The next thing Jess knew, a hand was stroking her hair and a woman was calling her name.  She lifted her head and rubbed the dried remains of tears from her eyes.  Annie was lit by the lamp on the bedside table.

"It's time for dinner, Jess," she said gently, taking her parent's wedding picture off the bed and setting it on the table.

"Oh, okay," she said, blinking and looking around.  It was already dark outside.  How long had she been asleep?

"Why don't you wash your face and comb your hair before you come downstairs," she suggested kindly.

"Alright," she replied, and Annie left, closing the door softly behind her.

When Jess looked in the bathroom mirror, her bangs sticking straight up, and her face was pale making her freckles stand out even more.  Worst of all, her brown eyes were red-rimmed.  She looked a mess and it was obvious she'd been crying.    

Rubbing her face with a wet washcloth, she tried to scrub some color into her skin, then brushed her hair.  When she was as presentable as she was going to be, she went downstairs.  The overhead light was on, making the window at the end of the hallway especially black.  It was unsettling.  Back home in Manhattan, it was never completely dark outside.  As she walked down the quiet stairs, she tried to push the thoughts out of her head of who, or what, might be watching her from the other side of the glass.  

When she stepped into the dining room, Uncle Jonathon and Douglas were already seated at the table.  Dishes were placed between them filled with ham slices, mashed potatoes, lima beans and bread rolls, but their plates were empty.  By the expression on her uncle's face, she knew she was in trouble. 

"We were waiting for you!" he barked angrily, his voice echoing in the room. 

"I'm sorry," she murmured, and slid into a seat on his right, across from Douglas. 

"It's rude to keep people waiting.  I don't want this to become a habit, do you understand?" 

"Yes, sir," she said, bowing her head while she placed her napkin in her lap, her face burning with shame. 

Douglas handed his plate to his father.  Jess glanced at him but he ignored her, watching Uncle Jonathon fill it with food.  She dropped her eyes to her own plate.

"Jessica!" 

She looked up at her uncle.  He had his hand out and she quickly handed him her plate.  She was dismayed to see the number of lima beans he put on it.  She hated lima beans.  Back home everyone served themselves and her mom never made her eat the foods she didn't like.  She knew Uncle Jonathon expected her to eat all of them.  There was no use even asking.  As she picked up her fork, she looked around the table at the empty seven chairs.

"I spoke with Quincy about the steam shovels that were giving us trouble last fall," Uncle Jonathon said, getting Jess's attention.  "He thinks the repairs worked.  They're holding up fine so far."

"That's good," Douglas replied easily as he dug into his food.  "Maybe we can get another year out of them before we have to replace them."  They continued their conversation about mining machinery while she concentrated on making sure each nasty lima bean had a bite of ham or mashed potatoes to help it go down. 

While she chewed, she stole glances at Douglas.  He never once looked in her direction, or even acted as if she was there.  Instead, he seemed completely engrossed in the conversation with his dad.  She was surprised he wasn't bored to death discussing the details of iron ore mining, but it made sense.  He'd need to know everything about it if he was going to be taking over the family business. 

As time passed, it became apparent they weren't going to talk about anything else and with nothing to say on the subject, she remained silent, the familiar ache in her chest getting worse.  She was glad when Annie brought out a pineapple upside down cake and a dish of whipped cream, signifying the end of the meal was near. 

When Uncle Jonathon began serving her cake she dared to speak up.  "Just a small slice, please."  

He shot her a withering glare, but she was relieved when he gave her a smaller portion than Douglas.  By time they were finished eating, she was exhausted and ready to go to back to bed.  Douglas excused himself, mentioning homework and she took his cue.

"May I please be excused," she said, already starting to stand.

"Not yet," her uncle said sharply, and she dropped back in the chair.  "There's something I need to discuss with you."

"Okay," she said faintly.  Her heart began pounding in her chest, afraid of what he was going to say.  Had she done something else wrong? 

"There are only a few weeks left of school and as far as I'm concerned, it's not worth having you enroll.  By time you get caught up, the school year will be over." 

