Ridley House

By Willa Jemhart

For as long as she can remember, nineteen-year-old Kay has been unable to stay in one place for long. With no recollection of who she is or where she came from, plagued by nightmares she doesn’t remember upon waking, and the torturous feeling that her one true love was lost to her, she is unsure whether she is searching for or fleeing from something.

When she accepts a summer job at the Ridley House Inn, it feels like a nice change of pace. The country setting and old-fashioned feel are comfortable, homey, and even familiar. Shortly after her arrival, she finds a wall filled with Ridley family portraits, where one picture in particular grabs her attention - a late 1930s photograph of a young woman with a face identical to her own.

Between the warnings of a scary old man telling her she should not have returned, and the magnetic pull towards a familiar and handsome young man, Kay is determined to find some answers. Is Ridley House the place she has been searching for, is it the place she has been running from, or has all of the familiarity simply been contrived by her desperation to finally belong somewhere?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Willa Jemhart
• Release date: Feb 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301522026

Willa Jemhart

Willa lives in British Columbia, Canada. She enjoys a variety of activities, but her favorites are those that involve relaxing. Sitting in the backyard with a cold cooler in the summer, and cozying up with a blanket and a bowl of popcorn while watching a movie in the winter are at the top of her list. Of course she loves to read, and while she is not picky on the genre, she prefers books that contain romance in one form or other.To date, Willa has written the ebook YA novella series; The Garnet Trilogy, and a paranormal romance; Ridley House. Her latest ebook, the YA dystopian, Drowning in Deception has now been released and will soon be available at most online retailers.For more information, please visit her website: www.willajemhart.com

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Ridley House

By Willa Jemhart

Copyright 2013 Willa Jemhart

Smashwords Edition

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author`s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

CHAPTER ONE

It was time to move on again. Her left hand loosely gripped the steering wheel as Kay adjusted the rear-view mirror with her right. She angled it so she could see her eyes. They shone back at her, bright and ready. Her make-up was flawless. The shadow, liner and mascara all looked just as they had when she set out on her continuing highway trek that morning. No need for a touch up. A lady does not leave the house until she is looking her very best. She was never sure when or where this rule had been ingrained in her, but it was one she unwaveringly lived by.

Two and a half days earlier, Kay had left the noisy city of Davensburg behind, and was now finally nearing her eastern destination, the Ridley House Inn. The advertisement for the summer job had been printed in the classifieds of the Davensburg Herald six weeks earlier. She had forwarded her resume and by the time she received word that the job was hers, she knew it was time to move on again anyway. She didn't know where life would lead when the summer came to an end, but it didn't really matter. Moving on was what she did repeatedly. Over the years she had found herself slowly making her way east, with numerous diversions both to the north and south. She would take odd jobs, and rarely stayed in one place for more than a few months at a time. All of her worldly possessions were neatly packed behind her in the back of her 1970 VW campervan. It was her emergency house on wheels, because she didn’t always know from one day to the next when or where she might be heading. This was how her life was, how her life had always been, at least for as long as she could remember. She was running. Of this she was certain. But whether she was running away from something or toward something, she wasn't entirely sure.

Kay slowed at the sight of a large green highway sign. It read, 'Ridley House Inn - Left 500 Meters' and 'City of Shaunavon Lake 5 Miles'.

She had researched the City of Shaunavon Lake before accepting the job. It appeared to be a quiet place with a population of approximately 20,000. She had seen pictures of the sandy beaches and the large shimmering blue lake that gave the city its namesake, the main street with its old-fashioned looking buildings and quaint storefronts. It hadn’t taken long to decide that Shaunavon Lake and the Ridley House Inn would be a nice place to spend the summer.

From the highway she turned left onto the long driveway that would lead to the Inn, and pushed on the brake until the van came to a stop. In the bright sun of late June, the narrow paved road was completely shadowed by tall pines that flanked both sides of the lane. Up ahead she could see two tall stone pillars holding the big iron gates that stood wide open with arms outstretched to welcome all who entered. Imbedded in the dirt on the left of the road, a large sign with fancy old script told her she had reached her destination.

