Page 47 of Hensley Manor
I clicked on the search engine and typed inEvergreen Valley.Then, after taking a calming breath, I hitsearch.Some school in California popped up, which I knew wasn’t anywhere near Ian’s manor. The snowy, charming town was nowhere in the United States that I could find.
“I don’t understand.” I pressed my thumb and forefinger into the middle of my brow, squeezing my eyes shut.
I then searched for Hensley Manor. Although many results came back, none of them were what I was looking for.
The real Hensley Manor didn’t exist.
***
Five days later, I sat in my car with the engine running and stared at the house in front of me.
The last time I visited my aunt and uncle had been after the funeral when we’d had to sort through my parent’s belongings and sell the house. Aunt Christy had taken a lot of Mom’s things, not having the heart to part with them. I had gathered what I wanted; a few of Dad’s suits and his collection of watches, as well as Mom’s books and some dishes. Most of Bella’s things had been donated, but I had kept her favorite locket necklace.
I talked to my aunt and uncle occasionally over the phone, but we didn’t see each other.
What if they don’t want me here?I thought as my car idled in their driveway.Maybe I should leave.
The front door opened, and Aunt Christy stepped onto the porch. She looked just like my mom; brown curly hair, a petite build, and a heart-shaped face.
I blew out a breath, not sure I was ready to do this. But if not now, then when?
Ian might not be real…but what I learned from him was. I didn’t want to be miserable anymore. I didn’t want to isolate myself from people who loved me. People who were also hurting.
“Cole?” Aunt Christy asked, as I got out of the car. “Oh my god!” She ran toward me, down the steps and along the rock sidewalk. Her arms flung around me, and I hesitantly returned the hold. “It’s so good to see you!”
“Yeah,” I managed to croak out. “It is.”
She pulled back and examined my face. I knew what she was going to say; that I looked so much like my dad. She didn’t, though. Instead, she looped her arm through mine and walked with me to the house. “I don’t know the reason, but I’m so happy you’re here. Trey is going to flip.”
Sure enough, right when we entered the house, Uncle Trey looked over from his recliner and gaped. “Well, look what the devil drug in!” He stood up, and in four big strides, he was pulling me in for a bear hug. “Good to see you, boy. It’s been too long.” He hugged me tighter. “Way too long.”
Aunt Christy started a pot of coffee, and I sat on a barstool in the kitchen. The machine whirred as it began to brew.
“How have you been?” she asked. Her eyes glistened as she looked at me.
I felt horribly guilty for staying away for so long.
“I’ve been good,” I said. “Mostly just working.”
“Where do you work now?”
I told her I worked as an accountant and put on a fake smile when she asked if I enjoyed it. Because I didn’t. Once the coffee was brewed, she poured us each a cup and brought over a plate of frosted sugar cookies. The cookies reminded me of Ian.
Fuck, everything reminded me of Ian.
A guy who was only real in my mind.
“Oh, I know that look,” Aunt Christy said.
“What look?” I sipped my coffee and avoided meeting her gaze. She was so much like my mom; too observant and possessed a built-in bullshit detector.
“You having boy troubles, sweet boy?”
I snorted a laugh. “What makes you ask that?”
“When you were in the twelfth grade, you started dating that one boy. Oh, what was his name? Jason? No, Jack.”
“Brent,” I said. “Jack was the name of his dog… which I liked better than him anyway.”