He looked at her, challengingly, as if he was daring her to disagree, but she felt relieved.  Facing a new school and meeting new people wasn't something she wanted to do.  She knew there would be questions about why she was there, and what had happened to her parents.

"Okay," she replied. 

"You may leave the table now," he said dismissively.

"Thank you," she mumbled, not knowing if it was the correct response.  Luckily Annie walked into the room with a tray to clear the table, taking his attention away from her, and she made her escape.

As she went down the hallway, she heard her footsteps echoing through the dark rooms on either side of her.  It felt creepy and she softened her steps.  When she reached the top of the stairs, she saw Douglas's door open and after thinking about it for a moment, she went to his room, hoping if they were alone, he'd be more willing to talk.

He was seated at his desk, reading from a text book, while he fiddled with a pencil.  His room was exactly the same as her father's bedroom, with identical furniture and the same cream striped wallpaper, but his looked more lived in.  There were clothes on his bed, a jacket hung on the back of his chair, and sports trophies were on his dresser.  Above it hung a bulletin board with photos, postcards, and other memorabilia pinned to it. 

"What?" he snapped when he noticed her.

"Nothing," she said, trying but failing to make her voice sound casual. 

She tried to think of something to say while he scowled at her. 

"Do you mind?" he said finally.  "I'm busy."

"Sorry," she mumbled, backing away. 

Why did he dislike her so much, she wondered sadly as she went to her room.  It didn't make any sense.  She hadn't done anything to him.  

When she closed her bedroom door, it echoed through the large room.  Listening to the silence that followed, she took a deep breath trying to ease the ache in her chest then went to the wardrobe.  Once she'd changed into her nightgown, she brushed her teeth in the bathroom, the cold tiles chilling her feet.  After turning out the bedside light, she slid between the frigid sheets and tucked her feet inside her nightgown to try to warm them, pulling the blankets tight around her. 

While she shivered under the bedding, a blast of wind hit the windows, making them rattle and she looked up with surprise.  Shadows on the wall looked like monster arms waving around and she sat up with her heart racing.  Looking out the window, she saw a bright light mounted on the garage illuminating tree branches waving in the wind.  For the first time, she noticed lit windows on the second story of the garage.  Then James walk past one in a white undershirt and she realized he must live there.

A bigger blast of air hit the house and she heard it groan while the windows rattled ominously.  Fearing they were going to shatter, she pulled the covers over her head.  She tried to convince herself the wind wasn't strong enough to break the glass while tears came to her eyes and her chest ached unbearably.  She longed to be home in her little bed with only a brick wall outside her window and the comforting noises of the city to lull her to sleep. 

When Jess woke up, sunshine was streaming through the windows.  Listening to the silence, she was relieved the wind had died down.  She got up and as soon as her feet touched the cold hard floor, she sucked in her breath and quickly tiptoed to the wardrobe to find her slippers and robe. 

Feeling much warmer with them on, she went through her bathroom and tentatively opened the door to the kitchen.  Warm air rose up, along with the delicious aroma of bacon and the soft sound of country music playing on a radio.  When she reached the bottom of the stairs, Annie looked up from a sizzling frying pan and smiled.

"Good morning, Jess," she said cheerily.

"Good morning."  

"You must be hungry.  Come and sit at the table." 

When Jess sat down, sunlight coming through the window warmed her and Annie set a glass of orange juice in front of her, saying, "Doug and your uncle have already left."

"Where did Doug go?" Jess asked, guessing her uncle was at work.

"He's at school."

"Oh, right."  She couldn't believe she'd forgotten it was a school day.

"Do you like scrambled eggs and bacon?"  Jess nodded vigorously, a big smile on her face.  "Good!" Annie said happily.  Jess sipped her orange juice while Annie asked, "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," Jess lied, looking out the window.  Across the drive, she could see a corner of the garage and the thick forest behind it. 

"That's good.  I sometimes find it hard to –."

