Dreams of Fire (Maple Hill Chronicles Book 1) (31 page)

John looked at her and said pleasantly with the air of a man mentioning discreetly the odd habit of an old friend, “I’ll tell him but don’t count on it. He passed away thirty some odd years ago and doesn’t get out much.”

Marianne’s eyes widened in shock. “Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

John smiled calmly. “It’s okay. He’ll be pleased to know you didn’t know. Most people have forgotten about him, and he appreciates it when he’s remembered.”

Somewhat flustered Marianne made a little more small talk then let the caretaker get back to his work. As she walked back, she thought, I had no idea the man in the shed wasn’t real. Not living, she corrected herself. He’s perfectly real just not living. But he spoke to me! She protested. Did he, though? She realized she didn’t have a clear memory of how his voice sounded, she just remembered “hearing” the information in her mind somehow. Well, I guess it makes sense that a former cemetery caretaker might turn up and continue working at his old job even after death.

She shook her head. Sarah Landsman and John Irving might have been conversing with the dead for their whole lives, but it still seemed weird to her. It was going to take some time to get used to this newfound ability.
 

When she returned to her car parked near the stone shed, she thought she’d have another look inside. The stone structure was chilly and dark compared to the bright sunshine, and she let the sunspots fade from her vision for a minute before entering.

“Hello? Mr. Carleton?” She said tentatively. “I found Mr. Irving and just wanted to thank you for telling me where to find him.”

There didn’t seem to be anyone there now. She stood inside the doorway and listened to the silence. She didn’t hear anything in particular other than the thumping of her own heart. Mr. Carleton must have gone elsewhere. Or perhaps she couldn’t see him now. The thought of him standing invisible right next to her made her neck prickle, but she refused to let her nervousness show. She turned to go back to her car and murmured, “Thanks again… have a nice afternoon.” She thought she heard a faint,
thank you
, but could have imagined it.

Chapter 25

The drive back to town was ahead of her, but on a whim she decided to visit Grandma Selene. Now that she knew the way, it seemed like no time at all before she was turning down the drive and pulling up to the big gray house.
 

After the heat of the cemetery and the ride in a car without air conditioning, she breathed deeply, inhaling the cooler air under the trees. It smelled of green leaves, the fragrance of some late summer blooms, and earth. The two-person, wicker chair swung slightly from the porch ceiling and Marianne noticed that there was a magazine on the cushions. The inner door was open as before to allow the cooler air in.

She got to the top of the steps just as Grandma Selene arrived at the front door.

“Marianne, I heard the car drive up! What a lovely surprise! Come in, come in before the mosquitoes find you and eat you alive.”

Marianne entered allowing the screen door to bang closed behind her. She let herself be folded into her beloved grandmother’s warm, firm embrace, feeling safe for the first time in a long while. Something tight inside her loosened and she sighed. Marianne stepped back and appreciated Selene’s iron-gray bun held with a silver pin and her classically stylish attire.

“Grandma, you look wonderful! I was out driving and thought I’d swing by. Is this a good time?”

“Absolutely. Is everything still all right?” Selene inquired with concern.

“Yes. I slept without dreaming about anything, and I spent the morning painting and not a soul bothered me,” Marianne replied.

“That’s wonderful news!” She looked down as she ushered her granddaughter into the living room and exclaimed, “Oh, your hands! I didn’t realize how badly you were hurt.”

“I cut my hands and knees crawling out of the basement window. When we were dealing with George, he grabbed my arm, and I punched him without really thinking about it,” she said ruefully. “I dislocated my fingers, hitting the wall behind him.”

Grandma Selene fussed over her and said approvingly, “I’m sure George was very surprised that you fought back. Good for you!”

Marianne shook her head. “Sarah’s the real hero from last night. I’m not sure George wouldn’t have dragged me into his version of the past if she hadn’t shown him he had no reason to stay and that he’d been a poor husband, at that.”

“She sounds like quite a woman. I look forward to meeting her. Never you fear, my girl. You would have given old George what for on your own terms, if you’d had to.” She hugged her granddaughter again and said, “I have some fresh iced tea if you want something to drink?”

