Before I finish my first cup of coffee, Levi pulls into the driveway. I’m happy to see him, I didn’t want to ask Pops to take me to get my truck from the bar. I watch as Levi walks towards the house and I hear Momma and Pops stir in their bedroom.
I stand and pour Levi a mug of hot coffee. “I’m surprised to see you up this early,” he says walking into the kitchen.
I set his coffee down in front of him on the table, before takin’ the seat across from him. “Woke up with a pounding headache.”
“I bet you did.”
Momma and Pops both enter the room at the same time. Pops pours himself a coffee and Momma comes over and hugs Levi and me.
“Mornin’,” Pops calls from the coffee pot.
“Mornin’, we answer in unison.
“I’ll have your breakfast made in a jiffy,” Momma says as she ties her apron behind her.
I hate to see Momma fuss over a big breakfast, but I have learned from past experience that it’ll offend her to decline a meal. She likes to take care of her family, and feeding us is taking care of us. Sometimes I think that she considers anyone not at least ten pounds overweight anorexic.
When Levi finishes his coffee, I say, “We’ll be back.” Levi and I stand to head out to feed the animals.
“I’ll come with you,” Pops says as he reaches for his coat on the coat rack. “Everything all right?”
“Girl problems.”
I glare at Levi. “Shut up, Levi.”
“Things still aren’t goin’ well with Savannah Mae?”
I look in the direction of the barn and say, “No, I think she’s back with Ethan.”
No one says anything as we feed the animals. After breakfast, Levi takes me to get my truck from the bar.
“I think you should talk to her.”
Looking at Levi I say, “I think you should mind your own business.”
“Things aren’t what they seem, Abel. You should talk to her.”
I nod before getting out of his truck. “Thanks for the ride.” I close the door behind me, not answering him. On the drive to the old schoolhouse, I think about his words. Should I talk to her? I already know things aren’t always what they seem, and I know it’s not all black and white. There are a lot of gray areas in everything.
When I near her house, I try to not look, but my eyes deceive me. I’m disappointed when I don’t see her car parked outside. I decide that today I’ll focus on work and think about Savannah Mae later. The first person I see when I pull up is Ethan and his dad, Kevin. I look around the field and I also see Pops and a few other guys.
Ethan’s smiling as he talks to his dad. About Savannah Mae, no doubt. When everyone arrives I give directions for what I want done and in some cases instructions about how to do it. Pops and I set up a small office area in the corner of the overly large room. I get a text message saying the windows and doors arrived and they can begin installing them as soon as tomorrow. I immediately call the company and confirm the earlier installation. This will speed things along.
“Abel, it’s time to discuss your plans with the property. Do you have any idea what you want to do?”
Pops is sitting at the desk, and I’m sitting across from him on the only empty seat.
“I have several ideas.”
“Well, let’s hear them.”
He doesn’t smile and he doesn’t look away. I look out the window at the empty field, before looking back at Pops. “I want to have a horse ranch for disabled children.”
“For Mia and Levi’s baby?”
“I’m hoping their child won’t need it. I may be in denial thinking their child will be born fine.”
“Then for other children with disabilities.”
“Yes.”
“If you decide on a horse ranch, you’ll need horse stables. What other ideas do you have?”
“A restaurant where people can work for their meal.”
“A soup kitchen? We already have a community meal at the church.”
“No, not a soup kitchen. People who eat at the restaurant can work off their meal or pay for their meal if they wish. I thought we could open up for dinner and serve nutritious meals. Not hamburgers and hotdogs, but salads, chicken, fish, meatloaf, mashed potatoes.”
Pops takes a deep breath. “It’ll be mighty expensive feeding everyone for free. You may also put Peaches Place out of business. Do you have any other plans?”
“I never thought of that. I don’t want to put Peaches Place out of business. I was also thinking of a furniture-making business. Maybe have a place where Ethan and his dad could work and sell their products.” I look at Pops for a reaction, but I don’t get one, so I continue. “Someplace where Johnny can work and sell his figurines.” Still no reaction so I keep on.
