Traced: Bryton & Roya (Oak Springs Book 4)

by Lucy Rinaldi

  Traced

  Oak Springs, 4

  Bryton & Roya.

  Copyright © 2017 Lucy Rinaldi

  The contents of this novel are pure fiction.

  All names, places and events are in no way associated with any persons dead or alive.

  Places and events are used for fictional purposes only.

  Any similarity's to real life events, places or persons are pure coincidence.

  All rights reserved.

  Table of Contents

  One 3

  Two 6

  Three 10

  Four 16

  Five 21

  Six 24

  Seven 27

  Eight 30

  Nine 33

  Ten 38

  Eleven 43

  Twelve 45

  Thirteen 49

  Fourteen 53

  Fifteen 56

  Sixteen 60

  Seventeen 64

  Epilogue 66

  Sneak Peek 68

  Available and Coming Soon Books By Lucy Rinaldi. 71

  About The Author. 73

  One

  Roya

  1366 Hillside.

  That's the house I need to find. It should be easy in a town this small, so where the hell is it?

  Turn left at the next roundabout. Keep going for 300 yards, and then turn right.

  I've heard the same damn thing three times. I keep following these directions and each time I get lost. How is it possible to get lost in such a small town?

  Fate it what brought me here. I didn't even know the place existed. But I have searched for the past five years to find the truth. Hopefully coming here will give me the answers I have been looking for for so long.

  “I'm hungry.” I've heard that a few times over the past half hour too.

  “I know, sweetheart. We'll be there soon.”

  “You keep saying that.”

  “Jaxson, please quit the attitude, I'm doing my best here.” The kick to the back of my seat tells me that my little man is less than happy right now. I can't say as I blame him, we've been driving for the past two days on and off, only stopping last night to sleep in at a roadside motel. I couldn't avoid it, Jaxson was so grumpy and tired. He needed to be in a bed. Not that he slept much, the motel was hardly fancy. I think I slept three hours, and right now, I'm barely holding it together.

  I just need to meet with the landlady of the little house I found online so she can give me the keys. After searching for so long and finally coming up with a good lead that may well turn out to be life altering, I did a quick search online to find a place to live. I found the website to this town's real estate agent, who told me they had nothing in my budget. My heart sank, but what did I really expect? I don't have much money.

  The kind woman on the other end of the line must've heard something in my sad, defeated tone and told me she could give me the name and number of an elderly lady who was looking to rent her home to a young family. She told me she shouldn't really be doing it, but she liked my attitude, and so put me in touch with Mrs. Clarke.

  Mrs. Clarke, from what she told me over the phone, is a seventy-four-year-old woman who lives in this picture perfect town of Oak Springs. She also has a little two-bed house on Hillside that once belonged to her daughter. Her daughter passed away two years ago and the place has been vacant ever since.

  Mrs. Clarke told me she had just renovated the place. She sent me pictures of the house and told me she'd love a family to live there. Of course, I had to lie and say that my husband would be following me up soon or I got the feeling she wouldn't have rented me the place.

  I'm not into lying, it never got me anywhere in the past other than alone. But Jaxson and I really need this new start. This is the place life has brought me, finally. And it's not like I'm going to lie about anything else. This is my chance to have the life I deserve. Or at least, the chance to give Jaxson the life he deserves. And each time we spoke, Mrs. Clarke seemed so interested in Jaxson and the things he likes to play with.

  It was so nice to hear her talking about my son as though he were a little person in his own right rather than just some child. She and I really hit it off over the phone, and I know we're going to have a good landlady and tenant relationship, even a friendship.

  Turn right and you have reached your destination.

  Oh, thank fuck for that.

  “Wow. Mommy, is this our new house?”

  “It is.” I smile to myself. Jaxson likes the look of the house, and that makes me very happy. I was a little worried he wouldn't. He hasn't like anywhere we've lived before now. “I need you to be a good boy while I talk to this nice lady, okay?”

  “Yes, mommy.”

  I climb out of my beat-up Ford car, my little boy follows excitedly. The little Beatle in the driveway must belong to Mrs. Clarke. I'm a little late. Okay, half an hour late. I just hope she won't hold it against me.

  I take Jaxson's hand and lead him to the front door. It's open a little so I knock and call out her name. A very short, gray-haired woman pulls the door open full with a huge smile on her spectacled face. “You must be Roya?” She grabs my hand and I nod. She pulls me into a quick hug. I can't help chuckling to myself, she's so cute. She reminds me of my nana. Gosh, I miss her so much right now. “And who is this little cutie?”

  “This is my son, Jaxson. Say hello to Mrs. Clarke, Jaxson.”

  “Hello.” He says quietly while wrapping his arms around my leg. Jaxson is quite shy with people he doesn't know. He reminds me a lot of me when I was a small child.

  “I have been so looking forward to meeting you, Jaxson.” He giggles while holding onto my leg tighter. “He is adorable. Well,” She smiles at me and waves me in. “This is your new place. If you'd like to look around before we sign?” I nod and she shows me around the newly decorated house.

