The Girls of Hadley Manor

Written by Christine Wichman c. December 18, 2013 – March 2014
Photos taken from Pinterest

Once again Hadley Manor had been left to the girls for winter. Dark and damp in most rooms, the girls kept to the east wing during the holidays and did their best to keep it cozy with all the fireplaces blazing, and candles burning in the main areas. Father warned them that if the heating bill went above one thousand pounds again, he’d have their heads. Father was quite frugal for an eccentric, billionaire Rock Star. Nothing but the best for Nigel McCormac, as long as he got it for a bargain.

“Mariah!? Mariah!?” An echo could be heard searching the long hall.

“In here,” was the reply.

Marrakesh was dressed in her evening frock for the Christmas party and wanted her sister’s opinion. Mariah was curled up on the library sofa, as usual, with a cup of Tetley’s and one of her three black cats.

“What do you think? I found it in the High street last week and made a few alterations with the sleeves…”

Marrakesh did a twirl for her sister.

Mariah looked up as if she couldn’t be bothered, and shrugged.

“It’s alright I guess. Who’s coming then?”

“Jaspar, Thomas, Gwen, Piper and Nikki, I think. They’re the only ones who’ve replied.”

“Only two boys? Boring.” Mariah went back to reading Wuthering Heights.

“Well I thought you fancied Jaspar. That is why I invited him in the first place.” Marrakesh had one hand on her hip, and her sunny mood was suddenly turning sour.

“Does he know about the treasure hunt?” Mariah asked pointedly.

“Yes, I told him it would be an evening of Fun and Games. I also warned him that we’d be preparing the meal ourselves, and that the staff have been dismissed for the week. He sounded up for the plan.”

“What about Eliza’s nephew? The boy visiting from California. I thought you told me he was staying on.” Mariah moved the purring cat from her lap and stood up to look out the window.

“Oh “California Dreams”, yeah he’s still here, working on Father’s old Rolls, he’s a car enthusiast. Eliza thought it would be a nice surprise for Father if we had him fix it up before he get’s back from the Island.”

“Is he staying out there in the old carriage house?” Mariah spotted him now from the window, bending over the Rolls engine, his red plaid shirt sleeves rolled up and his american jeans looking very well fitted. “What’s his real name anyhow, haven’t you asked yet?”

“I haven’t spoken one word to him since he arrived. Your lovely moniker is all we’ve got.” Marrakesh laughed over her sister’s shoulder spying what she had her eye on. A “Wow.” escaped her lips as she drank in the sight of the handsome stranger.

“Should we invite him to dinner?” Marrakesh played right into Mariah’s plan.

“Seems only fitting. Town’s hours away. I hate to see him all alone on Christmas.” Mariah headed for the door.

“I’ll ask him. I need to fetch the Christmas balls from the garden shed.” Mariah seemed quite motivated to weather the cold suddenly.

Marrakesh sensed her sister had a new crush, and with “California Dreams” joining the party, things could get very interesting.

*5 Hours Later*

The dinning room was a glow with candlelight as sounds of laughter peeled into the empty corridors.

“I can honestly say I’ve never had a Christmas meal like that in my life. What do you call this thing again?” California Dreams poked his fork into a soggy piece of mince pie.

“That’s Mariah’s special Meat Pie. We just call it disgusting,” giggled, Marrakesh. “She was in charge of the main course, but just wait ’til you see what I’ve whipped up for dessert.”

Marrakesh rose from the table, adjusting her unique “Antler” headpiece, and shot a triumphant glare toward her sister.

Jaspar placed a “there, there, it’s alright” hand on Mariah’s shoulder, causing her to flinch.

“I think you got the peas just right.” His smile was too large, for so little teeth.

“It’s better than I could do,” chimed Gwen. “Please pass the Champers, will you Thomas.”

Thomas got up from his seat to fill all the ladies glasses, like the gentleman he was bred to be.

“So you’re from California, umm uh…” Jaspar feigned forgetting the new guy’s name.

“Jake.” Mariah filled the sentence, to save any embarrassment.

“What’s it like out there Jake? Is it really all palm trees and beach babes?” Jaspar took a swig of his scotch.

“Yeah pretty much.” Jake teased. “It’s the paradise you all dream of, sunshine, twenty-four seven, waves ’round the clock.”

The sarcasm was obvious, driving a wedge further between the sudden rivals.

“Ta Da” Marrakesh made a flourishing entrance with a three tiered silver tray of desserts.

“Marzipan, Madelines, and Meringue! My “M” theme dessert masterpiece!”

Nikki and Piper clapped their hands and cheered.

“Looks lovely,” cooed Thomas.

Jake had a quizzical look on his face, but decided to be polite and try one of everything.

The desserts did seem to be a bigger hit than the main course, as everyone was making their own sounds of ecstasy as they ate.

“So who’s ready for games?” Mariah got up from her seat and took a box out of a drawer in the sideboard. She set it on the table and opened it up to reveal a neatly folded stack of black satin blindfolds.

“What sort of games do you have in mind here?” Jake looked intrigued.

“It’s not what you think,” stated Jaspar, “It’s much, much worse.”

“I’ll explain,” interrupted Marrakesh. ” We’ve come up with a treasure hunt Jake. In the house are hidden thirteen clues. All rooms are open for exploration. Wardrobes, attics and loos are off limits.

The clues, you’ll find in envelopes like these.” She held up a large gold envelope. “Read it, and then return it to it’s place for the next finder. Each clue leads you to an object, which you must photograph. The clues will finally lead you back to the main drawing room. The team who reaches the final room, with all thirteen photos first, wins.”

“Teams?” Jake was still curious…

“Since Mariah, Jaspar, Nikki and I all know the house very well, we shall lead a partner blindfolded to the starting room. Once we are in the starting room, you must blindfold us, and bring us along as you search.”

“There will be four teams,” continued Mariah. “We’ve drawn up your names and placed them in this bowl. Jaspar you choose first.” Mariah held the bowl out to Jaspar, who reached in complaining, “Oh God don’t let me get Thomas.”

Thomas made a face at him, and then Jaspar announced, “I’ve got Gwen.” Sending a wink in her direction.

Mariah made her way over to Nikki, “Go on my lovely pick a partner.”

Nikki reached in closing her eyes, then unwrapping her tiny piece of paper, “It’s Thomas. I knew it.” Secretly Nikki was thrilled. Thomas, not so much, he was hoping for a pairing with Marrakesh.

“And last but not least, my darling sister,” Mariah, teasingly bobbed the bowl up and down out of Marrakesh’s reach to make her work for it. Praying she would choose Piper, and leave “California Dreams” for herself.

Marrakesh slowly unrolled the paper, and as soon as her eyes lit up, Mariah knew she had won the real prize.

“Jake, looks like you will be in my hands this evening.” Marrakesh’s champagne was suddenly kicking in.

“Hooray, It’s you and me Mariah,” smiled Piper. “We shall definitely win.”

