The Locked Door

Part 13

Jaya was surprised but not displeased. She closed her eyes, and opened her mouth as a shiver passed through her.

For several minutes they kissed without touching other than with their mouths. When the need for air forced them apart Jaya sighed. “Wow.”

She saw the gleam of his teeth as he smiled “just what I was going to say.”

She laughed and then asked “so if you were going to do it anyway, why did you say it was a shame?”

“Because I knew even before I did it that once wasn’t going to be enough. That I would want to do it again” and his voice dropping lower he added “can we do it again?”

The Locked Door

Part 12

Now that the mystery had been solved she was aware of a feeling of excitement at having dinner with Walker. It seemed that she had known him for longer than an afternoon and remembered with pleasure the feeling of his large hand wrapped around hers.

Within twenty minutes Walker was back with the beer and right behind him was the pizza. It was still light as she closed the door on the pizza boy and carried the pizza into the living room. She had given away all the seats so they sat down with their backs against the wall and after opening a beer each they clinked bottles. “Cheers” Walker said.

“Thanks for helping me solve the mystery.”

“As I said that was the most enjoyable job I’ve had in months. I’ve never been called on to try and pick a lock before.”

“How long have you been a handyman here?” she said as she offered him a slice of pizza.

“About six months” he said. “I’m actually a steel manufacturer by trade but when mum got sick and I came back here to live, there wasn’t much call for that.” His smile was wry.

“Is your mum okay now?”

The Locked Door

Part 11

Jaya got to her feet and as she turned back to face him she realised she was holding him up “crap” she said “you must want to go. Sorry I guess I got carried away.”

He smiled “no problem.”

“What do I owe you?” she said.

“If you think I’m going to charge you for uncovering a decades old mystery, you’re crazy. This has been the best job I’ve had in months.”

Jaya laughed “I have to give you something.”

“I know it’s not exactly ethical and you can say no, but I’d settle for a beer and some pizza” he said with a warm smile.

Jaya blushed “oh” she said and looking at her watch she was surprised to see that it was after five o’clock. Where had the time gone?

The Locked Door

Part 10

Walker pushed the screw driver further in and levered it against the door jam. The door swung forward and he grabbed it and pulled so the lock parted. The door was free of the opening now and lifting it he set it against the wall to one side.

Jaya hadn’t moved. The space beyond the door was dark and for some reason she could not bring herself to go in there.

Walker turned back to look at her and he must have read her expression. Bending he pulled a torch out of his tool box and holding out his hand he said “I’ll come with you.”

Jaya lifted her eyes to look at him. She felt stupid but she could not move. To her relief he did not appear to be making fun of her. His expression was serious but kind. Jaya put her hand in his and after turning on the torch he turned towards the door. “Sorry” she said.

He turned back and smiled “forget about it, a room that’s been locked up for decades is a bit creepy.”

Jaya smiled. She did not believe that he was affected in any way but she appreciated him pretending he was. She also liked his large warm hand wrapped around hers.

“Right here we go” he said and led the way towards the doorway.

Jaya’s heart was beating fast as she followed the torch light around the room. 

The Locked Door

Part 9

 In the second bedroom again it took less than a second to see that there was only one window.”

“That answers that” she said and thinking for a minute she said “but why isn’t there a door into the hall instead of into this room?”

“Maybe originally it was one large room but at some stage it was divided up?” he said.

“Yes, that would explain it but it still doesn’t tell me why my grandparents blocked it off.”

“I guess you won’t know that until you get in there” and with a smile he added “and that’s my cue to get back to work.” He finished his coffee and smiled at her.

Returning his smile Jaya put out her hand to take his mug.

“Thanks” he said.

“No problem” Jaya said and took the mugs back to the kitchen before returning to the bedroom. 

It took Walker another ten frustrating minutes before he finally got the pin to move. Once started, it still took some time to inch the pin out, but eventually he got it, and he turned his head to grin at her.

“What do we do now?” Jaya said as excitement bubbled up within her.

The Locked Door

Part 8

Within a few minutes she walked back into the bedroom with two mugs. He dropped his tools and took the mug she held out.  “I got the top one out” he said. “The bottom one doesn’t want to be as co-operative.”

“Well we are one step closer anyway.”

“What are you thinking is in there?” he said.

“I have no idea” Jaya said. “I had a look and going by the surrounding room to me it looks like it might be a bigger space than just a cupboard.”

“Mind if I check it out?” he said.

The Locked Door

Part 7

“I’m not much of a lock pick but I can give it a go" Walker said. "Anything else I try is going to cause damage I’m afraid.”

“Then please let’s try picking the lock first” Jaya said.

