Beth may have been subjected to some elevated stress with the move, which might have caused some of the recent anxiousness she's been feeling ... but those inexplicable incidents they're encountering in that house have absolutely nothing to do with her anxiety disorder.
After last night's harrowing incident ... the first ever seemingly supernatural experience he's encountered in his life ... Martin is now a 'true convert' and totally believes what Beth's been telling him all along; that there's something terribly wrong with that place. And even though he's having a difficult time trying to wrap his mind around what's occurring out there; there's one thing he's now absolutely certain of ... that whatever it is that's going on, it's really happening; and it's not something that Beth's been making up in her head.
************
With a dire need to get away from that house ... not wanting to spend any more time in it that she has to ... Beth decided that her and Anna would spend the day in town while Martin was at work.
And now that she's been 'vindicated' ... no longer suspected of 'manufacturing figments of her imagination' to rationalize her feelings of uneasiness and trepidation, which both Martin and her Aunt Alice believed to be just another case of her mind playing tricks on her, due to a resurgence of her anxiety disorder ... no longer doubting herself, as well ... Beth can move forward and try to figure out what's going on at that place.
To do this, Beth made another decision before setting off for town; that she would make a solid effort to speak with some of the townspeople ... in actuality, more like question them ... to find out anything they know about that house; and get some specifics about the history of that property if she could, in order to be able to understand what's happening out there and why.
Her first planned destination, the local town diner for some breakfast for her and Anna. ... Eggs, of course, were not going to be an option for Beth.
************
When they arrive and enter the diner ... just as Beth anticipated ... all conversation in the place seems to momentarily stop, and all eyes look upon them; then, just as quickly as that occurred, all activity resumes back to as it previously was. However, there was still a slight tension left permeating throughout the diner's atmosphere; like as if her and Anna had unwelcomingly wandered into their territory, and the natives were being wary of the two outsiders' presence.
A waitress standing behind the counter grabs two menus and walks out from behind it, then approaches Beth and Anna to meet them at the front entrance, and initiates Beth's first official interaction with a local; that begins in a professional, yet amicable enough, manner...
"Smoking or non-smoking?"
Beth answers, "Non-smoking, please."
"Okay; follow me." And as the waitress starts to escort them to their table, she looks back around to Anna. "My; aren't you a cutie."
Anna smiles as she replies, "Thank you; mam."
The waitress chuckles, "Mam? My; aren't you a polite little girl, as well."
While the waitress engages in some small talk with Anna; Beth can't help but notice that at every table that they pass, the conversations abruptly cease and quick, sideward glances are shot in their direction. And once they've past, those inaudible, hushed whispering murmurs are briefly picked up by Beth's ears.
Upon reaching their table, once Beth and Anna are seated, the waitress takes out the order pad from the apron that's snugly tied around her waist...
"Okay now, I'm Delilah, and I'll be your waitress today. Can I get you two ladies something to drink to start off with?"
"I think I'll have a cup of coffee ... black." Beth looks to Anna and quips, "What about you, sweetie; 'cup of Joe' for you, too?"
Anna giggles, "Mommy; don't be silly."
"What? No coffee today?" Beth shoots Anna a smile. "Well, alright then; how about some 'OJ'?"
Anna giggles again. "Yes, please."
Beth looks to Delilah. "And a large orange juice, please."
"Sure thing. Okay, so I'll go get your drinks and give you two some more time to decide what you want to eat." Delilah puts the order pad back into the apron's pouch. "I'll be right back with your drinks."
Delilah starts to walk away, but Beth quickly calls out to get her attention before she's too far away...
"Excuse me ... Delilah; is it?"
"Yes, that's right. Was there something else I can get for you now?"
"No, actually..." Beth extends her hand out to shake hands with the waitress. "Hi, I'm Beth."
Delilah steps back over to the table and shakes hands with Beth. "Hi, Beth; nice to meet you."
"Nice meeting you, too." Beth takes it upon herself to begin her questioning. "Listen, Delilah; I was just wondering, have you lived here in Beaver Ridge long?"
"Well, truth be told, I lived here all forty-two years of my life."
"Wow, a local gal."
"Guilty as charged. ... Born and raised as they say."
"Since that's the case, can I ask you something else; if you don't mind?" Beth's ready to start digging for some answers.
"Sure, shoot; what's on your mind?"
"I was just curious; what do houses usually go for around this area? I mean, for instance, what did you pay for your house?"
Beth quickly plays the 'didn't-mean-to-get-all-up-in-your-business-card' as a strategic means of hopefully making Delilah feel more at ease and lowering her guard...
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm getting too personal; aren't I? I didn't mean to be all nosy like that; you don't have to tell me what you paid for your home."
"That's alright, feel free to ask me anything you want; I won't take offense." Delilah conveys an amiable smile to Beth. "Just as long as you don't take offense knowing that if I don't want to tell you, I ain't going to tell you."
