylight strikes the Earth.
Papa has agreed to take me on
the next voyage. Perhaps I will find
what my soul seeks there.
September 1851
Journal
entry: I found eyes similar to the ones I
have spent a lifetime searching for, but they were not the eyes that belong to
me. It was mostly by accident I think,
and I tried to warn the man away from my ship.
He didn’t seem put off that I was a woman, the Captain, nor the fact
that we bore flag of a pirate ship. If I
did not know better, I would say he was relieved to have found us.
The man, Michael, spent quite
some time on board as if he were searching for answers to an unknown riddle. He
must have been satisfied with what he found, for when he left us, he was in much better spirits than when he arrived.
I am glad he found his
answers, if he did. His last comment to
me has made me a bit unsettled, and has strengthened the resolve of my search.
“You will find her, for she
will come to you in due time.”
How could he know what haunts
my dreams?
May 1853
Journal
entry: The dreams grow increasingly more
frequent. I cannot imagine what I did to
anger God in such a way so as to be cursed like this, for I had these visions
long before I took to the seas. And the
priest assures me that what we are doing is not wrong in the eyes of God.
I almost dread the nightfall,
and yet I eagerly embrace it as well, for I know that there I will find comfort
in her arms.
She has become more clear to me as time has passed. Green eyes, the color of the grass in what
was once my home. Golden
hair that reminds me of the treasures that abound in these waters for those who
know where to look. A lithe body, muscles that speaks of hard work and softness
addressed by womanly curves. All
of this I see, and still her face remains hidden, except for those eyes that
have haunted me since I was a child.
I wonder if she dreams of me
as I do of her.
June 1855
Journal
entry: Something has changed, and for the
first time in my life I feel a true sense of anticipation for the future. Could it be our time has come at last?
Even the men have noticed the
change, and go about their tasks in a brighter frame of mind. Who can blame them... it seems as though we
have been in this stretch of ocean for hundreds of years, instead of the few
months we come this way every so often.
Truth be told, we have been here more often than usual, just because I
feel the need to be.
I have hope now, for whatever
reason. I will find her.
Chapter I
October - Twenty Years Ago
“Are ya sure about this, Jack? We can’t afford to be wrong.”
“I’m tellin’ ya, Mike. It was the three-masted
cutter of the legends. I couldn’t make
out the name, but there were people on board, Mikey, and they looked like
pirates from two hundred years ago.”
“C’mon, Jack... we both know
that there’ve been no pirates in those waters in a hundred years. You keep
talking crazy like that, they’ll lock you up and throw away the key.”
“Mike, I saw the pirate banner. I saw the cannons. I saw HER.”
Now Mike got serious. “Did you get the coordinates?”
Jack nodded. “Oh yeah. Wanna guess?”
“The Triangle?”
Mike sighed. He closed his eyes at
Jack’s affirmative nod. “Did she say
ANYTHING?”
“Not a word. She searched the area over two week period
then disappeared into the mist.”
“Was there a pattern to the search?”
“Amazingly, yes.” He unrolled a map out into the table, then place a grid on top of it. “I didn’t think a pirate would be quite so
methodical, but....”
“Daddy, what’s a pirate?”
The two men looked up at the question, and
Mike smiled at his little girl. Little five-year-old Hannah was the bright spot in his world. Beautiful, with honey colored hair and bright
green eyes, she was the spitting image of the mother
who had died giving her life. He opened
his arms, and Hannah giggled as she ran to jump up into them.
“How’s Daddy’s angel today? Did you have fun in school?”
“Oh yes, Daddy. It was the mostest
fun. We colored and pasted and played
hide-n-seek and....” Mike laughed
joyously at his daughter’s enthusiasm.
She reminded him so much of her mother, and though it was still
sometimes a very painful reminder, he found great joy in that fact as well.
“I’m glad you like school, sweetheart. Say hi to Uncle Jack.”
The five-year-old squealed. “UNCLE JACK!!”
“Hiya pumpkin! How’s my favorite niece?”
Hannah did the best grown up imitation she
could manage snuggled up in her Daddy’s arms.
“Uncle Jack, I’m your ONLY niece.”
Jack Reilly laughed. “That’s true, cutie. I brought you something back from my trip.”
