Page 7 of Love's Bloom
“Thanks again for your willingness to move out of the apartment quickly,” said Nettie. “Jason and I can’t wait to move in. Come in. The coffee is on me.”
Misty saw Taylor writing at a table in the corner, waved, and then stood at the counter, waiting for her coffee. She was intent on getting back to the cabin to finish getting established in her home.
###
On the walk back home, she enjoyed the sights and sounds of the townspeople preparing for another summer day. Shopkeepers were opening, watering pots of flowers outside their doors or mounting American flags next to their entrances. It was like the setting of a Hallmark movie. She loved it. When she was back at school, she wouldn’t be able to take advantage of early morning walks like this, and she wanted to treasure each one.
Hazel and she were excited to be working at the same school. Though they were very different and from extremely different backgrounds, they got along well. It was important to Misty to foster the friendship of someone more her age than her sister’s.
When she got to her small riverside neighborhood, Misty stood for a moment, looking at the cabins. Some of the larger original ones had log exteriors. Hers, a smaller, newer cabin, had a gray clapboard exterior. All of them, she knew, were modern and up-to-date inside.
JoEllen Daniels appeared from a cabin a distance from hers, climbed into her car, and drove away. Having JoEllen as a neighbor was the only drawback to the neighborhood. JoEllen was a woman desperate to find a man and would do anything to get her way.
She glanced at Hazel’s cabin, two doors down from hers. All was quiet.
Misty unlocked her front door and entered the house. She could see most of her space from the entrance with one glance. Her gaze rested on the plant by the sliding glass door, and she was touched once more by David’s gesture.
She walked into the kitchen and stared at the box on the floor. How in the world had Vince managed to write inside one of the books? She must have said or done something to set him off. But then, she never knew what would make him angry.
Misty sighed and made a list of the groceries and other items she needed for the cabin. Crystal had given her furniture, dishes, and some kitchenware from the apartment. Misty had also kept some things that had been shipped to her from the apartment she’d shared with another woman in Florida. But now, she wanted a fresh look. A trip to Target in Concord might be in order.
She’d finished making her bed when she heard someone at the front door. She went to answer it and found Hazel standing there.
“Hi, come in,” Misty said. “Can I get you a cup of coffee or tea?’
“Coffee would be lovely,” said Hazel, sounding like a refined Southern lady.
Hazel followed her into the kitchen and glanced around. “You’ve done a wonderful job of getting unpacked and settled.”
“I’m going to Concord to pick up some extra things I need. Want to come?” Misty asked, handing Hazel a cup of coffee with a dash of cream like she usually had.
“Sure,” said Hazel. “I can use some decorative items. I’m glad we found these cabins. They’re fabulous.”
“It’s a great location,” said Misty. She stared at the box she dreaded to go through.
Hazel noticed and set down her coffee cup. “We might as well do it.”
“Okay.” Misty knelt on the floor next to the box and handed the books to Hazel, who checked to make sure they were clear of any writing.
They were down to the last two when Hazel said, “Here’s one.” She held up the book to show her. “CUNT” was written there.
Feeling sick to her stomach, Misty said, “Please put it in the rubbish box over there.” She pointed to a large cardboard box filled with paper and trash.
“Okay, last one,” said Hazel, her voice shaking. “Who in the world would do this kind of thing?” She opened the book. “This one is clear.”
Misty heaved a sigh of relief and got to her feet. “I’m glad that’s over. Thank you, Hazel. I didn’t want to be alone to do this. It’s so creepy it makes my skin crawl.”
“Yeah, he’s one sick dude,” said Hazel.
“I know it can’t be anyone else because I had to remove books from my classroom so they could paint the room. They were sitting in a box in my apartment. We got into a fight, and he dumped the books out of the box onto the floor. He must’ve gone back and written in a couple of them before I boxed them up again.”
Hazel gave her an encouraging look. “Let’s forget about him and go shopping. I’m feeling creative.”
Misty’s tension disappeared, relieved the drama was over.
CHAPTER THREE
Later that day, Misty looked at her purchases with satisfaction. Each additional decorative touch made the space inside the cabin even more attractive. She added quilted pillows in a rainbow of colors to the off-white couch and to the two overstuffed green chairs by the fireplace. She’d bought two small side tables for each chair and found a matching coffee table to place in front of the couch, all for sale at a furniture store Hazel wanted to show her. Best of all, she’d found a painting to go over the fireplace mantel. One that reminded her of David’s family park, featuring flowers and a stone bench.
