Sleepless Rain

The icy rain fell on the windshield of the white SUV that was stopped by a beaming red light on the road. Rebecca is going to her sister’s house for a drink as usual after work. It was her way of avoiding the drunk and disgusting men at the bar. As Rebecca waited for the light to turn green, she texted her sister Stefany that she was a few minutes away.

The night was like any other night for her after any rough day at the office. All she wanted to do was vent to and have wine with Stefany and her husband Jim. As she is driving, Stefany texts back; “oh good! I had found this little black book in the attic of mom’s place. I think it was dad’s. I asked mother, and she had never seen or heard him talk about it, so it must either be secretive or junk. Anyway, we are here waiting with a glass of wine already poured for you.”

Rebecca started talking to herself curiously.“A little black book, huh? Could it be his diary?”

Stefany and Jim are sitting in the living room with three glasses of wine on the brown table in front of them, waiting for Rebecca when they hear the door rang. Rebecca quickly gets up to open the door. All she feels is a sudden gust of cold air from the rain with no one at the door. She looks back at her husband, who was sitting five feet away from her on the couch.

“Was anyone there, honey?” Jim asked while she gave him a perplexing look.

She replies. “There is no one out there, so who rang the doorbell?”

Jim says chucking. “It could have been the neighbor’s kid playing a prank.”

“Maybe, I am going to tell Rebecca to text me when she arrives.” She says as she closes the front door and walks back to Jim sitting on the couch.

“BUZZ! BUZZ!” Rebecca looks down at her phone and sees that Stefany texted her. She was already pulling up in the driveway when she finally read the message. She texts back that she had just arrived. As Rebecca cut off the engine, the rain poured harder. She ran outside with her hands over her head to the front door. Rebecca rang the doorbell and Stefany came to the door to let her in.

Stefany giggled as she let her soaking wet sister in.

“Just stay there while we get you a towel.” Stefany says, still giggling.

“I did not know it was going to rain that hard. As soon as I parked, the rain came down harder than before. It was like it was waiting for me to get here.”

Jim came back from the bathroom upstairs with a towel to hand Rebecca.

“Now you really had to bring that wet mop inside Becca?” Jim says chuckling while taking a shot at her long wet silky black hair. “Hilarious guys.” Rebecca says as she is dries her hair by the door,

“Now where is this mysterious black book that father left behind?”

“Oh, it is on the table by your wine. I was waiting on you so we could read it together.”

“But why would you wait for me just to read it?”

“It’s something different from the usual you venting about your day at work. Look here, open it up.” Stefany hands the little black book to Rebecca. She examines the book for words on the front and back cover to find nothing. She opens the book to the front page when. “Ring! Ring!” Stefany’s phone rings. She goes to answer to only hear static. “Hello? Hello?” Stefany repeats to an avail.

“First the knock at the door, now prank calling my phone?” Stefany sounding agitated. “Jim, did you give the neighbors my number?” Now looking at Jim wide eyed, waiting for his response.

“I don’t remember doing so. What is the caller ID?” Jim says, raising his eyebrow.

“It just says the caller is unknown. Look Rebecca, I know you deal with callers a lot so what do you think?” As she shows her the phone, Rebecca’s phone rings with mom as the caller ID.

“Hello mom!” Rebecca says happily.

“Hey honey! Are you with Stefany right now?” Her mother asked.

“Yes, I am over her place. Is everything okay?” Rebecca asks curiously.

“Are you beside her?” Her mother asks

“Yes.” she replied.

“Put her on speaker.” Mother said sternly

Rebecca puts the phone on speaker and places the phone in the middle of the table for everyone to hear.

Stefany speaks up. “Hey mom, this is Stefany.”

“Hey hun, I tried calling your phone but was told that it was busy so I called Rebecca. Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that a man came over not too long ago after you left asking about a little black book that your father had and offered 20k for it. So I gave him your address, and he said he would drop by sometime tonight.”

Stefany’s voice heightens “Wait mom, did you just say he offered 20k for this book? Does he look familiar to you? I do not want to give a book to a complete stranger. Heck, we haven’t read it yet.”

“He reminds me of a younger version of one father’s old co-workers.” Mother says before taking a slight pause. “Look girls, just take the money when he gets there. If the book meant anything, your father would have at least told me about it and I am as clueless as you two.”

Rebecca and Stefany look at each other, pondering on their options when they hear a knock on the door.

“Did you even catch his name?” Jim asks curiously

“Oh hey Jim, I didn’t know you were there too. Umm, I think he said his name was Chris? I can’t remember his last name.” Mother said.

“Well, I think that is him at the door.” Stefany states as her voice trails off as she walks to the door. “Hello!” Stefany says loudly as she opens the door to see an average size black man with short black hair and hazel eyes. He was dressed in an old rich European style with a black corset looking jacket with a white cascade collar underneath. He wore black loose polyester pants.

“Hello mis, my name is Chris, and do you happen to be Stefany Ward? Your mother gave me this address to talk to you about a book that I am looking to buy.” He said politely.

Stefany couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of him. Rebecca closes the book before reading what was written on the first page. She walks over to Stefany with a chuckle, wrapping her arm around her sister looking at Chris. “So you want to give us 20k for this book. Why is it so important to you? It was our father’s, so how do you know more about this then we do?” Rebecca says while trying not to laugh at him.

Chris takes out a checkbook and opens the first page with one already filled out with Stefany’s name written on it with 20,000 written in the amount box. He rips it out and reaches it out towards them. He then says. “Here it is yours. Just give me the book. It is simple, really. I know you two have been having weird things happen to you tonight, so it is best to just hand it over before it is too late.”

The sisters are now looking at each other. “Should we just take the money and not worry about the book? It is probably what’s best.” Stefany asked Rebecca in a concerning tone. Without giving it another thought, Rebecca hands over the book and takes the check from Chis.

“Thank you, ladies I hope you two have a blessed night.” Chris says as he is receiving the book and letting go of the check. As he walks away, Stefany asks. “Wait, just why is this book so special to you that you would spend 20k on it?” He looks back at her and replies. “Some things are worth more than just money.”