Chapter 2
DARWYNN
The general store was exactly what I’d expected from a tiny village like Hilton Beach. Wooden shelves were stocked with the essentials.
Canned goods, fresh produce, a small selection of meats, and a few household items. There was even a corner dedicated to handmade jewelry and locally made jelly and honey. It smelled faintly of cedar and coffee. It was a comforting mix that made me linger a little longer than I needed to.
I grabbed a few things to make a simple dinner.
Pasta, a jar of marinara sauce, a small pack of parmesan cheese, and a bundle of fresh basil that looked like it had been plucked from someone’s garden just this morning. I also picked up a pack of chips, a bar of chocolate, and a loaf of bread from a basket near the counter.
The cashier was a thirty-something man with a friendly smile and a name tag that read “Henry.”
He rang me up while making small talk, which I happily participated in.
I liked doing small talk. Not sure why.
I liked the awkwardness of it.
“New in town?”
he asked, bagging my items.
“Just visiting,”
I replied, keeping my answer short.
“Staying long?”
“Couple of weeks, maybe more.”
He nodded, his blue eyes scanning me with the same curiosity Theresa had earlier. “Well, enjoy your stay. It’s quiet around here, but the sunsets are worth it.”
“I’ve heard,”
I said, smiling politely as I paid for my things.
“I’m Henry. I live right across the street,”
he told me, pointing his finger to the blue house on the other side. “And I own this store.”
“That’s cool.”
I gave him a tight smile. “I’m Darwynn.”
“Nice to meet you, Darwynn.”
He smiled back and handed me my bag. “Enjoy your night.”
“Thank you. You too.”
I took my bag and headed back to the camping ground.
Back at the tiny house, I cooked my dinner in the little kitchenette. The scent of basil filled the space, making it feel a bit more like home. I did not miss home, though I missed every small town and city I visited in the past six months.
Once everything was ready, I plated the pasta and carried it outside to the small table on the porch.
The sun was just beginning to dip below the horizon, the sky showing off beautiful orange, pink, and purple colors. The water shimmered, reflecting the vibrant colors. I ate slowly, savoring each bite and the quiet serenity of the moment.
As the sun sank lower, I spotted movement out of the corner of my eye. My gaze shifted to a house down by the water, its porch bathed in the golden glow of twilight. The figure of a man emerged from the door, tall and broad-shouldered.
It had to be him.
Unless I was simply being delusional.
No…it had to be him.
Even from a distance, I just knew it was him.
His silhouette was strikingly familiar. I had seen it in movies, on TV, and on my phone screen.
It was Caspian.
He carried a mug in one hand and settled into the chair on the porch chair, his gaze fixed on the horizon.
I froze, watching him. My heart thudded in my chest as unfamiliar emotions surged within me.
Nervousness, curiosity, and something that felt an awful lot like hope.
He looked peaceful, sitting there as the day faded into night. The water stretched out before him, calm and unbroken, as if it held all the answers to the questions I wanted to ask him.
I considered walking down there for a moment, closing the distance between us. But something held me back. The timing didn’t feel right.
I needed more time before I showed up unannounced.
As the sky became darker, I finished my dinner. The sight of Caspian still lingered in my mind as I cleaned up and prepared for bed.
Tomorrow, I told myself. I’d go see him tomorrow.
I climbed into bed, pulled the blanket up to my chin, and stared at the ceiling. It felt like the calm before the storm, like the air was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
Tomorrow, I will meet my grandfather.
For better or worse, at least I could introduce myself to him.
***
When I woke up the next morning, I was craving something sweet, and to my luck, there was a sweet little bakery right by the street at the camping ground entrance.
After taking a quick shower and putting on clothes, I got myself a cup of coffee and a baked good.
Before turning onto the road on which the general store was also on, I looked toward the house I now knew belonged to Caspian.
My plan was still to go over there and knock on his door to hopefully introduce myself as his granddaughter. However, deep down, I hoped I would see him walking to the bakery, casually passing him, and maybe sparking a random conversation.
Without telling him who I was or what I was there for.
But that wouldn’t be the case because the man rarely left his house.
Once arrived at the bakery, I walked inside and was immediately charmed by the interior. Wooden tables and chairs were scattered unevenly, a shelf full of secondhand books decorated one wall, and plants were all over the small place. Just a couple of what I assumed were locals sat there, chatting quietly or reading newspapers while sipping their drinks.
