Chapter 17 #2
I reached for it. My heart began to pound in a way that had nothing to do with swimming. The paper was slightly damp from the air. The handwriting was rough. Block letters. No signature. Your friend’s death was avenged. For a moment, everything around me felt distant.
“What does it say?” Asher asked quietly.
I handed it to him instead of answering.
His eyes scanned the line once. Then again, slower this time. His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.
“This wasn’t here when you came in?” he asked.
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
He looked around the lot instinctively, like someone might still be watching from the shadows. The word avenged sat heavy in my chest. Someone believed there had been something to avenge. Someone believed justice had already been handled. Or someone wanted me to think it had.
“What does that even mean?” I murmured.
Asher folded the paper carefully and handed it back to me.
“It means someone knows you’re asking questions.”
My stomach tightened.
“And they don’t like it,” he added.
He stepped a little closer, lowering his voice.
“You don’t do anything tonight that puts attention on you,” he warned.
“I wasn’t planning to—”
“Claire.” The way he said my name cut through whatever argument I was forming. “I’m serious.”
There wasn’t anger in his expression. Just concern.
“I won’t,” I said finally.
He searched my face like he was measuring whether that answer was enough.
After a beat, he stepped back.
“If I see Becket, I’ll let him know. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to include my dad on this.”
“That isn’t a bad idea,” I said.
“I’ll follow you back to Maple Valley. We can go over to the main house. Dad is usually there this time of night,” Asher said.
“I wouldn’t want to intrude,” I replied.
“You wouldn’t be. Trust me. Dad lives for keeping this town safe,” he replied.
“Okay, thanks. I’ll head that way now,” I said.
Asher looked so relieved he made me chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” he asked me.
“You,” I said. “You’re watching me like you think I’m off the walls.”
“You are a little bit,” he joked, scrunching his nose.
The more I got to know Asher, the more I liked him.
He wasn’t just a good-looking guy. He had a good heart, cared about his family, and he cared about this town, which said a lot about him.
We parted ways with me getting into my car and Asher getting into his truck.
He followed me on the road toward Maple Valley. Halfway home, my phone rang.
Mom.
I hesitated, then answered.
“Hi.”
“Hi, sweetheart,” she said warmly. “Just checking in. How are things going?”
“Good,” I answered automatically. There was no way I wanted her to worry. “I spent the day working. Now I just left the cute little community center. They have an Olympic-size pool, so I went for a swim.”
“Swimming. You like to swim when you need to clear your mind,” she noted.
I couldn’t get anything past her.
“Nothing major. I just keep hitting dead ends where Sophie’s case is concerned. I’ve put my life on hold for so long. It feels like I’ll never have answers,” I said. My comment was met with a loud sigh from Mom.
“I’ve been saying that for a long time, Claire. Your dad has too. We were shocked when you told us you were doing your master’s degree in criminology instead of environmental science,” she confessed.
Now it was my turn to sigh.
“Working outside with the land has reminded me how much I love it. It’s kind of making me question my decisions.”
“Nothing wrong with that. You’re young. You can always choose a different path,” she said.
The call went silent. For a moment I thought it may have disconnected. “Mom, are you there?”
“Yeah, sorry. I was just processing your words. Something has changed with you. Did you meet someone?” she asked, her tone lifted slightly like she already knew but wanted to hide her enthusiasm.
“Yes,” I admitted.
I couldn’t hide from her, not after she and Dad were so supportive of me coming out here. There was an audible exhale on the other end.
“Your dad and I hoped this day would come,” she said.
I could understand where she was coming from. At twenty-four they assumed I would be dating, but here I was a virgin with little experience.
“I’m sorry it’s taken so long. This situation with this guy isn’t serious though. I don’t want you guys getting your hopes up,” I said.
She blew out a breath. “Don’t worry about us, Claire. Throughout college we were hoping you’d meet a nice young man. We’re glad it’s happened now. Just take your time. No pressure.”
“There wasn’t anyone worth noticing in college,” I noted.
“Maybe, but you were so wrapped up in figuring out what happened to Sophie you wouldn’t have noticed the right guy anyway,” she retorted.
She wasn’t wrong. “If there was someone I would’ve noticed.”
“What about Jamie?” she pressed. “That boy followed you around for years.”
“Jamie’s a good friend,” I replied flatly.
“Because you friend-zoned him,” she replied.
“I didn’t see him in that way,” I said.
“Sometimes things are one-sided. Probably why you never noticed,” she said lightly. “Enough about the past. Tell me about this new guy.”
“His name is Asher Thorne. He’s my boss. And before you say it’s a terrible idea…”
“Claire, I wasn’t going to say anything,” she chuckled.
“He’s different,” I continued, knowing I had her support. “He’s not someone I ever thought I would want, but…”
“But?” she encouraged.
“He’s steady,” I admitted. “And infuriating. And protective in a way that makes me want to argue with him and kiss him at the same time.”
She laughed softly.
“And?”
“And when he looks at me,” I continued, my eyes fixed on the dark road ahead, “it feels like the world stops and it’s just me and him.”
Silence stretched.
“Wow, I love this for you,” she squealed. I didn’t remember the last time Mom made that kind of noise.
“It’s new and different and scary,” I confessed.
“Is it good scary? Because it sounds amazing,” she inquired.
The note flashed in my mind. The pool. The way Asher told me not to do anything foolish.
“Yes,” I answered quietly.
It was an exhilarating feeling. My heart beat different. Excitement pulsed in my veins at the sight of him. And that might be the most complicated part of all. Mom was quiet for a beat.
“Just promise me something,” she said gently.
“What?”
“Don’t let yourself disappear into grief again if this boy makes you feel alive.”
My throat tightened unexpectedly.
“I won’t,” I said.
Another pause.
“And Claire?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m proud of you. For going to Maple Valley. For looking for answers. But I don’t want you losing yourself in it.”
I stared at the dark stretch of road ahead.
“I know.” We said our goodbyes, and I ended the call before she could hear the uncertainty creeping into my breathing.
The main house at Maple Valley came into view sooner than I expected. Lights glowed warmly through the windows. Asher pulled up behind me. I grabbed the note and got out of the car. Maybe this was a step forward in finding out what happened to Sophie. Or maybe it was the closure I’d have to accept.