Page 7 of A Love Like Candle Light

Abby doesn’t seem so sure about this place yet, but I like it.

The living room is spacious, separated from the kitchen only by a kitchen island. There’s a guest room, a bathroom, and almost half of the upper level is my bedroom with the most beautiful glass wall facing the lake. I can’t wait to watch sunrises and sunsets from there, I bet they’re stunning.

The guest room here on the ground floor will become my office. All my books are already on the shelves so I have a background for video calls that makes me appear smart, and all the stationery I need on the daily is on my desk.

Getting to build my office from scratch is the coolest thing about moving. I ordered fun floral wallpaper, to make the room more cheerful and have something to distract myself with when the not so pleasant clients elaborate on all the details I’m doing wrong in their opinion, but it hasn’t arrived yet.

I’m about to put all of my mugs away when Abby starts to whine and nudges the back of my knee.

“What is it, Abbs?” I glance at her. Her front paws tippy-tap against the ground, then she turns around herself as if she’s chasing her tail. I check the clock.

“Right. I’m so sorry, girl.” I pat her head and rush to the entryway, the little tippy-taps of her paws on the laminated floor following close behind me. “Of course you have to go outside.”

Maybe I can cut a doggy door into my front door so she can let herself out if needed. Then again, I live in the middle of nature now. What if a bear cub makes its way inside and I have their furious mother to answer to? Maybe one that only opens with a signal in the dog’s collar? I’ll have to read up on that.

With practiced precision, Abby lets me put on her harness and clip on her leash. Even though she’s doing the dog equivalent of rubbing your thighs because you need to pee, she waits patiently until I give her the signal to go outside.

Once we are, I pull the door closed behind me and can’t help but stop for a moment to take a deep breath. Ah, fall is in the air.

All of a sudden, she pulls on the leash so hard it flies out of my fingers. Damn, she must have to pee badly.

“Abby!” I shout, surprised, but she’s already running off to find the closest tree. Well, as long as she’s in eyesight, I’m not too worried. She’s got great recall, usually. And I can hardly blame her for wanting to explore her new pee area.

My phone buzzes. Frowning, I pull it out of my pocket. I have a hunch who it is, and I’m right.

Incoming Call: Mom

I don’t have the patience for her right now, so I decline and put my phone on ‘Do not disturb’ for good measure.

I let my eyes glide over the scenery. My neighbor's house is so much bigger than mine. I can tell, even from the sizable distance between our homes. I’ll have to go over and introduce myself sometime soon.

Summer is ending, and most of the trees are turning the cutest shades of red and yellow already. Even though it’s afternoon, the cool air sends goosebumps all over my skin.

Suddenly, I realize I don’t hear Abby anymore.

Wait. Where is she? I turn around, but the only indication I see of her is some bushes rustling. Oh man, I hope she’s not chasing a squirrel. I’m really not in the mood to sprint after my dog today, she’s way too quick and agile for me to catch and tends to ignore me when she’s on a mission.

All of a sudden, she sprints around the corner of my house, right past a dead tree.

Oh wow, I haven’t noticed it before. It’s almost black in color, bony branches extending high in the sky, not a single leaf on them. How spooky.

I walk a little closer. Even the surface resembles coal. Damn, I’ll have to call someone to cut it down because this tree is most definitely done for.

What if it falls on my house during the next storm? Or goes up in flames? One spark and the whole thing would burn down within seconds.

Then again, where would a spark come from? I have no plans to burn anything out here.

Woof.

Abby lets out a bark. I glance at her, then get back to pondering about the dead tree.

Wait what?

My eyes jump back to her. Then my blood freezes.

“Abby?” I walk over to her. “What do you have there?”

She turns to me and the blood drains from my face.