Midnight Butterflies

Chapter 13

THIRTEEN

Dove

“I told you; I need you to handle this piece,” Reid whispers.

Groggily, I stretch on my living room sofa and try to catch my bearings. I hear more shuffling in the distance as I slowly wake up.

As I glance around, I see I never made it to my bed. Reid and I must have slept out here last night, only now he’s in my bedroom—on the phone and trying to keep it down. Is it because he thinks I’m sleeping or because he hasn’t told me what he’s talking about yet?

I shiver at the reminder of how utterly messy we are. I need to distract myself instead of dwelling on this.

Coffee time.

I toss the throw blanket to the side and make my way into the kitchen to turn on the coffee pot. As I discard the old remains from yesterday, I get to work cleaning it and starting the fresh pot.

I’m not trying to keep it a secret that I’m awake; in fact, I want Reid to know. I want him to know so I can see what changes in his conversation. Will he keep going and share more loudly, or will he get off because he doesn’t want me to be privy to it?

I glance over my shoulder to see Reid watching me intensely through the cracked door. As soon as our eyes connect, he flashes me a blinding smile. It’s one that I can’t help but give back.

The phone is still up to his ear as he continues to listen to whoever is on the other line. He raises a finger to signal he’ll only be one more minute. I gesture to the coffee pot to show what I’m doing. He nods and turns around and speaks into the phone. It’s something about planning and how he’ll call him back later.

I pull out two mugs from the cabinet, and suddenly, a loud knock sounds through the house. The banging repeats right away. Then again.

Can’t this person just wait one second?

I huff and set down the mugs.

I desperately need a coffee to wake up today.

As I head to the front door, I pause before getting too close.

Wait.

Someone is at my front door, which means this person doesn’t know me; otherwise, they would know the front door is basically a facade. No one uses it, certainly not any of my friends or neighbors who would visit.

I tiptoe closer to the door and pull a curtain back slightly. Tall trees cover the window, so there’s no way the person knocking will know I’m doing this.

Honestly, I’m not sure why I’m being so cautious. My nerves are unsettled, most likely from the unknown.

Waiting for a few seconds, the people finally come into view, and I see it’s two police officers. I let go of the curtain as if it’s on fire and clutch my chest. They did mention officers would stop by at some point, but it’s been days since the night they discovered the body out here.

“What the,” I mumble.

“Everything okay?” Reid asks from the bedroom doorway.

I turn around and signal him to be silent. A stoic expression takes over, and he stays still. Another loud banging on the door sounds through my home.

If I don’t answer the door, they’ll just come back. What I want to do is talk to Reid openly before I talk to anyone about what I do or don’t know. I don’t think I’d share anything; I naturally want to protect this man, but I need to have my head on straight.

Reid’s eyes narrow on mine as the door is knocked on loudly once more.

A few minutes go by, and I tiptoe back over to the same window and peek out it again. This time, I’m relieved to see that the police officers are gone.

I straighten and am ready to have this particular conversation with Reid.

“Reid,” I say as I turn around to face him.

“I know, little bird.” He sighs and wipes his hand down his face.

He heads to my living room, and I follow behind. We both quietly get back onto the couch that we just spent the night on, wrapped in each other’s arms.

I fidget with my hands as I wait for him to speak. Reid instantly notices and lets out another heavy sigh.

“I wanted more time.”

“Time?” I perk up.

“Time,” he says with a nod.

“Why?”

Reid’s head cocks to the side in deliberation. Moments go by, and I know what he’s avoiding saying. If he says it out loud, it all becomes real and not just something I’ve cooked up in my mind.

“You know why.”

“Tell me.”

“Tonight. Confessions are better in the night.”

I nod thoughtfully; it’s true for us, at least. In the midst of the darkness is where Reid and I belong. I’m not sure what that means exactly for our future, but for now, I’ll take all of these midnight butterflies.

“Are you still going to stay today?”

Reid scoots closer to me and takes my hands.

“Yes, baby. I plan to keep you close always.”

Heat pools low, and I know I shouldn’t love the way he talks about our future, but I do.

“I’m glad.”

He leans in and gives me a gentle kiss on top of my head. The warmth of his touch makes me melt at our closeness.

“I do have to call a friend back.”

I perk up and make eye contact once again.

