Chapter 5: Home's Secrets

"I really don't understand why I have to wait so long."

"They just want to make sure everything is safe. Six o'clock will be here is no time."

I stop in my tracks. Tommy turns when he realizes I'm no longer next to him. "Are you always this… practical?"

He grins. "I try. Are you not practical often?"

I grin back. "Only when- Hey! I am. I'm too practical usually, but that doesn't stop me from being impatient. I really want to know-"

"- what is so important that your grandparents made the arrangements for you to have first look at that book?"

I can definitely see how he got along so well with Grandpa. I show my agreement before stepping beside him again. I watch the people as they go by us and notice some kids playing a game. With all the talk of the early days of Colorado Springs, the group is playing "cowboys and Indians." I watch Tommy's jaw clench. He takes a few moments before asking, "Have you seen the house?"

"No-no," I reply as he speeds us up a little. "I got here last night and checked into the hotel at like 9. Are we going there?"

"I'll drive. YOU can drive us back."

DQMW DQMW DQMW

I'm trying hard to remember the last time I was here. Dad died when I was 4. I know it wasn't after that. The mountain in the distance is amazing and I rest my head on the window as we drive through the trees.

We pull into a simple 2 story wooden house. I look up and the first thing that catches my eye is a tree. "The house is built around it," Tommy informs me," and has always been a part of the design. The thought, from what I've been taught, was that as life grows so will the rings of the tree."

"It's beautiful."

Not a thing has been changed in possible forever. The house must date back to the 1880s or 90s. It's like stepping back in time. The porch is long and wide with a pair of rocking chairs moving slightly as we mount the steps. I turn before twisting the handle to see a small barn with a few horses in the attached pasture. There's a calmness that covers everything... A quiet stretching over the ground.

Once inside, the simple house turns into a unique and subtle homecoming. Again, nothing has been changed… except the adage of simple water lines and minimal electric. A large living room is joined with a smaller kitchen. A makeshift room at one time? The tables, chairs, and cabinets are all handmade. There are bookshelves and custom craftsman ship that adorn the walls. The corner contains a large wood burning stove.

The centerpiece to the room is the tree. Winding around it is a series of steps the lead to a loft overlooking the bottom half of the house. I look at the stairs and yearn to go up them. Tommy must have noticed because he walks outside to tend the horses. "I'll be back," he calls over his shoulder.

"'K," I answer as I take my first step. I rub the bark as I ascend my way to the top. The view is amazing. There are windows stretching the side of the house across from the loft. There's sparse furniture up here as well. A large, hand designed, four-poster bed sits against the corner; and makes itself look inviting and comfortable. My eyes, however, are drawn to the desk placed against the railing.

Walking over to it, I sit down. I run my palms over the hard surface and close my eyes. The back of the desk is carved to look like a book open to the world. Beside it is another carving, but this one is not carved into the desk. It's a separate piece. I grip it. "I remember this. Playing with it," I tell Tommy after feeling him his eyes watching.

"Playing with what?"

"This wooden book. Grandpa used to let me carry it around. I just wasn't allowed to open it. I'd take it all over with me. I wonder…" I don't know what I wonder. I lean back and sink into the clouds going by. When I look over, Tommy is staring at me from a crouched position next to my seat. "Open it now."

"You think-?"

"I do."

Slowly, I open the wooden, pageless novel to us. It puts up a fight, but eventually agrees to the request. There are papers inside written in a hand I've never seen before. I glance quickly through them. I'm at a loss. "I-what-who-what are these?" I recognize places and some names, but it makes no sense. The pages come from no book or article I've ever seen.