Prologue
Asclepius.
Amazing word, isn’t it?
Asclepius was more commonly known as the “hopeless
case clinic” – when it really should be called the “hopeful case clinic.” For
any patient who passed through its glass doors was healed.
Or so the media said.
Still, Asclepius was the only facility in the world
offering revivification, hematophagy, alba faelis anima transference, corpus
vis separation, pneuma preservation, and odic force conduction, processes that leaped
the great expanse from science fiction to actual science.
And here I stood, letting a really good coffee get
cold while ruminating on a word I couldn’t even pronounce.
Chapter 1: The Traveling Salesman
Lenny drummed his fingers on the desk while Lou,
coffee in hand, strolled into the office. His eyes roamed over the dingy space
and faded carpet. He’d stood in plenty of lobbies over the years, everything
from palatial hotels with marble floors and thick oils on the walls to
roach-infested shanties, no bigger than an outhouse. They all bought mirrors,
every single one. In fact, Lanny couldn’t remember any hotel, motel, inn, or
boarding house that refused to buy mirrors.
Chapter 2: Roundtable
A voice rang out, “Excuse me, Mr. Mayor.”
And this, MeeMaw, is where the meeting flipped. I jotted
comments as rapidly as they fired. I couldn’t attribute most of them and didn’t
even try. Just read on. You’ll get the gist of it.
Chapter 3: Bottle of the Red Stuff
Soon Marjorie was on her
feet, shaking cobwebs out of her head and smoothing her rumpled slacks and
bouse. She dug her brush out of her suitcase and freed the tangles in her brown
hair while watching Shirley, who stood before the old bureau mirror and
reapplied her red lipstick with a tiny brush. Shirley’s reflection stared
unblinkingly into Marjorie’s, and Marjorie instinctively squeezed her thighs
together as she stroked, stroked, stroked. Picture perfect, that’s how people
described Shirley. “Too negative” – that’s how people perceived Marjorie. Shirley
and Marjorie. Light and shadow. Little did they know.
Chapter 4: Cracking Open the Nest Egg
“Sam, simmer down. I just
don’t understand why you surprised her with such a car. Women like jewelry. You
could have bought her a nice ring for a fraction of the cost.”
“She can’t drive a ring
to California!”
Chapter 5: Scrawls on the Wall
A bell jangled when she opened the diner’s door, announcing her arrival. Male heads swerved in her direction and nodded in greeting and approval. She acknowledged them with a toss of her pretty head and a half smile as she scanned the room. Counter or table? Five men sat at the counter, munching triangular sandwiches or slurping coffee and smoking cigarettes. Helen’s parents always warned her of the dangers of sitting alone at a counter full of men. Helen worried more about the passive taste of tobacco in her ice cream.
Chapter 6: Whispers of the Heart
“So my mother – remember, I told you they owned and
operated Munsonville Inn – so my mother sent me to Harper’s for a two-pound bag
of coffee, as she’d run out and her large shipment came later in the week. She’d
tied up the coins – all eighty-three cents of them – in a fresh handkerchief
and instructed me to present the entire parcel to Mrs. Harper and come immediately
home with the coffee – and no dawdling, because, well, I was quite the dawdler.
But when I walked through the door – oh my word, I saw Steve! He was wearing an
old droopy undershirt and old droopy pants, and he was leaning against the
vending machine, gulping that cola like someone might wrest it from him. And my
heart just – stopped.”
Chapter 7: I Run at Night
I stretch, get out of bed, and yank the old blanket back to air the bed.
(Terry Rule No. 2). It’s an old creaky bed, but it’s a bed. I wasn’t allowed on
the bed when Ma was alive. But that’s all changed now. She’s dead and I have
the bed.
Chapter 8: Laid to Rest
Despite Chester’s background Chester always lived within his means, and
Mindy never complained. When Chester was between jobs, his father only gave
Chester enough money to keep the wolf from the door, as Roderick liked to say.
But modestly never meant slovenly. Mindy was a good little woman and kept their
tiny home spick-and-span and filled with mouth-watering smells, for Mindy
cooked and baked as well as she cleaned, as good as or better than any of his
father’s private chefs. But this little cottage stank of garbage, and Chester
sneezed repeatedly at the herd of dust bunnies scampering across the room as he
crossed the small parlor. Unruffled, Fred led the way into the kitchen where a
woman about Chester’s age sat at the kitchen table in a cloud of choking
cigarette smoke. She wore a bright orange and green frock that looked more like
a tent than a dress. The table was filled with supplies to make jewelry: gold
wires and chains, silver wires and chains, hoops, bells, zebras, trout, spires,
rutabagas. Dishes caked with cement food were stacked high on the counter and
in the sink. Food scraps, paper plates, and foam cups spilled out of the metal
garbage can and formed molehills on the floor. A small paper strip had fluttered off the table, so
Chester bent to retrieve it:
Moonstone (hecatolite) is named for
Hecate, goddess of magic and the underworld. She waits for you at the
crossroad. Bring your requests to her, for she sees the past, present, and
future.
