There were a few guys moving around the downstairs, making notes of things that needed to be fixed or updated. They didn’t seem to notice me as I made my way to the kitchen. Once there, I turned on the coffee pot and wished I had some industrial sized ear plugs. Seriously, was all that noise necessary so early in the morning?
Glancing at the clock on the stove, I frowned and grumbled a little more. It was 10:00 am. Technically not early for normal people. But I wasn’t normal. I was an author with my mojo back. Apparently, my mojo was a night owl. It was a good thing because so was I.
Mornings were overrated.
As soon as I had a cup of coffee in my hand, I slipped on the flip-flops I kept at the kitchen door and ventured outside to say hello to the contractor. You know, be friendly and all.
“Morning!” He called a greeting as he stood outside the cellar entrance. Lord, I didn’t even know what all might be down in the cellar. I’d nearly forgotten it existed. Hopefully, nothing that would incriminate me or my family. Like bones of something or someone for whatever Aunt Winnie used for spells. Not that she used many bones for her spells, but it was Winnie I was talking about. Anything was possible. And nothing would surprise me.
“Need anything?” I walked off the back porch and peered down into the cellar, but nobody was screaming or running out with looks of terror, so it must not have been that bad. I made a mental note to check down there later tonight.
“Nope.” He grinned as he inspected my neon green leggings. “We’ll let you know if we do.”
That grin turned into a smile that revealed two dimples as he met my gaze. His brown eyes were slightly darker than caramel candies. He was a cutie and young enough to be my son.
And on that note…
“I’ll be in my office if you need anything.” I smiled and made my retreat, having satisfied my obligatory welcome and offer of help. Now it was time to go to work. I was trying to work out a schedule and manage my time better now that I have a book deadline. On my days off from the bookstore, which I start tomorrow, I’ll work on my book during the daylight hours. I didn’t need to stay up all night with the construction going on during the day.
But changing my routine was harder than it seemed.
When I entered the kitchen and spotted the bottles of water, my hospitable side got the better of me. I put the bottles in a cooler and covered them in ice, then dragged them onto the porch. There. Now they had plenty to drink if they needed it.
After topping off my coffee, I headed to my office. I was still feeling inspired by being back in Maine and my new prospects at the bookstore. It was a great feeling that I wasn’t going to spend too much time thinking about.
I settled down at my desk to write, but my attention kept drifting out the window. I had the perfect view of their work truck and couldn’t help but notice how young and fit several of the construction workers were. I spent more time watching them work and admiring the view. I really had to stop myself from ogling before I was caught being a creeper. Plus, none of them set my insides on fire like a certain cop I ran into at the grocery store three days ago.
And I will not think about Officer Walker.
After lunch, during which I nearly convinced myself to make sandwiches for the entire crew, I sat back down to work. Oh, I offered to make lunch, but they politely declined. It was the mother in me to make sure everyone was taken care of. Maybe I’d get a pet to care for since my son abandoned me for higher learning.
On that thought, I searched my office for Snooze and found the large beast stretched out on top of the second desk Auntie used. He was on his back with his feet in the air, furry belly, and everything else exposed for all to see. The huge cat had no shame.
I was about to throw a paper ball at him when my cell phone started ringing. “Saved by the ring tone, Kitty Kat.”
Snooze’s reply was a loud snore that made me laugh.
Glancing down at the phone, I smiled when I saw the name, I answered with a cheery voice. “Hello, Uncle Wade.”
My husband’s uncle claimed me as his adopted daughter at mine and Clay’s wedding and had stood by me during the funeral. Plus, he came over frequently after Clay’s death to make sure Wallie was taken care of and that I ate and didn’t grieve myself into a grave right beside my husband. It was close at times. If it hadn’t been for Wade and Wallie, I would have willed myself to die. Not to mention Sam, who called me every day for the first two years. Then cut back to every other day. I was annoyed, wanting to be left alone. Now, I was glad to have all my annoying family and friends.
“How’s Maine?” His booming voice filled my office and warmed my heart.
“Exactly the same as it’s always been. How are you?”
We chit chatted for a few minutes about nothing and everything, mostly how he was hating retirement while enjoying sleeping in. “How is the house?”
I moaned, rolling my eyes. Then I realized he couldn’t see the eyeroll, so I had to use my words. “It needs so many repairs. Then when it’s done, I’ll list it. I might be here longer than I thought.”
He must have heard my frustrations in my voice because he said, “Take advantage of your time there. Enjoy it like a vacation. Plus, it’s a great time to get back to your roots, find yourself. You must be happy to have Sam so close, right?”
I smiled. Wade knew Sam was close to both Clay and I, but mostly that Sam was like a brother to me. “Yeah, that’s nice. Oh, I got a job at the bookstore in town. And I’m writing. So, there is that.”
“See. Going home isn’t all bad.” He paused, then asked, “But how are you really doing?”
With a sigh, I sat back in my desk chair and decided to be honest. There was no use lying to him anyway. The man always knew. “Being in Shipton is bringing back memories I buried a long time ago. Part of me wants those memories to stay buried. But I’m okay, though my emotions are a bit wonky.”
He chuckled. “Wonky is understandable. Want me to come help with the house?”
There was hope in his tone. Uncle Wade was a handy sort of man. He’d worked for a construction company for years, doing electrical work. I seriously considered his offer. It would be nice to have family close, and the free labor. But I couldn’t pull him away from his home and his newly retired life. “If things get any more complicated, I might just do that, but for now I think I’ve got it covered.”
We talked about Wallie for a few minutes. He’d been checking in regularly via email and was so far loving being at college, as I’d known he would. By the time we disconnected, I felt full of love from the best non-dad I’d ever had. It also made me miss Clay.
Okay, none of that. Back to writing.
I got two sentences typed when something deeper in the house shattered, like glass breaking. It had happened a few times since I got back home, but I never found the source of the sounds. I had my suspicions that were solidified when I got downstairs and saw two of the workers nearly clutching each other in fear. Their eyes wide as they stared at the floor a few feet from them.
Nothing seemed amiss in the living room, though. “What’s wrong?” I asked with a sinking feeling in my stomach. I opened my senses to see if there may be a ghost in the house. There wasn’t one. At least that I could sense.
“A vase flew across the room and hit the wall,” one of them said. He was one of the youngest of the crew and I bet he hadn’t been working for the company long.