Mariah had the same thought, the sooner it was over the better. She immediately passed the blindfold box around the table and began the race to the starting room.

Marrakesh and Jake were taking a little longer than the others to get started. Marrakesh kept dropping the blindfold and giggling.

“Do you want me to do it myself?” Jake offered politely.

“No, no I got it.” She was definitely feeling those five glasses of champagne.

With the rest of them running, tripping and laughing their way through the house. Jake was a bit nervous being blindly led by this drunk, cute girl, he’d barely just met.

On top of everything else, the house was completely dark, with the exception of candles and firelight.

“Don’t you get scared in this big place all alone?” he asked, as Marrakesh pushed him along clumsily.

“Nah, the ghosts are mostly friendly, and we keep to the east wing. Well, except for tonight. Tonight we are going to the spooky side of the house. Bwah hah hah hah…” Marrakesh teased.

“Great, I can tell this is going to be a lot of fun.” Jake suddenly shuddered as he felt a rush of cold air.

“Hey, did someone miss last month’s heating bill?”

Marrakesh did not answer, she just kept shuffling him along. The hallway was getting colder and colder and the sounds of the others were fading off.

“Are we going the right way?” Jake was having some trust issues.

“Shhh. I told you, you are in my hands now, just let me lead, please.” Marrakesh sounded serious.

“Oh wait, I forgot to spin you around…”

“Is that really necessary?” Jake was already a little dizzy from the alcohol, himself.

“I have to play by the rules,” slurred Marrakesh.

Marrakesh led on in silence. Jake took in the experience of the changing room temperatures, and then noticed it was getting warmer.

“Exactly where are you taking me, young lady?” Jake was a year older than Marrakesh and a year younger than Mariah. But he felt they were both more mature and worldly than he was, considering the manner in which they had been brought up. Having a Rock star father and model mother meant a jet set life, and exposure to things he could only imagine.

“I’m taking you through my time warp tunnel machine,” giggled Marrakesh. “It’s my own invention from the future.”

Now Jake knew she was separating him from the group. Which worried him, and thrilled him at the same time. Her hair brushed against his neck as she leaned into him, guiding him up what felt like a wooden staircase.

“Marrakesh, c’mon tell me where you are taking me.” Jake’s voice softened, he knew she was drunk, and being silly, he was sure she meant him no harm.

“Almost there. Patience please.” She hissed, into his ear. Her hot breath smelling of sweets and alcohol.

They were definitely upstairs on the heated side of the house. The hallway was carpeted and silent. Suddenly Marrakesh went into a giggle fit.

“What’s so funny?” Jake was ready to just peel off his blindfold.

Marrakesh grabbed his hand. “No don’t, please don’t. I promise this will be worth the wait.”

He could hear a door handle turn and the squeak of an old door creaking open. Expecting that he was crossing the threshold into this girl’s bedroom, he began to anticipate something his mind should not be entertaining.

“Are you ready now?” Squealed Marrakesh. “Take off your blindfold.”

Jake blinked his eyes to take in the surroundings. It was not a girly bedroom at all, nor a boudoir, or guest suite. It was an enormous torture chamber that looked like it dated back to medieval times.

“Is this some sort of hobby room of your Dads’?”

Marrakesh laughed. “Are you joking? My Father would never foot the bill for such a fetish.”

“To be honest. I never know what I’m going to find beyond that door. It’s always something different each time. I told you this is my time warp tunnel machine.” She smiled proudly.

Jake laughed. Still thinking she was having him on.

Marrakesh began to look a bit unsure of herself.

“I think I hear someone coming, we have to get out of here now Jake.”

Jake looked relieved, hoping it would be the others at last.

“This way Jake,” Marrakesh was making a run toward the door they came through.

Jake started toward the others.

Marrakesh bolted through the door, and it closed on it’s own behind her, disappearing completely.

“Jake!” “Jake!” Marrakesh’s heart sunk. She was standing alone in the hallway, no door in sight.

“Oh dear,” she lamented, “Mariah is going to kill me.”

It had been a month since Jake went missing and Mariah was still not speaking to Marrakesh.

When Eliza returned from her holiday, the girls feigned having any knowledge of her nephew’s whereabouts. Eliza immediately involved the police and dedicated herself to the search for her sister’s only son.

The house seemed even colder in January, and the lights, when on, would flicker. None of the light bulbs seemed to last more than a week. There was a strange energy in the house, stranger than usual, something sad and ominous. The grey wet weather didn’t help. Hadley Manor had certainly become a place of gloom.

Marrakesh stepped softly into Mariah’s sanctuary, the blue library, and moved slowly to the window pulling back the curtain and gazing out, she attempted once again to make conversation.

“Have you ever seen the rain coming down this hard? It’s just pissing out there.”

Her words were met with silence.

“Mariah. You need to talk to me. I can’t take this silent treatment another day. I need your help.

Please you are my sister Mariah. Forgive me, already. I had no idea something like that could happen. It was an accident. You know it was.”

Marrakesh was desparate. She hated the tension between them and she hated herself for being so foolish that night.

“I do forgive you, but this is quite a mess Marrakesh. People like us have to be careful you know. We can’t just show off and let others know what goes on in this house. This is a lesson for you, for both of us.”

Mariah knew she could not hold a grudge against her sister any longer, that they had to put their heads together and come up with a solution.

“I’ve called Rosemary and Thyme.” Mariah continued, “They are coming up from London tomorrow to hold a seance. They think it’s worth a shot at locating Jake.”

Marrakesh nodded. “I suppose it’s a start. Those two are very powerful, with all of us together I think we may have a chance at bringing him back.”

“It’s worth a try. I have no idea what else we can do. The door has a will of it’s own, and we’ve always known instinctively when to enter and when to exit. Let’s just hope the poor bloke survives it.”

Mariah looked worried again. Marrakesh was riddled with guilt. Neither of them slept well, in anticipation of the arrival of their cousins Rosemary and Thyme.

The next morning both of the girls came down for coffee and for the first time since Christmas, sat at the same table and engaged in cheerful banter.

“I think we should decorate the house for the seance, make it more inviting.” Marrakesh was always in planning mode.

“I do agree, let’s brighten things up. More white candles and maybe some flowers from the greenhouse. Rosemary and Thyme have not been up in years, I would hate to spoil their image of Hadley Manor. We had such happy times here as children.” Mariah began to reminisce over the good times.

“Remember when we played hide and seek in the stables and found Reverend Chapman snogging Mrs. Cooper?” Mariah snorted her coffee through her nose.

“OH GOD, ewww, that was awful.” Marrakesh scrunched her nose. “Oh or the time Rosemary got lost in the woods until evening and came home with a baby fox.”

“I will never know why Father wouldn’t let us keep him. Do you think he really tracked down it’s family and returned it home safely like he told us?” Mariah was having a grown up revelation.

