Coming Home (Norris Lake Series) (19 page)

"I really love your house," Caitlyn said as she looked around the great room.  "All of these antiques are beautiful."  Caitlyn walked across the room to look at a collection of old books which lined one wall.  It was one of those new log houses which looked so natural located in the midst of the woods. 

There were wooden floors of white oak which shone like a mirror with matching walls.  A stone fireplace as tall as a man stood between two windows.  An enormous sliding glass door overlooked the beautiful tree covered mountains.  A multicolored blue braided rug  sat in front of the fireplace surrounded by an overstuffed blue sofa and two matching lazy boy chairs.  The great room melted into a dining room and beyond that lay the kitchen.  A pair of French doors opened off the dining room out onto a huge porch. 

“So what originally brought you to east Tennessee?” Caitlyn sighed staring out at the mountains.

“My uncle’s last wish was that I come to Norris and get to know the history and legends of the area. I am not sure what he wanted me to find but I am looking.  I picked up some boxes the other day that had once belonged to my ancestors but I haven’t had time to go through them.  We could look through them together if you want.  I’d like the company.” 

"You make yourself at home while I check on lunch.  I hope you like chicken salad." Jesse said as she walked towards the kitchen. 

"That would be great. Do you need some help?" 

"No honey it’s almost ready."  Caitlyn strolled over to one wall that was covered with pictures and plaques.  There were photos of Jesse with various famous people and accepting awards.  Caitlyn peered at them and recognized a picture of Jesse with President Regan and another of her shaking hands with Stephen King. 

She wandered through to the dining room and looked out through a window box full of plants.  Beyond the house she could see a myriad of colors blended together. Bright sunshine filled the room.  She closed her eyes and felt the sun on her face. 

"Come sit down, child, lunch," Jesse called from the kitchen.  A second fireplace warmed the room, logs crackling as the flames burned low. 

"I didn’t realize that you knew so many celebrities, Jesse" Caitlyn said in awe. 

"Yes, well don’t be putting me on a pedestal.  I have just been in the right place at the right time.  Those famous people put their pants on same as you and me." 

Caitlyn pulled out her chair and sat down next to Jesse. 

"I read your book.  I was really great.  I brought it back.  It is in the truck.  Don’t let me forget to give it to you."

"No, you keep it.  Consider it a gift." 

"Only if you will sign it for me." 

"Yes, honey." Jesse said smiling.  "I did want to talk to you about something Caitlyn." 

Caitlyn took a big bite of her chicken salad and nodded her head. 

"I am not trying to scare you but I thought you should know about some of the local happenings." 

"What has been happening?"

"There have been a few disappearances this last month.  Two young women that I know of have gone missing.  I just want you to be careful." Jesse said intensely. 

"There have been some strange happenings around here every few years or so near the caves close to that lake house and I just want to make sure you are safe.  I kind of feel responsible for you.”   

"You don’t have to feel responsible for me.  I can take care of myself.  Not that I don’t appreciate the concern." Caitlyn smiled at her new friend. 

"What do you think happened to those women?"

"I have been reading a lot about local folklore and there are some old articles about people disappearing near those caves and in places where the lake is so deep.  In fact there are places where they don’t know how deep the water actually is since it runs down into those same fissures." 

"Really? I didn’t know that."

“There are some strange things going on.  I found out about some other disappearances that took place even when you were young.  I found one article about a girl your age who disappeared from a houseboat.”

“Yes. I know about that one.  The girl was one of my friends and I was on the houseboat too.  It was weird.  She just disappeared and they never found her.  It was always assumed that this one boy in town killed her but they couldn’t make a case without a body.  Others say she ran away, but I know that’s not true.  She wouldn’t have done that.” 

“Tell me more about it.”  Jesse inquired.  The two women turned their attention to finishing their lunch and talking about the disappearance when they heard Ranger barking outside followed by a car door slamming. 

"Oh, Oh.  It looks like we have company."  Jesse said as she stood to look out the front window.  There was a knock on the door. 

