“Mrs. Evans came down to the station,” Alex had told me during one of our calls. “She insisted that nothing be leaked to the press and asked the officers involved to sign confidentiality agreements.”
“I’m not surprised,” I had replied. “She wouldn’t want anyone to know her family had been involved in something that made them look vulnerable.”
“Yeah,” he had said. “But she also made another request.”
“What was it?”
“She asked me to make sure your identity remained a secret—that your name never appeared anywhere.”
That request had puzzled me. I had already asked Alex to keep my file confidential, yet I still found myself questioning Eleanor’s motives. Was it guilt, protection, or control? With a woman like her, it was hard to tell where concern ended and strategy began.
“Caleb came to ask about you,” Alex had added.
Even now, remembering that moment made my pulse skip. At the time, my body had gone rigid with shock, and for one brief, foolish second, hope had flared before I forced it down.
“But as per your instructions, I told him the information was confidential,” Alex continued. “He wasn’t pleased. He even tried going to the Chief of Police and got the same answer.”
“Thanks for letting me know,” I had said. “Keep me posted if anything changes.”
Now, standing in the kitchen as I brewed a cup of herbal tea, I closed the browser tabs that displayed information about Caleb. My heart still felt heavy, but I forced myself to refocus my energy on the idea that had been forming in my mind. Steam rose gently from the mug as the scent of chamomile curled around me, soft and calming in a way I desperately needed.
I returned to my laptop and continued my research.
To see what’s happening in Caleb’s life during this time, read the first chapter in his Bonus Chapters.
With Halloween comingup that weekend, Lucas and I decorated the house together. Watching his excitement helped distract me from my worries. He ran from room to room holding up decorations and asking where each one should go, his face bright with enthusiasm. I also decided to check out the restaurants along the waterfront while fitting trick-or-treating into our plans.
Lucas dressed up as Batman and Oreo as his Robin.
Their costumes made the neighbours adore them instantly.
The neighbours in my cul-de-sac had been incredibly kind and welcoming once they learned I was a single mother. Lucasand I spent time visiting each home, exchanging phone numbers and sharing information about babysitters, doctors, teachers, and even the best ice-cream parlour in the village. Their openness soothed something in me I had not even realized was still so raw. After everything I had been through, kindness still caught me off guard.
There was only one house where no one answered the door.
I had rung the bell and knocked several times, but there had been no sound from inside. It was two doors down from mine, and even from the outside, the place felt frightening. Cardboard boxes filled with empty bottles cluttered the yard, weeds pushed through the tall grass, and vines crept along the walls while the paint on the front door peeled and faded. I had never seen anyone go in or out of that house, and although the neighbours never mentioned it, I had not felt the need to ask.
Aside from that one house, I felt grateful that I had chosen this neighbourhood for us.
Lucas was thrilled with all the candy and chocolates he collected that Halloween weekend. Worried that he might end up with a sugar rush, I was incredibly proud of him when he packed more than half of it into a bag to take to school on Monday so he could share it with the other children. Watching him make that choice on his own had filled me with pride. He had such a generous heart.
While walking along the waterfront that weekend, I saw four restaurants and one pub. I carefully jotted down notes about each of them and later created a table on my laptop to compare them.
After studying everything closely, I reached a clear conclusion.
None of them had what the Tipsy Cow had.
An indoor and outdoor dining area.
A bar.
Pool tables.
All within the space of 3000 square feet.
Tourists constantly passed through Vancouver Island, and many of them stopped in this village.
I made a few phone calls and created a presentation on PowerPoint on Sunday night.
