A Fresh Start

by Grace, Trisha

  “I began doing that when the photos kept coming. I don’t know why I did that. Maybe I thought it’d help organize my thoughts or something.”

  “Why do you keep them?”

  “I used to tell Drew everything, but he was still in Afghanistan. I thought I’ll keep them and show it to him when he gets home. I thought that by then, I’d probably be laughing over how paranoid I got over a stupid prank.”

  Justin’s brows drew closer as he studied photos.

  Another soft sigh escaped her lips as she turned back to the box. “For a couple of months, the letters and the photos kept coming. I didn’t care much for letters, but the photographs were getting me worried. I didn’t know what to do. There wasn’t any return address on the letters; I had no clue who was sending these to me. So I did what I could. Each time the florist delivery came, I rejected the flowers.” She swallowed hard before continuing. “That was when I got these.”

  She took out a new stack of letters and handed them to Justin.

  His brows rose as he read them. “Hate mails?”

  She nodded. “I guess I pissed him off by refusing the flowers. But each time one of those letters came, another would come the next day, stating how sorry he was and to forgive him.” She gave him another bundle of letters. “Then, the letters and photos came daily. Sometimes, I got a few letters a day.”

  “You didn’t report this?”

  “I tried, but the police said they couldn’t do anything.” She twirled the ring on her finger. “So even though the letters kept coming and was getting crazier, there was nothing I could do.”

  “Crazier?”

  “Some of the letters criticize me for wearing something he didn’t like. Some of them calling me a whore for speaking to a particular guy, even if it was just some random guy on the street asking for directions.”

  She swallowed and pushed him the whole box.

  “Then the calls began. Sometimes it’d just be heavy breathing. Sometimes, it’d be this…this low, machine-like voice telling me how beautiful I looked in something I wore that day. Sometimes, it’d be to scream at me, telling me that I’m a bitch or a whore for speaking to guys.” She ran her hand through her hair and closed her eyes. “The calls were the worst,” she mumbled.

  “It started three years ago,” Justin said. “You couldn’t find this person for three years?”

  She pulled her legs up against her chest. “No. For over three years, I kept going through all this in my head. I tried thinking of suspects, I stared down everyone who walked past me, who smiled at me.”

  “You didn’t tell anyone?”

  She laughed dryly. “Everyone kept telling me that I was thinking too much, that I should simply enjoy the flowers I was getting.” She sighed. “I know it sounds silly, but I couldn’t go anywhere without thinking that someone was watching me.”

  Justin shook his head while he perused through some of the letters.

  “Cole was the only one who was supportive.”

  “He was the only one who believed you.”

  She nodded. “And after Cole and I got together, the frequency of the letters and the photos dropped. I thought the worst was over, but a few months later, they returned in stacks. Again, some letters telling me how beautiful I was, some stating that I’m a whore for betraying him.” She pulled out more letters from the box, showing Justin what she meant.

  “This guy has serious issues. You didn’t try reporting it again?”

  “Yes. But the police I spoke to refused to file a report. He said that none of the letters threatened my wellbeing.”

  “So the letters kept coming. This guy never showed up or anything.”

  “I wished he did. If he’d showed up in my face, then at least I’d know who I’m dealing with. But no, he never did, not in my face anyway.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She chewed on her lower lip, then pointed over to her luggage. “I always arrange my things in a certain way.”

  A corner of Justin’s lips snaked up. “I noticed.”

  “Same thing for my house. I always place my creams and all with their labels facing forward, and they’re arranged in the sequence that I’m supposed to use them.”

  His smile got wider, but he was quick to remove it.

  “I know. I know it’s weird, but it’s a habit. I like my things neat,” she explained. “So that day when I came home and noticed that the sequence of the jars was placed in the opposite direction with all their labels turned inwards, I knew someone touched it.” She let go of the ring and hugged her arms. “I went crazy, but Cole told me that I was dreaming, and that I probably forgot how I placed my things.”

  “That guy was in your house.”

  She nodded with absolution. “I don’t forget how I place my things. I never leave my things around. I’ve always arrange my things in a particular manner. Drew used to tease that I have some form of compulsive disorder. I know how I arrange my things, and someone switched it on purpose.”

  “And because it was something so trivial, no one else would think much about it except for you.”

  She nodded again, this time with tears in her eyes. “He was in my house. He touched my things. He could’ve been hiding somewhere inside. I couldn’t stand to stay there. I…” She closed her eyes as the words got choked in her throat. “Cole kept telling me that I was acting crazy. He told me to calm down and take the pills the psychiatrist gave me. I got so angry I yelled at him. I don’t even remember what I said. After that, I called a taxi, grabbed some clothes, and headed to the airport. I went back to my mom’s house and when she saw the state I was in, she called Drew.” She sniffed and turned away from Justin.

  He shifted closer to her and wrapped his arm over her shoulders. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “This is why you left with one luggage.”

