The People You Know And Love
1
The sun light made the room glow all the more as a gentle breeze rolled in from the windows, as she danced around the room, cleaning it. This was her favorite room in the house, the ballroom, the room she was only allowed to go into to clean. Which always meant that she would be soon locked in the attic where she slept, listening to the music, wishing she could join them. But that was her life, the master, thought her a stain on the face of the earth, the outcome of an adulterous affair of her mother. As he had always told her, all because of her eyes, her beautiful eyes the color of amethyst.
The birds song drifted in through the windows carried along by the gentle spring breeze; as she danced to and fro dusting, the statues that lined the walls, singing gently to no one but herself all the while. A large mirror stood a thin veil of dust, covered it, as she wiped it away, she looked into her own reflection. Though she rarely went outside, to do anything but tend to a small garden that was planted on the grounds, her skin had a slight tan to it, bringing out the deep dark burgundy color of her hair, which offset her beautiful amethyst eyes, that were framed by a pair of black rimmed glasses. A Blue ribbon tied into her hair, and another around her neck. Her bosom swelled slightly under the lace frilled black top that she wore, and a long black skirt fell freely to just below her knees, which gave way to a pair of grey knit stockings that covered the rest of her legs down to the brown leather shoes she wore.
All of these clothes save for the glasses and shoes she had made herself. From a young age, she had to make her own clothes, because the master forbade her mother from buying them for her. The only clothes she was allowed to have besides the ones she made were a new pair of shoes every three years and a pair of glasses every five or so. But she loved her clothes she made herself; the master’s daughter loved them too, that’s possibly the only reason she was allowed to make them.
She could make the clothes she wore if she would make something for his daughter as he put it. Though the two were half sisters, they acted as if they were completely unrelated, to one another. But they were close friends; which bothered her not to make something for her younger half sister.
“What am I to do with you,” A man’s voice said dryly as she was mopping the floor. “It’s a quarter till four and your still not done? You useless girl, hurry it up.”
“I’m almost finished,” the young girl said without looking at the man, she knew better than to do so. He hated it when she looked at him, the face of her mother, and the eyes of another man. This was not his daughter.
“Father,” a girl said a she walked in behind him. “Please be kind to Lynn. She works hard to do what you ask, she even made the dress I am wearing tonight, and she was finishing the alterations on it, that’s why she got to the cleaning so late.”
Bella who is Lynn’s younger half sister by two years, looks exactly like a younger version of her, save for her eyes, which are the stark color of ice, and her hair which is a mousy brown color, that matches her father so well.
“Bella,” the man said sweetly. “You are too kind to this wretch. Today is the day of your fifteenth birthday; let the workings of this wretch not hinder it.” He then turned back to Lynn who was finishing with the mopping, as a song bird landed on an open window sill, chirping happily. “Close the windows girl, I wish not for wild vermin to enter my house.”
“Yes sir,” Lynn said as she walked over towards the window sill where a single Yellow Warbler sat perched chirping away happily. “I’m sorry dear friend, but you must be gone.” She whispered the last part as she shooed the bird away closing the windows. “I’ll be going to my room now. Bella I will say this to you, have a wonderful night, and Sir, I’ll try to not make too much noise.”
“Get out of my sight,” the man said coldly. “And remove that strip of cloth from around your neck; you are no young lady of class.”
A tear fell from the corner of her eye, as she untied the ribbon; it was something her mother had given here in secret from the master. She cherished it, and as far as he knew it was nothing but a simple strip of cloth. He would have taken it and burned it into nothing but a pile of ashes in front of her eyes if he had known what it really was. “I’m sorry,” was all she said as the ribbon fluttered behind her as she clutched it and ran away from the room.
The birds song drifted in through the windows carried along by the gentle spring breeze; as she danced to and fro dusting, the statues that lined the walls, singing gently to no one but herself all the while. A large mirror stood a thin veil of dust, covered it, as she wiped it away, she looked into her own reflection. Though she rarely went outside, to do anything but tend to a small garden that was planted on the grounds, her skin had a slight tan to it, bringing out the deep dark burgundy color of her hair, which offset her beautiful amethyst eyes, that were framed by a pair of black rimmed glasses. A Blue ribbon tied into her hair, and another around her neck. Her bosom swelled slightly under the lace frilled black top that she wore, and a long black skirt fell freely to just below her knees, which gave way to a pair of grey knit stockings that covered the rest of her legs down to the brown leather shoes she wore.