“Yea!! Is it from the pirates?”
Both men looked startled at the
question. “Um, no. But it is your very own piece of
paradise.” He handed her a conch
shell. “Hold it to your ear... like
this.” He demonstrated what he
meant. “You can hear the ocean.”
She did what he said, and the green eyes
grew wide with amazement. “Wow! Daddy, can I go show Katie?”
“Sure sweetie. I’m sure Mrs. O’Shea wonders where you are.”
Hannah smiled and kissed him before he set
her firmly on the ground. She ran to
Jack and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him as well. “Thanks, Uncle Jack!” she said before she
left at a run for the next-door neighbor’s house and her very best friend in
the whole wide world with her shell clutched tightly in both fists.
“Well, if the routine holds true, we have
ten years to work on this puzzle. After
almost one hundred and fifty years of mystery, I don’t think waiting until
tomorrow to start working on it is gonna make a difference.”
“I know you’re right, Jack. I just...
can’t explain it really. I need
to solve this.”
“We will brother. We will.”
September - Ten Years Ago
“Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust,” the
minister’s voice intoned solemnly. There
were quite a few people gathered at the graveside, but the young woman sat
alone by the casket. The minister
finished his benediction, and took Hannah’s hand to mutter a few final words of
comfort. She waited in silence for him
to finish and nodded, willing him to leave her in peace.
The crowd began to disperse and still
Hannah Reilly sat quietly by the casket.
Katie and her family stood by respectfully, waiting for her to say her
final goodbyes.
“Daddy, I hope you finally found what you
were looking for when you died.” She
closed her eyes and drew a shuddering breath before continuing. “We haven’t been able to reach Uncle Jack
yet, so I’m going home with the O’Sheas for
now.” A sob shook the small frame, and
Katie started forward, only to be held back by her mother.
“Give her another minute, Kate. I don’t think she’s done yet.”
“I love you, Daddy. And I’m really gonna miss you. Maybe I should have told you about the
dreams. You might have understood them,
or at least... well, anyway. Give Mama a
real big hug and kiss for me, okay? I’m
glad you have each other again, ‘cause I know you’ve
missed her.”
Hannah stopped talking and remained seated
for another long minute. Then she wiped
her eyes and rose, nodding to the waiting funeral director. She moved toward the O’Sheas. Katie met her halfway, and Hannah gratefully
returned the embrace she found herself in.
Her best friend topped her by four or five inches, and she found herself
tucked under Katie’s chin while the curly auburn hair tickled her nose.
“I’m glad you’re coming home with us, even
if it’s just til your uncle gets home,” Katie said softly. “It’ll be nice to have another girl in the
house.” Hannah just smiled. She knew Katie idolized her three older
brothers and they doted on her.
“Are ya ready then, Hannah?”
“Yes ma’am.
Thank you for....”
“No need to thank me, dear,” Sarah O’Shea
cut in smoothly. “You’ve always been a
part of the family. We’re glad to have
ya for as long as you’d like to stay.”
Tears welled in the green eyes again, but
Hannah refused to let them fall.
Instead, she nodded slightly, and gave Sarah a watery smile. The portly woman smiled back at her, and
patted her graying red hair when a breeze blew through the graveyard.
“C’mon, now,” Sarah continued. “Let’s get home before it rains.”
Shamus had brought the car around to them
and they all piled in and shut the doors just as the bottom fell out. “Do you know when you should hear from Jack
again?” the man questioned in the silence.
“No sir.
I thought he and Daddy were together, but apparently they split up to do
some more research on the Triangle. I
expect to hear from him within the next two or three days, though. He’s always been real good about calling me
faithfully once a week whenever he’s been away on business or what have you
since I was seven.”
“That’s good then. You are always welcome in our home and in our
family, you know that. But I think he
needs to know what happened. It’s time
they gave up that damned fool hunt.”
The last statement caught Hannah’s
attention. “Do you know what they were
looking for, Uncle Shae?” The children had always referred to the
adults in this manner. Hannah didn’t
miss Sarah laying her hand on Shamus’ arm, nor the deep breath he took before
answering.
“They were chasing a ghost, little
bit. They were looking for a legend.”
“Why?”
