Caretaker, p.15
Caretaker, page 15
With his head lowered in defeat, he walked away.
Ian felt terrible for dismissing Zach’s inventive claims, but his attention quickly shifted to his wife, who remained still and silent on the couch. She looked so peaceful. He decided to let her continue resting and hoped they would finish decorating the tree so when she woke up, they could look at all the ornaments together—a trip down memory lane. He was doing everything he could to help her hold on.
“Tree time!” Ariel said with a skip in her step. Ian put a finger to his lips and pointed to Lyana. “Oops, sorry,” she whispered. “But I just love decorating the tree.”
The three of them worked together, pulling ornaments from the box, sharing stories of past Christmases and other family memories, talking about where each ornament came from. Before they knew it, the box was empty, and the tree was full.
“Let’s wait for Mom to do the star.” Ariel insisted they couldn’t put the finishing touch on the tree without her. Ian and Zach agreed.
“Okay. We can take a break until she wakes up,” said Ian. The three of them went their separate ways and agreed that once she was awake, they would finish the tree.
Ian went to his study to check his email. After the night of the storm, he had taken photos of the house and property and sent them to a professor of archeology he had met at the conference in Germany earlier that year. He was curious about their new surroundings and had a hunch this professor might see something in the photos that he might have missed. He didn’t quite know what he was expecting his colleague to find, but his gut told him there might be something. Likely not anything that would substantiate Zach’s claims, but any information could shed light on the growing mysteries about the house.
He opened his computer and looked through his emails, but there was nothing. He took a deep breath and just as he let out a long exhale, he noticed the candelabra, tucked away amongst a pile of books in the corner of a shelf. It was in the same place it had been since the morning after the storm when he and Lyana were in his study talking about it.
Ian picked it up and surveyed it closely. It was the first time he had studied it in detail. He turned it from side to side noticing the exquisite details on the drip pan, arms, and column down to its tarnished base. He didn’t know what he was looking for, if he was looking for anything at all. He was about to put it on top of another stack of books when he turned it over. A faded marking roughly etched onto the bottom caught his attention.
Where have I seen this? Before he could collect his thoughts and find an answer, he heard Ariel calling from the living room.
“Mom is awake.”
Ian left the study and walked into the living room. Ariel was sitting next to Lyana on the couch. Zach arrived a moment later.
Right, the tree, thought Ian. How could he have forgotten about that?
Lyana was surrounded by her family and could surely see what they had done, but each time she opened her mouth to speak, no words came.
“Mom?” Ariel said. She turned to Lyana and pleaded with her eyes.
Lyana just sat there, frozen.
“Dad, what’s wrong with her?” Zach’s voice wavered.
“Ly, hon. We’re here.” Ian tried to coax her to come back to them, like he had done so many times before when she was having an episode. But this time she wasn’t responding.
• • •
I can see you! I can hear you!
The words formed in her head, but no sound came out of her mouth. She couldn’t move her hands. She couldn’t move at all. Her mind was racing but her body was still. She felt trapped.
Oh no. It’s happening. Not yet. I’m not ready.
• • •
“Mom!!” Zach cried out.
His mother’s eyes were open, but she wasn’t responding. She just sat there, unmoving. Distant and detached.
Ariel screamed, “Dad, call Dr. Rapha!”
Ian grabbed his cell phone and began dialing.
“Hello?” The voice on the other line picked up and Ian walked away explaining the situation to the doctor. When he disappeared around the corner with the phone up to his ear, there was a knock on the front door.
Ariel motioned for Zach to get the door. “I’ll stay with Mom,” she said.
Zach heard his dad’s voice as he walked to the door. “She’s just gone,” he kept saying over and over.
Zach opened the door to find Marshall. He quickly pulled him by the arm into the living room, explaining in broken sentences that something was wrong.
• • •
Marshall looked around, taking in all that was happening. Ian was on the phone, pacing in the next room, Ariel was sitting next to her mother, and Zach was holding onto his arm for dear life.
“I was just coming over to check out the attic,” he said. He was surprised to see fear on the kids’ faces, and a blank stare on Lyana’s.
“Can you help her?” Ariel asked.
She spoke with such familiarity, like he was part of the family. It took him by surprise.
He sat down next to Lyana. “Ian is calling for help, Lyana.” Her expression didn’t change.
• • •
Lyana felt the couch shift as someone sat next to her. As Marshall moved into view to speak, her heart beat faster as panic started rising.
Who is this man? Why is he in my house? How do the kids know him? Where is Ian? Somebody help me!
She needed to scream but nothing would come out.
• • •
Ian hung up the call and joined them in the living room. Ariel was pacing behind the couch. Marshall was sitting next to Lyana, but watching Zach, who was staring at the decorated tree, counting something out loud.
“What are you counting, Zach?” Ian asked.
He paused, said, “The ornaments,” then went right back to it.
Ian decided to wait until he was done with his count before relaying what the doctor said, but Ariel clearly didn’t want to wait.
