Rings In The Sand

By Karla Manahan Mahallati

Two years after the death of her husband, Cyrus, Kendal is contacted by his attorney informing her that upon the two year mark of his death, she was to inherit a house on the beach. She had previously declined his fortune, but due to her daughter Reece's insistence, she accepts the house. The beautiful hundred-year-old home not only comes with a

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karla Mahallati
• Release date: Jul 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9798885909303

Book preview

Chapter One

Kendal’s eyes followed the necklace that was falling slowly through the air, as the speed of time seemed to dramatically slow, almost to a standstill. Her adrenaline was pumping, giving her the ability to process defined details in one time frame. The silver chain whipped back and forth in slow motion and shimmered against the backdrop of the blue sky. Three small silver interlocking rings dangled from the chain. Her eyes never left the necklace as it hit the ground, stirring up a storm of gold and brown leaves mixed with grass and sand. In one blink of her eyes, and the necklace was gone, buried underneath the whirlwind of debris and sand. Kendal turned her focus now toward Cyrus as she reached for his hand, their fingertips barely touching. Thinking if she could only grab hold of him, she would prevent him from going over the cliff to his death in his attempt to save Halina, the woman whom Cyrus had had a brief affair with.

In learning that Halina was an active Russian spy, and in the process of searching out, and gaining the trust of unsuspecting victims such as Cyrus to use as a cover, brought some solace to Kendal’s thoughts of Cyrus.

Mrs. Moretti! Mrs. Moretti! Do you understand what I am telling you? These words echoed as if they were coming from a deep, dark tunnel. Her vision went blank for a brief second as she shook away the memory of the look of fear in her late husband’s eyes. The fear of perhaps his last thought being of the inevitable, of what was about to happen to him, and what happens after death. Her vision slowly began to focus when she realized that she was not standing on the cliff watching Cyrus fall to his death but was in Cyrus’s attorney’s office sitting directly across from Mr. James, the attorney himself.

Kendal was meeting with Mr. James after receiving a request to discuss Cyrus’s will and some other documents requiring Kendal’s signature. Leaning across the desk, and placing his hand on top of Kendal’s hand, Mr. James asked Kendal again if she had understood the will. Speaking now in a more sympathetic tone, he said, Mrs. Moretti, maybe you should seek some type of grief counseling or something.

Yes, yes, I do understand she responded, her voice sounding a little shaky. But what I do not understand, is why I am here in the first place. I waived my right to the inheritance from Cyrus’s aunt, which in turn now, would all go to his daughter Jade.

You are correct Mrs. Moretti, but you are not here regarding the inheritance. I have been trying to tell you, Mr. James went on to say, I called you here regarding something else. You are here because of the house.

House? What house? Kendal said, her tone a little bit louder than she had intended.

Mr. James continued to explain. Cyrus had a house on the beach. He has actually owned it for years. Whenever he needed to get away, he would go there. No one knew about this house except me, and I was only aware of it because of legal reasons. The house belongs to you now Kendal.

I don’t know how this could be, Mr. James. Why would Cyrus keep this house a secret? Why would he not tell me about a house that he has had for years? In any case, I do not want it.

Walking toward the door Kendal turned to Mr. James before leaving, and said, Unless there is something else to discuss, we are done here.

Alone in her car now Kendal thought back to her vision of the necklace. What did a necklace have to do with anything, and why did this pop into her thoughts now? The details were so vivid. The chain was silver or white gold. She could see three small rings hanging from the chain. It had been a long day for Kendal. The meeting with Mr. James was difficult for her, as it forced her to go back to the past, which she had worked so hard to forget. She was looking forward to a hot bath, and a good night’s sleep.

Rolling over, Kendal hit the snooze button on her alarm. The house seemed so quiet now that Trenton was away at school. The Military Academy was his idea, thinking back on their conversation and remembering how excited he had been bringing the information to her that he had gotten off of the internet. Evidence that he had done quite a bit of research.

Look, Mom! he had said, they have sports, educational outings, and I can even learn a different language!"

Educational outings? Kendal asked. Really, Trenton?

Kendal had then laughed. She could see that Trenton was serious and wanted to do this. So, she had agreed to let him go. Kendal missed him, but they talked often, and the academy was open anytime for visits.

The waiting room was full with patients as it usually was on a Monday morning. Walking toward her desk up front, Kendal caught sight of a young man leaning with one elbow resting on the receptionist desk while checking in for his appointment. His face was thin and pale. He tossed his head to the left then to the right to get his dark, stringy hair out of his eyes, which Kendal had noticed were red and puffy. For some reason, Kendal felt that she needed to know more about this kid. Her compassion for others was working overtime today. Standing next to the receptionist now, Kendal picked up a stack of papers and started to thumb through them so as not to look too obvious, which really did not matter anyway, because checking on the front office staff, and making sure everything flows smoothly was part of her job. Listening to the conversation, Kendal’s eyes met with the young man’s eyes when she heard him say, almost as if he were speaking to her, I need to talk to someone.