  “Drew told me to make it look as if I was going on a holiday. He went home with me, stayed for a few days, and helped me prepare everything. He left a couple of days before and met me on my way here.”

  Justin looked into the box and took out a bottle of pills.

  “The psychiatrist prescribed that; it was supposed to reduce my anxiety. I didn’t like to take it; it made me useless. I couldn’t think properly, I couldn’t focus, and I felt faint whenever I took it.”

  He dropped the bottle back into the box. “And now?”

  “Now I feel like I can finally breathe again. I don’t have to look over my shoulders when I’m out. I don’t have to check my wardrobe or under my bed before I can sleep.”

  “Why are you still keeping these?”

  “Drew says to keep it in case I need to report it or something.”

  Justin dumped all the letters back into the box, closing the lid.

  “That’s why I can’t take my furniture here. That’s why I can’t sell off my house in New York. I don’t want to risk the person finding out where I am.”

  “That’s why you don’t have credit cards.”

  She nodded.

  “Was that why you left Cole? Because you wanted to leave everything behind?”

  “No. When I was back at my mom’s house, I realized I didn’t miss him. My need for him derived from the need of a support. I didn’t love him, I merely needed someone to stay with me so that I wasn’t afraid. I know how selfish it sounds, but I truly didn’t realize it until I was back at home, away from everything.”

  “That’s why you’re feeling so guilty,” he stated.

  Paige had to admit that was so.

  “That was why you were so frightened that night when we heard the noise from downstairs.”

  She nodded again.

  He pushed the box away from them. “Do you want to find out who did this?”

  She laughed softly. “You know a guy for this, too?” She stifled her laughter when she saw how serious Justin was. “I think Drew is working on it. He hadn’t said anything, but I know he won’t let things go like that.”

  “Okay,” he said. “Do yo
u miss your home in New York?”

  “Home, for me, has always been where Drew and my mom are. So, I don’t miss the house in New York, but I do miss them.”

  “You should be safe here. No one new can come into town without creating an uproar. But if anything, anything at all, makes you think that something is wrong, you call me and head over to the Seymours. Can you do that?”

  She nodded, stifling another burst of laughter.

  He tucked her hair back behind her ear, then ran his finger down the side of her cheeks, down along her jaw. “You’re safe now.”

  She smiled at him even as she raised her finger to her temple. Talking and thinking about the letters always gave her a headache.

  Justin gently took her hand, placing it down onto her lap. He kissed her lightly on her forehead and pulled her into his chest, his hand stroking her head and down her hair. “You’re safe now,” he repeated.

  She closed her eyes and smiled, her hand reaching up to hold his T-shirt.

  “Do you want me to stay and accompany you tonight?”

  She shook her head again. She didn’t know what she wanted. All she knew was that she didn’t want to leave the safety of his arms.

  “Do you want to stay at the Seymours?”

  She loved the low, musky voice he was speaking in; so soft, firm, and assuring.

  “No.”

  He didn’t ask her anything else. He held her tighter against his chest, leaning his cheek against her hair.

  “Tell me something, anything.” She simply wanted to keep hearing his voice.

  “You want to know how Mrs. Seymour got Mr. Seymour to wear that awful shirt?”

  She laughed and nodded in his chest. “Yeah.”

  Chapter Eight

  “Lunch is ready.”

  Justin pushed the door of the wardrobe to the side, sliding the door left and right, making sure it was working fine. “Your wardrobe is ready.”

  “Yay. My clothes finally have a place to go.” She grinned.

  “What are we having today?”

  “Four cheese pizza.”

  Though he didn’t like eating microwaved frozen meals, he had to admit the four cheese pizza was pretty good. He headed down the stairs with her and sat on the new hardwood floor. Over the past week, while waiting for her furniture, he had ripped off the old floorings and replaced them with the wooden panels.

  It was a lot of work, but he had managed to complete them before the furniture arrived.

  “Do you know how to cook?” Justin asked.

  She laughed softly as she pulled the box of pizza closer toward them. “Simple stuff like spaghetti and salad.”

  “Salad doesn’t count. And when you say spaghetti, are you referring to boiling the pasta then pouring in the ready-made sauce?”

  “No.” She rolled her eyes. “I can make the sauce, too.”

  He took a bite of the pizza and glanced at the boxes in the living room.

  “Are you sure I can’t help?” Her forehead puckered.

  He reached out and pressed his finger against her forehead. “You are helping.”

  “I’m just passing you the stuff you need; it doesn’t seem like much help.”

  He put down the slice of pizza and pulled her chair closer toward him. “I like you close by.”

  She bit down on her lower lip and turned away while her lips curled up.

  He grinned at her reaction. He wanted to continue teasing her, but her reaction always made him want to pull her in for a kiss.

  He pushed the thoughts from his head and changed the subject. “Do you want to go buy some plates and stuff for your kitchen and bathroom?”

  “Oh, I’m meeting Jane on Friday to go shopping. I’ll get the stuff then.”

  “In Cheyenne? You’re driving?”

