Page 63 of A Love Like Candle Light

Erik takes a sip of his coffee. “It’s progressing slowly,” he admits with a sigh. “There's nothing really to test so we could, I don't know, get a DNA image or something. We’ve got a forensic sketch artist coming in, who supposedly can sketch her face from the skull’s features.”

“So it is a she.” I pierce a piece of bacon with my fork and wave it through the air, much to Abby’s interest.

“Yeah, I mean, why wouldn’t it? She was buried in a dress.”

“Listen, I've watched so many true crime documentaries.” I shake my head and pop it in my mouth. “Serial killers do the weirdest shit. It could have been a guy who was put into a dress and buried. Who knows?”

“Well, not in this case.” He chuckles. “I'm convinced it's a murder, but I can't find any missing person’s report or traces in the bones to support the theory. But why else would a skeleton be buried at a random lake instead of a cemetery?”

“Want to bet on it?” I wiggle my eyebrows. “I say it was a natural death.”

“What makes you think it was?”

“I don't know, I have a hunch.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Call it female intuition.”

“Oh, it's a bet then.” He extends his hand over the table and I shake it. “Cop gut feeling versus female instinct. Who will win?”

“I guess we're going to find out soon enough.” I hide my grin behind my mug as I take a sip of my coffee.

Shortly after our admittedly late breakfast, Erik gets called in. There was a car crash on a highway nearby they’re asking him to secure the scene. After making a quick drive home and changing his clothes, of course. Thankfully, it appears to be a harmless car-meets-crash-barrier kind of accident.

“Let's meet up at Caleb's later,” he proposes, pulling on his jacket. When I nod, he leans in for a quick kiss, afterwards remaining close enough for me to feel his breath feather over my lips. “Great, I’ve got to run. Can't wait to see you later.”

One more peck, and he rushes out the door. It's making me giddier than I have felt any time in the past ten years. If ever.

Because I can't wait to see him later too.

He never really specified a time, probably because he doesn’t know how long it will take, but it's the weekend. I don't have anything else planned. So, I clip Abby into her leash and we drive to town.

How eerie. Nobody is around. No car in the road, nobody on the sidewalks, even the main square is completely empty. Remainders of the autumn fair line the main square, loose hay blowing all around the streets.

I bet they’re all still sleeping off their hangovers.

My phone buzzes as I climb out of my car. With a sigh, I pull it out of my pocket. Is it my mom again? I’m not in the mood for a lecture or to fight with her.

Zach.

I stare at my screen until the phone stops buzzing, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, slowly pushing my car door closed.

Zach? What does he want from me?

I haven't heard from him since we signed the divorce papers. And I can't say I've missed him, considering we had what felt like maybe five conversations over the past year of our marriage.

I doubt he misses me either.

It can't be a family emergency. If anything were going on with my parents, I'm sure one of my aunts would be the one to a call, and not my ex-husband.

The more I wonder, the angrier I become. Especially when he doesn’t follow up with a message to at least tell me what’s going on. My confidence is finally returning, I’m settling in nice, Erik and I are dating and now, out of nowhere my ex feels the need to disturb the peaceful life I’m building for myself?

After years of being ignored or my existence forgotten, now he remembers me?

He can fuck right off with that.

And the fact it still manages to anger me is the most ridiculous part about it. Which in turn makes me even angrier.

Anyway, time for a delicious pastry.

Abby jumps out as soon as I open the car door for her. Since nobody is around, I don’t bother picking her leash off the ground and let her run ahead to the door to Caleb’s, where she waits for me, tail wagging.