He leaned down and caressed her face. “I need to leave for work soon.”
She wiped her mouth, stretched her arms, and gazed up at him. “Where am I?”
“You put together a room in your sleep last night. Don’t you remember?” he asked.
She raised her eyebrows, peered around the room, and giggled as a small child would when seeing snow for the first time. For an instant, her blue eyes lit up in a way that seemed like a new discovery to him. It had been a long time since he saw her eyes dance.
“I remember. The girls want us to stay…or they would want us to be happy,” she said.
Cache wished he could be just as amused about this whole situation, but it wasn’t funny. Why couldn’t Adaline move on? It’s not like he wanted to, but holding false hope was destroying him—couldn’t she see that?
“They would’ve loved it,” he said, looking at the ground. Cache placed his hand on her shoulder. “Maybe it’s too soon for you to go back to work. Taking another day to relax might be good?”
She shoved his hand off her shoulder and tightened her grip around the bear’s neck. “I’m fine.”
“Okay. Ease up on the bear,” he said, smirking. “You got that thing in a chokehold.”
Adaline glared at him.
“Bad timing on the jokes. Got it.” Cache hesitated. He never knew what he would get from day to day. She was fragile and unstable. Sometimes she’d take the same statement seriously, other times she’d laugh and move on, but chancing it wasn’t a good idea. He learned the hard way, many times recently. Cache stood and glanced at his watch. “I guess I’ll go get ready then.”
She looked up at him and her lips turned upright. “Thank you for getting me up.”
“No problem. Can I help you find anything before I jump in the shower?” he asked.
Her face twisted back into the Adaline he didn’t know anymore. Anger possessed her body, taking form. “You know exactly what I need to find. Daughters.”
“Okay.” He scratched his chin. Cache wished he knew what was going on in her head. She seemed distant and odd since the tragedy. He wanted Adaline to let him in; he wanted to tell her how hard this was on him, too. She lived in her own land, and he played along in hopes she’d come out of it, at some point, but when would that be?
“That’s it? Okay?” she asked.
“We’ve been over this.”
Adaline stared at him for a minute. “You don’t want to be late on your first day.”
Taking a deep breath, he bent down and kissed Adaline on the forehead. “Have a good day,” he said before leaving the bedroom.
After showering and putting on a suit, he rushed downstairs and grabbed his briefcase on the counter.
Please let her stop searching through the past.
Cache worried that his hidden secrets wouldn't stay buried for much longer. He shut the front door to the unknown—not sure what he would come home to this time.
Ten
Adaline Rushner
Lost Treasures Antique Store
8:30 a.m.
Parking her silver Chevy on Ivy Lane, she glanced across the street and pried the newspaper open. She flipped through the pages until she found page five, the business section, and scrolled down to view Lost Treasures, boldly saying hello to the readers. Ms. Dunbar wanted a grand opening with the new manager in town.
Adaline laid the newspaper on the dashboard and grunted. She opened her wallet and pulled out a picture of her girls. She kissed her fingers and touched the photo gently, taking in their beautiful faces.
“Once you come home, I’ll show you all the treasures I find.”
Placing the picture back in her wallet, Adaline got out of the car and strolled toward the store. The windows needed some show-stopping displays, and the shelves had to be stocked before the store could open.
Peering at the items in the window, an old record player and a grandfather clock stood on one side, while an array of handheld mirrors and jewelry boxes beamed on the other. Adaline glanced at the keys dangling in her hand. She clicked the key in place, turned the knob, and opened the door to her store. It still smelled like a blend of old wood and mildew even after all the cleanup she’d done months ago, when family and possibility had been her reality.
Candles. Where did I put them?
Shutting the door, Adaline turned on the lights and placed her purse and winter coat on the front counter. She went to the closet, looking for the vanilla candles she had seen laying around.
Damn special hiding spots. What good are you, if I can’t find you?
She huffed, brushed dust off her pants, and went to the back room to retrieve display stands to put in her windows. She tugged on a closet door positioned at the back of the room. It was a very inconvenient place for a door, and it put up a good fight every time she tried to open the thing.
The bell at the front of the store rang, and the clomping of boots sounded.
Adaline hesitated and patted her pocket for the keys. Empty.
I didn’t lock the door?
“We’re not opened yet. But, in an hour you’re more than welcome to check out the store.” Adaline tilted her body to peek through the aisle. She couldn’t see anyone, and the pounding from the boots had stopped.
“Hello?”
Halting, she peered around her store as uneasiness set in. Her skin prickled and she swallowed hard.
“Is anyone there?”
The store bell rang again.
Get a grip. They just left.
Underneath the display case lay her keyring. She bent down and moved her fingers under the case, retrieving the keys as they dangled on her thumb like a Christmas ornament.
Adaline shook her head and chuckled while locking her store. She walked back to the closet door and paused.
Boots. I didn’t hear the boots.
