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Chapter 157 - Deja Vu
The next day Mary came to Capwells. She found Sophia looking though her family albums. The older woman told Mary the latest news about her newfound memories.
"I can imagine how it was hard for you," Mary said sympathetically.
"Yes, you can. You had to reveal the family secrets too."
"Right. But I hope that your secrets are less severe than mine. Can I...?" Mary took the album from Sophia's hands to get a better view.
"Sure. This is my mother, and my father. Here they are together..."
Two women slowly turn pages till Rosa peeked in saying that it's a phone call for Sophia.
Finished the call Sophia came back and sat down again.
"Mary? Are you all right?"
"Yes..." Mary seems is out of a strange stupor. She looked up from one of the photos in the album. "I'm just thinking... What is this photo?"
"It's just my parents. I guess that they are quite recognizable here. What is it?"
"Where it was taken?" Mary cannot understand why she's so hooked on this particular picture. She really did not know this picture but there was something familiar.
"In my family house. Why are you so nervous?"
"I don't know. Cannot understand. Let's go though to the end."
Mary turned the page and then another one. When she opened the third one she's experienced some distant sense of deja vu again. They compared this picture with the previous hypnotic one and it turned out that they were taken in the same room.
"This was a guest room on the second floor. I can recall that we had used it as a living room because the renovation of the first floor. Mary, these are saying something to you?"
"Not clear," Mary finally looked up Sophia. "I cannot explain it but it's seems familiar not these picture but the interior of the room. Like if I was there." She shivered involuntarily. The feeling seemed somehow weird. As of the underworld. But the magic dissipated as soon as Sophia spoke.
"I think there's only way to reveal everything until the very end. Mary, come with me to Pittsburgh."
At first Mary did not even realize what Sophia offered. "To this house?"
"Yes. I still own it."
"Sophia, I hardly have been in your family house before. It's just... a weird feeling."
"Moreover there is nothing to fear. Think of this as just accompanying me to the house of my childhood. I beg you. We'll not stay there for long time, I promise. And I have been planned to go there anyway."
"Well... OK," Mary eventually agreed. "Tomorrow, OK? I need to talk the babysitter and give her detailed instructions."
"Thank you. I really appreciate your help."
Mason's visible frown when Mary told him about her journey.
"I'm going with you," he said categorically.
"Mason, this is not necessary. We will stay there for a few days only. In addition, I would like to have someone of us to look after the children here."
"Mrs. Rold just doing fine," Mason said.
"I know. But I'll fell better if you stay."
Mason paused. "Oh well, OK. But promise me that you'll call me immediately if you feel that you need me, okay?"
"I always need you. But I promise."
* * *
"Mary?"
The younger woman startled and looked up Sophia. They were in the plane on the way in Pittsburgh.
"Remember anything else?"
"No... I do not think they were my memories."
"Why?"
"I do not sure. I just never experienced anything like. Even when... when my childhood nightmares turned out to be true at some point. Dreams and memories ... they have a lot in common but it's not like now. Frankly, I would not be surprised if my memory connects this picture with a scene from any movie or anything else... I'm sorry."
"It's all right, Mary. I cannot understand it too. I just know that I must reveal the truth."
"Why?" Mary curiously looked at her.
"This was just about my father when I saw the picture in your family album but now... I have a feeling like I'm falling down in timelessness. I was sure that I knew who was I and where I came. And now all fell completely to pieces." Sophia paused and added softly. "It feels like the terrible feeling from days when I was suffering from amnesia. The terrible emptiness was inside that nothing can fill."
Mary reassuringly squeezed her hand.
"You need not be afraid. Memory loss will never come back."
"I know. But now I feel somehow similar. As if I'm ripped up from the native ground."
* * *
After five hours of flight they had a good lunch in the hotel and drove to Sophia's family house for a one and half of hour. They arrived only in the evening.
"It's so lovely place!" Mary gasped as they're nearly there.
"It's not too much changed," Sophia said trying not to giving up to the load of memories.
They drove through neighborhoods of neat historical buildings. Somewhere ahead the water shone silver.
Their goal found out to be the beautiful mansion is almost on the shore of the lake. The house really had the marked distance from the other houses although it was not stood out. Seemed like someone led the dotted line to the lake and then just put the final dot. "It's a perfect place to hide in plain sight," Mary thought involuntarily.
"Is it closed?" she asked as they approached the gate of the fence.
"Yes, just the keeper looks out," Sophia explained and forced herself to push the wicker door.
She goes straight to the front door but Mary curiously walks around of the house. She definitely likes it and there're no dark memories. More precisely the house does not cause any feelings. Going round Mary returned to the front door, it's already opened.
Mary did steps up and walked into the dark bowels of the house.
Half an hour later they were drinking tea in the abandoned but cozy kitchen.
"How do you feel now?" Mary asked.
"Better than I could image," Sophia dry smiled. "But every thing brings back memories. And what about you?" Hoping she looked at the younger woman.
Mary shrugged. "It's a quite beautiful place. Though does not like California," she took a sip. "And it's... cozy and nice too. Sophia, I'm sorry!"
"No, it's okay," Sophia wiped her tears. "Yes, it's really true! We were very happy here! God know, we were a loving family! And then everything fallen apart... ruined", her voice faded.
"Why?" Mary asked quietly. She knew these feelings too. When your life is dividing to "before" and "after" - Haven and Hell.
"My mother's illness. Like in your family. She was treated, had mastectomy but no avail. The cancer's back and then she died."
"Yes, like mine. Dad's death destroyed everything. Destroyed my family."
They fell silent each thinking about her family tragedy. Then Sophia rose slowly.
"I'll turn on the heating and we settle for the night. Which room you'll take? You can choose anyone!" She smiled and spread her arms wide.
Mary shrugged and then asked: "Show me that room. Where was taken the photo."
"OK." Sophia led Mary upstairs.
They walked down a short hall and then Sophia pushed the door and turn on the light.
The bright light shone the room and Mary immediately received a strong wave of deja vu. "I was here!" Every part of her being screamed. "I remember these walls!"
Mary distanced heard Sophia calls her name but she did not turn her head. Like a sleepwalker she walked across the room to the window and sat on the sofa. Everything was covered in thick dust. Mary ran her fingers on the bedside table and then noticed some piece of paper on the floor. She automatically picked it up and stared. The child's drawing, aged and dog-eared.
"My God!" She heard her own voice as unusually loud. "It's me!"
"What are you talking?" Sophia quickly came to her and took the picture. And also froze in the place.
The recognizable drawing of leopard was signed by "Mary Duvall".
"This is my drawing," Mary said slowly, realizing the discovery. "I really was here!"
Women shocked looked at each other.
"But what it's meaning?" Sophia uttered.
"Only the one thing, I think", Mary sank back on the dusty sofa, feeling that her legs are ready to shutting down. "I was here and leave my drawing. Our families really were somehow connected."
"Yes, it's undoubtedly now. So that photo was not brought in your album by accident."
"As well as my drawing. I know it was me who drew it. I can see my own children's handwriting but I do not understand how and when I did this. I remember nothing about this house! Sophia, there is a phone? I want to talk to Mason."
Mary quickly leaves the room and goes downstairs. She longed her husband to be here. Mason was the only person who's able to save her and put down on firm ground again!
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