"Come on in Ben.  I’d like you to meet a friend of mine. Caitlyn, this is Ben O’Donnell.  He’s the Sheriff in our small community.  Ben, this is Caitlyn Lawson.  She is staying at the old Lake House at the cove hear the caves." Jesse said as the Sheriff held out his hand to Caitlyn.

"It is nice to see you again, Caitlyn". 

"Thank you, Sheriff O’Donnell.  It is nice to see you too." Caitlyn said as she felt her hand enveloped by the Sheriff’s large rough paw.  His hand completely covered hers in a strong firm grip. 

"Have a seat.  Can I get you something to eat, Ben?"  

"No, Jesse.  I just came by to see if you had heard anything about Jenny. She is still missing." 

"I am sorry, Ben.  I haven’t heard anything but I will keep my ears open.   I wish I could help you more," Jesse said covering Ben’s hand with her own. 

Ben looked at Caitlyn, his eyes full of sadness.  "Have you seen a young girl around your side of the lake?  Her name is Jenny. She’s about 5’6, long blonde hair, blue eyes, kind of thin.  She disappeared about three days ago and is still missing.  She’d be about 17 years old." 

"I haven’t been here very long, Sheriff O’Donnell.  I am sorry I can’t help you either,"  Caitlyn responded.

"Well, ladies, I just wanted to make sure that I left no stone unturned.  I promised Jenny’s mother that I would ask everyone that I could possibly think of about her disappearance.  We’ll find her.  I know we will."  the sheriff said as he stood up.  "It was nice seeing you, Caitlyn and Jesse, I will see you again soon." 

Caitlyn’s heart was beating hard in her chest and her face flushed red.  Jesse shut the door behind Ben and walked back into the living room. 

“Are you okay dear?  You look upset.  Are you sick again?” 

“No.  I am fine, Jesse.  I know Ben and it’s been a life time since I’d seen him.”

“He was someone special to you?” 

“There was a time when he was my whole life.” 

”Oh, my.  There’s a story.  Do tell. What happened?” 

“We’ll talk about it another day. I can’t right now.” 

“Okay, but honey if you need to talk, you give me a call.  I am a good listener.  “So,” Jesse said changing the subject, “let’s set up some time to go through those boxes of mine.  Maybe there will be some good materials in there for my research and possibly for my next book.” 

The next morning, the sun poured through the open windows flooding the room with warmth and brightness reaching its fingertips up under Cat’s eyelids to nudge her awake.  Not wanting to leave the blue shades of sleep, she rolled over and pulled the covers over her head.  A warm tongue wiggled its way in between the sheets pasting hot wet dog kisses against her forehead.  

She reached one arm out of its cocoon and rubbed the head of the little black form that burrowed through the covers like a mouse in a wad of cotton.  “Good morning baby dog,” she said pulling the little animal close for a squeeze. 

She threw back the patchwork quilt and set her feet on the cold wood floor.  Her bedroom was on the second floor and had a set of French doors which opened up on to a large deck.  The deck had a set of wooden lounge chairs and a hot tub.  It overlooked the sparkling lake. Wearing an old
extra-large t-shirt as a nightgown and a pair of socks, she opened the French doors and walked out on to the porch.  She leaned on the railing and looked at the lake.  It was so quiet and serene.  Nothing bad could ever happen here. 

The trees had started dropping their leaves on to the deck and she made a mental note to sweep them off later that day.  She walked to the hot tub and looked under the cover.  Pattycake leaned her head through the slots on the decks railings and barked at a squirrel playing in the leaves below.  She walked around the deck looking at the house next door which was about 60 feet from the lake house. 

Suddenly the door the house next door opened and an old man with long gray hair stepped out on to the back patio.  He pulled on a worn blue fisherman’s hat, leaned back inside to get a fishing pole and then pulled the door closed.  The old man turned and looked towards her and then waved.  She unconsciously waved back and then realized that she was standing there in her only the t-shirt and socks.  She leaned down, picked up the dog and scurried back in to the house through the French doors.  She made a mental note to go over and meet her neighbor and apologize for her attire as soon as she got going this morning. 