Clomping returned, inching toward her, and jangling sprung from her shaking hand. The attacker clung to her shoulders and sniffed her hair. “Little Owl. It’s been so long,” a man said in a whisper.
She froze.
Little Owl. I know that term. From where?
“I haven’t seen your face. If you leave now, I won’t report this,” Adaline said.
Laughter erupted, and the man’s strong arms shoved her into the closet. The door creaked loudly as it slammed shut.
“No. Let me out now.”
“If you continue to scream, the people outside waiting to see your filthy store will die . . . or will they? Kind of like your girls,” said the voice, softly. “Bye-bye. I’ll be watching you.”
Adaline gripped her chest, breathing heavily.
My girls. He mentioned them.
“Where are they? Tell me right now.” She pounded on the door. “Don’t . . . leave me in here.”
Adaline fumbled for the light switch, but the darkness made it impossible to see what was right in front of her. She ran her shaking fingers up and down the walls until a sharp object hooked into her skin. Pain shot through her hand. Grabbing at her arm, she steadied it and felt a splinter of plywood hanging from the center of her palm. Adaline let out a whimper, yanked it out, and threw it in front of her. A clanking sound rang out in the tiny confinement she was trapped in.
The doorknob.
She moved in the direction where the sound came from and put her hand out to grab the doorknob. Cold metal grazed her palm. Adaline winced and gripped it, turning the knob with force, pulling as hard as she could. Her hand slipped off the knob, flinging her backward. She landed on her tailbone with a grimace.
Memories of when she was eight and her mother stuck her in a closet came rushing back. The closet she sat in was no bigger than the one she lived in as a kid.
How did you get so stupid?
I wish you were never born.
You make me miserable.
I never wanted to be your mom, pigeon.
I hate the person you are.
Why couldn’t you be different?
I wish y
ou would leave and never come back.
I don’t love you and never will; deal with that.
Every syllable her mother yelled out stung Adaline’s heart. The bitterness and hatred were like poison pulsing off her tongue. Adaline told herself that they were just words her mother didn’t mean, but over time she started believing what was said.
She held herself in a fetal position, peering through a black abyss that turned her into that scared child again.
“Are you still there?”
There was no answer.
He’s gone.
“Anyone, please help me? Is there anyone there?” she said, banging on the walls and floor that surrounded her. “I need help.”
Her voice wavered, sounding unfamiliar, yet she remembered it like an old friend. Holding her hands together, she sat in silence.
This isn’t happening. Not again.
She pulled at her hair and kicked the door multiple times, but it wouldn’t budge.
Go to your happy place. You’re not the same person anymore.
Adaline hummed a song and swayed back and forth, rocking herself to stop her trembling body. Her heart raced and she felt dizzy. She repeated the tune a second time, until her nerves subsided some. Adaline planted her shaking hands on the concrete and let the cold ground her.
Think.
A noise came from inside her store. Adaline got up quickly and pressed her ear on the wood door. “Hello, anyone?”
Welcoming light streamed in, and she fell backward as the door smacked open. Adaline lay on her back and held her knees up to her chest. “Don’t come any closer.”
A tall man stepped forward. “I just got you out of here. Calm down.”
Adaline raised a leg, ready to kick him in the gems if he kept moving. “Got me out? You’re the bastard that put me in here.” Her arms shook with fear and anger. “Where are my girls? I know you have them.”
He put his hands up to surrender. “No, ma’am. I swear, I didn’t do this to you and I don’t know anything about your girls.” Adaline stared at him. He appeared to be in his fifties, and his shoulder-length, wavy brown hair held an I need a shower look. He was tall and lanky, but in his hazel eyes, she saw kindness and intensity.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
She lowered her leg and planted her hands on the ground. “You didn’t put me in here?”
“I’m looking for a job. There’s a hiring sign on the door. I’m Seth,” he said with a smile “Can I help you up?”
Adaline looked down at the man’s feet. No boots, only sneakers with holes. She glanced around. No one else was inside the store. “Thank you for getting me out of the closet.”
“You’re welcome. You should really call the cops about this.”
She stood up and hustled to the front door. “I really need to get back to it.”
Seth grinned. Adaline watched as he moved to the door. He had a distinct walk, almost like he was counting his steps. “I can take a hint. Nice to meet you.”
Adaline locked the door behind him and peered through the window, at the line outside on the street corner of Ivy Lane for the Grand Opening.
She grasped her neck and gazed at the opened closet she’d just escaped from. Her nose scrunched and tears slid down her face. Sinking to the ground, Adaline gave into the raw emotion eating its way through her soul.
Through her tear-filled vision, a piece of paper with bold lettering mocked her on the ground. She wiped her eyes and crawled toward it.
You can never escape me. I will make your life hell, like you did to mine. Your girls were only the beginning of your pain.
Bunching her fist, Adaline crumbled the paper in her hand and marched to the front of her store. She stood outside staring at the crowd, taking a moment to memorize every face one by one. “If any of you think you can scare me away, you’re dead wrong. Do you hear me?” she yelled. No one said a word. Adaline turned to lock the door and then ran to her car.
