Let the Payback Begin
Marilyn
They had not rushed their drive out here to Texas, or to Cliffside. It had taken them two and a half days, and as she pulled up to the gates, she could hear the boys getting all super excited about being here.
She reached out and punched in the code for the gate as she recalled it, and the gates simply opened for her to drive on through. He’d changed nothing about the security for this place, and Wil had called her that morning and told her they were on a flight back, there business in California was done.
He had told her that Calvin was tracking that phone, waiting to see when it was going to get to his parents‘ house. He knew it was currently in Orange, just inside the state of Texas, when they’d gotten up this morning. That he was likely to check it when they got off the plane as well. He was concerned it wasn’t going to make it to his parents‘ house in time for him to retrieve it before coming out to Virginia.
She’d just sighed and stated, “It’s a four–hour flight, right?”
“Yes,” Wil had agreed.
“When he gets off that plane, we’ll already be at Cliffside, Wil. We’re only like 2 hours out, give or take traffic.”
“I know, that’s why I called. I thought you should know, and be prepared for him to turn up, is all I’m saying: He’s likely going to think you posted it to the wrong address. Drive out there and pick it up. He could well call the housekeeper, and ask about it.”
“Alright, is she still the same person?”
“No, he’s got a live–in couple, Denise and Henry. They are nice. I’ve already called them about you and the boys turning up there, who you actually are, that they are not to call Calvin. They were a bit confused but agreed. I just told them the boys wanted to see him for Christmas, and it’s a surprise.”
She’d chuckled softly. “That’s exactly what it is. So all is good then.”
Now here they were driving down the long driveway to the house. She pulled up out the front of the garage and got out and stretched as the boys climbed out of the car. “Wow, mum, it’s much bigger than we thought.”
“Not as big as our house in Montana.” She smiled to herself. “Now boys, Wil stated it will be about two more hours before your father arrives here in Texas, and it’s an hour from there to here, or his place to this place. So you’ve got time to explore.”
They smiled up at her, and she stated, “Wait until you see the back of the house, you can run through the gardens and along the paths,”
“The house?” they asked her. “Can we pick a bedroom?”
“Likely so for future visits, but we’ll be staying in the guest house for the time being.” she nodded as she dug in her handbag for the keys that Wil had posted out to her, “Come on, now don’t forget there is a couple living here full–time to look after the pláce, Denise and Henry Wil stated, smile and be polite when you meet them. No actual running through the house, hey! Just calm yourselves a little.” She told them as they walked from
the car to the front door.
“Mum, you can see the cliff from here,” Callum stated, tugging at her pants.
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She turned and looked, “Yes, we’ll walk up there later. It’s only about a 10–minute climb.” She smiled as she looked up at it, and could see her bench seat was still there, even. Or a seat, whether it was the same one of
a new one she didn’t know.
Marilyn walked over and unlocked the front door and opened it, into a lovely foyer, and there in the center of the foyer table was a large bouquet of fresh flowers in a crystal vase, white calla lillies and white orchids. It was large and impressive. Quite similar to what she had used to place there, herself!
She looked down the hallways that lead off the foyer and called out “Hello.” Got nothing in return, so she
walked over to the intercom and pressed the all–house button. “Hello, is anyone home?” she asked knowing it would likely startle the couple that lived here, but she would rather do that via the intercorn than have thern
get a real fright at coming across perfect strangers inside the house.
“Yes, who are you?” came a female voice.
“My name is Marilyn Riddley. I am in the foyer.” She stated, “Wil gave me the keys to use the house.”
“Ah, yes. He did mention that, I’ll come greet you. It won’t be a minute,” she stated, and Marilyn let go of the
button.
She turned to the boys. “Now, when walking about which room are you not allowed in?”
“Dad’s study.” They both looked up at her.
“Correct, it has a full alarm system that will be set off if you go in there, now walk to the hall.” She stated, and they followed her, See that big dark wooden door, that’s his study, so…” she prompted them.
