As Eleanor and Jackson were finishing the last course of their meal, which included dessert and hot drinks—Jackson asked for coffee while Eleanor sipped at her tea— Corrine appeared in the dining room.
“How were your meals?” Corrine asked politely.
“Delicious, as always.” Jackson said with a grin.
“I’m glad to hear it, is there anything else we can get you?” Corrine asked.
“I’m alright.” Jackson shrugged, lifting his mug of coffee to is mouth and taking a sip.
“How is Lilith doing? Is she any better?” Eleanor asked.
Corrine smiled warmly. “Miss Grey will be fine.” She assured. “She just needs to rest.”
Eleanor nodded.
“Do the two of you have plans for tonight?” Corrine asked.
Eleanor looked over at Jackson. She was fully expecting him to want to spend the evening in the games room or in the movie theater room.
“I was thinking we could maybe head back to our bunkie?” Jackson suggested, surprising Eleanor. “Maybe light a fire and hang out in front of the television? Just a quiet night in.” He glanced toward Eleanor for her opinion.
“That actually sounds good to me.” Eleanor nodded. She thought that maybe doing a bit of work on her article, maybe do a bit of writing about her experience so far at the manor.
Corrine smiled. “I’ll send a member of the housekeeping staff to your bunkie and have them start a fire and make sure there are plenty of logs in the event that you need to add more. That way the bunkie is warm for you when you get there. Is there anything else we can do for you?”
Jackson shrugged. “I think that’s good for now, thanks.”
Corrine nodded. “Feel free to call me if you need anything, and of course you can call the chefs or housekeeping staff directly if you need to. The chefs can bring you something if you feel hungry later. And of course there are bottles of wine in your bunkie if you like…” Corrine explained.
“Thank you. You’ve been very kind.” Eleanor said.
“Please call if you need anything.” Corrine repeated, quietly slipping from the room.
Eleanor finished her tea first, and waited patiently while Jackson finished his coffee. The waiter was just arriving to retrieve the remainder of their dishes as they got up to leave the dining room. They walked together out into the courtyard. As they walked across the lawn, Eleanor had a sudden urge to look up.
She turned and looked toward the house, her eyes traveling up the stone facade of the manor. Her eyes rested on the large balcony on the second floor. It was hard to tell in the darkness, but she thought she saw a flutter of movement. She thought she saw a cloud of smoke. And she thought she detected the faint aroma of cigarette smoke. But she couldn’t be sure.
“What is it?” Jackson asked, slowing his pace to match hers.
“Nothing,” Eleanor answered. “I just… I thought I heard something. A bird or an owl or something…” Eleanor mused.
She hated to lie to her husband, but for some strange reason she couldn’t tell him the truth. She couldn’t explain why she felt the need to look up at that exact moment.
Jackson moved his good arm around Eleanor and together they walked down the short path among the trees to their bunkie. Jackson rummaged through the pockets of his jeans for the key, but was unable to find it.
“I have it,” Eleanor answered. She reached into the pocket of her cardigan and produced the old fashioned metal key. She surrendered it to Jackson and he unlocked the door. The two of them stepped inside.
Jackson went straight into the bedroom. Eleanor walked into the living room of their cabin and stood in front of the fire. It was blissfully warm in front of the fire. She dug her laptop out of her carry-on bag and placed it in the over-sized arm chair.
Jackson emerged from the bedroom wearing an old football t-shirt and a pair of blue flannel pajama bottoms. He flopped down on the heavily cushioned sofa and turned on the television.
“Seriously, if Lilith could just let us live here in this bunkie forever, I think I’d be happy.” He mused.
Eleanor smiled. “I could get used to it. This has to be the most comfortable place I’ve ever stayed in. I’m not sure why they still call it a bunkie, it’s a wonderful cabin.”
Jackson began to quickly cycle through the channels.
Eleanor opened her laptop and turned it on. She stood and deposited the laptop in the seat of the chair. “You know, I think I will have some wine tonight. What about you?”
Jackson thought about it for a moment. “Yeah, sure.”
Eleanor walked into the small kitchenette and removed a bottle of red wine from the cooler under the counter. She pulled down two wine glasses and carefully set them on the counter top. She peeled back the foil on the neck of the bottle of wine, and was relieved to discover that the bottle had a twist-off cap. She wouldn’t have to dig for a cork screw.