Eleven
Seth Duncan
Monday, November 8th
9:30 a.m.
He arrived at his apartment suite—or that’s what he called it to make it sound more appealing than the dump it was. The Grand Capital Motel. That name was deceiving. It didn’t have the feel of Grand, but it was better than where he had come from. Seth didn’t have a job yet, and money was low, but not for long. He planned on making something of himself and changing his life around.
“Excuse me, sir. How long do you plan on staying here?” a pretty lady asked as he passed the front desk.
He grabbed his wallet and pulled out a credit card. “A week.”
She took the card and rang it through. “Your card was declined. Do you have any other form of payment?”
Seth took out a fifty-dollar bill and handed it to her. “There must be a misunderstanding. I’ll pay you tomorrow for a weeks’ stay,” he said.
“This will get you a night’s stay, maybe two,” she said, winking at him. “Mister…?”
“Duncan.”
“Mr. Duncan, sir.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” he said.
The lady smiled. “Looking forward to it, Mr. Duncan.”
The morning sure had gotten interesting quickly. He had heard of the grand opening on Ivy Lane and thought he’d check it out to see if they carried an old watch compass. That poor lady sure seemed upset, but being locked in a closet at work couldn’t be a walk in the park.
Seth stopped in front of his room, number 203, and opened the door. He had a bad habit of locking the door. After what he’d been through, locking the door was the least of his problems. The bedroom smelled of wet dog and stale perfume.
That’s what you get for a cheap room.
The bed had stains on the covers, and the mattress caved in the middle, creating a pit.
No way am I getting stuck in that hole of filth.
He took off his coat, laid it on the bed, and sat on it. Seth placed his hands on his lap, careful not to touch the bed. He proceeded to take off his sneakers, but the yellow carpet looked like it was Big Bird’s fur infested with germs and dirt. He put his shoes back on.
Seth scanned the room for the remote to find it in the bathroom, which only made the place that much more disgusting. His backpack lay on the bed as he tried to jiggle the zipper to come undone. He reached his arm through a small opening to grab a sanitizer wipe. Grocery stores were the stock place for them; the containers were right by the shopping carts in the front entrance—easy access. Technically he wasn’t stealing, because he didn’t need to pay for them. Seth cleaned the remote control with the wipe, debating if he wanted to watch the news, but decided against it. His stomach agreed, growling noisily. He looked down at his watch. It was noon. Time to get lunch.
Tomorrow will be a new day.
He wanted to find purpose, for someone to need his help—and Mrs. Rushner appeared to be that someone.
Twelve
Cache Rushner
Rushner Home
6:00 p.m.
Cache pulled into his driveway after a long day at work. He sat in the car, not sure what he’d see once he got inside. He hoped Adaline had stayed home and taken care of herself a bit. Years of waiting were finally paying off. New opportunities at work had been given to him today. Ones he wanted to share with his wife, but being excited didn’t help her feel better. Anything that would make her happy was good enough for him, especially since it seemed he couldn’t give her what she needed. Cache felt clueless to know what that could be. They had been moving in different directions for months, even before the girls’ deaths. He could feel the tension and frustration building up inside him.
The outside lights weren’t turned on. Getting out of his car, he noticed the mail hadn’t been gathered either.
Not looking good.
Stepping inside, the house was quiet.
“Addi, are you home?” Movement jostled from the front room. He glanced toward the lump on the couch and moved quickly over to
the area. “Are you okay?” She had a blanket on and was curled up with it covering her body and face.
“I’m fine. Just another headache,” she said in a whisper. “Can you please turn off the light?”
“Sure.” He dimmed the lights. “Let me get you something to take off the edge.”
Cache went to the cupboard, retrieved a large bottle of pills, and filled a cold glass of water.
“Here you go,” he said, placing two pills in her hand. “I’ll start a fire, and you’ll warm up more quickly.” He grabbed the box of matches on top of the fireplace. The match crackled as it hit against the rough patch of the box. A flame lit in his hand.
Adaline shuddered. “Cache, no. Blow it out. I don’t want a fire, please.” Her voice pleaded with him. He arched his eyebrows upward and blew out the candle.
Her reaction to the fire wasn’t new, but they had made progress in the past.
Another setback.
He blew it out and sat next to Adaline on the couch, placing his hand over her leg. “How was your day?”
She swallowed the pills. “People waited outside to come into the store.” Adaline looked at the ground.
“You went to work today?”
Adaline paused, then nodded, changing the subject.
“What about you? What happened in your day?” She sat up, attentive.
He hadn’t seen this kind of interest in his needs for months.
This is good. Should I tell her my news?
He paused and scratched his chin.
“Cache. I’d love to know,” Adaline said, reaching for his hand.
“I was assigned to be in charge of a board meeting today.”
“A board meeting, already? You weren’t prepared for that, were you?”
“No, but the adrenaline kicked in, and I pulled it off,” he said.
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