Marrakesh shrugged. “Well I’ve told Charlotte to do up the Grey Bedroom for the girls, and Eliza says she will make us a veg lasanga for tea. What time do they arrive again?”

“The train comes in at half four. They are taking a taxi, so should arrive near five I think.” Mariah glanced at her watch. “That gives us seven hours to make the house pretty and find the old ouija board.”

“I really do hate that thing, Mariah, isn’t there another way to make contact? I thought Rosemary had been studying with Madame Zelda in London. Shouldn’t she know of some other way?”

“Well we will just keep it on hand as a back up. Rosemary is up on all the latest, so yes I’m sure we can try some alternatives.” Mariah got up and dumped the dregs from the coffee press into the sink, then washed her hands and announced,

“Oh no it’s snowing now. Look!”

“Best get to the Greenhouse before it hails then,” instructed Marrakesh.

Mariah grabbed her leather coat and scarf from the hook in the mudroom and set out for the Greenhouse.

Marrakesh walked slowly up the stairs and returned to the last place in the wall where she saw the door.

Staring at it for a few moments she concentrated her focus and thought aloud. “Please Jake, answer us tonight. Please come back for Eliza. She misses you. We need you here with us again.”

She then put her ear to the wall and listened. Nothing. She then smoothed her hand along the wall and lightly knocked.

“Hello? Hello?”

Still nothing, but a long eerie silence.

****

Marrakesh and Mariah stood by the downstairs window and eyed the piles of snow that had gathered while they were readying the house for guests.

“Holy crumbs Mariah, you know the taxi won’t come up an unplowed drive. We’ll have to get out Father’s snowplower thingy and clear a path if this keeps up.”

Marrakesh remembered Father bringing the new fangled gadget back from the states a few trips ago.

“I think it’s called a snow Blower Marrakesh,” laughed Mariah. “And I have absolutely no idea where that thing is, nor do I have any idea how to use it. Do you?”

Marrakesh shrugged, “No clue.”

“Well we have an hour until they arrive, hopefully the snow will lighten up by then.”

Mariah wasn’t really bothered about the weather, she was more concerned with how the house looked.

“Did Charlotte make up two guest rooms or just one?”

“I asked her to make up the Grey bedroom for both of them. Don’t you remember they use to get frightened sleeping on their own up there?” Marrakesh was the one with the good memory.

“Well it’s been a few years, I think we should offer them each their own room and let them decide.” countered Mariah.

“Alright, fine. I will get the Peach bedroom ready as well.” Marrakesh trudged up the stairs, a dust cloth still in her hand.

THYME, MARIAH, & ROSE

Mariah and Marrakesh decided to take their Father’s prize Mini Cooper for the slippery drive down to the gatehouse, to collect their cousins. The car stalled twice due to cold, and then nearly careened into an embankment toward the bottom of the road. Still, the girls were not going to allow Rosemary and Thyme to arrive without a warm welcome.

“Any signs of them?”

Marrakesh took her sleeve and self defrosted the inside of the windscreen.

“It’s nearly six o’clock.” Mariah glanced at the dashboard clock, “They must be running late.”

“We can just wait here in the car, the heater is kicking in now, we’ll be fine,” stated Marrakesh.

It was a good fifteen minutes before the taxi pulled up and expelled two giggling girls.

Marrakesh jumped out to greet them, arms open, squealing “Yaaaayyy! You’re here!!!”

Rosemary paid the taxi and gathered the bags while Thyme met Marrakesh’s embrace.

“Look at you, all curves and bumps! You look like a real woman now Kesha!”

Thyme had not seen her younger cousin in three years and Marrakesh was barely fifteen the last time they visited. She had grown quite a bit.

Mariah put on the emergency brake and hopped out to help Rosemary with the bags.

“Rose you look stunning!” commented Mariah, “Have you lost weight?”

“I have indeed. You know the woman I’m studying with up in Camden?”

“Madame Zelda?”

“Yes, well she has me on an Aryuvedic Diet and it is working wonders! I absolutely love the way I feel!”

“You will have to fill us in on that secret, among many others Rose. We can’t wait to hear what else you are learning with Madame Zelda!”

Mariah was so excited to see the cousins, who shared more in common, than just their last name. The McCormac blood was definitely thicker than water. Uncle James was also a musician. He and Nigel began in the same band, but then ended up forming their own groups, and going on to huge individual success.

Mariah pulled her phone from her coat pocket and called over to Marrakesh.

“Take a photo of us Marrakesh! I can’t believe we are all finally back together!”

Marrakesh directed the girls to stand in front of the gatehouse and smile. After five attempts and everyone’s approval of the shot, they piled into the mini and slid up the snowy slope of a road, squeeing like they were on a rollercoaster ride.

Thyme gasped as the looming, yet majestic Manor House came into view. “I always forget how big this place is!”

Rosemary rolled down her window to get a better look. “Wow, I’ve always loved the gothic splendor of this house, I cannot wait to tour every last room!”

“Always the adventurer Rose,” laughed Mariah. “I’m happy to give you a full tour, but it may take the entire week.”

“And don’t forget we have business to do as well,” reminded Marrakesh.

“Oh yes of course Kesha. We have not forgotten about poor old Mike..” stated Thyme.

“It’s Jake,” corrected Rosemary.

“Oh sorry…Jake. Poor old Jake.”

Mariah pulled the car right up to the front entrance and each of the girls carried a bag into the grand foyer. Charlotte, approached and immediately offered to take up the luggage, a young girl herself, she was always quite pleasant and eager to please.

“Thank you Charlotte. The black bags go to the Peach room and the other two can be dropped in the Grey room,” Mariah instructed.

Rosemary took off her hat and handed it to Charlotte. “Oh, and this as well. Thank you Charlotte.”

Thyme then took note of the glorious white roses dramatically climbing the banister of the grand staircase.

“Those are lovely. Are they real?” she reached out to touch them, confirming their authenticity. “They smell amazing, of course they’re real. You two have been busy.”

“So happy you like them, Thyme. We had fun decorating today,” smiled Marrakesh.

“We were expecting you earlier. Eliza has made a delicious meal. Are you two starving, or would you prefer to settle in first?” inquired Mariah.

“We ate quite a bit on the train actually, but could do with a cup of tea and a chat. We are dying to know more about the mysterious door situation.”

Rosemary shot a pointed glance toward Marrakesh.

Marrakesh looked a bit like the cat that swallowed the canary. Rosemary felt this was a good time to impart a bit of her new found wisdom.

“Madame Zelda often reminds us that

where there is mystery, it is generally suspected there must also be evil.

However,

general assumptions are often wrong. Not all mystery is evil. Instead, it is just science not yet explained.”

“Hmmm, I like that,” pondered Marrakesh. “I hope tonight begins the process of an explanation and a grasp of my time warp tunnel machine.”

Thyme began to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Rosemary said solemnly.

