The weather deceived on Florida,
It should be a crisp winter day.
Instead the sun beat down relentlessly,
With only passing clouds providing relief.
The wind picked up as the skies darkened,
But the threat of rain did not come to pass.
The humidity gathered and smothered instead
While Mother Nature had her last laugh.
Exhaustion overtook her, she stripped to her bra and slipped into bed. The sheet loosely gathered over her waist to keep the breeze from the fan off her legs. Swiftly, she drifted to sleep.
Gray clouds rolled in with the cold front. The winds outside picked up. The perfect weather to sleep the afternoon away. Her shadow, a little 10 pound Burmese mix seal point cat, curled into the cove made as she snoozed on her side.
She felt a man’s hand softly follow her side as he slid into bed. His gentle touch assured her. He snuggled into her back, tucking his knees into hers. His breath on her neck calmed her.
He draped his arm over her waist and pulled her in. She felt safe in his arm and together they drifted back to sleep.
When she woke, he was gone, but her fur-baby remained. She patted his little head as he stretched awake. What a nice little dream.
Flashing heat spread across her cheeks,
Aware she revealed too much this time,
And no way to hide it or take it back.
She thought she was being flirty and cute,
But did she scream past that invisible line?
At this point, nothing to undo the facts;
She’ll just need to ride out the embarrassment.
Tomorrow is a brand new day, a fresh start,
Another chance to humiliate herself again.
Some days….oh well!
Melissa headed down the two flights of stairs to the main floor, picked up the keys, then headed down to the locked basement. She expected a dark, dank dungeon-like area. When she opened the door and flicked on the lights, she was surprised to find a finished basement. The washer and dryer area had a nice folding area and hanging rack. Supplies to wash the linens were already here, as if it were waiting for a guest.
She loaded the washer and started it, then looked around. The basement seemed undersized compared to the other floors. She realized a wall cut the space in half. She went to the small door and tried to open it. It was locked. She flipped through the keys and found one that finally unlocked the door.
She walked in and found a studio apartment. Things started making sense to how Jane could afford this place…supplemental income from the apartment. Melissa made a note to call an agent in the morning to find out how to get it listed. The space was fully furnished with a kitchen, bathroom, and a living/bedroom area. She heard the washer start knocking so she headed out of the apartment and locked up.
She balanced the load. It was just about to go into spin mode, so she pulled out a chair by the counter and flipped through her phone. It finally dinged, so she started moving the linens to the dryer. Inside the dryer however was a single item, a black men’s tee. It must have been from a former tenant; she pulled it out, folded it, and set it aside, then finished loading and starting the dryer.
She checked the time; dinner should be arriving in ten minutes. She forgot the long lead times of ordering in when in the city, but today it worked for her. She went back up to the main floor and settled in. She was thankful some furniture was left behind for her to use. It was still a shock that this whole place was hers.
A knock came from the door. Finally, dinner! She opened the door and signed the slip, then took the bag. “Thank you!”
The guy grinned. “Thanks for the tip!”
She was always a bit too generous with her tips, but she knew it was appreciated. “You’re welcome, have a great night!”
She shut and locked the door, then made her way to the kitchen. She ripped open the back to make a temporary plate and assembled her Italian beef sandwich. Then she saw it…honey packets! Only in Chi-Town! She looked forwarded to dunking her fries in honey and ketchup, just like when she was a kid.
Maybe she’ll like being back in the city after all. She finished up dinner and made her way back down to get the linens. As she came back up, she locked up on the first floor then headed up to the top floor, and finally settled in for the night. Maybe all this will make some more sense in the morning after a good night’s sleep.
“Here’s the keys..” the lawyer handed her a macrame beaded keychain in red and white. The beads were faded and scratched. “You know how to find it?”
Her hand trembled from shock, but she knew the way. “Wait, so how did this come to me?”
“You are the only living heir.”
Confusion filled her face. “That’s not possible. I have siblings.”
“It’s isn’t blood heir, dear.”
She hated when she was patronized. Her mouth pursed.
“No, it isn’t a family-based heir. It’s what Jane wanted,” his voice trailed off as he picked up the folder from his desk.
“Just take the keys and go. We’re done here.” With his final words he waved her out of his office.
