“Okay, I’ll figure something out.”
“Oh, wait. Kim wants to ask you a question.”
“Okay.” Wait, what?
“Hey, lovely, we have a lasagna in the fridge that you are more than happy to have, but listen, Shannan tried to do something really special for me today, and it backfired. I was hoping you could go see if she needs some company?”
“Ah, sure.”
“Thanks, love. Just make sure you hold your nose.”
“What?” I chuckled in confusion.
“I have to go, Spence.” Blake was on the phone again. “I’ll call you on my way home. Love you.”
“Sure thing. Love you, too.” I saw the line had disconnected, and I slipped off the stool. I was pleased that Kim and Blake were hitting it off. They had a lot in common and loved to banter with one another. I was so happy Blake loved my friends just as much as I did.
The air was freezing, and the snow still fell steadily, but at least the wind wasn’t overly strong when I stepped outside and headed along the beaten path between my place and Kim and Shannan’s. A couple of weeks ago, Blake had strung some colored lights through the trees to help guide us as we walked between the two homes. I took a moment to stop and listen to the silence the winter brought. Breathing in deeply, I let the cold fill my lungs then released it in a huff of white cloud that drifted away without a care in the world. I loved winter.
My stomach growled and begged me to move on. Once I got to the clearing and approached the house, I rushed up the back deck steps and spotted a tree stuck upside down in the snow.
What on Earth happened here?
Using the side of my palm, I brushed away the frost on the sliding glass door and peered inside. The fire was dying, and there was a cluster of lights and paper birds flung on the couch.
“Shannan?” I knocked on the door and waited to see if she was there.
Nothing.
“Shannan,” I tried again and played dirty, “Blake asked if you could help him out. He’s in the hot tub.”
Nothing.
Normally, when it came to anything to do with Blake, she’d come running out of a room so fast she’d hit the wall like a puppy excited for a treat.
Okay, so, she’s not here.
I spotted the terrifying gnome Shannan got Kim a few years ago and pulled back its velvet hat to reveal the patio door key. I quivered inside at its happy, psychotic expression and decided to turn it slightly so it couldn’t watch me.
“Shannan, if you’re here, it’s just me, Spencer, coming to steal some lasagna.” All was quiet, but as I moved farther into the house, there was a smell of something awful. I peeked out the window to see that her car was not in the driveway.
“Oh, please, don’t be the food.” My tummy took over my thoughts. I pulled out the dish and was relieved to know it wasn’t the lasagna that smelled and popped it on a paper plate, pleased that I didn’t have to stay here to eat it. I wrapped it in tin foil, and once it was ready to go, I scribbled a note for Shannan to find when she got home.
Hey, Kim asked me to come by and check on you. Text me when you get home. Yes, it was me who took the corner piece of the lasagna. Yum! Spencer xo - P.S. Your place smells like you just killed someone. Pro Tip: Maybe a little less ammonia next time.
I drew a heart and hurried outside to take a deep breath of fresh air. With a quick scan of their dock and tree line, I concluded she must have gone into town.
“Meow.” Llyod screamed his needy cry from a rock by the path.
“What?”
“Meow!” He pawed at the snow then held up a paw like the snow was too cold for His Highness. I rolled my eyes, knowing what he wanted.
“I swear you’re near sixty pounds. The twenty feet to the front step will do you some good.” I waved at him to follow me. “Come on.” He just glared at me, knowing I’d give in. “Fine.” I walked back and awkwardly scooped the little crap off the ground and carried him back to the house. I dumped him on the entry way mat as I kicked off my snow boots. He hissed as if to give me the finger, and with his tail straight up in the air, he swaggered over and snuggled in with the dog in front of the fire.
“You’re welcome.” I snickered as I went to warm up my dinner.
With a full tummy, a glass of wine, and a hot date with Tom Hardy, I made it roughly twenty minutes into the movie before I gave in to sleep.
Something warm touched my face, and I moved into it, wanting more.
“Hey, baby.” Blake’s voice made me smile as I pulled myself from the dark bliss. Blinking a few times, I found him sitting on the coffee table across from me.
It took me a moment to realize it was still nighttime out. “Did you just get in?”
“Yeah, about ten minutes ago.” He leaned down and gave me a soft kiss. “Did you get something to eat? I brought you some Chinese in case you didn’t.”
I loved that he thought to do that. “I did, but I will gladly have that tomorrow.”
“Okay, I’m going to go change, and I’ll meet you back here in—” He stopped when he tuned in to someone walking up the steps.
“Who’s that?”
“Not sure.” He headed over to the door. I noticed his posture became tense when he checked the window and opened the door.
“Hey, is Shannan here?”
I pushed the blanket off and met Kim as Blake stepped back to welcome her inside.
“No.” I crossed my arms at the sudden rush of cold that followed her in. “I went over earlier, and she wasn’t there, but her car was gone, so I figured she was in town.”
“Her car is at Jeff’s getting the brakes repaired.” I could tell she was worried, so I instantly went to her and gave her a reassuring hug.
“Blake, can you call her?” Kim asked and shot me a look. She didn’t need to explain. We all knew Shannan’s love for him.
“Straight to voicemail.” His tone told me he was kicking into work mode. “When was the last time you spoke with her?”
“I was with her when you called earlier, and that was it.” Suddenly, something hit her. “Oh, shit.”
“What?” he asked.
“She’s so damn stubborn!”
“Kim, what?” I touched her arm, growing more concerned by the second.
“I can bet you any money she went out looking for another tree.”
“Is that why there’s a tree upside down in the yard?”
“Yeah,” she shook her head, “she was trying to re-enact a childhood memory for me, and it backfired because she chopped down a white spruce, and it made the whole house smell like cat piss.”