Blackwood Heights

Chapter One

The car seemed like it was careening off the jagged cliffs that was like a wave pushing the three passengers unwillingly to their destination of Blackwood Heights. The two adults seemed like kidnapper’s to Piper. They were rapturing her away from the home she had with her dad. She, refused with a mighty determination not to think about him, thoughts of him was a robber trying to steal her soul.  

 Piper was furious with gritted teeth she listened to her phone. Her mom gingerly engrossed with her newest husband Seth Greenfield. Piper, nearly gagged on bile as her mother said Mrs. Greenfield over and over again. 

 Seth was taking over his friend’s law firm in the middle of nowhere someplace tiny called Blackwood Heights. She was angry, her summer destroyed by her mom’s marriage and the only thing she had going for her was starting high school with her best friends. Now, her life, her home, and her friends, belonged all in her past. As they drove through the fog she knew she too was in the fog of confusion, despair, and grief. 

 Her mother left her job as interior designer that was flourishing in up state New Jersey. Her mother now had surrendered her pay checks to Seth to help them with some mansion that was a little bit from town. All, her mother became was Seth’s lap dog. Piper tried to push weird thoughts out of her head, but somewhere deep inside her good heart she often wished that her mother died instead of her father. She hated that thought because it went against the kindness her father taught her. 

 In this moment, Piper really missed her dad. He died a year ago. His corpse barely had a chance to settle a dent into the coffin’s bedding, when her her mother became the ultimate desperate widow and married the most suitable person she could seconds after the funeral. Six months later the chapel exchanged the sad toll of bells into wedding bells what seemed like only a day to Piper. 

 “Seth, this is beautiful country. Natural waterfalls are everywhere.” Her mother cooed and gawked at the scenery. Piper hated the scenery cell service was atrocious this far off the grid. 

 “What do you think Piper?” Her mother asked turning around in her seat staring at her captive with a smile that looked like her mother was going to devour her like some twisted cannibal. Piper, belligerently ignored her.  Piper, shrugged and turned up her music. Then suddenly the car jerked out of the middle of nowhere and tires rubber burned as they swivelled and nearly placed the car into neigh on two lanes. 

 “Seth, what are you doing?” Lydia’s voice shrilled out in fear. Her voice full of confusion. 

 “Piper, answer your mother!” Seth’s voice was not going to tolerate a teen’s flippant answer and the way he was yelling scared Piper to her very core. 

 “It’s beautiful okay!” Piper yelled back as tears pooled hotly in her already pained light amber eyes. “Lydia, you have to engage with her.” Seth, seethed as he once again took the steering wheel and pulled the expensive SUV back to the right side lane. As he did through the rearview mirror he gave Piper a sad stare. 

 Piper, looked down at the phone screen refusing to look up. Hot tears now bounced off her phone in quiet remorse. Her mother oblivious to Seth’s controlling ways they began talking like nothing was going on. Then after a few stops for food, snack, and washroom break, they arrived at the biggest house Piper had ever seen. 

  They arrived at an enormous Tudor style house with an electric gate that needed a key code to enter. Two massive gold and jade lions stood at the entrance and a huge sign that read “Greenfield” embossed on the gate in really old Victorian script.  The house was amazing, even Piper's grief could not ignore the obvious. 

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                                                                             1928 -Spring

Father Tobias, nicknamed by most, though he was really Reverend Tobias. Whoever he was called there was one thing certain, he loved his new parish hall. The community of Blackwood Heights was close knit and so welcoming. He though had a burden to reach the seedier side of town. He just was not sure how to go about it. This burden was placed upon him by the wealthiest member of his little parish, none other than Marion Blackwood. 

 The night before Marion Blackwood had come to talk to him. “My niece is in a bad way. Her father James , my brother who we call Jim in casual conversation, was disinherited because of his gluttony with the bottle. I am attempting to get custody of my niece Susie. If he can repent from his drunken stupors he will still have a place at our father’s glassworks factory.” Her words were pouring out as fast as her tears. Father Tobias had to concentrate on her words and not be sidetracked from the waterworks that were on display.

