THE BELLS OF ATHERTON

[Malekeh]

THE BELLS OF ATHERTON
Chapter 1
    The sun was setting over Atherton, North Carolina when Patrick Bell turned onto Seacrest Drive and headed for home. As the large oceanfront house he shared with his wife, Pamela, came into view, he reminded himself how lucky he was to live there. His life in Atherton was a huge step up from the way he'd been raised and he never took it for granted. He'd felt like the luckiest guy in the world since marrying Pamela six years earlier. They had moved to Atherton shortly after the wedding. It was a small town, a fisherman's paradise on the Carolina coast. He smiled as he pulled into the driveway, brought his silver sedan to an abrupt stop and bounded out of the car.
    "Pamela, I'm home!" he yelled as he entered the house.
    Pamela smiled and went to welcome her husband. "Hi, sweetheart," she said as they embraced. Patrick kissed her on the lips. "Is everything ready for opening night?" Pamela asked.
    "Everything's perfect," he replied.
    "Are you sure?" she asked anxiously.
    Patrick smiled. "Absolutely. We'll be open for dinner on Friday."
    The Bells were in great spirits having just completed plans for the grand opening of their restaurant, 'The Blue Jay Cafe'. The cafe was opening in the heart of Atherton and was the fulfillment of a long held dream for the couple. As they embraced each other in the kitchen, Pamela gave her husband a squeeze.
    "Are you hungry?" she asked.
    "Famished," Patrick replied. The table was set for two with Cornish game hens and a garden salad. "It smells delicious. Did Nina help you with this?" he asked.
    "No," said Pamela. "She took off a little early today."
    "Does she have a hot date?" Patrick inquired with a grin.
    Pamela laughed. "No, she's playing bingo at the firehouse. She says she's got a sure fire system for winning this time."
    "Well, I hope so," said Patrick. "They've taken enough of her money in the past." He pulled out a chair for Pamela. "C'mon, let's dig in before these hens get cold." They sat down and, after eating and clearing the table, retired to the living room.
    "I'll get a fire started," said Patrick as he began to load the logs into the fireplace. Soon the flames began to crackle and Patrick settled onto the couch with his wife. It was early March, 2017. The evening was cool and the fire made the room feel cozy and warm. They cuddled in front of the flames as they had so many nights before. It was their favorite place to share dreams and make plans for their future. They had been successful so far in their business ventures but 'The Blue Jay Cafe' was their first attempt at opening a restaurant and it was something they had been looking forward to for a long time.
    When Patrick turned to Pamela, she thought his expression seemed unusually serious. "You know, Pamela," he began, "the strangest thing happened when Tom and I were talking today."