Arlynn James & The Sycamore Secret (Pt. 2)

Since she learned that her father was rumored to have been the reason behind the disappearance of her childhood friend, Arlynn’s mind was reeling in overdrive. There had to be some memories from her past that would help her unlock what happened to Amelia and clear her father’s name. Why had Mrs. Calloway told her to find Sam? Maybe he knew something that could help her.

The day was sunny and fresh with the scent of an early morning shower when Arlynn told her aunt and uncle she would be taking a walk to sort her thoughts. Walking always seemed to help jog her memory and direct her energy into strategy. Her mother had often laughed and said she had a mind that was made for solving puzzles, though that usually meant finding trouble along the way. As she made her way down a scenic walking path beside the house, her eyes fell on the familiar trees and favorite hiding places of her youth. After she made it to a clearing, the beautiful sight of an open field came into view. Climbing over the rickety, old fence separating the properties, Arlynn continued on her walk in deep thought. The distant sound of a horse running made her look around to see the figure of a man riding a stunning black horse across the field.

“Beautiful,” she muttered to herself.

Arlynn hoped she was out of view, but all too quickly she realized the rider had spotted her. Unsure whether to turn back or face a tongue-lashing for climbing the fence, she didn’t have time to decide before the rider made it to her.

“This is private property. Ramblers are not allowed,” the man said sternly before he paused at the sight of her.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize. I’m visiting family and used to live here when I was young, I didn’t know it had changed –“

“Arlynn?”

Staring in confusion at the rider as he quickly jumped down to stand in front of her, she gasped when she looked into familiar blue eyes.

“Sam!”

They laughed and collided into a hug that lifted Arlynn off the ground.

“You’re so tall!”

Setting her down and smiling back at her, he shook his head in jest.

“To be fair, you are quite petite.”

“Average. I’m perfectly average.”

“Mmmm…”

Arlynn pursed her lips in objection, “5” 5’ is perfectly respectable and considered above petite, Sam Harington.”

His eyes glinted with amusement as he grabbed the horse’s reigns and walked with her towards the fence to tie his horse as they talked.

“It’s so good to see you, Sam. Why did you never write back?”

Sam’s eyes looked back in confusion.

“What do you mean? You never wrote me. I waited for you to write, I didn’t know where you were. I asked my parents every single day for a year and then called them every week from boarding school just to ask if you sent anything.”

Shaking her head in disbelief, Arlynn couldn’t understand why nothing she sent had been received.

“I did write. I sent you letters, a birthday card every year, Christmas cards, I even sent invitations to my graduations hoping you might respond.”

Pain filled his eyes as he looked at the ground and ran his hands through his black hair.

“My mother. I knew it. So many years…”

Standing in silence, Arlynn’s heart was heavy at the realization Mrs. Harington had been preventing contact between the two of them for all these years.

“I’m here now,” she said sincerely.

Sam smiled and then looked at her curiously, “Are you staying here, or planning to go back to the states?”

Wrinkling her nose with indecision, “I don’t know. I’m thinking about it. For now, I’m visiting for a few weeks.”

“Okay. Well then I have a few weeks to convince you to stay,” he said decisively before glancing at his watch. “Ugh, I completely forgot about this blasted meeting.”

“Oh, of course! I won’t keep you any longer-“

“No, it’s wonderful to see you! You’ve changed my whole day, really!”

Grabbing the reigns and climbing back on his horse, he turned to look at her thoughtfully.

“Will you have dinner with me tonight? We can catch up!”

“Tonight? Ok! Where do I meet-”

“I’ll pick you up at 7!”

Arlynn laughed as he bolted across the field. Seeing him somehow made her feel a sense of belonging, which was a far cry from what she’d felt since her mother passed away. Though she was close to her father, he had buried himself in work to cope with the loss. The two of them had been so fiercely devoted to each other, it was a terrible shock when she died. Though Arlynn understood why he needed to focus his attention on something else, it had made her feel like a ship without a sail. It was Uncle Byron who had stepped in to pull her back to reality and guide her in moving on.

Walking back to the cottage, she could hear the barking of the dog to welcome her. Lettie turned around from the kitchen sink to greet her cheerfully.

“What has you so happy, my dear? Did you enjoy your walk?”

“Yes! It was lovely!”

Byron walked in with reading glasses on his nose while holding a newspaper.

“Ah! There you are, Arlynn. Any plans for later? Lettie thinks we should watch a romance movie and I was hoping you would help me convince her of a comedy.”

Arlynn laughed, “Actually, I do have plans. I just ran into Sam on my walk and he’s asked me to dinner.”