  I must say, it's beautiful. The kitchen is completely top of the range, all mod cons. Built in refrigerator and freezer, cooker. There's a microwave and all the utensils I'll ever need. Next to the kitchen is the laundry room equipped with a washing machine and tumble dryer. I think I died and went to heaven, I've never had my own washing machine before!

  I had no idea it would be like this. The living room is beautiful, I've never seen anything like it. There's a beautiful black and gray love couch and matching sofa opposite. The wooden floor is covered with a teal colored thick rug, sitting next to the most amazing fire and mantel I have ever seen. White with carvings of baby cherubs down each leg. There's even gold dimmer switches on the wall and a chandelier on the ceiling. There's a dining table with six black high-back chairs around it that sits near the French doors at the back of the room. I had no idea I would ever find a house this beautiful and be able to afford it. I feel so blessed right now.

  Jaxson is looking out of the doors wide-eyed. Something has caught his little eye. I walk towards the doors and gasp. I cannot believe what I'm seeing.

  “Is it to your liking?”

  “Mrs. Clarke, do you do this?”

  “I did it for your little boy. I thought with him having to leave all of his toys behind that he might like to have some new things.” Jaxson didn't have much to leave behind. I never had enough money to buy him much. “My dear, if I've trodden on your toes, then I am so sorry.”

  Oh, the sweet woman.

  She's kitted out the garden – which isn't huge but plenty big enough for Jaxson to play in – with a swing and slide set, a bike, a sandpit, and even a little vegetable garden. This woman doesn't even know us yet she selflessly did this for my little boy. I've never met anyone who would be so kind.

  “This is all for me!?” I nod at my son as I
wipe the tear from my cheek. This elderly woman has really touched my heart with this.

  “Are you all right, dear?” She touches my arm gently.

  “I have no idea how to thank you.”

  “No thanks necessary. The smile on that little boys face is thanks enough.”

  “Can I go out there, mommy?” Jaxson looks at me with hopeful eyes.

  “Why don't you come take a look at your new room. I think your mother might be a little cross with me.” I narrow my eyes, why would I be cross with her? “I may have gone a little overboard. When you told me how you wouldn't be able to bring anything with you,” Which I couldn't because I had nothing. “I wanted to make sure the house was livable for you. That's why I bought a few bits for you. I bought you a new bed and some furniture for your room. But for this little boy,” She smiles while stroking Jaxson's face. And for the first time in... well, forever, my son smiles happily with the contact. Which is strange to see. My son has a fear of human contact from anyone but me. “I have made his room fit for a little prince.”

  My eyes widen when Jaxson slips his hand in Mrs. Clarke's and talks happily with her as she leads us upstairs to see his bedroom. Walking in there, I think my heart stopped for a second. She wasn't wrong, this room is fit for a little prince. The bed is a huge sports car shape, hell, everything in the room has cars on it. The carpet is blue, the rug is a red car shape. The curtains are blue with colored sports cars on them, the lamp shade is the same, as are the bed covers. There are boxes of toy cars, brand new and all for my little boy, who is now squealing happily while rushing around the room checking everything out all at once.

  Dear god, this must have cost her a fortune. How am I ever going to be able to repay her?

  I wipe the tears from my cheek. How can this woman have done all of this for a child she doesn't know?

  “You didn't have to do all of this, Mrs. Clarke”

  “Over the two weeks we've been speaking, I got the impression you were a girl who needed a break.” She got that right. “When I asked you about your son, you told me how special he is to you. How nothing in the world means more to you, and that you want him to have a better life because of how sick he's been throughout his short life. It really touched me.”

  She turns to me and takes my upper arms in her hands. “I lost my daughter not all that long ago, and I would give anything to have her back just for a moment. So I know how you feel, being so scared that you could lose him at any moment.

  “My grandson, Melanie's son, helped me do all of this. I'm not saying you can't provide for your son, but you are so young, and you have so much to deal with, what with his illness, and the hell he's finally free of. And everyone could use a little help every now and again.

  “My daughter was the kind of woman who would have given her last dime to a child if it meant that child could eat that day. I guess I taught her that. A few of the kids in this town came from very bad backgrounds. My daughter was a teacher and she made sure those children were safe.

  “I don't know what you're running from, or what you're running to,” How is she reading me like this? I'm very good at guarding my private life, I've been doing it since I was fifteen. “But I know there's no husband.” I open my mouth to protest but she shushes me. “I know that little boy doesn't have a father.”

  “I'm so sorry that I lied. I just really needed a place to live. Jaxson's illness has taken everything out of him for so long, and I needed to be somewhere calm for him so that he can fully recover.”

  “You don't have to explain to me, Roya. I don't know what you've been through in your short life, but if I can help you in any way, then, believe me, I will.”

  “You already have.”

  She pulls me into her arms and holds me for a moment. It's been a very long time since I had contact with another human being like this, the physical contact, other than my son of course. But her kindness has touched me in a way I have never known. Not only is she renting me this beautifully, fully furnished house for a meager one-hundred dollars a week – yes, that's exactly what I said, one-hundred dollars a week because she said she just wanted someone in the house that would take care of it, she doesn't need the money – but she's made my son so happy with what she's done. I will never be able to thank her for any of this.

