By Gina Scott (Orphanage ~ Valentine’s Day ~ Murder)
Trevor drove the car as Misty patiently waited blindfolded in the seat next to him. The night was a cold one; a light snow fell on the streets of Bainbridge Falls. The little town of 1500 estimated population was bustling as the one café, a restaurant, and even the local coffee house was filling up with locals.
Trevor, ever the romanticist, had the radio dialed to the local radio station playing 24 hours of love songs. Trevor tried his best to sing along and not very well. Misty chuckled at his attempts to be romantic and she appreciated it. He placed his hand on hers and squeezed it tightly. Misty and Trevor had been together since high school. Not hard to do in a small town; but they loved each other and that is all that mattered. “So, where do you think we are going baby?” asked Trevor.
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s Valentine’s Day, I suppose we could be going to dinner, or a quiet hotel for a romantic evening alone for a change,” she mused. It is what she had hoped for. They didn’t have much money, and she knew that with Trevor’s meager wage at the mill and her waitressing job with tips they would be lucky to afford a steak dinner at The Happy Steer and a room at the local Motel 6. But, it was what they could afford and Misty was happy just to spend some quality time with Trevor. She wondered if their quiet talks of late had changed his mind about their future. Trevor was working a lot of hours in the last six months; and she had seen very little of his effort being deposited into their bank account. Perhaps, just maybe, he would finally do it tonight.
“Well, here we are,” Trevor exclaimed stopping the car. He turns to Misty and takes her hands into his, “now, before I take the blind fold off I just want to say that this may not be exactly what you are expecting. I tried to be real mindful of all of the things we have talked about, and our situation, and I planned this out real carefully and I hope you like it,” he says excitedly as he slips off the blindfold.
Misty opened her eyes and at first, didn’t understand. She looked out the window behind Trevor and was confused and slowly began to feel deeply disappointed that he appeared to make no effort whatsoever for this to be a romantic evening. However, she knew Trevor well enough that he would never intentionally set out to cause her pain, or play a cruel joke to get a laugh. She knew Trevor’s intentions were always good and she loved him too much to break his heart at this moment when he obviously was very serious. The look on her face must have given it away as Trevor started to smile, “I thought you would react that way.” He paused for a moment to catch his breath for he knew that this moment would be critical in his relationship with Misty.
“What is this?” she asked.
“Well, let me explain.”
“I’m sorry Trevor, I don’t understand.” Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Let me explain,” he implored, “before you get all sore and sad. Let me talk.”
“Trevor, I love you. I love you so much it hurts. But I cannot understand for the life of me why on Valentine’s Day you would think that bringing me here, to Woodbury Manor, would be very romantic. Are you serious?” Tears sting her cheeks as they slowly fall one by one. “A nice dinner, and romantic evening alone, spending some “quality” time together, that’s what I thought you had planned,” she muttered under her breath.
“Baby, just listen. Please. I promise you will understand if you just give me a minute to explain,” he paused. “I love you, you know I do. Of all people, you know me best. You know I am not very smart, but I am a hard worker and I would do anything for you.”
“I know that,” Misty whispers. “I love you too.”
“Then come inside with me. I have something to show you.”
“Wait, you want me to go inside? Do you know what this place is Trevor? Do you have any idea of what happened here? I can’t go inside.”
“Just trust me. Yes, I know all the stories, but that is all they are. Stories.”
“Um…hello? Stories of murder! And I heard some weird stuff goes on in there. I don’t think I want to go. I love you, but this is crazy.”
“You have been in plenty of ‘weird’ places with me. Why should this be any different?” He exits the car and slams the door.
Stubborn and to prove a point, Misty stays in the car, but curiosity gets the best of her. She tightens her scarf, buttons her coat up around her neck, and steps out into the frigid evening air. The snow begins to fall hard as the clouds continue to move in. It is dark now and Trevor pulls a flashlight from his coat pocket.
“This is NOT my idea of a romantic Valentine’s Day!” Misty yells to Trevor who is already at the front door of the manor. “This is not cool Trevor. We aren’t kids anymore, we are adults who do adult things like go out to a romantic dinner, and make love in a cheap motel on Valentine’s Day,” she continues to ramble as it falls on deaf ears.