Lettie and Byron raised their eyebrows in surprise and began to smile at each other.

“He’s asked you on a date,” Lettie said excitedly.

“I mean, not really a date though. I don’t think, it’s just to catch up.”

Byron pulled his glasses off in curiosity as he smiled.

“So then you’ll be meeting him then, because it isn’t a date.”

Arlynn pinched her lips together in thought as she replied, “Well, no. He’s picking me up. But, I think it’s probably because I haven’t been here in a while and he was probably thinking I might get lost?”

Byron looked at his niece and winked.

“GPS, dear.”

Arlynn’s face began to turn red before her uncle turned around and waved his glasses in the air while he left the room.

“It’s a date!”

Lettie began laughing as she finished putting her clean cups away.

“Don’t worry, my dear. He’s only teasing in fun. I’ll make him watch Casablanca tonight. He hates Bogart.”

Arlynn laughed as her aunt squeezed her shoulders in encouragement.

When Sam had pulled into the drive to pick up Arlynn, he was greeted warmly by her uncle and aunt, who had liked him since he was a young boy. The excitement between the two young people had not gone unnoticed by Lettie and Byron, who hoped the unfounded rumors of the past didn’t come back to cause more pain between the two families.

Driving past many perfectly nice looking pubs, Sam finally pulled to a stop at a place called “The Red Lion.” Inside was a very cozy setting surrounded by the warmth of a fireplace, which Sam made sure to secure a table beside.

“I’m sure you’re wondering why I’ve brought you all the way out here,” he said while pushing her chair in.

“I was curious, but I figured you had a reason.”

Sitting down in front of her, he smiled and nodded.

“I do. It can be difficult to speak freely when everyone in the village knows you. It’s a little easier here. Plus they always have a fire and you’re usually cold.”

Arlynn laughed in genuine surprise, “You remember that?”

“I remember everything. Well, the important things anyway.”

Smiling at his thoughtfulness, she said, “Anemia…usually means lots of sweaters and never-ending iron pills.”

“Nothing wrong with that.”

Arlynn felt such an ease with Sam, it seemed as though there had been no time apart. Growing concerned that anything she said about Amelia may ruin the evening, she considered how she might proceed in asking him any questions.

Quick to perceive the change in her expression to that of worry, Sam asked, “Is something on your mind? Please tell me.”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I was just thinking, I’ve been wanting to talk with you since I came but I’m not sure-”

“Ask me anything. I don’t mind, really.”

Looking back in serious thought, Arlynn gently said, “Sam, I’m so sorry about Amelia. I had no idea until Mrs. Calloway told me, and I can’t figure what happened.”

Sam seemed taken aback by her bluntness, but didn’t show signs of any offense taken.

“I don’t know if you’ll be angry or think I’m crazy, but I’m determined to find out what happened. I used to be a consultant for the police in the cold cases division. I was very good at it.”

“Arlynn, I appreciate your intentions but I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he began with uncertainty.

“I understand how you feel, but I have to try. Your family will always hate mine if we don’t find out the truth. We all need to know what happened.”

Pressing his lips together and looking at the fireplace, he knew she was right.

“Alright. But we do this together. All of it. I mean it.”

“Sam, investigations don’t always give the end result you want. Things could get messy, especially involving friends or family.”

“I know. But I’m not letting you go into this alone. Not after what I know.”

Leaning towards Sam, Arlynn pressed, “What do you know?”

Glancing down at his hands on the table, Sam answered gravely, “It was supposed to be me. The night Amelia disappeared.”

“What do you mean?”

“There was a storm, they said the dog had run off. I was supposed to check the stables but I didn’t, I thought I heard him barking upstairs so I checked up there first. Amelia took my coat and ran out to check the stables. That was the last time I saw her.”

In puzzlement, Arlynn asked, “So you think it was some accident during the storm and no one is saying?”

“No. I found the dog upstairs, he was locked in a room. I’m saying someone took my sister thinking it was me.”

As the two of them sat quietly thinking of the gravity of the situation, Arlynn was completely baffled.

“Have you told anyone?”

Dismissing the idea with his hand, “No. My parents would never believe me, and I could never prove anything. I was only a child.”

“Sam, this is going to get worse before it gets better. This would implicate everyone in your home at the time of her disappearance…”

Nodding in determination, he looked back at her with a fixed gaze.

“I’m not letting you do this alone. There were some powerful people in my house that night. Promise me you won’t do anything without me.”

Taking a deep breath, Arlynn nodded firmly, “I promise.”