Blackwood Heights

Chapter Six

  Seth, looked at Piper. He knew that she just needed love and he would wait until she fell asleep until he would take the plunge and speak to Lydia. 

 "Hey Piper, I have a book that you might be interested in. I know your dad would have liked it to. It is a first edition printing of Pilgrim's Progress.  My mom used to read it to me. I think you will really like it. A gift from me to you. I know you are too big for bedtime stories, but here you go." Seth handed her a worn cover it was in good condition considering the age of the book. 

 Piper's dad would talk about the book a lot. He said it was one of those books that every Christian should read at least once. Piper, hugged Seth, and walked up to her attic room, where there was love upholding her broken heart. It was like her dad was right there with her. 

 For a lawyer, she realised Seth was observant and knew exactly what people needed. She thought about that for a bit, maybe that is why she forced her mother to move. Maybe, he was trying to give her mother a new start. 

 The attic was sound proof from the rest of the house. No one wanted to acknowledge their servants let alone hear them. For Piper it was a retreat she was busy doing research for her War of 1812 paper. She was beginning to like her new life. Sure, she would be happier if her dad was there, but her dad would have liked Seth, he was a Christian and really cared about her and her mom. She studied happily, it was not what she would have liked but her dad, always taught her not to look at the past or future but be content with the now. She wanted to give Seth a chance. He did customise her room to fit the desk her dad had given her. He made enough shelves to fit all of her books, and gave her enough shelving to even add to her massive collection. 

 Seth, knew that Piper would be busy working on homework and this was going to give him and Lydia a chance to talk. 

 He snuggled close to Lydia hints of vanilla and citrus mingled together in this amazing aroma that made him know that indeed a feminine presence encompassed him. He pushed a strand of chocolate kissed brown strands of hair away from her gentle brown eyes that were haloed in flecks of green. He knew where Piper had received her eyes from. The light caught her cheek bone he was studying her a child studying a new flower for the first time. 

 He gently whispered her name, his voice was strong but the masculine tones softened around the words cushioning them to allow her to only feel security nothing else, but love wrapped around the syllable of her name.  "Lydia, darling, we need to talk." 

 She pivoted on the couch, a top about to spin, in what direction Seth could not read. 

 "Okay about what?" Her voice was flat and her eyes flashed concerned. 

 "You went to the hospital inebriated and allowed Piper to be taken to the hospital by a total stranger?" His words were not accusatory he was simply asking for further explanation. Worry carved out each word and his voice was low and his eyes never left her alone, they pulled at her soul, forcing her to call out truth that she only knew.  She sighed and gave him that debonaire smile that made him desire her a desert nomad looking for water. 

 "At your company party I guess I simply had too much to drink. It happens you know. I was too ashamed to admit it to the lady that took her to the hospital. I waited until I thought I was sober enough to go. Are you mad at me?" She was looking at his eyes, there was a solemn stare of disappointment. He remained quiet, questioning the paths of words and the direction this conversation could head to. 

 "You know, six months to marry someone after they die, is soon. I know you realised time is really short and you just believe, to live is to live completely in full given all moments. However, Piper is not near where you are, she is so far behind you. Yes, we have made headway, but she needs you to talk about her dad. She misses him. Though you make think I am a great dad for her. I cannot fill that role. She has a father. I can only be a friend, a big brother at most." He chewed heavily on the words. They came out almost broken not even in complete patterns. 

 Lydia sighed and she simply said, "She will be fine." Then kissed Seth on the cheek. Then spoke lightly, "I will not drink as much." With rushed words turned back to her book. 

 Seth, sighed and knew he had to get some depositions ready for court and left her alone reading. He was not sure about anything and simply turned to his study in complete confusion. She seemed sincere but something in his soul; something seemed off. 

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                                                                                    1928

 Father Tobias prayed extra hard that night, and sleep became an illusive love drowned at sea. He tossed and turned until finally he cried himself asleep. Thoughts of Susie at the ice cream social played like a nickelodeon over and over again. Exhaustion, threw him into slumber, a rag doll tumbling against the wall. 