She hurriedly got a shower and pulled on a pair of worn blue jeans, a long sleeved shirt and her favorite pair of running shoes.  She let Pattycake out for a moment and then locked the little dog in the lake house with a bowl of water and a promise to be home soon.  She climbed in her truck and strove off towards town.  Driving along the main road into town, she marveled at the beautiful scenery.  The smell of the clean mountain air was a cure for her injured spirit.    

Caitlyn pulled through the town square that was “downtown” Norris.  The town square held about 20 shops in old two story thin brick buildings.  They surrounded a square box of a building which served as the
town hall and courthouse.  On each of the four corners of the town square were faux gas lamps.  Parallel parking spots with meters were set every 15 feet around the courthouse. 

Once this was a bustling central location in the late 1800's and early 1900's when a newly built railroad brought trains every day to the center of town.  Business thrived, and the century-old plantations and manor houses built during that era still lined the quiet neighborhood streets near downtown.  A brass cannon and stack of cannon balls sat in the middle of the sidewalk just inside of a wrought iron fence just to the inside of the parking spots and in front of the building.  A rim of kelly green grass buffeted the area between the fence and the edge of the red brick courthouse. 

The shops encircling the square included an ice cream shop, a tack shop, a thrift shop, an old time hardware store, an eatery and much more.  In front of each store were more parking spaces then a low rock wall to encourage loitering.  In front of the Corner Café Eatery were a half dozen rocking chairs occupied by older patrons enjoying the company of friends prior to a noon meal.  It was here that Caitlyn was supposed to meet Michael for brunch and check for news of her father.  She pulled her truck into a parking spot and stepped out.  Seating herself in a vacant rocker she waited for her always late brother and sighed as she took in the smells and sights of home.

Directly in front of her, Caitlyn saw the Henderson Art Glass Factory where glass blowing was a family tradition for the past five generations and the family members made 100 different pieces like paperweights, fruit and holiday ornaments.  The SugarLand Ice Creamery had been serving premium ice cream, sherbets for over five decades with an original soda fountain and a wide assortment of candies and chocolates.

To one side of the ice cream shoppe was Thompson Books where there were weekly book club readings and signings. Just next-door was Norris Gallery which hosted numerous forms of art, from fine art to folk-art.

She remembered her childhood and evening walks around the square.  They always presented a unique atmosphere with other families strolling, children bike riding and a pavilion of people enjoying live bluegrass music. 

The smell of cappuccino and warm bread wafted on the air.  She promised herself a hot hoagie sandwich and a cup of chicken soup if Michael ever showed up. She checked her watch again.  He was now 30 minutes late.  Her stomach growled with anticipation.  Where was that brother of hers?  She could all but taste the meal and was looking forward to a piece of homemade sweet potato pie to top it off when Michael’s new black mustang pulled into a slot next to her dually.  The top was down on his new ride and the wind ruffled his bangs.  She smiled thinking what a handsome man her brother was and how much she envied his carefree lifestyle.  He tossed out a cigarette as he opened the door and stepped out. 

“Hey sis.  How are you doing?”

Hey, Michael.  I’m fine.  How are you?

“Just peachy except for that grumpy old man I visited this morning.  I am glad I have my own place.  Staying with him 100% of the time would be pure hell.  I don’t know how Camille puts up with him.  He’s there lying on the couch watching TV and being extra nasty to anyone who comes within 50 feet of him.  He’s in pain and unhappy and going to let you know about it.  I wouldn’t go near him if I were you.” 

“Oh, Michael, he’s been through a lot and has even more riding on this construction project.  I am doing my best to manage the mess and can say as of today, Bubba and I have it under control.  We should have it done on time, on target and on budget, Good Lord willing.  But enough of talk of Dad and work, let’s go get something to eat and enjoy.  My stomach is sending smoke signals I am so famished.”