Woodbury Manor, even on a dark night, still is as grand as it must have been in its best days. Even though it has fallen in disrepair over decades of abandonment, it stands as a watchtower over the small town of Bainbridge Falls. The three story manor with a wide wrap-around porch, and columns adorned with ornate craftsmanship only need a fresh coat of white paint. Broken windows, a broken porch swing depict the life of hardship it has seen as locals surely have broken in over the years for thrill-seeking, and
“ghost” hunting. The old place is oddly beautiful if only scorned by the terrible rumors of its unfortunate past.
“Come on,” Trevor pleaded coaxing Misty up the steps. “Don’t be scared. It’s just a house. And I really want to show you something.”
Standing next to Trevor he opened the door. “You owe me Trevor Bartley – big time,” she said as she stepped over the threshold after him.
“I know, but just give me a chance here.” As they stepped into the grand foyer, Misty instantly visualized what the old place must have been like in 1917. The grand staircase stood immediately ahead of her, to the left a library still full from floor to ceiling with books and a grand fireplace taking up the space of an entire wall, and to the right a sitting room with yet another fireplace of the same size. The same furniture that once occupied the residence still here, but now shielded with dust covers as if to be protected from time and eternity. Time has stood still, and yet it is as if a life still haunts these rooms. A draft breathes through the foyer sending a chill through Misty who closes the door behind them.
“Why did you bring me here Trevor? This place is so old. I feel like we are intruding on someone’s grave. We don’t belong here,” she said pulling her scarf up against her face to ward off the cold and whatever else might try to invade her space. Just then, she noticed a small carriage in the back corner of the sitting room. Walking closer to investigate, the air seemed to get heavy as if someone or something was pushing against her chest to keep her away. “Did you know this old place was once an orphanage? I heard that this place had as many as 25 children maybe more. The family that lived here couldn’t have their own children so they opened their home to take in children who didn’t have parents.” Misty ponders this thought as she begins to explore the staircase and ascend to the second floor.
“Misty,” Trevor calls from behind her. As she turns, Trevor is on one knee, his right arm outstretched and holding in his hand a tiny black velvet box opened with the most sparkling single solitaire diamond ring. Even through the darkness, with only the light of the flashlight, it sparkled as if to light up the entire room. “Misty, I know this is the oddest place you would think to do something like this. I love you, I have loved you since the day I met you,” he swallows hard. “Will you marry me?” Misty hardly had a moment to respond before Trevor stopped her. “Please, don’t answer yet. I need to show you something.”
He led her upstairs through the darkness. The house was eerily quiet, and yet she began to feel a strange comfort come over her. At the top of the stairs, Trevor turned left and led her down the hallway to two huge double doors. Slowly, he opened the doors and turned to Misty, “Welcome home.”
Misty stood stupefied, scared, unsure, excited, and hesitant. A range of emotions ran through her veins none of which would explain what Trevor was thinking when he did this except he loved her. As she gazed into the beautiful room, it was as if she walked into the best five star hotel she could ever imagine. A king size bed with canopy stood in the center of the room with a fire blazing in the corner fireplace. Candles lit in every corner, champagne chilling next to the bed. He thought of everything. She walked in slowly and turned to Trevor. “Baby, what have you done?”
“I love you Misty. I don’t have much to give you. I have been saving every penny to buy you this ring and . . . to give you this house.” He paused as he choked back tears. “I can’t buy you anything fancy. You know that I don’t have much chance at gettin’ a better job than the one I already got. But, this house has been for sale and it is what I can afford, and before you go telling me all of the reasons we should not be here, let me tell you all of the reasons we should.”
"This house has been in my family since 1917. My great grandfather was Marshall Woodbury. Yes, this was an orphanage, and yes, he and my great grandmother, Charlotte, could not have kids. It was because they so loved each other and wanted a family that he built this place for her and they opened the orphanage so they could have a family – children who needed good parents. There were never any murders in this house. Like I said, they are all stories, rumors, old wives tales. Nothing can be proven because those things never happened. My father’s father chose to change our last name only to keep from being attached to the horrible stories and ridicule. But, the house has never been sold to anyone else. I had to raise some money to take over the deed and pay some back taxes, but it’s mine . . . ours.”
Trevor knelt again on one knee and presented the little black velvet box with the single solitaire diamond, “Misty, will you marry me?”
Misty could not hold back her elation. Completely overcome with emotion she said softly, “Yes, Trevor Bartley, Woodbury, I will marry you.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. He placed the small engagement ring on her finger and stood as he brought her closer to him. Taking her face in his hands, he gave her the most passionate kiss and closed the door behind them.
