by Rimmy London
He looked up from the floor, and her heart sunk a little.
“And fixing up a house is so much work.” He shook his head. “I don’t want any part of it. I’m sorry.”
She felt choked, balancing on the edge of tears but forcing them away as quickly as they came. “I never asked for your help,” she returned, wishing she couldn’t see how much it hurt him. But these were her dreams she was talking about—trusting him with. And he’d seemed more supportive about her designing labels. “Goodnight.”
He was still looking back at her when the door closed. She covered her mouth, trying to stop herself from crying. But her vision blurred, and a breath escaped in a sob. And then another. Her heart ached, and she leaned against the door wishing he would come back. She wanted his arms around her, familiar and kind. Always hopeful and adoring.
Why couldn’t he support her on this? She wiped at her tear-stained cheeks, but the tears kept falling. Her heart kept breaking. Even as she dragged her feet to her bedroom and showered. Brushed her teeth. Climbed into bed.
It still hurt. And her eyes were raw from tears as if there were simply none left. She laid on her pillow and stared up at the ceiling for so long, it felt like the entire night should have passed. But eventually she drifted into sleep, only to dream of beheaded animals being gruesomely tossed into a pile.
Chapter 10
Chase stood at Abigail’s door so long it felt like hours. He refused to apologize. After all, what had he done besides given his advice? Good advice. But when he heard a muffled sound from the other side of the door, it was nearly impossible to resist hurling it open again and begging for forgiveness.
He placed his hand on the wood, wishing things had gone very differently. When he’d come over that afternoon, he’d wanted to help her stay grounded. Maybe give her some direction. He thought for sure she would give up when he refused to help with repairs. But it hadn’t swayed her.
She’d seemed so out of control before when she hinted about buying the Poppyridge house. To Chase, it had been a desperate act by someone who’d never had anything and had suddenly been given everything. And he had a long history of that. It all started when his Aunt Lynn had won the state lottery. A fairly small amount that managed to do a great deal of damage to their family.
But maybe he was wrong.
He started down the stairs.
Maybe she didn’t need his professional opinion. That’s what it was, after all. His professional side taking over, reminding him that people did desperate things all the time and almost always lived to regret it. Like when his uncle had insisted on taking a share of his aunt’s money because he’d lost his job. Or when she’d refused to give even a penny because she’d already spent more than half on a closet full of absurd fur coats.
And then there was the realtor. Chase’s eyes narrowed. He started his car and glanced at the upstairs window one last time. It was dark inside, leaving him to wonder if she was already asleep. He pulled away from the curb.
What had her conversation been with Mr. Craig that last moment before she’d gotten out of the car? He frowned into his rearview mirror and turned into his garage. The man had seemed… interested. Or maybe Chase was just reading into the one fear he kept locked deep down. If Abby was a patient of his, it would’ve been their first in-office conversation. Her constant searching for something better.
Chase had only slightly touched on the topic once before. Abby had been so upset by his mere suggestion that she struggled with appreciating what she had, that he hadn’t dared to finish his explanation. His reasoning was because of growing up in such a broken home with so little love, she was constantly searching for her happily ever after, while at the same time fearing it completely. The moment she felt the slightest inkling that she may have found it, she would sabotage herself and start a search for something new.
Chase pulled off his shirt and twisted the shower handle, letting the water heat up. He watched his reflection in the mirror as steam began to tint the edges and swirl through the middle.
But what if he was wrong? He rubbed his tired eyes, thinking of the small piece of jewelry he’d finally bought and hidden in his dresser drawer. His heart pounded at the thought of giving it to her, followed swiftly by various options of how she might react. If indeed she was running from her happily ever after, it would be a green light for her to dump him. Dump him and run.
Then again… maybe she already had.
He looked back at the mirror, now only a slight shadow behind a thick layer of steam. Fading away. Maybe for good this time.
“Great job, jerk,” he mumbled, wiping one hand across the mirror and leaving only streaks of reflection staring back at him.
The weekend began with a long list of tasks Chase had been meaning to get to for over a month. He repaired two bathroom faucets and a dresser drawer, fertilized and trimmed his lawn, and finally moved into the garage, determined to organize every box, hiking boot, and stray ski. And his mind had been given the freedom to wander while he’d been rushing around.
He thought over the house at Poppyridge—still convinced it was an exceptionally bad idea—and every avenue he could think of that would explain the refuse deposited on the deck. The police officer could be wrong. Even though he realized it was highly unlikely, he made a mental list of animals that were capable of killing. His only thoughts were bear and wolves, both of which were unheard of in the area.
His next avenue of thought came more easily, being something he confronted every day. Human behavior. What would make someone act in such a way? They had to first have an end goal, like scaring buyers off or somehow hoping to prove themselves. Perhaps they wanted only to gain attention. But why?
Chase stacked the last storage bin atop another and tried to pick the single most likely scenario. It wasn’t easy, but eventually, he decided that scaring buyers off was the option that made the most sense. And that turned his thoughts to Abigail.
