Total pages in book: 196
Estimated words: 186555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 933(@200wpm)___ 746(@250wpm)___ 622(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 933(@200wpm)___ 746(@250wpm)___ 622(@300wpm)
One little tear had popped up into my eye at the memory of the days after she’d disappeared.
But just like every other time, I wiped it away and kept going.
My original plan for the day had been to go on a practice hike I’d seen online closer to Bayfield, the next nearest town, but the urge to make sure Amos was all right had seemed more important. Even Yuki had texted asking for an update. I didn’t have one other than what I’d overheard the day at the hospital, and that was what I’d shared.
I also had his phone, which had vibrated on and off until the power had eventually gone dead earlier.
I’d almost given up hope of him coming home while I was reading a book I’d picked up at the grocery store, when the sound of tires on gravel came in through the open window. I got up and spotted a Parks and Wildlife pickup truck followed by a hatchback.
A familiar figure jumped out of the truck, and out of the car, another long, male figure came out. They both rounded the other side of the car and, after a moment, helped a much smaller person out. They sandwiched him between them as they disappeared into the house, and I was pretty sure I heard them bickering as they did.
It was Amos.
Relief tickled me right in the chest.
I wanted to go ask him in person if he was fine, but… I was going to wait.
Well, unless Mr. Rhodes came over and kicked me out. At least I hadn’t totally unpacked my things yet. Just a few days ago, I’d gone to the laundromat and refilled my suitcase with clean clothes.
At the main house, every light inside seemed to get flipped on.
For about the tenth time, I wondered about a mom or wife figure. No one had come by the house. I’d had the windows open and hadn’t slept all that great; I would’ve heard someone on the driveway. Amos hadn’t asked me to call his mom either yesterday.
But hadn’t his dad mentioned something about her the first day?
Either way, Amos was lucky to have a dad and an uncle that would rush to the hospital to be with him; I hoped he knew that. Maybe his dad was strict… and maybe not the friendliest person on the planet, but he loved him. Loved him enough to blame me for some dumb shit. To genuinely worry about his safety.
I sniffled, feeling a little heartsick suddenly, and picked up my phone. It rang once before there was an answer.
“Ora! Any news?”
There was a reason why I loved Yuki—and her sister—as much as I did. They were good people with enormous hearts. I knew how busy she constantly was, and it didn’t stop her from always being a call or a text away.
“He just got back home. His uncle and his dad helped him in, but he was walking on his own.”
“Oh, good.” She made a sound before saying, “You said it was your neighbor, didn’t you?”
I snorted, the loneliness already ebbing away with just the sound of her voice. “Yes. The son of the guy renting me his garage apartment.”
“Ohhhh. My assistant ordered a crystal for him. I’m sending it to the PO box address you texted me the other day. Tell him to put it on his left side. I hope he gets better.”
See? The best heart.
“So, how are you doing? Are you settling in? How’s Colorado?”
“I’m okay. I’m settling in. It’s really nice out here. It feels good.”
There was definitely hope in her voice as she asked, “You’re happy then?”
Yuki, like my aunt and uncle, had seen me at my worst. I’d stayed with her for a month immediately after I was told my relationship was over. Partly because she lived down the street, but mostly because she really was one of my best friends. She’d been going through her own breakup at the time, and that month I’d stayed turned out to be one of the most productive periods of my life. And hers.
We’d written a whole album together in that time… in between listening to Alanis, Gloria, and Kelly so loud I was pretty sure we’d both lost some hearing.
But it had been worth it, obviously.
“Yeah. I got a job with a friend I used to have when I lived here.”
“Doing what?”
“Working at an outdoor outfitter.”
There was a pause on her end. “What’s that?”
“They sell camping and fishing equipment. Stuff like that.”
There was another pause, and then she asked slowly, “Um, Ora, no offense but—”
I groaned. “I already know what you’re going to say.”
Her crystal clear laugh reminded me a lot of her singing voice. It was beautiful. “What are you doing working there? What do you know about any of that? How long have I known you? Twelve years? The most outdoorsy thing you’ve ever done was… was hanging out in tents at festivals.”