Flash Fiction: The Lodger

They ran a small bed and breakfast on the edge of downtown, The Nook and Cranny, and by now they were pretty used to all manner of clientele. The daughter, Penny, was home from college when he showed up on a blustery and snowy evening.

“I’m really sorry, I don’t have a reservation… my car broke down not far from here, I only need to stay for a night or so,” he said, fiddling in his pockets for a wallet, a phone, a something.

“That’s quite alright,” Tom said. “We’ve got the attic available for the next few nights, how does that sound?”

“Sounds great, thanks,” he said with a sheepish grin, looking up from under scruffy brown hair as he handed Tom some bills. “Put me down for two nights?”

Tom rang a small silver bell on the desk, and Penny  emerged from the back office, Wuthering Heights dangling from one hand. She rested the book on a cocked hip while waiting for her father to finish the transaction.

“Would you show this gentleman to the attic?” Tom said, then handed the stranger his credit card and thanked him for his business. Penny grabbed a key from the wall behind her and turned, caught off guard as she took in this strange man for the first time. He only seemed to be a few years older than her, but those eyes – so dark they were almost navy. They seemed to conceal an old soul, someone who knew everything that was and somehow also everything that will be. Eyes that were simultaneously full of wisdom and uncertainty.

“Your room is upstairs – here, follow me,” she said, unable to stop staring deep into his eyes. They disappeared up the inn’s spiral staircase.

Tom whistled cheerfully as he went back to his paperwork. His wife came over for a moment to ask about their new guest, and told Tom she’d have leftovers waiting at home for him once his shift was over.

Maria arrived to take over for Tom, who noticed no extra cars on his way out. That made sense though, because the stranger said that his had stalled nearby, and it was probably still in that exact same spot

He did, however, notice that Penny’s mini cooper was gone the next day, as were the strange man and his daughter.