Arlynn James & The Sycamore Secret (Pt. 1)

They say memories can be triggered by certain sounds, familiar scents, and visual arrays of color that can flash a scene from the past into the mind like an eerie film. Other memories can be buried so deep, they lay dormant and hidden for years, sometimes even forever. For Arlynn James, memories were what she desperately strained to find in order to piece together the mysteries of her past.

As her slender fingertips tapped against the car window, Arlynn could feel the coolness of the spring morning air seeping in. Letting her eyes gaze at the beautiful English countryside, her mind wondered into the memories of when she was young and roaming through these very fields. Though she left for America just before her seventh birthday, the scent of rain could always bring her mind back to the place that haunted her most.

“Lettie is beside herself with excitement. You’d have thought the Queen, herself, would be joining us for tea.”

Arlynn laughed as she looked at her smiling Uncle Byron. Her relatives in Northumberland were the warmest people she knew, aside from her beloved mother. Spending time with them was something she looked forward to and hoped wouldn’t fly by too quickly.

“I can’t wait to see her. Is Ed still at Uni?”

The car pulled down a long, winding road with graceful trees that opened to a sunny stone cottage.

“Yes, yes. Edward is thoroughly immersed in his internship, though I wouldn’t be too surprised if his excitement wasn’t due to the affection of a certain young lady.”

Arlynn’s eyes lit up in surprise at the news of her dearest cousin.

“That’s wonderful! I’m so happy for him.”

Her uncle pulled the car slowly to the side of the cottage, while the front door swung open to release two giant dogs and the beaming figure of her aunt to greet them.

“We’re thrilled as well. And here’s Lettie, releasing the hounds on you,” he laughed jovially.

The joyful embrace of Aunt Lettie made Arlynn’s mind flip back to the many times she would visit this old cottage with her mother. There was never a time when they didn’t feel welcome or wanted. Her mother was the only younger sibling of her Uncle Byron, and they remained close all their lives. Even when moving abroad, phone calls were exchanged almost on a daily basis.

After a delicious meal with endless laughter, Arlynn rested her head back onto the soft pillows of her cozy room. The sights and smells of this place reminded her of her mother, who she missed dearly every day. If not for her overwhelming desire to see her family, Arlynn would not have ventured back into the English countryside of her youth. She was very close to her mother, and her passing was especially difficult.

The cheerful rays of the sun burst through the kitchen windows as Arlynn sat finishing the remnants of her coffee and toast. Two hungry hounds sat at her feet hoping for a crumb to fall in their grasp.

Byron shook his head at the sight of his eager dogs. “Don’t be fooled, they’ve eaten plenty! You’d have thought they were never fed…”

Lettie smiled at her niece, “What are your plans today, my dear?”

“I was thinking I would really like to visit the church, maybe leave some fresh flowers for Mum.”

“That’s a wonderful idea! We have to go into town anyway, would you like to stop by and say hello to Mrs. Calloway? She’ll be so thrilled to see you, she doesn’t see much excitement these days.”

“That would be lovely. I enjoy her stories,” Arlynn laughed.

After a quick tidying of the kitchen, and a secret dash of bread crusts passed to the dogs, they were on their way to the picturesque village.

Stepping outside the car to look at the warm cottage in front of her, Arlynn could smell the fresh scent of flowers in the air. The ivy climbing up the side of the cottage to the thatched roof was a country scene she would never tire of seeing. Mrs. Calloway’s elderly frame clambered out the door with glee as she threw her arms around Arlynn.

“Look at you! It’s been ages since I’ve seen your face!”

Arlynn giggled as she was inspected by the sharp-witted lady in front of her.

“Byron, you must see that she eats more food, she’s a little wisp of a thing! Come inside, come inside! Tell me everything!” she shouted while ushering them in the door.

“You remind me so much of your mother,” Mrs. Calloway said with fondness as they sat in her front parlor.

“I’m going to the church today. I haven’t been there since the funeral,” Arlynn replied with a sad smile.

“Certainly understandable, my dear. Oh, you must help yourself to flowers from my garden! The blooms have been extraordinary this year.”

“Thank you so much, that would be lovely.”

After Byron and Lettie brought the tea tray and sandwiches from the kitchen, as Mrs. Calloway had strictly instructed, they all agreed to sit on the back patio to soak in the beautiful sunshine.

“Ah, the sunshine is positively wonderful today! I hope you can enjoy some good weather while you are here, Arlynn. I remember the whole lot of you running from one end of the village to the other, finding adventures. You always had such a keen mind for reading people, and Sam was always your right hand man!”

Arlynn’s eyes brightened at the memory as she thought of her best friend from childhood.

“Sam! I haven’t seen him since we moved to the States. I’m sure he’s happy and married somewhere by now.”

Mrs. Calloway laughed in surprise, “Well, didn’t you know? He’s here! He’s visiting his parents. Such a sweet young man, Sam. The very best of the Haringtons, if you ask me. He’s made a good name for himself, his parents are very proud.”

Arlynn watched Mrs. Calloway as her expression changed to one of worry as she looked out towards the garden, as if she was searching for something.

“Is everything alright?”

The elderly woman quickly realized her mind had wondered and laughed nervously.

“Lettie, do be a dear and get my shears so we can cut some flowers for you to take?”

Byron stood with his wife and took the tea tray back into the kitchen after they had all finished. Mrs. Calloway looked at Arlynn when they were out of earshot from the others.

“My dear girl, I don’t wish to alarm you, but I do bid you a warning,” she said earnestly.

Arlynn’s brow furrowed in confusion, “A warning? Is something wrong?”

Clutching her pearl necklace in shaking fingers, she proceeded, “I feel something is coming. I know I am an old woman, and many would say my mind wonders, but I know what I feel. I felt it coming right before Amelia disappeared and I feel it now. Please take care. Use your wits.”

In complete puzzlement, Arlynn asked, “Amelia? Amelia Harington? I thought she was abroad…did something happen?”

Byron and Lettie began walking back to the garden with the shears.

“Find Sam.”

Mrs. Calloway jumped up to assist Lettie in choosing the perfect flowers, while a bewildered Arlynn stood next to her uncle watching.

“Uncle Byron, did something strange happen to Amelia Harington?”

The tall man looked at her grimly.

“We believe so. Though Lord and Lady Harington have never spoken of it, no one has seen her since you left with your parents.”

“Why was I never told? Mum only said they had been sent to boarding schools and I assumed they were studying abroad after that. What on earth could have happened?”

Byron paused thoughtfully to consider his words before proceeding.

“Arlynn. Your mother didn’t want to alarm you. It was quite the scandal here when she disappeared, the entire village was searched but they found nothing. A rumor began surrounding your father, not that there was any truth to it. It was simply the old gossips who didn’t care for an American, trying to stir up trouble. Unfortunately, it was something that prevented your parents from feeling comfortable enough to return.”

The shock was evident on Arlynn’s face as she tried to process the entire situation. There had to be something in her past that would explain what happened to her friend, some clues that would clear her family name from such a terrible accusation. Slowly turning towards her uncle, she crossed her arms in determination.

“I’m going to find what happened to Amelia Harington. My father would never have done anything to harm a child and I’ll find a way to prove it.”

#readingrecommendations #mystery #arlynnjames