Chapter Four
"Grandma?" Caleb asked, as he poked his head into the bedroom.
He didn't like barging in to his Grandmother's room, but he was worried that she has disappeared for so long.
"Caleb."
He looked at his grandmother who was stood in the middle of the room looking at the open window. Her expression was neutral.
"Everything okay?" Caleb asked, looking around the room.
"Yes," she smiled, bringing a hand up to her ears. "I wanted to change my earring. These ones are pulling too much and then I just got lost in my thoughts. Like I usually do."
Caleb smiled affectionately. It was true. She would sometimes sit in a room for hours just remembering. While his mother, Evelyn, took to alcohol after his father became lost to them, his grandmother was strong. She remained head of the family despite losing the love of her life. But Caleb had to admit. His mother was getting better now that his father had died. He guessed she finally got closure.
"What was it this time? The time Grandfather used his power to put all the Provosts furniture to the roof or…" Caleb started
"You always did like those stories best," Eleanor laughed lightly as she walked to the vanity. She took out her heavy earrings and replaced them with studs. "No I was thinking about an old friend I had. She and I grew up in England. That was before I came here and met your father."
"What happened to her?" Caleb asked as he offered his arm to his Grandmother.
"Oh she died, unfortunately," Eleanor replied sadly, whilst taking Caleb's arm. "Many, many years ago. But I did get to meet her daughter. She looked exactly like her mother, it was spooky. She and I became close. In fact, I'm god-mother to her daughter."
"Really? I never knew you had godchildren," Caleb said, surprised.
He turned off the bedroom light, as they left and walked down the corridor.
"Everyone has their secrets, my dear," she stated giving her grandson a shrewd look.
"So," Eleanor said, "How's thing's with your sweetheart?"
"Sarah?" Caleb asked, shocked that his grandmother knew about his love life. "It's great. Good. I mean, it's-"
"Caleb, calm down. I know she knows about the family. It's okay. You can tell me the truth," she interrupted as they walked slowly down the staircase.
"It's…complicated. Were still working things out. Now that she knows, it's just… I don't know. Learning curve maybe…" Caleb said, his words mixing up as he tried to put his thought out there.
"You worried that she will get too close?"
"I'm worried she will find something she doesn't like," he answered.
"It's never easy for the women in this life. We have to watch on, without fully understanding. If you're like Gregory Simms, you will have many, many years together. But if you're like…"
"My father?"
They had reached the entrance hall and they both looked through the dark wooden door leading to the dinning hall. They both could see his mother clearly through the crowd.
Eleanor sighed, "Yes. If you use like you father did, then I'm afraid whoever you end up with will be slightly more heartbroken than the rest of us."
He looked at his grandmother who's focus had turned to the window. As Caleb looked out, he saw a pair of headlights from the distant car turn on and watched as it pulled away, disappearing in to the night.
"Someone you know?" Caleb asked, breaking Eleanor's focus.
She smiled at him and turned to the open door.
"Come on," she sighed pulling a big smile on her face. "Let's not keep our guests waiting."
As she went through town, she passed Christmas decorated shop fronts and dozens of people going to the few bars and clubs in town. New years had past days ago and both holidays came and went with any celebrating from her. Using her trusty map, she quickly found her way to the boathouse. Eleanor was right, it was very easy to find. It was like most of the building in his town. It looked colonial English, make out of wood that was painted white. It was it's own private jetty.
She felt slightly out of place as she walked down the wooden boardwalk with her rucksack over her should. The water gentle lapped against the nearby boats, quietly clanking the wooden jetty's and buoys together. There was lamplight around the harbor, but on the Danvers private jetty, it was covered in darkness.
She walked up to the large house. So soon as she stepped closer to the door, a sensor light came on. It blinded her momentarily before she used it to find the keyhole.
When she opened the door and turned on the lights, she got the first glimpse of what a boathouse was. It looked a normal coastal property. Exposed white pained wood, unusually bright with decorations related to the sea. A small kitchenette was to the left as soon as you walked in with a double arched door way to the right leading the small living room. Walking past these rooms she approached the door opposite the entrance. To the left of it was a staircase leading to the second floor.
Looking back at the door, she opened it slightly and poked her head in. She could smell the salt water as soon as she did. Feeling around for a light switch, she flicked it on and whistled at the sight she saw. She knew nothing of boats, but that was a big one nestled securely in between the wooden walkways.
Turning off the light, she went back to the kitchen. Checking the cupboards, she saw basic tinned food and dried meals. And fridge and freezer drawers were empty. The only other thing in the kitchen was a supply of alcohol in one of the lower cupboards. She would love a drink, but she didn't like the way it made to feel. Where as other got giddy and drunk, it made her feel more tired. And it knocked her out. She couldn't escape her dreams during those times.
Grabbing a couple of granola bars from the drawer, she turned off the lights and went upstairs. It came straight into a double en suit room with large bay windows. She checked the windows could open before she fully relaxed. Sitting crossed legged in the middle of the bed, she munched on one of the granola bars as she breathed in the cold sea air. She left open the window that looked out on the private jetty, as it made her feel better having a quick escape route.
Opening the front zip of her bag she pulled out a passport sized photo. The edges were ripped, as there was more than one on the strip. But she left them with her mother. Laying back she stared at the photo. It was of her and her mother. She looked exactly like her mother but in miniature. They both had long, straight brown hair with bright light green eyes. Their smiles were big and happy. It was a smile she hadn't felt herself do in a long time.
But unlike before even with her mother, she felt something that she hadn't felt in a long time. Not since her mother stole her away from her family. She felt hopeful. She just had to decided whether trusting the other family's elder was a good idea or not.