Glass House 3

***

Click

Pip froze. After a moment, he straightened up and turned toward the sound. He sat for a couple seconds wondering. Old places make noises - most of them anyway. 

But…not this old place. 

A bird maybe? It would be odd but not impossible. Nothing seemed different today. Even the air was the same - thick with the smells of musty earth and dust. He had almost dismissed it and gone back to his stash when he heard it again. 

Click

Click Click

This time it was followed by definite jostling. Dirt cascaded to the ground around him. He flinched. Not a bird. When it stopped, Pip cautiously, soundlessly, lifted himself through the hole in the floorboards and looked toward the noise. There was a muffled bang and he ducked back down so that only his head was peeking out. He waited and watched. Long undisturbed dust floated up into the air. It twinkled as it danced in the dim moonlight peeking in around boarded windows. 

Abruptly the noises stopped and quiet descended again, but it was unsettling now. 

Pip scratched his head. “Can’t be good,” he thought. “They’ll want to know.” But he stayed unmoving in the shadows for a minute more, just to be sure. 

Then, decidedly, he leaned back into the hole, tucked in his last few things and crept away. He hopped over dead fallen leaves and twigs, jumped the larger cracks in the broken tile floor and headed out the back. He paused just outside the spot where he’d squeezed in and looked back the way he came.  As always, he left no sign that he’d been there.  Satisfied, he popped a bit of mushroom into his mouth and ran back through the garden. 

Chapter 3

It only took a few minutes before Robert and Hazel were parking at the curb outside the Glass and Lion. Hazel grabbed all she could carry under her umbrella and went to stand inside the door of the inn. It was dark and cozy. No one was at the front desk, but she could hear people talking around the corner. It smelled like fresh baked pie crust and bacon. Robert dropped an armload of luggage next to her and went back out for the suitcases in the trunk.

Hazel tried to ignore the growls from her stomach as she fumbled with the Velcro closure on her umbrella. Water dripped all over the wood floor.  She studied the stained-glass window by the entrance. It was mostly shades of amber with just enough texture to make it hard to see through. She could barely make out the shape of her dad as he shut the car door. The window was dominated by the image of a lion standing on all fours, facing out toward the street. It looked like something that would be on a banner or a coat of arms. The bells over the door chimed as Robert came back inside. He shook his head flinging water onto Hazel. 

“Dad! Stop.”

“What? I’m just trying to dry off! Can you believe that smell? I’m so hungry!”

“Did you see the window?” Hazel asked.

“Yeah. Pretty cool.”

“Do you think it’s Walsh glass? I mean from your great great whatever he was? Like Mrs. Murray said?”

Robert took his jacket off and leaned closer to inspect the glass. “I dunno. That’s a good question. Maybe Miss Rachel knows or maybe there's a maker’s mark on it somewhere...” He trailed one finger along the edge of the frame.

“I wonder why it’s called the Glass and Lion?” Hazel said. 

Before Robert could answer, a woman came around the corner. She was young, thin, and wiry with frizzy brown hair and a well-worn apron tied around her waist. 

“Goodness me! You’re both soaked through!” She said,  “Sorry I didn’t hear ya come in earlier. Can’t hear that bell at all from the kitchen. Come on, come on, hang your jackets here.” She indicated a row of hooks along the wall. “The radiator will have them dry by morning. Umbrellas too…” She took Hazel’s jacket and hung it up. Then, after attempting to tuck an unruly strand of hair behind one ear, she wiped her hand on her apron and held it out to Hazel and then Robert. “Rachel MacDonald,” she said. “You must be the Walshes. Would you like a dry jumper?” She pointed to a line of clearly handmade sweaters on the hooks further down. “We have lots. Mum knits. Keeps her busy these days.” 

Hazel shook her head, “I’m fine, thanks.” She noticed that the brown cardigan Rachel wore looked to be of the same variety.

Robert was even more soaked than Hazel. He was also less willing to let any local experience go untried. He eagerly traded his Boston University sweater for a cream cable knit. 

“How do I look?” He asked, holding his arms out. 

Hazel smiled, “It actually works.” 

Rachel laughed and bent to pick up a few of the bags. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s get these to your room and then you can come get something to eat. Been keeping things hot for you. Pub’s through there when you’re ready.” She tilted her head back the direction she’d come from and then headed up a narrow set of stairs next to the front desk.

Rachel looked back over her shoulder as they made their way to the second floor. “Did I hear you asking about the window, Hazel?”

“Oh, I was just wondering if the glass came from the old factory. And about the name of the inn.” Hazel heaved her duffle bag up higher on her shoulder.