Beth smiles back. "Fair enough."
"Actually, " Delilah answers Beth's inquiry, "I've never owned my own place; I've always rented. And since I never really had an interest in buying a house, I really couldn't tell you what homes are going for around here. So, sorry I couldn't be of more help to you; Beth."
"That's okay..." Beth's a little disappointed; she really thought that she had the right approach to take. "You can't answer a question you don't know anything about. Thanks anyway."
"Sure thing; no problem." Delilah starts to walk away but then turns back around. "So, just out of curiosity; why were you asking?"
Beth's disappointment starts to fade away as she sees this as her next golden opportunity to start getting some answers.
"Oh, just wondering; that's all. My husband and I recently bought this house just outside of town off of County Route 152 on Millsbridge Road. It's this huge four-story, Victorian farmhouse that even comes with a large two-story barn, on about an acre and a half of land. ... You wouldn't happen to know the place?"
Delilah starts to look a little nervous, as she unwittingly pulls the order pad out from the apron's pouch and begins to mindlessly tap her pen on it. She responds in a tone conveying a significantly less vibrant manner than before...
"Yeah ... I might know the place you're talking about. ... But I'm not a hundred percent sure if it's the same one I'm thinking of."
Delilah appears even more uncomfortable after mentioning that. Beth decides to 'go in for the kill', hoping to obtain some information out of Delilah, who now seems to be faltering and on the verge of caving in if prodded with the right questioning.
"Anyway; we got it real cheap ... I mean, ungodly low. We weren't sure if house prices around here were this low all over, or if we just happen to come across a super great deal..." Beth takes a moment for a well-placed dramatic pause. "Or ... if maybe there was something wrong with the place?"
Beth looks up to Delilah, observing her reaction now with scrutinizingly discerning eyes. She can tell that she's definitely struck a nerve with Delilah, who begins tapping the pen in a more nervous, erratic manner; as she looks around, avoiding direct eye contact with Beth...
"Like I said..." Delilah slowly starts to back away from their table. "I really don't know what they're asking for these houses. Sorry; Beth. ... Um ... don't want to be rude or nothing, but I got to check on some of my other tables now; so..."
"Oh sure, of course..." Beth's positive that she's shaken up Delilah quite a bit, which wasn't her initial intention. "Go ahead. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep you away from your work."
"That's okay..." Delilah's hands are quivering just ever so slightly as she fumbles with her apron pocket while trying to put the order pad back in there. "I'll be back with your drinks after checking up on my other tables."
Beth watches as Delilah scurries off at a quick pace. Observing this, Beth comes to the conclusion that at this rate, if she continues to work on Delilah like she did a moment ago, she's pretty confident that she'll be able to wear her down enough to get some information. Taking momentary guilty pleasure in the satisfaction of her work, Beth can't help but to convey a small, subtle grin.
That aside, it's time to focus on some other business at hand...
"So, sweetie; what do you want to eat for breakfast?"
Anna, who's been perusing over the menu the entire time, has decided, "I think I'll have some eggs."
Beth, still unnerved from the blood-filled egg yolk the other morning, quickly suggests, "Sweetie; what do you say we have some pancakes, instead?"
Once again, the agreeable easy-going Anna quickly concedes, "Okay."
Beth lets out a subtle sigh of relief. "Good."
After a few minutes, Delilah returns with their drinks. First, she places a napkin down in front of Anna and puts the juice glass down directly on the center of it. Then Delilah places a napkin down in front of Beth; but places the saucer with the coffee cup on it slightly off to the side of the napkin.
Delilah takes a quick glance around, making sure that no one is watching, then slowly moves her hand off the saucer and innocuously taps the napkin with her index finger a couple of times before standing upright.
She pulls the order pad out of her apron's pouch. "Have you ladies decided what you like to order yet; or do you need a little more time to go over the menu?"
"No, we're ready..." Beth closes the open menu she's holding, and glances down at the napkin set aside beside her coffee. "We'll have two orders of the pancakes, please ... one buttermilk, and the other one chocolate chip."
Beth quickly looks to Anna and sharply nods while delivering a big smile. Anna reciprocates with a nod and smile of her own; immediately followed by an enthusiastic licking of the lips and quick belly rub, indicating that she's approved of and looking forward to that delectably sweet, chocolatey goodness.
Seeing this, an amused Delilah laughs, "Well, I sure don't want to keep this little cutie waiting much longer, so let me hurry on back there and put in your order. I'll have them coming right up lickety-split."
Deliah gets ready to leave to put in their order; but not before quickly glancing down at the napkin she left beside the coffee cup, then shooting Beth a quick wink.
As Anna starts drinking her orange juice, Beth slowly reaches out for the napkin in front of her; but is interrupted by an unexpected 'guest'...
A voice suddenly utters out from behind her, "Beth Lazinski?"