Melissa sat behind the wheel of her Mustang II jalopy. The car creaked as she put it in gear and made her way to the address. She knew the home well; but she didn’t understand why a distant cousin would leave the three story plus basement brownstone to her.
She parked on the urban street just outside. The tree lined street was crowded with walkers and life. Being blocks away from Wrigley Field meant it would always be crowded. She lucked out with the spot.
The aging car door groaned as she opened then closed it. If she slammed it too hard, the rust holding it together could shatter. Now she owned a home worth over a half of a million bucks. She clenched her hand around the keys as she ascended the stairs.
The brownstone was kept immaculately outside. A small welcome mat greeted her at the front door.
She fished out the security code to be ready to disarm the alarm, then unlocked the door. The door handle stuck a bit, so she pulled the door to her, heard the latch release, then finished turning the knob. The door opened into the foyer.
Hardwood floors lined the entry. Boxes littered the home with the last of Jane’s belongings. Melissa walked through the sitting room, then into the kitchen and the back bedroom and bath. The first floor had more square footage than her current apartment.
The next two floors were set up with various sitting and bedrooms. The house was large enough for a family of five or six.
“What am I to do with this?” She proclaimed to the empty halls. She stepped into the last bedroom on the top floor. The bed remained in the room, fully made. On the mantle sat a single envelope with her name scrawled in shaky writing.
She unsealed the envelope and read the letter inside:
Dear Melissa,
I know you are questioning why you, why this home. There are many treasures to unlock in life. This is just one of them.
I hope this sets you well on your path.
Love,
Cousin Jane
Enclosed with the letter was a business card to a local bank and another key. Another mystery for Melissa to pursue.
Melissa looked at her watch, but there was not enough time to get to that tonight. She picked up her phone and ordered delivery for dinner, then stripped the bed to launder the sheets down in the basement. Hopefully no more surprises awaited her for the rest of the night.
Four little eyes looked up at her begging for treats.
She bent down, “Here you go my sweets!”
They met her with purrs and head punchies
Before snacking away on their munchies.
Then a playful fight and they ran away,
Ready to curl up and dream the night away.
Yep, bad cat poetry…that’s where I am tonight. Enjoy!
A world beyond this, I visit in my dreams;
The fantastic, the amazing, the terrifying…
All these worlds await me in my dreams.
I’ve lived in London, walking down cobbled roads,
Watching chaos and riots, thankfully only in my dreams;
Met him at a pub in Edinburgh, finally,
Saying good bye to a lost future, in my dreams.
Frozen, paralyzed in my bed, time and again,
Unable to scream for help, in my dreams.
Toiling, never-ending problems, ugh!, the worst
I never feel rested when it’s work in my dreams.
But then there are flights of fancy, giggling
Some really good things, too, in my dreams.
My favorite is waking up next to you,
Smiling at me with loving eyes in my dreams.
Who know, maybe dreams can come true?
Until then, I guess I’ll have to see you in my dreams.
Written from a prompt from Lady Jabberwocky: http://ladyjabberwocky.com/2023/01/16/prompt-of-the-week-dream-a-little-dream-2/
Refreshing breezes floated over the reeds;
Whispers of hello greeted winged friends.
Small ripples tickled the pond’s surface,
But no dragonflies nested among the flowers.
The chill in the air kept insects at bay,
But the scrub was still full of life, hidden.
Occasionally small jays and warblers flitted.
The dry season was wetter than normal.
The marshy lands overflowed to the sands.
Enjoy it while it lasts, soon heat will return.
The crunch of gravel and dirt filled Suzy’s ears as she turned down the long drive. Her music was loud, the windows down, and the perfect August weather made her smile. Tonight was the Perseids meteor shower’s peak, and the clear skies meant they would have a prime view.
She pulled the car to the side of the house and popped the trunk. Suzy pick up and carried two sacks full of groceries into the house, humming to herself. Soon she came back and pulled out a box of firewood. She set it in a nearby cart and closed the trunk, then hauled it up the hilly area to their deck.
They had built a small outdoor storage box next to the deck. She opened it and pulled out the pieces to the double hammock. Soon, the red striped canvas swung securely from its frame. She made sure the wood was stowed, the lighter in working order, then rested her hands on her hips, taking a look around before heading back to the house.
