Chapter 10
James unlocked the front door and led Clara inside. The house was cozy and welcoming. James had framed black and white photos of his family on the walls. There was a large stone fireplace in the living room. There were shelves full of books, and a large comfortable-looking sofa centered around the fireplace.
“I hope you don”t mind crashing at my place,” James said, leading Clara through the cozy living room. “The guest room is pretty comfortable.”
“I don”t mind,” Clara said. “Your home is beautiful.”
“Thank you.” He grabbed her suitcase and started towards the stairs. “I”ll show you your room and then we”ll see what I can find for dinner.”
After putting her bag in the room, James gave her the two-cent tour of his home.
“I love it,” Clara replied, her eyes taking in the details that spoke of a life spent in nature. “It”s nice to see this side of you, James.”
“I”ve got a boat at the dock,” he said. “It”s a little late to go out, but I think you”ll love the view of the lake at sunset.”
“Please!” Clara nodded. “I”d love to see it.”
As twilight settled in, James led Clara through the back door and onto a wooden deck overlooking a quiet, glass-like lake. The water reflected the gorgeous colors of the setting sun, creating a breathtaking canvas. Along the edge of the lake was a dock. His boat was tied up alongside it.
“It”s beautiful,” Clara breathed, looking at the view before her. “It”s so serene.”
“It is,” James agreed, taking her hand and leading her down to the dock. “I come out here when I need to think. It”s always been my place of solace.”
“I can see why,” Clara murmured, standing beside James on the dock. She watched as the water gently lapped against the sides of James” boat.
James stood quietly beside her, his eyes on the lake too. It was a peaceful moment, one that didn’t need to be filled with words.
“Do you use your boat often?” Clara finally asked, gesturing to the vessel gently bobbing next to them.
“Every chance I get,” James responded, his gaze drifting to the boat. “It”s a good way to clear my head. Sometimes, I”m out there for hours on end, just listening to the water.”
Clara watched him as he spoke and she could see the peace that washed over his face at the memory of those solitary moments. “Maybe we can go out together sometime,” she suggested.
James looked at her, a hint of surprise in his eyes. “You”d like that?” He asked, sounding genuinely surprised.
“I think it would be awesome,” Clara replied with a smile.
“We could go out for a little spin,” he offered.
“Yes!” she practically jumped at the idea. “I would like that.”
“Sit tight and I”ll grab the keys and one of my jackets. It can get a little cold out there on the water at night.”
“I”ll wait.”
She watched as James retreated into the house to get the keys. From the dock, she could see light streaming from the backdoor he left ajar and she couldn”t help but notice how inviting it made the old house look. She turned her gaze back to the placid lake, anxiously awaiting their little adventure.
Moments later, James returned carrying a knitted blue sweater that he handed over to Clara. He then fished out a set of keys from his pocket and, with an inviting smile, gestured towards the boat.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” Clara replied, the excitement in her voice nearly palpable.
James helped her onto the boat, ensuring she was steady before he hopped in himself. He expertly started the engine and soon they were gliding smoothly across the tranquil expanse of the lake. The wind gently tousled Clara”s hair as she sat watching the ripples they created dance under the twilight. The world outside their bubble felt far away, almost non-existent.
As James navigated through the water, Clara couldn’t help but get lost in the beautiful silence that surrounded them. It was evident why James sought refuge here. The air was crisp and fresh, the kind that filled your lungs with a sense of peace only nature could provide. With every breath she inhaled, she felt more alive.
“It’s...perfect,” Clara murmured.
James glanced over at her, with one hand on the wheel. “Yes, it is,” he agreed softly.
“Do you come out at night very often?”
“If it”s been a crappy day,” he nodded.
“You are a man who loves his nature.”
“I am,” he grinned.
He cut the engine, letting the silence wash over them. She shuddered when the cool breeze brushed over her. James went to one of the seats, lifted it, and pulled out a blanket.