 Once she spilled out both words and water, he quickly offered her a clean kerchief. He watched her gracefully accept it. Cleared his throat, and thought very precisely as to what he would utter.

 “I will look into this. I will figure out a way to check on your niece. I will write to the magistrate my findings so you can gain guardianship of the girl. Though I make no promises.” Father Tobias’s voice was kind and reassured Miss Evans that he would do all he could to assure the safety of the young girl. 

 He spent all night in prayer. Then in a daze of exhaustion fell asleep and then a little after dawn broke his  words to her seemed like a good path to undertake. He saddled his mare equipped her with  a cart of food and supplies given in abundance by his congregation he set off to the docks of the main city. 

 The smell of urine, manoeuvre, and rotten fish guts, gave Father Tobias more reasons to count to urge him to pull out his infused sage handkerchief to cut the foul smells around him. A undertaker showed him the trick and it worked well. He knew most scoundrels came to Five Penny Row. He would start there. It was close to the docks, but it would take a while with a horse and cart. 

 He finally came to Five Penny Row. For five pennies you could take your chances and partake in c**k fighting, obtain nightly womanly pleasures, and even a drink if you dare trust the bar man not to lace it with poison. A narrow street with shanties of all kinds squeezed in the small acre or so. 

 He knew the temptation for little hungry hands to steal the goods he decided to pass out the fruit to the wee ones. They had not had a bath in ages and has he bent close enough he could see the lice crawling happily in their familiar surroundings. They looked akin to mangy animals,  cute innocent children they resembled not.  Moreover, Father Tobias knew God loved all children, rich, or poor. He saw them beautiful as they were the closest thing to God on this side of eternity. 

  After he gave away the supplies to the beggars and children he hired a boy who was defending a woman that was being accosted by some nit-wit scallywag. He saw the boy take no reward and hired him well to look after his mare and cart. 

 “Father, let me take her to a grassy  knoll for two hours. I will unhitch her and my father will allow her to eat hay and my mom will give her an apple. My parents  own a successful farm and livery not  from here. I will draw you a map.” The lad said, and before Father Tobias could object he drew a map with a very fine pencil and had paper that was crisp. The map looked amazing Marco Polo could not have done a finer job himself. 

 “Don’t worry, father, I have a talent for drawing, I am apprenticing to be a ship builder. I will take exceptional care of your horse. I was only here to buy fish for my mother for supper. Please, after your errands dine with us.” The young lad’s words were full of joy. His smile was brilliant like freshly polished pine wood pews.

  Father Tobias, was reminded that God always provides for both man and beast. He tipped his hat and gave him a dollar. He knew he would feast like a king at the lad’s house the dollar was well spent. The boy blushed in humble thanks and off they went until they would meet several hours later. Before the boy got too far, Father Tobias, called out, “Thank you good lad.” Then on cue the lad shouted back,  “My name is Simon Goldhammer, if you get lost just ask for Goldhammer Farms.” Father Tobias waved and went around to a narrow path looking for a James Blackwood. 

  After a while of searching Father Tobias finally found James Blackwood what he found would change him forevermore. 

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  Piper, was in awe of her new house. There were windows upon windows and it was beyond beautiful. She could avoid the aliens that captured her, and have her own space. Piper would have to convince  her mom to buy her a microwave and mini dorm fridge. This way she would only have to see them when her mother attempted the homemaker thing once in a while. 

 The good thing about Seth was the fact he worked crazy hours. This law firm was the busiest because it was the only one for the next twenty miles. This part of Vermont was made of villages and then a larger town was considered a town. Piper was trying to count her blessings at least she lived in a town and not just one of the outlying villages that barely had a gas station. So, she knew at least for the most part she only would really see her mom. This strange woman seemed nothing like the mom she had when her dad was alive. 

 She grabbed her name brand luggage from the back and attempted not to scrape the wheels on the gravel driveway. It was too heavy to carry. Seth had to get it to the large archway that hid the door. Some of the house was made of solid stone. She wondered how much they had sunk into the house. 

