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Your third clue is with Nick. I’m waiting for you.
Your love machine,
Trask
I remember that day. I was nervous. I was afraid I wouldn’t fit in with Trask’s friends. I made friends with Haddie and Lyric that day. It was the most fun I have had in so long. I wave at Lyric and Botie before I back out of their drive and head to Nick’s in town.
I park in front of the hardware store and try to catch my breath. I know Trask loves me and I hope I am not dreaming. I hope that my heart doesn’t get shattered at the end of this. I get out of the car and walk inside.
“You could have come to me, little girl, and I would have protected you. None of those big-town hoodlums will be coming to Comfort and doing harm to you. I can promise you that, girlie. I knew you had gumption since you faced off with Skeeter Stillman. That woman is a viper. You just stick with us in this small-town life, we’ll keep you safe. Trask left this for you. That boy has been a bear to be around since you have been gone. You two are good for each other.” Nick gives me his two-cents’ worth and I welcome it. It’s his seal of approval.
“Thank you, Nick,” I tell the aging man.
“No thanks necessary, just giving you my opinion. Now go find that boy and put him out of his misery.” I turn around and leave Nick sitting behind the counter. I walk back to my car and open the envelope.
My Love Kelly,
Nick picked you up and kept you safe for me after my parent’s party. I knew that day that you came first in my life and you always will.
I love you.
Your fourth clue is with Haddie. Come find me.
Your bum diggity,
Trask
I laugh at that, bum diggity. It’s hard to even think right now. This is all too much. I love this man. I clear my eyes of all the tears. It’s hard to see. I take a breath and blow my nose on a Kleenex. I don’t know how I got so lucky. I pull out of the parking spot and drive two streets over to Haddie’s and she is sitting on her front porch waiting on me. I smile and she comes to the gate and meets me. She hugs me to her side, and I hug her back.
“Hon, I have been so worried about you. I was blowing up everyone’s phone trying to get updates. I just want you to know, sweetheart, that you always have a place with me. I know Trask is head over heels in love with you but if he is not what you want, then you just come here and stay with me. I will take care of you, always. No questions asked.” This is what I am guessing most children have when they grow up—unconditional love. This is what my sister had growing up, and it’s what I have always yearned for. I have it now. I feel it down to my toes and love it.
“Thank you, Haddie. I love you, too.” I say the words and this time I feel them.
“I love you, too, hon.” Haddie squeezes me again. We make it back to the porch and Haddie reaches over and gives me an envelope she has sitting on a table. “Trask wants you to have this.” I look at it. “Go ahead and take it. Read it and go get that hunk of burning love that’s waiting on you.” I smile at Haddie. “Go on, get out of here.” I turn and walk back to the car with the envelope in my hand. I get inside and tear the envelope open, tears starting before I ever read the note.
My Love Kelly,
Here at Haddie’s is the day that you left me. I knew then that I could never live without you. My heart was paralyzed with fear and it hasn’t beat right since you have been gone. I love you.
Your next clue is at my secret place. Come find me.
Your dream man,
Trask
I back out of my parking space. I don’t remember the drive to the place that Trask is building his home. I see his truck parked over by the gazebo and that’s where I drive to. I park my car, but I don’t see Trask. There are two rockers sitting in the gazebo.
When I open my door and step out of the car, I see there is a trail of red rose petals leading up to the gazebo. I follow the trail. On the bottom step there is a Post-it note, and I pick it up and read it.
Across Kelly’s nose is a splatter of freckles and she looks like she was kissed by angels.On the next step there is another one. I pick it up.
The smiles that Kelly gives me lights up my world.I pick the one up on the next step.
Kelly’s eyes are the stars in my dreams.I look and the gazebo floor is full of Post-it notes. Each one is sweeter than the last one. I read every one and they all have something that Trask wrote about me. When I am finished reading the notes, I see the letter on one of the rockers and walk up. I pick it up and sit in the chair to make sure I don’t fall.
My Love Kelly,
When I showed you this place, I knew that day you were my everything and that would never change. You are my one. The one woman made just for me. I don’t care about your family or your past. All I care about is the here and now and our future together.
