Anna’s new house Chapter 1

Anna came bouncing out of the title business, new key to her house in hand. Happily she raced to her car, stuffed to the brim with her clothes and meager belongings. “4 months I have been waiting for this day!!!” She jumped in the car and started across town heading to her new home. She pulled up into the driveway, looked out at her new prize. A turn of the century Victorian house, completely furnished and other than the belongings Anna had in her car, ready to go.

Anna opened the car door and got out, keys in hand practically running up the front steps, inserting the key into the lock. Taking a deep breath she tuned the key and opened the door. “Wow I am so damn lucky to get this place” she thought to herself. The house was fully furnished with all the period furniture you could imagine. She slowly walked around pulling the white sheets off of the furniture, admiring the craftsmanship that went into making such nice pieces.

Anna gathered up the sheets and moved them to the laundry room, piling them up to wash later. Suddenly she heard a bell ringing near the living room. Waking back to investigate she sees an older lady at the front door. Anna walked over to the door, opening it up to this old lady caring a basket full of goodies. “Hello you must be the new owner of the house! My name is Stella. I live next to you”. Anna was surprised at the hospitality of this town. Where she was in that small apartment in the city no one ever gave her a second glance let alone a gift basket. “Hello I am the new owner my name is Anna. Come on in and set that down on the dinning room table”. They walk in and Stella pulled out a bottle of wine, a wine glass, some cheese and summer sausage, then a small coffee carafe and 2 coffee cups. “These are your welcome to the area gifts” Stella smiled.

Anna and Stella poured some coffee and walked into the kitchen and in the corner was a small breakfast nook. They both had a seat and started to chat to each other. “ You are one lucky lady to get this house.” Stella said. “Martha lived her whole life here from the late 30s till she passed away last summer.” “WOW” Anna said. “she never married, or had family to leave the beautiful house too?” “No” Stella replied. “her grandfather built the house mid 1800s, then when he passed, her parents moved in. Martha was born in the house, and lived here the whole time.” Stella could see the gears in Anna’s brain workin. “So she never married or had other family here?” Anna said. Stella replied “No. Her parents died when she was 18 in a car wreck. Martha was the only child and had no other living relatives that I knew of.” Anna thought to herself ho Martha could have lived in this house for so many years and never had a husband or boyfriend over or living her with her. Stella could see the look on Anna’s face, and finished the thought for her. “Martha took care of this house when she was here. Her parents made lots of money off the stock market before the big crash in the 30s. I guess her parents deaths kinda made her very shy and a homebody.” Stella then answered the next question that Anna was thinking. “I have lived next door for over 50 years. Martha and I would sit and chat sometimes like we are. She was very happy living in this big house by herself. Why I don’t know but she did enjoy it. She has left most of the house original other than updating the kitchen, and the heating and air. She asked me when I went to see her in the hospital to just take all her clothes and personal belongings and donate them to a charity.” “Martha died from a tumor in her liver.” Anna now had figured out why there were no clothes or other personal belongings left in the house.