  The inside was just has enormous the windows seem to enlarge the house a lot more. The ceilings were twenty feet high with a large double fireplace that used real wood, The seven foot wide, real wood burning, fireplace would have dwarfed most rooms, but it almost seemed too small for the huge great room. Piper’s runners made an echo on the polished dark wood cherry floors. 

 “We will have to get more furniture, Seth, but this is amazing!” Her mother breathed excitedly it would be any interior designer’s dream. “Yes, darling, I have not touched anything I wanted this house to be your canvas for your creative dreams.” Seth spoke has he wound his arms that entangled Lydia’s mom almost like tentacles. Lydia sunk into them and closed her eyes. Piper knew her mother was love drunk. “I feel so safe with you, like nothing is going to get us.” Lydia’s words gushed out softly but even Piper could hear them as she had turned off her music. She did not understand the comment but let it go. 

 “Where is my room?” Piper asked intruding on their private moment half intentionally half not as her luggage was heavy and all she wanted was a good bath and start up babysitting again. She wanted to jump on her laptop and start working on her flyers. In New Jersey she was the most sought after babysitter. She wanted money. She wanted to save all the money she had for college she did not want to ask Seth especially for one red cent for college. 

  “The attic, Piper will be your room.” I have had special work done on it just for you. It is on the six floor and overlooks the lake and woods.” Seth’s voice was nice enough, Piper sighed she just missed her dad. The house was beautiful but it would have been so more amazing if her dad was there to enjoy it. 

 He held out his hands towards the banister and led her around to the spiral staircases to a door that spiralled to the right of the door. “This attic were servant’s quarters when the house was built. There is a second staircase that leads directly from your bathroom to the pantry. I turned the pantry into a library for you. The pantry door can only be opened from the inside out.” Seth explained. 

 A wooden railing offset a huge arched window with nine skylights that flooded her space. Huge window seats sat inside the walls giving the sky a close to 360 degree view. A thirty-foot  bay window that called nature in, overlooked the massive lake that had a natural waterfall that went down at least a good seven feet. She could hear the gushing water, she would love listening to that as she slept. She wanted to say thank you. It was obvious he spent a lot of time on the room, her walls were painted with a gorgeous light aqua colour, it was perfect her life just seemed hollow. 

 The attic could easily fit three king sized beds and to the right there was a massive pocket door and when she pulled it back there was a corner Jacuzzi tub and a massive walk in shower that had a stall to sit. Huge floor to ceiling mirrors that curved around to a sink and make-up area with a built in vanity. 

 Sure enough to the right of the vanity was a staircase that went like a knife’s edge straight down to a very well lit room with mega high bookshelves end to end and there was a custom window that had enough room for her seven foot high desk her dad had custom made for her, with Brazilian wood. 

  The shelves obviously empty because none of the furniture was there yet. “Thank you Seth.” She said politely. Piper really missed her dad at that moment. He would have loved the house with all of its nook and crannies. A great house to play hide-and-seek. She could almost see herself at the age of four and him tickling her to the point she would be out of breath as they played. 

 Seth came closer to her. “You will learn to like me, Piper.” He looked deep into her eyes and he pushed her against the space where her desk would go and leaned over her with his hand against the wall; the sunlight catching his Rolex and the sunlight was making tiny rainbows on the wall. His presence was larger than life.  She felt cornered all of a sudden. Just then she heard her mom’s footsteps touch the landing and ducked around. Seth readjusted himself. 

“Awe, you guys are having a heart to heart.” I am so glad that three of us are family.” Lydia came over and forced a huge family hug against Piper’s wishes. She wanted to run but could not she felt trapped. 

 Piper, played along. “I think the three of us should get Chinese food.” Piper chimed in trying to break up the happy family moment. 

 “Good idea, sweetheart, none of the places here are on Google, so you are going to have to look up in the phone book. Piper was shocked this was the first time ever she in her fourteen years ever had to use a phonebook. What was this a time warp back to 1980? She sighed picked up the phone book and started looking. It did not take long. She called in everyone’s favourites. She even made sure that Seth got his favourite too. Her father always taught her to treat everyone the way God expected them to be treated, even the people she did not like. She missed the feeling of  peace in her home her father brought. 

