Arlynn James & The Sycamore Secret (Pt. 6)

The clouds had opened to a refreshingly bright morning when Arlynn looked out of her window the next day. The sadness of unraveling Amelia’s death was heavy on everyone’s hearts throughout breakfast. Something else swirled around Arlynn’s mind though, something that she knew she would have to face.

“Uncle Byron.”

Her uncle placed his coffee cup down absentmindedly as he sat immersed in a newspaper article.

“Hmm?”

“Do you know a Mr. Sires?”

He glanced at her from the top of his paper in curiosity.

“Who, my dear?”

“His name is Mr. Sires. Sam introduced me to him when we were looking for the people staying with his family the night Amelia disappeared,” she explained.

“The name sounds oddly familiar, but I can’t recall ever meeting anyone by that name. Why?”

Arlynn looked at her uncle and aunt and shrugged nonchalantly.

“I was just curious.”

True to his word, Sam showed up to the house as breakfast was cleared from the table. Lettie insisted they use the quiet sitting room to visit so they would be undisturbed.

Sam sat down and Arlynn shut the door behind them. As she came up behind him, she reached to touch the back of his head.

“How’s your head?”

He quickly caught her hand and smiled.

“Very sore. But nothing that won’t heal.”

Arlynn smiled back apologetically and sat directly across from him. Leaning forward, she put her hands together and looked down at the floor thoughtfully.

“Sam, I’m so sorry…”

He reached out and grabbed her hands before she could finish.

“Please stop apologizing, I knew the outcome wouldn’t be easy. My family owes you a huge debt of gratitude. Who knows what Scarlett would have done to someone else? If my parents hadn’t found me and helped me come to, I wouldn’t have made it to you in time. I can’t imagine.”

Arlynn nodded, knowing how close she had come to death.

“What will you do now? Do you plan to stay on here?”

Sam’s eyes peered into hers with heartfelt sincerity.

“I don’t know, Sam. I hadn’t really thought this far, there are so many things I’d have to consider…”

He stood up and pulled her to her feet.

“I understand. But I will do everything I can to sway your decision.”

She smiled as he kissed her hand and told her he would see her the next day at the special funeral service for Amelia.

Later that evening, Arlynn could sense that her uncle was slightly distracted during dinner. Her aunt tried to conceal his noticeably serious demeanor by being even more congenial than usual.

“Uncle Byron, have you heard from my father?”

Byron glanced at her in surprise.

“Well, not since you were in the hospital. I did let him know what was happening.”

Nodding thoughtfully, she asked, “Anything since then?”

“I had thought he would come here to see you. But no, I’ve heard nothing.”

An obvious look of annoyance clouded Byron’s face as he spoke.

“I can’t understand.”

Lettie patted her husband’s hand and said optimistically, “Maybe he was detained in traveling, or it could be that he’s working and trying to finish everything before he leaves?”

“It really is okay. I didn’t expect him to come, and I’ve been very happy to be here with you both.”

They smiled back at her warmly.

Lettie said excitedly, “We’ve loved having you here, Arlynn! We do hope you will stay!”

Byron said with a twinkle in his eye, “I think we may not be the only ones to tell you that, my dear.”

Arlynn’s face began to redden as she thought of Sam. She knew she would need to make a decision about what direction to go in.

The next day, Arlynn walked with her aunt and uncle across the stunning green landscape around the old church. They were among many other townsfolk paying their respects to Amelia and offering condolences to the Harington family. As Arlynn stood beside her aunt and uncle to watch as the small coffin was lowered, she glanced around to see the many familiar faces in the crowd. Beyond the cluster of people around the gravesite, she could see a figure watching from the wooded area surrounding the cemetery. She could tell it was a man with a hat and trench coat, but could make out nothing else from the distance. Her attention was quickly pulled away when the people began moving towards the Haringtons to wish them well before everyone departed.

Photo by Jose Llamas on Unsplash

Lettie and Byron left Arlynn to speak with some friends, allowing her to glance back towards the figure by the trees but he was gone. When Arlynn turned around to find her aunt and uncle, she ran right into Mr. Sires.

“Oh, Mr. Sires! I apologize, I wasn’t paying attention,” she smiled.

The old man didn’t seem to notice she had spoken at all but glared back curiously.

“You’re smart. I knew you would figure it out.”

She spotted Sam making his way closer out of the corner of her eye.

“It’s only the beginning. You can’t stop what’s in motion, child.”

Sam reached her side and looked at Mr. Sires in confusion.

“Stop what?”

Mr. Sires stared at the two of them uneasily before leaning in to whisper.

“They’ll know. They’ll find out. Take care, don’t trust them, no matter what they say. We couldn’t save her, but we’ll do whatever we can to save you.”

Sam and Arlynn watched in silence as the old man walked away quickly into the group of departing people.

Sam asked, “What’s he talking about? Did he think he could save Amelia?”

“No. My mother,” she stated bluntly.

Shocked, Sam turned to face her.

“I thought it was an accident,” he replied.

“So did I. But I think there’s something more that I need to find out.”

Nodding, he smiled back at her slowly.

“You’re staying then.”

She smiled back as he offered her his arm to walk her out with their families.

“Yes, I’ve decided to stay.”

“Good. We make an excellent detective team.”

Arlynn looked up at him with a playful glint in her eyes.

“You don’t even know what kind of mystery, or even danger, this could lead to,” she began to say.

He nodded curtly and interrupted, “You can tell me all about it…over dinner.”