“So, you’ll have handmade furniture, wooden figurines, and salvaged metal sculptures bein’ made and sold?” Still no reaction from Pops.
“Yes, if they all agree. Maybe they can offer free art classes and teach others how to make things.”
Finally he shows some emotion and it’s in the form of a smile. “You’ll need a showroom or a buildin’ to sell the products. Mia, your momma, and Savannah Mae might be able to help with that. He looks out the window and says, “You’ll need to get another buildin’ built and a horse stable. How many horses are you thinkin’ you’ll need if you start up a horse ranch?”
“Two or three to start out.” Pops reminds me about Camp Echoing Hills in Warsaw, Ohio. They do a lot for handicapped children and adults. They have nature trails, fishing, camping, and more. No horse ranch, as far as I know, but they do have a go-cart track. “Maybe a rescue dog might be a better idea.”
“Now you’re thinkin’.” Pops smiles.
“Okay, it was just a thought.”
“We’ll put that on hold for now. This is a nice buildin’, you could use this for a showroom and build a workshop to accommodate the workers.”
“So you think it’ll work? Selling handmade furniture?”
He smiles and stands from the chair. “Well, I think it’ll be great for the community. Look what Dave Longaberger did with his handmade baskets in Dresden.” He laughs. “I guess anything is possible, and I guess you need to get to askin’ Johnny, Ethan, and Kevin about workin’ here. Rick’s currently sellin’ his sculptures in Nelsonville.”
“Selling at two different places may be a violation of contract,” I add.
“Or it could double his income. I know he has his workshop on his farm and takes his finished products to be sold in Nelsonville. Working with metal and steel, he’ll need his own workshop.”
After lunch, Pops and I talk to Ethan and Kevin about working here permanently. I tell them they’ll need to train a few other people in the craft of making wooden furniture. I explain they’ll make it and sell it here. I break down the cost and their percentage of their earnings. I thought they would need time to talk it over and get back to me, but they don’t. Work and jobs have been minimal and they are excited to secure work with me. We shake hands until I can work out a contract for us to sign. In these parts, a handshake is just as good as a signed contract, but a signed contract is always a good idea.
Pops and I leave and ask Mark to supervise in our absence. Not that the men need supervision but someone needs to be in charge in case something happens. We drive in the direction of Rick Crooks’ homestead.
Driving up the long driveway, we see a few guys out in the yard working. Pops hollers out the window, and Rick smiles and waves. He walks in the direction of the sound of the vehicle.
“Bud, what brings you up this way?” Rick asks when we close the truck doors.
Pops walks over to him and says, “My son wanted to ask you something.”
Rick extends his hand and Pops shakes it. “Good, I’ve been wantin’ to congratulate Levi and Mia on the baby to be.”
“Levi’s at work but my other son is here. This is Abel.”
Rick extends his hand and says, “I hear you’re doin
’ great things with the old schoolhouse.”
“Thank you.” I shake his hand. “We still have a long way to go.”
“Come on in the house, I want you to meet my wife, Patty, and you can tell me what’s on your mind.”
I follow him down the long driveway and into the house. We have coffee and I tell him my plans. He listens and Pops lets me do most of the talking. He tells me he’s currently working from home, but selling at the Savage Art Gallery and Studio in Nelsonville, Ohio. He’ll need to have Patty read over his current contract to make sure he won’t be in violation if he sells anywhere else.
One the drive back to the shop, Pops and I talk about the plans and how easily they are coming together. I still need to talk to Johnny and his mother, but I’ll do that tomorrow.
Savannah Mae
I reread the note.
Savannah Mae,
There’s more that you don’t know about.
Not a Friend
I shiver and lock up the house. I’m mad that I’m receivin’ these notes again. I’m scared at what they mean, and I’m curious about who’s sendin’ them. This letter wasn’t mailed; it was hand delivered. That alone scares me. And the unsolved murder of Megan Rose scares me worse. Chills run down my spine. I peek out of the window to see if anyone is watchin’ me. I don’t see anyone. What if they’re lurking behind a house or a tree, or sitting in a car?
