Chapter 2


    I let my hands curl around the small creature and brought it over to the man next to me. He was able to


    lift Luna with one hand, allowing him to settle Luna on hisp with only her head peaking over the edge


    of the table. “Wash your hands,” he reminded me once he spotted me reaching over for my muffin.


    “Please.”


    I pushed back my chair and turned on the tap. The water was icy cold against my fingers, and when I


    sshed it over my hand, I let my gaze fixate over the garden that was just starting to bloom with


    spring. The soap was poured on my hands, and once enough soap suds were spread all over, I knew it


    was time to rinse it off.


    “S?” called out Teddy behind me. “Is this your full-time job?”


    “Yes, it is.”


    “For how long?”


    “About a year and a half.”


    The tap was just being turned off when I overheard: “Do you enjoy it?”


    “I wouldn’t be here, if I didn’t.” I felt that statement was somewhat rude and looked over my shoulder to


    see his head bent downwards with pure fixation on his cat. “I never meant to be rude. Sorry, it was


    sarcasm.”


    His voice was unbearably low as he uttered: “Sarcasm.”


    “I’m sorry.”


    His response was dyed, but eventually he spoke out: “It is forgotten.”


    I let the dish towel dry my hands quickly, so I could return to my seat. Teddy never lifted his gaze from


    his beloved cat. I took a seat nervously and then reached forward to have my first bite of the muffin.


    “Would you like it heated in future?”


    “Yes, that would be nice.”


    “I am not used to having guests,” he stated in an exacting tone of voice. “I like my house to be quiet.”


    I chewed down on the muffin softly, hoping I wouldn’t do anything else to disturb him.


    “I enjoy peace and quiet,” he continued. “I can’t bear the scraping of chairs, the prattling of people.” He


    lifted the chin of Luna, so he could see her light blue eyes. “Cats are quiet creatures, except when they


    meow.”


    I let out a light chuckle since I agreed with my employer.


    “And the sound of the sea calms me. I have…” He tilted his head to the right. “Frazzled nerves.”


    “Frazzled?”


    “Excitable,” he offered out. “Any little thing can trigger it.”


    I let my eyebrows lower curiously, for I was having trouble understanding what Teddy was telling me.


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    “You look confused,” he observed. “Don’t worry. I will make sure it won’t beshed out on you.”


    “Excitable?”


    “I am sensitive to sounds,” he muttered.


    “The piano doesn’t bother you.”


    “With the right tune it can soothe my nerves,” he rapped out carelessly. “How are you finding the


    coffee?” I nodded my head since my mouth was stuffed with food. “Enjoying it?”


    “Yes.”


    A grandfather clock struck loudly in the house, making me think it was the exact opposite sound that


    would agree with Teddy. He closed his eyes with half annoyance, and only appeared at ease once the


    reign of terror ended. His cat leapt off hisp, shooting down the kitchen to sprint down the hallway. I


    felt goosebumps rise at the back of my arms, but when I looked over my shoulder all I could see was a


    wooden door that was bolted shut with a heavy chain.


    “That goes down to the cers,” Teddy exined. “Nothing important down there.”


    I turned my gaze to the homeowner, having a sense of eeriness since I felt he was lying to me. My


    hand trembled as I reached for the cup, noticing how the room darkened as a series of clouds eclipsed


    the morning sun.


    There was something strange about this man, but I could not put my finger on it yet.


    “The clock has struck ten, which means Daphne would be here by now. I will give you the keys to the


    shed, but please remember to return them.”


    “After my shift?”


    “Yes.” He lifted his mug to gulp down thest of it. “The key is near the front door, I will get it now. Once


    you are finished your breakfast, I expect you to be working hard outside.”


    “Yes, of course.”


    “And if you need anything, you know how to contact me.”


    “Absolutely.”


    “I will be back then,” he surmised. The mug was ced gently on the kitchen sink, soft enough to not


    make a sound. Slippers lightly trod over the wooden floor, and soon enough he was gone from my


    view. I took to eating my food quicker, finding Teddy’s presence a little too much for me. He was an odd


    man, and for some reason I no longer felt safe alone with him. Daphne had worked for him for years


    and she had experienced no harm or difort, but still, would that be enough to guarantee my safety


    as well?


    I could hear creaking of steps overhead, a strange recognition since I assumed no one else was home.


    The creaking continued, going ever so slowly like a person that was elderly and too weak to make it


    down the steps on their own.


    The soft padding of slippers resounded on the other end, and I saw Teddy step past the kitchen


    doorway to make his way to the top set of stairs. There was hush muttering on his end, growing


    sharper as the moments passed by. “Yes,” was the only thing I heard, and then the footsteps of Teddy


    grew louder as he went around the doorway toe into my view. “I am afraid your time is up.”


    “Is someone there?” His face was passive, unwilling to show any sign of emotion. “I thought I heard


    something.”


    “No.”


    “Oh?” I looked down at the remains of my muffin and wondered if it was worth finishing when I felt so


    ufortable around Teddy.


    He looked over his shoulder as if he feared someone woulde, and then took arge step forward


    to enter the kitchen. “Leave the rest,” he demanded. “It is time for you to go outside.”


    I pushed away the te, feeling a sense of defeat. “I am sorry I can’t wash up.”