“Sorry, I just had a flash of opening the door and coming upon aliens seated in the library having a sherry and a civilized game of chess.”

“Well you are not far off Thyme, all of the things I’ve seen beyond that door, prove that

truth is always strange, much stranger than fiction.”

The girls settled into the Red Library on the main floor of the house to have a chat. Mariah asked Charlotte to bring in a pot of Earl Grey and the currant tarts, Eliza made that morning.

“We can put the lasagna off for tomorrow Charlotte, let Eliza know the girls ate on the way up.”

“Yes Miss.” Charlotte nodded and set off on her mission. When she was out of hearing range, Rose began to interrogate Marrakesh.

“So Kesha tell us again what happened that night after you lost Jake.” Rose wanted to get everything straight in her mind before they held the Seance.

“Well I came downstairs and looked for the others, in a panic, I lied when they asked where Jake was. I told everyone he had become ill from the drink, and gone off to bed. After everyone else had gone to sleep. I told Mariah the truth.” Marrakesh could not look Rose or the others in the eye when she retold the shameful story.

“How long did the others stay? Did anyone ask more questions?” Thyme was curious.

“Well Nikki was the last to go after lunch, the next day,” Mariah chimed in. “We were all exhausted from staying up so late, most had a long lie in and then were off in intervals. No one asked a thing about Jake, I suppose they assumed he was nursing a hangover in the carriage house.”

“Eliza returned the following week, with the rest of the staff,” continued Marrakesh. “When she discovered Jake was not on the estate and that his mobile phone was still in the carriage house she asked if we had seen him. We did not mention that he had come to the house for dinner. As far as she knows, we never met him.”

“Haven’t the detectives searched the house since then?” Rose asked.

“They’ve been through twice, scouring the property and all of the out buildings. Right now they are following a lead up in Scotland. It seems Jake had a friend from California who was studying abroad for a year in Glasgow. They assumed he went up to meet her, and never arrived. The girl informed them that she had tentative plans with Jake for New Year’s Eve, but nothing was definite, so we’ve been buying time while they look into it. However poor Eliza is not going to rest until he’s found so we have to do something, and quick.”

Rose looked deep in thought. “Show me again where you last saw the door Kesha.”

The girls all followed Marrakesh down the long hall and up the back staircase to the second landing.

Marrakesh looked around for Eliza or Charlotte before she pointed and whispered.

“Just there.”

Rose whispered back.

“Alright ladies after tea, we shall split up and then meet at Midnight in the old Seance Room. Is it still set up Mariah?”

“Well I assume so, We have not been in there since your last visit. So unless Father or one of the maids found a way in through the secret portrait, I think all should be in tact. I did fetch the Ouija board down from the attic though. Shall I bring it?”

“No need Mariah, I have something new from Madame Zelda that we can try. It’s a Virtual Reality Scrying Mirror, something like an i pad that reveals paranormal activity. There are only ten in existence and I’ve never used it before. If it fails, she’s leant me one of her crystal balls for back up.”

Rose then reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out three tiny plastic packets, containing a violet hued powder.

“Now I’ve made up these special cleansing salts, we should all take a purification bath before the Seance, it will help clear the channels of communication. Pour the packet into warm bath water, it should shift from a violet hue to indigo then blue, and when the colors fade away that is when you should enter the bath. Soak a good half hour and concentrate on Jake. After you’ve dried off, wear anything black, or dark. Oh and Mariah have you any sea salt? We will need it to create a circle of protection.”

Thyme clapped her hands together and let out an excited squeal, “Oooh this is going to be so much fun.”

Rosemary squelched her giddiness with a look that spoke volumes.

“We need to be calm, cool and collected tonight girls, so let’s not loose ourselves completely.” Rose was definitely determined to succeed.

“I have pink Sea Salt, will that work?” asked, Mariah.

“That is perfect,” smiled Rose.

“Kesha, Is the Peach Bedroom the one with the lovely en suite that has a claw foot tub?” inquired Thyme.

“It is indeed and on a night like tonight, you may have a lovely view of the Full Moon.” Marrakesh shared Thyme’s enthusiasm for baths. In fact they had often admitted that long hot baths were their guilty pleasure.

“Well things seem to be in good order, let’s go down then, and have that tea. It is freezing up here. Brrr.” Mariah scooped up one of her wandering black cats and coaxed everyone back to the Red Library.

The Full Moon cast an eerie light across the upstairs sitting room. The girl’s Grandmother, Georgine Hadley McCormac once occupied these rooms. Hadley Manor was her family home, dating back to the late Seventeenth century. Georgine was raised here, as were her two boys Nigel and James. Nigel being the eldest inherited everything once she died. The girls loved their Grandmother and had not changed a thing in any of her rooms since she passed. Most especially the secret Seance room, which was hidden behind a large portrait of their Great Great Grandmother Lady Anne Beckwythe Hadley.

When the girls were small their Grandmother revealed the room to them on a lark and told them not to speak of it to anyone, not even their father.

“My boys know nothing of this. This is a place for the ladies of the house to dwell. I will teach you girls how to appreciate the mysteries of this place when you are a bit older.” Georgine then closed the Portrait up and was never able to make good on her promise, as she died soon after.

The Girls remembered their Grandmother as a practicing Spiritualist with a house full of black cats. In most of her remaining photos she appears in her prime, a film star blonde with style and grace.

“Being in this room again, I can almost feel her here with us.” Mariah held the framed photo in her hand and gazed upon it.

“She was so beautiful.” Smiled Marrakesh, glancing over Mariah’s shoulder.

“I loved how she always smelled of Shalimar and fresh linen.”

Rose cleared away the priceless antiques and keepsakes displayed along the credenza, which sat just beneath the enormous portrait of Lady Anne Beckwythe Hadley. The ornate frame was 18 carat gold leaf and much lighter than it appeared. Mariah twisted the third candlestick in the sconce, hanging to the left of the portrait. When she heard the click, that meant the hinges were unlocked, allowing the portrait to swing open. Thyme pushed a cushioned French side chair up to the credenza to use as a step stool.

“Okay girls are we ready to go in?” Thyme took hold of the portrait and gently pulled it back, half way.

She then led the others, as they gingerly climbed through the portrait one at a time, to the other side.

What they came upon inside the small room was quite extraordinary. Everything appeared fresh and new, as if untouched by time. The ceiling was painted lapis blue with gold stars depicting the constellations, the floor a rich parquet, and the walls adorned in venetian mirrored glass panels, each with a protruding lit candlestick. The glow alone provided a magical circle of light around the velvet clothed table and five surrounding high back chairs. Crystals, candles, and flowers centered amidst a spread of tarot cards and incense holders. Rose added the scrying pad and Madame Zelda’s Crystal ball to the mix.

“Ahh, this is perfect.” Rose smiled, looking out the window at the cloud swept Full Moon.

The girls took their seats and settled in. Marrakesh got up and went to the fireplace.