“You”re cold,” he said, draping it around her shoulders as the night temperature continued to drop.
“Thank you. I don”t want to be cold. I love it out here. I feel like I”m walking in your shoes.”
He chuckled and sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her against him.
“My parents were big outdoor people as well,” he said. “My dad owned a boat from the time I was a little kid. When I”m out here or sleeping under the stars, it reminds me of better times. Sometimes, I get a little melancholy. I think about all the life I”ve missed out on.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don”t have kids. I never got to show my son how to fish or drive a boat. I”m out here with you now, but usually, it”s just me. I”m tired of being alone.”
“There are more ways than one to be alone,” Clara said. “I”m alone. My daughter is a thousand miles away and if I think what”s going to happen, happens, she”s probably going to stay there for a good long while. You already know about my ex.”
“But we”re alone together now, right?” he asked softly.
“Yes.”
James looked at her, a gentle smile playing on his lips. “Maybe that”s something then, being alone together,” he said.
“It”s a start,” Clara agreed.
They both sat there, wrapped in silence which was only occasionally broken by the distant call of a night bird or the gentle lap of water against the boat. Despite the chilliness of the night, she felt warm inside. The old boat rocked gently under them as if lulling them into a serene tranquility.
“I should get us back,” James said. “We can eat and go over the journal. You brought it with you, right?”
“You bet I did,” she laughed. “I”ve been dying to dig into it, but I felt like I had to wait for you.”
“That”s very kind of you,” James said, flashing her a grateful smile. He rose, shaking the stiffness out of his legs before he moved to take control of the boat again. With a turn of the key and a gentle pull on the throttle, they began to move slowly through the water back toward the dock.
Clara watched him as he navigated. The warmth she felt was unexplainable. She turned her face up to look up at the moon and the stars. Life had been a little rough over the last couple of years, but she was beginning to think it was worth it if it led her to this point.
She didn”t want to get ahead of herself, but she believed James might be the one for her. The one she could spend the rest of her days with.
When they got back to his house, James started a fire in the fireplace. He popped in a frozen lasagna for dinner. They sat down on the couch, shoulder to shoulder, and started to read the journal together.
“Victoria should have been a private investigator,” James said. “She really did a lot of research into Samuel”s disappearance.”
“She was relentless,” Clara murmured, turning the brittle pages of the journal with a gentle touch. “It”s like she devoted herself to solving this mystery.”
“Can”t blame her,” James answered, his gaze transfixed on the pages. “Samuel meant something to her.”
“You know what I think?” Clara asked.
“What?”
“I think Victoria heard rumors about her uncle or cousin or whoever Samuel was to her and needed something to occupy her time. She was a very lonely woman.”
“Did you know her?” he asked.
“Not really. She was very reclusive. I don”t think she left her house all that often.”
“How does an affluent family manage to keep their entire family tree so secret?” James asked.
“Because they are rich and powerful,” Clara answered. “They have the means to keep their dirty little secrets hidden from the rest of the world.”
James chuckled a bit, rubbing his thumb over the weathered surface of the journal. “I guess money does have its perks,” he said, his tone laced with a tinge of bitterness that Clara was beginning to understand.
She turned her head to study him, her eyes taking in the way the glow from the fire danced on his features. “You’re not fond of that family, are you?” She asked, a subtle smile playing on her lips.
James chuckled again, this time with a sad shake of his head. “I”ve nothing against wealth. I”ve just seen too many good people lose themselves to it. And that family, I”m certain, caused my grandfather some serious heartache. I guess I feel like I need to avenge him in some way.”
“That”s assuming it was Samuel”s family that did something,” Clara said. “Maybe it was someone else. Maybe it was the girl”s family from New York.”
James looked surprised, then thoughtful. “You”re right. I”ve been so caught up in my grudge against the Wentworths, that I haven”t considered anyone else as a suspect.”
She squeezed his hand. “We”ll figure it out. I”m sure of it.”