Page 13 of Home Between Homes

My plan to lighten up the mood had failed spectacularly.

The snow was now so heavy that the pine trees in the distance were just a glimmer on the horizon. If I believed the app, we were only half a mile from our destination, but my eyes told me it couldn’t be.

A small street of eight houses hidden at the foot of a cliff finally appeared in front of us. They were built against the rocks as if seeking shelter from the world. With the buildings and trees shielding us, it was easier to see a little further, but when I looked in the rearview mirror, all I could see was white.

“Your destination is on the right,” my phone screamed at me, and since I couldn’t see any parking spots thanks to the snow piling up everywhere, I just stopped where I was for lack of options.

Jack craned his neck toward the house. It was the only two-story building on the street, with a main entrance in the middle and a secondary one to the right that probably led to a granny flat. “I’ll try to be quick. Five minutes tops,” Jack said, opening his door. The wind threw a few snowflakes inside, but he was quick enough to keep the impact low. He pulled his shoulders up to protect his neck as he hurried to the back but didn’t think to close his jacket. I pushed a small lever on the left side of the steering wheel to open the trunk and watched through the rearview mirror as he took out eight of the twenty small plastic bags he had put in there earlier.

Even if he took twice as many bags, it would take him at least two trips to get everything in. I didn’t want to go out in the cold, but...If I helped him carry the stuff, it would all be done in one trip.

I sighed. “Here goes nothing,” I said to myself and yanked the door open.

When I stepped out of the car, it was like a punch in the gut. Rising gusts of wind blew around the snow, hitting me square in the face. I squinted my eyes and pulled my beanie down.

“What are you doing?” Jack had to yell so I could hear him over the howling.

“I’m helping. No discussion.”

The stairsto the secondary apartment were so small I had to squeeze my shoulders to avoid getting stuck. It was steep, andthe flowery wallpaper didn’t distract me from the musty smell. I lifted the three plastic bags in my right hand so they wouldn’t get caught on the railing. Jack led the way, and our footsteps must have announced our arrival because an old but warm voice croaked through the house. “Is that you, Jack?”

“Yes, Mrs. Candice.”

“My dear, you shouldn’t have bothered to come out in this weather. It’s dangerous! Take it from an old lady. I’ve seen my share of blizzards. Lots of people have frozen to death because they weren’t smart enough to stay inside. You see…”

I pushed my head closer to the wall to get a look at her, but I only caught a glimpse of the gray back of her head as she hurried into her apartment.

Jack gave me a quick apologetic grimace and followed her patiently, as did I.

Once I made it through the narrow door, I was completely captivated by the view of the valley she had from the enormous window opposite her entrance. Her living room had some bookshelves to the left, an inviting green couch under the windows, and an open kitchen to the right, where Mrs. Candice was already pulling two cups out of her cupboard.

The second thing that caught my eye was a well-fed gray British shorthair lounging on her couch. Too well fed if you ask a vet. As we walked in, the cat was watching our every move—especially mine—to make sure no one did anything suspicious.

“…and that’s how we lost William. Poor guy. Can I offer you some Earl Grey? It’s all I have left.” She was holding up a tea bag to Jack when her eyes fell on me. “Oh dear,I was so engrossed I didn’t even notice you!” She raised her hands, the tea bag fluttering around.

“This is Noah.” Jack nodded at me as he put the plastic bags on her counter. “He was so nice to come with me.”

“Well, aren’t you a doll?” Her eyes twinkled at me and then back at Jack. “Earl Grey?”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Candice. We’d love to stay for tea, but it’s getting worse out there by the minute,” Jack said.

“Then why don’t you stay here until the storm dies down?”

Jack laughed it off as a joke, but since she didn’t join in, I wasn’t sure she wasn’t serious.

She shrugged and put the lonely tea bag back in the otherwise empty box. Her cat finally got up, making the floor vibrate as he leaped off the couch. He walked around my feet, still deciding if I was trustworthy. But he let me know his decision by brushing his butt and tail against my ankles before he strutted over to Jack.

“I didn’t get any Brussels sprouts,” Jack said as he started unpacking the bags for Mrs. Candice. “And I got a different brand for Romeo.” He pulled out a bag of cat food that was labeled‘ULTRA FAT CAT.’

Fortunately, I stifled a laugh because Mrs. Candice had her eyes on me.

She wiped her hands on her apron and came over to inspect me. “You’re new in town, aren’t you? I haven’t seen you before.”

“Correct, ma’am. I’m staying with the McCormacs right now, watching Maggie while they’re in Aruba.”

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m sorry.Whereare you staying?”

“The McCormac’s house,” I said, raising my voice slightly.

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