Not Just Friends (Brookfield) (16 page)

“Julie Miller,
is that really you?” Claire said.

“It’s me.” Julie
smiled, hugging the woman in front of her. “What are you doing here?”

“You’re looking
at the owner.”

“I heard the
news, and I’m sorry about your loss.”

“Thanks.” Claire
paused a moment, and Julie wondered if the pain was still fresh. “So, tell me,
what brings you here?” Claire asked.

“I need a place
to crash for the night, so I’m hoping you have a vacancy,” Julie said.

“You’re in luck.
Come on in, and let’s get you settled. You must be tired after that long drive
from New York.”

Julie followed
the petite blonde inside. It was warm and felt like a home away from home,
which she was sure was just how Claire wanted her guests to feel.

Claire fiddled
around behind the desk then came over, dangling a key in front of Julie. “I’ll
show you to your room.”

“Do you need a
credit card or something before I check in?” Julie reached into her purse.

“Your night’s on
me.” Claire smiled. “There’s a story as to why you’re home, and I want to know
it.”

If
only you knew.
“Well, thanks. I appreciate it.”

Claire opened
the door to the room Julie would stay in. Julie glanced around, taking in the
beautifully decorated room. The furniture was all made of dark wood. The bed
had a gorgeous quilt and tons of pillows. Ah, the pillows. She yawned, ready to
snuggle in. The last few days had been long and tiring.

“I can see
you’re tired. So I won’t get the details tonight, but we will play catch-up
soon,” Claire said.

“Definitely.”

“Breakfast in
the morning?”

Julie shook her
head. “I think I’m going to get up early and head out to Mom’s. Looking forward
to her cooking.”

A mischievous
smile crossed Claire’s face, and she looked as if she had something to say, but
Julie was too tired to figure out what.

“Well, get some
rest. Holler if you need anything.” Claire shut the door behind her as she
left.

Kicking her
shoes off, Julie wasted no time getting out of her clothes and climbing into
the fluffy bed. Turning off the lamp, she pulled the covers up and nestled in.
Without even a second thought, she drifted off and had one of the best nights
of sleep she’d had in a long time.

* * *

The sun shined
brightly through the windows. She wished now she had noticed the blinds were
open last night. Pulling the sheets over her face, she closed her eyes for a
few more minutes as she tried to wake up.

Finally, after
battling with herself, she climbed out of the bed. She put her jeans back on
and then pulled her hair up in a ponytail. A sudden urge to use the restroom
took over, and she rushed toward the bathroom. This was something new—no
bladder control. She didn’t expect to already have to pee so much.

She quickly
brushed her teeth then made sure everything was tidy as though she hadn’t been
there. Grabbing her suitcase, she left the room. She expected to find Claire up
front, but she was nowhere to be seen. So she stopped by the front desk and
scribbled a note, thanking Claire for the stay and saying they would talk soon.
After all, she was going to need someone during this process. As young girls,
she and Claire had always gotten along.

Outside, the sun
was bright. There was a chill to the air, however. The few clouds in the sky
were thick and fluffy. She bet there would be a light snow shower before the
day was over. In fact, she was surprised to not see any snow on the ground yet.
It would be anytime now.

The drive to her
mother’s house was short. She lived on the older side of town, and it was
unchanged except that the trees had gotten taller.

Julie was
excited to see her mom. It had been almost a year since she’d seen her. Julie
had flown her out last Christmas to visit her in New York City. She’d taken her
mother everywhere, showing her every tourist spot there was to see. Her mother
had loved it and said it had always been a dream of hers to travel. Julie hoped
one day her mother would get to. Her father had died about ten years ago, and
her mother had never remarried. She had a few close friends, though, and maybe
one day they would all get together and travel.

But for now,
Julie needed her mom. She couldn’t wait to have her mother embrace her and hold
her tight, telling her it would all work out.

She pulled up to
the house. It looked the same. A small ranch-style home painted a light shade
of brown. It was time for a fresh coat of paint, that was sure. Perhaps she
could get someone out here in the spring to spruce the place up. Her mother’s
car wasn’t in its usual spot but instead pulled over near the picket fence. A
pick-up truck sat where the car was usually parked. Maybe something was wrong
with the vehicle, and she was borrowing the truck.

Climbing out of
the car, Julie could smell bacon. A smiled crossed her face. Her mom was
cooking breakfast. Shutting the car door quickly, she went up the front steps
two at a time. As she turned the doorknob, she found it locked. Groaning, she
dug through her purse until she found the key to the house and let herself in.

Loud music
blared through the house. It was set to a local country station. This was so
unlike her mother. In fact, as Julie looked around the living room and saw how
untidy it was, she wondered if she was in the right house.

Following the
smell of food, she stepped into the kitchen. Julie froze. A half-naked man
stood at the stove, flipping pancakes. It was as if he sensed he was no longer
alone. He turned, and Julie thought she was going to faint.

“Hi,” the man
said.

“Who the hell
are you, and where is my mother?” Julie demanded.

I hope you enjoyed this preview. Finding
Home is available in most eBook stores!