 The room seemed like it was transported to a remote Inuit village past the artic circle. He needed to pull the quilt over him that laid haphazardly now at the bottom of his captain's bed. The room was tombstone cold, like granite in freezing temperatures in mid winter. A light appeared awakening him from any sleep possible. 

 He studied the light that moved in human form. He looked closer but saw no face. He sat up statue still breathing only because his lungs did not have eyes. He could not blink or even rub his eyes he stared. 

 The shape was small. There was no face at all just hands, feet, and a torso. Clothed in translucent white, the illuminated figure spoke. He knew her. The voice belonged to Susie. 

 "Hi, Father Tobias. Thanks for the amazing time at the ice cream social. Heaven is a really swell place. Yet, God has a job for me here in Blackwood Heights I am protector. You are your generations after you will take part in this plan. You will never see my face, I am faceless for I represent all the children in Blackwood Heights. You are to ensure all parents love their children, you and your generations after them. If parents do not heed your warning, I have been given power to force them into repentance. Ultimately, forcing them to die as punishment." Her words were full of doom and fright but her tone remained that of an innocent child. 

 "You will record this and teach this to your generations until the end of time. This is the one thing that preachers and priests never speak on, and it hurts the heart of God and I will bring justice. I am now the protector of Blackwood Heights. Blackwood Heights will be the safest place on earth for all children always. I will know if I am needed; there is a bell in the storm cellar in the cemetery belonging to Oliver Quince. Like the Shofar held in the holy places of tabernacles calling angels to attention, the bell is my Shofar of sorts. Please tell Mr. Digs I love my coffin. Thanks." As she finished speaking she, her hand put light inside of Father Tobias and then she vanished as quickly as she appeared. The room fell back into normal darkness the temperature just like before. 

 He knew of the storm shelter at Oliver's place in the cemetery and without hesitation he saddled his horse and took a flash light and headed over to the storm cellar. It was never locked in case of bad storms.  It had gardening tools and winches and ropes. Then in the centre of the room a shiny bell that was child size hung and reflected the light of the flashlight perfectly. A new rope hung directly below it. Father Tobias decided not to ring it and rode home, mulling over things, sober as the night was long, but he felt five sheets to the wind. 

 He unsaddled his mare and snuck back in, for all he was wearing was his bathrobe, but no one would have seen him. He knew what his Sunday sermon was going to be about and started taking notes and fell asleep in the rectory. 

 Angela Perkins found him the next morning. He was snoring loudly and puddles of drool were caught in the pages of his Bible. She was his part time secretary. Her husband died working on the railroads a few years back. Widowed at only twenty-one and she busied herself working for Father Tobias, by doing all of the bookkeeping and answering the phones while he went into the bigger cities and visited townsfolk there. 

 She studied him for quite a bit of time. His hair fell off to the side. His eyelashes were long and his cute lips puffed like steam coming off a chimney stack. She lightly tapped him on the shoulder. He startled awake.

 He smiled boyishly at Angela Perkins. She smiled back. "Given the stress of yesterday, I thought I would treat you to Beck and Call.  Beck and Call  was the best pancake house and diner in Blackwood Heights. He rubbed his stomach that was growling in angry bellows calling for food. He scooted quickly into his small dwelling past the adjoining door that divided his house from the rectory and the actual sanctuary. Then he quickly dressed and freshened up and met Angela Perkins by the back door. The day was beautiful and she just made it extra special. It was a sabbatical for both heart and soul.  They arrived at the diner and they ate to their hearts content. Some townsfolk smiled, some wondered how long it would have taken, and some mentally congratulated him, as they saw the two talking over full stacks of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. He spoke nothing of the night before they spoke of the church expanding to the side to put in Sunday School classrooms, and a separate little prayer room. How they would help those children living on Five Penny Lane. 

 They walked comfortably back to the church and went over the budget. He liked Angela a lot, and the way she smiled back at him; was a clear sign that she liked him too. They had a friendship that was diamond strong. As his  soul drank from her aquatic eyes his heart knew that he was falling in love with her. She leaned over the accounting books and he breathed in her perfume, a baby drinking in air for the very first time,  it filled him with a new appreciation of a newfound love for the first time ever.