Terry Lynn Thomas - The Drowned Woman

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We followed Mrs Griswold into a dining area positioned inside the alcove created by four windows which formed a good-sized bay window. An octagonal table had been expanded with leaves to accommodate all of us. The open windows provided a pleasant breeze. Outside, the crickets and nocturnal birds serenaded us. Zeke’s father already sat at the head of the table, a large glass of amber liquid at his elbow. He surveyed us as we filed in, his eyes mean and hard.

Zeke held my chair out for me.

‘This is Sarah, Father.’

‘I know who she is,’ the man growled at me. ‘I followed the trial. I know what you said about that man.’

‘I didn’t have much choice,’ I said.

Mr Caen sipped his drink and watched me over the rim of his glass with watery blue eyes. He had the same features as his sons, intense eyes, and a strong jaw that had once been as determined as Zeke’s. Mr Caen was handsome – all of the Caen men were – but the booze was taking its toll. It wouldn’t be too long before the skin would hang off the jowls and the eyes would become irreparably clouded.

‘You continue to speak to Sarah like that, and we’re leaving.’ Zeke spoke in that calm-before-the-storm quality that even his father noticed. A hush fell over the room. In the distance, an owl hooted.

‘I see someone’s knocked you down a peg or two. You’re a cripple now. Always knew you’d wind up on the wrong end of someone. Troublemaker, that’s what you are.’

‘Stop it, William,’ Granna snapped, as she sat down. ‘Zeke and Sarah made a lot of effort to get here. Let’s not chase them off today. Please, everyone, sit. Let’s enjoy our meal.’

Mrs Griswold entered the room as if on cue. She carried a pan with roast beef, potatoes, carrots, and peas, which she set on the sideboard. She made quick work of serving us. Soon the room fell silent as we ate.

‘The meat shortage hasn’t affected us too much,’ Daphne said. ‘We have a neighbor who raises beef cattle. I give their children riding lessons, and every couple of weeks we get a roast. I grow the vegetables, as you saw earlier.’

‘Regular paragon of virtue,’ Will Sr said. He turned his focus to Zeke. ‘What do you think of the mill? We’ve made a smooth switch to parachutes. Doing our part for the war.’ Will Sr put a piece of beef in his mouth and looked at Zeke.

‘Indeed you have. But you need to install an air-conditioner. One of those girls had to go to the hospital today, Father. She had a heat stroke. You need to take care of your people.’

‘Too expensive,’ Will Sr said.

‘Then at least let them work in the evening so as to avoid the heat of the day,’ Simon piped in. ‘I had to go tell Fred Jones his daughter collapsed on the job because we didn’t provide a humane working environment.’

‘Enough about the mill,’ Will Sr said. ‘Let’s have some peace while we eat.’

‘This is really good,’ Toby said. He ate ravenously. If he noticed the rancor among the adults, he didn’t let on. ‘When I get a pony, I will only feed him grass and alfalfa, maybe some rolled oats, right, Mamma?’

‘Yes, sweet pea,’ Daphne said.

‘Aunt Rachel will lead him while I ride. Just at first. That way Mamma can still teach her lessons and not worry about me.’

All movement in the room stopped. Toby didn’t notice. He kept right on talking, despite everyone’s attention. I knew that children often saw ghosts, so this revelation from Toby didn’t surprise me.

Toby stuffed a huge piece of potato in his mouth.

‘Aunt Rachel said—’

The color drained out of Daphne’s face. Drops of perspiration broke out on her upper lip.

‘Don’t talk with your mouth full,’ Simon said.

‘That’s enough,’ Will Sr barked.

Toby froze. His eyes widened with fear. He chewed his food and swallowed it with a gulp.

‘Get that child out of my sight,’ Will Sr said.

Daphne rose and went to Toby.

‘Sarah sees her, too. Rachel told me so,’ Toby said. His voice quivered. My heart broke for him.

‘Come on, love. Grandpa’s having one of his spells. I’ll bring you some food to your room.’

‘Do I still get my cake and ice cream?’

‘Of course, extra scoops,’ Daphne said.

‘That’s fine then. Grandpa will be fine tomorrow, right?’ Toby said, as he and Daphne walked hand in hand out of the room.

‘Did you really have to speak to my son that way?’ Simon didn’t bother to hide his disgust.

‘I wouldn’t have to if you would manage your family like a man,’ Will Sr said. He stood and filled his glass from the decanter on the sideboard. He sipped his drink and surveyed us. ‘You’re a sorry lot. I’ve had enough of this nonsense.’

He tottered out of the room, leaving us all in silence.

‘Is this a common occurrence?’ Zeke asked.

‘What do you care?’ Simon didn’t bother to hide the sarcasm from his voice. ‘You don’t have to deal with him day in and day out. He’s an irascible fool—’

‘He’s getting worse,’ Granna said. She faced Zeke and met his eyes with her shrewd gaze. ‘Something’s got to be done about him before he drives the mill and this family into the ground.’

‘Zeke will fix everything,’ Simon said, as he pushed away from the table. ‘The prodigal son has come home to save the day. I’m going to bed.’

I was no longer hungry. The bit of roast beef I had taken had turned to sawdust in my mouth. I forced it down with a generous gulp of red wine.

Granna finished her wine and refilled her glass, and then topped off mine.

‘Welcome home, Zeke. You’ve stepped right back into the hornet’s nest, haven’t you?’ Granna held her glass up before she took a big swig.

‘Don’t you think you should go easy, Granna?’ Zeke said.

‘I need to drink. It’s the only way I can cope.’ She winked at Zeke.

We all stood up and filed out of the dining room toward the staircase. ‘Would you mind going up alone? I really just want to take a walk,’ Zeke said.

‘Of course,’ I said.

He kissed the back of my neck, a subtle promise that never failed to send shivers up my spine, and left me with Granna.

‘Come, dear. I’ll walk up with you.’

We walked side by side up the stairs, Granna taking each step slowly.

‘Horrible arthritis in my hips,’ she was saying. ‘I walk three or four miles each day, but the stairs challenge me. Simon offered me one of the cottages on the property, but I can’t bear the thought of not being close to Toby.’

‘He is a bright child,’ I said.

‘He’s a hellion and I love him to the moon,’ Granna said with a twinkle in her eyes. When we reached my room, I found the door locked.

‘Oh, no. I don’t have a key,’ I said.

Granna rapped on the door next to my room. ‘Helen? It’s Sarah and Granna. Open the door, please.’

We heard footsteps. Helen opened the door. She held a book in one hand. We explained our predicament.

‘Just a minute.’ She stepped into her room and rejoined us carrying a ring of keys.

‘There’s dessert for you downstairs, dear,’ Granna said. ‘Sarah and I need to talk.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ she said.

When we were alone, Granna locked her gaze on me.

‘Is it true? You’ve seen Rachel?’

I froze, not sure what to say.

I let my breath out and wondered if I should just confide in Granna right now. Tell her everything.

‘You’re smart not to trust me yet,’ Granna said. ‘Best wait until you discover for yourself who your allies are. Do you mind if I come in and sit for a minute?’

She came into the room and took one of the two chairs that faced the sofa. I sat in the other one, awkward and unsure where I stood with this strong woman.