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“What’sthe point in knowing if they leave?” he asked quietly, and her expression softened.
“Becauseknowledge is power.Andbesides, maybe the one—the real one—won’t want to leave.Thereal one will loveGossamerFallsas much as you do.Thereal one will love you the way you deserve.”
Adam’sthroat thickened, and he coughed, the sound too loud in the quiet car.
“Enjoyyour tour,” he said, reaching across and opening her door for her.
“Oh,Imost definitely will,” she said, and with a wink, she took her coffee and stepped out of the car.
FIVE
Hazellookedup from the book in her lap to check the time, tossing the book aside and leaping to her feet when she realized she was supposed to be downstairs in just a few minutes to leave for the visit toGossamerFalls.She’dbeen so engrossed inTheLegendofGossamerFallsthat she’d totally lost track of time.She’deven forgotten to get something for dinner, and now her stomach was rumbling thunderously.
Hermind was whirling, buzzing, as she got her things together and rushed downstairs.Shecould just imagineSarahBenjamin, the youngCivilWarwidow from the story, in a house like this, skirts swishing as she rushed down the stairs at the sound of the front door, hoping for news of her husband,UnionsoldierSamuel.Andeventually, news did come.Thenews she’d been dreading.
Inthe story,Sarah, heartbroken and alone, visits the town ofGossamerFallswith two other widows, looking for peace and healing.Solacein nature.Tryingto understand how such senseless violence could take place on such a beautiful planet.Hazelhad just gotten to the part about the actual legend—about being kissed by the mist under a full moon—when she’d had to put the book down.
Autumngreeted her with a smile as she came out onto the landing. “Ready?Theothers are already in the van.”
Hazelnodded. “Yeah, sorry.Iwas reading andIlost track of time.”
“Didyou get to the part about the legend yet?” she asked.Autumnseemed to have this uncanny ability for knowing exactly what was going on in someone else’s mind, like some kind of psychic spy.
“Ijust finished the first bit about it.”
Autumngrinned. “Good.Becauseyou’re about to experience it for real.”
Hazelsuddenly froze.Shewasn’t someone who normally put much stock in ghost stories or legends or anything like that.Butbeing here, in this place, with its sparkling, soothing energy and funny little coincidences had her second guessing her beliefs.Whichmeant,ifthe legend was true, and she was visiting the falls under a full moon, that within the next month, her “true love” would be revealed to her.
Didshe want that?Wasshe ready for it?Eventhough the divorce was final and had been for over a year, things still felt very unfinished between her andSeth.
Sheknew that they weren’t unfinished for him.Hewas currently datingGraceVisser, she of the blond hair and red lips and massively popularYAfantasy series.Whenshe’d first metSeththrough her agent, he’d told her he was completely disinterested inYAas a genre and preferred to focus on adult books.
He’dchanged his mind when he’d metGraceand become her editor.Itwas as though he was starting his cycle all over again—the charming, handsome editor who makes the writer in his care swoon and fall for him.Whenshe’d first started datingSeth, it had felt so terribly romantic—a writer and editor falling in love.Andthen he’d upgraded toHazel2.0.Gracewas prettier, a little younger, far more successful.Shewas the new and improved version, and ultimatelySethhad opted out of the marriage.
Sonow he was starting over withGrace.Butthis time, things were different, becauseHazelwas still in his orbit, given that he refused to transfer her to another editor.Sheknew she should make a stink about it.Butstanding up for herself wasn’t something that came naturally toHazel.Shehated conflict hated making waves, hated inconveniencing others.Justthe thought of it made her itchy and nauseous.
Herhands were also somewhat tied by the way the publishing world worked.Eventhough she was the creator of the work, ultimately the publishing house had all the control.Theeditorial and marketing teams made decisions without consulting her, and even if she didn’t agree and her agent pushed back, ultimately they could do what they wanted.Shehadn’t realized before she was published just how predatory the industry could be.Writerspoured their hearts and souls onto the page and hoped the publishing house would do right by the book.
Pushingthe thoughts away, she stepped into the van and said hello to the others.Jeffwas in his late fifties, gay, and a garden designer.MelvinandViolawere older, gray haired and slightly bent.Twowomen in their sixties,BeverlyandDolores, completed the group.
Hazeltook the empty seat next toJefffor the short drive to the falls.
“Hopingto find your true love?” she asked, and he laughed.
“Maybe, if there is such a thing.”
“Iknow what you mean,” she agreed.
Autumnput on some soft acoustic music for the drive, and the chatter died away as they drove through the town, the streets dark and sleepy, the businesses closed.Afterthey’d passedHemlockSquare, she turned downChestnut, and then right along a winding road that followed the edge of theHudsonHighlands.
Nestledinto the trees at the edge of the forest, there was a cabin that caughtHazel’seye.Itwas beautifully built, and lit up from within, with white smoke curling from the chimney.Anodd tingling sensation worked its way over her skin as she watched it recede into the darkness, followed by an overwhelming sense of wanting to go back.Asthough she belonged there.
Okay.Thisplace was officially getting to her.
Theyrolled up to a small guardhouse with an illuminated green placard that welcomed them toGossamerFalls.Autumnsaid something to the security guard, he laughed and then waved them through.Theydrove down a gravel road, passing by grassy areas dotted with picnic benches.Autumnpulled smoothly into a parking space and then hopped out, the guests following.
Thesound of the waterfall filled the air, even though it wasn’t visible yet, andHazelpulled in a deep breath of crisp, fall air, excitement buzzing through her.Whethershe believed in the legend or not, this was a cool experience, one she wouldn’t likely forget.Thegentle wind rustled the leaves in the trees, the dry rasp brushing over her face almost like a caress.Above, the moon shone down, illuminating everything in a soft glow, casting everything in shades of silver and pewter.