All of these clothes save for the glasses and shoes she had made herself. From a young age, she had to make her own clothes, because the master forbade her mother from buying them for her. The only clothes she was allowed to have besides the ones she made were a new pair of shoes every three years and a pair of glasses every five or so. But she loved her clothes she made herself; the master’s daughter loved them too, that’s possibly the only reason she was allowed to make them.
She could make the clothes she wore if she would make something for his daughter as he put it. Though the two were half sisters, they acted as if they were completely unrelated, to one another. But they were close friends; which bothered her not to make something for her younger half sister.
“What am I to do with you,” A man’s voice said dryly as she was mopping the floor. “It’s a quarter till four and your still not done? You useless girl, hurry it up.”
“I’m almost finished,” the young girl said without looking at the man, she knew better than to do so. He hated it when she looked at him, the face of her mother, and the eyes of another man. This was not his daughter.
“Father,” a girl said a she walked in behind him. “Please be kind to Lynn. She works hard to do what you ask, she even made the dress I am wearing tonight, and she was finishing the alterations on it, that’s why she got to the cleaning so late.”
Bella who is Lynn’s younger half sister by two years, looks exactly like a younger version of her, save for her eyes, which are the stark color of ice, and her hair which is a mousy brown color, that matches her father so well.
“Bella,” the man said sweetly. “You are too kind to this wretch. Today is the day of your fifteenth birthday; let the workings of this wretch not hinder it.” He then turned back to Lynn who was finishing with the mopping, as a song bird landed on an open window sill, chirping happily. “Close the windows girl, I wish not for wild vermin to enter my house.”
“Yes sir,” Lynn said as she walked over towards the window sill where a single Yellow Warbler sat perched chirping away happily. “I’m sorry dear friend, but you must be gone.” She whispered the last part as she shooed the bird away closing the windows. “I’ll be going to my room now. Bella I will say this to you, have a wonderful night, and Sir, I’ll try to not make too much noise.”
“Get out of my sight,” the man said coldly. “And remove that strip of cloth from around your neck; you are no young lady of class.”
A tear fell from the corner of her eye, as she untied the ribbon; it was something her mother had given here in secret from the master. She cherished it, and as far as he knew it was nothing but a simple strip of cloth. He would have taken it and burned it into nothing but a pile of ashes in front of her eyes if he had known what it really was. “I’m sorry,” was all she said as the ribbon fluttered behind her as she clutched it and ran away from the room.
0
Lynn watched from the attic window as quest began to arrive, all of them she knows well enough by name and face, but not personally, all of them were the masters friends, all of them had Sons around the same age as her and Bella, and it became apparent that, most of the guest attending were boys, a few of them were girls, but light music drifted up to the room’s open window.
“Lynn,” a voice carried through the door, it was Bella who knocked lightly before opening the door, and climbing the short staircase. “Can you please help me? I can’t get my hair to stay right, and you are the only one who can fix it how I like it.”
“Sure,” Lynn said with a smile. “Come sit beside me and I’ll fix it.”
“Lynn,” Bella said as Lynn fixed her hair. “What would you say if I said I want to leave here, and never look back?”
“I’d say this,” Lynn said quietly. “Where would you go? What would you do?”
“To the country side,” Bella said. “Find a small cozy cottage, and live there at peace, away from this hassle of life. Father intends for me to find a husband in his circle of friend’s sons.”
“And you don’t want that?” Lynn asked as she started to braid the two strands she tied together.
“No I want to find someone,” Bella paused as she tried to think of the right words. “I want someone who is kind, compassionate and leisurely. Lynn, if I said I was going to do this exact thing would you come with me?”
“Bella,” Lynn said as she finished the braid and stood up. “Dreams like that are only dreams, it is best to live as you are. Don’t say such things.” A tone of anger filled her voice, something Bella had never heard before, for all her life she had always seen Lynn as a passive peaceful person.
“Did I do something?” Bella asked as she looked at herself in the cracked mirror in the corner.
“No now get down to your party,” Lynn said as she took up some scraps of cloth that she had been stitching together into a quilt for her bed.
“Thank you Lynn,” Bella sighed as she reached the staircase. “I’ll bring you a slice of cake if I can.”
“That would be lovely,” Lynn said as she sat back in the old beat up chair in the room, with a needle and thread, as fitted odd assortments of cloth together, in various shapes, colors and textures, most of which were all shades of black, grey and white.