“Jonas?”

Reid stares at me in understanding. I know more than I’ve let on.

“Yes.”

“I’m going to head over to my neighbors, Abigail and Tom. See what they’ve been hearing as of late about the police activity still happening.”

Reid studies me thoughtfully.

“It’s fine,” I add.

“You don’t have to do anything for me. You know that, right?” he asks.

“I just want to check on Abigail. She’s the sweetest woman, and I know she must be worried that I haven’t come by.”

“Do what you need to do. I’ll be here waiting.”

I try to give him a reassuring smile, but I can see the apprehension written all over his face.

“I’m going to change and then head out.”

I untangle our hands and get up from the sofa. I hover over where Reid sits, waiting for his final go-ahead. I don’t want him to feel like I’m up to something or am going to get into harm’s way by doing this.

Reid pulls at my thighs, and I stumble forward. Bracing myself with my hands on his shoulders, he squeezes my legs and dips his head to lean against my stomach. I rub the back of his head now that I have my balance back.

The way my hands tangle in his deep-brown hair makes this gesture feel even more intimate than I would have anticipated.

“I promise I’ll be fine. It’ll be fine,” I say.

He hums against my stomach, and the vibrations pulse through my body. Everything he does to me makes me feel like I’m on fire. The electricity that courses through me is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced or ever will with anyone else.

“Reid, you have to trust me too.”

He pulls back, and with a thoughtful expression, I can see the shift from tension to being at ease. Maybe he didn’t realize that’s what has been happening.

I’m in this now, and if we are ever going to move forward, we both need to have trust and understanding.

“I do. Implicitly.”

“Good.”

With another squeeze of my legs, he places a kiss just under my breasts. A low moan slips out.

“Come on, baby. Be a good little neighbor and check in on them.” He grins up at me, and I know I’m forever screwed by this breathtakingly beautiful man.

The walk to Abigail and Tom’s house takes me no time at all.

I took a chance that they’ll be home, but really, I know they will be. They spend most of their time on the mountain, and if they are going out of town, I’m usually the neighbor they tell so I can check in on their home.

Approaching their front door, my nerves are becoming unsettled as I realize that I’m acting as if I actually know what’s happening. That somehow I’m culpable, when in reality, I truly still have no idea what’s going on.

Reid may be ready to confess more tonight, but it doesn’t change the fact that there could be numerous different scenarios that he’ll be sharing. He’s holding his cards close to his chest, but if he’s not willing to let me go, he’ll have to lay them all out there.

I ring the doorbell.

As I stand there, I shift my weight from side to side in anticipation. Light sweat starts to form on my forehead as I wait.

Stop being nervous. There is no reason to be.

I ring the doorbell once more.

It’s funny, really. My biggest worry a few months ago was my exhibition, and now I’m playing a faux detective, trying to find out what people know about something I don’t even have the answers to.

A few minutes go by, and there is no answer.

I’ll come back.

I thought this was a sure thing earlier, but maybe the unease of our surroundings has Tom and Abigail spending more time in town these days.

Right as I turn around, I hear the door swing open.

“Dove?” Tom asks.

I spin back and flash him a smile.

“Hi, Tom. Is Abigail here?”

He’s dressed in his usual attire for a day of hiking and exploring.

“She is.”

He shouts back into the house that I’m here to visit. Abigail appears moments later with her hiking clothes on too.

“Did I just catch you both heading out?” I ask.

“No, dear. We went out earlier for a light walk. We’ll probably go back out before dusk,” she answers.

“How has it been? I mean, I still see some police activity. It’s odd.”

“Come on in, let’s chat. I was just making some tea.”

She opens the front door wider and gestures for me to come in. I smile and head for her kitchen. It’s a familiar routine that we have whenever we run into one another and have time to catch up.

“Green tea fine?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Tom disappears into the living room as Abigail and I head into their cozy kitchen.

“Have the police been by yet?” Abigail asks as she starts preparing the tea.

“No, not yet,” I lie.

I lean against her countertop as she pours the hot water into the mugs.

“How about for you all?” I ask.

“Yes, they have.”

Abigail seems more hesitant than usual in our conversations.

“Anything new?” I ask.

“They don’t have any suspects yet that they are sharing. It’s a bit worrisome since I’ve heard the first few days are crucial to an investigation like this.” She sighs heavily as she hands me my tea.