A simple question with no simple answers. Shamus shook his head. Sarah looked at Hannah compassionately.
“They felt it was important. We were never really given any enlightenment
on the subject.”
Hannah nodded, accepting the explanation,
unsatisfactory as it might be. She had questions for her Uncle Jack when he
got home.
May - Five Years Ago
“I can’t believe you’re going to graduate
with your Master’s degree a year before I even finish my Bachelor’s!” Katie
good-naturedly complained. Hannah had
become more driven upon her father’s death, and that
energy was channeled into her studies.
And her dreams... but those remained her own little secret.
Jack had returned home immediately once he
got the news, but it was agreed that Hannah would remain with the O’Sheas whenever he was out of town. And after his
brother’s death, that seemed to happen a lot more often. Still he was good to Hannah, and doted on her
as much as he could, and he made sure she always knew how precious she was to
him.
He never told her precisely what he and her
father had been working on when Mike was killed. They had agreed early in Hannah’s life that
this part of the family history was something she would need to discover for
herself, if and when the right time for her to know ever came. Shortly after Mike’s death, Jack put out a
book on the Mysteries of the
So the time had come for Hannah to walk a
second time. She had already published
two young reader books, and had a daily syndicated column in newspapers around
the country. Her future was quite
bright, and she chuckled at the frustrated tone in Katie’s voice.
“Well, Katie, if you’d focus a little
harder on your studies, and a little less on the parties....” She let the thought trail off, then caught the pillow aimed for her head.
“Uh huh....
Well, someone has to have your share of the fun, since you don’t ever
seem to have any. I worry about you
sometimes, working so hard. What are you
looking for?”
Green eyes turned inward for a minute at
the suddenly serious turn in the conversation.
“I am trying to find where I fit, Katie.
I don’t feel like I belong here.”
“Hannah, we all feel
that way sometimes. But it seems to be
the only thing that motivates you.”
Hannah shrugged. “Maybe it is.
Sometimes the feeling is so overwhelming, I feel like I should be
searching for my way home.”
Katie wrapped an arm around the Hannah’s
shoulders. “You’ll find it. I have faith.”
Hannah stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips
to her best friend’s cheek. “Thanks,
Katie. I love you.”
“I love you too, hon. Now,” changing the subject to lighten the
discussion, “When is Jack coming into town?”
“Um, tonight, I think. Uncle Shae is
picking him up at the airport.”
“Cool!
Family reunion! ‘Cause you know the boys are coming too.”
Good... my kind of party!”
Katie rolled her eyes, but smiled
inwardly. She was glad to see Hannah
excited and enthusiastic about something other than school or work for a
change. Maybe it was an indication of
better times to come.
June - Present Day
Katie whirled into
the room, holding the wedding dress in front of her. Her long auburn curls streamed behind her,
and she giggled like the schoolgirl she hadn’t been for years now and looked at
Hannah. Her brown eyes twinkled in pure
happiness.
“What do you think
of this one? Do you think Frank will
like it?”
“Honey, Frank
isn’t going to be looking at the dress,” Hannah remarked with a teasing
grin. “If you want my honest opinion, I
like this one the best,” holding up a dress that had been tried on several
dresses before. “It suits you
beautifully.”
“Do you really
think so?”
“I agree with her,
sweetheart,” Sarah said. “And you know
Hannah has always had been honest about how things look.”
Katie chuckled,
remembering some of Hannah’s less-than-tactful, but frightfully honest comments
she had been the recipient of through the years. “Well, now that’s true.” She looked at her blonde friend. “Do you remember the green and pink Mohawk
and that ugly red and purple raincoat I had?
And your comment when you saw them for the first
time?”
Hannah laughed,
and Sarah chortled. “Um, yes.... though
I’m sure now I could come up with a better way to say ‘that sucks’ than that.”
“I dunno,” Katie
answered, still chuckling. “That was
actually pretty effective.”
They moved over to
the bridesmaid’s area, and each of them took a different rack and began looking
through the selections. As a joke, Katie
held up an outrageous feathered purple sequined number. Hannah just raised an eyebrow.
“I’m not
auditioning for a part in ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in
Both of the O’Shea
women squealed and Katie hung the dress back up. “I want to know who would wear something like
that.”