“We just need a bit of a fire to warm us.” Marrakesh grabbed a log beside the hearth and began to set it in place. Before she could set the match to the kindling, a huge explosion roared from the fireplace, flashing a blue-green flame.

“Aaaah” The girls screamed with fright.

“What was that? We just need a little heat Kesha, not a bonfire.” Teased Thyme.

“I didn’t do it.” Marrakesh was shaking. “I swear, I haven’t even struck the match yet.”

The girls looked at each other, with wide eyes.

“Keep calm girls.” Reassured Rose. “We know they are here, that is a good sign.”

“Well depends on who really…we haven’t called on anyone yet.” Mariah seemed worried.

“Well let’s turn that thing on and ask who is in the room then?” Insisted Thyme nodding toward the Srcying Pad.

Rose lifted up the pad and asked “Who is present with us this evening? Please come forth and show yourself in this mirror.”

There was a long silence. The scrying pad remained black. The girls were patient. Marrakesh sat down quietly and waited with the rest.

Thyme reached over to take hold of the Scrying pad from Rose, “Here let me have a go. I will demand an answer.”

Rose resisted the interruption. “Thyme, please, Let it be. There will come an answer. Let it be.”

Thyme gave in and let Rose continue with her own words of coaxing.

“Dear Spirit, do we know you?” She then looked to Mariah and whispered, “Oh no we forgot to make the circle of salt, we have jumped right in without a proper protection ritual.”

Mariah reached into her small belt pouch for the pink sea salt, and quickly walked around the table sprinkling the contents to form a seal around them.

Just then the Scrying pad started to hum. It was a low static tone, like the whispers of many people.

Rose looked startled now. “Oh no, this isn’t good.”

She set the Scrying pad on the table for all the girls to see the hazy gray tones forming in the mirror.

“There are too many of them. We’ve let in too many, and not requested anyone specific.”

“Oh bugger.” Thyme’s face went pale.

“What’s going on now?” Marrakesh asked aloud.

Suddenly the Scrying pad was emitting voices, with a high pitched resonate echo.

Words were hard to make out. The first word was “Wormhole” then “Butterfly” and the last was

“Stitch in Time.“

“Quick who brought some paper? We need to write this down.” Insisted Rose.

A softer voice then broke through the din, and stood out above the rest. “Girls? Girls? Go to the Crystal Ball, It’s me, Grandmama.”

The girls took their eyes from the scrying pad and looked to the large crystal ball, a white smoke swirled inside revealing the lovely image of their Grandmother’s face. She spoke again.

“I have waited for this day, my loves. I have so much to tell you.”

Marrakesh began to tear up.

“Oh Grandmama, how we’ve missed you.”

“Don’t cry my Kesha, I am always with you. We don’t have much time, so let me tell you where to find your answers. Beyond this room there is another hidden library. You will find the entrance behind the hearth.

In it are all my special books and secret journals. First look for the one with the wormhole on the binding, next you will see a blue tome covered in butterfly wings, the last you need to read is a black leather journal, it is underneath a small clock and my sewing needles.”

With that, her image began to fade.

“Grandmama!” cried Rose, “Please stay. Don’t go.”

“You will learn all you need to know my loves…The mind once enlightened cannot again become dark.”

Suddenly the candles flickered and out of the fireplace shot a string of blue sparks, sparks which danced and arced over the table, above the girls heads. The sparks began to form a shape, falling in line they formed a worm, then a spiral, next the outline of wings and finally an arrow pointing to the mirror above the hearth.

Mariah rose from the table and instinctively tried to catch the last spark before they had all moved effortlessly through the mirror. As the last one disappeared her hand went after it and cleared it’s way through the mirror as well.

The girls gasped at the sight.

“We need to go in now.” she instructed, fetching her chair to climb up through the mirror…

Just then Mariah was blocked by the sudden outpouring of bats…hundreds of bats flying out through the mirror toward them.

The girls high pitched screams irritated the bats and created mayhem in the room, bats were crashing into the mirrored panels and walls, one became entangled in Thymes hair, causing the highest octave scream. Rose immediately went to the window, struggled with the latch, and then with all her strength pushed it wide open.

“Get out now,“ she coaxed, waving her arms, herding the bats toward freedom.

“Follow your bliss,” chimed Marrakesh “Go free! Leave us be.”

The girls adrenaline rushed, as they witnessed each bat exit furiously and fall in line across the big yellow moon.

Thyme was in tears as she searched her hair frantically for remnants of bat droppings.

Mariah had collapsed into her chair shaking with fright.

Only Rose and Kesha stood calmly, ready to take on the next task.

Marrakesh was the first one through the mirror, helping the others down from the other side. The girls had to be mindful of their black dresses, especially Thyme, as hers was long and had strips of fine lace. The portrait had allowed a much larger passage and this tiny mirror required a bit of effort.

“How did Grandmama ever pass through here on a regular basis?” wondered Mariah.

“I’m sure there is another way, and we just haven’t found it yet.” answered Rose.

“True, this house is full of surprises isn’t it?” giggled Marrakesh.

Once they were all inside the cozy room, they took in the warmth and magic of their surroundings. The wallpaper was a honey dijon color, covered in fanciful flowers and vines. Two gold velvet sofas sat opposite one another, looking a bit worn and dusty. The small hearth suddenly lit itself, and the lamps came on revealing all sorts of books and curious treasures strewn about the room.

“Well no time to waste girls let’s find those books and get to work,” instructed Rose.

“I see the sewing needles and the clock,” announced Marrakesh. “Look, it’s Grandmama’s journal.”

Marrakesh held up her find. The tattered leather journal was thick with rough edged pages. “Well I have a lot of reading to do.” Marrakesh plopped down on a dusty sofa and opened the journal to a random page. “Hmmm, listen to this, ‘The dark side of living a magickal life is having to hide every wonderful thing you’ve discovered from those who would never understand. Sevenveils of beauty, seven layers of existence, and seven levels of consciousness exist here and now, yet man is too blind to see the stitch in time…’ Wow.” Marrakesh set the book down in her lap and looked up. “I wish she was still with us, to show us everything she knows.”

“She IS showing us Kesha. Look at all these books, so many clues.” Rose glanced the room in amazement.

“We shall be in here all night.” groaned Thyme.

“If that’s what it takes Thyme…so be it.” Mariah, picked up a book covered in blue Morpho wings. “I’ve got one.” she waved it before the girls.

“That is stunning.” gasped Rose. “Are they real?” she reached out to stroke the cover. The wings on the tome began to flutter, and all at once the butterflies, very much alive, took flight around the room. There were seven of them, and they were beautiful, much less frightening than the bats, the girls “oohed” and “ahhhed” at the sight.

The butterflies seemed to be leading them to something. Each butterfly alighted upon a book or a treasure in the room, one landed on a page of music, set against the mahogany rack of an antique harpsichord. Rose glanced the music sheet and was compelled to sit down and play the notes of J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

After a flourishing show of musical genius, Rose finished. The girls were stunned, especially Thyme.

