Free Cursed by Lynn Ricci

George. I love it here, but I do have happy memories of Boston.”
    “And you stayed in touch with Henry even after you met Grandpa and were living in Connecticut?” Sarah had been wondering how they stayed so friendly over the years when she lived here and he lived in Boston. Maybe it was through letters? But she was surprised her grandmother would write letters to a man for all those years. Maybe she was in love with him and they were parted by the move? She shook her head at her own romantic notions.
    “Has Henry not mentioned Betty? She passed away . . . oh about fifteen years ago now from cancer, but she was my best friend. We always stayed in touch over the years. I was even in their wedding and would go visit them with Grandpa George when we were younger. Yes, Henry is a good man, and made my best friend a happy woman for almost fifty years.”
    “He is a good guy, thank you for connecting us. I am so glad I made the move to Boston, I feel right at home.”

Chapter 10
     
    The first snowfall of the season came on the second Wednesday in December. It was heavy even for Boston standards. Sarah made her way back home along sidewalks that were not plowed or shoveled. Uggs kept her feet warm as she trudged up her street. She was thankful the snow had stopped before the accumulation got any deeper or else her short boots wouldn’t be doing the job. She arrived at her brownstone after six o’clock and found Mason outside, having just finished clearing the front walk and stairs.
    Sarah opened the gate, swinging it easily and without sound. Mason quickly stood to the side, out of the glow from the front door light spilling down the stairs, in the mound of shoveled snow.
    “This is a nice surprise to come home to!” Sarah exclaimed.
    “Good evening, Miss Carter”
    “Sarah.” She instructed with a smile.
    Mason nodded his head. “Sarah.”
    “We got a lot more than forecasted!”
    “That we did.” He said in agreement but offered no more.
    Sarah looked around at the neighborhood, “It’s so pretty when it’s all clean and white like this especially with the moon tonight illuminating the street.”
    Mason looked around at the snow, trying to see what she saw and nodded his head in agreement. “Yes, it is pretty.” He seemed surprised by his own statement.
    “I almost feel like painting it,” Sarah spoke almost to herself as she continued to look around. She didn’t see the flinch on Mason’s face or the way his gloved hand leaning on the shovel started to tremble. “But I don’t paint anymore. I always thought I could as a child but somehow what I saw in my brain never made it down to my hands.” Laughing a little at herself she added, “This scene, however, is inspiring.” Sarah tilted her head considering and drinking in the beauty around her while Mason’s shrunken form seemed to stoop and twist a little more.
    “Well, I should be getting in.”
    At first he just seemed relieved for her to walk away, up the cleared walkway, but remembered, “Excuse me, before you go, is the cat still coming around?”
    Sarah stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned –the light from above creating a blonde halo and he wished he hadn’t stopped her.
    “No, as a matter of fact she stopped visiting a few weeks ago. I think the cat lives across the street.” She pointed towards the brownstone directly across the street. “I’ve seen the cat over there some mornings on the front steps when I leave for work. Maybe they are keeping it in at night now?”
    Mason glared across the street, watching for any movement in the peaceful darkness that had fallen over the neighborhood along with the snow.
    “Good night, Mr. Brown.”
    “Mason.”
    “Good night, Mason.” Perhaps I'm making progress with him , she thought, pulling the door closed behind her .
    Sarah entered her apartment dropping her wet boots by the door and hanging her coat and scarf. She went into her bedroom and changed into her warmest pajamas