The sun was setting into the night as the light gentle breeze that came through the open window, started to cool down. A small old tarnished brass lamp sat in one corner of the room illuminating it with a faint glow that coupled with the overhead lights, the clock on the nightstand ticked away lightly as Lynn stitched piece after piece together.
It was about midnight when she took the sheet of patch worked cloth and folded it neatly putting it away, with her sewing supplies, and got up to change out of her clothes and into a night gown. An owl hooted lightly off in the distance as she walked slowly over to where the light switch was and flipped it off, leaving the room in darkness except for the old brass lamp and the light of the moon.
Lynn flipped the switch on the lamp and then went to lie down when she looked at the clock it was five minutes passed midnight, “Happy birthday,” she mused to herself as she laid her head on her pillow.
“Lynn,” a voice carried through the door, it was Bella who knocked lightly before opening the door, and climbing the short staircase. “Can you please help me? I can’t get my hair to stay right, and you are the only one who can fix it how I like it.”
“Sure,” Lynn said with a smile. “Come sit beside me and I’ll fix it.”
“Lynn,” Bella said as Lynn fixed her hair. “What would you say if I said I want to leave here, and never look back?”
“I’d say this,” Lynn said quietly. “Where would you go? What would you do?”
“To the country side,” Bella said. “Find a small cozy cottage, and live there at peace, away from this hassle of life. Father intends for me to find a husband in his circle of friend’s sons.”
“And you don’t want that?” Lynn asked as she started to braid the two strands she tied together.
“No I want to find someone,” Bella paused as she tried to think of the right words. “I want someone who is kind, compassionate and leisurely. Lynn, if I said I was going to do this exact thing would you come with me?”
“Bella,” Lynn said as she finished the braid and stood up. “Dreams like that are only dreams, it is best to live as you are. Don’t say such things.” A tone of anger filled her voice, something Bella had never heard before, for all her life she had always seen Lynn as a passive peaceful person.
“Did I do something?” Bella asked as she looked at herself in the cracked mirror in the corner.
“No now get down to your party,” Lynn said as she took up some scraps of cloth that she had been stitching together into a quilt for her bed.
“Thank you Lynn,” Bella sighed as she reached the staircase. “I’ll bring you a slice of cake if I can.”
“That would be lovely,” Lynn said as she sat back in the old beat up chair in the room, with a needle and thread, as fitted odd assortments of cloth together, in various shapes, colors and textures, most of which were all shades of black, grey and white.
The sun was setting into the night as the light gentle breeze that came through the open window, started to cool down. A small old tarnished brass lamp sat in one corner of the room illuminating it with a faint glow that coupled with the overhead lights, the clock on the nightstand ticked away lightly as Lynn stitched piece after piece together.
It was about midnight when she took the sheet of patch worked cloth and folded it neatly putting it away, with her sewing supplies, and got up to change out of her clothes and into a night gown. An owl hooted lightly off in the distance as she walked slowly over to where the light switch was and flipped it off, leaving the room in darkness except for the old brass lamp and the light of the moon.
Lynn flipped the switch on the lamp and then went to lie down when she looked at the clock it was five minutes passed midnight, “Happy birthday,” she mused to herself as she laid her head on her pillow.
0
Ahh~
It's been a while Angelus since you've posted a new story hasn't it.
I like the slight Cinderella beginning to it. And I could expected it there to be more to this? I could feel a bit of the emotion relayed from the descriptive text a swell. So well done and kudos for that
I hope you'll get back to posting more stories here at Fakku! While still Maintaining what other business you have.
Great Job Angelus as always~
It's been a while Angelus since you've posted a new story hasn't it.
I like the slight Cinderella beginning to it. And I could expected it there to be more to this? I could feel a bit of the emotion relayed from the descriptive text a swell. So well done and kudos for that
I hope you'll get back to posting more stories here at Fakku! While still Maintaining what other business you have.
Great Job Angelus as always~
0
[rubs back of head] Eh heh yeah I didn't even realize that the Cinderella quality to the opening was there until I actually re read it after posting it.
But as you can tel the story for the most part is centered around Lynn, and Bella, For the most part of it anyways, I'm working on two other projects at the time here as well, so It's going to be in short increments that I do write( A few pages here and there) at least until the end of the semester when I'll have more time to write.
