"What in the world was that?" Jane asked, considering the darkened confines of Grandma's house. Grandma merely smiled and stood in the doorway, blocking anyone from investigating the noise any further.
"I'm sure it was just the cat knocking some things over," Grandma said, waving away the concern. "He gets into everything."
"That was a loud crash, though, I'd really feel better if I came in and checked it out for you," Jane said, placing a hand on David's shoulder. David stared at his Grandmother and watched as her happy face slipped, revealing a frustrated scowl for a brief second before the smile slipped back on.
"But of course, dear, these old bones aren't always so keen on stooping over and cleaning. I might be able to use the help."
Grandma walked back into her house, holding open the heavy oak door for Jane and David to walk into the foyer, a room lined with portraits of young men and women, along with a place to shuck off your shoes.
"Normally I'd ask you to take off your shoes and put on some of my spare slippers, but we don't know what the crash was, so keep them on. There may be broken glass," Grandma explained as she walked deeper into the dimly lit home, the windows shedding light through thin red curtains to create a slight glow of crimson radiating from everything. David thought it was a little spooky, but then again, he couldn't take his mind off the strange woman he'd seen upstairs. The living room had a large carpet laid over wooden flooring, with several overly-stuffed couches and chairs sitting in a semi-circle around a low table covered in candles.
They walked into a room lit by fluorescent lighting, a long kitchen. Large enough to have an island in the middle, this room was obviously well-used by the older woman if one looked at the rack of knives and the six-burner stovetop. Right now, there was a tray of cookies, still doughy and uncooked, along with a similar tray that had been knocked to the ground with dough circles tossed haphazardly on the kitchen floor where the tray had landed. A pair of golden eyes stared out from under the island, boring into David's.
"Ummm… what's that?" David asked pointing out the golden orbs which gazed out of the darkness with apparent hatred.
Jane bent down to considering the darkness of the opened cabinets, her eyes widening as she made eye contact with the golden eyes. "Uh, Anne? What do you have down here?"
Grandma moved around the island and leaned down, reaching a hand underneath and pulling out a black cat, which let out a pitiful meow at being manhandled. David breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the cat struggle from where it dangled, thrashing about as Grandma held it by the scruff of its neck.
"This is Oliver, and he is a very naughty kitty!" Grandma said, bringing the cat closer to cuddle with. "It was probably him we heard groaning from the front of the house, he makes these horrible yowls when he wants attention."
Grandma dropped Oliver onto the floor and all three laughed as he bolted from the room, yowling a low, gruesome meow.
"Alright, well I have to get going now that I know you'll be in safe hands," Jane said, leaning up to kiss David on the forehead. Lowering her voice as she embraced David, Jane whispered to him. "Try and make the most of this, okay honey?"
"Okay, Mom…" David said.
Grandma walked up behind David, placing a knotty hand on his shoulder. "Don't you worry; he'll have a fine visit. It's been ages since this house had anyone so young in it like I said I may just recruit him to do some renovation work."
Jane smiled at that. "I'm sure he'll be a great help. Well, I must be off if I'm to make it to my flight on time."
Grandma moved up, a sad face gracing her wrinkled features. "So soon? I was hoping we could have a cup of tea while David got settled in."
Jane looked at her wristwatch before shaking her head. "No time, if I want to get to my flight. I need to hit the road."
Jane leaned up and kissed David on the cheek before giving Grandma a hug. "Thank you for doing this, Anne."
"Anytime dear," she replied. "You hurry on now, you need to get going."
"I'll let myself out!" She said, walking through the living room, the door jangling from a bell as it opened and closed. David's eyes followed his mother as she left, wondering what he'd do for the next three days other than study…
Turning to look down at his Grandma, David smiled at her neutral face. She patted him on the back and walked towards the tray of prepared cookies. "Let me pop these in the oven and then we'll talk about the rules of the house. There aren't many but I do have a certain lifestyle that I would appreciate if you would observe them."
"Okay…" David said.
"My, you are the spitting image of your father; that mop-head of hair, those blue eyes, your pale skin… you look just like he did at your age. Though he was a little darker from all the yard work I made him do."
A loud creak from the upstairs made Grandma pause, her eyes glued to a spot on the ceiling. She slowly turned to look at David with a strange sort of smile on her face.
"Would you like to see something interesting?" She asked, her smile growing wider by the moment. David could only describe the smile as mischievous.