Kay smiled to herself as a buzz of delight washed through her. She had been somewhere like this before and that gave her some comfort. She had been to so many various places over the years that she couldn’t quite recall where or when the familiar sight before her was from. But her memory told her the wrought-iron gate with the little cross on the top was practically identical to the one she’d seen before. She felt certain that the driveway leading to it had been a dirt road instead of paved, and the trees hadn’t quite reached so high into the sky. Still, it wasn’t very often that she came across anything even vaguely familiar to her, and now that she had, it gave her a satisfied feeling. It was like seeing an old friend after a very long journey.

She pushed on the gas pedal and eased the van through the gate. The narrow road continued for a short distance before looping around a grassy area where a gazebo sat surrounded by bright flowers. She circled to the front of the grand house where she paused for a moment to take it all in. She had seen pictures of this place when researching Shaunavon Lake, but it looked even more wonderful in person.

Before her stood the old-fashioned style manor that reminded her of a southern plantation house. It was a three story structure, painted crisp white, with a wrap-around balcony on each level. She could see white wicker chairs and small tables placed sporadically on the balconies. What a wonderful place to sit and sip cold lemonade on a hot summer day, she mused.

The main entry, with its two large fancy doors, was accessible at the top of a wide wooden staircase where fragrant blooming bushes gently waved a welcome from the side of each of the two railings.

She could hardly believe that this magnificent house, or mansion in her view, had once been the home to a single family. Who could possibly need all that space? It was everything the pictures she had seen promised to be. But what the pictures hadn’t told her was how she would feel when she actually gazed upon the real thing. She couldn’t help but smile and mentally pat herself on the back for having applied for this job. This would be a refreshing change from the usual highway-side diners, convenience stores and retail outlets she usually found herself working at.

From the front of the manor she continued on to a parking lot off to the far left side. After one last make-up check in the mirror and a fresh application of soft pink lipstick, she stepped out of her van, which looked extremely out of place in this old-fashioned country setting. She smoothed down her floral print dress, tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, and walked slowly toward the Inn. She strolled along leisurely, taking in the aura of the place and enjoying the scent of lilacs and roses that wafted on the light breeze. She took to the wooden stairs one at a time, playfully running her fingers along the railing like a child. By the time she reached the top and took the few steps toward the double front doors, she had reaffirmed that it had been a very good decision to come here. Never before had she arrived at a new place and felt so bubbly and alive with anticipation.

Suddenly both doors swung open right in front of her, causing her to take an unplanned step backward. Kay quickly found her balance and looked up to see a tall old man hunched forward and frowning down at her. He was dressed in a blue golf shirt with the Inn’s name embroidered above the single chest pocket. His dark eyes squinted, making his sun-weathered skin bunch into leathery folds around them.

Excuse me, said Kay with a smile. She was used to working in public services industries and had trained herself to give anyone a bright smile, regardless of whether or not it was sincere. She waited, but he said nothing. His eyes were locked on hers and she felt one of her eyebrows twitch as she swallowed. Though the air surrounding her was hot, his intense glare caused an involuntary shiver up her spine.

At a complete loss for words and wanting to escape his uncomfortable gaze, she stepped to the side and carefully maneuvered around the old man to make her way into the Inn. The front desk was immediately in view and she quickly strode toward it, feeling the heat of the old man’s stare burning into her back. She could feel dampness forming in her armpits and on her forehead.

A door behind the desk suddenly swung open and Kay was relieved to see a plump, friendly-looking woman in a bright orange dress scurry through it. She smiled at Kay immediately, which helped cool the hot anger of her nerves, which she had suddenly been fighting to control.

From the corner of her eye the woman noticed the old man at the door. She furrowed a grey brow at him, Is there a problem Edgar?

Kay didn’t want to look at him, didn’t want see his uncomfortable glare again, so she stayed focussed on the woman behind the desk. She heard a deep voice answer, No ma’am.

Good. Please leave the doors open. We could use some fresh air in here. She hastily swiped a hand across her forehead.

Yes ma’am.

Kay dared a glance over her shoulder and was relieved to see the old man, Edgar, ambling down the outside steps.

The woman beamed at Kay with a welcoming grin. Can I help you?

Hi. I’m Kay Rover, she said and reached out her hand.

Kay could feel the roughness of callouses and dry skin as the woman shook her hand. Welcome Kay, she said. I’m pleased to meet you. The woman’s dark grey hair was pulled into a loose bun with hundreds of wispy threads hanging about. Her skin was soft and creamy with bits of red exhaustion dashed high on her cheekbones. Kay guessed that she was in her mid to late sixties. I’m Norma Jessup. I both own and run the Inn. She started flipping through some papers on the desk in front of her, when a loud clatter rang out from another room. Oh dear, Norma sighed as she scurried around the desk and down the hallway.

