The Man Next Door: Orchard Heights Book 2 - standalone

by Roya Carmen

  He turns to me, and the expression in his eyes completely breaks me. He’s been carrying this all his life, this secret which managed to destroy so many lives.

  His eyes are brimming, full of emotion. “I knew he was hurting her, but I didn’t say a word.”

  “You were afraid. You were only a kid.”

  “I should have said something.” The edges of his words are cracked, heavy with pain. “If I had, Izzie would have never died. Neither would have Gavin.”

  I close my eyes. I don’t know what to say because he’s right. He could have prevented it all.

  “Even when everyone was accusing Gavin Foster, I could have spoken up. I could have saved him.”

  “You were so young,” I tell him. “You didn’t know any better.”

  “I went to the police years later,” he tells me. “They couldn’t reopen the case. They told me they couldn’t gather enough evidence. Too much time had passed. People wouldn’t remember. And budget restraints and all. And most importantly, the perp was dead.”

  “I heard about that.” Pete Reed died in a bad ATV accident two years following Izzie’s death. I remember feeling nothing at all when I heard the news. I never liked Pete.

  A chill slithers slowly down my spine. “So you think he did it?”

  “Positive.”

  I’d been blind, too preoccupied with Gavin to see. How had I not seen it? Pete was not only a creep, but was also prone to fits of anger. He was known for his short temper. And he and Izzie had always been inappropriately close. She could often be found sitting on his lap. He would sometimes braid her hair. At the time, I thought nothing of it. It was just Izzie being Izzie. Unlike me, she was familiar and touchy-feely with everyone.

  Once, we were playing cards, and Pete suggested we play strip poker. We eventually ended the game when we got down to our underwear, but I knew Pete would have taken it all the way. I remember walking back home that day, filled with a strange sensation, something I hadn’t recognized at the time… uneasiness.

  The bruises on her wrists and that black eye were not bicycle falls and clumsy tumbles. The older man she’d been seeing was Pete. That’s why she’d been so secretive about it. He was eight years older than she was, not to mention her uncle.

  How could I have been so blind?

  Abe takes my hand and holds it against his chest. “I should have told you before. I was just scared shitless.”

  I can feel his heart beating wildly under the palm of my hand. “Scared of what?”

  “Scared that you would hate me.”

  “I don’t hate you,” I tell him. “And why wouldn’t you tell me who you were? Instead of all these lies… this cover-up?”

  He dipped his head to the floor. “I don’t know… I just wanted to make sure you were okay. See it with my own eyes.” He lifts his gaze to mine and I melt into his baby blues. “I never thought we’d fall for each other. I thought you’d get spooked if your past came back to haunt you. You ran away from it. I didn’t think you wanted it to catch up to you.”

  “I didn’t,” I admit. “You were right.”

  “That’s why I pretended to be someone else,” he confesses. “I wasn’t planning to stay long.” He squeezes my hand, and his gaze finally fixes mine. I could get lost in his eyes forever. “I love you, Abby. I always have,” he tells me. “I’ve been madly in love with you since I was about four years old.”

  I laugh. And I also cry. Happy tears. “I kind of suspected you had a little crush on me.”

  “I did… so bad.”

  “You used to always stroke my thigh and shoot me a playful grin,” I tell him. “You were six! I remember thinking that you’d be a huge heartbreaker when you grew up.”

  “I’m not. I was in love.”

  My heart swells. “So how did you find yourself living here, next to me?”

  He smirks. “I saw it on your Facebook. You mentioned the loft available for a six month lease next door. My current lease was up, and I acted completely on impulse. It was a chance to see you in the flesh, to know that you were okay, despite everything that had happened.”

  “That’s really creepy, Abe.”

  He shakes his head. “I know. I’ve never done anything like that before.”

  “God… I remember first meeting you,” I tell him. “It was like being hit by lightning. My stomach was all topsy-turvy just at the sight of you.”