I bathe Sawyer Jackson and put him to bed. I read over the note once again and shiver. Once he is asleep, I call Abel Lee.
“Is everything all right, Savannah Mae?” he asks even before I speak.
Startled by the way he answered the call, I stutter, “C…could I see you, please?”
“Now?”
“If you have time, yes.”
“I’m on my way.”
After a few short minutes, he pulls up in his truck. I open the door and wait for him. He doesn’t smile, but he has a concerned look on his face. He watches me, never takin’ his eyes off mine. I want to smile when I see him. I want to run up and kiss him. I want to tell him I’ve missed him, but I don’t. The contents of this note is still fresh in my head. As well as the contents and photo of the last note that still bring chills down my spine.
“I came as quickly as I could.” He steps up onto the porch. “Is everything okay?”
I open the screen door for him, and he walks into the house. “I came home from dinner and found this tucked inside the screen door.” I hand him the note and watch as he reads it. I close the door after him and lock it.
He runs his hands through his hair, and sits on the arm of the couch. “Where’s Ethan?” he asks.
Where’s Ethan? I get a note sayin’ there’s more I don’t know about, and he wants to know where Ethan is? “I don’t know. With Heather Sue, perhaps.”
“He’s not here?”
“No. Why would he be here?” He watches me and I can’t tell what he’s thinkin’. Why would he think Ethan would be here? I understand that Ethan would sometimes be here seein’ his son, but not this time of night. “Abel Lee, why would you think Ethan would be here this time of night?”
He doesn’t answer. He stands and paces the room. Abel Lee walks down the hall and pokes his head into Sawyer Jackson’s room, before comin’ to stand in front of me. “Look, I don’t want you here alone. Can you stay with your parents?”
“No, I can’t. I’m a grown woman with a four-year-old son. I can’t just go to my parents and stay with them. Why do you want me to go to my parents to stay? What does this note mean?” I want answers.
“I don’t know.” He takes my hand and leads me to the couch. Once seated, he faces me and says, “I don’t know who sent this. I don’t know how they know where you live.” He looks me in the eyes, and he has stress lines across his forehead. “Look, I don’t want you to stay here by yourself until I find out who’s doing this.”
“Do you think it has to do with Megan Rose’s murder? Could it be the same person?” Suddenly I’m scared. I rub my arms with my hands to warm them. The cold chills take over my entire body, and I shiver.
“Savannah Mae, the picture could have come from anyone. The same photo they sent you was posted all over the internet. Anyone could have printed it off and sent it. I have no idea who it is, but I don’t want you and Sawyer Jackson here alone. At least not until I can figure all this out.”
“I can ask Samantha Marie to stay…” I begin to say until he cuts me off.
“No. I’ll stay. I don’t want to involve her. If this is a lunatic, I don’t want her to be around.” He’s right. What was I thinkin’? I can’t involve my baby sister in this. What if something happened and she got hurt? I would never forgive myself. He’ll stay? Where will he sleep? He can’t stay here with me. We have unresolved issues. “We need to talk. There’s some things you need to know.”
This is what I wanted, isn’t it? To talk to him. To clear up this mess and to be with him. Yes, it is exactly what I wanted. “Do you need a drink?”
“Yes, please.” Good, me, too.
We talk well into the night. I learn that the picture of the beat-up person was from a fight during Abel Lee’s professional boxin’ career. He said he remembers the guy, but he can’t recall his name. Sadly and reluctantly he tells me about a fight where the guy didn’t survive. I know professional boxers can and will get injured, but to die as a result, is hard to comprehend. Why would anyone want to box if death is a possibility?