“I’m sure something will come up,” I add.

“Hopefully. It’s a little scary being out here, knowing people are dumping dead bodies on the lands.”

I chuckle.

“Well, I suppose when you put it like that,” I tease.

It breaks the tension. Abigail gives me a light laugh as she starts walking into the living room.

“Sorry, I’ve been in my head lately, given everything.”

“It’s understandable.”

We both take a seat in the living room, where Tom is already settled with the local news station on the television.

“I’m sure they’ll be coming by your place any day now,” Tom says.

“Why is that?”

“They are interviewing everyone. Anyone who lives here, people who have businesses nearby, it’s a manhunt for the killer. They need to catch the person and make them pay,” he says.

It comes out more aggressively than I’ve ever heard Tom speak before. I’m not really sure why Tom is so up in arms about this. Yes, it’s alarming, but Tom is a big man, and he can take care of himself and his wife.

“They probably have more figured out than they are letting on,” I offer.

Tom grunts as he continues to watch the news.

“Have either of you heard from any of the other neighbors?”

“Not really, have you?”

“No, but you know that outside of you two and River, the others are far from me.”

“I think River is still in Alaska.”

I set down my tea on their coffee table.

“Really?” I ask.

“I think so,” Abigail answers.

“What about Mae or Joe?”

“Same old thing as us. Just questions about suspicious activity and people we don’t recognize coming and going.”

Abigail takes a sip of her tea. I look at her, surprised, and she takes notice.

“I mean, how are we really supposed to know who’s suspicious? We all know tourists and locals come out hiking here,” she continues.

“True,” I say.

“It would be impossible for any of us to really know who could have killed someone out here. I think that’s the most alarming part of it all.”

“Well, there aren’t that many who live out here if you really think about it.”

“Especially not since the landslide that ruined the west side.”

“That’s right. I wasn’t living here during that time.”

“Right, dear. Homes have really only been able to be built on the east and west sides of this mountain because of how small it is and the terrain.”

I hum thoughtfully.

Abigail takes another sip of her tea and then snaps her fingers in the air.

“Tom, did you ever ask Dove about the mystery lurker you thought you saw closer to her land?” Abigail asks. I almost forgot he was even here.

“Lurker?” I say with a faint laugh.

“Yes, said he had a gut feeling something was off by the man,” she finishes.

Tom’s eyes bug out and anger is seething through his teeth. I flinch back in my seat from his reaction.

“Abigail,” he scolds.

“What? Is the man a secret from Dove? I certainly hope not. We all have to stick together out here.”

Tom gets up abruptly and storms into the bedroom.

I’m so caught off guard it makes me wonder where exactly he’s seen this man and if it’s Reid who was watching me for so long.

Abigail shrugs and takes another sip of her tea.

“Don’t mind him; he’s been so tense lately because of it all.”

“Right…”

“Be vigilant. A pretty young girl like you needs to be careful.”

“I am. Actually, I have a new boyfriend.”

“A boyfriend? How exciting,” Abigail says.

“It’s newer, so I’m not telling many people just yet.”

“I understand,” she says.

“But thankfully, I have him.”

“You’ll have to bring the young man by one day soon after all of this is over.”

“I will.”

I take a sip of my tea and stand with it in hand.

“I’m going to head on out. Is it okay if I put this in the kitchen?”

“Oh, no need, my dear. Just set it down here, and I’ll take care of it.”

I do as asked and start to head to the front door.

“I’m glad you all are alright. If I hear of anything, I’ll let you know,” I offer.

“We’ll do the same,” she responds sweetly.

Abigail pulls me into a warm embrace that I reciprocate.

“Take care of yourself. Come by if you need me,” she says.

“I will. You do the same.”

The daylight is still shining through the trees as I walk back home. I don’t pass by any police, neighbors, or tourists. The mountain is eerily quiet after all of the commotion from the discovery of the body.

It’s still early, which would ordinarily mean there would still be a sense of adventure in the air. Instead, there is no chatter or buzz about something happening on Lamb Creek Mountain. It’s just me walking home all alone.

As I do, I can’t help but think about Tom’s reaction to Abigail telling me someone is lurking out here. What if it isn’t Reid? I’m not sure how I feel about this new revelation.

