Fallen Stones (36 page)

The town itself was situated along the side of a continuously climbing hill. The main street in town was known as Centre Street and ran from it eastern end at the bottom of the hill to its far western end at the top for a distance of about a mile or so. At the western side, located at the crest of the hill was Maggie's Restaurant, which occupied a corner building formed from what were once two wood-framed row houses. The town was made up of hundreds of similar two and three story structures ranging from eleven to twenty feet wide; left over remnants from the turn of the twentieth century days when coal companies built the original structures to accommodate their employees, most of whom were European immigrants. Stephanie learned they had once been called “company houses” for that very reason.

As they stood in front of the restaurant, Stephanie noticed for the first time a sign at the intersection of Centre Street and another perpendicular road reading “Cantrania 3”. She had heard of that town before. In fact it had made national news because of a mine fire which had been burning beneath it since the nineteen sixties. She had forgotten it was so close to Ashton. As she recalled, the entire town had to be demolished because of the unsafe conditions the fire had caused. Stephanie had read one article about a boy who fell into a sinkhole in his back yard and would have died had he not been able to grab onto some tree roots and pull himself free. This was the first time the fire made the news in a big way and put the town in to the national spotlight. She believed she had read that later, other homes became uninhabitable due to lethal mine gas. She decided if they had time today, maybe she and the kids would take a trip to Cantrania to see what the place looked like now.

On the large front window of the building where they stood was a sign whose letters were worn but still legible, spelling out “MAGGIE'S RESTAURANT”. Inside the restaurant, a group of apparently regular patrons sat eating breakfast while engaging in boisterous conversations. In Ashton, it was typical for conversations not only to take place among people at adjacent tables, but apparently shouting across the entire restaurant was acceptable as well. This was a tightly knit community of people, who had known each other for many years. Stephanie could feel the closeness of familiarity in the air.

"We haven't opened up the back room yet this morning," a woman said from Stephanie's left, apparently seeing her looking that way with interest. The attractive woman was standing behind a counter surrounded by stools all occupied with patrons. "But it looks like we might have to soon." She wore a dark tan shirt with the name Mary Ann embroidered over the left pocket. She appeared to be in her late forties and was in good shape.

"Please follow me." The woman said cheerfully, "I think we still have a booth or two available over on this side."   Stephanie and family followed Mary Ann to an empty booth near the back part of the front dining area. “There you go,” the woman said. “This should be just fine.”

“Maggie?” Stephanie asked, “What a neat idea. You named the restaurant after her?”

“Well not exactly,” Mary Ann replied. “It's sort of a long story, but I can give you the two minute condensed version if you'd like." Stephanie had a feeling this was a game of sorts, which Mary Ann might have liked to play with new customers.

Stephanie replied, "Sure, why not?"

Mary Ann took a deep breath and in a series of quick sentences, she told her story in a concise manner, which obviously had evolved into its current format from answering that particular, question hundreds of times before. "The original owner of this restaurant was a woman of Irish decent named Maggie Maloney during the 1940's. My mother, Jeanie Wilkins started working here in 1960 when I was five years old. In 1975, Maggie decided to retire and my mom scrapped together the money to buy the restaurant from Maggie, who gave my mom a great deal on the place. I started working here in 1983, and found myself pregnant with my daughter. Then Maggie Maloney passed away before my baby was born and at my Mom's suggestion, I named my daughter Maggie. My mom got sick in 1995, passed away and left the restaurant to me. Now Maggie is learning the trade and will be taking over the business whenever I get around to retiring. So eventually, Maggie's will be Maggie's once again." Mary Ann took a much needed breath and said "Wow. That was pretty quick. I should have timed it. I think I may have set a new record."

Stephanie looked at her smiling with amusement. "That certainly was a great story. I can't wait to tell my husband; I'll bet he's never heard it before."

"Well, if he eats here very often, he's bound to hear it sooner or later," Mary Ann replied.

