Here is the first story to this years “Spook Season Stories” collection. I will try and write 5-7 stories for the season this year. With my work schedule I don’t have as much down time as last year but I will do my best. This first story is a two part story so make sure that you check for the second half next week. Without further ado, here is;
Greenhouse Tea Party
Ben and Julie pulled up to Ben’s late aunt Kate’s house and was in awe of how big it was. He was surprised that she left the house to him since he hadn’t seen her in years. His aunt had moved away when he was twenty and was supposed to have gotten married. Ben however never met her husband because he died shortly after they married. That’s what the estate lawyer told him anyway.
Julie looked up and admired the old English charm that the house had, and that it seemed well kept up.
“Looks like we have some yard work to do but so far I’m impressed,” Julie walked up the front steps.
Ben unlocked the large front door to the house and stepped inside. The first thing he noticed were the dark wood beams on the ceiling.
“Wow, look at this place,” Ben walked in and looked around.
“It’s not really my taste in style but it sure is pretty,” Julie looked at the antique furniture.
“Well, if we decide to live here we can change it,” Ben felt the red crushed velvet on the chair, “I’ve never been a fan of this look either.”
The two of them went from room to room and enjoyed all the space that the house had. It was a lot nicer than the cramped apartment they live in in the city. But when Ben and Julie came upon the last room at the far back of the house, they found the door locked.
“There should be a key here that fits,” Ben searched on the ring for the right one.
“I wonder why this door is locked? None of the other doors were,” Julie said.
“I don’t know, maybe my aunt has valuables stored in there,” Ben smiled.
After trying a few different keys, Ben finally unlocked the door, “well, should we see what is so special in this room?”
Julie smiled at Ben as he opened the door. The smell of the air was a little musty as they walked into a large library/den.
“I wonder if aunt Kate kept this room locked because it was her husbands,” Ben walked over to the wall of books.
“Yeah, maybe. She might have wanted to keep a piece of him alive that way.”
Julie liked the idea of all the natural light that flooded into the room from the enormous window wall. When she walked over to it, she noticed that there was also a door built into it.
“Hey Ben, look, there’s a door here. It looks like it goes into a greenhouse.”
Ben walked over to Julie and together they walked into the greenhouse. They saw plants of various kinds and sizes everywhere. There were roses of red and pink and lilies of white and yellow. It was certainly a well kept greenhouse that his aunt Kate must have loved.
“This is amazing,” Julie looked all around.
All of a sudden, Ben heard the soft giggle of a little girl. He looked around but only saw Julie sniffing a rose.
“Did you say something?” Ben asked Julie.
“No, I’m just enjoying the fragrance of these roses.”
Ben shrugged it off and walked toward the center where he found a small aluminum table with three chairs, “this seems a bit small for my aunt to sit down on.”
Just then, he heard another giggle only louder.
“Did you hear that?” Ben called out to Julie.
“Hear what?” Julie asked as she walked toward him.
“I swear I heard a little girl giggle,” Ben glanced around.
“Well, I didn’t hear anything. Oh, what a cute table set, did your aunt have children?”
“No, not that I’m aware of. If she did wouldn’t she have left this house to them?”
“That’s a good point. Unless they didn’t want it… But she really loved you so maybe she just wanted you to have something of hers,” Julie said.
Ben looked at Julie, “I need to find out more about this house and my aunt. Something just feels off about this. Come on, let’s go back inside.”
Feeling a bit puzzled about Ben’s thinking, Julie agreed and followed him back to the house. Just before Ben went back into the house, he heard a soft whisper. He stopped and looked back at Julie.
“Did you hear that?”
Julie stopped and listened but heard nothing, “no, what did you hear?”
“Well… Oh never mind,” Ben walked into the house. After Julie walked in he quickly closed and locked the greenhouse door.
“Are you okay?” Julie looked at Ben.
“Yeah, just a little spooked I guess.”
“Well, it is a big place that’s been here for who knows how long,” Julie tried to reassure him.
“Yes, that’s true.”
Ben closed the door to the room as they left to look for the kitchen.
“I just want to see the kitchen before we leave.”
Julie smiled, “I know, it’s one of your favorite rooms in a place.”
Ben grinned but was still concerned about what he heard in the greenhouse. The whisper is what made him feel the most uncomfortable.
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