“I don’t know about the glass. It’s as old as the building I guess. But Glass and Lion? There’s hundreds of old pubs around the country called something and lion, or pony, or crown. It’s just what we do here.” She reached the top of the stairs and turned down a hallway. “Most of these places are old enough that when they were built, people didn’t read much. They could tell by the signs where they were though, just by the pictures, or what kinda sign it was. “Iron Pony” or whatever. If a traveler needed a warm bed or a good pint in Glenaig, they were told to look for the place with the amber glass and lion. Further north, you’d want the Wooden Rose. Make sense?” She turned around and Hazel nodded. 

“It does look very old.” Hazel had been in hotels plenty of times, but she’d never been in a place like the Glass and Lion. The whole building seemed to sag under the weight of its own walls. Everything was worn and ancient looking. All the carpets had been worn so thoroughly there was almost no color left in them except at the edges. 

At the end of the hall, Rachel took out an actual key (not a magnetic card) and opened the door to a small room. There was a bit of shuffling as she held the door for Hazel and Robert to squeeze in past her. 

“Perfect,” Robert said, plopping his bags on the nearest bed. “I love it.”

Rachel smiled. “Gave you the red room because it’s got a good view of the whole town. There’s extra blankets in the cupboard.” She crossed the room and plopped a duffle bag and suitcase on an old chair. “You can see the steeple of the church down that way,” she said, pushing the curtain aside. She pointed out the window, and then frowned. “Well, you can see it better when it's not stormin’ so much. Across that way is our library. Bea Murray made me promise to point that out to ya. Said there’s some old photos of the house and factory or somethin’.”

Robert crossed the room and squinted out into the night. “That sounds interesting,” he said. 

“All the town records and such are kept there. Mr. Bailey, our librarian, has been building a file for you with everything he’s got pertaining to the house. I’m sure you’ll hear all about it soon enough, but you can tell Bea I pointed it out or I’ll never hear the end of it.” 

“I can imagine,” Robert laughed. 

“Yeah, welcome to Glenaig. Your business won't be your own for the rest of yer life. We’re a small town with nothin’ much to do except be nosy.” She pulled the curtain closed again and walked back across the room. “Better prepare yourself to be the center of attention for a while. Especially with Bea Murray involved. The whole town knows you’re comin’.” She offered Hazel a sympathetic smile before turning to the door.  

“I’ll leave you to it. Be careful with the outlets if you need to plug something in. Probably best to just do one thing at a time. It’s an old building and sometimes the electric is a bit dicey even with them converter things.” She pointed out the door. “Washroom’s across the hall. Come down when you’re ready.” 

“We wouldn’t miss it,” Robert said.  “I heard there might be pie?”

“Course there’s pie! Good lord, that woman!” Rachel shook her head as she closed the door. “Don’t think I can run my own inn…”

Hazel heard her muttering down the hallway. She plopped down on her bed and gave her dad a meaningful look.

“I know, I know.” He said, slinging his suitcase up onto a stand. “Could be fun though.” 

Hazel hugged Maru. 

“It's a cultural experience,” Robert went on. “Small town… everyone knows everyone. We’re the subject of all the gossip and…” here he went into a falsetto voice and a terrible attempt at a Scottish accent, “the highlight of Mrs. Murray’s summer.” He tilted his head and grinned at her. 

Hazel threw Maru at his face.

“Well,” he sighed. He bent to pick up Maru and looked down at him. “Looks like it’s just me and you.”

“Oh my gosh. Give him back,” Hazel said. “Can I call Mom now? Tell her how crazy this place is…” 

Robert pulled out his phone. “I’m not getting a signal. You?”

Hazel looked at her phone. “Nothing.” She fell back on her bed. “You’ve got to be kidding me. There wasn’t any at the house either.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll find a way for you to text your friends,” he said as he tossed Maru back to her. 

Hazel hugged him to her face. “That’s not the problem,” she said, but her voice was muffled. 

“What?”

Hazel lowered Maru. “I said, I wish Ben was here.” She looked up at the ceiling. She felt like crying, but she didn’t even know why. 

“Hey, kiddo, you alright?” Robert looked concerned.

“I’m fine. Just tired, I think.”

There has to be reception somewhere,” Robert said. He came and held out a hand to her. “It’s not like they’re living in the dark ages.”

Hazel raised her eyebrows. “You sure about that? The window out front is so people who can’t read will know where they are.”

“Not anymore!” Robert laughed. “Also, they got a hold of me, didn’t they?” He took her hands and hauled her up. “Come on, we can ask Rachel how they did it. Maybe they have a rotary phone or a telegraph machine or morse code or something. Besides, I’m starving, and that smell is driving me crazy.”

Hazel smiled. “I am hungry. Just let me find some other shoes. Do you think it would be weird if I wore my slippers?”

“It doesn’t seem like the type of place with a dress code.”

“Good point.”