  Mrs. Clarke, who told me to call her May, shows me around the rest of the house. My bedroom is amazing. I've never really had a bedroom of my own. Until now I've been sharing with my son in the one-bed apartment I was renting before I came here. But my bedroom here is huge, and I don't think I have ever seen a bed so big before.

  I have a closet, and a chest of drawers, a small bedside cabinet each side of the bed. Then there's the bathroom which has both a bath and a shower. The room is all white and so clean. Not a cockroach in sight. Yes, Jaxson will be able to get better here, I just know he will.

  Two

  Roya

  Jaxson and I settle in very well over the following week. May comes by every day to check on us, and to see if there's anything we need. I tell her each time that we're fine. For the first two days, she brought us dinner that she'd made for us. She's such a lovely woman, and Jaxson has become quite attached to her.

  She also drove us around town once or twice in order for me to get familiar with the place I now live. I must say, it wasn't hard to memorize the place. And Jaxson loves the waterfront. I take him a walk along it each evening before his bedtime.

  Of course, my eyes scan every person that I see as I always think to myself, “Could they be them?” I've yet to pluck up the courage to ask anyone if what I know could be true. All I own is a newspaper clipping with a picture of their faces, a print of their names and what happened all those years ago. And, of course, the name of this little town. I only hope they still live here.

  I managed to get Jaxson into a preschool program, which he started today. He sobbed his little heart out when I left him. I've never left him like that before. It killed me inside to walk away from him, and I sat in my car for ten minutes crying before I finally pulled away.

  He'll only be there for half a day, each day, four hours, but he's never really been away from me in his life. Apart from the times he was in the hospital and I had to work, but this is different. This is the first normal thing he's been able to do. And I wanted to make it seem like fun for him, but it seemed anything but to Jaxson.

  I'm now about to walk into the local boutique to ask if there's any work available. May pointed out that the young woman who owns the place might be looking for help. I'm nervous as hell. I don't have nice clothes, but I do have one decent skirt, white and flowing, and a tight white button down sleeveless shirt, with a matching pair of white sandals that I've put on today. Thank god it's summer.

  I've tied my long blonde hair up in a high ponytail. I don't own much makeup, but I have enough to make me look half decent.

  I look up at the sign above the door as I stand outside trying to pluck up the courage to go inside. Aimee's boutique.

  It's simple, I like it.

  With one last deep breath, I walk inside. There's a young brunette standing behind the counter. She's dressed in a pretty yellow sundress, her hair is braided and she's smiling to herself while swaying to the sound of the radio. I think she's maybe in her mid-twenties, but she has the look of someone a little younger.

  She looks up at me and smiles wider. “Hi, there. How can I help you?”

  Breathe, Roya. You need this job. If it's a no, maybe she'll know somewhere else in town that is hiring.

  I walk toward the counter, stopping right in front of it. God, she uses a lot of perfume. And it must be expensive, I can smell it really strongly. It's a nice smell, though, I must say.

  “Hi. My name is Roya Nixon,” She takes my outstretched hand and shakes it with a smile on her face. “I've just moved to town recently and I'm looking for a job. And I kind of wondered if you had anything going?” I ask hopefully.

  “I see. Well, first of all, it's nic
e to meet you, Roya. Your name is awesome!” She laughs like she's never heard my name before. For all, I know she hasn't. “Secondly: I'm Aimee. Welcome to my boutique. I am actually looking for help.” Yes!

  “As this is a small town it's not easy to find the help you need. At least it's hard to find decent seamstresses. I'm about to close up for lunch. If you'd like to join me in my office, I'd like to ask you a few questions.” I nod my head and wait for her to close up shop.

  As she closes up I notice it, a framed photograph behind her counter. Aimee with another woman, standing cheek to cheek, looking like they're partying. From the way they're dressed, it looks like a wedding or cocktail party. The woman in the picture with Aimee looks familiar, older than the newspaper clipping I have, but if Aimee has a picture surely that must mean that she not only knows her but that she still live here?

  “Ready?”

  “Sorry. I was just admiring your picture. Is that your mother?” I know the woman has three daughters. Could Aimee be one of them?

  “Oh, no,” She laughs. “That's my mother's best friend. She's like an aunt to me. We were at her daughter's wedding and someone took the picture. I hung it up in here because she's been my inspiration for a lot of things.” She chuckles.

  Okay, so she's an inspirational woman. I can see that. I like it.

  “Does she live close?”

  “Yes,” She nods, and my heart does a backflip into my ass. “On the other side of town. Anyway,” She holds her hand out, motioning me to walk this way.

  She leads me into her office at the back of the store, which itself is amazing. It's not huge but I can tell she does good business here. She has some amazing designs hanging up in the store itself. Plus she has rails and rails of sexy lingerie of all colors and styles. I can see myself working here. I'd be happy here. I love the old fashioned mirrors on the walls, and the stall type dressing rooms at the back of the shop, covered with a black curtain. It's authentic, rustic, old.