Authors: Trisha Grace
Paige didn’t even question his decision. She mumbled a drowsy goodnight and crawled onto his bed.
He smiled, gave her a peck on her forehead, and whispered ‘goodnight’. Then, he went over to clean up the guest room and put on clean sheets for the bed. The chores only made him more awake.
He went into his room and opened his wardrobe as quietly as he could. He took everything he needed and headed out of the room. Looking over in the room, he was tempted to give Paige a peck on her forehead, but he didn’t want to wake her.
Besides, with what had been happening, she would probably wake up startled.
After a shower in the bathroom, he went into his study and switched on his laptop. Since he wasn’t going to get any sleep, might as well get some work done.
Justin had been staring at the screen of his laptop, looking at the photo of a classic white colonial house with light gray roof. The house was large. There was ample room for a home office and large enough for children to play in.
His thoughts started drifting and began making a movie of life with Paige in the house.
When he realized what he was doing, he shook his head and read the description.
“Good morning.”
Justin looked up from his laptop and returned the smile Paige was wearing as she strolled in. Even before she got to him, he could smell the essential oils she told him about. He wasn’t sure what oils were in the shower foam, but it smelled great.
He watched her saunter over, the golden rays of the early sun reflecting off her face and off the sweet smile that always made his own lips curl.
Taking in a deep breath, he closed his eyes as she came up behind him, wrapped her arms over his shoulders, and leaned forward to give him a peck on his cheek. “You didn’t go back to sleep? What are you doing?”
“I wasn’t tired,” he said, running his hand down her arm. He turned and kissed Paige on her lips as he pulled her onto his lap.
Paige broke from the kiss and leaned forward, looking at the laptop.
“Thought you usually work on one house at a time. You didn’t get the one you wanted?”
Something deep within him resonated how perfect everything was at that very moment.
And, in that instant, he understood what Paige meant when she said that home was always where her mother and her brother were.
It wouldn’t matter to Justin if they were halfway around the world now. As long as Paige was with him, as long as he’d continue being the recipient of the smile she wore, as long as he could listen to the soft voice telling him ‘good morning’, that would be enough for him.
There was a sudden yearning to be could be included in Paige’s list.
He gazed up at her just as she looked over her shoulder with a grin. “Did you fall asleep?”
“What?”
She chuckled softly. “Are you sure you’re not tired?”
“I’m not. I was thinking about something.”
She nodded, then turned back to the computer. “This house looks beautiful, a little old, but I’m sure it’ll look great once you fix it up.”
“You like it?”
“Yeah, it’s beautiful.” She laughed again. “I love the red bricks.” She pointed at the brick pavement up front of the house. “And the lamps, so…vintage.”
“They’re gas lamps.”
“Gas?”
“Yeah, it’s been abandoned for a while.”
“Why would anyone give up such a beautiful place? Look at the wooden window shutters.”
“You really do like it.”
She grinned, displaying her teeth, and shrugged. “I have no idea what’s a good house to flip, but this looks like a beautiful home.”
“Want to see your room?”
“The guest room, you mean.”
“It’s yours for as long as you want it,” he said.
Justin helped move her luggage over to the guest room and waited for her to unpack her things before they left the house for breakfast at the Seymours. Several of his neighbors were getting ready for work, and since Justin had never bothered to greet them, his neighbors had always ignored him as well.
But today, as he strode over to his car with Paige beside him, he noticed a spark of attention in one of his neighbor’s eyes.
“I tried calling Drew this morning, but it went straight to his voicemail. He never switches off his phone,” Paige said.
Justin clenched his jaws, he should’ve known.
He turned toward Paige to see her smiling and nodding politely at his neighbor who was openly staring at her.
He wanted to sigh and shake his head, but ended up smiling instead.
Only someone who hadn’t had the experience of having to leave a person’s house after a one night stand could be so clueless about what his neighbor was thinking.
From now on, he would have to go to church with her; he wasn’t going to let her get accosted by people seeking for gossips.
Opening the passenger side door, he placed his arm on her back and directed her attention back onto him.