“What did the doctor say?” she asked, her voice just on the edge of panic.
“Great, I lost count,” said Zach. He started again.
“Hey bud, can you put the count on hold for a minute?” Ian said. “I want to tell you what the doctor said.”
Zach nodded.
“Doctor Rapha said we’re supposed to just settle down and talk with Mom like we normally would. And include her in everything we do, as if things were just fine.”
“But they’re not fine, Dad!” said Ariel.
“I know, I know honey. But he says this is the best way to help. Maybe some sense of normal can help.” He pointed to one of the decorations. “Remember when we got this one?”
“That’s from the Franklin Park Zoo,” said Zach. He had abandoned his ornament count.
Ariel walked over to the tree and lifted an ornament that she had made a few years before in an art class. It was a glass star decorated with acrylic paints. The paint had peeled off one of the points on the star and as she held it up, the sun hit it, reflecting light directly onto Lyana and the necklace that was resting on her chest.
“What a beautiful piece,” Marshall said as he removed his gloves and bent down to tie his boot.
• • •
Out of the corner of her eye, Lyana caught a glimpse of his hand and what appeared to be a tattoo. She could only see a small portion of it but as she studied it, her eyes widened. She had seen that tattoo before.
What is happening?
Marshall leaned over and whispered into her ear, “At the end of the dark night, there IS light.” Then he stood up, the tattoo disappearing under the sleeve of his jacket.
• • •
“Kids, why don’t you stay here with your mother and keep sharing stories about the ornaments?” I’m sure your mom would love that.” Ian tilted his head to the side, motioning for Marshall to follow him. “I need Marshall to check something out for me.”
The two went to the attic, where Ian showed Marshall the cluster of wires that was now hidden underneath black tape.
“Do you know anything about this?”
“May I?” Marshall gestured at the mess, then pulled the tape back to look at what was going on underneath. He studied the wires for a moment, but otherwise didn’t move. “I don’t think it’s a problem,” he said finally, then placed the tape back over the wires.
“Are you sure?”
“Mostly sure,” said Marshall. “But I’d like to bring my tools and take a closer look, just in case.”
They walked back downstairs. The kids were talking a mile a minute.
“Dad, it was like she was here,” they both said in unison. Then they were shouting over one another.
“When we pointed to the star, she made a sound,” said Zach.
“It was a gasp,” corrected Ariel. “Like she’d been holding her breath.”
“It didn’t last long …”
“It was only a second …”
“But she was back. I know it …”
“And then she was gone again,” added Ariel.
The two kids were finally silent.
“Okay, hang on, we’ll talk about this in a minute.” He ushered Marshall out the door and stepped outside with him into the cold.
“I’m sorry, Marshall. I don’t know what to tell you. She’s gotten worse, you know? And the kids …” Ian’s voice caught.
“I understand, Ian. Look, you’ve got a lot on your plate tonight. I’ll come back tomorrow to take a closer look at the wires in the attic. Meanwhile, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Okay?”
Marshall looked Ian in the eye, then nodded and turned to go.
Ian shut the door and returned his attention to his family. He listened intently as Zach and Ariel explained in detail what they had witnessed.
Ian knew not to get his hopes up, but there was no denying that this was at least a glimmer of hope. They continued to share memories about the ornaments, then placed the star in her lap. Ian watched Lyana’s face, looking for any sign of recognition. Hoping.
• • •
Ian’s expression was so sad, it made Lyana want to cry.
She wanted so desperately to reach out and hug each of them. She was a prisoner trapped inside her own body, unable to move or speak, questioning if what was happening around her was real or some fiction of her untrustworthy mind. Thoughts and memories would arrive, then immediately slip away. She fought to remember what she’d just been recalling and failed. But she could see her family. Right there. Right in front of her.
“Be with me, Lyana,” Ian said. His voice sounded so broken.
I’m trying, Ian! I’m trying so hard, but I can’t find my way back!
• • •
As the minutes turned to hours, the glimmer of hope Ian had held onto slipped from his hands.
Thirty-Three
Ian was up early. He had carried Lyana to bed the night before and brought her back downstairs and propped her up in her chair, hoping the sunlight might help. She hadn’t spoken a word since the night before and in an instant, Ian went from husband to caretaker. He made breakfast for the kids, knowing all of this was difficult for both of them.
A stack of pancakes sat on the counter waiting for Zach. Next to the pancakes, a plate of avocado toast and eggs for Ariel. Ian’s eyes were heavy and restless. He had barely slept and was already on his third cup of coffee when Marshall arrived.
• • •
The knock at the door woke Zach, who had stayed up late researching. He managed to find the contact information for one of the previous owners, who, according to the real estate records had only stayed at Farr Hill for eighteen months. He traced them to a coastal town in Maine and located a phone number for them.
He was planning to make that call while Ian and Marshall were distracted in the attic, but his plan was sidetracked when he saw the pancakes.
