Never Tear Us Apart - Complete

Chapter Seven

Inside the gates we followed a paved driveway a hundred yards before taking the left fork and driving for another few hundred yards, pulling up alongside Mom's car outside a large three-story Gothic stone building. We piled out, looking about us curiously.

The building itself was majestic. It was clearly old. The front featured the entry door beneath an ornate timber balcony, but to each side stood windowed circular turrets. There were plenty of wood-framed windows on the ground and first floors, the top floor featuring tiny dormer windows in the conical red-shingled roof. It was the sort of place you expected to see in a historic district of an old town—not here in a heavily treed enclosure on an isolated mountain.

"It's freezing," Eddie muttered, shivering despite the hoodie he was wearing.

"I hope it has heating," I said, eyeing the house dubiously.

"Let's stop grumbling and start moving," Mom said, not looking thrilled, herself. "Bring everything in downstairs; then we'll work out the sleeping arrangements."

Digging in the large yellow envelope, Janine pulled out a set of keys, climbing the two front stairs and crossing the deep porch to open the broad wooden front door. Gesturing everyone inside, one by one we followed her into an enormous open area. To one side was a dining room, the other a formal lounge area with prissy old-fashioned sofas and armchairs.

"Put all the stuff in the lounge, then we'll explore," she ordered.

Dimitri, Stan, Eddie, Blake, Meredith, and I made quick work of bringing in our duffel bags, quilts, pillows, coolers, and the groceries. Placing them in piles in the lounge room, we followed Mom through the house, taking careful reconnaissance of the layout.

The ground floor seemed to comprise communal areas. A large rectangle, to the right of the entry hall was the dining room. Featuring an enormous mahogany table seating eighteen, there was also a glass-fronted sideboard displaying an ornate dinner set, crystal glassware, and silver. Although the place was relatively clean and dust-free, somehow it had the air of a place that was rarely, if ever, used.

From the dining room, we filed through a doorway to an area my mother declared to be a butler's pantry before heading through another door to an enormous kitchen and meals area. Painted in white, the area was scrupulously clean. The closest end had a large wooden table with sturdy timber chairs. The other end featured a fully kitted turn of the century kitchen, including a massive cast iron range and a central butcher's block bench. Well lit by large windows on two walls, the room would be a nightmare to defend but was bright and pleasant.

"I haven't seen one of those since I was a bairn," my mother muttered, going over to look at the wood-fired stove. "My Nan was in service and used to cook on one of these. I can remember visiting her as a wee thing and watching her bake."

I spun to face my mother in shock. I'd heard nothing about my grandmother, let alone my mother's grandmother! Somehow I'd assumed Mom knew as little about her family as I did of mine. It looked like there was an entire family history I knew nothing about. It was a depressing thought.

Checking the doors from the kitchen, one led to an enormous larder, which was empty other than two modern deep freezers and a fridge. Stan stepped forward to open them, discovering they were empty and spotless; all ready to accommodate our food. I looked to the doorframes, noting there were light switches. So at least the house was wired. Here's hoping the power was on!

Another door from the kitchen led to a mudroom in the rear center of the house which contained a washer, dryer, wood store, a door to a downstairs bathroom, and the back door. The third door led back into the entry hall, to the side of the stairs leading upwards. On the other side of the entryway was the lounge room where we'd piled our belongings, a library with floor to ceiling bookcases, well stocked with leather-bound tomes and comfortable looking leather sofas. The library connected via an arch to what looked like a gentleman's study. Finally, a room in the back left corner was probably meant to be a ladies' sitting room.