“I should call him again.”
“Hmm?”
“Drew,” she stated. Her brows puckered when he couldn’t give a reaction. “Are you sure you’re all right? If you need some rest—”
“Don’t frown.” He gave her a light tap on her nose. “I’m fine.”
She shook her head and got into the car.
“I’m fine,” he repeated when he got into the car. Though her smile had returned, there was still a light furrow between her brows. “I’m sorry. What’s wrong with Andrew?”
“His phone is switched off, he never does that.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure he’s fine. Try again tonight or tomorrow morning. Maybe he’s taking a break from being the protective brother.”
Paige laughed at that. “Right. I’m sure that’s what he’s doing.”
He grinned at her.
“Maybe he’s just taking a break from his troublesome sister,” she said. “He shouldn’t have to be concerned with what’s happening. He should be focusing on recuperating.”
“And you shouldn’t have to work two jobs to save up extra for him either, but you did.” He cast a glance over at her. “As much as I’ve heard how protective he is of you, you’re as protective of him.”
“That’s nothing. I don’t like going out drinking with friends anyway. Having to work seems like a better excuse than ‘sorry, I’m not interested’.”
They had a quick breakfast at the Seymours before heading down to the police department to sign the report.
Instead of the officers they saw last night, another young officer led them into the sheriff’s office.
A dullness had covered all the walls and furniture in the room. Against one of the walls leaned three large metal file cabinets, one black, one grey, and one that was probably white when it first came in and had turned ivory since. Beside those cabinets, on the same piece of wall, hung a large cork board with several notices and some small printout of a few wanted criminals.
Under that cork board was a small sepia desk that was only large enough to hold five walkie-talkie chargers and a fax machine.
The sheriff sat between the sepia desk and another larger khaki desk that held a bulky computer, one of those that should join the Seymours’ TV at the museum.
Gesturing to the bright orange chair right next to his desk, the sheriff pushed a document and a pen over to the side of his table. “Sign at the end of the page and you’re done.”
Apparently, the system in this office worked on a first come, first believe basis. Whoever was the first to make the report equated to the one speaking the truth.
“Cole is the one with the problem,” Paige said as her fingers moved quickly down the document.
“I haven’t received any reports of him causing any problems, Justin. I did, however, hear that you broke his nose the first day he arrived in town.”
“Did he file a report on the broken nose?”
“No.”
‘So it was hearsay. That’s how crimes are being solved these days?”
The sheriff didn’t answer him. Instead, he turned to Paige and glared at her. “It’s exactly what you told them. Nobody wants to be sued, Miss Ivy League.”
“Come on, Paige. Let’s go.”
Paige set the report down on the table and signed it.
“Don’t be played the fool, Justin.” Reaching into a drawer by the side, the sheriff pulled out a stack of photos and spread it out on the remaining space on the desk. “Look at these, her boyfriend copied it from her computer and printed them out.”
Justin couldn’t be bothered with the sheriff. He had photos, too. It was all in Paige’s box, Cole could’ve taken those anytime.
Paige leaned forward and picked up one of the photos.
He watch her brows furrowed, before her eyes widened as if some sort of realization hit her. “What is it?”
“Cole Crowen gave these photos to you?”
“She does this to get attention.” The sheriff continued without even glancing over at Paige.
“She asked you a question.”
“Yes, your boyfriend gave them to me. You have a problem, Miss Watson. You should get help.”
“And you need to get a brain,” she snapped and took Justin’s hand, pulling him out of the department.
“What’s wrong?” Justin asked the moment they were out of the office. She didn’t flare up with Cole until he went overboard, there must have been something wrong with the photos.
“It doesn’t make sense,” she mumbled as she took small, quick steps over toward his car. “But there isn’t any other explanation.”
“Breathe, Paige.” Justin held her by her shoulders and stopped her. “What’s wrong with the photos?”
“He never took interest in the letters and the photos. He only read them if he was around when I received them. He never took them from me.”
“He could’ve taken it from your box anytime.”
