Dear readers
This is a reboot of a series I was working on. I only did two stories before being sidetracked by projects. Looking back on those stories I realized a lot was wrong with them. I had made many spelling and grammatical mistakes. I also didn't have my worldbuilding fully planned out so there was a lot of stuff I didn't have ready. I also wanted to change some names.
I hope you enjoy my reimagined series. Now let us begin our tale.
The cool sea breeze and the warm sunshine on my face. I lean on the rails of the top deck. I look across the water and see Bjornson Island on the horizon. The small green Mount Heath rises from the sea. The island is covered in lush, tall trees. As we get closer, the villages and towns of Bjornson become visible.
"Almost home," I whisper.
I pick up my suitcase and walk over to the deck below. The Bjornson-Somerbourg ferry reaches the docks of the town of Vinden. The gangway attaches to the pier and everyone gets off. As soon as I get off, I look around for my cab.
"Oy, Dr. Brosnan!" I turn toward the voice and see my cab driver, Jim Wallace. The old salt of a man waves at me and grins with his crooked teeth.
"Hello, Jim!" I ran over to him and shook his wrinkly and bony hand. He shakes my hand and wraps his skinny arms around me.
"Welcome home Brian me boy." He seizes my suitcase and carries it.
"Jim, I can carry it." I case after the wiry old man. He waves me off.
"Now, now don't be me, lad." He takes the suitcase to his cab and throws it into the trunk.
"All aboard laddie." Jim opens the cab door and I enter the cab. I sit down on the soft leather seats. The cab is filled with a smoky and salty. The old man gets in and rolls down the windows. A cool breeze blows through the car.
"Alright, Brian boy." He turns and smiles at me. "Want to go home right away?"
"Not just yet," I say. "Let's visit the Rose's Florist first."
"Hahaha." The old salt chuckles warmly. "Getting a gift for the Mrs."
I nod.
"Alrighty we will head to Rose's for some roses." The cab takes off for Rose's Florist. We drive into the town center of Vinden. The clock tower at the center of the square reads 4:30 PM. Beneath the clock tower are some merchant stalls. The merchants and customers are hurrying to finish up business.
I jump out of the car and run over Rose's Florist. Behind the stall is an elderly woman and a young man. The old lady looks around and sees me running and waving at her. Her sleepy eyes open and she waves at me.
"Oh hello, Dr. Brosnan." She smiles at me with her weathered and warm face.
"How was your trip?'
"Nice Rose. However, I'm glad to be back." I pull out my wallet. "How is business?" I ask her.
"Oh, business is lovely dear." She wraps her arms around the young man. "My grandson George has just started working for me."
"Nice." I take out my wallet and pull out some money. "Eight red roses please."
"Of course, dear." The old lady grabs the flowers while her grandson takes some Florist Paper. Rose hands him the flowers and he wraps them up and hands them to me.
"Thank you." I hand over the money. George takes the money, counts it, and hands back my change.
"Goodbye Rose and George." I wave and walk back to the cab.
"Goodbye, dear." Rose waves.
I get into the cab and Jim takes me out of town. We drive along a narrow winding road along some bluffs overlooking the sea. In the distance, I can see the sun setting over the warm golden sands of Eins Beach. We drive around the bluffs and into a dense forest. The forest is filled with Oaks and beech trees. It is dark with only the slivers of light getting through the canopy. We drive for fifteen minutes until we reach a river with a stone bridge. Jim drives over the sturdy and ancient stone bridge.
We continue driving until we finally reach a clearing. In that clearing is home.
A large two-story stone home with a thatched roof. Luscious green ivy covers the stone house. Around the house is a stone fence and a large garden filled with trees, flowers, and vegetable plants.
Jim rolls up to the gate opens the trunk and pulls out my suitcase. I open the door and get out. Jim takes my suitcase to the door. I walk with him and give him his pay plus a generous tip.
Jim takes the money and pats me on the back.
"Thank you, Brian boy." He walks back to his cab and drives down the forest road. I pull out my keys and open the door. I enter holding my suitcase in my left hand and the bouquet of roses in my right. I kick off my shoes after I am inside. My home is warm and filled with nice smells. I can smell dinner in the kitchen and some scented candles lit.
I walk down the hall to the kitchen I pass a collection of framed photos on the walls. The family photos fill me with warm nostalgia.
My time at college in Professor Huang's chemistry class. I am seated next to Emilia. A beautiful woman with caramel brown hair, fair skin, and almond-brown eyes. Her small curved lips smile at me.
