1. Caitlin
Chapter One
CAITLIN
Present Day
“So you’re driving down tomorrow?” Natalie asks, the signal cutting out slightly.
“Yes, that’s right. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you and your husband moving the bulky stuff in for me. It’s the first time I’ve heard of a removal company being early, not late. And by a whole day, too!” I move my cell from one ear to another so my hands are free to keep folding clothes.
Natalie laughs. “It was no problem. My family has lots of big strong men who enjoy competing with each other to see how much they can lift. Paige’s boyfriend Callan is a bona fide mountain man who carried your sofa in on his own. It was quite a sight.”
I smile. “I wish I had been there. Will I see you tomorrow to get the keys?”
“Yes, shall we meet at Dasher’s? It’s my favorite coffee place in town.
You want to avoid the Gingerbread Palace, the guy who runs it charges way too much.
I’ll text you the address. Lucas is taking us to see the famous pumpkin carving competition at the Town Hall.
In Snowflake everyone goes big for Halloween, including the adults.
There’s a prize for the best pumpkin and my daughter is convinced she’s going to win. ”
“That sounds like a nice contrast to city life. I’m looking forward to being in a small town and seeing how it compares....it’s kind of a fresh start. Your sister’s article on small town life really chimed with me, I’m so grateful for your offer.” I say.
Natalie’s voice cuts out again. “...that makes me happy. I watched some of those YouTube videos you sent. Your voice is incredible, Caitlin. I really think it’s serendipity that you emailed Paige about the article and asked about Snowflake Falls, and I had an apartment to rent!
It sounds like the start of a Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movie, doesn’t it? ”
I laugh. “It does. Hopefully I’ll get my happy ever after like Meg does!”
“Snowflake has a real reputation for bringing people together. Be careful what you wish for Caitlin, there are so many happy couples here! I can’t wait to meet you in person. See you tomorrow.”
I put my phone down on the table and stretch my arms out. I’ve done so much packing up over the last two weeks that my muscles are sore. The electricity in this place isn't great and the lights keep blinking on and off. I hope my new apartment has more up-to-date wiring.
Impulsive decisions are not my thing. My life is usually pretty organized and that’s the way I like it. So renting a place in Snowflake Falls and moving there on a whim is completely out of character. But I have a good reason. I need to get out of the city as fast as possible.
My ex-boyfriend Justin has taken me breaking up with him really badly. He said he was going to smash up my mother’s guitar, the most precious thing I own, but luckily I managed to lock the door on him before he got the chance.
Not that I didn’t have a good reason for finishing it; he’d been cheating with a girl from his work.
I’d had my suspicions for some time. Well, more than suspicions.
I’d had dreams that he was making out with her in front of me.
My grandma Doraline always used to say I should pay attention to my dreams and that us Moloneys had the second sight.
My Mom would shake her head and roll her eyes, but my Grandma would wink behind her back and mime looking into a crystal ball.
I didn’t need a crystal ball, I just unlocked his phone and had a look at his texts. I was done.
I do have a pack of tarot cards Grandma gave me, though.
And when I was deciding what to do next, I drew the Lovers.
I stared at the lovestruck man and woman on the card and hoped it meant I had a better chance of a good relationship in the future.
But then, as I was putting them away, the Tower card fell out of the pack and the lights blinked on and off.
Looking at the tower struck by lightning and the people plunging onto the rocks below felt like a more accurate depiction of my state of mind. Upheaval, change - a sudden crisis.
Great. Another crisis. I’ve had enough of those to last a lifetime.
Whatever my future holds, I’m done with living in the city.
My parents died last year in a fire at their house.
For weeks I couldn’t believe this was my life now.
That our tight little unit of three was now just me.
They hadn’t renewed their insurance, so there was nothing to inherit.
Everything went. All my Mom’s paintings, my childhood toys and books, even my Dad’s treasured marbles collection.
All my childhood memories - up in smoke.
I just had Mom’s guitar which she gave me on my 18th birthday, plus some photographs.
I’m an orphan at the age of thirty. Lucky me.
When something as momentous as suddenly losing your parents happens, you develop a certain kind of dark humor. Justin, to give him credit, was very attentive after my parents died until work and a new piece of ass took up his attention.