But as you can tel the story for the most part is centered around Lynn, and Bella, For the most part of it anyways, I'm working on two other projects at the time here as well, so It's going to be in short increments that I do write( A few pages here and there) at least until the end of the semester when I'll have more time to write.
0
~~~Winter Two Years Later~~~
“Lynn,” Bella said as she nudged Lynn lightly. “Wake up please wake up.”
“Bella?” Lynn said groggily as she rubbed her eyes, looking at the clock. “It’s four thirty in the morning what’s so important.”
“I’m leaving,” Bella whispered. “All father wants is for me to be married off to one of his friends sons, it’s apparent anymore, all he talks about is how well groomed some of them are and that I should pick one. I can’t take it; I want you to come with me. Come with me to the country side.”
“Bella,” Lynn whispered harshly. “Why are you sprouting such madness? It’s the middle of winter, neither of us have any experience with working, no jobs and no means of supporting ourselves.”
“Please Lynn,” Bella cut in. “You are my sister, I trust you more than I trust father anymore.”
Lynn paused, Bella was dead serious about this, for all of their lives Bella had not once called Lynn her sister, and she had noticed the frequent times anymore that boys had came to call on young Bella, all of them from her father’s circle of friends. She had to think what to do, Bella was naïve to how the world worked, and Lynn herself wasn’t that much to the experience of the world. “Bella, do you have any idea what is going to happen?”
“I don’t care,” Bella grumbled, as she looked out the window watching the snow fall. “If we leave in the next hour or so the Snow will cover our escape. I have my savings that should last for a few months; we can find jobs and live at peace.”
Lynn thought right, Bella was very naïve but she was her sister, and she felt she needed to take care of her. “Alright, let me pack a few things into a bag.” Lynn took to packing up her clothes, and sewing supplies, some yarn, and knitting she had been working on and a patch work quilt before grabbing a cloak she had made for the winter time. “Let’s go, and never look back.”
They were out the door, and at the gate of the ground when Bella turned and looked back at the house, with one slow drawn breath she said her final words, “goodbye for good.” She then turned to Lynn who was waiting for her on the street, and ran to catch up. “The first train out leaves at 5:45, we will be on it to the country side. We’ll find something there.”
“I hope you are right Bella,” Lynn said quietly. “But your father will be furious.”
“I left hem a letter on his bed stand,” Bella said. “I explained everything, yet said not where I am going.”
~~~
Bella had paid for two tickets to the country side, and were sitting on the train already an hour away when he was reading the letter. His hands shaking, as he read each line, of the beautiful script that was no mistaking as Bella’s; his daughter had ran away, to where she would not explain, but she said that she wanted to be her own person make her own way in life, not what he had wanted for her.
He stormed out of his room running through the house, trying to find Lynn of all people, Bella trusted Lynn she would know where Bella went, she would tell him even if he had to beat it out of her, but then she was gone too. Her attic was emptied of her presence. Random assortments of things gone, she left with Bella. The snow outside had already covered their tracks, how long had they been gone he did not know. All he could do was fall to his knees, and scream.
It was his fault he pushed her to this, but then why would Lynn go? She had no reason to follow Bella so foolishly. How could he have expected her to follow his dream for her? She was her own person, and now it’s too late, she left him all alone, both of them.
~~~
“What now Bella?” Lynn asked as the Train came to a halt in the station outside some little no nothing town. “What are we going to do now? We are here, wherever here is.”
“We need to find a place to stay for a few days,” Bella said as she looked at a small add for a small inn in the village. “Then we need to find somewhere we can call home.”
0
They walked along in the morning it was about a quarter till eight the sun was rising and spotting in through the cloud’s as the wind blew lightly stinging at their faces. The shop’s along the street slowly opening one by one as people walked in and out of a diner where they stopped in for some breakfast.
The inside of the building was quaint, modestly done wood paneling covered the walls with pictures from the days past of the town, everyone seemed to know everyone, and seemed to be friendly with each other, but more so interested in the two of them. They were two young girls no one knew or had seen before, and judging by the fact that they had their bags still with them they were just fresh off the train. Looking for a place to stay for a while
“Coffee?” An aging woman asked as she walked over, holding a pot of coffee.
“Yes please,” Lynn said as she looked down at the menu as the smell of fresh coffee filled the air around them.
“I’d suggest the eggs bacon and toast,” the woman said as she finished pouring a cup for Bella as well. “You two from out of town?”
“Yes,” Bella answered. “We came here for the beginnings of a new life.”
