Willa begins a new life after her divorce by renting a comfortable house in a small town. However, her new beginning takes a startling turn when the cops show up and insist on inspecting her cellar, where they find something unexpected. Something that will permanently alter Willa’s life.
Willa begins a new life after her divorce by renting a comfortable house in a small town. However, her new beginning takes a startling turn when the cops show up and insist on inspecting her cellar, where they find something unexpected. Something that will permanently alter Willa’s life.
I’ve come to terms with my infertility at the age of thirty-five. However, that didn’t make it any easier to see my marriage fall apart under its burden. My former spouse want children.
frantically. So did I, after all, but life had other ideas. Seth said, “Willa,” one night.
“I’m not sure how much more of this I can take…”
“What do you mean?” I asked, fully aware of the direction the conversation was taking. “I want kids, Wil,” he informed her. “Neither you nor I are getting any younger.
Additionally, we haven’t been successful in finding surrogates or foster children who fit our needs.”
“What would you like me to do?” Placing my teacup on the coffee table, I inquired. “Are you okay with me leaving? To dissolve our union?
To… give you a fresh start?”
Seth remained silent. All of my questions were answered by his silence. Here I was now, starting over in a rented home far from the city I had previously called home.
In a nostalgic sense, the house itself was charming. It felt like a time capsule with its groaning flooring, flowered wallpaper, and subtle wood polish scent. Mr.
Nolan, an elderly man who died a few months ago, had owned it. Lauren, his granddaughter who inherited it, chose to rent it out since she wasn’t ready to sell. The house seemed like the ideal spot to start afresh, despite all of its peculiarities.
Or, at the very least, provide a private space for me to lament my mistakes before moving on. It was modest, comfortable, and peaceful. Just what I required.
But a piercing pounding at the door that morning broke my brittle sense of tranquility. Two policemen were there on the porch when I opened the door with my coffee mug in hand. The taller one said, “Good morning, ma’am,” while holding his hat.
“Morning, Officer,” I said, tightening my robe’s belt. “How may I assist you? Is everything all right?
The officer who was shorter cleared his throat. “We apologize for bothering you, ma’am, but we must inspect your basement. It has to do with the property’s former owner.
The basement? My heart was racing. Basements were often the scene of spooky incidents!
I did glance around the basement when I first moved here, but I hadn’t gone through the old furniture or anything else. Lauren had just placed some of her grandfather’s items in there when I informed her that I had no interest in it, and I didn’t have many things. She questioned, “Are you sure?” “Because I can put everything into a storage unit if you need the space.”
“I’m sure,” I said.
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