Steve wasn’t expected until the early evening, so Suzy had the house to herself for a few hours. When she got back she put the groceries away except for the fruits and vegetables needed for dinner. She washed those and put them in strainers next to the sink. She looked down and realized her shirt was soaked.
She huffed, looked at her watch, then grinned. Plenty of time remained for her to freshen up and relax. She stripped as she walked to the master bathroom. Standing over the tub, she dropped the stopper and began filling it with water and bubbles.
Suzy finished undressing and slipped into the bath as the water continued to pour in. Soon the tub was full. She turned off the water and relaxed. Her hands floated through the suds and she gently massaged all her tension from the work week away.
When she started to prune, she pulled the drain plug and slipped into the shower for a quick rinse. She could tell the day was ending by the changing light. She thought to herself, Time to prep dinner.
She dried off and slipped into some comfy clothes. Steve wasn’t expected until late, so dinner for one. But, she planned a nice little dessert with strawberries to share when he did get home.
She stood in the kitchen, eating off her plate of eggs, vegetables and béarnaise. She didn’t care about eating alone; it was nice to have a few quiet moments to herself. She hoped Steve wouldn’t be too tired tonight. It had been a long week for both of them and tonight started a long weekend break. Work had kept him up long hours and she hoped he’d finally get a break.
Suzy finished up her dinner, rinsed the plate, then sliced up the strawberries and tossed them in sugar to macerate. Then she mixed up a shortcake to bake and placed it in the oven.
While the cake baked, she caught up on some emails and flipped through photos shared by family across the country. The oven dinged. Suzy set her phone down and made her way back to the kitchen. The sky outside had quickly changed from sunset to midnight blue.
The smell from the shortcake was delightful as she pulled the piping hot joy from the oven. She pulled out a few sealable containers and dished out the berries into two bowls, and placed them and a can of whipped cream into a lunch cooler with some ice packs.
She saw his headlights as he pulled in. Her heart fluttered. She hoped he liked the surprise she’d put together. Steve soon walked into the house.
“What smells so good?” he asked as he opened the door.
She smile and quietly replied, “Shortcake!”
He laughed, “That smells good too,” then winked at her. She slid around the counter that separated them and tiptoed up to welcome him home with a kiss.
She lowered to her flat feet still in his embrace and looked up, “Get on some comfy clothes; I want to sit outside for a bit.”
Steve shook his head yes, released her, and sauntered down the hall. He wiggled his butt at her as he turned into the bedroom. She let out a giggle.
She pulled the throw off the sofa and placed it, the lunch cooler and the cake pan into a tote, then added a spoon and some forks. Last she grabbed some napkins.
Steve came out finally. He’d freshened up, she could smell his cologne down the hall. She grinned…maybe tonight would be even more than she planned.
She took him by the hand and handed him the tote, then led him out and up to their deck. As they came up the path, he saw she had already set up the hammock. He set the bag next to the hammock and sat down, swinging.
“So, what’s the occasion?” He wondered allowed.
Suzy busied herself with putting the wood into the fireplace.
“Honey, I will do that!” He stood up and joined her by the fire pit. Together they got the fire going.
“Nothing special. I thought it would be nice to look at the stars tonight.” She thought he may not know there was a meteor shower tonight.
She moved over to the hammock and invited him to join her. They reclined back next to each other. They shared details about their week and told each other jokes and stories.
Then, Suzy inhaled and pointed to the sky. Streaks of light spread across the sky. Steve looked up, and then turned back to her.
He planted a big kiss on her cheek. “Thank you!” His hand gently swept across her arm.
She looked back at him and saw that look in his eyes. The one that always made her melt. Goosebumps popped up on her arms.
Steve rolled back on his back and pulled out the throw to cover her up. She slid deeper into his warm arms and together they enjoyed their evening under the stars.
The magnificent stone facade cracked and crumbled.
Man’s constructs were no match for nature’s wrath.
Winds and waters erode the mightiest stone,
While seeds infiltrate cement slabs and grow.
The forests take over where homes once stood;
The tides wash away structures along the shore.
Still we build, we must to survive. But, at what cost?
Will nature continue to overpower us,
Or can we find a way to work with nature,
Save each other for our mutual benefit?
Dawn Renee Writes 