We were in bed and I was still talking about the light in the attic. I woke Archie up because I had to talk about it. No way that was the moon shining through the windows. I knew Archie thought I was being crazy about this, but I saw the light—he didn’t.
“I don’t know,” I replied. “I hate the idea of having cameras installed in our house. I really hate it.”
“But then we could see what was going on.” He paused. “I don’t care for the idea either, but maybe just a Ring camera on the front and back door?”
I mused on the idea. “Okay, but anyone that’s sneaking into the house isn’t coming through the front door, or the back door, since we keep those locked, but I guess it’s a start. We need to check all the windows too, to make sure they are securely locked.”
“I’m on it,” he agreed. “Then we can see everything on our phones.”
Cameras tracking our every move. I absolutely detested the idea. I didn’t want cameras surrounding my home, as if I lived in a prison. But I saw his point, especially with all the odd things happening lately. I still hadn’t mentioned that I had a good idea of who was doing these things, but I didn’t want Archie involved if I could help it. If he installed cameras, then he would have so many more questions. Questions I didn’t want to answer.
“Archie, I changed my mind. No cameras. I can’t do it. Installing those in our home feels like my freedom is being taken away. Just check all the windows and put an extra deadlock on each door.”
Archie shrugged. “If that’s what you want.”
I kissed him and rolled over in bed, pulling the covers up to my chin. It wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to live here in peace with my wonderful husband and build a life together. My past had been buried for so many years, why were these reminders showing up now, why not sooner, after I left Listening Lark? Why couldn’t I be left in peace?
I should have expected it, of course; nothing stays buried forever. You could never run far enough away, never push the thoughts completely out of your mind, never be free of the events you wished never happened. The past always had a way of sneaking back when you least expected.
I was falling into sleep when another, more terrifying thought popped into my mind. What if it wasn’t Brother Jim, but Dream? Real fear snaked through me. The gifts were much more Dream’s style; he would play mind games with me. But how could it be him after the way everything ended between us? It was unlikely.
But not impossible.
TWENTY2023
Aimee
Robin held up a sage green blouse with a scalloped neckline. “What about this? I need some more professional looking tops, especially for meetings with parents and admin.”
“I like that a lot. It’s a good color on you. I’d get the fuchsia one too. That color would really pop with your dark hair.”
She held up the fuchsia top and nodded. “Yeah, this works. Let’s look for a dress too. Nothing in black. I have too many dark colors.”
“Okay,” I said, and we scoured the racks in the women’s clothing store. We were on a shopping trip to Elmville’s outlet mall; Poplin was too small for any clothing stores, unless you counted bib overalls from the feed store.
“Maybe this?” I held up a white eyelet dress.
“I like it,” she said, frowning. “But it’s a little too bohemian for me.”
I nodded, placing it back on the rack. I used to have a similar dress, years ago. I’d loved it. Its gauzy material fit me just right and it felt light against my skin on hot summer nights. One of my favorite clothing items from the past. Other memories from the past were not so fondly remembered.
Robin examined a deep purple sheath dress. “This?”
I gave her a thumbs up. “Definitely. Love the color.”
“Let’s go try them on,” she said. “Why don’t you try the white dress?”
I eyed the clothes rack. “Sure, why not?”
We ended up buying everything and, after a quick stop at the shoe store, we were ready for lunch. A Mexican restaurant close to the outlet mall proved the perfect choice for margaritas and chicken enchiladas.
“So good,” I said, eating another bite of enchilada.
“Margaritas are even better,” Robin replied, holding up her glass. We clinked our glasses together, although I only had water in mine. I had a bit of a headache and felt alcohol would make it worse. “Cheers!”
“And we got some great clothes.” I patted the bag beside me containing the white dress.
Robin took a long drink. “I’m so glad you moved here, Aimee. I have such a good time with you.”
“Same,” I said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a friend to go out with except Archie.”
“But that’s different. I have a couple of friends I hang out with from time to time, but I don’t know, you and I just get along so well, and a lot of them are married and some have kids now. It’s just different.”
“I agree.” I smiled at her. Years ago, I had a friend like Robin. Well, she didn’t turn out to be a particularly good friend, but for a time we were inseparable. I liked the closeness, the silliness, in friendship. But sometimes it came at a cost.
“Archie told me about the other night at our annual training yesterday. The light in the attic window?” Robin asked, her brown eyes wide. “So weird.”
“Yeah, it was, and Archie thinks it was just moonlight filtering through the other window, or something,” I said flatly. “Or that I imagined it.”
Why would he share that information with Robin?
“You two checked the whole house, but didn’t find anything?”
“Nothing, and we looked everywhere.”
“So scary since they haven’t found Angela’s killer yet.” Robin sighed. “What if that person is still lurking around town? I don’t want to scare you, but it’s a possibility.”
I took another drink. A distinct possibility, indeed. Another possibility was that my presence in Poplin may have brought this person to the town I now called home.