Just then, a pretty, young waitress about twenty-five years old approached shaking her head and smiling. Even before Stephanie saw the name "Maggie" on her uniform, she knew the girl had to be Mary Ann's daughter. She looked like a younger version of the woman. "Mom! Don't tell me you're boring these nice folks with your story."

"That's quite alright," Stephanie said. "We asked to hear it and loved it."

Maggie replied, "Well maybe the first hundred and fifty times, but after that it gets a bit old." Then she immediately got down to business, "Can I get you folks something to drink while you decide what you would like for breakfast?"

"Sure," Stephanie said nodding at Cindy and Jeremy. "What'll it be kids?"

"Coke," they said simultaneously.

“Not for breakfast!” Stephanie chastised. “Make it two glasses of milk.”

“Chocolate milk?” Cindy asked. Stephanie conceded and said, “Yes, two glasses of chocolate milk.”

"Got it," Maggie said smiling at the kids.

Stephanie said, "I'll have a cup of hot tea and can I have a small cup of chocolate milk for little Sammy?"

"Choka mook," Sammy said.

"What a little sweetie pie!" Maggie replied. "And what beautiful big eyes! That one is destined to be a big hit with the ladies someday."

 The thought of Sammy growing up suddenly filled her with a momentary rush of melancholy.

"Is everything ok?" Maggie asked, apparently confused by the obvious change in Stephanie's expression.

"Um...yes...everything's fine," Stephanie replied. "I guess I'm still waking up slowly."

Maggie said cheerfully, "Well. I guarantee a good, healthy breakfast is just what the doctor ordered to take care of that. I'll be back in a jiffy with your drinks."

A few minutes later, Maggie returned with the drinks. "Are you ready to order now?"

After Stephanie and the kids placed their orders Maggie inquired, "Are you folks just passing through town today? I don't recall seeing you here before. I'm pretty good with faces."

"Actually, no," Stephanie replied. "We moved to the area a month or so ago and are still getting settled. We're living outside of town. I hope to drive around a bit before heading down to the grocery store."

Maggie said, "Well there ain't too much to see around here. There's a mall up in Franksville and another one down in Yuengsville, but other than that, not much around other than the essentials. But I think you'll like it here. The folks around here are nice enough. I'll be back soon with your order." And with that, the busy woman turned and left to get their breakfasts.

Stephanie looked about the restaurant and realized what Maggie had said was true. The people in the room all seemed to know one another and there was a genuine feeling of the relaxed family-like atmosphere which only small town living could bring.  

Soon Maggie returned with their order; plates overflowing with pancakes, eggs, sausage and hash browns. Jeremy and Cindy's eyes grew wide with anticipation.

Maggie looked at Jeremy as if recognizing him and asked. "You look familiar. Were you ever in here before? Remember I said I'm pretty good with faces."

"Once." Jeremy said over a mouth full of pancakes. "With my Dad."

"Jeremy, don't talk with your mouth full." Stephanie scolded.

"Um -K" Jeremy said, his mouth still full of food. Stephanie chose to ignore him, not missing the irony.

"My husband, Jason brought Jeremy in maybe a month ago. He works down town at Technofacture International."

"Jason. Jason." Maggie said as if trying to recall. "That's right. I do remember now. Your husband comes in here often. Now I see where the little one gets his good looks."

This statement bothered Stephanie. She knew it was offered only as a compliment, but it was troublesome to think of another woman eyeing up her husband in that way. Plus, she had no idea Jason ate at Maggie's so often. It was starting to sound as if he was a regular. No wonder he headed out for work so early. She trusted Jason, but having been through one divorce, she was always on the alert for other women, especially younger and attractive women.

"So," Maggie asked, "where do you folks live?”  

"Um... yes..." Stephanie said, recovering from her momentary discomfort. "We live out in Ashton, RD. In a property, I inherited from my uncle Emerson Washburn. It's called 'Fallen Stones'"

Maggie's mouth visibly dropped open and she stammered, "Fall... you mean... the old Livingston place?"

"Why yes." Stephanie replied. "You seem to be familiar with our property."

