Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81831 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 409(@200wpm)___ 327(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Before Aaron, I couldn’t imagine Chase being as comfortable with another man as he is with his dad. Now, I can’t imagine him being this comfortable with anyone other than Aaron.
“He adores you,” I whisper after I’ve tucked Chase into the big bed in the ground floor bedroom.
Aaron smiles, a little sadly, I think. “Same. He’s such a good kid and I…” He trails off with a shake of his head. “I don’t know.”
“What?” I ask, mesmerized by the emotion on his face in the dimly lit room. If I didn’t know better, I’d think his heart was about to overflow, too. But it can’t be. He can’t understand the gratitude I feel, the hope so sweet it’s almost painful because I’ve lived without it for so long.
I know he cares about me, but Aaron has no idea what it feels like to have a marriage fail, to literally have the rug you count on to keep your feet planted on solid ground ripped out from under you.
I’m not even sure if he’s been in love before…
“When’s the last time you were in love?” I ask at the same moment he says, “It’s nothing.”
We laugh softly, nervously.
“The last time I was in love?” he echoes, his gaze caressing my face in a way that makes my chest ache. “I’m not sure. Things were getting serious with my girlfriend in Iowa a couple years ago, but when we broke up, I wasn’t as sad as I expected to be. I don’t think I ever let Madison in. Not really.”
“Well, her name was Madison,” I tease as his face drifts closer to mine.
He tilts his head to the right, making my lips tingle. “Nora made fun of that, too. But Madison couldn’t help it that her parents had a thing for stripper names. Her little sisters were Destiny and Chantal.”
“Poor things,” I murmur, so certain he’s going to kiss me that I’m a little startled when he asks, “Do you mind if I take the first shower?”
“Oh, um…no, of course. I wanted to pack up leftovers for lunch tomorrow anyway. I’ll jump in after you.”
“Okay.” He takes a step back. “I’ll be quick. Or as quick as I can be. The doctor gave me clearance to take the sling off in the shower, and I’m excited to get under that armpit with something other than a wet wipe.”
I smile. “That does sound exciting. And encouraging, right? That you’re able to take it off for a little while?”
His tone is unreadable as he says, “I think so,” and he turns away before I can get a good look at his face.
Still, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong and that his appointment didn’t go as well today as he’d hoped. But there’s nothing I can do about that. I can’t even offer a sympathetic ear until Aaron is ready to talk, so I concentrate on things I can control.
Namely, banishing any evil spirits that might be lingering in the witch house. I haven’t felt any creepy vibes yet, but when it comes to spooky things, I’m a “better safe than sorry” kind of girl.
Fetching the sage smudge stick Tessa bought at the hippy store, I read the directions under the stove light and then flip on the front burner. I grab a small plate from the cupboard to catch any ash that might fall and take a beat to close my eyes and focus my intentions.
“I invite light, peace, and harmony into this home,” I murmur, feeling silly, but doing my best to hold the thought in my mind as I begin to circle the space.
Just like my mom always said: anything worth doing is worth doing right. I’m not sure she’d agree with that in this case—she’s too old-school Catholic to be on board with new age stuff—but I swear I can feel a change in the air as I move past the ground floor bedroom. I waft a little smoke in there to keep Chase in good vibes, then climb the circular staircase to the upstairs.
As soon as I step onto the landing, where two overstuffed armchairs flank a bookcase, creating a reading nook I want to sink into with a thriller and a coffee this weekend, a shiver runs up the back of my neck.
I was only up here briefly before, during the house tour, but I didn’t feel any bad energy. In the daylight, it was delightful. The reading nook is cute and cozy, Aaron’s small room overlooking the forest in the backyard is decorated with cool vintage travel posters, and the tiny half bath is painted a fun shade of bright yellow.
But it’s different up here at night.
Colder.
Much colder…
And a little eerie.
Hunching deeper into my sweater, I waft smoke around the reading nook and move toward the bedroom, the air growing chillier with every step. By the time I reach the door, every hair on my body is standing on end. I start to shiver, making the sage tremble and the ribbon of smoke rising from its tip grow jagged.