The saleswoman muttered
as she passed them with an armful of clothing, “Some things are best left as a
mystery.”
Three sets of eyes
got big at the implication, and they turned their attention back to the
racks. Sarah found the next offering...
a bright blue lace creation.
“I’m not sure the
maid of honor should have on more lace than the bride,” was Hannah’s only
comment.
“Good point,”
Sarah answered as she hung it up again.
“What about
this?” The blonde woman held up her
selection.
It was a simple
sleeveless sheath in a blue-green satin that complimented both her tan and her
eyes, deepening them and bringing them out beautifully.
“Yes,” was all
Katie said, and within minutes, their shopping was complete and the two friends
were headed out to lunch together.
“I’ll see you
girls at home,” Sarah called to them as she left them alone to catch up.
Once they were
seated, Katie took up the conversation again.
“I’m so glad you
were able to come home for this,” she said to Hannah solemnly. The blonde woman ducked her head,
acknowledging the gentle, unspoken reprimand.
As soon as she’d gotten her Master’s degree, Hannah had moved to the
city and only rarely had come home for a visit.
“You know I
wouldn’t have missed it.”
The waiter
approached and conversation halted while he took their drink orders and gave
them the day’s specials. Katie waited
until he was out of hearing before she spoke again.
“I know, but we’ve
missed YOU. Phone calls just aren’t the
same.”
“I know, and I’m
sorry. I just....”
“Are you still having
the dreams?” When Katie had come to see her after graduation, Hannah had
finally shared with her a tiny bit about the dreams that she’d had since was a
child. The blonde head nodded, and she
sighed.
“Yeah, and the
more vivid they become, the less comfortable I am in my own skin, in my job, in
my life. And it seems to be worse here.”
“I’m sorry,
Hannah. I didn’t know.” Katie clasped her hands over Hannah’s on the
table. “I wish there was something I
could do to help.” She paused briefly, then took the plunge.
“Ya know, Patrick still....”
“I know, Kate, and
I love Patrick, but like a brother.
Besides, I am not comfortable with me.
How could anyone else be?
“I think you’re
selling yourself short, hon. I mean look
at you. You are a gorgeous woman, a
successful author... and by the way, I recognize a few of the adventures Trudy
and Evan have in those stories.”
Hannah
laughed. “I’ll bet you do.”
“Ahem,” Katie
cleared her throat. “ANYWAY... I should
have said successful, award-winning author.”
Here the blonde woman simply blushed and lowered her head in
acknowledgement. Katie reached across
the table and lifted her chin. “Don’t be
ashamed of your work, my friend. I
cannot tell you the number of ADULTS I know that read your books. That is something to be proud of. Not to mention the column that runs in how
many countries now? You are
flourishing.”
The food arrived
right then, and Hannah sighed. The
waiter refilled their glasses then left them in peace again.
“That is just my
point, Katie. I have everything. I have lovely friends who keep in touch with
me regardless,” and she gave the other woman a sheepish smile. Katie smiled back broadly. “I am thriving in my chosen profession, both
of them, and have been recognized for my work.
I have a comfortable bank balance and a nice place to live,
and still....”
The waiter
returned, topped their glasses again and placed a carafe on the table, then
left without another word. Katie made a
mental note to tip him well for his discreteness. Hannah swallowed the bite of food and
resumed her thought.
“Still, Katie, I
don’t feel right.”
“I’m not sure I
understand what you mean, Hannah.”
“I have never felt
like I fit here, in this time and this place.”
She chuckled sardonically at herself.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love my
technology and my creature comforts, but it has always seemed a bit foreign to
my nature.” She sighed in frustration.
“I really can’t put into words very well what I am trying to say.”
“That’s okay,
hon. I think I understand what you are
getting at. Almost like your karmic
cycle is out of sync.”
Green eyes
widened. “My God, that’s *exactly* what
I mean.”
Katie
laughed. “See I *did* pay attention in
some of those classes.”
The blonde woman
joined the laughter. “I’m sure Aunt
Sarah and Uncle Shae will be thrilled to know their
money was well-spent on your education.”
“I’m not sure I
would go that far, but....” She paused and selected a bite of chicken. “Hannah, is there... someone... special in
your life?”