  He’s still holding on to my hand. “Me too. I didn’t expect to still feel the way I did when I was a kid, but as soon as I saw your smile…”

  I tear my hand from his, and grab his face. I lean in and shove myself against him, and before long, our hot mouths are pressed together, our tongues dancing wildly. Our hands roam, not moving fast enough. That familiar desire fills my core, and my whole body responds to him, desperate for his touch. God, it’s only been a few days, but I’ve missed this.

  He’s aggressive when he tugs at the band of my pajama bottoms, when he slides them, along with my panties, down the curve of my hips. I’m eager when I pull his t-shirt over his head, and rake my hands through his soft hair.

  My hands are quick to travel down his body and pull his pajama pants over his rear, releasing him. He’s more ready than he’s ever been. I trail my finger down his torso, and wrap my hand around him. He groans as I pull away and tease. I trace the tattoo on his shoulder with the tip of my finger. E stands for Elizabeth. I know that now.

  “God, I can’t wait to be inside you,” he breathes against my ear. And in the next few seconds, he finds his way there. I wrap my legs around him, and revel in the warm feel of him.

  I need this now. We both do. I don’t know what will happen next. He had the power to save both of them, and he never did. I don’t know if I can deal with the history we share.

  “I love you, Abe,” I whisper. I know I love him, but I don’t know if I can ever forgive him.

  Izzie’s and Gavin’s funerals were like night and day.

  Izzie’s was a grand affair. She had so much family, and the whole town wanted to pay their respects. It was a horrible tragedy, yet everyone wanted a little part of it. People sobbed and hugged.

  The scent of flowers assaulted my senses. I was overwhelmed by the crowd, by all those people who wanted to talk to me. I couldn’t touch the finger foods, and I could barely stand straight in my two inch black heels. I wanted to be anywhere but there.

  It was a closed casket ceremony of course. There was a pretty table set up with a collection of photos of her, and some mementos she cherished. I recognized many of them. The photos captured her spirit perfectly. It was a beautiful display. My heart ached as my head filled with memories of the two of us, friends since we were so small. Izzie had certainly not always been the best of friends to me, but all the bad memories were suddenly gone, washed clean from my brain.

  Gavin’s funeral was not attended by many, and that made my heart ache even more. There were few flowers, and an eerie silence filled the parlor. A single photo of him sat next to the urn of ashes. It was an older photo from his high school graduation. It didn’t capture him at all— he had changed so much. I wished more people could have known him, could have seen what a wonderful caring person he was. Who would take care of me now? I knew I’d have to take care of myself.

  I finally had a chance to meet his father and was surprised by the uncanny resemblance. He was nice enough, and I learned that he’d taken Magnum. He was kind enough to let me visit and say goodbye to him before I left.

  Surprisingly, no one cried for Gavin, no one but me.

  He was cremated, in keeping with a handwritten will he’d left in the top drawer of his dresser. His ashes were buried.

  In a weird twist of fate, Izzie and Gavin were both buried in the same cemetery in town, about twenty yards away from each other.

  I would only visit them once, the day I’d leave my old life to start a new one.

  The movers arrive at ten o’clock in the morning as planned. Abe scrambles to welcome t
hem, unsure of what to do.

  “What should I do, Abby?” I know what he’s asking. He’s asking if he should stay, if there’s still a chance for us.

  I’m on the spot. I don’t know the answer. Can we get past this? All those painful memories have now been brought to the surface. Can we face them together? Or should we leave them alone, and go on with our lives? Pretend those horrible things never happened? If we’re together, we’ll never be able to do that.

  And can I get past the anger I feel toward him? If only he’d been stronger and spoken up, Izzie and Gavin would still be alive today. I know it’s not right, but a small part of me blames him for their deaths.

  “I don’t know,” I finally manage.

  His mouth turns downward. “You don’t want me to stay?”

  “I think… I just…” I fumble for words. I struggle to explain all the doubts whirling around in my head. “I think there’s too much going on right now.” It pains me to say the words. “It’s… probably best if we’re apart.”