She seemed to suddenly remember Kay was standing there and slowed her pace as she turned. Please feel free to look around. When the other two new employees arrive we’ll have our orientation. Then she hurriedly paced away. Kay thought she seemed friendly enough, although a little flustered.

Kay pivoted on her heel and glanced around. It was a very charming place and though it had been renovated to accommodate its current use as an inn, she could easily envision how the house had looked in its prime. She imagined people gaily coming and going through the front door, afternoon teas in the parlor, and the laughter of family gatherings in the dining hall. The wide straight staircase was just to the side of the front desk. She could sense that generations of children had thumped up and down there, giggling as they hurried about their games. This place had once been a home. Family life both happy and sad had been shared within these walls. And even though it was no longer a home that contained a family, she relished in the thought that she would be spending her summer here. She couldn’t remember having had a family or a home. She assumed that she must have once, but those memories were simply gone. Well, at least for two months she could pretend this was where she belonged until moving on yet again.

Kay made her way to the long hall that Norma had disappeared down, the whole left side wall of which was cluttered with single portraits and family sittings. It was an interesting mix of oil paintings, old-fashioned sepia and black and white photographs, and bright colorful modern photos. As she slowly walked along examining the pictures, it became obvious that these must be the faces of many generations of the Ridley family. The very first framed photo that she stopped to study was that of Norma, the older woman she had just met. Although the picture showed a younger version, Kay easily recognized the plump face and welcoming eyes. She had introduced herself with the last name Jessup, but now Kay guessed that the current owner of the house was actually a descendant of the original owners. She moved along, gazing at clusters of families and single portraits going backward in time through the years.

When she had made her way almost half way down the hall, she stopped. There was a portrait of a young man who looked very familiar. She wasn’t sure what prompted her, but she uttered, Robert, under her breath as her fingers gently touched the glass. She felt a little startled by her own voice and her eyes lifted, scanning to the left and then the right, to see if anyone else had heard her. She was relieved to find the hallway empty.

She then ran her finger along the frame of the next picture. It was of another young man, and with a soft smile she whispered, Richard. There were no name plaques, so she was unsure where these names were coming from, or if she was even correct. It was just a feeling. She was eager to go on to the next one, wondering if she could guess all the names. Like the two previous pictures of the young men, this was a black and white photograph. But as she carefully ran an index finger over the frame, a gasp escaped from her throat. She froze, her fingers stopped in place on the ornate frame, her eyes unable to move from the face that stared back at her from behind the glass.

She knew those large dark eyes, that ever-so-subtle cocky grin, the dark hair that was actually a chestnut color, and when in the sun would glint with deep red undertones, and she knew the small line of a scar that sat just under the right side of the bottom lip. The clothing and hair style may have been from a much earlier decade, but there was no mistaking that the face gazing back at her from the picture on the wall was identical to her own.

Kay stared in a trance-like state, afraid to breathe. What could this mean?

Could this place hold the answers to all the questions she’d carried for more years than she cared to count? Was this the place she had been unknowingly searching for all this time? Or was it the place she had been running from?

She jolted slightly as hot breath steamed on the side of her neck, and she could suddenly smell the unmistakable odor of stained dentures. Kay didn’t have to turn around to know it was the old man, Edgar, standing behind her. He was leaning in so close she could feel the heat of his sun-warmed skin radiating into her back, and the tickle of his shaggy long hair brushing her neck. You should not have returned, he breathed into her ear. The words were firm and clear. She shuddered as her cheeks heated and her hands turned to ice.

As quickly as he had appeared, he moved away. She watched from the corner of her eye as he limped down the hall and out the back door.

When she could no longer see him, she clasped her cold hands together to warm them, and attempted to refocus her attention on the wall. It took a minute to calm her breathing. Part of her wanted to flee; to rush out of the door, jump in her van and never look back. Edgar’s words had left an eerie echo bouncing in her head that made her think she should heed his warning. He had only said five words, but the point was as keen as a freshly sharpened blade. She was not welcome here.

CHAPTER TWO

Edgar had scared her. It wasn’t something that she could easily admit, but it was true. Had he been making threats to any other person, she would have had no trouble