Free The Haunting of Annabelle by Carl East Page B

toasting, and as
she rounded the corner past the front desk, she heard the clink of
silverware on plates. The oak dining room table was set for twelve
and had a vase of cheery flowers placed in the center. Along the
wall stood a sideboard loaded with covered platters, and lifting
the lids was like Christmas morning. Crisp bacon, savory sausage,
and fluffy pancakes had been prepared and toast stands were at the
ready. Jars of homemade preserves were lined up in a row along with
pitchers of orange juice and milk, and a basket of fresh assorted
fruit sat nearby. She heard steps coming from a connecting room and
the owners smiled when they saw her surprised expression. Mary
asked how she wanted her eggs cooked and Annabelle could only
respond “eggs too?” They laughed when she told them her customary
breakfast was a protein shake and a fresh orange.
    “ Well, it’s never too late
to start living,” Mary replied.
    Not taking no for an answer, and with a
shake of her head, she headed back to make Annabelle one scrambled
egg ,and passed her husband bringing out the fresh brewed coffee
and assorted toast for the stands.
    Footsteps could be heard coming down the
stairs and soon they were joined by the other visitors staying at
the hotel. Annabelle realized that the major draw of the
establishment was the couples’ outgoing friendliness and delight in
providing for their guests, and she made a mental note to remember
that customers came in all shapes and sizes and that she’d have to
be on her toes to meet their expectations too.
    Breakfast was wonderful, she’d have to watch
or she’d put on weight staying here, she thought as she went up to
her room. Checking the notes, she verified that the cab would be
arriving in a few minutes to take her out to the property. She was
looking forward to seeing the building and assessing its potential
as she stepped out onto the porch to wait.
     

Chapter 4
     
    She sighted the cab coming down the street,
and made a note to herself that having a car to pick up the guests
at the train station could be part of the upscale atmosphere she
intended to create, if the property met her expectations. Sliding
into the rear seat, she mused that if this opportunity proved
lucrative, she might eventually expand her ideas to another
property.
    The ride to the estate took about fifteen
minutes and as they passed out of town and into the nearby
countryside, she enjoyed the multitude of trees lining the road and
the open spaces that surrounded the homes they passed. She noticed
from a sign on the road that they appeared to be heading to the ski
resort in the distance. The cab began to slow down as it approached
a freshly paved road that was offset by low stone walls. Attached
to the stone pillars at the entrance was a large black wrought iron
gate, which opened to the sides. The driveway stretched through a
shaded wooded acreage, until the trees parted to reveal a broad
expanse of lawn that framed the house on the sloped hill.
    Her breath caught at the sight of burgundy
bricks highlighted by stunning white pillars at the front of the
home, which appeared to be four stories in height. A multitude of
chimneys on the massive roof gave the appearance of sentries, while
the white-trimmed windows reflected the morning light. The
landscaped areas around the front of the house were adorned with
blooming pink and white azaleas that sat in beds of deep brown
mulch. The occasional red bud trees with their airy limbs contained
purple pink blossoms, and carefully placed white dogwoods were
planted in front to offset their partners. The cab stopped at the
bottom steps that lead to the wide double doors adorned with brass
knockers, and while she sat there taking it all in, the doors
opened to two gentlemen.
    The gray haired older man remained at the
top as a slightly younger man came down the steps.
    “ Annabelle Lee, I
presume?” he said, as he helped her out of the car.
    “ Yes,” she replied,
holding out her