“Okay let’s see if we can find some instruction then” he said and as Jaya watched he pulled out his phone and typed “how to pick an old door lock.”

She smiled and said “is there anything you can’t google?”

He looked up and grinned “if there is I haven’t found it.”

Jaya laughed and looked over his shoulder as he scanned the answers. She could smell his aftershave. Without warning he turned his head and met her gaze. A slow smile spread across his face.

The Locked Door

Part 6

The handyman Jaya had called did not think it would be a problem getting the door open but he could not come out until the following day. Jaya sighed and agreed. So much for going home she lamented.  

For the rest of the day Jaya cleaned up the mess that she had made looking for the keys, repacking all the boxes she had emptied. Once she was done she decided to make the most of the time she had with nothing to do and relax. With this in mind she ran a bath. After soaking until she was wrinkly she ordered a pizza for dinner and went to bed. 

The next day, just after lunch, there was a knock on her door at the time she had agreed with the handyman.

Excited to solve the mystery at last Jaya was already smiling when she answered the knock. However one look at the man on her doorstep and her smile faded away.

The Locked Door

Part 5

“Mum” Jaya said when her call was answered.

“Hello darling” Christa Hughes said. “How’s it going?”

“I’m just about finished but I’ve come across something weird.”

“Weird?” he mother said “what is it?”

“A door” Jaya said “it was behind that huge old wardrobe in the second bedroom. Do you know anything about it?”

“No, what sort of door? What does it lead to?”

“An ordinary door” Jaya said and I don’t know where it leads, it’s locked.”

Her mother was quiet for a minute.

“Mum” Jaya said wondering if she was still there.

The Locked Door

Part 4

Finally Jaya shut the front door on the men and with a determined stride she walked into the second bedroom. Standing in front of the door, she inspected it. It looked like an ordinary door but did it lead to a cupboard or a room? Jaya walked back into the hall and then into the main bedroom that shared one wall. She studied the three spaces and came to the conclusion that it could be a room. There appeared to be an area that was unaccounted for. Jaya walked back into the second bedroom and once again looked at the door. Why on earth would her grandparents have blocked off a whole room? It didn’t make sense. 

Jaya stepped towards the door. It was time to find out what this was all about. She put out her hand and grabbed the handle. Taking a deep breath she gripped it and turned and….nothing. The door was locked. “Damn” Jaya said out loud. She tried again, she shook it and tried to force it but it stayed locked.

The Locked Door

Part 3

The next morning, as planned Jaya called the charity she intended to donate to and they agreed to come and collect the items by mid afternoon. So she set to work on the last remaining room, the third bedroom. She was done before the truck arrived and sat done to drink a cup of coffee. It was the first time since she arrived that she had taken time out. She was pleased with what she had accomplished but she was exhausted and looking forward to going home. 

Just as she had finished her drink the charity truck arrived and for the next few hours she was busy helping load everything into the truck. It all went to plan until they started work on the second bedroom. In this room the old wooden beds, the wardrobe and a chest of drawers were to be removed. The chest of drawers was taken out first and then the huge old wardrobe. However when the latter was moved away it revealed something surprising and a little puzzling.

The Locked Door

Part 2

For the next couple of hours Jaya filled garbage bags with clothes and linen, some to go to charity, others to go in the bin. Next she tackled the kitchen, boxing up anything that was still useful and throwing out the rest. By one o’clock, satisfied with her efforts Jaya set out to walk to the local shops to get some lunch.

After buying a pasty and a cold drink Jaya found a seat in the small patch of green in the middle of town and ate her lunch in the sun. Half an hour later, she made her way back to her grandmother’s house and continued her task.  By six that evening she had cleared out her grandmother’s bedroom, the kitchen and started on the living room. The two piles of garbage bags and boxes had grown steadily and although her back ached, Jaya was pleased with her progress. While in town at the shops earlier she had bought some supplies for a simple dinner and after cooking it she ate it outside with a glass of wine enjoying the last of the daylight. 

As the light faded, the temperature dropped and Jaya moved back inside. She washed the dishes, closed most of the windows, made up a bed and after a warm shower got into it with a sigh. But although Jaya was tired she found she couldn’t sleep. The house was too quiet. She was used to living in the city with traffic and industry and here there was just not enough noise. So getting up, she retrieved her ipod and turning it on with the volume low she got back into bed and was asleep in minutes. 