“You and half the people here,” the waitress said. “It’s a quiet little town, stay for a while and you will know everyone here. It’s easy to find some work, around here.”
“Is there any small cottages or houses for rent?” Bella asked.
“There is the old West Hill Cottage,” the waitress said. “It’s about a mile out of town. The owner is the person who runs the Inn here in town. And speak of the old bat. Good morning Tilly.”
“Good morning to you to,” a woman dressed in a long black wool coat said as she walked through the door.
“Hey Tilly, have you found someone to rent the West Hill Cottage yet?” The waitress asked as she sat down at the next booth from Lynn and Bella.
“No dear,” Tilly said as she took off her coat. “I’m afraid people all have places to live, oh and the usual please.”
“Excuse me ma’am,” Lynn asked as she sipped her coffee. “But how much per month would you take for rent?”
“You must be from elsewhere,” Tilly said as she eyed the two of them. “Left home and want to start a new am I right?” Lynn just nodded, without saying anything; watching her, waiting for a response. “Let’s see, it’s a rather old place, and small, I could let it for 300 a month, maybe less if you two would be willing to take care of it.”
Bella looked at the amount of cash she had and then nodded to Lynn, before turning to face Tilly, herself. “Would you mind letting us see the cottage Ma’am?”
“Sure, sure, sure,” Tilly said as she sipped her coffee. “Just let me have my breakfast first then I’ll take the two of you out to it.”
“That would be wonderful,” Lynn responded.
After they had finished eating, Bella and Lynn followed Tilly back to the Inn to get the keys to the Cottage, and conversed the whole way, it took about fifteen minutes to walk to the small cottage, it was a quaint little house, nothing too fancy, two stories and a vine ridden exterior, hid most of the stucco work on the outside.
“The Cottage is fully furnished with 2 bedrooms and one bathroom, on the second floor,” Tilly said as she opened the door into the small living room what was dark and all the furniture inside covered with bed sheets. The front door leads to the kitchen, living room the kitchen is just beyond that, and a small broom closet sits under the stairs to the upstairs. The TV’s an old set but still works; she’ll pick up a signal from 4 different local area stations, if you don’t want to pay for Cable. “I can have the water and power on by the end of the day, if you want it. Though it’s a bit of a hassle to get everything cleaned up. I’ll let you have it for 250 a month, seeing as it’s the two of you.”
“It’s beautiful,” Lynn said. “I can sit and dew my sewing in here by a nice cozy fire, plant a garden in the spring and summer. What do you think Bella?”
“It’s perfect,” Bella said a she ran her hand down the old Worm Wood beam that was at the bottom of the staircase. “It’s small and cozy.”
“So you are a seamstress?” Tilly asked as she looked at Lynn.
“I’m not a great one,” Lynn said modestly.
“She’s the best,” Bella said boasting for her. “She made the dress and cloak she’s wearing as well as mine too.”
“Bella,” Lynn said scalded. “Don’t say such boastful things.”
“If you really do want it I’ll have to have you sign a lease,” Tilly said laughing. “You can leave your bags here, but then I’ll need you to head back to town with me. I’ll need to have a public notary draft up the Lease.”
The walk back to town was a short one, possibly because of the lack of carrying anything, but the snow seemed to have stopped, as we walked along Main Street, towards an old building in gold leaf lettering across the window was the words †˜Thomas Abes Attorney At Law’ followed underneath by a list of services, that are preformed in office.
The inside of the building was plainly done; a leather sofa perched against one wall, a desk where a middle aged woman sat reading a book when they all walked in. A Fern shoved into a corner and a coat rack by the door. A small staircase lead to an upstairs and a door along the wall had a name plate on it designating that it was an office.
“Hello Tilly,” the woman said. “May I help you today?”
“I need to see Tom about drawing up a lease,” Tilly said.
“He’s in his office,” the woman said, without looking up to or even bothering to see if he was busy. “He doesn’t have anything scheduled till after lunch so you have plenty of time.”
“Thanks Gabby,” Tilly said as she opened the door to the office. “Hide the playboy Tommy, Tilly’s here for a visit.”
The inside of the office looked more like a small library than an office, the walls were either lined with frames with various diplomas and documents, or with bookshelves crammed with Law books. A squashy black leather sofa sat along one wall underneath all the framed documents, while two more black leather arm chairs sat in front of a mahogany desk.
