Christmas morning had dawned with new fallen snow and the promise of more to come throughout the day. Alex, her parents, brothers, and Jameason gathered to open stockings after a filling breakfast, and laughed at the witty or funny gifts that they found within. They always went for clever ways to rib each other, even on Christmas morning. The morning of the holiday was always reserved for her nuclear family and Jameason, and Alex appreciated the special time they all shared with one another.
As her grandparents had already passed away, they were usually joined by two aunts, three uncles, and six or seven cousins who arrived in the late afternoon and regularly stayed through dinner. Alexandria helped to greet and welcome each one for the festivities. Food was plentiful and the fellowship joyous. Alex thought several times throughout the gathering that Christmas was the one day of the year when time seemed suspended and everyone appeared to crave peace and happiness. If just for the one day.
The extended Groaban family watched the Queen’s annual Christmas address together, exchanged gifts afterwards, and then convened in the formal dining room for Christmas dinner. Roasted turkey and goose, smoked salmon, green beans, roasted parsnips, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, chipolatas, bread sauce, roasted nuts, and pudding and cake for dessert were served to one and all. Alexandria marveled that she could still fit into her clothes after consuming as much as she had. But then she had always had a ravenous appetite, and could easily eat more than her brothers at any meal they shared.
After dinner, Alex and Conner volunteered to walk the three labs out back. They each stepped into a pair of tall wellies, which could always be found by the mudroom door, and slipped on jackets and scarves. As soon as the door was open, the dogs bolted into the white landscape.
“I think we’re going to have a heck of a time getting them back inside,” chuckled Conner.
“Yeah, I think you could say that,” agreed Alexandria. “Don’t worry though, they just need a chance to run and let off steam. They haven’t had their supper yet, so they’ll come back. So tell me, how is the dig going?” she asked.
Conner told her of the most recent finds at the archaeological dig he was leading near Brading, on the Isle of Wight. He and his team were uncovering an ancient Roman structure, complete with detailed mosaics and artifacts from Viking conquerors who set foot on the island long, long ago. It was grueling work, but he felt such a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment when he was painstakingly recovering history.
Alex was looking out at the romping dogs, listening to her brother, when Conner’s mobile began to ring.
“Sorry, Alex, gotta take this,” he said apologetically as he turned and walked back towards the house.
She returned to watching them play as she continued to meander along where she knew a pathway lay hidden under the snow. Alex was letting her mind wander when she heard a strange sound coming from the left edge of the garden path before her. It did not sound like the trees creaking from the weight of too much snow, but rather it was a chittering sound that was not like any animal she had ever heard before.
Normally, Alexandria was curious about and unafraid of animals, but something about this sound called to an instinctual fear that ran deep within her and made all of the hair on her arms stand on end. Something was very wrong, and Alex felt the alarm all the way to her core.
She refused to take her eyes off of the area before her, but she began to back slowly towards the house. Before she could call out to the Labradors, they seemed to sense the danger as well and were rapidly making their way back over to her. The sound began to increase in volume and Alex was moments away from calling out, when the dogs reached her side and began to bark in unison at the origin of the noise.
Alex was more afraid that they would be hurt defending her, so she softly called them to follow her as she continued to back towards the door. Just as she thought she would suffer the same fate as the old man in The Tell-Tale Heart, the sound suddenly ended. She heard the snow crunching behind her and dared a quick peek over her shoulder, only to find Conner coming back to her side.
“What’s got them so wound up?” asked her brother.
“I don’t know, Conner, but we’re going inside. Right now,” Alex insisted.
One look at his sister’s face and Conner knew not to question her further. Something had left her terrified, but Alex had her eyes trained on the same spot as the dogs and refused to look away. He saw that she backed towards the house, so he put his hand on Alex’s arm and helped guide her safely to the door so she would not trip. He walked her up the steps, then opened the door, leading her to the security and warmth inside.
Alexandria made sure that all three dogs were inside with her before she sank to the cushioned bench underneath the mudroom’s large window and drew a shaky breath into her lungs. All three were crowded around her and whimpering as if to tell her that they, too, had been frightened by whatever was making the sound.
“Good boys,” praised Alex as she patted each head turned towards her face.
Finally, she lifted her eyes to Conner, who had said nothing but was watching her intently.
