Page 71 of Chasing Creed

The boarded-up windows were replaced with new ones. Then came fresh paint, inside and out. In the beginning, the security system helped her control lights and heat when she wasn’t there. Now there were cameras, locks, and alarms. And all the while she left pieces of Granny El in place, like the Christmas tree in the corner and the woman’s clothes in her drawers. Some of them still held her scent.

Sara made sure the house, itself, still possessed the warmth of Granny El with every repair and renovation she made. What started as a way to fill extra time turned into a tribute and then, without warning, ended up becoming something Sara had never had. The house, the property, the woods, the pastures… It had become her home.

That’s why before she left, Sara packed the four jars of jam to take with her. She wanted those memories to accompany her on this mission. She wanted to hold tight to the feelings that place had stirred up inside her. And deep down she knew she might not ever be able to return.

She pulled out the wild raspberry along with the box of crackers and a spoon. Shadow watched, licking her lips and glancing at the bag where the peanut butter jar had disappeared.

“Let me just get a bite or two,” she told the dog. “I’ve got a snack for you before we get back on the road.”

She gripped the jar’s lid and twisted. She heard the pop and smiled. But there was no scent of raspberries. That was disappointing. She twisted the lid completely off and stared inside.

There was no jam.

Instead, four tightly rolled bundles filled the space.

Sara pinched one of the bundles between her thumb and index finger and carefully tugged it out. A white paper was wrapped around the outside. Her pulse ticked up when she recognized Granny El’s handwriting.

Sara, this is for those times when you need more than just jam. Love you, Granny.

She wiped at her eyes, surprised to find them wet. It was ridiculous.

She didn’t cry.

She didn’t dare.

She did not cry when Iris had grabbed and broken her arm. Not when Iris had shoved her so hard into a wall, she heard the cartridge in her nose explode. Not even when Orlando’s “associate” had sneaked into her bed.

Not once did she cry. She wouldn’t give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

She stared at Granny’s note again, then picked up the bundle that had been rolled up inside the white paper. It was a thick wad of cash. The first roll was twenties and fifties. The three others were thicker bundles with crisp one-hundred-dollar bills. There had to be thousands of dollars inside the jar.

Sara stared at the money in her lap. Then her eyes darted up to the windshield. There was no one parked close to them. The parking lot had almost emptied out.

She scooped up the bills and placed them in the tote bag. Her hand grabbed at another of Granny El’s jam jars. The label wrapped entirely around each jar from top to bottom, so it was impossible to see the contents. Until she flipped them over. From the bottom, she could see that the wild grape also contained tight bundles. The plum and mulberry were actually jam.

She sat back and wiped both hands over her face. Let out a long, drawn-out breath.

She noticed Shadow sitting quietly and watching her. The dog’s head tilted to one side. Her ears flopped in the breeze. The amber eye looked lighter and brighter in the sunlight. Her stare was so intent as if she was genuinely trying to understand.

“I’m fine,” she told the dog. Then she reached out and cupped the side of Shadow’s face. The dog leaned into the palm of her hand and let out a sigh of her own. “Granny would have loved your eyes. I bet she would have called them magical.”

Finally, Sara picked up a jar again and popped open the lid of the mulberry. She scooped out a spoonful and savored the sweet taste and chunky fruit texture. She dipped out a small amount and offered it to Shadow. The dog lapped it up.

“That was a nice treat.” She put the lid back on and slipped the jar into the tote bag. Shadow settled into her seat. “You know it’s just you and me, right?” The dog stared up at her, then laid her head on her front paws as if content with that prospect.

She petted Shadow’s head, amazed at how soft the fur was. Suddenly and momentarily amazed at how lucky she felt. She’d never had a partner before.

No, not lucky. She didn’t believe in luck. You earned your way in this world. Nothing came free or easy. And yet, Shadow had come into her life in the most inconvenient and remarkable way.

Count your blessings.

Now, she remembered. That phrase was something Granny El used to say. The woman never complained. Instead, she talked about how grateful she was at the bounty of fruit for her jams, about the beauty that surrounded her every day.

Sara sat back again. Unfortunately, what she had to do had nothing to do with luck or blessings.

When she looked at Shadow again, the dog’s eyes were droopy. She could barely keep them open to watch. Her right ear still twitched, trying to listen.

“It’s just you and me,” she told the dog. “Let’s go slay a dragon.”