This one is a doozy, but it just sort of "fell out." I loved writing it. Not often does it come so easily or quickly. I know I should edit it and trim the fat so to speak, but I just like it as is. I did cut SOME things out...I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for coming. Hope to see you again soon.
There was a warped moaning that loped across the ice and shook me to the core. I instinctively threw my hands out for balance. Deep down I knew what was happening when I heard a mischievous “pop” as the fractures appeared all around me. I looked around helplessly watching splinters race around me and then I was under. It was that simple. My boots filled with a rush of such cold, it stung like a thousand bee stings. My clothes sighed and gave way to the rush of water and ice. My ears and nose tingled with protest as my eyes and mouth struggled for their last free moment of air. I felt the ice trying to devour my jeans and gouge skin. It tightened around me. I pulled up into a ball and swam for the top. There was a sheet already concealing my entrance. I punched and tried to foolishly pull up. I broke more ice and it flipped over to shove me under. I tried to stuff the plates underneath me to bolster my way to the top for a breath.
I finally saw her and understood.
The lake house was my salvation; my get away. Life had become hectic and cluttered. What started as simple curiosity became a nightmare, dangerously so.
Months prior as I walked along the quiet lane, after closing on the house, I noticed a cabin tucked back off the road. It was small and neat but old. I noticed a man (one of my new neighbors) shuffling to and from his truck. I called out and waved, wanting only to be friendly. He stopped, stared and kept about his tasks. A little dejected, I finished my walk. Arriving back at the house, I was met by another, more sociable neighbor who struck up a conversation. This wasn’t our first. Joyce and I enjoyed each other and our visits always intended “for a minute” turned into “Come over and sit” or “Stay for supper”. This was no exception. I asked her about my neighbor down the way and she cocked her head and winced.
“Well,” she sighed. “He’s not a bad guy. But not for you.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Oh?”
“He’s had it rough and I think he’s misunderstood. After the murder…”she chose this
moment to take a drink.
I nearly spat mine out. “What murder?”
She giggled. “You should see your face.”
“I’ll just bet. Tell me.”
“No. You’ll just write about it.”
“No I won’t.”
“Promise?”
“Yes. It’s the name of my house. I Promise.” I crossed my heart.
And so she told me a story about a young girl several years ago that owned one of the cabins down the way. She was a widow and had moved into this tiny little place to collect her thoughts, reorganize her life and begin again. Apparently, she and my unfriendly neighbor hit it off. They began to socialize and after a couple of months began to date.
“Awww. That’s sweet.”I said nicely.
“Stop it. “She scolded. “You don’t mean that. You mean Hurry up.”
“That isn’t true.”
“Yes it is. I know you better than you think.”
I sighed and sat back. She was only a little right.
Well, it seems that she became despondent or disenchanted with their romance and left. She simply disappeared.
“So where’s the murder?” I asked.
“No one’s REALLY certain there was one.”
I sat quietly and waited.
“She just disappeared. Strange, isn’t it?”My friend said quietly.
“No body?”
“Nope.”
“Why do you think Kurt...?”
“Oh pshaw…Who knows? She probably just up and left. Maybe the murder was her husband and Kurt just got too close. THERE’S a story! Kurt is a sweet young man. He’s just alone. We’ve been his family for years. He lived here with his granny until she died and then, he just stayed. He keeps to himself mostly. Comes for dinner, visits…more often than my own. I love him. Shame that woman hurt him.”
We moved on, but the seed was planted.
Maybe I shouldn’t have gone down that dirt path to the waterfalls and looked for a body. Maybe I shouldn’t have watched a little more closely, the comings and goings of my shy neighbor. In my haste to see so much, I should have noticed I myself was being watched. Kurt always stopped and took notice of me. I waved. He did not.