Next to the class photo is our wedding soon after graduating. It was a small and intimate ceremony attended by only our closest family and friends. She is gorgeous in that white lace dress that tightly hugs her slim figure.
Around the two big photos of our chemistry class and wedding are smaller photos depicting dates and time spent with friends.
"Darling!" I turn my head and see my beloved Emilia. Gods she is lovely ten years since marriage and graduation. Her brown hair is tied up behind her in a tight bun. She is wearing a baggy woolen sweater and tight black pants. She greets me with a kind smile and eagerly runs over and embraces me.
"Welcome home Brian dear." She gazes deep into my eyes.
"Here honey." I give her the roses. "I got these from Rose."
She takes the roses and locks lips with me. I pick her up and spin her around.
"Thank you for these, love." She sniffs the roses.
"Dinner is ready dear. You were just in time."
"Ah lovely what is it?" I ask.
"Chicken Cacciatore love."
"Excellent dear."
We go into the kitchen. The table is already set and the meals are in place. Emilia takes a glass cup out of one of the cupboards and fills it halfway with water. She places the roses in the middle of the table.
I take my seat and take in the taste and sight of the warm meal before me. My takes her seat and we give thanks for the meal. We dig into dinner. Fuck me this is fantastic.
"Honey this is amazing as always."
She reaches for my hand and holds it softly. Her kind face smiles at me.
"Thank you love."
"How was your trip dear?" Emilia asks me.
"Good!" I lean forward excitedly. "The conference was excellent!" I nearly spit out the Cacciatore. "Excuse me." I cover my mouth and chew my food.
"Gulp. Haha sorry." I wipe my face and lean back in my chair.
"Yes, as I was saying the conference was excellent. The energy cores I have designed work for the demonstration. We were granted the patent. Our institute is going to make over $48 million from the deal. As project leader got us a $4 million check."
"That is incredible." Emilia claps excitedly.
"What have you been up to for the past week dear?"
"Oh. I have been busy." Emilia says coyly. "Painting and sculpting in my studio. I have tended to our gardens and assisted the neighbors with their farms."
Her gentle smile turns to a cheeky grin.
"What is that?" I inquire.
"Oh, what exactly?"
"That grin. You up to something?"
"Ohhh..." Her grin stretches and she stares at me.
"I have a surprise for you after dinner."
"Oh really." I take a bite out of the chicken. "What is this surprise?"
"You know the abandoned cellar we have been planning on renovating?"
"Ah yes. The cellar." I tilt my head consciously.
"I've renovated it and have a....." Emilia pauses and smirks, "Gift for you."
"You renovated the cellar?" I shake my head. "Dear, we haven't even decided what to do with the cellar."
"Dear, your idea was just clean it out and maybe just store wine or other crap in it."
Emilia says while giving me a sassy look.
"Besides, when you see what I did to the place." She rubs her hands together excitedly.
"You will love it."
"Oh, all right dear." I take an extra help of chicken. "Besides it is your house anyway."
"Yeah, that's right." She leans up close as I have a month full of Cacciatore. "I am the queen of the castle." She kisses my puckered lips.
I chew and swallow. "Haha, yes dear. We have dear old William Heath to thank for that."
"Yes," Emilia gazes out the window towards the setting sun. "Old Uncle William. Rest his soul."
"And Emilia you said you had a gift for me. What is it?" I ask.
"Oh, I'm not telling you." She smirks. "it is a surprise."
My stomach flutters making it difficult for me to finish the rest of my dinner.
We finish dinner and put the leftovers in the fridge. I'm just about to clean the dishes until Emilia stops me.
"Oh love that won't be necessary." I look at Emilia.
"Why not?"
"You'll see." Emilia takes my hand and leads me downstairs. I follow her into the basement.
We descend the wooden staircase into the basement. In our basement, there are some bookshelves, lounge couches, and easy chairs. To the right of the stairs is the door to my laboratory along with another door to a basement bathroom. Emilia however, leads me left of the stairs to the cellar door. I follow her. My stomach churns and I feel an electric excitement reverberate through my body.
What could she have done? I think to myself as I stand in front of the door to the cellar. The dark wooden door is surrounded by stone. It has iron nails and a wrought-iron handle. It used to be Mr. Heath's wine cellar before his death. The wine was either given away or drunk and has done nothing but collect cobwebs and dust.
My wife takes her time opening the door. She pulls out a key and slowly unlocks the cellar door.
