by Ivy Jordan
I looked around the lake and the back towards the park.
“Is someone meeting us here?” Holly asked.
I shrugged.
I really had no idea what the next step to this scavenger hunt would be.
“What’s this?” Holly snatched the clue card from my hand. She read it aloud, then made a few oooo’s and awww’s before handing it back to me.
“This is from Aiden?” she questioned.
“It is,” I replied.
“So where do we look for the next clue?” she asked, eagerly.
I had no idea. I was here, in the right spot, and that’s all I knew to do.
“We have to look for the other clue,” Holly insisted, getting up to her feet and extending her hand to mine.
Holly leaned against the tree, letting out a quick yelp as something poked her in the back.
“What’s this?” she turned, pulling something from between the rocks.
It was a small book, blue, with a picture of a sunny sky on it.
“Could it be a clue?” she asked excitedly, quickly opening the look to see what was inside.
“Holy shit,” I exclaimed, quickly apologizing for my language.
Holly just snickered. It wasn’t anything she hadn’t heard before.
“This is me,” I pointed out.
I wasn’t much older than Holly; in fact, I was probably a few years younger. My fingers wrapped around the rope of the same tree the kids used now, and the whites of my knuckles were a close match to the teeth in my wide smile.
Wow. I hadn’t seen that pictures in years. I couldn’t believe he’d kept it.
“It’s a clue,” Holly exclaimed, bouncing in front of me.
I was certain she was right, or at least partly. But I couldn’t figure out where this photo book was supposed to lead me next.
I browsed through it, amazed at all the pictures inside. We were so young, so carefree. “Is that Daddy?” Holly asked, pointing a short, freckled kid on the left.
I laughed, nodded, and then watched as her eyes lit up.
“He didn’t have any muscles, at all,” she exclaimed. I chuckled. It was true. Liam was a scrawny kid, one that would’ve been the target for bigger kids, had it not been for his best friend, Aiden, who towered over the other children.
He could hold his own then, even as a kid. His attitude was filled with confidence, and his heart filled with kindness. It made it hard for kids, any kids, to pick on his short stature.
“Aiden’s mom must’ve kept these all this time,” I sighed, realizing there were so many pictures I’d never seen before.
“What’s it say in the back?” Holly asked, pushing the pages forward.
I opened the back cover, read the sweet little note, and quickly wiped away the tears falling from my eyes before Holly could see.
So many things done, so many words said, but not everything has been heard. There was a moment in time, one when I knew I loved you too, and I’ve brought it to my (our) house. If you can spot it, you’ll find the last clue.
My heart paused as I read the clue again and again. He loved me too? Why didn’t he tell me?
Chapter Thirty-One
Aiden
Hours had gone by since Blake took off on her hunt. There wasn’t any reason why she hadn’t contacted me yet, unless she thought it was corny and wasn’t willing to give me a chance.
“What about this one?” Luke asked, reaching across the gate to pet a small white mutt.
He was cute and friendly, but I wasn’t sure it was the right dog for Blake and me. We needed one that could chase behind us on long bike rides, take up half the bed at night, and of course, one that we could raise to be part of the family, our family.
The woman at the shelter was growing irritated with me as I walked back and forth through the cages. There were so many, and all in need of a good home, making it nearly impossible to find the perfect one.
“There he is,” I gasped.
Pointing towards an older German shepherd, Luke’s eyes followed my finger.
He was brown and black, marked up just like the police dogs on our ship. He was perfect.
“Don’t you think she might want something more, well, snuggly?” Luke asked.
I shook my head.
“He’s the one,” I insisted, motioning towards the woman who worked there.
Blake loved big dogs, and she loved the breed. I’d heard her talk about them on more than one occasion.
The woman at the shelter gave me a ton of paperwork and then placed me in a small room where she promised to bring the dog as soon as I was complete. I was excited. I couldn’t wait. I wanted to take him home now, to show Blake we had a new addition to our family.
After a few long minutes, the woman reappeared into the room. She held a black leash, attached to the German shepherd, who obediently walked beside her.
“This is Gunner,” she introduced Luke and me to the dog.
He wasn’t so old at all. There was brightness in his blue eyes as she handed me the leash, as if he wanted this, too.
“How old is he?” Luke asked, still sounding discouraged by my decision.
“Right around two years old,” the woman replied with a tight smile afterward.
“That’s perfect,” I said quickly.
“Well, wait a minute. Is he trained, and what’s his background?” Luke questioned.
I knew I couldn’t explain to my friend what it was I saw in this dog, so I just let him ask his questions while I finished the paperwork given to me.
Gunner placed his head on my knee, his big bright eyes looking upward with a glimpse of happiness. To me, he looked sad and trapped, and he needed someone to love him.
“Gunner is a rescue dog. He came from a breeder who had less than desirable surroundings. He lived in a small cage with several other dogs, but he’s never shown signs of physical abuse or any aggression,” the woman answered, now seemingly irritated with Luke instead of me.
I ruffled the top of Gunner’s head, laughed, and handed her the paperwork.
“I’ll take him,” I grinned, reaching down for the leash attached to his collar.