"Jessica!"  Her uncle's booming voice made her jump and she looked over.  He was wearing a suit with a folded newspaper under his arm.  From the look on his face, she could tell he was angry with her again.  What had she done now?  "We take our meals in the dining room, not the kitchen," he snapped.

"Yes, sir," she said, standing and taking her glass of juice.

"It was my fault, Mr. Blackwell," Annie said apologetically.  "I thought you'd left."

"Don't assume things, Annie!" he hissed under his breath.

"Yes, sir," she said quietly, bowing her head over the frying pan while Jess walked past her. 

Jess sat at the dining table, taking the seat she'd had the night before, and her uncle joined her.  It was much cooler than the kitchen and even with a robe and slippers on, she felt cold. 

"You're entirely too familiar with the staff!" Uncle Jonathon said sharply, opening his napkin with a flourish and placing it on his lap. 

"Yes, sir," she mumbled, squirming in her seat.  

"Things may be different in the city, but here you need to be aware of the boundaries.  Annie is not your friend," he added angrily just as Annie came in carrying a tray with their breakfast plates and a pot of coffee.  Jess dropped her head to avoid looking at Annie, her face burning with shame knowing Annie had heard. 

"She's going to be working for you some day," he continued as Annie placed their breakfast plates in front of them.  "It's going to be impossible to give her orders, if you carry on like this."  To Jess's relief, Annie left through the swinging door.  "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir," Jess mumbled quietly to her breakfast plate. 

"And from now on I want you dressed when you come down to eat," he added opening his newspaper.  "It's not appropriate to walk around the house like that."

"Yes, sir," she muttered, tightening the front of her robe to cover herself more while her face burned.  No longer feeling hungry, she choked down her food in silence with her stomach in knots while her uncle read his paper.  The empty silence between them was oppressive and she found herself wishing Douglas was there just to relieve the pressure. 

As soon as she felt it was safe, she excused herself from the table and escaped to her room.  After closing the bedroom door, she went to her bed and flung herself across it.  While she waited for the knots in her stomach to go away, she thought of the terrible way her uncle had spoken in front of Annie.  Then she remembered how he'd treated Cora, and all the other people he considered beneath him while they were in New York, and anger burned through her.  She didn't care what he said, she decided with a firm determination as she sat up.  It wasn't right to treat people like that.  She would never be like him.

She got up and took a hot bath, then dressed in one of her everyday dresses, grateful she didn't have to wear crinolines.  Still feeling chilled, she pulled on a sweater and finished with ankle socks and mary jane shoes.  After brushing her hair, she went downstairs, her footsteps echoing through the quiet house. 

Looking for something to do, she wandered through the rooms.  They didn't appear any more comfortable than they had the day before.  In the living room, she found a high fidelity stereo cabinet in the corner, but when she looked through the record collection, she was disappointed there wasn't any rock and roll.  After one last look, she concluded there was no TV either.  She was going to miss her favorite shows. 

She did a quick search in the library, hoping to find something she might enjoy reading, but had no luck.  She would have been happy with Douglas's old books, even The Hardy Boys, but there weren't any.  She wondered if all of his books were in his room.  But if they were, she mused grimly as she left the library, he'd never let her borrow them. 

Standing in the hallway, she didn't know what to do.  Still feeling awful about what had happened at breakfast, she couldn't bear to face Annie.  With nowhere else left to explore, she went to the front door.  The cast metal door knob was cool to the touch and she hesitated.  It felt weird to just walk out, as if she wasn't allowed to, but it was stupid to think that way, she concluded.  She turned the knob and pulled the door open.  Cool air came in the house and she stepped out on the porch and closed it behind her.  The air was different, and she breathed deeply, smelling damp soil and pine trees.  Instead of the sound of cars honking, she heard birds in the trees. 

Once she stepped into the sun, it warmed her against the cool breeze.  The edge of the forest was closer to the front of the house and she could hear the sound of leaves rustling from behind the thick growth.  Still uneasy about what wild animals might be hiding out of sight, she turned and began walking around the house.  Other than the old barren trees scattered across the lawn, there wasn't much to see.  When she reached the back of the house, she saw the porch off the kitchen and white sheets billowing gently in the slight breeze where Annie had hung them to dry on clotheslines stretched between two metal poles.

