Ashes Beneath Her by J.R. Erickson

Author:J.R. Erickson [Erickson, J.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ghosts, Gothic, Haunted
Publisher: J.R. Erickson
Published: 2019-05-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

Hazel

* * *

“My goodness,” Liz smiled as she walked into Hazel’s yard.

Tables crowded the yard, loaded with donated household items, clothes, tools, and even furniture.

“A lot of people donated.” Hazel beamed. “Everyone loves Orla.”

Liz smiled and picked up a glazed black and orange vase.

“That was my mother’s,” Hazel told her.

Liz frowned.

“You’re selling it?”

Hazel nodded.

“The attic is filled with her stuff. Next week will mark three years since she died. It’s time to let a few things go.”

Liz stepped to Hazel and wrapped her arms around her.

“I’m approaching three years without Susan. I haven’t parted with so much as a sock. You’re a stronger woman than me.”

Hazel hugged her back, resting her head on her shoulder.

“Weird, in a way,” she murmured. “You lost a daughter three years ago, and I lost a mom.”

Liz pulled back, studying Hazel’s face.

“Perhaps that’s why we’ve been brought together,” Liz said. She sighed and gazed at Hazel’s garden. “If only it could have been under happier circumstances.”

She reached into her pocket and withdrew a small pearl bracelet.

“This was Susie’s.” She handed the bracelet to Hazel. “Can I ask why you want something that belonged to her?”

Hazel took the piece of jewelry, the fake pearls shining in the sun, and thought of the girl standing on the dock.

“I read the tarot. I wanted to do a reading about Susie, and it helps to use a memento. I promise I’ll return it.”

Liz gazed sadly at the bracelet.

“It has no value. Susan didn’t wear much jewelry. Jerry bought it for her to wear with an Easter dress during grade school, and she took a liking to it. The last couple of years before she disappeared, she mostly wore it on her ankle.”

“I’m partial to ankle bracelets myself,” Hazel told her, tilting her leg so Liz could see the hemp anklet she wore beneath her long skirt.

Calvin pulled into the driveway and jumped from his car, followed by an explosion of yellow balloons. He held the ribbons clutched in his hand.

“Nearly lost the bunch of them in the parking lot,” he announced.

“They’re perfect,” Hazel called. “I’ll help you tie them.”

Liz and Hazel took balloons and moved among the tables, tying the balloons to the legs.

“Orla’s favorite color is yellow,” Hazel confided.

“Susan’s was green. Her graduation from high school was like a leprechaun’s birthday party.”

Hazel smiled.

She spotted Mr. Sullivan’s pickup moving down the road. He parked at the curb and moved to the back, lifting out a cardboard box.

“Hi, Patrick,” Liz said, offering to take the box.

He nodded at Liz, and then Hazel.

“Fiona and I really appreciate you putting all this together,” he said. “There’re clothes in that one. I’ve got tools and some other stuff.”

When he returned with a small wooden rocking horse, Liz shook her head.

“Oh, no, Patrick. Don’t give away Orla’s rocking horse.”

“It wasn’t Orla’s,” he said.

Hazel glanced at Liz, but neither of them asked the question.

He answered anyway.

“Fiona and I lost our infant son.”

“I’m sorry,” Susan murmured.

“Me too,” Hazel added.

She considered the three of them, such different people, experiencing such similar pain.

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