It was silent for
a time after that as the two women continued to eat while Hannah considered her
answer. “No, not
really. I’ve tried dating, but
those eyes... they... I can’t find them, and they are the key to... everything,
Katie.”
“You’re that sure,
hon?” Hannah kept her eyes locked on the
brown ones across from her, and Katie saw the conviction in them before the
blonde nodded her head. “All right,
then. I have faith that when the time is
right, you’ll find them and you’ll know.”
Hannah
smiled. “I’m glad one of us does.”
“Oh I do. And probably when we all least expect
it. Now,” taking the check and adding
the extra tip for the waiter, “Let’s go get some ice cream. By the time we walk the two blocks to get
there, I’ll have room.”
“Katie,” Hannah
intoned seriously, “There is ALWAYS room for ice cream.”
************
“So, Hannah, are
you ready to go through the house? I
think it’s time.” Jack and Hannah were
sitting in the old house that had been locked up for quite some time. Jack had taken an early retirement seven
months earlier, and had moved down to the islands he had visited so much. It was more like home to him that his
brother’s house had ever been, no matter how welcome he had been.
She sat curled
into one corner of the couch with her hands loosely clasped together around one
knee. She missed her Uncle Jack, though
they still talked regularly on the phone and communicated by email almost every
day. He looked better than he had in
years though, and she was glad to see that retirement was agreeing with him so
well.
“I think you’re
right, Uncle Jack. I can take some extra
time off after Katie’s wedding.” She
paused and swallowed. “Will you stay and
help me?”
“You bet, darlin’. I was hoping you’d ask. I don’t think anyone should have to do this
kind of thing alone.”
“Thanks, Uncle
Jack. Um, how long can you stay?”
“I am my own
boss. I can stay here as long as you
need me here.”
“Well, I have five
year’s worth of vacation, comp and sick time I can draw on, so that gives me
more than six months to work with.”
“Six
months?!? My Lord, girl... how the hell’d
you manage that?”
“Oh, it’s easy
when you don’t take vacation and you cover most of the major holidays. So I think I am due some time off. I have columns to cover six or eight weeks,
so maybe I’ll take a month off.”
“You think it’ll
take a month to clean this place out and get it ready to sell?” Jack didn’t think his brother was THAT big of
a packrat, but one never knew til they started cleaning.
Hannah chuckled,
and the older man smiled at the happy sound.
It wasn’t one he got to hear all that often anymore, and sometimes he
missed the bright-eyed child she had been.
“Um,
no. I don’t think it will take more than a
week. I was hoping maybe you’d let me
invite myself down to your place for some time in the sun.”
And so it begins....
Jack thought to himself solemnly.
Aloud he said, “I think that is a great idea, hon, and I’d love the
company. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you
too, Uncle Jack.”
************
The following day
was the rehearsal, and the girls of the wedding party decided to spend the time
before the rehearsal itself shopping.
Their first stop was a lingerie store, and amazingly, everyone found
something scandalous they just had to have... except Hannah.
“C’mon
Hannah. You gotta get something outrageous. Get into the spirit!”
The blonde woman
took her friend aside. “Katie, who am I
gonna wear this kind of stuff for?”
Katie rested her
forearms on Hannah’s shoulders and smiled down at her. “Do you remember the talk we had
yesterday? I told you I have faith, so
you need to be prepared. ‘Cause it’s gonna happen.”
Hannah smiled back
at her, and gave her a quick, hard hug.
“Have I told you lately just how wonderful a friend you are?”
“Yes, but I don’t
mind if you keep telling me.” Hannah
swatted her on the butt, and Katie squealed.
“Don’t you be getting fresh with me, missy,” she teased. “I’ll have you know I am an almost married
woman! Now,” returning the swat, and
pushing Hannah in the direction of the lingerie, “Find something
wickedly shocking.”
Green eyes
twinkled mischievously. “I think I can
manage that,” she replied. What she
found didn’t have the material of a thong bikini, and the rest of the girls
shrieked when they saw it. It reminded
them that their next stop was for swimwear, and away they trooped to the next
store on their list.
This excursion
elicited even more howls and screams as they went though some of the most
interesting material scraps that were considered bathing suits. Katie held up one that couldn’t have had more
than a hundred threads to it.
