Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
JACE
Juggling the brown paper bag in one arm, I jimmy open the gate latch and sip into the front yard. I pause along the walkway and take in the length of the cape cod style house, trailing over the navy-blue front door and up to the two windows on the second floor.
My footsteps are light as I walk up the concrete to the steps of the porch.
It looks almost identical to when I was a teenager, with the swinging bench situated in the space between the front door and the bay window.
Since then, there have been some exterior updates, like fresh paint and new siding, along with new windows.
Not much has changed though, and it provides a cocoon of nostalgia.
A blanket of comfort.
“Okay, Dr. Grey,” I mumble as I let myself into the entryway of the house, setting the brown bag down on the table near the front door. Grabbing the straps of my backpack, I slip it over my arms, crouching down on the floor to let my cat out.
A pitter patter of footsteps come down the steps, followed by a soft meow. Looking up, I find Dr. Grey’s sister coming to sit on the bottom step. “Hey, Snoop,” I say as Dr. Grey jumps out of the backpack. “We’re home.”
The grey and white cat stares at me, slowly blinking and softly purring as Dr. Grey trots down the hall.
The two of them are vastly different from one another, each missing opposite eyes.
While Dr. Grey has limited vision in her remaining eye, Snoop can see perfectly fine from hers.
And she’s terrified of anything and everything.
Standing back upright, I grab the bag of groceries I stopped for on my way home.
The crinkle of the bag sends Snoop hightailing it back up the stairs.
I can’t help but chuckle to myself as I kick off my shoes and head down the hall to the kitchen.
Just as I’m pulling the contents from the bag, my phone vibrates in the front pocket of my slacks.
Setting a box of cereal down on the counter, I fish the device from my pocket. A smile tugs on my lips when I see Noah’s name pop up on the screen. My finger taps on the screen and I put it on speaker phone as I set it down on the counter.
“Hello?”
“Hey, buddy,” Noah says, his voice chipper through the speaker. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”
“Oh no,” I say, shaking my head even though he can’t see me while I empty out the paper bag. “I just got home and am putting some groceries away.”
“What are you getting up to tonight? Do you have any plans?”
Pulling the inside of my cheek between my teeth, I absentmindedly chew on it as I turn away from the kitchen island to tuck a carton of organic milk in the fridge. “No plans,” I say, turning back the counter. “I still have some boxes I should probably get unpacked.”
“Those boxes aren’t going anywhere,” Noah says dismissively. “Come over tonight. Finn has a bunch of wood that needs burning, so we’re having a fire, and Willow said she’s making dinner.”
“I don’t want to impose,” I say, raking a hand through my hair. “I’m sure Willow isn’t planning on any other guests for dinner.”
“You’re practically family, so you always have an open invite.” Noah pauses for a beat and something clicks in the background. “If you don’t wanna come, you can always just say that, you know?”
Growing up, Noah and I were inseparable and the Alder’s were like my second family. Noah and I went separate ways for separate professional sports, but we’ve kept in touch over the years.
Exhaustion settles in my bones, but I bury it instead.
I owe my best friend a visit and who am I to say no?
I don’t have plans and the things that are still in boxes aren’t exactly important things.
Dropping my hand to the counter, I plant both palms against the cool quartz countertop.
“Okay, I’ll be there,” I say as I let out a deep breath. “Should I bring anything?”
“Just yourself,” Noah says. “Maybe some beer. I’ll tell Willow to set another plate.”
“Sounds good.” I push away from the counter, walking around the island as I make my way to the primary suite on the first floor. “I need to change, then I’ll be there in a bit.”
“Cool, see you then,” Noah says before ending the call. I stare down at my phone for a moment, inhaling deeply before releasing the breath. Coming home hasn’t been the easiest, mentally, and settling back into a life here like I never had one outside of this small town feels so strange.
Between that and trying to get my grips at the veterinary clinic, I almost have half the nerve to call my mother back. She and my father have both called me a few times since they found out I was home, but I’ve been dodging their attempts to talk.
Hell, I have been since I had to tell them about my early retirement. They’re the two people who have always been by my side, cheering me on, even after they moved states.
And I was nothing less than a disappointment.
Shaking my head, I push the uncomfortable thoughts to the back of my mind and focus on the task at hand. Getting myself together and over to the Alders, to have dinner cooked by no one other than Willow.