Downstairs, Rachel set plates of sausages and potatoes in front of them, except she called them “bangers and mash.” Robert asked about the cell service. “We should probably check in with Hazel’s mom. We haven’t talked since we landed.”  

“Mobile reception can be a bit tricky ‘round here,” Rachel said as she wiped her hands on her apron. “Most times you can get a signal at the library. There’s Wi-Fi there and at Parker’s Cafe at the top of the road. As for us, there’s nothing much from the bookstore to the church, and we’re sitting right between. You’re welcome to use the landline, though. It’s just behind the counter there,” She pointed. “I’ll write the number down so your wife can get a hold of you too.” She went back to the counter, scribbled on a piece of paper, and set it on a tray with glasses of water. When she came back, she handed it over and put the glasses in front of them. “Tell her to call anytime. I can take a note if you’re out, or she can leave a message on the machine and I’ll make sure you hear it. What’s your wife’s name?”

“Thanks,” Robert said. “She’s um… well she’s married to Hazel’s stepdad.” He pointed to his empty ring finger. 

Rachel put her tray down on the table and blew a curl out of her face. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed.” 

“No worries,” Robert smiled. “Her name is Nancy. Just thought if she called it might be awkward if you referred to me as her… Well, we will try to make sure we don’t use the phone too often anyway.”

“Anytime is fine, really,” Rachel said. 

“It might be nice to be off grid for a while… ” Robert said. “What’s a vacation if everyone can still get a hold of you?”

“True,” Rachel smiled. “I know it’s not the most convenient place, but Glenaig has its charms. Oy! Jimmy!” She slammed her hand on the table so hard and so suddenly, Hazel and her dad both jumped. Rachel turned to yell at a man across the dining room. “You can wait just a gal darn minute, Jimmy! Stop scrapin’ yer mug across the table like that!” She put a hand on her hip. Hazel and Robert both leaned back in their chairs to see poor Jimmy, who looked just as startled as them. 

Rachel went on, “I sit by your mum at Mass and don’t think I won’t tell her how many times I’ve filled that pint for ya tonight! I’ll come when I’m good an’ ready. And you’ll wait patiently while I do!”

Jimmy abruptly let go of his mug and flattened his hands on the table. But then his whole demeanor shifted and he smiled admiringly at Rachel. He shook his head. “Lord, you’re beautiful when you're angry.”

Rachel sighed deeply, “You’re infuriating and you know it, Jimmy Pine! I got proper guests here,” she gestured to Hazel and her dad. “Mind your manners or they’ll think we ain’t got none!”

She shook her head and turned back to them. “Sorry ‘bout that,” she said. “Just Jimmy. You’ll get used to him.” She rolled her eyes and sighed. “May as well know ‘em all now that we’ve got their attention or you’ll never get no peace.” Then, turning around she addressed the room. “Alright, introductions!” She began pointing, “That there is Rodger and Jonathan McGundy.” The two men at the bar turned around on their stools and smiled at Hazel and Robert. Rachel lowered her voice to a whisper. “Don’t be bothered if you don’t understand a word they say. Lord knows I can hardly make it out myself and I’ve known ‘em me whole life.” Then louder she said, “That’s Ted and Alma Turner.” An older couple smiled and waved at them from a table close by. 

“Over by the fireplace with Jimmy is Morwenna Parker and her boyfriend, Carter. And, that’s her brother, Jon. We all went to school together. Morwenna works at the library, and her brother, Jon, runs the cafe.” They smiled and waved.  

“That’s Mr. Bailey, Mr. Lewis, and Father Tyler.” Two older men with hats like Mr. Murray’s nodded at them, and a fat man with a jolly smile and a priest collar lifted a pint of beer in their direction. “Mr. Bailey is the librarian I told you about. Mr. Lewis owns the bookstore. They’ll be here most nights arguing with the Father about Lord knows what.” Rachel rolled her eyes. 

“An’ over here is Sophie and her friend, Phyllis.” The two small old ladies smiled at them.  “They’ve got houses ‘cross from each other but have to come here at least once a week to gossip and complain about their husbands,” Rachel continued. 

“Are they the ones who bought the haunted place?” Phyllis asked. Sophie nodded.

Hazel looked from the old ladies to her dad. “Haunted?”

Rachel sighed. “We don’t need to start all that, Phyllis. It's just a lot of superstition and old rumors.”

Phyllis looked like she was going to argue, but Rachel cut her off. She raised her voice again to the room, “Here’s Robert Walsh and his daughter, Hazel.”

Hazel’s dad half stood and waved around the room,“Hi!”

“Alright then,” Rachel said. “You’ve all been introduced, so for pity’s sake let them eat in peace. You’ll all have plenty of time to pester them later on.” Hazel noticed she gave Phyllis and Sophie an especially pointed look before she turned back to them. “Pie and tea are on the way. Let me know if you’ll be needing anything else. I’ll do my best to fend off the wolves.” 