Marianne nodded and watched her grandmother disappear into the kitchen at the back of the house.

The wide vertical wood paneling of the living room adorned with paintings and prints was warm and comfortingly familiar. Marianne breathed a deep sigh and relaxed a little more. She sat in the blue and cream couch by the fireplace and listened to the sounds of glassware and liquid.

Grandma Selene emerged carrying a pitcher with ice cubes clinking in amber liquid. “I’m trying to be good and not carry heavy things,” she explained, “and you don’t need to be lifting heavy trays either,” she added firmly. “So we’ll do this one at a time.” Marianne lifted her bandaged hands apologetically. “Don’t be ridiculous, my dear. Carry them with pride; they are battle wounds!”

Marianne made a gesture that encompassed embarrassment, automatic self-deprecation and appreciation. After a few minutes the glasses, sugar dish and plate of cookies rested on the coffee table by the sofa. They both sat and poured tea for each other and chose cookies from the plate. It helped restore some balance to her world.

Her grandmother raised her glass of tea in a silent toast, and Marianne suddenly felt her throat tighten unaccountably and couldn’t stop the wave of tears as they filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Hastily, she put her glass down as she started crying. She felt her face crumple and wished that she could do the cool, silent-tears thing, but she was a full-out sobber.

“Marianne! What’s the matter, dear?” Selene said in some alarm.

“I don’t know, I—just everything, I think,” she gasped between sobs. She felt her grandmother get up and reseat herself more closely and put her arm around her shoulders. Marianne let herself cry for a few minutes then took some deep breaths and got herself under control. Selene gave her the time she needed.

“I’m sorry, Grandma. I didn’t come here to do that. The last few days have just been overwhelming. I think I’m okay now.”
 

“I think it’s been more than just a few days, dear. The last year has been very trying to say the least.” She handed her granddaughter a box of tissues.

“I’m okay about the divorce, but I’m so worried that Geoffrey’ll come up here, and I’ll have to move again.” She blew her nose.

Selene said sharply, “No one’s making you move again! This is your home and you have no reason to leave it. If he doesn’t leave you alone, I’ll be glad to have a conversation with him,” she added fiercely.

Marianne smiled weakly and sniffed again. “Thanks, Grandma. Kelly and Sarah have been telling me the same thing. I think I have to stand up to him myself somehow.”

“You will when the time comes, my dear, never fear. Singletons are strong people,” she stated firmly.

They sipped their tea and nibbled on cookies for a spell before Marianne said, “Finding out that my dreaming is not only true, but that ghosts can talk to me in my dreams has also been pretty disturbing. Does that happen to you?”

Selene sat back and considered. “Well, I talk to your grandfather periodically in my dreams, but I hadn’t thought about it like that before. So, I suppose I can, but no one but your grandfather has ever… oh.” She looked thoughtful before she spoke again. “When my mother died, I was very distraught. We had been very close, and I missed her very much. I finally dreamed of her, and she took me up into her lap and comforted me as she had when I was little. She assured me she was happy and in a good place, and that she loved me very much. It helped me a great deal. When your father died, I was very sad, but there was nothing I could do to change things. These things happen.”

Marianne asked softly, “Did you ever see him, or dream about him?”

Grandma Selene shook her head.

Marianne sighed. “He died when I was so little that I never really knew him.”

Selene leaned closer and put her arm around her granddaughter’s shoulders comfortingly. “If I didn’t hear from him, then I’m sure it was because he had crossed over. I know he missed you too.” Marianne nodded, feeling melancholy. Selene took a deep breath and said, “So, I suppose it does happen to me but only with people who were close to me in life. I can imagine it would be very upsetting to have complete strangers invade your dreams.”

“You’re not kidding.” Marianne told her about her dreams where George had shouted at her and pushed her around; his locking her in the cellar both waking and asleep; and finally his attempt to make Marianne substitute for Anne.

Selene was outraged and resorted to a few choice British swears that both shocked and amused Marianne who said hastily, “Don’t worry. Sarah gave him what for and made him leave. He did not look very happy going to whatever place he was destined for. I don’t know about heaven and hell, Grandma, but Anne was happy when she left, and George was frightened, so there must be some justice in the bigger scheme.”

