painting by Antos Frolka – Auf dem Weg zur Kirche (On the way to Church)

Henry dutifully took a bite of food closing his eyes as he savored it slowly.

Hanna sat down next to him, whipping her cloth napkin with a snap before laying it gently over her lap. They ate in silence but for the sound of utensils pinging on china. It was music to her ears. She paused for a moment to glance at Henry, smiling as she looked down at his empty plate, satisfied that he had eaten every last morsel. Unconsciously she sighed relieving days of tension that had mounted inside her.

“Excuse me. Did you say something Hannah?”

“No. It’s just been a long day.”

“A long day and night! …Hannah?”

The tone in Henry’s voice startled Hannah. She raised the napkin to her lips dabbing them  daintily before looking up. He was staring intensely at her when their eyes met. “Yes?” she whispered.

Henry reached across the table cupping her hand under his. “I want to thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping me tonight…for preparing this delicious dinner…for…”

“Of course. It is my job. I am happy to be of service.”

“You interrupted me, Hannah…”

“I’m sorry. I’m always saying the wrong….”

Henry placed his fingers gently over her lips, “Shhhh, please let me finish. Most of all I want to thank you for helping me, for letting me…oh I don’t know what’s gotten into me. Maybe it was the fire that jolted me, that made me feel something for the first time in years.” Henry closed his eyes breathing deeply to regain focus. “No. I’m not being honest. It wasn’t the fire Hannah. It was you.” Henry slid his fingers upward from her lips, caressing her cheek, then brushing the damp hair from her forehead.

“Oh…I can’t help feeling…I know we’ve never met before this week, but I feel as though I know you. It’s as if we’ve known each other for a very long time. Is that strange?”

“No Hannah, it’s not strange. I feel it too.” Henry reached for her hand again. “But it’s late. We’re both exhausted. We should get some sleep.” He lifted her hand brushing it tenderly with his lips. “We’ll talk more in the morning. Good night.”

“Goodnight…” Hannah watched him depart to his chambers. All she could think about was tomorrow. She cleared the table and set about cleaning the dishes.  As exhausted as she was, she pushed herself to finish the task. It gave her time to sort through the questions swirling in her head.”How do I know this man? Have we met?” As impossible as it was, Hannah could not make sense of what she was feeling; of what she knew in her heart. Finally, she headed back to her room, pealed off her ruined tea dress, and slipped between the sheets, settling her weary head into the soft embrace of her pillow.

Two restless souls stared at the ceiling from their beds that night; souls that cursed the night and longed for the dawn.

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Another installment of Seasoning. Inspired in part by the painting above by Antos Frolka retitled by Jane Dougherty for the prompt as “a satisfied couple”. I am afraid that my characters this week are anything but, each one stirred by strange memories of a distant past. Though if we’re to play devil’s advocate here, perhaps it is the memory of the satisfied couple that they once were in another lifetime that has them so befuddled! Read other installments of Seasoning HERE . 

“What Freedom!” a painting by Ilya Repin

Only seconds passed, but it seemed like an eternity. The thunder rumbled to a soft hum until only the ticking from a clock in the parlor filled the silence.

“Hannah…are you alright?”

“Yes sir. Startled is all. I’ll get some candles from the kitchen.”

“I’m afraid that’s going to have to wait Hannah. We have a problem.”

Hannah looked up. Henry’s face and the wall behind him glowed red; his eyes were wide with horror. Hannah spun around to see the trees in the front yard consumed by a raging fire.

“Oh dear God, what shall we do?”

“Hannah, I need you to call the Fire House, then meet me outside with every bed quilt you can carry.”

Hannah rushed to the phone, picked up the receiver and gave the handle a crank. “I’m not getting the operator!” she yelled to Henry as he headed toward the front door.

He paused in the doorway, turning to look at her, “Try once more Hannah. If you still can’t get anyone, just meet me out front with the blankets.”

“Alright.” Hannah gave the phone another crank. Nothing. She glanced outside and saw Henry beating back the flames with his overcoat. Hannah rushed down the hallway grabbing two quilts, and was headed for a third when she heard Henry scream her name.

“Hannah! Hurry!”

She tossed the quilts on her shoulders and ran to the front yard. “I’m here Henry. What should I do?”

“Take a quilt and beat any fire you see on the ground until it’s out Hannah! That’s our only hope if we are going to keep it from overtaking the house!”

By now the Gordons, had joined the effort. Mr. Gordon had buckets for water and Margery brought a broom to beat the flames into submission. In all, three old trees were engulfed. The tops of the trees were out of reach so everyone focused on the sparks and flaming branches that fell to the ground. It was dangerous and frightening. Their eyes and noses burned from the smoke. Occasionally a spark would land on their clothing leaving a singed hole as it dissolved to ash. After thirty minutes the fire brigade pulled up to the curb.

“We heard from the neighbors that lightening hit your trees Henry. We’re here to help.” In no time they pumped enough water to the tops of the trees to douse the flames.

While the fire crew packed their gear, Henry and Hannah stood with the Gordons in front of the house. Hannah didn’t even care that she was sopping wet and smudged with soot, though it was not how she had envisioned meeting the neighbors for the first time.

“Thank God you were here.” Henry gushed, “I don’t know what we would have done without your help.” He noticed Margery Gordon smiling at Hannah. “Forgive me, I don’t believe you have met Hannah. She is my new housekeeper.”

“Oh, I’ve heard all about you my dear,” Margery clucked, “Helen had nothing but wonderful things to say about you and your family. We must do tea some afternoon so you can tell me all about the Waverly Estate. Such a grand place it is. I’ve admired it since I was girl.”

“I look forward to that Mrs. Gordon.”

“Margery, you call me Margery, Hannah. I just know you and I are going to be fast friends.”

“Now, now Margery, let’s be getting home. I’m sure these folks are tired out from all this excitement. I know I am,” interrupted Margery’s husband, Joseph. He knew once she started talking, it would be impossible to get her to leave.

“Yes dear, of course you’re right,” she said, “we’ll have plenty of time to catch up, won’t we Hannah! Have a lovely evening, what is left of it, you two. Hannah, I will see you soon!”

The Gordons shuffled toward their house leaving Henry and Hannah alone in the front yard.

“Well, now you’ve met the neighbors,” Henry smiled, brushing a leaf from Hannah’s hair. His eyes met hers and his face softened.

Hannah couldn’t look away. What was she feeling? Who was this Henry? Hannah was swept up in a whirlwind of emotions when Henry stepped closer leaning toward her ear.

“So…Miss…Hannah is it?” he grinned, “Tell me, where were we when lightning struck.”

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This is the twelfth installment in a continuing series that is inspired by Jane Dougherty’s Weekly Microfiction Challenge prompts. I was inspired by this week’s painting, an exhilarating piece by Ilya Repin, more from the emotions that it evokes rather than a literal illustration for the story. If you would like to read the previous chapters, click HERE and scroll down to the story called Seasoning.