“Where’s the
rest? It doesn’t cover anything.”
“I don’t think
it’s supposed to,” Finola commented with a chuckle.
“My question is,
why bother? I mean really... what is the
point?” Rebecca asked. “May as well walk around bare ass naked. At least then you don’t have to worry about
tan lines.”
Hannah picked up a
thong bikini that had enough material in the top that she wouldn’t pop out at
the slightest intake of breath, and enough material in the bottom that she
wouldn’t have to shave completely. It
helped matters that it was a cute tropical print.
“What about this,
guys?” She held the garment up for
inspection.
“Hey, that’s
cute!”
Niiice!”
“I like that one!”
Those and several
other murmured comments answered Hannah’s query, and she smiled, pleased with
the reaction. She took her find to the
counter.
“Um, Hannah...
where are you gonna wear that?” This from Katie.
“I thought I’d
wear it to the pool at the complex.” She
waited for Katie’s eyes to go wide before she lost her composure and broke into
laughter. “You’re so funny. I’m gonna go visit Uncle Jack after we get
the house closed up and ready for sale.
I thought I’d wear it on the beach.”
Katie took a good
long look at the suit, then Hannah’s behind, then back at the suit. “Well, at least you have the ass for it,” was
her only comment. She had to cover her
mouth with her hand to keep from howling at the expression on Hannah’s face.
Lunch was an
interesting, high-spirited affair, and the entire restaurant smiled at the
laughter that flowed from the table of women.
The afternoon offered more shopping, and when rehearsal time rolled
around, five very tired women were hauling themselves into the church.
Mary muttered to
the rest as they crossed the threshold, “Next time we sit by the pool.”
“It’ll be someone
else’s wedding,” Katie said. “’Cause I’m not doing this again.”
The group laughed
and they set themselves for rehearsal.
************
The wedding was a
beautiful affair, and by the time the bride and groom took their leave,
everyone was in a state of happy exhaustion.
Jack and Hannah were among the last to leave, having helped the O’Shea’s
to clean up once the reception was over.
There were quite a few willing hands to make the work lighter, and the
caterer was surprised to see so many pitching in to get things wrapped up.
In short order,
everything was done, and the Reillys were headed back
to their home. They dropped onto
opposite ends of the couch and kicked off their shoes simultaneously. Then green eyes met gray, and they broke into
quiet, tired laughter.
“Guess you can
tell we’re related, hmm?” Hannah commented.
“Maybe just a
little,” Jack answered. “It was a nice
wedding, but damn... I’m beat.”
“Me too, but I’m
glad I was here for this. I think Katie
and Frank will be happy together. He’s
been in love with her since we were kids.”
“What
about you, little Hannah?”
“What about me,
Uncle Jack?” She looked directly at
him. “I’m not involved with anyone, if
that’s what you’re asking. Which makes
this hysterical in the extreme,” indicating the bride’s bouquet she’d caught as
Frank and Kate were leaving.
“Why
not, Hannah? You’re beautiful, pleasant and altogether
charming and yet you remain alone.”
“So are you Uncle, and I don’t see an aunt around here,” she replied,
turning the tables on him, and seeing the slightest hint of shadow cross his
face.
“I couldn’t have
the one I loved, and I wouldn’t settle for less,” he stated quietly but firmly.
“Neither will I, Uncle Jack. I
just haven’t found mine yet.”
“When you do, hold
tight. It’s not something you ever want
to lose.” He spoke with finality and she
nodded, seeing clearly the remembered pain in his eyes and wondering at its cause.
“C’mon,” she said,
rising from the couch and bending over with a moan to pick up her shoes. “Let’s go to bed. We have a lot to do in the morning.”
“Isn’t that the
truth,” the man replied with his own groan as he stood. “I’ll start in my room. At least I know what is there... mostly.”
“That sounds
good,” Hannah answered as she started up the stairs. I don’t have very much in mine, so I’ll start
in the attic. That by itself
will take a bit.”
“Good, we can work
out the rest as we come to it,” Jack said as they reached Hannah’s room. He leaned over and brushed his lips across
her cheek, and she returned the gesture with a hug. “Good night, my dear. Sleep well.”
“You
too, Uncle.”