“Funny,” a balding man who appeared to be in his mid fifties said as he leaned back in his chair. “But down to it, if you’re asking me to help you kick your nephew out; I can’t do anything until he turns 18.”
“Only 3 more months,” Tilly sighed. “But I’m here because I need a Public Notary to draw up a lease.”
“Finally find someone to rent the West Hill Cottage?” Thomas said as he started to sift through some paper work when he noticed, Bella and Lynn. “Hello and you might be?”
“I’m Bella,” Bella said with a small wave. “And this is Lynn.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Lynn said curtly.
“And are both of you going to be singing the lease?” Thomas asked as he grabbed a blank form legal lease document, that he always used in these situations.
“I am,” Lynn said. “Bell will not be eighteen for another 3 months.”
“Does she go to school anywhere by chance?” Thomas asked raising an eyebrow.
“Graduated,” Bella said honestly. “I started a year early.”
“Well then, let’s get this started,” Thomas said, as he motioned for them to take a seat.
The whole process took about an hour or so to do, agreements on contracts between the owner and the renter, the rent due each month and when, who is responsible for repairs if any need be done, ECT. Once the ink was all dried, a copy was retained in the office, one to Bella and Lynn, and a third to Tilly.
“Well you two here are the keys,” Tilly said handing over a small keychain. “I’ll try and have the water and power running by mid day but then you know how these companies can be. If not there is a small generator with enough fuel to run through the night, and the gas tank should have enough in it to last a few days for heat, and cooking. I’ll see if I can get that Lout of a nephew of mine to come out there and help you with the cleaning.”
“Thank you so much Tilly,” Lynn said giving her a hug. “We just up and left our old lives behind, we had to escape. And you have given us a home.”
“Thank nothing of it,” Tilly said. “It would be best to get some canned foods, for a day or two, as I said; the power company can be fickle some times.”
“We will,” Bella said. “And may God Bless you.”
The inside of the building was quaint, modestly done wood paneling covered the walls with pictures from the days past of the town, everyone seemed to know everyone, and seemed to be friendly with each other, but more so interested in the two of them. They were two young girls no one knew or had seen before, and judging by the fact that they had their bags still with them they were just fresh off the train. Looking for a place to stay for a while
“Coffee?” An aging woman asked as she walked over, holding a pot of coffee.
“Yes please,” Lynn said as she looked down at the menu as the smell of fresh coffee filled the air around them.
“I’d suggest the eggs bacon and toast,” the woman said as she finished pouring a cup for Bella as well. “You two from out of town?”
“Yes,” Bella answered. “We came here for the beginnings of a new life.”
“You and half the people here,” the waitress said. “It’s a quiet little town, stay for a while and you will know everyone here. It’s easy to find some work, around here.”
“Is there any small cottages or houses for rent?” Bella asked.
“There is the old West Hill Cottage,” the waitress said. “It’s about a mile out of town. The owner is the person who runs the Inn here in town. And speak of the old bat. Good morning Tilly.”
“Good morning to you to,” a woman dressed in a long black wool coat said as she walked through the door.
“Hey Tilly, have you found someone to rent the West Hill Cottage yet?” The waitress asked as she sat down at the next booth from Lynn and Bella.
“No dear,” Tilly said as she took off her coat. “I’m afraid people all have places to live, oh and the usual please.”
“Excuse me ma’am,” Lynn asked as she sipped her coffee. “But how much per month would you take for rent?”
“You must be from elsewhere,” Tilly said as she eyed the two of them. “Left home and want to start a new am I right?” Lynn just nodded, without saying anything; watching her, waiting for a response. “Let’s see, it’s a rather old place, and small, I could let it for 300 a month, maybe less if you two would be willing to take care of it.”
Bella looked at the amount of cash she had and then nodded to Lynn, before turning to face Tilly, herself. “Would you mind letting us see the cottage Ma’am?”
“Sure, sure, sure,” Tilly said as she sipped her coffee. “Just let me have my breakfast first then I’ll take the two of you out to it.”
“That would be wonderful,” Lynn responded.
After they had finished eating, Bella and Lynn followed Tilly back to the Inn to get the keys to the Cottage, and conversed the whole way, it took about fifteen minutes to walk to the small cottage, it was a quaint little house, nothing too fancy, two stories and a vine ridden exterior, hid most of the stucco work on the outside.