“Rose, I never knew you could play?”

Rose was dumbfounded, “Neither did I.”

“This night just gets stranger and stranger.” Mariah shook her head. “That music was mesmerizing. Isn’t Bach one to employ the Golden Mean in his works?”

“Yes he is.” answered Marrakesh, “According to Grandmama, he has the power to unlock invisible doors, or so she says here in her journal…I just came upon his name, as you spoke it…ooh, I’ve got chills.”

“What else does she say Kesha?” Thyme sat down beside her to have a peek at the journal. “Does she explain how to find the invisible door?”

“No need girls, LOOK!” Mariah pointed to a large seam in the wallpaper that was appearing more prominent before their eyes, soon two hinges were visible, and the wallpaper door slowly opened. A line of bright light poured out from behind the opening.

“Let’s go.” Marrakesh rose toward the door.

“Wait.” alerted Rose, “We have not read the first book Grandmama told us to find, the one with the wormhole…”

“The butterflies!” Mariah pointed as all seven of the butterflies floated past, exiting through the wallpaper door.

“Oh come on Rose, let’s just follow them, before we miss something.” Thyme was primed for an adventure.

“Oh very well, then.” Rose gave in, and followed Mariah as she rushed in first.

“Shall I bring the journal?” Marrakesh called.

“Yes, good idea Kesha, we may need it,” nodded Thyme.

Once over the threshold, the girls realized they were in the narrow landing of an ancient spiral staircase, there were stairs going up and stairs going down. Three of the shimmery butterflies floated up, while the rest raced down.

“Which way should we go?” Mariah posed the question and then answered herself, “Let’s try down first.”

“We may not have much time.” Marrakesh had her head in Grandmama’s book. “I found a page with a spiral drawing, there is a note beneath it, ‘Hurry in, hurry out, a twisting path shall inevitably collapse.’

“Blast,” blurted Mariah. “Let’s hope for the best then, and use our instincts. If anyone senses danger, let it be known.”

The girls nodded their heads and followed Mariah down the stone steps. One flight, then two, by three they were getting slightly dizzy, but could see the butterflies ahead, while looking down through the middle, toward the neverending twist.

“Does anyone else notice it is getting warmer as we descend?” Rose wiped her brow with the back of her hand.

“Warmer, yes and what is that scent?” Thyme scrunched her nose.

“It smells like heather on a Summer’s day to me,” Marrakesh took a long whiff and sighed.

After four more flights the girls came to a closed door. The flights continued but the butterflies stopped and hovered before them. Marrakesh recognized the weathered wooden door.

“This looks like the same door that opens my time warp tunnel machine.”

“Well, open it?” Thyme moved forward.

“No, wait.” Rose put her hand up to stop her. “Kesha check the journal. Does Grandmama reference your door anywhere?”

Marrakesh flipped through the pages.

“How long have you had the door showing up in the house?” Thyme asked.

“Near six months.” answered Mariah. “Marrakesh discovered it, and was able to come and go through as she pleased. I went along once, only stayed a few moments, then left. I was worried we might harm the space-time continuum.”

Thyme laughed, “You sound so Sci-Fi. Is that a real concern? Should we be concerned right now?”

“To be honest I know very little, except what I’ve learnt from Dr. Who.” giggled Mariah.

“So the door just popped up in different spots? How long between sightings?” Rose was curious now.

“It was very random. No pattern of time nor place really,” answered Marrakesh. “I thought of it as a game, a place to play. I suppose I was just lucky to be able to come and go. The only night it failed, was the night I lost Jake.”

Marrakesh had a sharp pang of guilt, “What if Jake is in there? We have to open this door at once, and rescue him.”

“Hang on.” Rose raised her hand again. “How are we going to explain all of this to Jake, if we find him? He has been stuck in a time warp for weeks…what do we tell him?”

“I’ve given it some thought,” Marrakesh proposed, “Why don’t we play the conspiracy theory card and tell him we slipped tablets of LSD into the champagne. We can convince him he imagined most of it, and has lost all memory of the past few weeks.”

Mariah interjected,”What about Eliza? She knows Jake has been gone all this time, drugs won’t explain his absence to her, or to the Chief Inspector.”

“Might I offer another solution.” spoke Rose, “What if we hypnotize Jake and plant a new memory. He can then explain his own whereabouts to the police and Eliza.”

“Have you ever hypnotized anyone before?” Thyme questioned, “What sort of a memory will you give him?”

“Well I’ve only practised on a few friends,” Rose shrugged, “as for the memory, I have not thought that far ahead yet. I’m hoping it might come to me on the spot.”

“We are wasting time here, I’m going in.” Marrakesh turned the handle and opened the door, rays of blinding sunlight came as a shock, as a large field of purple heather stretched out before them. The sky was technicolor blue, with drifts of white fluff clouds. Once the four of them were knee deep in the heather, the door closed behind them. Mariah looked alarmed and turned to go back, but before she could, the Blue Morpho butterflies circled her body and began to dance in a figure eight pattern before her.

“What is this place?” she whispered.

“It’s the place in-between,” called a soft familiar voice.

“Hello girls. We’ve been waiting for you.”

Two beautiful blondes smiled toward them, “You may not recognize us like this, but you know us very well.”

“Ingrid, before we give them a shock. Let’s let them settle in first,” spoke the second blonde.

“Why, yes Mini, where are my manners? Come over here girls and join our little picnic, we have all of your favorites.”

“Oh my God.” whispered Rose. “Ingrid? Mini?” Rose began to run toward them, “Mum?.”

“That’s right Rose. This is how we were just before we met those notorious McCormac brothers.”

Both girls welcomed Rose with a hug.

Ingrid Svenson and Mini Halverson were the “It” girls of the Nineties. Two Swedish born beauties who became best friends on the modeling circuit, quickly falling into the arms of two famous British bad boy musicians; Nigel and James McCormac.

Ingrid moved from the heather to the clearing and sat down on a large tartan blanket, she then waved Marrakesh and Mariah over to her side.

“This is all quite extraordinary.” Ingrid stared at them with such reverence. “I know I’ve not been the best Mother to you this time ’round…but it should all make sense in the great scheme of things. I do hope you two can forgive me.”

Ingrid overdosed on heroine when Marrakesh was fourteen and Mariah was sixteen. Four years seemed a life time ago, but neither of them had forgiven her. Speaking to this young and beautiful version of their mother, somehow removed the emotional attachment, and enabled them to speak their minds.

“It was the worst thing that ever happened to us.” Mariah confessed, returning her gaze.

“I still have nightmares.” Marrakesh added, clutching Grandmama’s journal to her chest.

Ingrid said nothing, she just put her arms around both of them and kissed their foreheads, emitting a calm, otherworldly understanding.