Chapter 9: Necking
“Ah, Madison, I can never
think of Steve’s first kiss without also thinking of Ollie and Floyd.”
Madison choked and tea ran
from her nose as she groped for a napkin. “Ollie and Floyd? More
boyfriends?”
“No, dear. Not boyfriends. Drifters and drunks.”
She gestured to the platter. “Do try a sandwich.”
Chapter 10: Spider and Fly
Chester kept his head down as he rolled the cart into
the kitchen. He hated talk of Simons Mansion, and he hated village roundtable
meetings. He hated the conflict; he hated the drama. But he attended every
meeting for the sake of Mindy and the children. Like him, they thrived in
Munsonville – as he knew they would. Kenneth, age ten, Douglas, age eight, and Melody,
age six, rapidly shot to the top of their respective classes at Munsonville
School. Even little Jakey, now age four, attended school, although he couldn’t
partake in any of the work. But that didn’t matter to the little boy. Jakey
loved school, and tears welled up in Chester’s eyes just thinking about it. All
Chester’s children tugged at his heart – but Jakey tugged a little harder.
Chapter 11: Death Heard Round the World
“John Simons forever grieved the death of Bryony and
his unborn child,” said Dorothy Fisk, John Simons historian and author of “And
God Said, ‘Let There Be Music:’ The Definitive Biography of John Simons.” Fisk
added, “Because of this wound in his heart, John Simons was able to fully
devote his entire being to his music and attain a brilliance a family man could
never have reached.”
Chapter 12: Mine
Lou started to take a sip from his empty cup, but
Vicki was already scurrying up with the coffee pot. After a couple of quick fortifying
gulps, Lou smiled encouragingly at his audience, which only increased Chester’s
disquiet.
Chapter 13: Second Sight
Hand in hand, we strolled across the grass to the dock
and settled at its edge. In silence, we removed our shoes and socks and dragged
our feet in the water. For a time, the only sound in our world was the light
splashing of our feet.
I broke the silence first.
Chapter 14: Chop, Sizzle, Broil, and Bake
The Sandman smiled and waved from the dock, and the world whirled around
her, and his cane tapped out the words, and she remembered when she used to
traipse out to see her friends, silent and bloated blue under the rippling
waters and gazing at her with purpled eyes and grinning with full inky lips,
and she laughed aloud.
Chapter 15: The Rage
“Janice,” Bob clasped her hands and leaned close to
her face, not to intimidate her, for Bob was never intimidating, despite his
size. He leaned close to reinforce their solidarity, that he was with her, on
her side. “You been on the lake. You know there’s more in the lake than anyone
will ever know. You’ve been in the woods. You know there’s more in the woods
than anyone will ever know. But you haven’t been inside Simons Mansion. And I
believe ‘things’ happen inside that mansion we’ll ever know.”
Chapter 16: Hard Choice to Make
I’m past ninety – and I’ve never experienced a darkness as dark as
Munsonville when the lights go out.
Chapter 17: Through the Camera’s Eye
Pure sunshine, he thought, wishing he’d brought his
camera and then instantly killed his wish. Standing at the window snapping
photos of her was decidedly creepy, especially since he was forty-six, and she
looked no more than twenty-five. Still – he’d love to capture the soft pink in her
cheek as she bent to sign the children’s hardcover book and then, beaming,
raising her head and placing the copy into the outstretched hands of its new
owner, her eyes bright with excitement. Did she realize how honestly lovely she
looked?
Chapter 18: Words Enough For Me
She cocked her head and smiled kindly, well
pseudo-kindly. She sure as fuck didn’t fool him. “You’re ruining your health.”
“It’s my health to ruin.”
“And if you die, what happens to me?”
“That’s why I’m here today. To plan for your care.”
She took his hand. “A good son should care for his
mother.”
He yanked his hand away. “Well, I’m a shitty son.”
Chapter 19: The All-Hallowed Albatross
Anna Marchellis’ room was last on the left. She lay in
bed in the airless little cage, covers flung aside, curtains drawn. She looked too
gaunt and too pale for his liking. Probably due to an outdated wartime rations
policy. He’d talk to the staff. He certainly paid enough for this dump.
Chapter 20: Dancing in the Past
June stretched her toes, hoping she carried an inkling
of Granny Bea’s gumption in those shoes. Granny Bea also grew up in Boston;
she’d known another life. But she met a mountain man while on holiday with her
family and eloped with him under the cover of night. In those days, Granny Bea
was Miss Beatrice Wilson, the “surprise” child of her parents, their second and
their last. Beatrice’s sister Bertha was twenty years older than she and
married by the time Beatrice landed on earth. So Beatrice’s parents poured
their time and wealth and Boston’s finest tutors into her. Beatrice birthed one
child late in life – Maureen – and Maureen birthed one child late in life –
June. Both women’s husbands died before the babies arrived; both women raised
their daughters themselves. June broke that tradition. June birthed no one,
because of Mickey.
