CHAPTER TWO #2
“Just invite us to a party afterward,” said Dani. “We definitely want to celebrate with you.”
“I’ll help you with that,” Nettie said.
Crystal looked at Emmett, and they both smiled.
Though she was unsettled, Misty was delighted to see how happy her sister was.
###
At home, Misty walked through the rooms, making sure everything was all right, and then she headed to bed.
Tomorrow, she and Hazel would go through the rest of the books in the box, hoping no others had become tainted by Vince’s crude words.
Misty supposed she could do the task herself, but when Hazel suggested she help, Misty couldn’t turn down the offer.
She lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. David’s image came to her. She hoped they could become even better friends. Though she wasn’t sure she was ready for anything more, the thought of a deeper friendship with him was intriguing.
###
When she awoke, Misty lay in bed listening to birds making music in the trees outside, and a smile tugged at her lips. This was the first day of the rest of her life, and it was going to be different from what she’d known. She could feel it in her bones.
She looked forward to her early morning walk to what she thought of as “David’s Park” and decided to do it again. There was something special about sitting there. Maybe because David and his family had created the park with such love.
Misty got up and dressed for her walk. If she were lucky, David would be there.
After preparing for the day, Misty headed out.
As she looked up at the sky, she saw storm clouds gathering on the horizon and wondered if the weatherman was right and it would become a rainy day. The idea didn’t depress her. They needed the rain, and a cozy day indoors would be peaceful.
Moving quickly, Misty soon arrived at the park. She scanned the area, but David wasn’t there. Disappointed, she sat on one of the benches and looked out at the flowers. Each bed held different varieties of flowers, yet they all complemented one another.
While she was sitting on one of the back benches, she observed an auburn-haired woman walk into the park, go over to one of the rosebushes, and lean down to sniff one of its yellow buds.
The woman bowed her head and spoke softly before moving to a nearby bench.
“Lovely, isn’t it,” said Misty as she walked by the woman on her way out of the park.
The woman said, “Very special.”
Out on the sidewalk, Misty looked back and noticed the woman had moved to the bench where she’d been sitting. Misty couldn’t help but wonder about her. She’d seemed so sad.
Misty walked into town and went to the Lilac Lake Café for her morning coffee.
Nettie greeted her at the door. “Another day of settling in?”
Misty let out a weary sigh. “I’m loving the space. I feel like I’m living in the woods and love all the activities of the birds there.”
“Thanks again for your willingness to move out of the apartment quickly,” said Nettie. “Jason and I can’t wait to move in. Come in. The coffee is on me.”
Misty saw Taylor writing at a table in the corner, waved, and then stood at the counter, waiting for her coffee. She was intent on getting back to the cabin to finish getting established in her home.
###
On the walk back home, she enjoyed the sights and sounds of the townspeople preparing for another summer day.
Shopkeepers were opening, watering pots of flowers outside their doors or mounting American flags next to their entrances.
It was like the setting of a Hallmark movie.
She loved it. When she was back at school, she wouldn’t be able to take advantage of early morning walks like this, and she wanted to treasure each one.
Hazel and she were excited to be working at the same school. Though they were very different and from extremely different backgrounds, they got along well. It was important to Misty to foster the friendship of someone more her age than her sister’s.
When she got to her small riverside neighborhood, Misty stood for a moment, looking at the cabins. Some of the larger original ones had log exteriors. Hers, a smaller, newer cabin, had a gray clapboard exterior. All of them, she knew, were modern and up-to-date inside.
JoEllen Daniels appeared from a cabin a distance from hers, climbed into her car, and drove away. Having JoEllen as a neighbor was the only drawback to the neighborhood. JoEllen was a woman desperate to find a man and would do anything to get her way.
She glanced at Hazel’s cabin, two doors down from hers. All was quiet.
Misty unlocked her front door and entered the house. She could see most of her space from the entrance with one glance. Her gaze rested on the plant by the sliding glass door, and she was touched once more by David’s gesture.
She walked into the kitchen and stared at the box on the floor. How in the world had Vince managed to write inside one of the books? She must have said or done something to set him off. But then, she never knew what would make him angry.
Misty sighed and made a list of the groceries and other items she needed for the cabin.
Crystal had given her furniture, dishes, and some kitchenware from the apartment.
Misty had also kept some things that had been shipped to her from the apartment she’d shared with another woman in Florida.
But now, she wanted a fresh look. A trip to Target in Concord might be in order.
She’d finished making her bed when she heard someone at the front door. She went to answer it and found Hazel standing there.
“Hi, come in,” Misty said. “Can I get you a cup of coffee or tea?’
“Coffee would be lovely,” said Hazel, sounding like a refined Southern lady.
Hazel followed her into the kitchen and glanced around. “You’ve done a wonderful job of getting unpacked and settled.”
“I’m going to Concord to pick up some extra things I need. Want to come?” Misty asked, handing Hazel a cup of coffee with a dash of cream like she usually had.
“Sure,” said Hazel. “I can use some decorative items. I’m glad we found these cabins. They’re fabulous.”
“It’s a great location,” said Misty. She stared at the box she dreaded to go through.
Hazel noticed and set down her coffee cup. “We might as well do it.”
“Okay.” Misty knelt on the floor next to the box and handed the books to Hazel, who checked to make sure they were clear of any writing.
They were down to the last two when Hazel said, “Here’s one.” She held up the book to show her. “CUNT” was written there.
Feeling sick to her stomach, Misty said, “Please put it in the rubbish box over there.” She pointed to a large cardboard box filled with paper and trash.
“Okay, last one,” said Hazel, her voice shaking. “Who in the world would do this kind of thing?” She opened the book. “This one is clear.”
Misty heaved a sigh of relief and got to her feet. “I’m glad that’s over. Thank you, Hazel. I didn’t want to be alone to do this. It’s so creepy it makes my skin crawl.”
“Yeah, he’s one sick dude,” said Hazel.
“I know it can’t be anyone else because I had to remove books from my classroom so they could paint the room.
They were sitting in a box in my apartment.
We got into a fight, and he dumped the books out of the box onto the floor.
He must’ve gone back and written in a couple of them before I boxed them up again. ”
Hazel gave her an encouraging look. “Let’s forget about him and go shopping. I’m feeling creative.”
Misty’s tension disappeared, relieved the drama was over.