And the house
settled into quiet for the night.
************
“Holy
Moses!” Hannah
exclaimed as she peeked her head into the large attic space. It was much bigger than she remembered it
being, and there seems to be a lot more... stuff. She stepped into the room, and flung open the
windows. “I think I’d better go get some
more coffee,” looking down at the single mug in her hand. “Maybe I should bring a thermos.”
Several minutes
later, she could hear Jack still chuckling at her when she headed back up the
stairs. The she heard his footsteps
behind her and turned to see him coming up behind her. She moved into the attic, and allowed him
room to enter the space. He looked
around, and his jaw dropped.
“Tell ya what,
honey. I’ll help you do this first. I didn’t realize there was such a mess up
here.”
“Thanks, Uncle
Jack. Me either, actually. You want left or right?”
They were pretty
well evenly matched with things, and Jack couldn’t even tell what most of it
was. “Doesn’t matter,
really. Six of one....”
“True. Okay, you start there, I’ll start here.”
They turned on two
small oscillating fans and opened the windows on either end of the room to
encourage air circulation. Then silence
settled around them for a bit as each tried to determine the best place to
start, then beginning to set things into different piles for disbursement. Occasionally, they would find pictures or
such, but even those memories were set aside in the desire to get done with
their task. By lunch, they had made a
considerable dent in the attic and worked up quite a sweat in the process.
“My God, “Jack
griped as they moved a few of the picture boxes into Hannah’s room. “I didn’t realize they had so much up
there. So much that belonged to Mama and
Grandmother.” He set the boxes carefully
down.
“Are you sure you
don’t want to keep some of this stuff, Uncle Jack?”
“Sweetheart, I
told you. You go through and pick out
what you want to keep, then send me the rest.”
“All
right. I just don’t want you to miss out on what
should be yours.”
“Nope,
not a problem. Now let’s go get some lunch. I’m starving.”
************
It took the rest
of that day and most of the next before they finished in the attic. Hannah ended up with two trunks and several
boxes of pictures and mementos that she was slowly sorting through in the
evening.
Jack finished with
his room while Hannah tackled the study, and when he joined her after lunch the
third day, he found her sitting in the middle of the floor surrounded by books,
cradling her head in her hands.
“You okay,
sweetheart?”
“I was just
thinking how much I miss my Daddy. So many of my memories of him are tied into this room.”
“Do you want me to
do this? You want to go do the kitchen
or his bedroom or...?”
“No, I think I
need to do this. But you can sure stay
and help me if you like.”
“I like. A lot of my memories of him are wrapped up in
this room too, ya know.”
“Yeah, I guess
they would be. Ya’ll did
a lot of your research together here.”
“Yep, and if you
don’t mind, I’d like to ship any books you don’t want to the
“Oh, I like that
idea, Uncle Jack. And I think he would
too.”
************
It took them two
days to do the study, and Hannah only kept a handful of books out of the
hundreds that were in the room. Jack
smiled to himself at her choices, but didn’t say anything to her
otherwise. The kitchen, living room and
her father’s bedroom had already been mostly done, so by the end of the sixth
day things were pretty much packed up.
“I’m tired,” Jack
said plaintively as they sat in a favorite restaurant.
“I can totally
sympathize,” Hannah replied, before turning and waving the O’Sheas
over to join them.
“My goodness, the
two of you look beat,” Sarah said bluntly as she took a seat. Shamus scowled at her.
“Now, Sarah....”
he began, but she cut him off.
“No Shamus. It’s true.
So you are both gonna let the girls and me come over tomorrow and help
with the cleanup, right?”
Hannah and Jack
looked at each other. “You don’t have
t....”
“I know we don’t
dear,” Sarah said, patting Hannah’s hands gently. “But it’s the right thing to do.”
“Well, then,” Jack
answered heartily, “We accept with alacrity and thankfulness.”
Sarah
chuckled. “There are days, Jack Reilly,
when I’ve suspected you of being a poet.”
“Not me. I’m just a dream chaser. It makes me... verbose.” He cleared his throat. “Tell ya what. We’ll all help get it cleaned up tomorrow,
and then I’ll treat the entire gang to pizza and beer for lunch and the
Driftwood Restaurant for dinner.”
