The Painting

By Alice Heaver

Susan and her husband of 10 years buy an old house in a northern woods. A painting hanging above the fireplace seems to be haunted, which is frightening to her, as she is left alone in the home often.

Her husband, Sam, is working as a computer programmer for a man whom Susan has never met, and Sam refuses to tell her what exactly he is doing for this man.

Sam is being paid huge amounts of money for his work, but everything is top secret, which eventually gets him in trouble with the law, and his beautiful wife.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 13, 2004
• ISBN: 9780595755967

Alice Heaver

Alice Heaver Born and raised in New Castle, Pennsylvania and graduated from Union High School. I attended Nursing school in McKinney, Texas and graduated in 1982 from Collin Memorial Hospital School Of Nursing. I am married to a wonderful man, Andrew Heaver, and reside in Fort Myers, Florida for the past 19 years. I have written and published 26 novels since the year 2000. This book is my first non-fiction.

Book preview

All Rights Reserved © 2004 by Alice Heaver

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

iUniverse, Inc.

For information address:

iUniverse,

Inc. 2021 Pine Lake Road, Suite 100

Lincoln, NE 68512 www.iuniverse.com

ISBN: 0-595-30772-8

CONTENTS

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

1

The lightning was frightening, lighting up the sky, and all the eerie objects on the ground. Susan was huddled in a corner of the living room. She prayed that Sam would walk through the door.

He had been gone now for several hours.

Susan and Sam had just purchased this huge house, in the country, and this was their first night in their new home.

Oh please, Sam. Come home now. This storm is terribly frightening.

She stood up and walked to the large picture window, looking at the pouring rain, and watching the lightning flickering in the sky. She heard the loud crack of thunder, and ran back to her little corner of the room. She sat on the hearth of the old stone fireplace. She felt the dampness, and cold air as it came down the chimney.

Sam……where are you? Please come home.

As she sat, watching the flickering lightning, her eyes focused on an old painting, hanging on the wall, that was left from the previous owner. It was a painting of an old man, sitting in front of an old fireplace, with a blazing fire.

She couldn’t take her eyes from the old man’s face. The old man’s eyes seemed to be looking at her. That is so strange. He seems to be looking directly at me.

She stood up and walked to the window again, and glanced atthe painting. His eyes seemed to follow her. "No……this can’t be.

This is too weird."

She walked to the kitchen. She sat down at the old, wooden table, wishing she had something to drink. They hadn’t brought any groceries to the house, and she wanted a cup of hot coffee, or tea. She hadn’t planned on Sam not being here with her. Why did he have to meet with his boss tonight? He needs to be with me here, at our house.

She began thinking of her life with Sam. They had met while in college together. He was studying to become a computer programmer, she was studying psychology, but didn’t have any plans to pursue a career in that field.

They had married before she had completed her studies, after he had graduated from college and had his degree. He had landed a job with a very prestigious firm. He was very secretive about the type of work he was performing for the company, and wouldn’t discuss his work with her.

She stood up from the table, and began to pace the floor. Why is he taking this long? Of all nights, his boss picked this night for him to go to work.

As she walked past the painting on the wall, she glanced at the picture. The old man’s eyes were following her movements. This is ridiculous. He’s looking directly at me.

She walked up to the painting, and stared into his eyes. What are you watching me for?

She stood staring at the old man, as if waiting for him to answer her. Just then, the door flew open, and Sam walked into the room. What are you doing, Susan?

It’s about time you came home.

Susan……were you talking to that picture?

No……I…I was just looking at the painting. It’s fascinating.

She glanced at the painting, as she turned to walk into the

kitchen. The old man’s eyes seemed to blink. "Sam……do we have

to keep that painting?"

Yes…I like it. There is something about the old man that looks like my father, and I want it.

"Alright……but…tell me, what did you have to do tonight, that

was so important?"

Just then there was a very loud clap of thunder, and Susan sank down into her chair, at the table. Sam sat down with her. I’m sorry baby, but when the boss calls, I have to go.

What did he have you doing?

Just business, nothing for you to be concerned about.

Susan was irritated with him, and didn’t understand why he was being so secret about what he was doing. Are you seeing someone else?

Don’t be silly……of course not.

I was frightened tonight, Sam…here all alone, with nothing to drink or eat, and you didn’t even care.

"Honey……I would have been here, if Tony hadn’t called. But I

made a lot of money tonight, by going to work."

Oh yeah? How much did he pay you?

Sam stood up and walked to the sink, mumbling About a hundred thousand dollars.

Susan stood up and followed him. What did you say?

I made plenty, that’s all.

"Ok……then lets go to the store, and get something in this house

to eat."

In this storm?

Yes……why not?

"Honey……I’m tired. I just want to go to bed. I promise……I’ll

get something for us to eat in the morning."

You have to work in the morning, and I’ll be stuck here all day long with nothing to eat.

"No……I don’t have to work in the morning. I’ll have the day

off, because I worked tonight."

She reluctantly, followed him into the bedroom.

The following morning, Susan woke to find she was alone in the bed. She sat up on the edge of the bed yelling SAM? SAM where are you? She quickly dressed, and ran out of the bedroom, looking for her husband. As she entered the living room, she saw Sam trying to start a fire in the old fireplace. Why didn’t you answer me?

I didn’t hear you. What’s the matter?

I was worried when you weren’t in bed, and I thought you had left again.

I thought I’d start a fire, to warm up the house, then go into town and buy some groceries for us.

Can I go with you?

Not with a new fire started, Susan. You’ll have to watch so it doesn’t catch the house on fire.

She turned, and walked into the kitchen. (Yeah…anything to keep me from going with you. Watch the fire, Susan. It might burn the house down.) She sat at the table, thinking to herself.

Sam walked into the kitchen. It’s going pretty good now. I’ll just run into town, and get the groceries, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.

You could have waited until we both got home from the store, then started the fire. I just don’t understand why you started it first.

"I didn’t think you wanted to go shopping. I swear……I didn’t

do this on purpose."

"Ok……just go…I want something to eat, and I’d like to have

some coffee."

He gave her a quick kiss, and walked out

Reviews for The Painting

[Katrina Edlefsen · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Kind of 'meh' writing with a hard to follow plot. A very good idea though