In the run up to Halloween, the schedule is packed with horror movies, but I can’t watch them.
I used to love them before. I guess because my life has turned into one, they don’t have the same appeal.
I wake up sweating and screaming in the night, after the same recurring vivid nightmare where I’m locked out of my parent’s house and banging on the door trying to wake them both up while smoke and flames pour from the windows.
And now there’s a new twist. Justin won’t take no for an answer.
He’s tried to break in here twice, waited for me on the street and told me I don’t have a choice about being with him.
That we’re destined to be together and it’s all arranged.
We’re fated, apparently. It’s scared me, because the look in his eyes is almost insane, and I want to go somewhere he won’t know where the hell I am, or be able to follow me.
Hence the sudden flit to Snowflake Falls. My Grandma lived in the nearby town of Newhope for a while and used to mention visiting Snowflake at Christmas. And then I read Paige’s article and what had been a pipe dream started to become a proper plan.
What if I just left? What was holding me in the city anyway?
Maybe small town life could help me escape, not just my current situation, but all the reminders of my parents.
Maybe it was being impulsive - for once - and maybe it was grief, but when Natalie mentioned during our email conversation that she had an apartment on Sleekton Drive to rent, I jumped at the chance.
I had a month’s notice on my apartment and I used the time to declutter, pack up and sort my life out.
So I did, and here I am, ready to move tomorrow.
The next day, after a long journey from the city, I’m driving past the mountain range with the sun setting and I’m certain this is the right choice.
Snowflake Falls is unbelievably cute, surrounded by trees in varying shades of soft yellow, russet red and rich brown.
The glow of the fading sun over the mountains bathes the houses in a mellow golden color that makes everything softer and prettier.
I pull up outside Dasher’s, the quaint coffee shop in the center of town.
Three old ladies sitting outside glance up as I lock my car and walk towards the door.
They all have a similar style; wild gray hair in corkscrew curls, crocheted bright-colored woolen hats and silver rings on every finger.
One of them turns her head to the side and peers at me like a bird investigating a particularly interesting worm.
“Hello there. New to Snowflake?” Her voice is surprisingly strong for such an old woman.
“That’s right. I’ve come today from the city. Pleased to meet you.” I’m not sure whether to hold out my hand so I simply smile and nod politely.
“I’m Elena Howl. These are my sisters Sybil and Beatrice. Who are you meeting?” She takes a long slurp from her cup of milky coffee.
I pause for a second. I guess someone must have told her to look out for me. Small towns. I guess I’ll get used to that, but it makes a change from the anonymity of the big city.
“I’m meeting Natalie Slate.” Something about the stares of the three women is unnerving. I’m not sure how much I want to stand here talking to them.
Three heads nod in unison. “A good woman, Natalie Slate. Also her husband. Good for the Falls. Works with nature.”
“Yes, I read her sister’s article about Snowflake Falls and that’s why I moved here.” I step up to open the door but Elena grabs my hand. Her grip is like a vice.
“You’re escaping something. Death in your past. But it’s okay. Your parents are proud of you. But you must be careful. Darkness is following you...” Her beady eyes are bright.
This is way too much, too soon. Suddenly it’s like I’ve walked on to a stage set for a horror movie, where the witchy, old soothsayers warn about peril in the future.
“Um… great. Nice to meet you, ladies.” I open the door and walk inside. That was awkward and incredibly weird.
Once I’m inside Natalie waves at me from a little table by the fireplace, and soon the cozy, twinkle light decorations and a cup of fantastic cocoa makes everything more normal again. We chat about my trip and where I’m from in the city before she nods towards the window.
“I saw you’ve encountered the notorious Howl sisters. Don’t pay them too much mind. I think they used to earn some cash at the travelling fair back in the day and maybe they’re still touting for business. And probably this time of year makes their witchiness rise to the surface.” She smiles.
“I don’t mind some witchy vibes. I read tarot cards sometimes, my grandma taught me. I’m just not used to it being so full on. I hope the whole town is a little less spooky?” I spoon a marshmallow into my mouth. They’re sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and taste delicious.