He tells me about the night Ethan was here when my electricity was shut off and he thought we were back together. We laugh and smile. We cuddle and kiss. It feels good to be back in his arms. It feels like this is where I should be, where I belong. How could I have ever thought he was capable of intentionally harmin’ a human being? Abel Lee is kind, and sweet, and gentle. I will never doubt him again. I will never jump to conclusions without knowin’ the facts first.
After a few beers and a few glasses of wine, he looks at me with hooded eyes. His eyes are dark and serious. He reaches up and strokes my cheek with his thumb. I lean into him and close my eyes. “You’re beautiful,” he whispers, kissing the corner of my mouth. “I’ve missed you,” he says, kissing the other corner of my mouth. My breath catches at his soft tone, his gentle touch, his sweet kiss. He pulls away slightly, but I want more. My eyes flutter open when he doesn’t kiss me again. I want more, don’t stop. He smiles slightly as he searches my eyes. “I love you, Savannah Mae.”
It’s the first time he’s ever said those words to me, and I couldn’t imagine a better time. I lean into him and pepper soft kisses over his lips. “And I love you, Abel Lee.”
He swoops me up and carries me into the bedroom.
Chapter Eight (Country Life)
Abel Lee
When Savannah Mae called me, I panicked. I thought something terrible had happened. I rushed over and almost felt relief when she handed me the note. Of all the things that ran through my head, this note wasn’t one of them. Then I remembered Megan Rose. Her killer’s still at large, and I still have no clue who sent the previous notes and the photo. I thought whoever it was would have long been gone. Didn’t the person want us broken up? Isn’t that why he sent Savannah Mae the notes and the photo? Why is the person still lurking around? I knew one thing. I knew I wasn’t leaving Savannah Mae or Sawyer Jackson alone.
I can’t explain how I felt when she told me she wasn’t with Ethan. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to fist pump the air. I wanted to pick her up and swing her around and claim her as mine. I didn’t. While remaining calm, I was trying to piece everything together in my head.
Nothing else mattered. She wasn’t with Ethan and this is my chance to talk to her. This is my chance to come clean and tell her everything. All I wanted to do was kiss her and claim her. I wanted her to be mine and to keep her safe. When she told me she loved me back, I couldn’t wait any longer.
That night, I didn’t sleep. I held her and watched her sleep. I inhaled her scent and it felt like home. List
ening to her breathe soothed me. The only thing I wanted to do was protect her and her son. I was back in her life and I planned to stay there.
In the morning, even though I didn’t sleep, I felt rested and energized. In the last few hours, my life had taken a 180-degree turn, and I couldn’t be happier. I let her sleep while I fix Sawyer Jackson’s breakfast. He’s happy to see me and gives me the biggest hug. With his small arms wrapped around my neck, I carry him to the table where his oatmeal and a sliced banana are waiting for him.
He asks, “Where have you been?”
“I’ve been working.”
“Mommy was sad while you were away.”
The honesty of a child is a lot to absorb. His words cut right into my heart. I set him down on the chair and sit beside him. “I’m hoping she won’t be sad any longer.”
“Mommy cries at night.”
The knife cuts deeper into my already wounded heart. I’m the reason for her sadness and her tears. “How about we turn those tears into smiles and laughs?”
“Okay.” I watch as he takes a bite of his oatmeal. And at that moment I vow to bring only happiness to him and to her. I can’t be that person who makes her cry, or fills her days with sadness.
“What are you guys talkin’ about?”
I look up and Savannah Mae is standing in the doorway looking breathtaking.
“We’re talkin’ about you, Mommy.”
I laugh and ruffle his dark hair before standing. “You don’t have to tell everything you know, Sawyer Jackson.”
Everyone laughs and I walk over to kiss Savannah Mae. “Good morning, Beautiful.” I lean down to kiss her and she stands on her tiptoes to reach me.
“Yes, it is,” she says between kisses.
We have breakfast together and make plans for the day. While I’m at work, she’ll be home and when I get off, she’ll be going to work. I don’t like this work schedule already.
“If I’m not off work when you leave, bring Sawyer Jackson over to the school.”
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