“What about me Rachel?!” Jimmy said from across the room. “I’m Jimmy!”

“And they know that already on account of you bein’ so rude before! Don’t they?” Rachel barked back.  

“I’m here every night too!” Jimmy beamed. “I have the bakery next door. I make all the bread for the Lion. Not the pies, though. There’s no one for miles that can beat Miss Rachel when it comes to pie and a good measure of sass. An’ she’s pretty too.” He winked at Robert.

“Been wearing her down for years,” he pointed at Robert and narrowed his eyes. “Don’t think you’ve got a chance,” he said. “She’s comin’ ‘round to me charms.” 

Robert choked on his water at that and Hazel snorted. 

“Thanks, friend,” Robert said. “Not really looking. And, even if I was, I uh - I think I’m a little old for her.” He put both hands up, “She’s all yours.” 

“Good Lord!” Rachel swatted at him with her towel. “Don’t you go and encourage him! That’s the last thing he needs!” She scowled at Jimmy and then Robert and then Jimmy again. “Blessed Mother of Jesus…” she sighed in exasperation as she bustled away from the table.

Hazel giggled, “Seriously, dad, how do you keep getting into trouble? We’ve only been here a few hours!”

Robert shrugged. “It’s a gift,” he smiled. “This place is perfect though, isn’t it?”

“It's definitely not what I expected.”

“What did you expect?”

Hazel shrugged. “I don’t know… a pile of broken glass and a stuffy hotel.”

“That’s it? I’m surprised you were willing to come.”

“It’s still a summer in Europe, Dad. Besides, Ben’s working and Mom and Frank…” Hazel sighed, “I just wanted a break.” 

Robert reached over and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry kiddo. You know they’re just trying to give you some opportunity. They mean well.” 

“I know.”

"You've got the whole summer to think about what you want to do," Robert said, pointing at himself. "No pressure from this guy right here." He smiled at her.

“Thanks, Dad.” 

“We do have to find a piano though…”

“Dad.”

Robert put his arms up, “Just because I promised your mom. That’s it. It was one of the conditions for you coming. You don’t have to play for anyone, I promise. We’ll clear the town if we need. Or I’ll make everyone plug their ears.”

Hazel shook her head. 

They sank into their plates, surprised at how good it all was. Sometime later, Rachel went around the room taking dinner dishes and replacing them with plates of custard pie and mugs of hot tea.  

Jimmy watched intently as the Walshes took their first bites of pie.  Robert, noticing him, couldn’t help but fall back in his seat and announce with a loud dramatic sigh that he “might be in love after all.” Hazel kicked him under the table and the whole room was filled with laughter, except for Jimmy who eyed him suspiciously. 

When the plates were empty, the three old men in the corner lit pipes and settled back in their seats. Hazel found it incredible that they could smoke inside.  The smell was not unpleasant, though. Somehow, the sweet woody scent made the room even cozier.  As people began to trickle out for the night, everyone waved goodnight to everyone else, including them.  Jimmy jumped up to help Phyllis and Sophie out of their seats and into their raincoats. Then he began bussing tables for Rachel. Hazel watched to see if he’d be scolded for going behind the counter, but Rachel only gave him a look that seemed to communicate, “it was about time.” 

After they were full and exhausted, they headed to the bar to call home using the ancient-looking phone. Hazel wrapped the coils of the cord around her finger as she told her mom all about the drive to Glass House and how big it was, the Glass and Lion, and the spotty reception. She said hi to Frank and Ben. It was nice to talk to Ben but disappointing too. She wanted to tell him more, but not with a whole room listening.  Robert took a turn saying hi to Ben and talking to Hazel’s mom about the plan for the next few days. He gave her Rachel’s name and the number for the Glass and Lion. 

After a while Hazel was sagging against the bar and struggling to stay awake. She was fuller than she thought she’d ever been in her whole life.  Her eyes began watering with heaviness, so they said goodnight and waved to everyone still in the dining room before heading upstairs. 

They fought back yawns as they brushed teeth and climbed into their beds. Hazel took the one by the window. She didn’t want to be close to the door since it seemed like the type of place where a “wake up call” might be done in person and without prompting. 

“Night, kiddo.”

“Night, Dad.”

Robert propped himself up on one elbow. “I’m glad you came, Hazel. That house, this town… I can’t decide which is more interesting. I wouldn’t want to experience it all on my own.”

“Me too,” Hazel said. She hugged Maru. “The house is so big. What are we going to do with it?”

“Not sure yet,” Robert said, sinking back onto his pillow. “First thing is to get inside. We’ll have to see if it’s got any major issues…”

If he had any ideas after that, Hazel didn’t hear them. She was asleep.