She had nothing now. Nothing to lose and nothing to fear.
‡
Checking out of the hospital she took a cab to the townhouse. Once there she collapsed on the couch and slept until the gentle light of early morning streamed through the windows. With a deep sigh she got up, leaned against the back of the couch and concentrated on what to do next. She carried the gym bag to the den upstairs and emptied it there, looking for a better mode of transport for the things inside. There was a plastic portable file box that the pictures fit into. The book would have to go in the suitcase.
Katherine sat down on the couch, the book weighing heavy on her knees. She ran her fingers over the smooth cover, opened it. The paper was old, but thick. The first page held a family crest with two parts. On one side was a man of strong, broad stature standing tall and proud. On the other side was the winged beast. On either side, holding the crest between them were other creatures. Each was distinct in its own way; all were mixed parts of man and beast. The name McKlannen was written in calligraphy under the crest.
The feeling of familiarity was almost unnerving as Katherine gently turned the pages. On the second was a faded drawing in colored pen and ink of the Victorian manor and the lake that she now understood to be her heritage. It was strange to know that her roots were not where she had always thought them to be. In an even more absurd way she had always known. She had felt drawn to leave, but never knew to where. Now the answer lay in her hands and the pull was stronger than anything she’d ever felt.
A loud ringing startled Katherine. She dropped the book on her feet, but barely felt the pain as she sat rigid, listening. The doorbell rang again. With recognition she relaxed. Now was not the time for visitors. Papers fluttered out from the book. She laid it aside to retrieve them. Gently she unfolded the fragile documents. The first one was the last will and testament of Grandville McKlannen. The second was newer. It was a deed, to a large parcel of property in Northern Maine. Seven hundred acres and a lake. The title stated very clearly: McKlannen Lake.
Chapter four
Days slipped by as Katherine set about the chore of final arrangements. The funeral was planned, the flowers bought, the coffin selected, the bill paid. The morning of the viewing she went to her apartment, taking care to see that Nigel was away, and packed her things. The moving van came, collected her boxes, and delivered them to the townhouse.
Katherine stood by the casket looking down into his pale, expressionless face. She hadn’t realized there was a part of this man she did not know. His past, certainly, but it was more than that. Things she couldn’t associate with the person she knew. Now she would never know why the funeral home was so empty. The only people in attendance were his lawyer and business associates – the closest thing he had to friends.
“ What am I gonna do without you?” In her mind she could hear him answer.
“ Get on with it. Live. Every moment is precious.”
Locked away in that coffin was a part of her existence. Her life stood half spent with no real accomplishments. Yes, she had a flourishing business, but no children, no real friends. Just like him. She thanked those who came. When the last left she spent a few final moments with her father.
“ It must have been so lonely for you Dad. I never realized, never knew.” Katherine left, closing the door gently behind her.
She drove through the darkness, the tears coming easily as the cool night slipped in over the tops of cracked windows. A thought occurred to her as she looked into the rear view mirror.
“ Were you alone? Or is this part of my inheritance? Were the monsters that now haunt me yours?”
The dreams had not come in the last few days. They were still there, burrowed deep into her subconscious, watching, waiting. She felt their shadows hiding
‡
Checking out of the hospital she took a cab to the townhouse. Once there she collapsed on the couch and slept until the gentle light of early morning streamed through the windows. With a deep sigh she got up, leaned against the back of the couch and concentrated on what to do next. She carried the gym bag to the den upstairs and emptied it there, looking for a better mode of transport for the things inside. There was a plastic portable file box that the pictures fit into. The book would have to go in the suitcase.
Katherine sat down on the couch, the book weighing heavy on her knees. She ran her fingers over the smooth cover, opened it. The paper was old, but thick. The first page held a family crest with two parts. On one side was a man of strong, broad stature standing tall and proud. On the other side was the winged beast. On either side, holding the crest between them were other creatures. Each was distinct in its own way; all were mixed parts of man and beast. The name McKlannen was written in calligraphy under the crest.
The feeling of familiarity was almost unnerving as Katherine gently turned the pages. On the second was a faded drawing in colored pen and ink of the Victorian manor and the lake that she now understood to be her heritage. It was strange to know that her roots were not where she had always thought them to be. In an even more absurd way she had always known. She had felt drawn to leave, but never knew to where. Now the answer lay in her hands and the pull was stronger than anything she’d ever felt.
A loud ringing startled Katherine. She dropped the book on her feet, but barely felt the pain as she sat rigid, listening. The doorbell rang again. With recognition she relaxed. Now was not the time for visitors. Papers fluttered out from the book. She laid it aside to retrieve them. Gently she unfolded the fragile documents. The first one was the last will and testament of Grandville McKlannen. The second was newer. It was a deed, to a large parcel of property in Northern Maine. Seven hundred acres and a lake. The title stated very clearly: McKlannen Lake.
Chapter four
Days slipped by as Katherine set about the chore of final arrangements. The funeral was planned, the flowers bought, the coffin selected, the bill paid. The morning of the viewing she went to her apartment, taking care to see that Nigel was away, and packed her things. The moving van came, collected her boxes, and delivered them to the townhouse.
Katherine stood by the casket looking down into his pale, expressionless face. She hadn’t realized there was a part of this man she did not know. His past, certainly, but it was more than that. Things she couldn’t associate with the person she knew. Now she would never know why the funeral home was so empty. The only people in attendance were his lawyer and business associates – the closest thing he had to friends.
“ What am I gonna do without you?” In her mind she could hear him answer.
“ Get on with it. Live. Every moment is precious.”
Locked away in that coffin was a part of her existence. Her life stood half spent with no real accomplishments. Yes, she had a flourishing business, but no children, no real friends. Just like him. She thanked those who came. When the last left she spent a few final moments with her father.
“ It must have been so lonely for you Dad. I never realized, never knew.” Katherine left, closing the door gently behind her.
She drove through the darkness, the tears coming easily as the cool night slipped in over the tops of cracked windows. A thought occurred to her as she looked into the rear view mirror.
“ Were you alone? Or is this part of my inheritance? Were the monsters that now haunt me yours?”
The dreams had not come in the last few days. They were still there, burrowed deep into her subconscious, watching, waiting. She felt their shadows hiding
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