“It can wait until after breakfast,” he whispered under his breath.
“Did you say something?” Ian asked as he and Marshall made their way to the attic.
“Yeah. Thanks for the pancakes!”
“You got it, kiddo,” his dad called from the stairs. “Let your sister know when she wakes up that there is something special for her, too.”
“Will do,” he hollered back, pouring a layer of syrup on the stack of pancakes.
As he cut into them and began eating, he stared intently at the puzzle he and Ariel had put together. It had taken them so long. It was like an optical illusion that if you stared at it long enough, something else might appear.
• • •
In the attic, Marshall and Ian were discussing the history of the house. Ian was still curious about the man who built it and was asking Marshall questions about his uncle to uncover anything that might help.
“What can you tell me about him?”
Marshall was vague and seemed uncomfortable as he discussed Mr. Goodpasture, explaining to Ian that he hadn’t spent a lot of time with him over the years. He had grown up hearing stories about the house and knew he collected antiques and said there was likely a lot of history at Farr Hill. But that was the extent of what Marshall was willing to offer and he quickly turned his attention to the wires.
“Let’s get to work.” Marshall slowly pulled back the tape that was draped over the wires just like he had the night before to get a closer look.
• • •
Zach had devoured half the stack of pancakes when he heard his mother gasp for air in the next room. He ran to her. By the time he got there, she was unresponsive. Did I really hear her? Confused, he went back to the kitchen to finish his breakfast.
• • •
Marshall placed the tape back over the wires and explained to Ian that they should be covered, just to be safe.
“We can use an electrical box,” he said. “I’m pretty sure there’s a spare in the tool shed out back.”
After everything else that had already happened at the house, the last thing Ian wanted to think about was a house fire. He agreed it was a good plan.
“I don’t know much about electrical stuff, but I’m willing to help,” said Ian. “I’ll just follow your lead.”
“It shouldn’t be too difficult.” He stood and walked over to the stairs. “I’ll be right back.”
• • •
Zach looked up from his plate of pancakes to see Marshall exit through the front door. He was back within a few minutes, carrying a metal junction box, then headed upstairs.
Moments later, he heard it again, his mother gasping in the next room. He dropped his fork and ran to her.
For the first time in a day, there was life in her eyes. Her mouth was moving like she was trying to say something. Zach leaned in closer.
“Azar,” she whispered as she held his arm.
He felt her hands loosen their grip and watched as her eyes faded back into the darkness. As quickly as she had shown signs of consciousness, she was gone.
“Mom! Mom?” He was begging her to come back, if even for a moment. “What were you trying to say?” he pleaded. He took a deep breath, then lowered his voice. “Be with us …” he began.
“Breakfast looks amazing.” Ariel’s voice startled Zach. He turned to see her standing near the kitchen. He tried to explain to her that their mother had been awake for a moment, but he could tell she didn’t want to engage in the conversation. Instead, he followed her to the kitchen to finish his breakfast.
He sat silently, looking at the few bites left on his plate, poking them with his fork while Ariel talked about how excited she was to go back to school after the first of the year. He was frustrated. He was certain he had heard his mother earlier and this second instance just confirmed that. But how? He was unwilling to accept that what happened was simply part of her diagnosis.
He stared at the puzzle, searching for answers. He picked up the box. Bgraamiens Flowing Rainbow Lines Puzzle. 1,000 pieces. He didn’t know what he was looking for, he just wanted to find something, anything. Empty-handed, he went back to the pancakes.
As he took the last bite, it came to him.
“That’s it!” He dropped his fork onto the plate of sticky syrup. “See all the colored threads and how they are woven through each other?”
He started comparing the lines in the puzzle to the loose wires. Ariel looked at him, a confused expression on her face.
He leaped out of his chair and ran up the stairs, yelling, “Stop!” When he made it to the attic, he shouted it again. “Stop!”
Ian and Marshall stopped what they were doing and turned to Zach in unison.
“Whoa, slow down, Zach,” Ian said.
“It’s the wires,” Zach said, trying to catch his breath between the words. “When you were doing something with the wires, Mom came back!”
Marshall and Ian exchanged a look.
“What do you mean she came back?” asked Ian. “She’s back?” He stood suddenly, as if ready to sprint back down the rickety attic stairs to see for himself.
“No, no. She’s not back now. But …” Zach paused to order the words in his head. “When you were working on the wires, I heard Mom gasp,” he said. “I’m sure of it.”
“How sure?” asked Marshall.
“Um … pretty sure?”
Ian sat back down. “I don’t know, Zach. That seems a bit like a coincidence, don’t you think?”
The answer was right there, but Zach couldn’t quite see it, like he was staring at it through a thick patch of fog. Still, he knew he was onto something. He started again. “It’s the wires …”
“Zach, I get it. You want Mom to be okay. We all do. But why do you think the wires have anything to do with this? You weren’t up here with …”
