The afternoon had passed by rather quickly due to Rosemary's chat with little 'Hazel', no, that didn't sound right. Perhaps, 'Sidney'? She glanced at the kitten's questioning eyes filled with flecks of brown and green. Her natural response had been to name the kitten Hazel after those beautiful eyes, but, after the way she had listened to her pour out her heart, the name Sidney might be more appropriate. Sidney was her Aunt, sister of Mother, but oh, so very different in their personalities, their likes and dislikes. Where Mother was always chasing the latest trend, social event, or latest playwright, Aunt Sidney was a content, salt-of-the-earth type. It was puzzling how two very opposite sisters could have been raised in the same home. She did not often get to see Aunt Sidney, as she lived near the Hudson Bay, but nearly every summer Father would take her with him on his jaunts to Cape Fullerton and let her stay over for anywhere from a week to a month, depending on his briefing. Those weeks, she would find her life simpler, more natural. Aunt Sidney would comb out her bouncy curls and style her hair in braids. It wouldn't take long before she'd realize she had less need of the prim and proper dresses she'd packed for special occasions and instead would focus on dressing for comfort. And the best times were, when Aunt Sidney would brew a cup of raspberry tea, put a pot of cream and a batch of fresh scones on a tray and motion her out to the sunroom. They would sit, looking out at the Bay, and a peace would come over her busy city girl heart. Sometimes they would just sit there, soaking in the view and peace that lay in the Bay beyond.
Most of the time, they would chat. It was the type of chat Rosemary was unaccustomed to. It was not a chat about what the latest social event was, or what was expected of her, or what so-and-so said. It was a talk from the heart. Aunt Sidney would ask questions, but mostly listen. And it was in those moments, the little hidden truths of her own heart would start to come to the surface. Some of their talks were completely outrageous, and if Mother had overheard, she would definitely not be allowed to continue making trips out to Aunt Sidney's. Mother had always disapproved of Sidney and her ways, but Rosemary found a freeing life in her Aunt's demeanor. So, yes, the way this priceless kitten had listened so intently to her this afternoon, she deserved to be named after the wonderful Aunt Sidney. Rosemary patted the cat's orange fur.
"What do you think, Sidney?"
The kitten blinked her green eyes.
"Are you a 'Sidney'?" She said the name in a higher pitch and the kitten flopped onto her side, cuddling up next to her leg. Yes, she was definitely a Sidney. Absently stroking the kitten, she looked out the window. If only Lee would let her keep her as the newest member of their family. She was finally able to share her heart and worries and frustration with someone- even if that someone was presently taking a nap on her favorite afghan and sported orange and white stripes and a tail.
Twiddling with a loose yarn from the afghan on the settee, she wondered, could she possibly be accepting of the tragedy that happened all those years ago? Until now, her reaction had been to push it away. Far away. But now, after the bearing of her heart this afternoon, could she begin to face the past? Could she even dare to think she could move beyond it and put it behind her? Curious, she stood up abruptly. Sidney, lying next to her, jostled and adjusted into a new restful position.
She knew what she needed to do. Sure, it had been more than enough confessing all her past to sweet innocent Sidney, but something whispered that now was the time. She gingerly walked towards the stairs and looked back at the kitten.
"You know I blame this entirely on you, don't you?"
The kitten lifted her brown green eyes and then laid her chin back on her paws.
With her heart pounding in her chest, she climbed the steps to their bedroom. Every step took her closer to the posession that housed every secret of her past: her box. It had been buried in the bedroom floorboard. When they had first moved in, before Lee had put the bed frame together with the help of Jack and Bill, she had, on accident, discovered the loose floorboard. It was a perfect hiding spot. She would make sure to have it hidden directly under the bed, that way no one, not even Lee, could ever possibly come across it. They had brought in the headboard piece and assembled the frame, and when questioned about where to place it, she pointed to the far wall, making sure the loose floorboard was centered perfectly underneath their new bed. Ironic wasn't it, that right underneath the place a man and wife become one, her ultimate secret would hide, the secret that kept them from truly becoming one in heart and mind.
But today, today she was brave. She would finagle that box out of its hiding place. Sure, she might not open it, and may not share it with Lee for weeks from now—that was, if she ever did—but getting it out of its hiding spot was the first step in what she hoped would be a succession of steps. It was either this or letting her past all unravel out of her control when Harriet arrived.
She finished her hobble up the stairs, thankful that her ankle was getting stronger day by day. Finally her hefty hips had a good use, as she pushed the bed frame inch by inch until a gap appeared by the wall. What she wouldn't give for a child to come by at this time. Perhaps a curious Cody or small Opal. They would be able to fit in the gap lickety split and retrieve the box. But, alas, she was alone, and well, it was better off this way. It was her past, her secret, and she should be the one to unearth it. A few more budges to the bed from her hip and the bed frame was far enough away from the wall for her to get behind it and push it away a mite more, if she held her breath and sucked in her belly. The frame gave way, and she scurried to her hands and knees, feeling the footboards for the loose one.
There, there it was.
She opened the floorboard, her heart nearly crawling out her throat.
She pulled the board back and…
Why it was gone!
Saints in heaven, her secret box was gone! Vanished, without a trace. Her heartbeat sped up and a panic wracked her being from the inside out. Where was it? Who had it? And why would they take it?