Page 3 of Autumn Secrets

“Here? Do you mean the library itself, or are you referring to Angel Falls?” He leaned casually against one of the bookshelves with his head angled and watched me intently. I could swear the temperature was rising with every second that ticked by. I felt like I was about to catch on fire. I swallowed and took a deep breath.

“Both. I kind of moved back.”

“Moved back? You’ve lived here before?”

I guess he didn’t know me then. “I was born here and now we’re back, my mum and I.” I shook my head at my poor attempt to offer him an explanation that actually made sense. “It’s a long story,” I added quietly, still blushing.

“Interesting,” he mumbled and raised an eyebrow. “Tell me, you wouldn’t happen to be the granddaughter of Elizabeth and Arthur Kinsley?”

I nodded. My grandparents’ business was named ‘Kinsley Antiques’ and it employed a lot of locals. My grandparents had been well known in the Angel Falls community. Okay, so maybe there was a slight possibility he had recognised my name after all.

“Well, it wasverynice meeting you, Aurora. I’m sure we’ll meet again soon.” His voice sounded wicked, like he knew something I didn’t. It made my heart skip a beat, or maybe two. He flashed me a disarming smile and nodded towards the book in my hand. “Enjoy your evening – that book definitely looks interesting.” He winked, before leaving me in the same spot he found me, glued to the floor and my mouth agape.

“Thanks, same to you,” I mumbled back, though I was quite sure he couldn’t hear me. I took a deep breath and looked down at the book in my trembling hands. I had no idea what was happening to me. All I knew was that it was because ofhim. Who was he?

I had to fight the urge to run after him and ask for his life story…or his phone number. I was beyond curious about this gorgeous guy who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. I shook my head and tried to bring myself back to reality. I wasnotgoing to run after him. What was I thinking?

I ran my hand across the book cover slowly, to distract myself and to try and help my pounding heart find a normal rhythm again. It took several attempts, before I could finally shake the strange encounter and concentrate on the book. My grandmother had always told me I had to be aware of the world around me and its many secrets. She told me to look for signs. If I didn’t look or believe, I would never find the magic or answers that were meant for someone like me.Someone like me. I smiled. She sure knew how to make me feel special.

Maybe this book was a sign of something? I read the title again.Fallen Angels and Demons. I giggled to myself. On second thought, maybe not. I put the book back on the shelf and shook my head. I was being silly. My phone rang in my pocket. It was Mum, probably wondering where I was. I answered and told her I was on my way home as I started to make my way out of the library. For a second I thought I heard the book fall to the ground again, but I ignored it as I made my way back down the stairs.

When I finally made it back to the manor, we spent the rest of the evening unpacking. We decided to sleep in the right wing on the second floor. Mum had already picked her old bedroom and I had picked the room down the end of the hallway with windows facing the lake. I also had my own terrace, which made me feel like a princess, living in her newfound kingdom. The room itself was very spacious, with big windows and high ceilings. It also had an old fireplace in one of the corners. The bedroom furniture had arrived a couple of days ago, so the only thing I had to do was arrange my bed and desk, then unpack a couple of boxes.

I put some music on and started organising my stuff. It was late, almost midnight, but I wasn’t tired at all. My thoughts kept wandering back to the gorgeous and mysterious Adrian, making butterflies swarm in my stomach, and making it impossible to sleep. I’d been on a few dates in my seventeen years, but often my lack of interest meant I never made it to a second date with anyone. Adrian, on the other hand, was on a totally different level. I’d never met anyone who could make my heart beat so fast or cause me to forget how to speak. I was curious and excited about the way he had made me feel. I definitely wanted more of whatever that was. I had never felt so alive.

That night I dreamed that my grandmother paid me a visit. She stood there with that book in her hand:Fallen Angels and Demons. She looked at me and shook her head.

“I told you to be aware of the signs, Aurora.”

I looked around, confused about where I was and why she was here. Where were we? I turned my gaze back to my grandmother, but she was already gone. The only thing left was the book on the ground.

Chapter 3

It took me a few seconds to realise where I was when I woke up the next morning. The sunlight was trying to find its way through the curtains, so I kicked off the bed covers and jumped up to put some clothes on. As soon as I was dressed, I pulled the curtains back to admire the view from my bedroom window. The sun was slowly climbing over the trees as I opened the terrace door to appreciate the colourful landscape outside. The crisp autumn breeze made me shiver and I had to wrap my cardigan tighter around me to keep the bitter wind away. It was so much colder out here than it had looked from inside. The lake was crystal clear, shimmering as it collected light from the morning sun. I walked to the edge of the terrace and peered over the railing, to see if I could catch a glimpse of my grandmother’s garden.

Even though it was only autumn, everything was pruned to perfection, ready and eagerly waiting for its winter sleep. Mr and Mrs Peters had truly kept their word when they promised to take care of it just as my grandmother had done. My grandmother and I had often spent hours out there; she’d taught me everything she knew about gardening and the different seasons. My grandmother had been like a walking encyclopedia. She kneweverything. From an early age, I could tell that autumn was her favourite time of year. She talked about it with so much love and admiration, and I learned very early to recognise and respect changes in nature.

My grandmother was a wonderful storyteller. I could sit and listen to her for hours. She often told me there were important stories I needed to hear, but not until I was old enough to appreciate and understand their meaning. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to hear those stories and too many of them were left untold.

“I miss you… I miss you both,” I whispered, as the cold wind swept over me. My eyes welled up as the icy air bit my wet cheeks. I turned and walked back inside again. It still hurt to think about them, even though it’s been almost six years.

Mum was already up, waltzing around the kitchen, when I came downstairs. The kitchen was bathed in the morning sun and I had the most beautiful view of the lake and forest from the main window. It looked like a perfect day for exploring.

“Good morning. Did you have a good sleep?” Mum asked cheerily as she put a plate of waffles in front of me.

“Morning! Thanks. Yes, I did. What about you? You seem to be in a really good mood this morning.”

“Yes, I slept really well too.” She smiled. “Anyway, I’ve been thinking, this is such a big house for just the two of us… Do you mind if we lock the door to the left wing on the second floor? We don’t really need another six rooms, right?”

“Sure, I don’t mind.” This house was like a small castle, and I was far too old to play hide-and-seek. I didn’t need to find new places to hide anymore.

“It will make things easier for us, with cleaning and everything.”

“Sounds good to me, Mum.”

Shortly after our breakfast, Mr and Mrs Peters came to say hello. “Look at you, Aurora,” Mrs Peters said as she gave me a hug. “All grown up. I can’t believe you are about to turn eighteen.”

Mr Peters nodded and also embraced me. “You’ve certainly grown up, Aurora. It’s so good to see you both.”

---