Shamus looked at
Jack solemnly. “Well that will get the
boys here for sure. They never miss an
opportunity to eat there, even if it requires a jacket and tie. You sure you wanna do that?”
“Yep. I’d
like to get this finished, and I’ve always enjoyed eating there myself. We have a shipper coming in the morning to
pick up the boxes that I am sending home and that Hannah is keeping. Otherwise, everything else can be taken out
tomorrow, and we can turn the keys over to the realtor on Monday.”
“Sounds like we have
a plan then,” Sarah commented.
“Yep, except for
deciding what we want for dinner tonight.”
Shamus’ observation made them look at their menus, and conversation
turned to other subjects.
************
Monday morning
arrived and so did the realtor. Hannah
was surprised to see Mary standing on her doorstep.
“Hi,
Mary! C’mon in.
I’m sorry I can’t offer you coffee or a place to sit,” motioning to the
empty house, “But I’m waiting for the realtor, and then I’m headed back to the
city.”
“I’m the realtor,
Hannah. Richard gave me the listing this
morning.”
“Wonderful. Then I know the house is in good hands.”
Mary smiled
warmly. “I already know of several
couples who might be interested in the property.”
“Really? I
didn’t think....”
“Oh yes. I wouldn’t be surprised to have an offer on
the table by the end of the week.”
“Wow, so
soon?” At Mary’s enthusiastic nod, she
continued, running a hand thru her hair.
“Um, wow,” she repeated. “Um....”
Mary placed a
concerned hand on her arm. “Hannah, are
you all right?”
“Uh,
yeah. Just surprised, I think. I didn’t think it would be so quick. I’m gonna be out of town for a couple weeks
on the
“No, I can still
reach you out there. Besides, while I
wouldn’t be a bit surprised, it may take a while. Sometimes it does.”
“I’m sorry,
Mary. I didn’t mean to freak out on
you.”
“Not a
problem. You didn’t really freak. I kinda broad sided
you.”
“Well, I sure
didn’t think about it selling quickly until then. But that is a good thing, I think.”
“As
long as you don’t forget about your friends here.”
“I don’t think
Katie or Aunt Sarah would let me get away with that even if I wanted to.”
Mary laughed,
remembering some of their escapades together as children, and unconsciously
rubbing her backside. “I think I can
agree with that.”
They laughed, and
Hannah gave Mary the keys, taking one last look around at what had always been
home to her. Then without glancing back,
Hannah stepped out and firmly closed the door on her past, and headed out to
find her future.
Chapter II
It was a four-hour
drive back to the city, and Hannah was just a little tired when she pulled into
her garage beneath the building where she lived. The doorman recognized her car, and came to
see if she needed help getting her things in.
She’d made friends with Harry when she’d moved into the building three
years previously, and the older gentleman had always made an effort to extend
every courtesy he could to the young woman.
“Hello, Miss
Hannah.”
“Hi Harry. How was your week?”
“Very
quiet. Mrs. Jenkins’ cat got out again, and Mr. Mark
had to take Dolby to the vet. Miss
Christa passed her audition, and Mr. And Mrs. Andrews left for a month long
tour of
“Well, I’m leaving
this afternoon for a two week vacation.”
Harry’s eyes widened, but he didn’t show any other sort of
surprise. Instead he held the elevator
doors open for her and stepped in behind her.
He swiped his key, and the lift began its long climb to the top floor.
“Good for you,
Miss Hannah. You’re due for a bit of
fun.” He paused. “Oh, before I forget... two trunks and a
couple boxes arrived for you on Saturday.
I had them delivered to your living room as you instructed.”
“Thanks
Harry. I have to catch a shuttle to the
airport at six. Can you call them for me
please?”
“Surely.
Will you need help with your bags?”
The car stopped and the door slowly opened into her penthouse
apartment. Harry brought her bag in and
set it by the couch.
“Thank you
Harry. I don’t think so. I am going to se my Uncle Jack in the
islands, and I don’t think two or three swimsuits will make for very much
luggage.” She smiled at him, and he returned
it with a light chuckle.
“No ma’am, given what I’ve seen of bathing suits these days, I would be inclined to agree with that observation. But if you find yourself taking more than that, you let me know, and I will be up to collect it.” </