Luke shook his head and let out a sigh, but there wasn’t anything he could do or say that would change my mind.
I handed over my driver’s license and the adoption fee to the woman, who quickly disappeared from the room to make a copy for their records.
Gunner was already cheering up, as if he knew what all this meant. His ears stiffened, his head tilted, and his breathing grew sporadic as I led him through the long hall towards the front desk. I assumed he’d never seen this part of the kennel before, probably being ushered in the back, cleaned, and then placed in his cage. Luke followed us out to his truck, still shaking his head that I didn’t choose a snuggly puppy.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked one last time.
I nodded as he opened the passenger door to his truck. Gunner jumped right in, moved to the small backseat, and sat at attention, ready to go, not caring where to, just ready.
I rolled down the window so he could get some breeze, and we headed towards town to get supplies.
My phone beeped, causing me to panic. It was Blake. She was on to the next clue. I knew she’d be at my house, our house, anytime, so we couldn’t bring Gunner back there, at least not yet. He was the prize at the end of the last clue, which would end at my abuela’s house, in the backyard, near the large oak tree where we’d built a treehouse with a sign ‘no girls allowed,’ except for Blake; she was always allowed.
I quickly created a text for Blake, before sending Luke towards the old tree where we’d wait.
Me: You’re moving fast. I must’ve made the clues too easy….lol
Blake:They are pretty easy
Me: Expect them to get harder
Blake: Sure…haha!
My heart raced knowing she’d read the clue that admitted my love. She didn’t say anything about it, but why would she? I hadn’t said anyt
hing to her when she professed her love to me. I just stood there, in shock, and then let her shoo me away like a house fly.
Luke pulled up to my abuela’s, and her face was filled with as much confusion as Luke’s when Gunner jumped from the truck.
“I thought you were going to get a snuggly puppy,” she sighed, the large dog pushing up against her, begging for attention.
I laughed. “He looks pretty snuggly to me,” I smiled.
Abuela rolled her eyes, but a warm smile appeared as she reached down to pet the large dog.
“Where are you going to put him?” she asked.
It was a good question. With the original plan, just a small puppy, I planned on using a small cage that I would place at the bottom of the tree. Now, with Gunner, he would have to be tied, but I hated to leave him alone.
“I’ll park out of sight and hang out with Gunner while you head back to your house,” Luke offered.
He already had the note for the dog’s collar, and even though he wouldn’t have chosen Gunner himself, it was obvious he was growing attached to him already.
“You don’t mind?” I asked, hating to leave so much responsibility on my friend.
“Not at all. I’ll skip out of sight before she sees me,” he promised.
I thanked him, handed him the card to put on Gunner’s collar, and quickly made it to my truck. I wasn’t sure how long it would take Blake to figure out the clue at my house, but I wanted to get there right as she left, knowing it wouldn’t take her long to figure out the last one, find Gunner, and head back.
I drove the backroads, some not even considered roads at all, just to avoid passing Blake on her scavenger hunt. I wondered how she felt about the confession I’d just left with her, or if she even believed it. There was no doubt, once she got to my house, saw the swing, and what I left there for her, she’d know I was serious, that I wasn’t making up my affections for her.
Now, all I could do is wait…
Chapter Thirty-Two
Blake
I pulled into Aiden’s driveway, confused that his truck wasn’t there. Holly jumped out of the car and ran straight to the front porch, plopping down on the porch swing. That was new.
“Is this the clue?” Holly gasped, handing me a large envelope she found on the seat beside her.
“It must be,” I mumbled, taking a seat beside her.
I knew the swing wasn’t there before I left, so he had to have recently installed it. I gripped the chains in my hand and pushed off slightly with my feet against the concrete porch. I’d missed swinging, something I’d loved as a young girl. But, why was this the clue?
“Open the envelope,” Holly insisted.
I peeled the top off, carefully peeking inside to ensure I didn’t rip the contents. I tugged at a fragile piece of paper, one that looked to be at least a decade old. As it emerged from the envelope, the paint colors instantly brought back memories. I gasped as I finally freed it, opening it, and taking in the artwork I’d created when I was younger. I sighed, allowing a soft noise to escape through my lips, and then leaned back in the rocker.
“What is it?” Holly asked, leaning towards me with her head on my shoulder.
“It’s one of my drawings,” I admitted.
It wasn’t very good. But, I always loved to draw, to paint, and sketch. It kept me calm during times of stress when I was younger, and even now to this day. I still have a sketchbook in my suitcase with chalk paints and colored pencils.
“Is that you?” Holly asked, pointing to a long-haired, knobby-kneed girl in my drawing.
“Yes,” I giggled. “That was our tree house, well the boys’ tree house. You see that sign?” I pointed to the tree.
Holly squinted her eyes and read the sign aloud. “No girls allowed!”
I laughed so hard my chest ached. The drawing had Aiden in the top of the tree with a rubber band loaded like a cannon between his thumb and pointer finger, aimed right at me, and Liam standing guard at the rope ladder to keep me away.
“Did they ever let you in?” Holly asked.
“Oh yeah, they had no choice,” I chuckled.
Her eyes looked up into mine, confused, but intrigued.