Meanwhile, Mini had Rosemary and Thyme holding hands and dancing in rings around the beautiful field, they could not stop laughing. It was like old times. The times before the cancer. Mini died six years ago of breast cancer. Rose had just turned seventeen, and Thyme was fifteen. They missed their free spirited Mum so much, seeing her like this was such a gift.

“We shall be a mirror for you girls. Remember to learn from our mistakes, as you go along.” Mini implored.

Thyme had tears in her eyes. “How long can we stay with you?”

“There is no time here, it exists only outside that door.” Mini glanced in the direction of the worn wooden door.

“Will we lose time on the other side, if we stay here with you for a while?” Rose asked.

“Well…as Ingrid said before, this is a place of in-between, we would love you to stay as long as you like, however your lives exist out there right now, so if the door opens again, it means you must return.” Mini’s smile was so inviting and calming it lulled the girls into a false sense of security, all they wanted in this moment was to lie down in the arms of their mother and forget time completely.

Which is indeed, what they did, they talked and they cried over tea and cakes, asking Mini and Ingrid all of the questions they’d been longing to know. And they shared stories of their own lives, all the way up to this latest adventure.

“So,” finished Marrakesh…”That is why we are here now, we need to find Jake and bring him out of this In-between world, as you call it. He has family waiting on him, and they miss him terribly.”

“I see.” Mini looked sympathetic. “Well, we have not seen him here, he must be on another level, behind another door.”

“May I see Georgine’s book?” asked Ingrid.

Marrakesh picked up the large journal and handed it over to her Mother.

“She was a dear,” smiled Mini, “She shared many natural remedies with me, along the way….”

Ingrid opened up the book, “Have you seen this girls?” she held up a blank page just as the lines of a sketch began to appear right before their eyes, within a few moments a complete ink drawing of the ancient spiral staircase filled the page…then words started to appear, forming sentences;

This is the Sprial Bridge…also known as the Wormhole, you are not moving back, only forward, only into the NOW…you may rest upon intervals inbetween…but there is still a past and a future connecting you to this present moment.

The pages in the book then flipped, settling on another blank page, where another drawing began to form, this time the lines were moving so fast, curves and dashes swirling, until they formed a beautiful tree. The sentence that followed was;

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

“Oh my stars!” cried Mini, “Will you look at that?” she pointed down the field, where suddenly the very tree, in the drawing, appeared.

All six of them ran toward the tree, touching it to see if it was real.

“Talk about manifesting.” Rose stated, in awe. “Look at the branches, books are appearing!”

The page in the journal was simultaneously drawing beautiful leather bound volumes, and piling them up on the branches and limbs of the tree.

Marrakesh eagerly climbed the trunk of the tree and situated herself in a comfortable spot, grabbing at the books to see their titles, “These books have no titles!” she called down to the rest, “Only authors names.”

Each time she lifted a book she read the authors name aloud;

“Douglas Adams, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, William Gibson, Ursula K. Le Guin, George R. R. Martin, Michael Moorcock, H. G. Wells, and Connie Willis…”

“I’m sensing a theme…” stated Rose, “Time travel, all of those authors have written about time travel.”

“Well how are we suppose to read all of these, now?” grumbled Thyme. “Isn’t there a sense of urgency to carry on after Jake? Or am I the only one remembering why we are here in the first place.”

“She is right.” said Mini, “You girls owe that boy his freedom. I think Georgine’s Book should be enough to get you to the next level…”

Ingrid interrupted, ” Yes, the titles are appearing in the book now, you can read them all later. Go find that boy first.” she handed Grandmama’s journal back up to Marrakesh.

Marrakesh sat in the tree, looking over the titles. “Yes, it is quite a list.”

Mariah grabbed the Douglas Adams, as he was a favorite. “Anyone else want to keep a book?”

“I’ll take the Ray Bradbury.” Thyme put out her hand, “It seems the smallest.”

“Can someone help me down? Somehow up was easier.” Marrakesh laughed.

“Here take my hand Kesha,” Mini offered assistance, as Rose plucked Ursula K. Le Guin from the tree.

The girls and their young mothers sauntered back to the tartan blanket and were just about to share a last cup of tea, when suddenly the door opened, and Mini and Ingrid knew their time was up.

Ingrid nodded toward the door and smiled goodbye to her girls. Mini, clasped her daughter’s hands pulling them toward the door and said, “You have many stops to go along the staircase. I do hope we meet again.”

“Yes,” echoed Ingrid, “Do meet us again in the In-between,” she then blew them all a kiss, and with that

the bright blue of the sky faded, the clouds blurred, and the heather melted into the disappearing landscape. Only the tree remained, an inky black shadow against a purple twilight sky.

The girls were once again standing in the narrow landing between flights, and where there was once a door, stood a stone cold wall, each of them, speechless in the wake of what just transpired.

“How do we go on, after that?” sighed Mariah.

“The Butterflies are gone, It’s so dark out here, should we keep going down? It looks rather daunting,” whined, Thyme.

“We can’t give up now.” pushed Rose, “You heard our Mothers, we have a job to do. Stay strong girls.”

Marrakesh picked up Grandmama’s journal and turned to the first blank page. In a hushed voice she slowly whispered the passages forming before her eyes…

“

It’s in the stars

….where there is earth, air, water, and fire…the circle cannot be broken.” she paused and looked up from the book. “What does she mean?”

“It’s us,” smiled Rose.

“Us?” Marrakesh was perplexed.

“Yes. Did you know each of us represents an element?” Rose informed, “I had Madame Zelda do our charts. I’m a Virgo, that is Earth. Kesha is a Gemini, an Air sign. Mariah, you are a Scorpio, that’s water, and Thyme’s a Leo, she is our Fire. We are that circle. Madame Zelda told me our charts are very powerful together, our destinies are linked, as Grandmama says in the journal,

“It’s in the stars…“

Ancient Spiral Staircase

Young Ingrid

Young Mini

Just as Rose spoke the words, “It’s in the stars…” a canvas of twinkling silver stars formed along the spiral staircase, the dark dull walls turned a lush twilight blue, as millions of stars danced and shimmered, illuminating the way forward. The girls continued down the staircase.

“Nothing will surprise me after this experience,” marveled Thyme.

“I always knew anything was possible, but these manifestations in Grandmama’s book are like nothing I’ve ever known.” whispered Mariah.

“It’s magic. Pure and simple… a most beautiful magic.” Marrakesh reveled, tilting her head up to take it all in.

“I have to agree,” smiled Rose.

Just then a shooting star leapt from one side of the staircase across the girls path, landing on the opposite wall. Then another, and another…the stars were now leaping at will, and trailing stardust behind them.

The whimsy of it all made the girls giddy as they traveled the dizzying spiral down, down, down one flight after the next.

“I wonder when another door is going to reveal itself… I’m starting to feel a bit queasy.” Thyme confessed.

In the starlit glow, a small black shadow appeared, and then scampered off just ahead of them.

