The Locked Door

Part 25

For the next few months Jaya and Walker moved backwards and forwards between the city and the small country town. It was not ideal as Jaya did not see nearly enough of Walker and Walker felt the same, but they made it work. 

Over that time Jaya met Walker’s sister whom she liked. They became good friends and Jaya became very attached to their mother. Therefore it was with a great deal of sadness that Jaya learnt of her death six months after she had first met Walker.

Jaya went back to the small town to be with Walker and stay for the funeral. When she pulled up at his mother’s house Jaya had only just opened the door when Walker appeared and walked towards her. His expression was sad and Jaya opened her arms. Walker stepped into her embrace and buried his face into her hair as his arms closed around her waist and held her tight.

The Locked Door

Part 24

Two days later it was the night before Jaya had to go home. She was once more staying at Walker’s mother’s house. Jaya didn’t mind it so much second time around and she made sure to go up and speak to the older woman for a few minutes when she arrived. Not wanting to tire her though, Jaya didn’t stay with her long. Afterwards while Walker spent some time with his mother Jaya made them some dinner. As usual the nurse that came in during the day had given the older woman dinner before she left for the day.

When Walker came back down Jaya had everything ready and they sat at the island bench to eat. Walker took a couple of bites but then stopped. Jaya looked over at him wondering if he didn’t like what she had prepared.

The Locked Door

Part 23

It was only twenty minutes later that Walker reappeared. Jaya looked up from her seat on the couch.

“She’s asleep” he said and holding out his hand to help her up he added “thanks for talking to her.”

“My pleasure” Jaya said “I like your mum.”

He smiled “she liked you too.”

Jaya was pleased and she hugged him.

After bending to give her a quick kiss he said “let’s eat.”

Jaya smiled and with his arm wrapped around her shoulders they walked into the kitchen. 

The Locked Door

Part 22

When Walker opened the door to her and saw her bag the smile he had greeted her with widened, “you’re staying?”

Jaya grinned and nodded “if your invitation still stands?”

“Definitely” he said and drew her into his arms and kissed her.

When he eased back a few minutes later he said “do you want to come and meet mum?”

“Sure” she said as nerves had her heart beating faster.

He smiled “give me that” he said taking her bag “I’ll be back in a second” and he walked off in the direction of his bedroom. In a few seconds he was back and clasping her hand he said “come on” and led her up the stairs. 

The Locked Door

Part 21

It was later that night that Jaya broached the subject of was going to happen when the week was over. “What are we going to do after this weekend? I have to go back to town.”

“I don’t know” Walker said in a flat tone.

“I mean we don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to. I was just wondering what you were thinking.”

He looked over and met her gaze. “I want to see you but I can’t leave here.”

Jaya nodded “no I know you can’t” she said.

“I don’t feel right asking you to come up here either” he said. “You have a life in the city.

Jaya chest tightened. “So what are you saying?”

The Locked Door

Part 20

When the heat of passion had passed Walker kissed her head and said “still weird?”

“If I think about it, yes.”

He grinned “then I’d better make sure you have no time to think” he teased as he rolled over to lie upon her. Leaning down he kissed her and for the next little while Jaya did indeed stop thinking.

“So are you staying?” Walker said a little later as he stroked her bare back.

“No” she said turning her head to smile at him to take the sting out of her refusal. “I don’t feel right about that at the moment.”

“Okay” he said “you’re call. Miller will be here tomorrow night so I’ll be able to stay with you.”

Jaya smiled “I’ll look forward to that” she said.

“Same here” he said leaning over to kiss her.

The Locked Door

Part 19

When Jaya was done preparing dinner Walker still had not come back down so she put it in the oven to keep it warm and after cleaning up she poured herself a glass of water and sat down on a stool pulled up to the island to wait. While she sipped her drink she pulled out her phone and went through her emails. She answered those she needed to and filed those she had to keep. That done and still no sign of Walker she brought up the news on the internet and caught up on recent events.

She was half way through her second article when Walker arrived. “Sorry” he said.

“No problem” she said with a smile “ready to eat?”

“I’m starved” he said “whatever you made, it smells incredible.”

“Don’t expect too much” she said as she got up and opened the oven to remove the plates. “I’m no chef.”

“It’s food, it’s hot, how bad can it be?”

“You obviously haven’t eaten in some of the places I have” she said with a laugh as she set the two plates down on the bench.

“It looks good anyway” he said with a smile “thanks for this.”

“You’re welcome” she said returning his smile and they began to eat.

The Locked Door

Part 18

The house when they pulled up was a beautiful old stone building and Jaya was in love from the moment she saw it.

“What a beautiful house” she said as she met Walker beside his car.

He smiled “thanks, I guess it is. I don’t tend to notice after all this time.”

She nodded. It was like anything you become familiar with, you stop paying attention.

 Walker reached out a clasped her hand “come in” he said.