“You see, Aiden’s abuela threatened to chop it down if I wasn’t allowed inside,” I laughed.
“Why did you want to be in there anyway?” she rolled her eyes.
“Oh, it was probably because I had a huge crush on your Uncle Aiden back then,” I admitted with a smile.
“Do you still?” she asked, her eyes so innocent and pure.
My cheeks blushed. I knew the answer to that question, but I wasn’t ready to admit it, not to anyone other than Aiden. Not until I made it through this scavenger hunt and realized his intentions.
“There is something else in there,” Holly pointed to a paper stuck in the envelope.
I was in shock that Aiden had kept this painting, that he’d hung this swing, and that he’d gone to such great lengths to impress me.
Maybe he was serious.
I pulled out the card, on just like the other clues. Some of them had been pretty corny, but always sweet, so I smiled as I started to read.
The swing where you sketched was your own private world, and as I sat beside you, watching you create such amazing works, listening to the sweet sounds that rolled through your lips when you were happy, the deeper ones from your throat when not pleased, I fell in love too…and since that day, on your porch swing, I’ve always loved you.
This was only part one of this clue, but you’re almost done. Head towards the picture, find a surprise that holds the last clue.
Holly was excited to continue the trail, but I knew from the sound of her grumbling tummy, she was starting to get hungry. I was too. And, I had some work to finish, a deadline that wouldn’t wait.
“Okay, we’ll do one more clue, and then that’s it,” I wrapped my arm around Holly, and walked her towards my car.
I sent Aiden a text before pulling out of his drive.
Me: I am going to the next clue now. Holly is hungry, and I have a deadline to finish. The last clue will have to wait until I can complete my book.
It took a moment or two to get a response, but when I did, I was surprised at how simple it was.
Aiden: Okay
I looked in my rear-view mirror, watching as Aiden’s truck crept up from behind the house. I knew there was a road there long ago, but now it was just a dirt lane, one that no one ever used. Was he spying on me, or was this next clue supposed to lead me back here, to him?
I felt horrible for cutting it short. I knew how hard he worked on all this, and I had to admit I was enjoying it. But my editor would blow her top if I didn’t finish my work on time, and Holly’s parents would be upset if I didn’t get her home before them.
It was strange driving up Anna-Marie’s lane. After everything that happened, and me still very unsure what was going to happen, facing the old woman wasn’t something I was ready for, now or possibly ever.
Holly pointed towards the old tree house, surprisingly still standing. We got out of the car and walked towards the backyard to hunt for the next clue, the last clue I’d be able to search for this evening.
As we approached the tree house, a large dog appeared from around the back. His ears were pointy, his tail bushy, and his eyes bright blue. I stopped, pushing Holly behind me, just in case he wasn’t friendly.
“He’s wearing a clue,” Holly pointed out.
My eyes moved towards the large German shepherd’s collar, where a blue card dangled from the loop in the chain.
I knelt down, extending my hand to ensure he was friendly, and when he walked forward, sniffing my hand, I assumed he was a big teddy bear.
“Aiden got you a puppy,” Holly exclaimed.
I chuckled.
“This isn’t what I’d call a puppy,” I smiled in the large dog’s direction.
One thing I assumed: he was mine. Why, I wasn’t sure.
I pulled the card fr
om the collar and shoved it in my purse.
“Aren’t you gonna read it?” Holly asked.
“Not now. I have to get you home, and I need to get my work started,” I sighed, hating that the scavenger hunt was over.
“What are you going to do with him?” Holly asked, wrapping her small arms around the large dog’s neck.
I wasn’t sure. He had a large blue bow attached to his collar which read ‘Gunner’, so I assumed he was a gift for me. Holly’s dog yapped from the car, anxious to meet the new canine, but I wasn’t so sure putting them in a small car together would be safe before they were properly introduced.
“Maybe I can help,” I turned to find Luke walking towards us.
I stood, staring at him, trying to read his mind. What did he know? What was Aiden’s plan?
“I can deliver him and all his stuff,” Luke smiled.
“That would be great,” I thanked him, expecting that he’d take him to Aiden’s, at least until I figured out what I was going to do.
“Sam’s gonna love having a playmate,” Holly squealed, petting Gunner on the top of the head.
“So, I’m taking him to Liam’s?” Luke questioned.
I shrugged. Had Aiden expected I’d go back to his house?
Whatever was on that blue card I shoved into my purse, I was certain would explain it. But I wasn’t ready for that, at least not yet.
Luke loaded up Gunner, who didn’t hesitate to jump into the passenger seat.
“I’ll meet ya there,” he said quickly, offering a slight smile as he climbed into his truck.
Holly buckled into the passenger seat of my car, her puppy snuggled comfortably in her lap, and we followed Luke to Liam’s.
Alyssa looked shocked when she saw the size of Gunner, and even more so when she found out he was staying.
“What about Sam?” she questioned.
By that time, Sam and Gunner were already chasing each other through the backyard playfully. Holly’s eyes lit up when she saw them playing together.
“They’re gonna be best friends,” she smiled.
“How long do you plan on keeping him here?” Alyssa asked, her tone strained.