“Isn’t that Nyx?”

Marrakesh recognized the eldest of Mariah’s cats.

Mariah ran ahead and called, “Nyx! Nyx! Here kitty, kitty…”

“How did she ever get down here?” Rose was surprised. “I hope this isn’t a trick.”

The hopeful energy, suddenly took a turn, as the girls contemplated the possiblity of danger ahead.

Just as Mariah closed in on Nyx, she discovered the other two black cats perched on the bottom landing. There were no more flights. Only a small opening to the left, with a brightness so blinding it melted the stars away and revealed the original worn walls.

“Poppy? Callisto? What on earth are you doing down here?” Mariah knelt down and gathered her babies in her arms. Purring and nuzzling as if they had not seen her in ages. Nyx moved in circles at Rose’s feet, swishing her fluffy black tail with aggitation.

“I think Nyx is trying to tell us something.” Rose announced, “What is it Nyx?”

With that, Nyx leapt through the bright opening and disappeared from their sight.

“Nyx!!!!” Mariah called after her, as Poppy and Callisto struggled from her grasp and followed their sister through the bright opening. “Oh no, oh my god, they’ve all gone.”

“It will be alright Mariah,” Rose bent down to look into the glaring hole.

The end of the staircase

“It’s blinding white, I can’t see a thing, but I have an instinct that we should follow after them,” Rose took a leap of faith and jumped.

Mariah followed, concerned for her cats. Marrakesh held tightly to the book and jumped next. Thyme was a bit more apprehensive, she hesitated until she heard the others calling in unison, “Jump Thyme, jump!.”

They all landed softly in another field, this one appeared to be meadowsweet surrounded by linden trees. It smelled wonderful. All three cats were frolicking and leaping about, as if hunting imaginary mice.

“Well this is lovely, who do you think we’ll run into this time?” smiled Marrakesh.

Beyond the trees, the girls spotted a folly of sorts, it looked like a replica of a greek pavilion.
They were drawn to investigate, and as they came closer Marrakesh noticed a figure leaning against one of the columns. A very familiar figure.

A surge of adrenaline rushed through her entire body, as she shouted out, “Jake! Jake!,” and began running toward the blond California boy.

Jake

“Jake, are you alright? I am so sorry for leaving you here all this time…” Marrakesh was rambling a mile a minute. The other girls had not caught up just yet.

“Sorry? Are you kidding me, I have been having the time of my life,” grinned Jake. “After you left I wandered into some kind of an ancient school, and I met two scholarly dudes, and a poet. The Poet explained how he and the two other guys were just studying in an Oxford library one day, when they opened the wrong door and discovered this place. He told me he came here often, and that I could come and go as I liked…if I had the proper tools…”

The other girls joined them. “Jake!” Mariah greeted him heartily. “We’ve found you at last.”

Jake smiled at her and then nodded toward the cousins.

“Jake, these are our cousins Rosemary and Thyme,” informed Marrakesh.

“Cute names.” Jake laughed.

“So we’ve found the mysterious Jake at last.” Thyme collapsed on the steps of the pavillion. “Glad you’re in one piece.”

“You look well Jake, what have you been getting up to?” Rose inquired.

“Well as I was explaining to Marrakesh….I’ve learned all I need to know to survive in this place, and by the looks of it, I may be more of an expert than you girls.” He laughed again.

“He was just telling me everything, and it sounds fascinating.”

“Well then go on,” insisted Rose. “Fill us in. What exactly IS this place?”

“According to Mr. Milton, he’s the Poet I met when I first arrived…

Time, though in eternity, applied to motion, measures all things durable by present, past and future.’

You see,

The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, and a Hell of Heaven.

All four girls looked perplexed.

“Come again?” Rose wanted clarity.

“Bottomline, what Marrakesh calls her Time Warp Tunnel Machine, is truly a ‘Door of Opportunity and Endless Possibilites.’ In this place one can manifest instantly, so long as they have the correct tools.”

“Such as?” Thyme interrupted, “What kind of tools are you speaking of?”

“Well THAT, for one thing,” Jake pointed toward Grandmama’s book. “Mr. Milton had one of those big books with him. Same leather, same size. Is yours full of blank pages and old drawings?”

“Yes, it is…and these drawings come to life.” Marrakesh opened to the page with the tree, and showed it to Jake.

Jake excitedly ran inside the pavillion, and picked up an identical journal off one of the stone benches, holding it up to Grandmama’s for comparison.

“One and the same…amazing. Mr. Milton left this with me and told me

*that I may see and tell of things invisible to mortal sight.

I have been conjuring up all kinds of things with this book, from

lemon meringue pies,

to surf days in Austrailia, In fact, I think I’ve already checked off half my bucket list.”

“While Eliza worries sick over you. Couldn’t you just as easily, have manifested yourself back to Hadley Manor?” Mariah was queen of the guilt trip.

“Man,” Jake sighed, “Aunt Eliza, oh wow, I never thought about the people I’ve left behind, I’ve been so caught up over here…” Jake looked apologetic, “Besides, I’m not exactly sure how to manifest a return. Mr. Milton told me the door just shows up when it’s time to go. He told me I couldn’t go through his door when he left. So, I figured we each get our own door, in our own time.”

“Hmm, interesting….” Rose pondered, “I suppose that makes sense.”

Just then Marrakesh’s book began to shake in her hands, “What’s happening?”

“Kesha drop the book.” Thyme paniced.

The book fell at their feet and opened to a new blank page, a post card was being drawn up, with a royal stamp boasting the Queen’s image…then the writing began;

Dear Eliza,

We have found Jake. We cannot explain at this time.
Just know we are all well and good. We shall return in our own time.
Let the police know the case is solved.

We love you dearly,
~The Girls of Hadley Manor

With that, the postcard peeled itself right off the page and flew up, disappearing into the bluest sky.

The girls looked at one another, astonished and confused.

“Do you think she’ll really receive it?” Mariah wondered.

The others stood in silence, shaking their heads.

Jake looked around, “Well, I don’t see any doors showing up, How about we all take a road trip?”

He began furiously sketching in his own journal, first a large rectangle, then four circles, it was turning into a vehicle of some kind…

“Brilliant!” shouted Thyme, gazing out at the yellow VW Van that suddenly appeared in the midst of meadowsweet.

“Come on, let’s go,” Jake ran through the waist high plants, waving the girls on, to follow.

Rose shrugged, “What the hell…Could be a laugh.”

“Shotgun!” called Mariah.

The giggling girls piled in with ease…

Marrakesh reached for her seat belt, “So, where are you taking us?”

Jake looked back from the driver seat, “California, of course…”

Epilogue~

As the yellow VW Bus rides off in the distance we see the Meadowsweet and Linden trees fade into fresh asphalt beside a raging indigo sea. Our eye immediately zooms in on the back of the bus to catch sight of a glaring white license plate that reads; “California Dreams”