I heard noises at night, dismissing them as wildlife. I saw shadows and turned away. I could NOT ignore the voice. I heard her. She woke me one night with a soft crying. I think in the back of my mind I was waiting. Always fascinated by ghosts (from other experiences that we can discuss another time) I almost willed myself to feel, experience SOME thing. When she came calling, I jumped. I ran to the window and scanned the darkness. It took me a few minutes to see the shape on the ice. I dashed down the steps and out the back. I forgot my coat. The ground was hard and scornful on my naked feet.
She didn’t seem to notice me but began to move down the lake. It barked and snapped at her heals. The weather was warming and the secure ten inches of frozen water were sneaking away.
I lost her as she rounded the last dock. Kurt’s dock. I heard no rustling, no noise except for the chattering of my bones in the winter air. I had no choice but to go back to bed and think.
The next morning, I marched down to Kurt’s house. With weak knees and sweaty palms,
I knocked on his door, expecting to see an angry old man, reeking of dirty potatoes and damp towels. But I was very wrong. A man of my age with chin length dishwater hair opened the door to me. His eyes were small and very blue, traced by thin gold wired glasses. His frame was thick but only from the outdoor work he did on a daily basis. A dish towel draped his shoulder and a beautiful golden Lab nosed her way into view and wagged invitingly.
“Hello Neighbor.” He said
“Hello. My name is…”
“I know. I hear all sorts of nice things at supper. Tess, right? You live in the red house? Number 8?”
I felt heat crawl into my cheeks. “Yes. I’m sorry I haven’t introduced myself sooner.”
“I’m Kurt.”
“I know.”
“You want to know about her, huh?”
“I wouldn’t be so rude as to..”
“But you’ve been to the falls? I've seen you.” his words pushed passed mine.
“Yes.”
“Did you find anything?”
“No. You knew that I wouldn’t”
He raised his eyebrows.
“But you’ve seen her?”
“I think so.”
He stepped back and I walked right in. I met Lucy his new “love”.
“She’ll come barreling at you but she just wants to play.”
I rubbed her snout and thumped her chest. She chuffed.
Without thinking, I joined Kurt at the sink and began to dry dishes. We talked; mostly about the history of the area. Mostly.
“What happened?” I asked softly as he brought a fresh beer to me.
He wiped his face and sniffed. We clanked bottles and he pulled out a chair for me.
“I met this beautiful woman.” He smiled. I couldn’t help it. I smiled too. Lucy wagged her body between my knees until I stroked her big head. I felt her breath against my jeans. “Carole was simply wonderful. I don’t usually like people. I’d rather be with animals.” He looked up at me. “Present company excluded.” And he took a long slug of his beer.
My heart was thumping in my ears almost to the beat of Lucy’s tail as he began to tell me what I thought I wanted to hear. It wasn’t anything dramatic; just a simple love story that ended with only one in love.
“There is always one who loves more.”Kurt said sadly. “I miss her.”
“I’m sure you do. She sounds wonderful. I’m sorry it ended so badly.”
“People ask me about her all the time. Her family is always having me checked. It makes me tired. And more certain that I want to be with animals.”
I nodded and felt bad. I’d intruded and it was wrong. He got another beer out and sat closer.
“I’m sorry I asked. It wasn’t right.”
“S’okay. I like you.” He looked over the top of the bottle at me.
“I like you too.” I toyed with my own, peeling at the label.
“Maybe we could do this again?”
“I’d really like that.”
“Me too. Dinner?”
I hadn't realized that most of the day was gone.“Sounds good.”
“Tonight?”
I stopped but smiled. “I thought you were having dinner up the street. Joyce told me she was going to the store to buy…”
“Joyce thinks she’s my mother. She gets to be too much. I’ll give her a buzz and let her know.”
And so I had dinner with the local “murderer” and had a wonderful evening. We laughed and listened to music, talked well into the night. He even walked me home, reaching for my hand at the door.
“Tess, I had fun; more than I’ve had in a long time.” He absently swung my arm like a game of Red Rover.
“Me too.”
His lips were cautious against mine. I stepped back but he followed and gently scooped me into his arms. I felt the soft trace of his tongue along my lips. I leaned in and kissed him back. He smiled down at me. We both sighed nervously.