She poured enough wine in each glass to fill them halfway. She carried both glasses into the living room, surrendering one to Jackson and placing the other on the end table next to her chair. She sat and lifted her laptop into her lap. She opened a new word document. She made herself comfortable in the chair. She lifted her glass of wine and took a small sip.
She positioned her fingers over the keyboard on her laptop and waited for her mind to focus. She desperately tried to think of something to write—anything. She thought she could even start by just jotting down a few of her observations in point form, but nothing immediately came to mind. She was drawing a complete and total blank.
Eleanor set aside her laptop again and this time went into the bedroom. She changed into a pair of pink cotton pajamas and tucked her hair into a sloppy bun. She walked back into the living room and sat down at her laptop again.
“Everything okay?” Jackson asked.
“Yeah, everything is fine. I’m just having some trouble getting started with writing this article.” Eleanor sighed unhappily.
“Oh, so you are going to write the article?” Jackson asked.
“I don’t know.” Eleanor sighed again. “I still haven’t made a decision yet. I just thought that if I do end up writing the article, I had better get at least a head start on it.”
Jackson frowned and turned his attention away from the television. “You don’t usually have this much trouble writing, do you?”
“No,” Eleanor said.
“Maybe it’s a sign that you shouldn’t write the article at all?” He suggested.
Eleanor sighed. The sound came out more irritated than anything else.
“Sorry, Ellie. I know it sucks, but maybe it’s true. Maybe your brain is trying to tell you something.” Jackson shrugged.
“I know. I just… I think I’m going to go outside for a minute and try to clear my head.” Eleanor said evenly.
“Alright.” Jackson turned his attention back to the television and was immediately engrossed in whatever it was that he’d been watching.
Eleanor set her laptop aside again, hoping that she might be able to go back to it and get some writing done at least. She picked up her glass of wine and carried it to the large door that led out to the balcony. She opened the door and stepped outside.
Almost as soon as the cold air touched her skin, she felt it take her breath away. The temperature had to have at least dropped ten degrees. She could see her breath coming out in a plume of white steam. It was very cold; but at the same time the icy air felt refreshing.
Eleanor placed her wine glass on the railing, and looked up at the stars. The moon loomed overhead, looking huge and daunting. It was the largest moon she could remember seeing since she was a kid. The stars twinkled. Everything really was more beautiful here. The trees swayed back and forth, and the lake below rippled as the wind picked up.
Eleanor could see the dock below swaying in the water and the large boat that was tied to it as it also swayed back and forth in the unruly water.
She sat down in one of the over sized Adirondack chairs and put her feet up on the railing. She took a sip of her glass of wine, finding that the liquid warmed her slightly.
She knew immediately that she could get used to living here in an instant. How could she not want to live in such a remarkable and beautiful place?
The door to the balcony opened and Jackson appeared. “Hey, Ellie, I was thinking I might call the chef and… holy shit, it’s freezing out here.”
Eleanor looked up at him. “It’s not freezing. It’s nice and refreshing.” She laughed softly.
“Are you drunk again?” He accused with a grin.
Eleanor rolled her eyes and subtly tried to hide her empty wine glass. “What were you saying?”
“I’m going to call the chef and see what he can bring me for a snack. I feel like nachos.” He grinned, rubbing his stomach with his good hand.
Eleanor sighed. “You’re going to be up all night with heart burn.”
Jackson shrugged. “I’m just interested in seeing the rich person’s take on nachos.”
Eleanor stood up from the chair, suddenly feeling the cold. “I’m going to have another glass of wine and take a hot bath.”
“Sounds good.” He said, stepping aside so she could step through the door and into the bunkie. He shut the door behind her.
“What are you watching?” Eleanor asked, glancing at the television.
“Hockey game.” Jackson answered, flopping down on the sofa.
“Really? Since when do you watch hockey?” Eleanor asked. She walked into the kitchenette and picked up the bottle of wine. She filled her glass.
“It’s not so bad.” He shrugged.
“Do you want more wine?” Eleanor asked.
“No, I’m good. I’m going to get the chef to bring me a beer…. Just to see if they do.” He grinned.
Eleanor laughed softly. “Okay, have fun messing with the chef. I’ll be in the tub.”