“I should think so!” Selene declared so forcefully, that Marianne could picture her arrival in the afterlife and giving whoever was in charge a strict talking to, if it didn’t measure up to her expectations.

“Grandma, I’m starting to see ghosts everywhere.” Marianne told her about her encounter with Jesse Carleton at the cemetery. “What am I going to do?”

Selene sat thoughtfully for a few minutes. “I suppose I could see spirits of the deceased if I really wanted to. I choose to see only those whom I loved in life. I think there aren’t many who can hear ghosts, and they get desperate to be heard. If you want to hear and see them, you will, Marianne. But, forgive me dear, you are a very sweet and trusting soul, and they may overwhelm you with their needs. You are going to have to learn to be firm with yourself and with them and set your boundaries and stick to them. Geoffrey tended to railroad you with his wants and needs, and you are used to putting your own needs aside to accommodate him.”

Marianne heard the truth of her words and said, “I have a hard time not feeling selfish if I don’t put everyone else first before me.”

Grandma Selene said resolutely, “Nonsense! It is not selfish to know what your limits are and to be clear when others are stepping over the line. If someone is pushing you and making you uncomfortable, you have every right to stand up and tell them so. It’s all in how you say it,” she added.

Marianne shook her head regretfully. “You are so much classier than I am, Grandma!”

Selene accepted the compliment with a smile and said, “Again I say nonsense! It takes some practice, but you can do it when you set your mind to it. Spend some time thinking about your own abilities and boundaries and practice every day knowing what you are willing to do and what you aren’t, and you will find that you won’t let yourself be pushed around when it comes to that.”

Marianne nodded.

Grandma Selene changed the subject and said, “I look forward to coming to your housewarming on Friday. I want to meet Sarah and Kelly. They sound like good solid investments as friends. Who else will be there?”

Marianne gave her the rest of the guest list and did her best to make light of Ruari Allen, describing him as the handyman who worked for Gloria’s Valley Homes and the person who’d come to fix things. She wanted her Grandma to meet him and see what she thought before spending more time with him. Selene made no comments, but her eyes twinkled suspiciously.

On the way back to Maple Hill, Marianne thought about her grandmother’s advice and resolved to try.

It was later than she expected when she pulled into her drive, and she was tired and ready for dinner. Oscar met her at the door with a complaining meow, and she looked at the chaos of the living room. Her gut clenched a little as she thought about hosting a party here in four days’ time and how much work still had to be done. At least there was a decent chance of reducing the number of boxes in the living room.

She was cleaning up after a simple dinner when her cell phone rang. She saw Kelly on the ID and picked up the phone with a smile.

“Hi, Kelly! How are you?”

“Hey, girl, I’m good, and you?” Kelly sounded energetic, and Marianne envied her briefly.

“I’m doing better.” She told Kelly about her day and her visit both to the cemetery and to her grandmother. “How was your day?”

“Oh the usual,” she said airily. “Haircuts, a couple of interesting color jobs, more haircuts. And you will never guess who my last client of the day was,” she finished with a strong undercurrent of excitement and mischief.

Marianne shrugged, at a loss, “No idea. I’m new here, remember?” She took a wild guess, “Um, Sarah?”

Kelly laughed, “No! A certain local boy whom we both know…” her voice trailed off.

Marianne was mystified and said with a shrug, “The guy who does the co-op announcing?”

“Ye gods, woman! Ruari was in here today! I’ve been wanting to give him a haircut all summer, every time I looked at him. He was in here today! I think the new girl in town has made an impression on him,” she teased.

Marianne felt her face flush and was glad Kelly couldn’t see her. “How can you know that?”

“Oh, I’m just guessing,” she said loftily. “Anyway he looks a lot more respectable now. Besides, I got your message about the housewarming party this Friday. Did you invite a certain handyman?”

“Yeah, I did.” Marianne realized her invitation had been made in the morning, so he could well have been reacting to that. Or, he could have just hit his limit on his long hair flopping in his face.

“Hah! I knew it!” Kelly crowed.