“Not in there.” Vincent smiled at her.
“Correct, anywhere else is alright for you to explore. Just not that room. I wasn’t even allowed in there.” She
shook her head.
“You remember that?” they both looked up at her now.
“Mm, I actually do.” she nodded.
They were both smiling at her and Callum took her hand. “I think you’ll get all your memories back being here.
“Perhaps,” she nodded. “It feels very familiar.” She had a lot of memories in this house and not just of her, but of her and Calvin, though they were usually up in the bedroom, or in the dining room where they would occasionally eat together. Some were out the front when he was picking her up for an event for them to go to.
She saw a woman coming down the hall, maybe in her fifties, she thought, and smiled at her, shook her hand
when she greeted her and introduced the boys to Denise.
“Wow, now you can definitely tell they are Mr. Reeves‘ boys.” She chuckled. “You two are about the same age as my granddaughter is. I’m certain we’ll get along just fine,” she smiled at them.
They smiled up at her, and then asked if they could go and look around. “Do you want the grand tour?” Denise
asked.
“I can do that, I recall the house and where everything is?” Marilyn smiled at her. “I don’t want to interrupt your day.”
“It’s fine,” Denise stated. “How about I go and make up some lunch?” She looked at her watch. “It is almost
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time to eat.”
“I’ll help,” Marilyn smiled at her. “Boys lunch first, and then you can go off and explore.”
They all followed Denise down the hallways and to the kitchen, and she waved them up onto the stools at the bench and helped prepare lunch even though Denise tried to wave her away. “I do this every day, at home, it’s just myself and the boys.” She smiled at her.
“No staff?” Denise questioned.
Marilyn shook her head, “No need of it, we live in a three–bedroom.cottage,” Simple and neat. I do all the cooking and chores, am just a regular everyday girl.”
Denise smiled, “Hmm, a far cry from when you lived here and were married to Mr Reeves then.”
Marilyn frowned at that comment. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve seen a few of the pictures of the two of you, and being who he is, even back then I dare say you had staff.”
Marilyn shook her head, “I was happy to maintain the house on my own for the most part, and only had a cleaner twice a week. And the yard was attended to weekly as well.”
“Mum, you recall all of that?” Vincent asked her, sounding shocked as she placed his sandwich in front of him.
“I guess boys being here is good for me and my memories.” She nodded.
They were really smiling now, “You’ll remember dad soon.” Callum grinned at her.
“It is entirely possible. But remember boys, we got divorced before I lost my memories. So don’t think remembering him will bring him permanently into my life.”
She saw them both pout at her, and let it go. They just wanted what all young children of divorced parents wanted, their family back together under the one roof was all. Denise smiled at her as she sat down to eat, and smiled at the boys. “This is going to be a lovely surprise for Mr Reeves.” She stated “I’ll go and find Henry and tell him you’re here, so he doesn’t get the shock of his life either, he was out the back tending to the hedges.”
She nodded, “Thank you for doing this, allowing us to be here and not calling Mr Reeves about the drop–in
visit.”
Denise waved it off. “He won’t mind,” she shook her head. “Always calls this place Marrin’s house. That is you,
I believe, so your just back home is all. Or that is what Wil told Henry and I, how to look at it.”
Marilyn nodded as Denise headed out of the kitchen. She looked at both her boys sitting eating their
sandwich, and they were just staring at her. “What?” she asked.
“How much do you remember?” Callum asked her.
“I don’t know. Just little things here and there, but this house,” she looked about the room. “I recall it, where
everything is even,” she told them. “There is a home theater in this house, seats eight people.” She shook her
head. She’d known the house was built by some other family, but that room, though the seating had been
comfortable, and it was nice to relax and watch a movie up on the big screen, was too big for her.
Although she did recall spending a whole two days in there when she first got here, watching her favourite
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movie series. All in order on the big screen, something she’d never done before. That had been nice.
They were both staring at her. Yes you can watch a movie in there.” She smiled and knew it was what they were thinking.
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