    He raised his hand to the left of him, entreating me to exit the kitchen as quick as possible. I walked


    towards him with timid steps, feeling like something was going to pounce at me at any moment. The


    bottom of my stomach felt tense when I finally locked eyes with Teddy, feeling his arresting gaze was


    seeking me out. “I will take you outside,” he informed me. I passed under the archway and found just


    enough space to walk past Teddy without brushing my arm against him. In the corner of my eye I


    looked at the foot of the staircase, and then the uppernding where I thought the footsteps had


    stopped. There was nothing there.


    Teddyid a hand on the top of my back to keep me going, sensing I was too curious for my own good.


    He left me near the front entrance, iming he needed to retrieve his coat that he left upstairs. The


    house was incredibly silent when I slipped on my boots, though I heard the soft pattering of Luna in the


    main living room. She made a sharp hiss as if she could sense danger, but when I peeked around the


    corner into the living room, I saw nothing there. I turned my gaze to the empty hallway, and then the set


    of staircases that led to the upper rooms. Restless, I pushed open the front door and stepped outside,


    grateful for the fresh air and the heat of the sun. I would have to make some inquiries about Theodore


    Woven the next time I called Daphne on the telephone. There was something not right about this man,


    as if he were hiding a secret from me. Restlessness seized me once again, so I shut the front door and


    began to wander at the side of the house, curious to see the left side of it. I passed the cherry red


    bicycle, and then took a nce at the stony birdbath that was ced near the front of the house. The


    deep bowl was empty, informing me that Teddy cared very little for the birds’ well-being. I let my hands


    fall deep into my pant pockets, watching my boots sink into the damp grass. I continued to wander until


    I fell under the shade of a willow tree, and only then picked up the distinctive sound of Teddy’s voice: “It


    was just coffee! No! No, I wouldn’t do that. I swear it. Don’t get angry with me. I promised I will protect


    you and…” The rest of his voice trailed off, for he had moved away from the crack of the open window.


    I looked upwards to see the in brick wall, still unscathed by the green vines that crept along the


    other side of the house. There were no windows on the lower level, allowing me to creep past it to get


    to the back of the house. I could see the extensiveness of the garden, the clean white bench that was


    ced in front of high grove wall. In the center of the garden was a steel bower, with floral greenery


    strung atop of it, dangling beautifully to the very bottom where a table and two chairs were situated. I


    walked over to it, letting my fingers feel the brown wood of the chair as I examined the intricate pattern


    of white pillow withce trimmings. I thought the area was very domestic, almost possessing a


    womanly touch.


    I looked over my shoulder to see the open window to the kitchen, noticing it was clear enough to not


    see Teddy on the other side of the ss. My eyes drifted to the two windows over top, both shut with


    heavy drapes so I could not spot anything of interest there. The faint sound of the front door shutting


    assured me that Teddy was outside, and soon enough I saw his towering figure striding down the green


    fields.


    Once he came closer, I observed he was wearing a tan suede bomber jacket with the first few buttons


    to his white dress shirt opened. “You left,” he said with pure irritation. “I would prefer you listen to my


    instructions.”


    “You changed.”


    He looked down at his shirt, taking note that his dress shirt was tucked in neatly this time for me to see


    the tness of his stomach. “I might have…” He shrugged his shoulders guilty. “Freshened up a bit.”


    I smiled at him unknowingly, which made him look down in embarrassment. “What do you think of the


    garden so far?”


    “I think it is beautiful! Do you do any gardening yourself?”


    “A little, but most of it is done by Daphne.”


    “You spend a lot of time out here?”


    “I like to read outdoors,” he mused aloud. “Sometimes paint.”


    “I bet it is nice in the summertime,” I said with all agreeableness. “I like the table you put up here.”


    “Yes, my mother likes it too.”


    “Is she around?” He arched up an eyebrow suspiciously. “Does she live with you?”


    “My mother is dead,” he said with a tenseness in his voice.


    “Oh, I didn’t realize.”


    He looked down at the ground, unable to reach my eyes anymore. I felt incredibly guilty, hoping her


    passing wasn’t recent enough to bring him into a pitiful state. Teddy turned his body slightly away from


    me, curiously looking up at the house as if a thought hade over him. “You should see the shed,” he


    murmured. “And then you are free to do whatever the hell you like.”


    “I didn’t…” I stretched out a hand, barely touching the soft fabric of his jacket. “I really didn’t know.”


    He swallowed hard, while instinctively leaning into my touch. His eyes wavered downwards, and when


    he had enough confidence, he shot it upwards to gaze longingly into mine. Teddy’s mouth opened


    partially, but then somethingpelled him to shut it. He leaned away from my touch, creating enough


    space for him to look more himself again. “I think you should follow me,” he uttered in a cracked voice.


    He left the spot immediately, striding over to the shed at an incredibly brisk pace. The wind picked up a


    bit, blowing right into Teddy’s form as he made his way to the shed. The wind was strong enough to


    pick up his low mutterings, and in the breeze, I could hear the faintest traces of his one-sided


    conversation. “Will you just leave me alone,” He grumbled. “I am not doing anything. And stop following


    me.” Teddy looked over his shoulder, making sure I was far enough away to not hear his insistent


    grumblings. “Go back to your room,” he shot out, and with a flick of his wrist sent that unknown being


    away from him. I slowed down my steps in disbelief, wondering if Teddy was suffering from some


    mental illness. It was clear he truly believed he was speaking to someone, but that person’s identity


    would remain a mystery to me, not unless I was willing to find out the truth.