She was the buyer, after all. His heart pinched as he imagined her walking around the house and beach with her realtor friend. And then coming back to find another animal. Chase’s heart beat faster, thinking over what had to happen in that small window of time, and what the person might have looked like. Or more importantly, what kind of web his mind must have been twisted into.
Suddenly Chase straightened, imagining something new. A question came to his mind that he didn’t know the answer to, and it felt more significant than anything else. Abigail’s friend, the realtor… had they been separated at all during their time at the house? Perhaps it was enough time for him to kill the animal and stash it on the deck. And he would always know when new buyers were coming and going. Only with Abigail, that visit had been a last-minute decision. So, he wouldn’t have had time until they were already there. Maybe he wanted to buy the house himself but needed more time. Or maybe he wanted it to go to auction, so he could bid on it. The more Chase thought it over, the more plausible it seemed.
He stood with a sudden energy and decided what he needed was a brisk walk. In hardly three minutes time, he headed out the door still wiping the dust from his hands.
When he ended up at Abigail’s front steps, he paused a moment and looked up at her window, wondering what she was thinking of him. He’d managed to keep his thoughts well away from the topic all day. But now he’d stopped himself long enough to have a healthy kick of fear spread through his chest. She hadn’t called or texted at all that day.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped out a quick message.
Hello Bee, what are you up to? Can I come over?
He hesitated to push send, wondering just how mad she was… and if she would even reply.
“Chase!”
He spun around, nearly dropping his phone. Abigail was walking fast, closing the space between them with a smile stretched across her beautiful face. She was a dazzling sight, and it was a moment before Chase noticed she held a red leash in one hand and had an animal in tow.
He
was so shocked he didn’t even reply, only stared at the floppy-eared, clumsy bundle of energy padding alongside her.
Not that it was so incredibly surprising. Abigail loved animals, after all. But her apartment had barely enough room for her. Adding an animal had always been out of the question. Or… so Chase had thought. If he’d had any idea she wanted one so badly, he would’ve researched and planned until he’d found just the right breed. But whatever Abigail had bumping along next to her, he doubted there’d been much research.
He finally woke from his immobile state to lift a hand in greeting, but she only laughed at him and held up a large, glittering envelope. Bright turquoise that shimmered like a tropical fish just pulled from the reef.
“I got my first letter!” She was out of breath, still reeling from whatever had possessed her to run out and purchase a puppy. Her cheeks were flushed with a healthy shade of pink, and her eyes were vibrant and alive. Chase admired her a moment longer, and a smile spread across his face.
“Here, read it,” she persisted, nearly punching him in the jaw with the letter as she tripped on puppy feet. Her hand reached for him, and she steadied herself. “Oh—sorry.”
She took a step back and seemed to suddenly remember the day before. Her eyes glanced across his, questioning and unsure. And the vibrancy in her features wavered.
He took the letter. “What’s this?” he asked, wishing he’d shaken off the shock before her smile had fallen. For a moment, it was like the night before had never happened. But now it returned in her eyes, and he could feel an uncomfortable sensation in his middle. The painful reminder that something was unresolved.
“It’s my first challenge, and I’ve already completed it.” Her explanation dropped off into giggles as the gangly, rust-colored puppy jumped up. It pawed at her legs and licked her hand incessantly when she reached down, eager to prove its love. She laughed again and Chase opened the letter, scanning over it quickly.
It was hand-written, in the same beautiful scrawl as before. Aunt Sharalyn. There was hardly a paragraph, and it sounded more like a sonnet than actual communication. But the challenge was clear. Do the first spontaneous thing you can think of.
So that was it. The reason Abigail had decided to buy a puppy that couldn’t possibly fit in her apartment. But she was glancing back at Chase now, looking enchantingly unsure of herself. Chase wanted nothing more at that moment than to wrap his arms around her, but he’d left on such bad terms the night before, he hardly knew what to say.
“That’s great,” he finally answered, handing the letter back. He meant to say more, or maybe bring up their disagreement. But as he looked back at her, he couldn’t find the words. He couldn’t bring himself to support her buying the Poppyridge house, and that’s what it would take to end their dispute. But at least he could try to smooth things over.
“Thanks,” she answered quietly.
They both glanced around at the air between them, and Chase finally took a tentative step. The puppy jumped up on his legs, mistaking his closeness for an invitation. He smiled. “About last night,” he began, speaking carefully.
She shook her head, about to wave the conversation away, but he caught her hand in his. “I’m just worried about you.” He held her hand gently, and half expected her to pull away. But she didn’t. “I can’t agree with you on this. It just seems so sudden and… reckless, don’t you think?” He hoped she would appear a little bit persuaded, but her features were set in firm determination.
“Maybe if you just waited until you’ve completed these challenges—it looks like it won’t be anything too crazy.” He smiled a bit, loving the way it always seemed to distract her. “No scaling buildings, at least for now.”
Her lips edged upwards, and she glanced down at his feet. It looked like she was fighting to keep her smile from growing. “I’ll think about it,” she finally answered.