I approached the counter, where a cheerful barista with an apron smiled. “Good morning! What can I get for you?”
“Good morning.”
I took a moment to check out their selection of baked goods and then told her, “A croissant, a blueberry muffin, and a black coffee, please.”
“To go?”
“I’ll have it here, please.”
“Take a seat.”
She lifted her hand to gesture for me to sit down, and after giving her a quick smile, I went to occupy the chair by the window.
Seconds later, the girl stood by my side, setting down a dark green mug with steaming coffee and a plate with my croissant and muffin. “If you need anything else, let me know.”
I smiled up at her, giving her a quick nod. “Thank you. You’re very kind.”
She touched my shoulder in a sweet gesture before leaving my table and serving another customer.
I was fully enjoying my breakfast when I felt eyes staring at me.
I didn’t dare to look up at first, but I forced my gaze upward to see who was gawking at me.
Theresa.
I smiled tightly, giving her a small wave.
She kept her eyes on me, shamelessly staring, making me nervous.
When I held her gaze for a moment too long, she got up and walked over to me, bringing her coffee and newspaper with her. “Well, look who’s up early.”
I hesitated and watched as she sat down opposite me. “Good morning to you, too.”
She chuckled dryly. “You look like you had a rough night.”
I pursed my lips before taking another bite of my muffin. “Actually, my night was pretty good. I slept like a baby in that bed. Very comfortable,”
I admitted with a smile.
Theresa huffed, leaning back in her chair. “So, are you planning on going to see him today?”
“Yes.”
She watched me closely with those dark eyes and intense stare. I was starting to feel uncomfortable, but I brushed that feeling off. “Aren’t you going to ask me where he lives?”
“Actually, I saw him last night. I watched the sunset on the porch and saw him doing the same. So…I know where he lives.”
Theresa nodded slowly, with her eyes still fixed on my face.
God, she was scary.
The thing was, she didn’t really look scary.
It was those eyes that gave me shivers.
When her lips turned into a half-smile, she said, “Let me tell you something. He’s not the kind of man thrilled by unexpected visitors.”
“I’ve gathered that,”
I said, sipping my coffee. “Still, I’m going to give it a shot. I didn’t change all my plans just to chicken out now.”
Her thin eyebrows raised. “What plans did you change?”
“I was actually about to head home—”
“Where is home?”
“Burlington, Vermont.”
“Continue.”
“I was planning to go home after my months-long trip through Canada, but then I…”
I stopped myself, thinking that giving her every detail wasn’t necessary. “I remembered what he went through, did a quick Google search, and read that he lives here.”
That was a lie, and she didn’t seem to know much about the internet because she didn’t argue. She sighed heavily, muttering under her breath, “Damn paparazzi. I told the Sheriff not to let anyone close to his house.”
I was almost positive that there were no pictures of Caspian anywhere online, not from when he retired from Hollywood. And I was also certain that nobody other than a few people—and all of Hilton Beach—knew he now lived here.
Either way, I was glad she stopped questioning me.
Theresa got up and grabbed her empty mug. She studied me once more, then said, “Be brave.”
Brave?
“He’s rarely in a good mood.”
That’s good to know.
“I just hope he won’t slam the door in my face. I still have to try.”
She laughed. This time, it was a real laugh.
She was laughing at me.
Thanks, Theresa.
“Good luck, child.”
She dramatically turned back around. Her eyes met mine again. “He’s a complicated man. Private, stubborn, and not exactly warm. But he’s not heartless.”
That didn’t come as a surprise.
“I know. I can sense that he’s not heartless,”
I told her with a tight smile.
She nodded once, clearly wanting to leave, but she couldn’t just yet. She wanted to keep telling me about my grandfather.
“He’s done a lot for this village. Even if he doesn’t advertise it, we owe a lot to him. He’s not a bad man. He’s just…not an easy one.”
I absorbed her words in silence. They didn’t erase my doubts but added another layer to the picture I was trying to piece together of who he was.
“Well, I guess I’ll find out for myself,”
I said, my voice quiet but steady.
Theresa nodded, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “That you will. Just…don’t take it personally if he’s a bit rough.”
“Noted.”
After setting her mug on the counter, she left the bakery and said bye to the barista.
I stepped out about fifteen minutes later, and I stopped for a moment to feel the warm sun shining on my face.
Today, I would see Caspian King. And no matter how it went, I was ready to face whatever came next.