Chapter 21: The New Professor
At that moment, Dirk Weston walked up to their table. It
was only a matter of time. Dirk had started canvassing the cafeteria the moment
the girls set their trays on the table. Dirk had curly brown hair, brown
glasses, a permanent solemn expression, and brown “abandoned puppy” eyes that
spoke of his greatest desire: getting laid – by anyone; he wasn’t choosy. But. as
president of Jenson College’s music club, Dirk made it his personal mission to
recruit all three members of the Friendship Harmony to whatever project he
cooked up (and secretly hoping one might take pity on him afterwards by, well,
you know). “You ladies coming to the fundraising dance on Saturday night?”
“The ‘what’ dance?” Robin asked.
Dirk set a flyer on the table with a smirk. “This one.
If you’d attend club meetings…”
Chapter 22: Enigma in Residence
“Why Julie,” Mrs. Clements said. “Is something wrong?”
“Did you see a strange person with a dog?” Julie asked
breathlessly.
“A dog!” Mrs. Feigel said with a laugh. “In the
library?”
“So – no?”
Chapter 23: Rain
“I’m almost ashamed saying it, but Steve’s mother
‘gave me the creeps’ that day; there’s no other way to explain it. She was
huddled in a chair, a ratty blanket to her neck, staring out the picture window
with glassy eyes, and muttering, “Rain-rain-rain-rain-rain-rain,” in such an
unsettling way that even the recollection raises the hair on my arms and neck.
I remember my gaze traveling with hers. I saw the shining sun glistening off
the deep blue water. What she saw, I do not know.”
Chapter 24: From Fry Pan to Factotum
The remainder of the meal passed with more lively
banter, and they left Sue’s Diner together. Scott needed to walk a stray dog
and scoop his growing collection of litter boxes. Someone dumped four white
kittens at his door last night, he said.
“I’m also behind in paperwork,” Scott added as they ambled
down Main Street.
“That’s what you get for frittering your time with a
fishing pole.”
Their soles thunked in unison on the old wooden
planks. June tried not to think about Vicki.
“I sure could use a secretary. Feel like
moonlighting?”
“Hmm, well, I sure could use a clerk at the
circulation desk. Know anyone?”
“Still won’t bite? Well, then, could I interest you in
a tabby? She’s s a sweet girl, about nine years old.”
Chapter 25: Nutty Tina Swanson
“I hate people sometimes,” Ann said as she reluctantly
returned “her” puppy to its cage.
“Me, too,” Dr. Samuelson said, which made all three
girls look up in surprise. They’d never heard an adult speak like that,
especially an adult resembling Santa Claus. “That’s why – when you find a good
person – you treat that person like royalty. A good person is a rare breed
indeed.”
Chapter 26: Preternatural Guest
I rouse to unearthly screaming, but the room was gray
and silent except for the low rumble of the television. I was silent, too. Someone
else was shrieking. Someone not in this room. It happens here. It happens often
here at this time of day.
Chapter 27: A New Lease on a Very Old Dream
“Finally, let’s not forget that John Simons’ wife and
only child died in that mansion.” Dr. Rothgard paused to relight his pipe. “So
while we’re touting the name of John Simons and parading strangers through his
home, we should be mindful of the heartache he endured there. Will we show off
the bed where his wife – one of Munsonville’s own – and his baby passed into
eternity? Will his grief be part of the tourism? If so, we should charge an
appropriate price.”
Chapter 28: The News That Changed Everything
“Hurry
up, Katie. Don’t you want to ride on the new trail?”
Katie kicked a stray stick off the porch. “I
don’t know.”
“Come on. Ghost or no ghost, it will be
fun.”
Chapter 29: Journey of a Thousand Heartaches
Darlene gripped the steering wheel with slippery hands
as the attendant cleaned her windows and headlights and then checked the tires
and under the hood. She had never driven out-of-state alone – until now, at age
forty-two. She dreaded the trip, not because she was alone but because of what
being alone meant. Plus, she’d never felt this degree of anguish, anger, betrayal,
and terror, and she felt them simultaneously and struggled to process them.
Process them? Who was she kidding? She was barely coping.
Chapter 30: Severed Links
“And you’ll both have the chance to get to
know Grandma Marchellis.”
That was a selling point?
Epilogue
He chuckled because of all the families that could have
moved onto the Simons estate, the absolute best family would soon move onto it.
Fate finally dealt him a card he could actually play.