Seeing her this morning was a surprise, albeit a pleasant one, but a surprise nonetheless. Like Sugar Hill Hollow, she hasn’t changed much since I last saw her. Her long blonde hair frames her face in long, relaxed curls and her blue eyes are still brighter than the sky on a cloudless day.
I can’t help but wonder if she remembers that night four years ago at Danny Potter’s party. I was drunk, but not enough to not know what I was doing. She had stared up at me with those soft baby blue eyes and I’d almost kissed her.
Little Willow Alder…
Not so little anymore, but still completely off-limits.
Walking over to my closet, I pull a T-shirt and a hooded sweatshirt from two hangers and toss them onto the bed. Then I grab a pair of jeans from my dresser and strip out of my work clothes so I can put on a fresher, more comfortable outfit instead.
I check to make sure the cats have food and water, then turn off the lights before slipping on my boots by the front door.
My truck is parked in the driveway, outside of the detached garage.
I would have parked in there, but it’s filled with gardening supplies, a mower, and a stack of dusty boxes holding whatever belongings my parents didn’t feel like taking with them.
I slowly back down the driveway, pausing to check traffic before easing out onto the street. There's a small beer distributor near the bowling alley, so I turn at the town’s solo traffic light and head down to the store to grab a six pack before showing up at the Alder’s.
There’s only one car in the parking lot when I pull up out front. I don’t even bother to lock the doors as I head inside. A small bell on top of the doorframe dings as I step inside, although there isn’t a single soul in sight.
The store isn’t big. There are only three small isles of wine, liquor, and beer, and three walls lined with fridges full of cold beer, wine coolers, and some hard seltzers. I find the cooler with the stuff I know Noah and Finn like to drink and grab a six pack.
“Say it ain’t so.”
A slow smile tugs on my lips as I let the refrigerator door fall closed and turn around. “Hey, Mr. Jenkins.”
“I heard you were back in town, but wasn’t gonna believe it until I saw ya with my own eyes.”
“Here I am, in the flesh,” I say, shrugging my shoulders as the old man gives me a lopsided grin. “How are you? How’s Mrs. Jenkins?”
“I’m good as always. My knees aren’t what they used to be, but such is life.
Mrs. Jenkins is good,” he says, turning to head to the checkout counter.
I fall in step behind him. “She’s been busyin’ herself at the garden center.
Can’t get her to get rid of those damn goats, though.
She’s been downsizing, but then every spring, there’s more babies! ”
A chuckle rumbles in my throat as I stop across from him and set the beers down on the counter. “I wish I could say I’m surprised, but I’m not.”
“Not much has changed around here,” he says, shaking his head. “That woman drives me batshit crazy sometimes, but man, I love her. After all these years, I think I love her more than I did before.” He pauses, a grin breaking out across his face. “Well, most days, that is.”
I reach into my back pocket to pull out my wallet, but Mr. Jekins immediately shakes his head at me.
“This one’s on the house,” he says, dipping his chin as he gives me a smile. “We’re just glad to have you back and to hear you’re helping your aunt out. Did you come back alone or is there a lucky lady you brought home with you?”
I snort, shaking my head back and forth as I grab the six pack off the counter. “Nope, just me.”
Mr. Jenkins clicks his tongue. “I’m sure you’ll find someone and settle down one day. Maybe a nice young woman here, from the Hollow.”
“Yeah, I’m not sure about that, Mr. Jenkins.”
His eyebrows tug together. “Don’t count yourself out, son. I used to think the same way as you, but then I met Heidi and I couldn’t get her out of my head. When you meet the right person, you’ll know.”
I slowly nod at him as I back away from the counter. “I’ll keep that in mind,” I say, dipping my chin once more and lifting the six pack up to eye level. “Thanks, Mr. Jenkins. I’ll see you around.”
“Have a good night, Jace,” he says, lifting his hand in a small wave.
I turn around and head out of the store, making my way over to the truck. When I climb in, I set the six pack on the center console and pull the door shut behind me. Pausing for a second before pulling out of my parking spot, I stare at the outside of Mr. Jenkins’ store.
He may have found love in the end, but I’m not so sure that’s something in the cards for me. Any women I’ve been with in the past were just fleeting moments. None of them felt like someone I wanted to stick around. It was just one failed relationship after another.
Love is supposed to be something great and grand. That turn-your-world-upside-down kind of experience. I’ve never experienced that with anyone and I have little faith that it even exists, at this point.
And even if it does, I guess it’s just not something that’s meant for me.