  His whole body visibly slouches as he stares at the floor, refusing to face me. “Okay then…” he finally says and turns on his heel. He calls out to one of the movers he’d left waiting, and goes over the moving instructions.

  I feel horrible. I’m already doubting my decision, but it was practically already made for me. The movers were here, ready to go. They’d have charged him anyway. It was a sign.

  He doesn’t look at me once as he directs them and helps move boxes. I offer to help but he shrugs me away.

  “What about the piano?” I ask, knowing how expensive it will be to move.

  “It stays for now,” he tells me. “Don’t you have somewhere to be?” he scoffs. “Like work?”

  He’s clearly upset, and I completely understand. I’ve basically just ended things between us. “I took the morning off.”

  He shrugs and turns from me, and keeps working with the movers. I stand there for the longest time, just staring at him.

  I’m in love with this man, and I’m letting him go.

  When he glances up and catches my expression, he pauses for a long beat. He walks over and wraps me in a big bear hug. “I’m sorry. It’s okay… I get it.”

  I cry into his shoulder. “I’ll miss you.”

  He squeezes me harder. “Not as much as I’ll miss you.”

  37

  My last few days in Michigan were the saddest ones in my life. As strained as my relationship with my dad and brothers was, they were upset to see me go. Yet everyone understood. I’d just lost a best friend and the love of my life. I needed to start a new chapter. Hell, not just a new chapter… a whole new book.

  I packed my measly belongings and set out to start my new life. I left with no intention of ever returning to my hometown, and in fact, I rarely did in the next eighteen years.

  My father drove me to the cemetery before I left. I held two bouquets in my hands; white lilies for Izzie and white roses for Gavin. I’d read somewhere that white roses represent friendship and that’s exactly what Gavin and I had. We were friends long before we were ever lovers.

  “Johnny and his gang are going to be in jail for a while,” my dad was saying. “Johnny for sure, and his buddies too. Second degree murder.”

  I had no words. I hadn’t seen those guys since, and I knew I would never see them again.

  My breath hitched when we finally rounded the bend and drove up to the cemetery. “Thank you, Dad.”

  “No problem.”

  I reluctantly exited the truck, and trudged to Izzie’s grave with a heavy heart.

  I kneeled at her grave, remembering all the good times we’d shared; the crazy games, silly crushes, and the shenanigans we were always up to. For many years, she was the light of my life, my rock. Without her, I don’t know what I would have done. I pressed the bouquet of lilies against her tombstone and left one of the many friendship bracelets she’d made me. I’d kept them all.

  “You and me, we were quite the team for a while,” I said. “I’m sorry it all fell apart. You’ll always be my bestie, Izzie. I might make other friends, but you’ll always be number one.”

  I was choked up, but wouldn’t let myself cry yet. I was saving that for Gavin.

  My legs felt heavy as I walked toward Gavin’s grave. His tombstone was much smaller than Izzie’s, much more inconspicuous. I kneeled down and set the roses on the ground. A slideshow of images flashed instantly through my mind; the first time we met, the games of Scrabble, hot cocoa, snowmobile rides, his smile, his kiss, and of course all those times we’d made love. I could still feel his skin on mine, and taste his lips. I knew that would fade in time, and the thought of that made my chest ache. My whole core sank as I kneeled over his grave. I couldn’t even talk to him. I was too overwhelmed with sorrow. I just cried.

  I knew my father wouldn’t want to wait forever, sitting patiently in his truck. I reluctantly rose and set out to start my new life. “I’ll love you forever, Gavin,” I promised. “I’ll never forget you.”

  I was a mess when I got back to the truck. My dad shot me a tight smile. He pulled out of the drive. “You’ll be okay, Abby. You’re a smart girl. You’ll find your way.”

  It may have been the nicest words he’d ever uttered to me. I was surprised he had that in him. He knew he’d lost me, and maybe that made him realize how poorly he’d treated me all my life.