"Um... yes... I mean no..." The girl didn't seem to know what she meant. "You see... that place... not the place it is now... but how it was before, all run down and abandoned... it sort of... sort of had a reputation around here."

"Reputation?" Stephanie asked curiously. "What sort of reputation?"

Maggie hesitated for a moment then said, "Well it's sort of silly now that I think about it. But back when the place was in ruins, before your uncle bought the place and fixed it up, kids used to drive out there and hang out. You know..." She hesitated, looking cautiously over at the two older kids.

"Yes I think I know exactly what you mean." Stephanie said suppressing a smile, assuming the girl was likely talking about whatever sort of mischief teenage kids got up to when left alone in an abandoned property nowadays. Stephanie was thinking in terms of sex and beer but what Maggie was referring to was something much more sinister.

But for whatever reason, Maggie chose not to share that information. Instead the waitress looked oddly at Stephanie and said, "Well, um... I've got to get back to work now. This place is really busy. Nice meeting you." And before Stephanie had a chance to reply, the girl turned and left, almost as if fleeing. Stephanie watched her and saw her head directly for her mother. She watched Maggie whisper something to Mary Ann and the woman's face took on an expression similar to the troubled one her daughter had just worn. Stephanie had a strange feeling there might be something about her property these local people knew, but she didn't. She began to wonder what that might be.

As Stephanie and the kids ate their breakfast, she occasionally watched Maggie going from booth to booth taking and filling orders. She thought she might be imagining things, but it appeared as if in addition to doing her duties, Maggie seemed to be saying something to each of the patrons and occasionally looking over in their direction, almost as if she were talking about Stephanie and her kids. She was not normally prone to such feelings of paranoia, but this all seemed a bit peculiar to her. When she and the kids had finished eating, Stephanie stood up and began to slowly walk the children up to the main counter to pay for their meals. She hadn't been aware of something at first but now she most certainly was. All of the busy chatter in the restaurant had abruptly stopped as soon as she stood up. She felt as if she was walking through some sort of gauntlet of staring eyeballs and the distance to the cash register suddenly seemed miles away.

She and her children gradually made their way to the counter. It was so quiet; Stephanie was certain she would have been able to hear the proverbial pin dropping and she knew that every eye in the restaurant was focused on her. She could feel those same eyes boring holes in her back. She had considered turning and confronting the people, shouting something at them but decided against it. She simply wanted to pay her bill and get out.

The two older kids noticed the bizarre feeling, which had taken over the restaurant as well. "What the heck are they looking at?" Jeremy whispered to Cindy.

"Beats me." Cindy said. "They look like a bunch of weirdos or something. Mommy why are they looking at us that way?"

"Shush." Stephanie said, "Let's just get pay for our food and get out of here."

They approached the cash register where Mary Ann waited with their bill in hand. Gone was her pleasant demeanor and in its place was a look of uncertainty and possibly distrust. Stephanie resisted turning to look back at the restaurant patrons, certain they would all be watching her. She handed Mary Ann a twenty-dollar bill and abruptly said, "Keep the change". Then she led her children out of the restaurant and into a pleasant morning light, which at that particular moment never looked better to her.

After the unpleasant incident at the restaurant, she no longer had any interest in checking out the rest of the town. In fact, she had no desire to even go to the grocery store but she knew she had to restock the pantry so they had little choice. Stephanie couldn't shake the strange and unpleasant feeling she had experienced in the restaurant and even when they were shopping at the supermarket, she felt as if people were staring at them. She knew that wasn't possible since they had just left the restaurant a few minutes earlier and the people in the supermarket wouldn't know them or know anything about them.  

Stephanie decided the entire experience had been one best forgotten. Obviously the locals thought of her and her family as rich outsiders, interlopers who had moved into a once-abandoned place which they had fond memories from their youth. Likely, they resented the opulence of the renovated farmhouse and were jealous of Stephanie's good fortune. She didn't need to associate with small-minded people like that. She had her family and she had her property. That was enough for her.

 

Chapter 23