Trevor drove the car as Misty patiently waited blindfolded in the seat next to him. The night was a cold one; a light snow fell on the streets of Bainbridge Falls. The little town of 1500 estimated population was bustling as the one café, a restaurant, and even the local coffee house was filling up with locals.
Trevor, ever the romanticist, had the radio dialed to the local radio station playing 24 hours of love songs. Trevor tried his best to sing along and not very well. Misty chuckled at his attempts to be romantic and she appreciated it. He placed his hand on hers and squeezed it tightly. Misty and Trevor had been together since high school. Not hard to do in a small town; but they loved each other and that is all that mattered. “So, where do you think we are going baby?” asked Trevor.
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s Valentine’s Day, I suppose we could be going to dinner, or a quiet hotel for a romantic evening alone for a change,” she mused. It is what she had hoped for. They didn’t have much money, and she knew that with Trevor’s meager wage at the mill and her waitressing job with tips they would be lucky to afford a steak dinner at The Happy Steer and a room at the local Motel 6. But, it was what they could afford and Misty was happy just to spend some quality time with Trevor. She wondered if their quiet talks of late had changed his mind about their future. Trevor was working a lot of hours in the last six months; and she had seen very little of his effort being deposited into their bank account. Perhaps, just maybe, he would finally do it tonight.
“Well, here we are,” Trevor exclaimed stopping the car. He turns to Misty and takes her hands into his, “now, before I take the blind fold off I just want to say that this may not be exactly what you are expecting. I tried to be real mindful of all of the things we have talked about, and our situation, and I planned this out real carefully and I hope you like it,” he says excitedly as he slips off the blindfold.
Misty opened her eyes and at first, didn’t understand. She looked out the window behind Trevor and was confused and slowly began to feel deeply disappointed that he appeared to make no effort whatsoever for this to be a romantic evening. However, she knew Trevor well enough that he would never intentionally set out to cause her pain, or play a cruel joke to get a laugh. She knew Trevor’s intentions were always good and she loved him too much to break his heart at this moment when he obviously was very serious. The look on her face must have given it away as Trevor started to smile, “I thought you would react that way.” He paused for a moment to catch his breath for he knew that this moment would be critical in his relationship with Misty.
“What is this?” she asked.
“Well, let me explain.”
“I’m sorry Trevor, I don’t understand.” Tears welled up in her eyes.
“Let me explain,” he implored, “before you get all sore and sad. Let me talk.”
“Trevor, I love you. I love you so much it hurts. But I cannot understand for the life of me why on Valentine’s Day you would think that bringing me here, to Woodbury Manor, would be very romantic. Are you serious?” Tears sting her cheeks as they slowly fall one by one. “A nice dinner, and romantic evening alone, spending some “quality” time together, that’s what I thought you had planned,” she muttered under her breath.
“Baby, just listen. Please. I promise you will understand if you just give me a minute to explain,” he paused. “I love you, you know I do. Of all people, you know me best. You know I am not very smart, but I am a hard worker and I would do anything for you.”
“I know that,” Misty whispers. “I love you too.”
“Then come inside with me. I have something to show you.”
“Wait, you want me to go inside? Do you know what this place is Trevor? Do you have any idea of what happened here? I can’t go inside.”
“Just trust me. Yes, I know all the stories, but that is all they are. Stories.”
“Um…hello? Stories of murder! And I heard some weird stuff goes on in there. I don’t think I want to go. I love you, but this is crazy.”
“You have been in plenty of ‘weird’ places with me. Why should this be any different?” He exits the car and slams the door.
Stubborn and to prove a point, Misty stays in the car, but curiosity gets the best of her. She tightens her scarf, buttons her coat up around her neck, and steps out into the frigid evening air. The snow begins to fall hard as the clouds continue to move in. It is dark now and Trevor pulls a flashlight from his coat pocket.
“This is NOT my idea of a romantic Valentine’s Day!” Misty yells to Trevor who is already at the front door of the manor. “This is not cool Trevor. We aren’t kids anymore, we are adults who do adult things like go out to a romantic dinner, and make love in a cheap motel on Valentine’s Day,” she continues to ramble as it falls on deaf ears.
