Page 19 of The Messengers of Magic
She set down the rag and spray bottle, grabbed the ring of keys from the table, and stepped out, pulling the door closed behind her.
As she stepped off the small sunken porch and returned to the path leading back to the main house, the tall grass and wildflowers danced in the wind, twisting and turning with each sweeping gust that blew in from the west. It stirred something inside her, and she stretched out her arms, letting her fingertips skim the grass, just as she had done as a child, running through open fields like a bird about to take flight.
The soft blades brushed her fingers, awakening a long-forgotten energy.
By the time she reached the gravel driveway, a quiet, genuine smile had found its way to her lips, the first since Jeff had left.
Carolyn’s car was still gone, meaning she was likely still in town.
Adelaide went inside and headed straight to the fridge.
She cobbled together a quick meal: a few slices of cheese, a hunk of bread, and a generous smear of mustard.
As she ate, she began her hunt for a mop and broom.
Her first stop was the small closet in the entryway, but it was packed with jackets, hats, and an impressive collection of colorful, patterned umbrellas.
Undeterred, she moved to the bathroom, remembering a cupboard there.
It was stocked with neatly folded linens and a surprisingly large stash of Pears soap, but still no mop or broom.
Still searching, though now more out of curiosity than necessity, she wandered upstairs.
The narrow hallway was shrouded in darkness, with no overhead light to guide her.
The only sliver of light came from a thin beam escaping from the crack beneath Carolyn’s bedroom door.
Adelaide turned the old brass knob on the guest room door across the hall.
It didn’t budge. She tried again, this time giving it a gentle shove, in case the wooden frame had swollen with humidity, but still nothing.
It was locked. Frowning, she bent and peered through the brass keyhole.
All she could make out was a flicker of light, like a reflection shifting just out of view.
Straightening, she turned to Carolyn’s door and gave the doorknob a cautious test. It swung open easily, spilling daylight into the hallway and making her squint as her eyes adjusted to the brightness.
The bedroom was simply that, just a bed, a plain pine wood dresser, and a rocking chair set next to the large window that faced the woods.
Adelaide hesitated on the threshold, knowing she probably shouldn’t go any further.
The door had been closed, after all. But curiosity got the better of her, and she stepped inside.
Walking over to the window, she looked out across the field toward the dark treeline.
She could see the tiny cabin nestled at the forest’s edge.
It looked almost forgotten, half-swallowed by the weeds, and she wondered what purpose it had served before it had become her refuge.
Turning back, she studied the room. Something felt off, though she couldn’t quite say what.
Everything was immaculate, the bed neatly made, the surfaces dust-free, the dresser drawers shut in perfect alignment.
A braided rug spanned half the room, covering most of the aged wooden floor, but the weave looked too pristine.
No indentations, no frayed edges. That was it.
The room was too perfect, almost as if it were merely for show.
Adelaide glanced back across the hallway to the locked guest room door. A thin band of light peeked out from beneath, casting a faint golden streak across the dark floorboards.
Then, a shadow moved across the light.
Adelaide’s heart leapt into her throat, and she froze, eyes locked on the gap beneath the door.
Had she just imagined that?
She stopped breathing, straining to hear past the hammering of her heart, a footstep, the creak of a floorboard, anything.
She stood there, seconds stretching into what felt like minutes, daring the shadow to move again but praying it wouldn’t. Maybe it had just been a cloud passing in front of the sun, or some trick of the light.
Adelaide opened her mouth to call out when a car door slammed outside. The sound jolted her into motion. She exhaled sharply and shut Carolyn’s bedroom door. Then quickly made her way downstairs, not wanting to be caught snooping where she didn’t belong.
She’d barely made it into the living room when the front door opened and Carolyn walked in, with two large bags of groceries in her hands.
“Let me help you,” Adelaide offered, quickly moving to grab the bags and carry them into the kitchen. Her heart was still racing, and she hoped Carolyn couldn’t hear it pounding as she tried to compose herself.
“Thank you, dear,” she replied, sitting down and taking off her boots. “Have you decided to stay on the sofa?” She took her jacket off and hung it on a hook by the door.
“No,” said Adelaide, setting the bags down. “Just came in for a broom and mop. But, I didn’t have much luck finding them.” She’d tried to sound casual, but her voice wavered.
Carolyn’s eyes flickered, just for a heartbeat, toward the stairs and something unreadable passed over her face. Walking over to an old beam in the kitchen she retrieved the mop and broom.
“Not only do these beams help support the house,” Carolyn began with a smile, “but they also make great little nooks for hiding things.”
“Thanks. I’m going to head back out and finish up what I can,” Adelaide said, adjusting her grip on the mop and broom Carolyn passed to her.
“Okay, plan on coming back for dinner in a few hours. And there are some things in the garage that might make the place a bit cozier. Feel free to take whatever you like.”
“Thank you, Carolyn. For everything. I hope it won’t be too long before I get my feet back under me.”
“Of course, Addie. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like,” Carolyn said with a warm smile as she began unpacking the bags.
Adelaide nodded and turned toward the door.
As she stepped outside, she paused. Her gaze drifted up to the guest room window.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that Carolyn was hiding something, and though she knew she shouldn’t stick her nose in where it didn’t belong, her curiosity was piqued.
There was something or someone there, lurking behind the guest room door.