“No, he couldn’t,” she said with utmost confidence. “He doesn’t even know the box exists.”
Justin frowned.
“He’s always telling me that I’m wasting my time and effort worrying over something so trivial, so I didn’t tell him that I kept those letters and photos.”
“You think it’s him.”
“There’s no other way he could’ve gotten those photos. But the letters he’d sent, it was all wrong. It doesn’t match up,” she rambled on.
“Paige.” He shook her lightly. “Paige, it’s all right,” he said. “Why don’t we just ask him?”
She blinked and stared blankly at him. “Do you know where he’s staying?”
“He went to the clinic for his broken nose, he must’ve left an address.”
“But the rumor went around without Mrs. Seymour knowing, so they’re on the Bradley’s side. The doctor won’t tell us.”
“Yeah, but the doctor’s assistant is different.”
Her eyes lit up. “Mrs. Cassells.”
The clinic was only opened for half a day on Saturdays, so patience was all Paige and Justin needed to speak to Mrs. Cassells without raising too much attention.
She sat, going through the motions of opening the takeout Justin and her had bought on the way back to his house. She flinched and pulled her hand back from the hot scalding air escaping through the tiny hole of the soup’s cover.
Justin dropped the box he was holding and took her hand. “You all right?”
“Yeah. Sorry, I was dreaming.”
“What are you dreaming of?”
She folded her arms, laying them on the table. “I can’t help thinking that it doesn’t add up.”
If Cole were the stalker all along, then why did the latest letters seemed so different from those she used to receive?
She could’ve sworn on his genuine indifference to her situation.
When it began, Cole had been supportive. But after a year, he wasn’t interested in listening about it anymore.
Paige never thought too badly of him for his lack of interest. She was tired of getting those letters herself, and she knew how much of her life was held captive by the letters.
Then again, Andrew had told her time and again that Cole was using the letters to control her. Perhaps that was his motive all along.
But there was the nagging gut feeling that something wasn’t right.
Justin sat down beside her and turned her chair to face him. He took her hand and leaned in, saying, “We’ll get an answer from him. We can go through everything now and still won’t figure anything out.” He squeezed her hands gently. “Eat something.”
She nodded and picked up the plastic spoon. “What if he refuses to tell us anything?”
“Then I’ll make him.”
She laughed softly and shook her head, taking a spoonful of the soup. Cole would tell them if they cornered and confronted him. He could never deal with Andrew directly, and even toward Justin, Cole never looked him straight in the eye. “I’ve no doubt you can.”
After lunch, they headed over to Jane’s place.
Jane opened the door and waved them in. “She’s home. I told her you’d be dropping by.”
“Thanks, Jane.”
“And what can I do for you two today?” Mrs. Cassell asked as she came down the stairs.
Paige looked over at Justin, then back at Mrs. Cassell when he gave her an encouraging smile. “I was wondering, Mrs. Cassell. Do you know where Cole Crowen is staying while he’s here?”
Mrs. Cassell pressed her lips into a thin line as she took in a deep breath, seemingly taking the time to consider her answer. “The last time he was at the clinic, it was for a broken nose.”
She couldn’t expect Mrs. Cassell to tell her the address without giving her a reason, so she explained to Mrs. Cassell everything that had happened. “Please, Mrs. Cassell. I want all this to end. If it’s Cole, I need to know. Then he can’t control or scare me anymore.”
Mrs. Cassell nodded, but she didn’t seem entirely sure.
“Mom, Doctor Henson didn’t care much about his patient’s confidentiality when he went around telling everyone what happened,” Jane grumbled.
“Oh, all right.” Mrs. Cassells scribbled down the name of the hotel and the room number on a piece of paper. “Good luck.”
“Thanks,” Paige said as she took the note. “Thanks.” She stood along with Justin, and headed toward the door. “Thanks, Jane.”
Jane smiled with a small frown. “I hope this will solve your problem.”
“I hope so, too.”
With a few more murmurs of thanks, Justin and Paige got back into the car. Justin took a peek at the paper and gave a dry laugh. “That was the hotel I was staying in.”