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That night, we both slept peacefully. I wasn't expecting to get those answers from Nick, I just wanted to be near him, talk to him like I used to. But I have to say, he surprised me. It kind of shocked me a little, I mean, it's not every day that someone tells you if you made the wrong decision, you'd be dead. It was kind of an eye opener, what if I didn't give Logan a chance? Neither of us would be here and neither would little Julianna...
The next morning, we ate breakfast at the hotel and by eight AM, we were on the road again. But I didn't head straight to the interstate, no, I drove about thirty minutes south of town until I reached my old house. My parents sold it soon after I moved to Virginia, but it doesn't look inhabited. The driveway is bare, no flowers or anything on the porch, no nothing anywhere.
"Didn't you say that your parents sold the house?" Logan asks and I pull off on the side of the road.
"Yeah, they wired me the money about a month after we left..." I add, putting the car in park, pulling the keys out of the ignition, and sliding out of the car. "What are you doing?" Logan asks, following me as I cross the road.
"I'm going to see if anyone lives here." I walk up to the porch and ring the doorbell. I hear it echo through the house. No movement what so ever. I look through the window and to my surprise, see all the furniture I had left behind. It was like everything was exactly how I had left it.
"Maybe they didn't sell it after all," Logan suggests.
I shake my head, "Then how did they wire me all that money?" I suddenly remembered where I always left a spare key. I walked around to the back of the house and picked up a loose board from the porch. I reached under it and found the key. Logan smiled as I retrieved it and unlocked the door.
We entered the kitchen as I looked back toward the laundry room... The white tile is slightly stained with red. It was where Louise had laid the night she was shot. "Don't think about it, Care. What'd you want anyway?" Logan asks changing the subject.
Before I can answer, I see a small white piece of paper sitting on the counter. I walk over and pick it up as Logan notices it. "What's it say?"
"Dear Caroline, We thought you may want to come back someday so your Dad and I bought the house. Glad you remembered where the key was, keep it. Love, Mom and Dad..." I read aloud.
"And tell me again why you hate them so much?" Logan asks.
I sigh, "I don't hate them, we just agree to disagree is all..."
We walked around the house for a little while but soon, I felt a little uneasy, so we locked up and left. Logan thought we were leaving for good this time, but I had other plans... When we locked the back door, I walked around the driveway and started to head into the woods.
"I knew it." He mutters. "What is with you and just randomly deciding to run off into the woods? Why do you do that?"
"At least I included you this time. But if you wish, you can stay behind. I just want to see if the bridge is still there. I'll be right back." I start off down the path.
"Yeah, you know that's not happening." He adds, reluctantly following my lead. When we reached the end of the path, I had to remember which way to go. Right, my heart said. Thankfully, I remembered the way to the creek, except when we got there, I didn't quite remember which way the bridge was. "Great." Logan mutters.
"Oh, relax, Logan. He led me here the first time, he can do it again." I paused, waiting for an answer. Just like last time, a bird flew out from the trees above me, made a really loud chirping sound, and flew to the right.
"Okay, isn't it funny that that still freaks me out, just a little." He adds.
"Huh, I figured you'd be used to it by now." I chuckle as we continue on. Within a few minutes of walking, the bridge comes into view. I smile as we walk up to it. It's still here and I hoped and prayed it would remain here for many years to come.
I noticed something different when we got to the middle of the bridge. There was a cross engraved into the wood on the rail. I looked closer, below the cross were some words...
In Loving Memory of Nickolas Vaughn. May he rest in peace.
Logan came over and read it aloud, "Wonder who put it here?"
"His dad. He was the only one that knew about this place beside me." We sat there a while longer in silence. I missed this place, it was quiet, peaceful... Kentucky and Virginia weren't that far apart, yet they seemed so different.
I had a nice, quiet backyard in Virginia. No one was anywhere near me, yet here, it felt different. I didn't really know how to explain it, I just felt like I could stay here for hours and
hours and never notice the time. It was like my little haven in the middle of the woods. I wish I could just pick it up and move it back home, but I couldn't. I guess I'd just have to settle for visiting.
I was glad Logan and I had decided to come here, I think it helped us both and even our marriage. I knew Nick would always watch over us and I was sure that when Logan and I were gone, he'd watch over Julianna too. It's like he's our guardian angel, he'll always be there for us and it definitely gave me peace of mind.
You're Still The One Page 23