Chapter 7
seven
MADDOX
The last piece of furniture has been carried into my new apartment and after saying goodbye to the movers, I fall down onto said last piece of furniture—my sofa. It’s a heavy setting but it’s worth it. This thing is like sitting in a fluffy cloud that hugs you and I love it, especially after a long night shift. I usually sleep on it rather than in my bed.
I’ve only been back for less than twenty-four hours and already it feels like home, but something is missing. I can’t put my finger on what that is, but I do know I’m where I’m meant to be. That same feeling slammed into me when I walked into the station earlier, and the same thing happened when I opened the front door here. It felt right, and I knew I chose the perfect place to live. This is where I’m meant to be and really, it’s not surprising since I grew up here. The only reason I left was to go to the police academy. If I’d have gotten a job in Evergreen Lake as soon as I graduated, I would have been back in a heartbeat. Evergreen Lake is home, always has been and it always will be. Not much has changed over the years, Evergreen Lake is just as majestic as I remember, and this time of year is always magical.
Maybe I feel off because I don’t have any decorations up yet. Normally, as soon as Thanksgiving is over I start decorating, but with moving this year, I don’t have one decoration up. But to be honest, the thought of decorating while unpacking is about as appealing as a prostate check.
“Avon calling,” a voice calls out, and when I look up, I see my smiling sister standing in the doorway of my new place with a mini potted Christmas tree.
“That wasn’t funny when you visited me at the academy or in Reno, and it’s still not funny now.”
“Please, it’s hilarious … especially since we all know you love using Avon anti-wrinkle crap.”
“Not a wrinkle on my face, Sis, maybe you should try it? You know, for those crow’s-feet appearing around your eyes.”
“I don’t have any wrinkles,” she huffs.
Plopping my Christmas tree down by the front door, she heads straight for my bathroom. From my vantage point in the living room, I see her looking in the mirror; she’s checking for the nonexistent wrinkles. Walking back into the living area, she glares at me as she pulls off her coat, draping it over one of my barstools. “So, where do we begin?”
Looking around, I shrug. “I have no idea.”
“How about we start with your bedroom? Get that ready so you will at least have somewhere to crash tonight.”
“Good plan.”
She grabs her phone and looks around for my sound system, but I haven’t set it up yet. She rolls her eyes and I shake my head. Jumping up, I grab my portable speaker from the box that has all the essentials needed when moving and pop it on the coffee table.
With a smile, she scrolls through her phone and then hits play. “Christmas Lights” by Coldplay filters out through the speaker. She’s clearly in a Christmas mood and with Chris singing away, we move down the hallway and start putting my bedroom together.
The movers were great and actually put my bed together so all Sab and I have to do is find the bedding, and then figure out how and where to set it up. Prior to her having kids, she worked as an interior designer so I stand back and let her work her magic. And by stand back I mean, I follow her directions—demands—and move things around and about until she’s happy.
Once my bedroom is sorted, she moves into the main living area, and within an hour, she has my living room and dining area staged, whatever that means. Now all I have to do is unpack my shit, and no doubt I will move things five times before I’m happy.
“Red wine?” I ask her when I finish unpacking a box of glassware.
She shakes her head. “Thanks, but I need to head out. I still need to grab a few things for the weekend before I pick Rubes up. You wanna come to the tree lighting with us tonight?”
“I thought it was girls’ weekend?”
“It is but Friday is technically still part of the workweek so there’s your loophole to attend with us.” She pauses. “That’s if you don’t have any other plans.” She waggles her eyebrows at me.
“You look like you’re having a stroke,” I tell her.
She flips me the bird. “Whatever. You joining us or not?”
“Yeah, I might join you, sounds like fun.”
The annual tree lighting ceremony is always a good night in town. Actually, every event in the month of December is great here. For a small town, they sure know how to celebrate and party. From the tree lighting to kick off the Christmas festival to gingerbread stands each weekend, and who can forget the infamous Evergreen Lake key party. I’ve never attended one but I’ve heard stories and let’s just say, I prefer my spice in a book … and at home. I’m no prude, but yeah, that’s not my jam.
After locking in a time for later, Sabbi heads out and leaves me to unpack a few more things. We moved her housewarming tree next to the fireplace, and since it’s tiny compared to the usual Douglas fir I would have, I decide to just decorate it with ornaments. Then I string some colored Christmas lights around the fireplace and when I switch them on, it suddenly feels Christmassy, and the void I felt before is no longer here.