“I’m glad you came back when you did, Conner. I don’t know what spooked us, but I’d rather not go back out tonight,” she unsteadily voiced her request.
Conner stepped forward between the labs and knelt on one knee in front of his sister. He cupped Alex’s face with one hand and stared at her, concern etched across his brow.
“Are you alright, Alex? I haven’t seen this look on your face in a long time, and I’m worried about you. What did you see?” he questioned as his eyes searched hers.
Alexandria shook her head. “I didn’t see anything, but I heard a sound that was not one I could place, and it scared the living daylights out of me. It sounded like a high pitched, garbled babbling that became increasingly louder. I didn’t feel like I could turn my back on it, whatever it was. Thank goodness you and the labs were there!” she breathed. “I’m okay. I just want to go back to the sitting room and be with everybody.”
“Well, I can’t imagine what would make that sound, especially on such a cold night, but I want you inside with us, too. Safety in numbers, right?” he asked as he dropped his hand and patted her knee.
“Let’s give these guys some much-deserved food, and then catch up with the family. Tomorrow morning, Wallace and I will go out and take a look around; see if we can’t spot some tracks or some evidence that points to what made the noise all of you heard. How’s that sound for a plan?”
He was reassuring her and giving Alex a methodical and logical course to follow. How thankful she was for Conner, protecting her and not making her feel foolish.
“Sounds like a plan,” she agreed.
Conner stayed by her side as they fed and provided fresh water for each of the dogs. When it looked as if they were happily occupied with their fare, he took her hand in his and led Alex to the large sitting room. Silently, he guided her over to a sofa so that they could sit together. Wallace arched an eyebrow at the two, taking note of Conner’s protective stance immediately. Alex noticed Conner slightly shaking his head in Wallace’s direction as if to tell him not to initiate a discussion at present in front of so many other family members. It was a familiar movement she had witnessed her brothers make more times than she could count.
Alex sighed and looked out before her at the various loved ones gathered there that night. She knew that her unusual childhood was an unspoken thing among her extended family. They were all so focused on the present that it was a welcome respite from the strange looks many of them had leveled at her when she was so very young. Now, they were all content to see Alex living the life they expected from someone her age.
She sat back against the sofa’s soft cushions and crossed her legs at her ankles. Alex watched as Conner did the same and she looked from his outstretched legs to hers, finding a small smile presenting itself on her lips despit
e the fear that was still surging through her body. Though she had always thought of herself as tall, when Alex was around the men in her family, she was anything but. Alex stood at the height of their shoulders, and she constantly had to crane her head back to look them in the eye, even her father and Jameason.
Conner looked down at Alex and watched her for a moment until she turned her gaze back to his. He winked at her and squeezed her fingers. She smiled tenderly in return, silently thanking him for being by her side when she needed him most, as he and Wallace had always done through the years. Alex’s eyes then turned back to Wallace, and she found that he still observed the two of them. He nodded in her direction, and she sent him a small smile in return to reassure him she was alright.
The rest of the evening was uneventful, and when it came time to turn in, Alexandria invited all three Labradors to sleep with her. She did not have to ask twice, as they clambered up the stairs ahead of her. She quickly showered and found Dudley lying on the tiles when she opened the curtain to reach for a towel. His tail thumped a steady beat, and his eyes stayed on her face.
“I love you, old boy. You know that don’t you?” she asked. His tongue rolled out of the side of his mouth, giving her a grin as her answer.
Dutch and Buddy were lying on the bedroom floor when she came out of the bathroom, and both had taken positions watching the closed door which lead out to the hallway. An image of the lions guarding the public library’s entrance in New York came to her mind. Alex could not explain how she knew, but without a doubt, she felt certain that they, too, were still thinking of whatever had made that sound and were afraid that it might return.
Alexandria climbed into bed and called all three up onto the mattress with her. Dutch and Buddy thumped their tails but chose to remain where they were, acting as sentinels for the night. Dudley bounded atop the bed with her and laid his head on the pillow next to hers. Alex chose to leave her bedside lamp on low and snuggled deep in the warm bedding.
“Thank you, guys, for staying,” she told the labs. “Keep me safe.” And with that last plea, Alex allowed herself to sleep, though it was fitful at best.
Chapter 4