Property of C. B. Conrad (con't, part 3)

The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.

~Oscar Wilde

     When Alec disappeared back into the guest house, I went back upstairs and finished exploring the second floor. The master bedroom was beautiful, with a canopy bed and a cushioned window seat overlooking the gardens. I could imagine my grandmother spending much time on the window seat watching my father play in the gardens.

     Turning away from the view, I walked over to my grandmother's dresser where sat her perfume and jewelry. I sprayed a bit of her perfume into the air and let it take me back to my childhood when she would hold me the nights I couldn't fall asleep. As much as I loved the master bedroom, I wouldn't dare sleep in here and disrespect my grandmother's memory. 

     A guest bedroom down the hall was where I placed my bag and collapsed onto the bed. A blinking light on my phone showed my father had left me a message. He wanted me to come home for the funeral. I rolled my eyes and pulled out the journal my grandmother left me.

     I looked at the photo of the fountain and then out the window at the gardens. Every fountain was identical and there was no distinguishable difference between the areas surrounding them. I sighed and looked at the next page in the journal. 

My Darling Elizabeth,

     Enclosed within these pages are the stories my beloved daughter wrote before her untimely death. I hope that you can see through the tales and that you are given new insight into what life was like those many years ago. I remember telling you about the times I would sneak into the basement where my father made wine and my siblings and I would steal grapes until daddy yelled at us. I would love you to read these stories with the same eagerness in which you would listen to those which I would tell to you.
     While I may not be with you any longer, know that I will be watching over you. Remember when I would tell you how I would protect you? If you're walking and a streetlight goes out, it is my way of telling you danger is near. And if you are ever with a boy I don't like, I'll have a bird poop on him. My grandmother used to have similar ways of protecting me so it is only fitting I do the same. I love you little Lizard, my only wish is that you find love and live happy.
     Love always,
          Grandma Charlotte Betty Conrad

     I read and reread the letter, imagining my grandmother reading the words to me herself in her soft, loving voice. As tears welled in my eyes, I slipped the note back into the journal and left the room. I went back into the kitchen and opened the fridge. I don't know what I was expecting to find, but it was empty.

     "I cleaned it out a few days ago. I can make you a sandwich if you want but you'll have to go to the grocery store," Alec said.

     "Thanks," I told him.

     Alec lead me out the back door and into the hot summer sun. Across the garden was a small one story house. Inside was quaint, undoubtedly decorated mostly by my grandmother. The windows were open and a light breeze was blowing through the curtains. There were four rooms: a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom. It was perfect for one person. A dog sat on the couch and perked up its ears when I entered the house.

     "What kind of dog is that?" I asked him.

     "Shiba Inu," he said. "She's a good girl."

     I scratched the dog's ears, smiled and turned back to Alec who was shifting through his fridge. Over his shoulder, I saw most of it was beer. I wondered whether or not he was trying to drown a memory or just entertained a lot. 

     "Grilled cheese okay?" he asked.
     "Yeah," I looked around the small house. There were pictures of him and a young girl who I assumed his sister. Next to that was a photo of him with another girl. His arm was around her and she was looking at him with big eyes.

     "I forgot that was out," he said, taking the frame and putting it face down. "Sorry."

     "Who's the girl?"

     "She's gone so it doesn't really matter."

     I wasn't entirely sure what he meant by that but I dropped the issue.

     "So why is a pretty little girl like you running away from home?" Alec asked.
     "Not to sound like an entitled little brat, but my dad doesn't exactly get me."

     "Oh really?" Alec chuckled.
     "I'm starting college in the fall and he is mad that I applied to a writing program instead of law school. On top of that, I applied to school down here so I wouldn't have to come home."
     "Well, he might have just wanted something he thought better for your future and is going to miss you."

     "He grounded me for the summer," I told him.
     Alec laughed and flipped the sandwich over. The butter on the bread began to sizzle in the pan and I walked back over into the kitchen.
     Leaning against the counter, I said "Sorry, I didn't mean to rant at you."
     "It's cool," he said looking over at me. "I remember what it was like at your age."
     "Cause four years makes that big of a difference," I jokingly muttered.
     Alec smirked and slid the sandwich onto a paper plate. "If you want, I can drive you to the grocery store later. I need to pick up a few things anyway."

     "That would be great," I smiled. "This is ridiculously good for just a grilled cheese sandwich," I told him.

     "I used to work in a kitchen in a really nice restaurant. You pick up a few tricks along the way."
     "That's pretty neat. I'll bet the ladies love you."

     "Well they certainly don't complain," he joked. "You go ahead and finish up, I'm going to shower real quick and I'll meet you in the driveway."

     "Okay," I said. Alec disappeared into his bedroom and I finished my sandwich.
     I went back out into the gardens and looked around at the fountains. None of them were running and the water was sitting stagnant. I wondered which was the one from the photo. I ventured behind the garden and saw a small pool and a gazebo. My grandmother really had a wonderful home. 

     I went back in the house and exchanged my flip-flops for converses and then I sat at the kitchen table making a list of things I would need. Out the window, I saw Alec lock his front door and head for the driveway. I folded the piece of paper into my back pocket and slipped out the front door. There was Alec, leaning against an old Dodge Charger in a black tank top with his aviator sunglasses. This was going to be an interesting summer.

(to be continued)