On entering the old house Jaya was just as awe struck. It was very well cared for and furnished in a way that fitted the heritage of the building. It was lovely.

Walker led her into a living room and said “take a seat I’ll just go and tell mum I’m back. I won’t be a minute.”

“Don’t rush” Jaya said sitting on the couch. “Do what you need to. I’m fine.”

The Locked Door

Part 17

The next day while Walker worked, Jaya cleared out the hidden room. Her mother had said she wanted to see the baby clothes before they were given away. The rest of the items were to be donated. Jaya called the charity again and they picked up the furniture. So by that afternoon, once again Jaya was finished her task. As she waited for Walker to finish work she thought about what was going to happen when her week there was over. Walker had to stay to help look after his mother but her life was in the city. How on earth could they make any sort of relationship work when they were going to be so far apart? Then again maybe he wasn’t interested in anything beyond the next week. Either way Jaya knew she was better not becoming too emotionally involved. Maybe she should have thought about that before she slept with him, she acknowledged. Now she had a horrible feeling it was too late.

The Locked Door

Part 16

It was therefore late afternoon before Jaya got around to calling her mother.

“Hi mum” she said when the call was picked up.

“Jaya, sweetheart, did you find out what was behind the door?”

“I did” she said “would you believe it was a room.”

“Really? What was in it?”

“Did you ever hear about your parent’s losing a baby or a baby dying?”

Her mother was quiet of a moment. “I do remember hearing something about a baby who died. I can’t be sure it was your grandparent’s however.”

“I think it may have been” Jaya said “the room was a nursery. Everything was still there.”

“Oh how sad” her mother said.

“I know, you can feel it as soon as you walk in the room. Would you like to see it before I clear it out? I could send you a video?”

“Yes please” Christa said.

“Okay I’ll send it in a minute.”

“When are you coming home?”

“I think I’m going to spend some more time here. I don’t have to be back at work until next week.”

“Are you sure honey? Won’t you be lonely?”

Jaya had to fight not to laugh “I’ll be fine Mum” she said. “I’ll send the video in a minute and I’ll call you later in the week.”

“Alright, if you’re sure?”

“I am mum” she said “I’ll call you later.”

“Bye honey” Christa said and Jaya hung up the phone.

After filming the secret room Jaya walked into the kitchen where Walker was finishing a cup of coffee.

“All good?” he said.

“Yes your idea of the video was a good one. I’ll just send it to her now.” With her back leaning against the bench next to where he was sitting she sent the video of the nursery to her mother.

“So what now?” he said.

“Nothing for me” she said “my job here is done. I just have to list some things to sell when I get home. What about you?”

“I have to work tomorrow” he said.

“That’s okay. I’ll find a way to amuse myself until you finish.”

He smiled “what will you do?”

“No idea. I guess I could list the items for sale from here. I’ll also have to clear out the nursery.”

“Are you going to keep anything?”

“I won’t but my mum may want something. But that’s for tomorrow” she said with a smile “what are we going to do today?”

“I can think of something” he said before kissing her.

“Haven’t we done that already” she said when his mouth moved off hers.

“Is there a limit on how often we can do that?” he asked with a grin.

“No” she said “I was just asking.”

“Good” he said and he went back to kissing her. Then sliding off the bench he sat her there instead and positioned himself between her legs. After a while he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.

The Locked Door

Part 15

It was late morning when Jaya decided it was time to rouse herself. She and Walker had not slept much but she did not care and she did not feel any the worse for the lack of sleep. Her muscles ached pleasantly from the unaccustomed activity and with each twinge she remembered with delight how it had been caused. Leaving Walker asleep she jumped in the shower. However before she could get out she found that she had company as Walker stepped in behind her.

“Morning” he said.

“Morning” she said and turned to face him.

He grinned and bent to kiss her which ensured that the hot water had run out long before they emerged but neither of them had even noticed. 

The Locked Door

Part 14

When they were sated and satisfied sometime later Jaya said “that’s one thing I never imagined doing in my grandmother’s house.”

Walker laughed and kissed her temple “would she mind?”

“Are you kidding, she’d be horrified” Jaya said with a laugh.

He chuckled.

They still had not turned on a light and they had not moved from the living room floor.

“If it helps” he said “I didn’t plan this when I took on this job.”

“That doesn’t help at all” she said “it makes me feel like a frustrated house wife who seduced a tradesman.”

He laughed “I’m not a tradesman, not really and you didn’t seduce me. If you didn’t notice, I wanted this as much as you.”

“Phew” Jaya said with a grin. She was feigning relief but in truth she was aware the he wanted her too.

Walker chuckled again “and for the record I don’t normally sleep with my clients.”

“That’s good” she said “because I don’t normally sleep with people I employ.”

“So we’re all good then” he said kissing her throat.

“Almost” she said as her heart rate went through the roof.

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.