Chase exhaled quietly, still holding her hand in his. He couldn’t help but notice how soft her skin was and how delicate her hand felt. So many little things about her delighted him.
Her puppy jumped up again, pulling him from his thoughts. He reached his hand out to pet the bundle of energy and slobber. “By the way…” He paused, trying to get the puppy to relax a bit. “Just where are you going to keep this guy?”
“I haven’t come up with anything yet. I just saw a box of puppies for sale outside the community center and had to take a look, I’m sure I’ll think of something.” She shrugged it off like it wasn’t a problem. The look on her face was pure, resolved happiness. She smiled at the puppy like it had brightened not only her day but her life.
Chase studied her face long enough to realize there was something more than just a fun, spontaneous decision going on with her. She’d somehow genuinely changed since the night before. Even if it was only a tiny shift in her thinking… it showed.
“You can keep him at my place,” he offered, almost surprising himself. He’d decided in a fraction of a second, but there was no regret. If anything on this earth brought Abigail as much happiness as that puppy seemed to, he was in favor of it. He suppressed the retaliation in his mind, telling him there was something else that brought her happiness. A big something else.
“Really?” She stood, taking her attention off the puppy and looking back at him with a sincerity that made her rich brown eyes deepen. “Are you sure? I thought you didn’t want any pets.”
“Well, I didn’t really,” he confessed. “I’d feel bad being gone all day. But I could give you a key to my place.”
His eyes flickered up, and for a moment, he felt like a fraud trying to weasel her into a commitment of some kind. Their relationship had always stayed firmly in the separate dwelling territory, and for Chase, it had more to do with his concerns about her getting tired of him and moving on. “Maybe just until you find somewhere permanent?”
She smiled cautiously. “That would really help, thanks.”
They headed down the walk together, back the way Chase had come. His apartment was a short walk away, but there were some serious hills in between. Abigail’s poor puppy wobbled along in between them until it started to fall behind. They noticed at the same time, turning together.
“Here.” Chase scooped the puppy up, trying to maneuver its skinny legs and big paws until he finally had a comfortable hold. “I think this little guy’s had it.”
“His name’s Champ.” Abigail smiled. “He’s my champion.”
Chase held her eyes for a moment and finally turned back to the puppy. Its scruffy head was drooped over his arm. “You tired, Champ?” he asked, rubbing his soft fur. “That’s a great name.”
With the puppy in his arms, they made it up the last hill and to Chase’s apartment. But Abigail didn’t stay like she normally did. She rushed off, claiming she needed to stock up on supplies for Champ.
It made sense, especially with how spontaneous a purchase the puppy was. But it also left Chase wondering more deeply just where their relationship was at. They’d managed a pleasant conversation, sure. But had something been set into place that could somehow change their future? Had he pushed too hard?
Chase couldn’t help but fear he’d done more than just disagree the night before. What if he’d placed a wedge between them? It was the exact opposite of what he’d wanted. Usually, when Chase felt this strongly about something, Abigail would recognize it and agree. It was how they’d treated each other all along. Chase could respect when Abigail felt passionate about something, and she always respected him as well. So, why didn’t she do that now? What was so tempting about this place that she couldn’t leave it alone? What was luring her there?
With each question, Chase felt more lost. Was she seriously considering moving to Poppyridge Cove long-term? Living there? Could she be choosing this house over him? Was it the new, shiny thing he’d been fearing would come?
He tried to keep the realtor out of his thoughts, but it was nearly impossible. They’d spent an entire day together alone, just the
two of them. Which left plenty of time to talk. Maybe he came with the house… and maybe Chase already knew what that meant for him.
He shook himself from his thoughts, perfectly aware he’d let them spiral too far out of control. It was something he excelled at, and it could be quite helpful when trying to get to the root of a problem. But when combined with doubt and a pinch of fear, it was a recipe for red herring.
He ran a hand over his weary head, watching the sleeping puppy next to him. It really was a sweet creature. Looked to be part Labrador, although its coloring was redder than any Lab he’d ever seen. Abigail had a sense about things like that. He had no doubt her puppy would be the most naturally obedient and intelligent animal possible.
He’d learned from experience to trust her instincts.
He gazed out the front window to the small, spindly tree in the front yard. Is that what he needed to do now? Trust her? A headache swelled at the back of his neck at the mere thought. When he’d seen that house in the forest, it was dark and decrepit, like its days in the sun were long over. If it were up to him, he’d bulldoze the place and build an entirely new structure.
Champ woke enough to flop himself around and end up with his small head resting on Chase’s leg. His glossy, black eyes blinked up at him.
Chase leaned down, staring into the puppy’s face. “What do you think?” he asked. The black eyes closed again, and he was instantly asleep. “You’re right,” Chase continued in a whisper, “I may be worrying over nothing. Maybe things will settle if I just stop stirring the water, ya know?”
Champ’s ears twitched, and his head lifted.
“Ah, you thirsty?” He went to find a bowl in the kitchen with big puppy paws padding around him in a sudden blizzard of energy.