It was around 11:15 when Rose saw Mrs. Miller’s car drive into her driveway. Mrs. Miller parked her car and got out carrying a photo album. Rose greeted her on the front porch and invited her in.
“Would you like something to drink Mrs. Miller?” Rose walked into the living room.
“No, I’m good right now, thank you Rose,” Mrs. Miller sat down on the sofa.
“How have you been?” Rose sat down on the end of the sofa.
“I’ve been doing great. Retirement is relaxing but I keep going with all the activities that my woman’s group puts together,” Mrs. Miller said.
“So you seemed anxious to talk to me, is there anything wrong?” Rose asked.
Mrs. Miller explained to Rose the urgency to speak with her. She told her that her grandmother had a separate life from what she knew. Yes she was the loving and supporting mother and grandmother when her kids were around. But she also was away over seas a lot. Since the late 1940’s, Mrs. Miller told Rose that her grandmother was involved in various organizations to do with women’s rights.
She told Rose that her grandmother even put her life in jeopardy at times to see that women in other countries were treated better. Mrs. Miller said that her grandmother was loved by so many organizations for women but hated by some men. It wasn’t until she turned 70 years of age that she finally slowed down with the traveling over seas.
“So you mean that in between my visits here as a kid, grandma worked with those organizations over seas?” Rose asked.
“Yes dear. Look, here are some pictures that she sent me,” Mrs. Miller opened up the album.
Rose saw black and white photos of her grandma with groups of women celebrating victories. And she also saw some newspaper articles when they were defeated, ridiculed, and even arrested. Mrs. Miller told Rose that her grandmother did end up with a few enemies towards the end. Throughout the years she even received some death threats. Living out here in the country, she hoped would keep her hidden from anyone trying to find her. And she new that time was running out for her and that she had to focus more on her own family.
“I can’t believe that I have never heard of any of this before,” Rose flipped through the photo album.
“Your grandmother didn’t want her children to worry about her so she kept it very quiet, and made up excuses” Mrs. Miller said.
“But why are you telling me this now?” Rose looked at Mrs. Miller.
“Well, I was told by your grandmother that there is a body buried in your basement,” Mrs. Miller said.
Rose looked at Mrs. Miller, “not anymore. I found it the other day and the police took it away. Do you know who it is?” Rose asked.
Mrs. Miller sat back and hung her head down, “I’m sorry that you had to find it dear. I wanted to let you know so that you wouldn’t personally find it.”
Rose looked at Mrs. Miller and saw the sadness in her face, “who is it? Is it uncle Ralph?” Rose asked.
Mrs. Miller looked up at Rose with surprise in her eyes, “no dear, it’s Leon Hemsworth. He was trying to kill your grandmother. Your uncle Ralph killed him instead and buried him in the basement.”
“So uncle Ralph is still alive?” Rose asked.
“The last I heard, yes,” Mrs. Miller said.
“Do you know where he is?”
“No, I don’t but someone I know does. You’re uncle Ralph has been in hiding since it happened. Your grandmother told him that it was best that he disappear and not be accused of murder,” Mrs. Miller said.
“But it was probably self-defense right?” Rose asked.
“I don’t know exactly how it happened. All I know is that your uncle protected your grandma from this angry man,” Mrs. Miller said.
“But this doesn’t make any sense… Why did it seem like I was given clues that it was uncle Ralph buried down there?
“What do you mean? Mrs. Miller looked at her.
Rose went on to tell Mrs. Miller about the watch band and the keys that she found. And the song that uncle Ralph sang to her as a kid mysteriously played different times after she moved in. Mrs. Miller didn’t know how to explain it but reassured Rose that her uncle Ralph was still alive.
“I guess the keys and watch band could have been Mr. Hemsworth’s,” Rose gazed out the bay window.
“Are you going to be alright dear?” Mrs. Miller looked at Rose.
“Yes, it does make me feel better knowing that it wasn’t uncle Ralph buried down there. And I have more respect for my grandma… I did always think of her as a strong woman,” Rose looked at Mrs. Miller and smiled.
“Well, I must be going then. If you ever need anything, please feel free to call upon me,” Mrs. Miller got up from the sofa.
“Wait, you forgot your photo album,” Rose picked it up.
“You keep it dear, after all it’s about your grandmother,” Mrs. Miller walked to the door.
“Thank you, and thank you for telling me everything,” Rose followed Mrs. Miller out the front door.
Mrs. Miller climbed into her car and waved at Rose before backing up and out of the driveway. It was a lot of sudden information for Rose to process. She felt relieved though that the scenario in her head of her grandma killing her uncle wasn’t true. Rose walked back into the house and put the photo album on the desk.
“Wow, my grandma was a woman’s rights activist,” Rose walked into the living room.
Thank you for joining me through this journey of Rose’s Ghost. I hope that you enjoyed it and please feel free to tell me in the comments below. There will be a new story coming soon so keep an eye open for it.
Rose's Ghost is a very good story !
Kept me intrigued and wow, what a surprised ending.