He finished entering updates on his new cases, then updated her contact information in her file.
Turned out to be a good night after all.
He grabbed his coat and headed for the gym.
If there was one thing he found comfort in, it was routine. Every morning started with push-ups, sit-ups, and prayers, all before even a sip of water. Then coffee, and off to work. He wrapped up each day with an intense weight workout, and then home to do a few case reviews before the next day. Unless it was softball season. Then he could be found out on the field two nights a week with the guys.
He stayed busy, and he liked it that way. Living alone was easier. No one to answer to, no one to mess things up or to pick up after, and he’d never liked anyone picking up after him. He could pick up his own towels and socks, and wash them too.
Using the key fob to enter the twenty-four-hour gym, he went to his locker and changed out of his suit. With a towel over hisshoulder, he walked over to the treadmill, knocked out five miles to warm up, and then went straight to the weight bench.
Caldwell wasn’t there tonight. Married just over a year now, his workouts had slumped the week after his honeymoon and became more infrequent.
They’d been best friends since the academy, but like with most guys, once he got married, the fun and games came pretty much to a halt.
Caldwell worked vice. How he had time to find a wife like Tess was still a mystery, and they seemed happy. Randy didn’t mind being treated to a home-cooked meal over at their place now and again.
Tess treated Randy like a brother and mercilessly teased him that he was so set in his ways he’d never get married. She seemed worried about that, but he couldn’t care less. Watching Mom and Dad make each other miserable had convinced him that it wasn’t in his DNA to be married. Their marriage had been more like a cutthroat political debate that never ended.No thank you.Besides, he loved his job, and the long hours and unpredictable schedule would drive any woman nuts. Even the independent types.
Probably just as well Natalie is leaving town. She needs a new life, not just some fun nights out on the town, and that’s all I have to offer.
He pumped out two more sets of twelve, placing the heavy dumbbells back on the rack with a clank and a huff. Out of breath, he swept the back of his hand across his sweaty brow.
So then why am I thinking about her?
Chapter Nine
NATALIE FOLLOWEDthe GPS on her phone to Chestnut Ridge. Jeremy’s ’66 Mustang was adorable, but it lacked the frills most people considered standard in a car these days. Like navigation, power windows, and locks.
When Jeremy was alive, he treated this car as great as he treated her, and that was saying something. Jeremy had always been a caring and supportive husband, and he’d always done the driving. It wasn’t unusual for him to walk in the door shaking his keys, which meant they were about to drop everything and go for a ride in the Mustang. With nowhere in mind, they’d head out, stopping at hole-in-the-wall diners, and see what they’d stumble upon around the next turn. Some of their best meals had been happy accidents.
The throaty motor revved like a race car through the hills, although she was careful to go the speed limit. Unfortunately, the AM radio signal was so weak it couldn’t drown out the engine noise.
The main thing she remembered about the cabin was how much Jeremy loved it there. The cabin wasn’t big, but it had the basic necessities. Although they’d cooked over a campfire so maybe it didn’t have a kitchen. She couldn’t be sure.
Didn’t much matter. If not, she’d get a microwave. Problem averted.
The sun dipped lower in the sky as she drove.
Autumn nudged the sun into its holding spot for the next season. The shorter days made her long for summer again already.
She hadn’t considered the timing of this trip—with autumn’s days so much shorter, she should’ve waited until morning. Driving the mountain roads at night could be tricky.
Too late to turn back now; she’d find a place to stay in town rather than chance getting lost trying to find the cabin in the dark. Then get an early start and check out the cabin tomorrow. That would have to be soon enough.
When you don’t have a thing, anything is better than nothing. I can make the cabin do for a little while. This doesn’t have to be forever.
But it could be.
Worst-case scenario, termites had made the place dinner, or it had been blown to smithereens by a tornado. But with eighty acres, she could build something new. A tiny house, maybe. They were becoming more and more popular.
Or I could take the easy route and pull a camper on-site until I decide what to do.She had options. It was a better starting point than a lot of folks got.
Traffic was heavy, but her motivational chat with herself had lasted long enough to get her out of the city limits.
Finally, traffic thinned and they were moving at a good clip, but she doubted she’d reach town before dark now.
Finally, a green sign with “Chestnut Ridge 30 miles ahead” came into view. She gave a victory shout. “Won’t be long now.”
