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“She used to own this place.”
“Well, we just moved here a couple months ago, bought it off a guy by the last name of Davis.”
“Do you know how long the previous owner may have lived here?”
“No, I'm sorry. I sure hope you haven't traveled a long way.”
“Long enough. Do you happen to know where the previous family may have moved to?”
“I'm sorry, I don't.”
“Okay, well, thanks.” I frowned, looking up at the house. I could almost see her in the upstairs window, looking down on me like I had caught her doing so many times.
“Well, I hope you find your friend.”
“Thanks. Sorry to bother you.”
“It’s no bother.”
I took another long look at the house, nodded at the man who stood in front of me, and walked back to my truck. Maybe this was fate’s way of telling me I needed to move on. I climbed back into my truck, started the engine, and pulled away from the curb, heading to my next stop.
Chapter Four
Cass
Ifought tears all theway home. As soon as I pulled into my driveway, I called Ray to cancel tonight. I felt awful to start, but when I heard the disappointment in his voice, it magnified that feeling. After hearing what Maggie had told me, I was in no mood to spend time with anyone. I don't really know why I was so worked up, I couldn't even be sure it was him. If it was indeed Brody who had wandered into the coffee shop, I wondered if he had been looking for me. He would think I was still down in Greyfield, but if he wandered into the bookstore anytime soon, he would find me, and honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to see him.
With the weight of having to see Ray off my shoulders, I grabbed all the bags from the back seat and went into the house, dropping them on the kitchen counter. I stopped and looked around. I felt completely depleted and just wanted my wine and my pajamas, but I still had to get wood in for the fire. I knew I should have done it this morning as snow was already starting to fall, and the cottage didn't hold the heat very well anymore. With the steady fall in the temperature outside, I knew I would need the extra warmth tonight. Once I had started the fire and put away the groceries, I took the now cold container of Chinese I had picked up for dinner and threw it in the microwave.
With food in hand, I turned on the TV to keep me company while I ate. I ran through the channels and finally found a movie to watch which started at nine. After I was done eating and had put my plate in the dishwasher, I made my way down to my bedroom to get changed. I found Missy, my cat, curled up on the end of the bed. She followed me out of the bedroom to the kitchen while I poured myself a glass of wine, dancing around my slippered feet until I got her some food which she attacked viciously.
I took my glass and the remainder of the bottle of wine with me into the living room where I curled up on the couch with a blanket and a couple of pillows while waiting for the movie to start. I glanced at the picture that sat on the end table. It was a picture of Jackson and me the last summer he had been alive. We were sitting together on a rockface, taking a rest after we had hiked through the mountains. His arms were wrapped around me, his face nuzzled into my neck. I remembered that day like it had been yesterday, yet so much had happened in the interim.
I stared at the photo, tears coming to my eyes. I knew he would be disappointed in me. Everything had changed with me, including the fact I still wasn't celebrating Christmas—it used to be my favorite time of year. The only Christmas I celebrated was at the store, the house remained bleak and undecorated. Since he had left me, I had managed to celebrate one Christmas, and that was the same Christmas Brody had left me. I picked up the frame and studied the picture.
“Man, I miss you so! Merry Christmas, Baby. I promise you this year I'll try to get a tree and perhaps begin to enjoy the season. I've been so lost without you, especially after Brody left me too. With him around, I always felt like I still had some part of you. I wish you would give me a sign to let me know I'll be okay.” The tears were rolling down my cheeks now. “Did I tell you I’ve organized a book drive at the store to help the families of the fallen firefighters in this town? I'm worried Jackson, worried things won't go well. I know what you would tell me—just put my best foot forward, and it will work out. You always said that. You always believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. I know I’ve let you down, you never wanted me to give up writing, but I didn't have a choice.” I felt ridiculous sitting here talking to a photograph. I put the picture back down, wiped the tears running down my cheeks, and drank down the remainder of the wine in my glass. I grabbed the bottle from the table and poured another glass, finally turning to the sappy Hallmark Christmas movie which would certainly end with me in tears on the couch.
I was just about to head to the washroom before the movie started when I saw I had an email from my friend Rebecca, a fellow author.
Dearest Cass,
I hope this email finds you well. I know you haven't really been writing, but I wanted to reach out to you with an opportunity, anyway. A few of us have come up with an idea for an anthology, and we would love it if you would consider joining us. I will forward the details once I know you are interested. Please respond ASAP, we would love to have your name included in this project.
Rebecca
I bitmy bottom lip and reread her email. Perhaps this was the boost I needed to get back out there in a world I had loved. I smiled as I typed out a quick yes and laid my phone down on the table.
I got up and ran to the washroom and grabbed a snack from the kitchen before sitting back down with my wine. I was about twenty minutes into the movie when my phone pinged with a message. I picked it up, hoping it was Rebecca with the information about this anthology but was pleasantly surprised to see Josie's name flash across my screen. I smiled to myself, I hadn't talked to Josie in a while, and I missed her.
Josie: You around?
Me: Hey! Miss you!
Josie: Me too. Don't have long to chat, I'm hiding in the bathroom but wanted to let you know Brody is here.
I almost choked on my mouthful of wine as I read her text. Brody. So, it very well could have been him at the coffee shop. My stomach did a sudden flip.
Me: What does he want?