Sure, Reid is calculated and cunning, but maybe Tom did see him by happenstance. There’s always that possibility.

My boots crunch through the fallen leaves as I make the short distance back home. The sound of cracking branches rings through. I can’t help but laugh. Only a short time ago, I would have hoped it was Reid following and not just some sound I was creating on my own. So much has changed.

I pause as I see my home close by and debate my next move.

I can go back and see Reid, start demanding he actually talk to me about what the hell is going on, or I can sort through what I’m going through. This whirlwind of an unconventional romance has the stakes far too high.

More so, I could go to the spot where the person in question was buried.

As I look out, I know what I have to do. I need to see it for myself. I need to know how close it is to where I met Reid that night and get confirmation.

I head out into the woods to get answers of my own.

After a brisk trek uphill, I find myself deep in the forest and on the opposite side of the mountain, the west side. I know I’m heading in the right direction, given how much activity there has been out here.

The mountain isn’t large, so it’s easy to stay on one side versus the other, especially since the west side is mostly obsolete. The activity always seemed close by, and it really isn’t that far of a distance to walk.

Normally, I venture around the south or north ends, given the bad terrain we get on the west end.

I easily find the burial ground in question.

Looking at it, I’m in shock. There it is, a mere half mile from my home, all blocked off with police tape still. I’m surprised there are no police out here monitoring it, but I suppose, at this point, there’s probably nothing left to find.

They probably have all of the DNA evidence that they need. I’m sure the sheriff has it blocked off still because of how abnormal a case it is for Lamb Creek.

The person who was put in this grave was because of Reid.

The man who I am falling in love with buried someone out here the night we met. It has to be true.

Glancing around, I see the natural path out, which would have landed Reid right where I met him—my spot by the creek.

The weight and magnitude of what all this means rips through me. My breath hitches, and tears start to well. I will not cry today for me, not when I have no idea what landed the victim in here.

Frustration bubbles up. I don’t know because Reid continuously avoids telling me the truth. He won’t address it, even though we both know I am aware something isn’t right.

Based on recent weather reports, we’re due for our first snow early this year. If this body hadn’t been found, then I’m not sure it ever would have. Rocks surely would have fallen over it, and if anything, animals would have torn it apart.

I slowly step back, suddenly feeling my throat swell up.

This reality is overwhelming. I need to get to my spot and see for myself how Reid stumbled upon me, and more importantly, I need to get back to my roots of thinking alone in the one place that clears my mind.

Heading down a narrow pathway, I see how easily it would be for someone like me to know where this leads but how someone unfamiliar with this place wouldn’t have noticed it if I hadn’t been there.

Even if Reid had looked at the location ahead of time, the bushes would have shielded it from his viewpoint.

Rocks are strewn around the ground, and gravel is spilling beneath my boots, making it easy to fall. I have to be careful if I’m going to make it out of here. Just a bit further, and I’ll be there.

I can see the creek still running through it, right near where my favorite spot is to sit and just be. A rush of adrenaline bursts through me as I get closer. I almost stumble as I push through the final set of branches in my way.

My spot.

Our spot .

I made it.

Slightly out of breath, I take a seat on the sturdy tree that I’ve claimed as mine. I hadn’t realized how tense I had been this whole time.

Birds chirping in the distance remind me of what’s transpired and, more importantly, what’s at stake for my future.

This is how Reid stumbled upon my spot. There was technically a path, but it was pure luck rather than a purposeful trail that he laid out to escape.

When he came across me, the concern he had for my safety must have been real. Why would a woman be out here that late at night, especially after the journey he had to take to get to where I was? Even then, I could feel Reid’s intensity.

I slump forward and hang my head in my hands, letting myself stay like this for a while.

The birds’ chirping soon turns to a mix of nocturnal animals starting their nights. It somehow settles me further.

Every day, I feel like I’m going to be collateral damage of some kind.

My feelings for Reid aren’t complicated; they are raw, real, and forever. Reid owns my heart, whether I like it or not.

I wipe away tears that I hadn’t realized were flowing. The ones I didn’t want to come through.

Reid may be nervous that I’m not ready to face who and what he is, but I’m done listening to what he thinks is best. I can accept him like I have accepted my fate.

“Running away from me again, little bird?”