Okay, I understand that, Samuel, the receptionist replied, but I really do need more information in order to determine what it is that you need to be seen for. They went back and forth with this for a few more minutes when Kendal decided to intervene.

I got it, Sue, Kendal said to the receptionist with a smile as to let her know that she did nothing wrong, and to release her from the situation and free her up to assist the line of other patients that had formed behind Samuel.

Hi Samuel, my name is Kendal, can you come around over to the right and meet me at that first door please? Samuel nodded and proceeded to follow her instructions. Kendal escorted him to a quiet room down the hall where she felt they could talk. Samuel sat quietly on the examination table while Kendal sat in a chair across from him. The white paper on the examination table made a crackling and rustling sound as it crinkled underneath him in his nervous attempt to get into a comfortable position on the table. Sensing his uneasiness, Kendal reassured him not to worry and that whatever they talked about would remain confidential.

So, Samuel, what’s going on with you today? she asked.

Are you a doctor? He questioned.

No, I am not, Kendal replied. I brought you in here because you seemed like you needed privacy to talk about why your here today. Then she asked again, So what is going on today, Samuel?

Hanging his head down, his hair fell, covering his face and eyes. Slowly fiddling with his fingers, he then said in a soft whisper, I don’t want to live anymore.

Shocked at his response, Kendal took a deep breath and waited for a second to gather her thoughts before speaking. She knew that she would have to choose her words wisely. She began by saying, Okay, I understand, Samuel, but the really good thing is, the expression in her voice now sounding cheerful and optimistic, that you came here today, and that you recognize that something is going on with you. She continued on to tell him that she can get him to the right people who will not judge him and who can help him feel better. Kendal knew that she was not specialized in this area, but she did have the basic training to recognize some of the symptoms, perhaps that is why she stepped in, in the first place. Unable to control his emotions any longer, Samuel started to cry as he explained to Kendal that he felt lost and angry, his sister had passed a few years back, and he feels sad all of the time, making it difficult to get out of bed in the mornings, which in turn jeopardized his job. He just feels like he has nothing left. In between his sobs, Samuel started to apologize for crying.

Wait, Samuel, Kendal said in a sweet, motherly voice as though she were speaking to one of her own children, it’s okay to cry; sometimes, that makes us feel better.

As she was talking to him, she pulled out a pen from her pocket, and started to pick up a notepad that was laying on the counter next to her, but stopped when Samuel suddenly jerked his body up as if reaching into her pocket had startled him.

Samuel she said, it’s okay, it’s just a pen. Then continued, Is it all right if I ask you a few questions, take some notes, and write a few things down? Kendal then reassured him this information and his history will be helpful to the doctor.

Okay, sure. He responded.

So, Samuel, Kendal then paused, you have thoughts of harming yourself? What about other thoughts, any thoughts of harming other people? She asked in a gentle tone.

Samuel had a strange look in his eye and then without hesitation said, Yes, but then quickly changed it to, I mean no! Not to harm others, just myself. I feel like I have lost control. I’m afraid of what I might do to myself he sobbed, tears now streaming down his face. He wiped his nose with the sleeve of his shirt, then reached out and took the tissue that Kendal had offered him.

Okay, Samuel, Kendal said, take a deep breath and just relax for a minute. I want you to know that you are not alone in this, there is help, and I am here to make sure that you get that help. I’m going to step out of the room and talk to the doctor, is that okay with you? I promise I won’t be gone long.

An up and down nod of his head was taken as a yes. Leaving the room, Kendal made sure of not going too far, so she was still close enough to keep an eye on Samuel.

After Samuel’s visit with the physician, it was determined that Samuel required further evaluation, and given the physicians orders, Kendal now stood outside the examination room awaiting the police and paramedics to arrive for Samuel. The cries of a baby coming from another exam room and the mumbling of low voices of conversation between a physician and a nurse standing nearby, along with some of the other staff walking about in a business-as-usual manner, all appeared to be a normal day for Kendal. Looking back at the door that she stood in front of, and thoughts of Samuel sitting on the other side at the young age of only twenty-seven.

His feelings of not wanting to be in this world any longer due to his heartache, sadness, and his turmoil of not having control of his actions stirred up Kendal’s own inner feelings … causing her to dig deep into her heart and soul to search and retrieve the feelings of grief, anger, deceit, sadness, and any other emotion that she had buried so deep so as to never surface again. She kept her heart numb to any of the emotions that caused pain. At that very moment, Kendal knew this was not just another normal day for her. Out of the corner of her eye, Kendal caught sight of movement down the hall, drawing her attention to a paramedic and a police officer walking toward her. Not too far behind them was another man who appeared to be with them, but he was not dressed in uniform. Sporting a gray suit that looked to be specifically tailored for his perfectly proportioned body and broad shoulders. Her look of surprise mixed with a smile was greeted back with a cheery Hello from Detective Scott.