“I better…”I whispered
“…get back. “He finished.
“Yeah.”
We smiled and giggled. “I’ll see you tomorrow before I go up town?” he asked, his strong body silhouetted in the moonlight. He carelessly raked his hair back. I caught my breath. What a handsome killer.
“’Kay.” I fumbled with the lock. He tripped over the step. We laughed some more and watched each other in the dark. Predator and prey. Which was which?
I shook like a leaf, pacing the house and scolding myself. I poured some wine and pouted in front of the fire. But I thought about Kurt. I thought about his kiss. I thought about his body. I bit my lip and scolded myself some more.
I don’t remember falling asleep on the couch but I was awakened by wailing. My heart tripped over my teeth trying to get out. I jumped up and ran to the door, snatching my coat from the wall. Down the steps I raced and down to the dock. I saw her right away; standing on the ice.
She turned, but it was too dark to see her completely. She began to move. I tried to follow, but ran out of ground. The only way was the ice. I slipped out carrying the safety rope in my hand. I slid and stumbled over rough spots and cracks. She just kept going; down toward Kurt’s place. To stay with her I had to let go. So I did. She seemed to run for the shore. I was caught too far out when I heard it. The moaning of the ice. The protest from the lake that would drown me.
And so I fought for my last moments. I called out. I begged. All I could hear was the sloshing and gnashing as the ice grabbed at me. I thrust my hand out. I knew she was watching.
“Help me! Please! I don’t want to die!”
“Then you should have left well enough alone.” The voice shouted.
Joyce pulled her coat around her. “He’s mine. You should have let him be. Carole wouldn’t listen either.” She walked closer to the shore so she could see me better. I saw her lift a branch from the ground and lean toward me.
I grabbed at it but she began to strike me, pushing me out and down. My body was getting stiff. My lungs burned. I began to sink below the cloudy ice. There was a grinding in my ears. I struggled to hear my own heartbeat.
Then I heard another crack and felt a wave in the water. I looked up to see an oar crunching at the ice, hacking. I lunged and with my frozen claw of an arm, I hooked it. I was being dragged to the shore. My body bumping through ice, stumps and rocks.
“Here Tess, here. Come on, Baby. C’mere.” My body was balled up and although I was out of the water, I felt nothing. I heard a bark and tried to open my eyes. Everything, every nerve in my being was stuck. The night, not the lake swallowed me.
There was a soft orange glow and a cold wet nose on my cheek. I was bare beneath a blanket that was softer than anything I’d ever felt. I opened my eyes slowly and pulled the blanket closer. Tears spilled from my eyes. I don’t know if I was thawing or if it was the horror of the situation.
“Here. Drink.” Kurt said softly. I felt my hands prickle in protest to the scalding mug and welcomed the sensation of heat. I cupped it. “Slow. Easy.” He almost cooed.
“What happened?”
“You went for a dip. You idiot.”
“I was chasing her.”
“You were. But not Carole.”
“I feel foolish.”
“You looked it.”
“Thank you.” I meant to kick him but my limbs were not ready. The blanket pulled away a little. Lucy thought I wanted to play and hopped up. She began to tug at it.
“No Lucy.” We laughed for moment both embarrassed.
“Where is Joyce?”
“I buried her next to Carole.”
I choked and stared over my mug.
“She’s with her husband until the police come. We’re a little muddy back here, so they’ll be a bit.”
“All I wanted was to get away.”
“That’s a shame.”
“It is. Because, I’m not sure I can now.”
He smiled and stroked my hair. “You look good in my blanket.” And kissed my forehead.
I became self conscious and pulled it in. “Quit it.” And I made room on the couch. He slid in next to me, his arms resting across the flat of my belly. He nestled his mouth just behind my ear and sighed. There was an instant comfort and warmth causing me to close my eyes and stretch along the length of his body.
“Okay?” he said softly into my hair.
“Yes. Nothing like getting away.”
He laughed softly and kissed the curve of my shoulder.