  We didn’t say a word for the rest of the drive to the bus. I was all ready for the long drive to Chicago. I was looking forward to starting a new chapter and leaving my old life behind. Why Chicago? I suppose I could blame it on all those John Hughes films set in Chicago, or Chicago Hope which I loved. Chicago always seemed like a cool place to be, or in my case, a perfect place to escape. It was certainly far enough.

  He hugged me goodbye and wished me luck. I waved bye as I climbed up on the bus.

  And I never looked back.

  I had a bit of money saved up, and I found myself a room in a house not too far from the U of Chicago campus. The landlord, Ira, a tiny elderly woman, lived there too. She was specifically looking for a young woman, a non-smoker. We spoke on the phone and she gave me the room right then and there. She told me she didn’t like living alone, she felt much safer with someone else in the house. Her last tenant had just moved in with her boyfriend. I told her that I didn’t have a boyfriend and had no intention of getting one in the near future. In fact, at the time, I thought I’d never find love again.

  I worked as a waitress at an upscale restaurant for a year before qualifying for in-state tuition and registering at U of Chicago. I continued working part-time while studying. The tips were amazing, especially if I turned on the charm.

  This was my new life, and I was going to make it work.

  “You did what?!” Claudia scoffs.

  We’re at our weekly lunch at Ruth’s Diner. I’m enjoying a spinach omelette and a glass of iced tea. I’ve just finished telling them my whole story. They already knew all about Izzie and Gavin (the love of my life). I’d even mentioned Adele and little Abe a few times. But this recent twist threw them all for a loop.

  “I was on the spot… I didn’t know what to say. The movers were already there.”

  Claudia shakes her head. “Who cares about the damn movers. You just don’t throw away what you and Noah had like that.”

  “You mean Abe,” Mischa chimes in, a cup of coffee in her hand.

  “Yes… Abe,” Claudia says. “I don’t care how fucked up your situation is… do you realize how hard it is to find love these days. Everyone just wants pointless hook-ups.”

  I shoot her an apologetic smile. Claudia’s been separated for quite a while. Although not divorced yet, it seems hopeless. She’s been on the dating scene with no luck whatsoever. I do realize how lucky I was to meet Noah… Abe (again) but I’m just not sure we can get past our history.

  “I’m with Claudia,” Gretchen pipes up. “You can’t give up on him. You need to do something.”

  I smi
le. Gretchen is such a romantic. She’s the woman who spends her Saturday nights watching corny Hallmark movies. The plots are often repeated but the happy endings are always there. I don’t mind watching them once in a blue moon, but she inhales them. “So what kind of grand gesture would you suggest?” I tease.

  Claudia smirks. “The trench coat with nothing but panties underneath is always a winner.”

  I laugh, suddenly remembering the time I tried to seduce Gavin wearing nothing but my mom’s red jacket and tall boots, and Izzie’s slutty panties. “Uh… that could work. If only I knew where he lived.”

  Gretchen’s eyes grow wide. “You don’t know where he is? You didn’t take his new address?”

  “He wouldn’t give it to me.”

  Mischa sits up straighter. “Ouch.”

  I poke my fork in my omelette, no longer hungry. “I’ve ruined everything.”

  Gretchen wraps her arm around my shoulders. “No, you didn’t. We can find him. There’s always Facebook and stuff. And we can hire a private investigator if we need to.”

  “We’ll figure something out,” Claudia adds. “You can’t let this one go. We’ve all seen you two together and you two are sickening.”

  “Yep,” Mischa says. “Absolutely vomit inducing.”

  Gretchen laughs. “Adorable as fuck.”

  Claudia’s eyes grow wide. “Well, little Gretchen, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you curse before.”

  Gretchen shrugs, her sweet face apologetic. “It happens.”

  We all break into laughter, and I help myself to another drink of iced tea.

  What would I do without these girls?

  If only I’d known it was the last time I would ever see Gavin, the last time I would kiss him, touch him, I would have held on so tight. I would have never let him go.

  I’d brought a sketch book and some sketching supplies. I’d taken an art class in my last year of school, and I was still doodling occasionally.

  “I’m going to draw your picture,” I announced.