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“Winding up the mountain, actually. The cabin should come into view any—”
I rounded the last bend in the mountain before my grandmother’s house came into view. I felt the breath leave my lungs as I pulled the rental car into the sparse gravel driveway. The pictures had been misleading at best and must’ve been taken when the light was just right.
Because this place was a wreck.
“Amanda? What’s wrong?”
“Uh, nothing,” I said. “Just memories,” I mumbled.
What the hell happened to my grandmother’s home?
“Are you sure?” Sarah asked.
“Positive. It’s all a bit much.”
“Okay. Because you sound worried,” she said.
“Well, you don’t worry about me. I’m going to see you in a few days, right? You’re still coming out?”
“Of course. I’ll be driving, though. I can’t afford to haul all this art stuff of yours onto an airplane.”
“You’re the best, you know that right?” I asked.
“Are you sure nothing’s wrong?”
I shut off the car and got out before I approached the porch. The wood was splintering, and the facade of the house was faded. There was a cracked window that gazed into the living room, and it was easy to see how much dust had accumulated over the years.
It was like no one fucking touched the house after my grandmother went to the nursing home.
“I’m sure,” I said. “I only need some time to breathe and get settled.”
“So you can stay there?” Sarah asked.
“Yep,” I said. “I can. I’ll take some time to tidy up, and I’ll call you back.”
“You can shoot me a text if you want. I want to keep tabs on you. I still don’t know why you insisted on me coming
out a few days after you, so I want to make sure you’re okay through all this.”
“I’m strong. I’ll be okay,” I said.
“I know you’re strong. But even strong people have their weak moments.”
“Thanks, Oprah. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Call or text soon. Otherwise, you might find me on your doorstep sooner than you expected.”
“Love you, Sarah.”
“Love you, too, Manda.”
I ended the call - then proceeded to blurt out every curse word known to man.
CHAPTER 2
BRIAN
I could do this shit all day.