Then she spied a swing hanging from long ropes attached to one of the huge trees.  When she sat on it, she felt the wood seat rise and fall slightly as the branch moved in the breeze.  She began to pump her legs, gradually swinging higher and higher.  Closing her eyes, she pretended she was flying as she swung back and forth.  For just a little while, she was able to forget.

After some hours, her stomach was grumbling and she reluctantly got off the swing.  She wasn't sure what kind of mood Annie was in after the terrible morning, but she was too hungry to stay away any longer and she nervously went to the kitchen.  The delicious smell of baking bread came out when she opened the door.  Annie was at the counter with an apron on. 

"Hello, Jess," she said with a smile, her eyes, happy, and Jess smiled back with relief. 

"Can I please have lunch?  I'm hungry."

"Of course you can!" Annie laughed, then added, "I'm surprised you weren't in here earlier.  It's been hours since breakfast.  Would you like a sandwich – or something else?"

"Sandwich, please," Jess said happily.

Annie got a package wrapped in white butcher paper from the icebox and when she opened it, Jess was disheartened to see bologna.

"Um," she said.  She didn't want to make extra work for Annie, but she hated bologna.

"Yes?" Annie asked. 

"Can I have peanut butter and jelly instead?"

"You don't like bologna?"  Jess shook her head.  "We don't have peanut butter.  Your uncle doesn't like it.  But I can make a ham sandwich with last night's leftovers."

"Okay," Jess said with a smile, and then her smile fell.  "But – can I eat in here?" she asked, almost in a whisper.  "I don't want to eat alone."  Annie's shoulders drooped and her warm hazel eyes looked sad.

"Of course you can," she said gently.  "It's just when your uncle's here, he likes the family to eat in the dining room."

"I guess," Jess muttered, shrugging her shoulders as she looked away, the knots in her stomach returning as she remembered how awful he'd been.

"I know he can be gruff and difficult to be around sometimes, but –."  Annie stopped, and Jess looked over, noticing her eyes were shining with unshed tears.  "He wasn't always this bad," she continued quietly.  "Losing his wife and son was very hard on him.  If he hadn't had Doug –."  She shook her head, and a lump formed in Jess's throat.  "He hasn't been the same since then.  But no matter what, I know he's a good man, Jess," she added earnestly.  "He loves that boy more than anything.  He's so devoted to him.  He'd do anything for him," she finished firmly and turned away, wiping her eyes as she went to the bread box.

Jess sat at the table and looked out the window at the woods beyond the garage, swallowing against the lump in her throat.  As she thought about what Annie said, it made sense why her uncle was the way he was, but it was still hard not to blame him.  Just because he'd lost his wife and baby didn't give him the right to treat other people so badly.  She'd lost her parents, but it hadn't changed her. 

At that moment, she saw the big black car drive past the house with James in the front seat and Douglas in the back.  He must be home from school.  A minute later, he appeared, walking through the butler's pantry carrying a stack of books.  As soon as he saw her, he looked surprised for a second and then scowled before turning towards Annie.  Jess tried not to let the hurt show.

"Hello, Doug," Annie said smiling up at him, her eyes filled with happiness.

"Hi, Annie," he said casually.

"How was your day?"

"It was okay," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

"How did you do on your math test?"

"Alright.  I think I aced it," he replied nonchalantly. 

"That's swell, Doug!" she said excitedly.  "Have a seat and I'll get your sandwich made."

Jess sat up with surprise that Doug was going to join her at the little table.  He seemed to have been caught off guard too.

"Uh –," he said, drawing it out like he was thinking.  "I'm going to eat in my room," he finished quickly.

"Oh?" Annie asked with obvious astonishment.

"Yeah, I've got a lot of homework."  Jess was certain he was lying, and the pain in her chest got worse.

"Well, okay," Annie said, hesitantly.  "I'll bring up your food."

"Thanks, Annie," he said, already leaving through the