Hey, Detective Scott! What are you doing here? This isn’t something you would normally be involved in, she said. Kendal hadn’t seen or talked to Detective Scott since the death of her husband, Cyrus.

Kendal please, call me Will, he responded. I’m just doing some shadowing with some of my guys that’s all. He then asked, So, what’s going on with this patient?

Kendal had always thought of Detective Scott as being older, but now looking into his eyes and listing to him talk, she realized that he was much younger than she had originally thought. Not because of his appearance, he was actually a very handsome man, probably in his late twenties, but perhaps due to his job, and what he sees and experiences on a day-to-day basis, Detective Scott presented himself as an older soul.

Kendal explained to him the issues with Samuel. After some discussion between the physician and Samuel, Samuel was escorted out to a waiting transport. Kendal was thankful that Samuel went willingly, and she hoped that he will get the treatment and help that he needed.

What a day, Kendal thought as she drove home. Her thoughts were interrupted by the chiming sounds of her cell phone. Seeing that Mr. James was the caller, she instantly declined the call to avoid possible conversation with Mr. James, at least for the moment. Why can’t he just leave me alone? she thought. I told him I didn’t want anything to do with whatever house that he was talking about. I just want to go on with my life and put anything that had to do with Cyrus behind me.

With her head tilted back, she gazed up into the blue sky. The sun was bright and caressed her face with its warmth. Sprinkling down from the sky in an hourglass fashion, white sand with a hint of sparkle fell upon her head, tickling when it touched the surface of Kendal’s face. She blinked as the sand slid down her face toward her eyes and mouth. Following after the sand was a silver chain with three rings. This too landed on the top of her head; it felt cold and smooth against her skin as it gently slid down, falling off of her chin and landing at her feet. She reached down to retrieve the necklace but it disappeared into the sand. On her knees now she frantically moved her hands about in the sand, trying to find the necklace. The sand was now rising higher and higher. Determined, she continued to dig in the sand, as though her life depended on it. Why? she thought. Why is this so important? With her hands buried deep in the sand she grasped hold of a solid object. Blinking to get the sand out of her eyes, she felt disappointment, as the object in her hand was not the necklace, but a cellphone in a three-dimensional form that illuminated chaotic lights and sounds. The three dimensions faded into one, while the sand changed to yellow and pink flowers on the white backdrop of the soft comforter on Kendal’s bed. As she awakened, she opened her eyes to the sound of her cellphone ringing. Another dream, she thought. At least this time, it wasn’t a nightmare.

Kendal has had her share of nightmares and bad dreams associated with occasional sleep paralyses. But this dream didn’t give her a particularly bad feeling; it felt more like a premonition or sixth sense. This necklace means something; she just didn’t know what.

She called back Reece, whose call she had missed. Reece answered in her usual soft-spoken voice, Hi, Mom.

What’s up, Reece? Kendal replied.

I know with my schedule at the hospital lately we haven’t been able to see much of each other, I was wondering if you wanted to have coffee with me today.

Kendal was so proud of Reece for making her decision to change the course of her profession early in her studies while she studied abroad. Kendal never knew why Reece made this decision, but her thought is that perhaps it was due to Reece watching her father, Jack, Kendal’s first husband, pass due to cancer. And now after finishing med school, Reece was doing her internship at a local hospital.

Brooklyn, Kendal’s eldest daughter, and her husband, John, relocated to Hawaii due to John’s job, so Kendal was thrilled to at least have Reece in town.

Sure, sweetie, I would love to. It’s the coffee shop across from the park, right? Kendal asked.

Yes, Mom that’s the one, replied Reece.

Okay sweetie, see you in about thirty minutes or so.

Chapter Two

Pulling into a parking spot at the Filling Station coffee shop, Reece laughed in amusement at the name. This coffee shop had become her go-to place to help recharge her energy level to handle her demanding schedule at the hospital. Reaching into the bottomless pit that was her purse and fumbling around in search of her wallet, Reece finally dumped her satchel-like purse upside-down onto the passenger seat. With everything from her purse now spread out in front of her, she rummaged past a few candy wrappers, her cell phone, and various cosmetic products, until she eventually found her wallet. As she stepped out of her car, her long black hair that reached down to the middle of her back was caught up in a gust of wind, bringing it up to be kissed by the rays of the sun, displaying the shine in the beautiful deep color. Her late father Jack used to describe it as black as the midnight sky when he would proudly talk about how at least one