“The Cottage is fully furnished with 2 bedrooms and one bathroom, on the second floor,” Tilly said as she opened the door into the small living room what was dark and all the furniture inside covered with bed sheets. The front door leads to the kitchen, living room the kitchen is just beyond that, and a small broom closet sits under the stairs to the upstairs. The TV’s an old set but still works; she’ll pick up a signal from 4 different local area stations, if you don’t want to pay for Cable. “I can have the water and power on by the end of the day, if you want it. Though it’s a bit of a hassle to get everything cleaned up. I’ll let you have it for 250 a month, seeing as it’s the two of you.”
“It’s beautiful,” Lynn said. “I can sit and dew my sewing in here by a nice cozy fire, plant a garden in the spring and summer. What do you think Bella?”
“It’s perfect,” Bella said a she ran her hand down the old Worm Wood beam that was at the bottom of the staircase. “It’s small and cozy.”
“So you are a seamstress?” Tilly asked as she looked at Lynn.
“I’m not a great one,” Lynn said modestly.
“She’s the best,” Bella said boasting for her. “She made the dress and cloak she’s wearing as well as mine too.”
“Bella,” Lynn said scalded. “Don’t say such boastful things.”
“If you really do want it I’ll have to have you sign a lease,” Tilly said laughing. “You can leave your bags here, but then I’ll need you to head back to town with me. I’ll need to have a public notary draft up the Lease.”
The walk back to town was a short one, possibly because of the lack of carrying anything, but the snow seemed to have stopped, as we walked along Main Street, towards an old building in gold leaf lettering across the window was the words †˜Thomas Abes Attorney At Law’ followed underneath by a list of services, that are preformed in office.
The inside of the building was plainly done; a leather sofa perched against one wall, a desk where a middle aged woman sat reading a book when they all walked in. A Fern shoved into a corner and a coat rack by the door. A small staircase lead to an upstairs and a door along the wall had a name plate on it designating that it was an office.
“Hello Tilly,” the woman said. “May I help you today?”
“I need to see Tom about drawing up a lease,” Tilly said.
“He’s in his office,” the woman said, without looking up to or even bothering to see if he was busy. “He doesn’t have anything scheduled till after lunch so you have plenty of time.”
“Thanks Gabby,” Tilly said as she opened the door to the office. “Hide the playboy Tommy, Tilly’s here for a visit.”
The inside of the office looked more like a small library than an office, the walls were either lined with frames with various diplomas and documents, or with bookshelves crammed with Law books. A squashy black leather sofa sat along one wall underneath all the framed documents, while two more black leather arm chairs sat in front of a mahogany desk.
“Funny,” a balding man who appeared to be in his mid fifties said as he leaned back in his chair. “But down to it, if you’re asking me to help you kick your nephew out; I can’t do anything until he turns 18.”
“Only 3 more months,” Tilly sighed. “But I’m here because I need a Public Notary to draw up a lease.”
“Finally find someone to rent the West Hill Cottage?” Thomas said as he started to sift through some paper work when he noticed, Bella and Lynn. “Hello and you might be?”
“I’m Bella,” Bella said with a small wave. “And this is Lynn.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Lynn said curtly.
“And are both of you going to be singing the lease?” Thomas asked as he grabbed a blank form legal lease document, that he always used in these situations.
“I am,” Lynn said. “Bell will not be eighteen for another 3 months.”
“Does she go to school anywhere by chance?” Thomas asked raising an eyebrow.
“Graduated,” Bella said honestly. “I started a year early.”
“Well then, let’s get this started,” Thomas said, as he motioned for them to take a seat.
The whole process took about an hour or so to do, agreements on contracts between the owner and the renter, the rent due each month and when, who is responsible for repairs if any need be done, ECT. Once the ink was all dried, a copy was retained in the office, one to Bella and Lynn, and a third to Tilly.
“Well you two here are the keys,” Tilly said handing over a small keychain. “I’ll try and have the water and power running by mid day but then you know how these companies can be. If not there is a small generator with enough fuel to run through the night, and the gas tank should have enough in it to last a few days for heat, and cooking. I’ll see if I can get that Lout of a nephew of mine to come out there and help you with the cleaning.”
“Thank you so much Tilly,” Lynn said giving her a hug. “We just up and left our old lives behind, we had to escape. And you have given us a home.”
“Thank nothing of it,” Tilly said. “It would be best to get some canned foods, for a day or two, as I said; the power company can be fickle some times.”
“We will,” Bella said. “And may God Bless you.”