Shadows On The Lake. Leona Karr
two sleeping compartments. The floor space was scarcely big enough for the necessities of toilet and shower, and a couple of small shelves were already filled with her aunt’s toiletries.
Courtney’s expression must have registered her irritation because her aunt quickly opened the door of a small cupboard under the sink. “You can put your stuff here. And there are some extra towels for the baby—and you.”
Devanna smiled with such satisfaction that Courtney was taken aback by the sudden warmth in her eyes. Maybe everything was going to work out after all.
“I’ll get Jamie bedded down for the night, and then we can talk.” Courtney said, anxious to keep her aunt in a good mood. Even though she was dead tired, she knew it was important that they get off to a good start.
Her aunt’s behavior was not at all what Courtney had expected from her friendly letter. Except for her loving attention to the baby, Devanna seemed totally indifferent to Courtney’s presence. Her responses to questions were vague and noncommittal. Even though Courtney knew her aunt had been a recluse most of her life, her lack of social skills was startling.
As soon as Jamie nodded off to sleep, Courtney returned to the sitting room to have some quiet time with her aunt, but she wasn’t there and her sleeping compartment door was closed.
Courtney made a cup of tea, hoping it would help her stay awake until her aunt returned and they could chat. She eased down in a recliner chair that was as well worn as the couch.
The dank, musty smell that Courtney had noticed before seemed even stronger as she sat there in the muted light. The constant sound of a mooring chain clanking against the dock scraped her nerves. As the wind battering the houseboat grew stronger, the ever-present movement of the floors increased under her feet. A sharp peppering of rain against the black windows created a trapped feeling that finally brought her to her feet.
She’d waited long enough. The get-acquainted conversation with her aunt would have to wait until tomorrow. Jamie was sleeping peacefully as she kissed his warm cheek. Just looking at him, she had a sense of purpose in her life that she’d never had before.
As she settled in the upper bunk, a cacophony of weird noises echoed across the water. They were like voices rising and falling in warning. Courtney tried to close her ears to them. Tomorrow in the sunshine, everything would feel different.
Wouldn’t it?
Chapter Two
Courtney spent a restless night, and it seemed to her she’d just dropped off to sleep when Jamie made his presence known and demanded his early-morning bottle. She threw on a robe and picked him up.
His demanding cries would surely wake her aunt at this ungodly hour, she thought as she tried to hush him, but as she hurried past Devanna’s closed door, muted sounds of someone talking and laughing were faintly audible.
Did she have someone in the room with her? The idea was so preposterous, Courtney quickly shoved it away. A radio! Of course. Devanna must be an early riser, listening to an early wake-up program, Courtney decided as she hurried to the kitchen.
Having some company at this early-breakfast hour would be a pleasant change, Courtney thought as she laid the baby on the sofa, changed his diaper, and braced him with pillows while she heated his bottle. She expected her aunt to join them at any time, but Jamie finished his bottle and dropped off to sleep, and still Devanna hadn’t come out of her room.
As Courtney passed the closed door on her way to put Jamie in his bassinet, she listened for the earlier sounds, but there was only silence. Apparently her aunt had fallen back asleep.
Courtney eyed the top bunk, but decided to get dressed instead of going back to bed. She debated about taking a shower before she dressed for the day. If Devanna had gone back to sleep, she didn’t want the sound of the water to awaken her. Better wait until later, after they’d established some kind of mutual routine, she decided.
A displaced feeling was steadily growing in spite of the fact she’d only just arrived. It was probably fatigue that was making her feel jumpy, she reasoned as put on her last pair of clean jeans and a comfortable summer knit top. She’d quickly lost the weight she’d gained with Jamie, and her wardrobe was very pragmatic, mostly denims and summer cottons. She doubted that she’d need anything more during her visit. Her one good outfit would do if Devanna wanted to go out somewhere.
The rain had stopped during the night, leaving a moist fog behind. As the sun began to break through lingering gray clouds, wispy tendrils of a mist rose from the lake. As Courtney looked out the windows, she felt as if the houseboat were floating away into an unknown dimension of nothingness.
It was midmorning before Devanna emerged from her room. She wore dark slacks and a plain green blouse. In the daylight, her complexion looked ruddy, and the deep creases in her forehead showed.
“I made coffee,” Courtney told her quickly, wanting to get the day started off right. “And I could fix you something.”
“I don’t eat breakfast,” she answered ungraciously. “Where’s the baby?”
“Asleep, but he should be waking up anytime now. I’ll be giving him his bath.” Courtney smiled. “He likes it. Splashes water all over the place.”
Devanna just gave a dismissing wave of her hand. “I’ve got business this morning.”
Clearly, her aunt had other things on her mind as she walked over to the counter and picked up a notepad. “Here’s the grocery order. The delivery boy will pick it up when he makes today’s delivery. Make a list of what you want, and he’ll bring it next time.”
“We don’t have a phone?”
“Not unless you’re to fork up the deposit and pay the monthly charges. Not worth the money to me.” She added, “Paying the city for electricity and water hookups isn’t cheap, either.”
“I’ll pay my share of everything.”
“Then I think we’ll get along.”
After she left, Courtney realized that her aunt hadn’t left any money on the counter for the grocery order. When the boy came, she paid for the delivery and gave him both grocery lists.
“Thanks,” he said when she gave him a tip, and looked surprised, as if he hadn’t expected one.
Her aunt was gone for most of the day. A poignant loneliness mocked Courtney’s high hopes for the summer. How she had looked forward to enjoying a sense of “family,” instead of facing the world on her own! When Aunt Devanna had reached out to her, she felt that she wasn’t totally alone anymore, but nothing could have been further from the feelings that plagued her now.
Ever since she’d arrived, her aunt’s welcome would have been totally without any interest or warmth except for the baby. Why? What had happened? Was Devanna regretting the invitation she’d extended in her letter?
As the hours crept by, Courtney struggled to understand her aunt’s behavior. Living as a recluse for years had made her aunt a loner. No doubt about it.
I’ll just have to be patient, she told herself, entertaining a pang of sympathy for her aunt. I’ll win her over. Instead of judging her, I’ll find ways to make her life a little happier, and, hopefully, change some of her eccentric behavior.
DESPITE COURTNEY’S valiant efforts, several days passed without much change in her aunt’s behavior. Her disinterest in Courtney continued, at the same time her growing devotion to the baby intensified. Devanna quickly learned Jamie’s schedule, and was eager to feed him, change his diaper and lull him to sleep.
Courtney couldn’t have found a better nursemaid. With time on her hands, getting the houseboat in shape fell to Courtney. She organized her aunt’s belongings as best she could, and was puzzled at Devanna’s disinterest in the books she’d brought, and the unfinished embroidery in her sewing basket.
When Devanna wasn’t caring for the