Woodbury Manor, even on a dark night, still is as grand as it must have been in its best days. Even though it has fallen in disrepair over decades of abandonment, it stands as a watchtower over the small town of Bainbridge Falls. The three story manor with a wide wrap-around porch, and columns adorned with ornate craftsmanship only need a fresh coat of white paint. Broken windows, a broken porch swing depict the life of hardship it has seen as locals surely have broken in over the years for thrill-seeking, and
“ghost” hunting. The old place is oddly beautiful if only scorned by the terrible rumors of its unfortunate past.
“Come on,” Trevor pleaded coaxing Misty up the steps. “Don’t be scared. It’s just a house. And I really want to show you something.”
Standing next to Trevor he opened the door. “You owe me Trevor Bartley – big time,” she said as she stepped over the threshold after him.
“I know, but just give me a chance here.” As they stepped into the grand foyer, Misty instantly visualized what the old place must have been like in 1917. The grand staircase stood immediately ahead of her, to the left a library still full from floor to ceiling with books and a grand fireplace taking up the space of an entire wall, and to the right a sitting room with yet another fireplace of the same size. The same furniture that once occupied the residence still here, but now shielded with dust covers as if to be protected from time and eternity. Time has stood still, and yet it is as if a life still haunts these rooms. A draft breathes through the foyer sending a chill through Misty who closes the door behind them.
“Why did you bring me here Trevor? This place is so old. I feel like we are intruding on someone’s grave. We don’t belong here,” she said pulling her scarf up against her face to ward off the cold and whatever else might try to invade her space. Just then, she noticed a small carriage in the back corner of the sitting room. Walking closer to investigate, the air seemed to get heavy as if someone or something was pushing against her chest to keep her away. “Did you know this old place was once an orphanage? I heard that this place had as many as 25 children maybe more. The family that lived here couldn’t have their own children so they opened their home to take in children who didn’t have parents.” Misty ponders this thought as she begins to explore the staircase and ascend to the second floor.
“Misty,” Trevor calls from behind her. As she turns, Trevor is on one knee, his right arm outstretched and holding in his hand a tiny black velvet box opened with the most sparkling single solitaire diamond ring. Even through the darkness, with only the light of the flashlight, it sparkled as if to light up the entire room. “Misty, I know this is the oddest place you would think to do something like this. I love you, I have loved you since the day I met you,” he swallows hard. “Will you marry me?” Misty hardly had a moment to respond before Trevor stopped her. “Please, don’t answer yet. I need to show you something.”
He led her upstairs through the darkness. The house was eerily quiet, and yet she began to feel a strange comfort come over her. At the top of the stairs, Trevor turned left and led her down the hallway to two huge double doors. Slowly, he opened the doors and turned to Misty, “Welcome home.”
Misty stood stupefied, scared, unsure, excited, and hesitant. A range of emotions ran through her veins none of which would explain what Trevor was thinking when he did this except he loved her. As she gazed into the beautiful room, it was as if she walked into the best five star hotel she could ever imagine. A king size bed with canopy stood in the center of the room with a fire blazing in the corner fireplace. Candles lit in every corner, champagne chilling next to the bed. He thought of everything. She walked in slowly and turned to Trevor. “Baby, what have you done?”
“I love you Misty. I don’t have much to give you. I have been saving every penny to buy you this ring and . . . to give you this house.” He paused as he choked back tears. “I can’t buy you anything fancy. You know that I don’t have much chance at gettin’ a better job than the one I already got. But, this house has been for sale and it is what I can afford, and before you go telling me all of the reasons we should not be here, let me tell you all of the reasons we should.”
"This house has been in my family since 1917. My great grandfather was Marshall Woodbury. Yes, this was an orphanage, and yes, he and my great grandmother, Charlotte, could not have kids. It was because they so loved each other and wanted a family that he built this place for her and they opened the orphanage so they could have a family – children who needed good parents. There were never any murders in this house. Like I said, they are all stories, rumors, old wives tales. Nothing can be proven because those things never happened. My father’s father chose to change our last name only to keep from being attached to the horrible stories and ridicule. But, the house has never been sold to anyone else. I had to raise some money to take over the deed and pay some back taxes, but it’s mine . . . ours.”
Trevor knelt again on one knee and presented the little black velvet box with the single solitaire diamond, “Misty, will you marry me?”
Misty could not hold back her elation. Completely overcome with emotion she said softly, “Yes, Trevor Bartley, Woodbury, I will marry you.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. He placed the small engagement ring on her finger and stood as he brought her closer to him. Taking her face in his hands, he gave her the most passionate kiss and closed the door behind them.