The Locked Door

Part 1

Jaya Hughes unlocked the front door of her grandmother’s old house and was hit with a musty smell and a million memories. As kids, she and her sisters had visited their grandmother on their school holidays. She could still picture the diminutive old lady walking slowly ahead of her after she had let her in, leading the way to the kitchen which was where she spent most of her time. A twinge of pain squeezed Jaya’s heart as she walked down the dark empty hall way. It had been five months since her grandmother had passed away but still it hurt. Jaya’s mother felt it even more. She could not even tackle going through her mother’s belongings which was why Jaya was there. Someone had to do it so the house could be sold and with no partner or children, unlike her older sister’s, and time off work owed to her, Jaya was the obvious choice. She was happy to do it.  

Jaya blinked to stop tears forming in her dark blue eyes and she shivered. The house was cold and dark and it held a sad, depressing air. It was almost a creepy sensation. But at the age of thirty three, too old to spook easily and nothing if not practical, Jaya shrugged it off. She knew that once she got the curtains and windows opened letting the sunlight in and airing out the house it would feel very different. So after putting her bag down in the bedroom she always used when she stayed there, this is what she did. 

Within minutes Jaya had changed the feeling in the house completely. After opening as many windows as she could, flooding the rooms with light and fresh air, Jaya plugged in her ipod and speakers and music filled the house. Then tying up her long brown hair she wrapped her grandmother’s old apron around her curvaceous form. Now she could get to work.

Going Home

Part 138

Pulling up in front of the old house Josh looked around the farm. As he did he was pleased to find that there was no more sadness or intense emotion attached to being there that was waiting to overwhelm him. Now as he looked around there was only the quiet pleasure of being home. Turning around he watched as his mother and father came down the stairs towards him and wanting to pass on some of his good feeling in being back there without the pain, he bent to give his mother a quick hug and kiss her cheek. Feeling awkward and self-conscious he said “hi.”

Delighted at his greeting Margaret gave him a broad smile “hello Josh.” Then turning to Grace she hugged her, “hello Grace.”

“Hi Margaret” and giving Robert a kiss Grace added “hey Rob.”

“Hello there Gracie, glad to have you back” Josh’s father said.

Smiling at the similarities she could see between father and son all of a sudden Grace said “thanks Rob, I’ve been looking forward to being back. I loved my first visit.”

“Well I hope there will be many more” and studying her for a second he added “I think it suits you, you know.” Then turning to Josh Robert asked as he shook his hand “What do you think Josh?”

“Yeah, I’d say so.” Josh said. Then giving her a wicked grin he added “in fact the mental image I have of her here is very good indeed.”

Blushing because she knew exactly what Josh was thinking, Grace turned away and hurried to change the subject. “Glad to see the ute again Rob?”

Looking over at the vehicle he had lovingly restored, Robert nodded “yeah, she looks good.”

Going Home

Part 137

A couple of months later it was the morning of Christmas Eve and Grace and Josh were driving to the farm. Watching Josh as he drove Grace said “how do you feel about going back to the farm this time?”

Josh shrugged “better than last time.”

Grace smiled. She was glad that things had worked out so well for Josh and his parents. Josh certainly seemed happier and while the years of no family contact and past events had left their mark on him he seemed more peaceful, less intense since the renewed contact. Running her hand over the dash Grace said “I’ll bet Robert will be glad to see the ute again. He must really miss this car after looking after it for so many years.”

“Yeah, I guess so.” Josh said sounding thought.

Studying his serious expression Grace reached out and laid her hand on his thigh “he’ll be more pleased to see you back you know.”

Smiling Josh looked over at her, “is that right, well if you don’t move that hand he’ll have to wait longer than expected to see me back.”

Giving him a slow smile Grace moved her hand up his thigh and teased “move it like this do you mean?”

Frowning Josh growled a warning, “Grace!”

“Okay okay.” Grace conceded but before removing her hand she moved a little higher.

Groaning Josh glared at her and said “just for that we are going down to the shed tonight for an early Christmas present.”

Laughing at his frustration Grace shook her head “I don’t think so, we might interrupt Santa on his rounds.”

“Oh we’ll be going, Santa or no Santa” Josh said in a determined tone then grinning he continued “I’ve been good enough this year, it’s high time I was naughty.”

Giving up Grace just shook her head at him and smiled.

Driver

Part 25

“It is” Taki said “this, you, being here, not moving around anymore is what is right for me. You said I need to forgive myself and this is the next step in that process. I’m ready to start living a normal life again. I love you too, with everything in me but if things don’t work out with us, I’ll still be ready for that. You helped me get to that point but it’s not the only reason I’m there. Some of it is time. But also I’ve changed, and yes in the main because of your help but without you those changes will still be there even if you aren’t, okay?”

Idyn searched her eyes for a moment. “Okay” he said.

“So will I tell them I’ll take the job?”