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 Father Tobias walked in the saloon if you could call it that. He quietly asked the Madame of the establishment it was the fourth one he had come to and he saw a little girl beside him and he was calling men out loud. “Come get the virgin little girl, only fifty cents for her virgin body.” Father Tobias was enraged but someone beat him to it and punched James flat out. 

  The little girl coward in the corner and hid. Father Tobias scooped her up, and grabbed a buggy for hire a few streets up from Five Penny Lane  

 “Driver, Goldhammer Farm if you would be so kind, and please hurry.” Father Tobias said in a flurry of jumbled words as the driver whisked him and Susie away. 

 “It is okay Susie. I am Father Tobias, a friend of your Aunt Marion.” Father Tobias spoke slowly she was curled like a cat at the bottom of the carriage. She relaxed and then sat next to him and watched out the buggy window silently as they made it to the country farm. 

 It was dark now it had taken Father Tobias a while to find Susie. They pulled up to a nice paved drive and the smell of fresh bread and fish frying on the stove made them both now very hungry. Father Tobias paid for the carriage and he scooped Susie down. She was a dirty little waif but she was quiet and was kind enough to barely whisper a thank-you. 

 He extended her hand and she refused but walked comfortably beside him. A rounded happy fellow greeted them. “Ah, my son Simon mentioned you father. Your mare is here, but come let us get you and?” 

 Father Tobias smiled, “I am Father Tobias and this is a new friend Susie.” 

 “My name is Alec Goldhammer. Please do come in. We have been expecting you so here have supper spend the night we have a tiny guest house with two rooms and an indoor water pump, and a wooden tub for bathing.” The short fat man said happily. 

 “Can I have a bath?” Susie asked in just above an audible tone. Alec, nodded. I think my daughter Allison’s old clothes are very good and in tact. She is married off, to some rich merchant she was our last. I will fetch the clothes Susie, can you manage on your own?”  Alec asked as he hobbled on legs that could barely support his weight.  She nodded. 

 He went to the pump house and started to fill a large  metal barrel of water, Susie saw where he was going and hurried off to open the guest house door for him. Alec smiled and placed the water in smaller pots and filled the tub right up and ran to the house and grabbed some soap with brown paper. 

 “My daughter Allison sends us buckets of this rose smelling soap. Use it to your hearts delight.” Alec smiled as he spoke and  left the girl once the tub was filled with water and she scrubbed herself clean. The cleanest she had been in many months. 

  Once they were alone Father Tobias just explained that he was sending her back to her Aunt’s house the next night. Alec’s wife Bridgett wiped a tear from her eye.”Saw her from the kitchen window poor thing looked just an awful sight. The supper meal is done just let me rush these clothes to her. God told me not to get rid of her wardrobe and now I am glad I did not. We have a bunch of things for her to take with her.” Bridgett spoke as she gathered a dress, stockings, and shoes and ran them out to the guest house. 

 A few moments later a very different Susie appeared her hair was combed nicely back lice still reigned but she looked cute and her dress and shoes made her look like a nobleman’s daughter. Father Tobias said grace and they all dug in. 

 Not shortly after the food was being devoured Simon walked in. “Father, so glad you found the place. You seem to have acquired a pretty new friend.” Simon explained beaming at the little girl whose cheeks were now scarlet red. 

 “Sit down son, wash up, the food will be ice blocks before you get your first bite in.” The young lad nodded and went to the pump and washed his face and hands and came back looking like a shiny new penny.

 The meal conversation was comfortable. They asked about Father Tobias’s congregation. Father Tobias asked Simon about his ship building apprenticeship. Soon Bridgett brought out delicious apple pie, from apples that came right from her backyard orchard, and soon after it warmed their soul like any good pie, the  good nights were said. Father Tobias carried young Susie to the room on the left in the guest house and took off her shoes, he blessed her then he did the same in his room and the whole lot of them slept in a deep and tender sleep. Father Tobias was thankful that everything was working out for the little girl.