  “Yeah. We’ve been practicing. Besides, my car can park itself.”

  He had been practicing with Paige over the weekends and she was getting better. But whenever it came to parking manually, she would get all panicky. “Your parking is fine. You just need to trust yourself.”

  “Do you want to get anything?”

  “Some real food?”

  “The stove will be here by Friday?”

  He nodded and said, “It’ll be here tomorrow.”

  “Okay.”

  “Really?”

  “You said you’ll be done with all these tomorrow. So when I get home on Friday with the real food, you won’t be here anymore.”

  “Chasing me out already? I remember someone still owes me five dinners for all this.” His thumb jerked toward the stack of boxes in the living room.

  “I remember. If I make the dinner, does it count as two since it takes more effort?”

  “No. And after looking at the amount of work, I’m thinking of raising it to 10.”

  “That’s ridiculous. We agreed on five.”

  “You don’t have much of a choice. Either we bump that up to 10, or you’ll have to do it on your own.”

  “That’s blackmail.”

  “Yes it is.”

  She laughed softly. “Fine, 10.” She took a bite of her pizza.

  “Besides, you still want the deck, right?”

  “Yeah. I almost forgot about that.”

  “So, when you get home on Friday, I’ll be here.” He picked up another slice of pizza and took a bite.

  “What?” Paige asked. “Feels like you have a question for me.”

  “Why did you have to hold two jobs in New York?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t like to waste my time. Going out to party at night feels like a waste of time to me. And I kept reading on the news about how veterans couldn’t find jobs.”

  “You’re worried about your brother.”

  She nodded slowly. “I thought I could set some money aside for Drew. Why?”

  “The photos you received; they chronicled your life. And it just seems like you didn’t do much.”

  “I know I have a boring life.”

  “Then when you were painting, you used to learn Italian while working. You have to make full use of all your time.”

  Paige arched a brow and waited.

  “I’m curious to know what do you do for fun?”

  “I read.”

  “That’s not fun. What do you do for fun outside the house?”

  Paige picked up her glass of water and took a sip.

  “After lunch, we’re clearing this, then I’m taking you out.”

  “What?” She set her glass down. “But we’re not done here. All the boxes—”

  “You have an issue with leaving things half done?” He leaned forward and narrowed his eyes at her.

  She shook her head. “Fine.” Again, she looked over at all the boxes leaning against the wall.

  Justin stretched his hand across the table and took her hand. “Leave it. They’ll still be here when we get back.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Outside, for some fun. Wear jeans.”

  “Okay,” she said, dragging out the second syllabus.

  “Don’t look so worried. I promise we’re not jumping out of a plane or anything major.”

  She shook her head, laughing.

  They finished up lunch and cleared up the place. After which, Justin went home for a quick bath and returned to pick Paige up.

  He got out of his car and went over to the passenger side, opening the door for her.

  She hurried over in her blue denim jeans and black T-shirt. “Am I dressed right?” she asked with a smile, looking down at her black and white sneakers.

  “Yeah.”

  She got into the car and asked when he got in, “Where are we going?”

  “Cheyenne.”

  “For?”

  “For fun.”

  She stared at him for a moment then turned away from him.

  Justin took at peek at Paige. He could understand why her brother was so protective of her.

  She was so trusting.

  He couldn’t im
agine how life in town would’ve become for her if she had ended up befriending the Bradleys and their allies first. She was nothing like them. She didn’t like to gossip, and she stood up against them when she thought they were going overboard.

  Then there were the letters.

  If he’d known, he would’ve chosen a better security system; the best that technology could offer.

  Even as he thought about that, his mind was made up. He was going to stay in town until she started work. At least by then, she wouldn’t have to stay in the house alone all day.

  “Lions Park,” Paige read the capitalized white words against the brown signboard.

  Justin grinned as they drove past the two tower like structure guarding the entrance into the park.

  She propped her elbow by the window and looked out at the trees on the green grass patch that was right beside the road.

  There weren’t many trees in Pine Bluffs and most of them were of the basic green that didn’t spark much interest. She gaze out at the various types of trees and the different shades of green. Amid the greens stood a few that glowed light orange.

  She thought about the last time she took a stroll through Central Park during the cherry blossom season. That was years ago, and she had only gone there because her mother was visiting and she knew her mom would enjoy the view.

  She got out of the car and looked around, placing her hand over her brows, shielding herself from the glare of the sun. She turned around when she heard Justin closing the driver side door. “Where are we going?”

  “Nowhere. We’re just going to walk around.”

  She pursed her lips and looked over at the park. She always had a destination and a point in going anywhere.

  She only shopped when she knew exactly what she wanted to get; she didn’t enjoy walking around the mall to look at everything.

  “It’ll be fun. Come on.” Justin stepped away from the car and stretched his hand toward her.

  She moved over and took his hand. “Have you been here?”

  “When I was much younger. The Seymours used to take me here once in a while.”

  There wasn’t many people in the park. A few couple sat on the few benches facing the lake, having a quiet lunch.