by Kimi Flores
Table of Contents
Seasons of CHANGE
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
The End
About the Author
Text copyright ©2017 by the Author.
This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Melanie Shawn. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Hope Falls remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Melanie Shawn, or their affiliates or licensors.
For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds
Seasons of CHANGE
A Hope Falls novella
By Kimi Flores
Acknowledgements
I’d like to first thank Melanie and Shawna for giving me the privilege of contributing to their Hope Falls kindle world. I’m a fan of this series and beyond honored to be part of it.
Special thanks to—
Tbird London at It’s Your Story Content Editing for your patience and taking so much time to work with me, pointing out the holes in my stories and sparking ideas whenever I get stuck. I couldn’t do this without you.
Megan Hand for catching my backward sentences, incorrect tense, grammatical errors and reminding me to always keep my characters’ voices realistic.
KMS Editing for squeezing me into your schedule.
Wildcat Dezigns, thank you for creating another beautiful cover for me.
Author Mayra Statham for all your engouement and for reminding me to stop overthinking things.
Last but definitely not least, thank you to my family who often get stuck with cold meals, no clean clothes, and a messy house in order for me to write and publish my stories.
My husband and sons are my happily ever after.
Chapter One
Tess
A few scattered raindrops sprinkled my windshield as I pulled up to the curb. The closer I got, apprehension gnawed at me and I questioned myself for the hundredth time since I’d left my townhouse yesterday. I counted backwards to calm my nerves as I focused on the tops of the mature oak trees that lined the street. A gentle wind blew, causing their leaves to rustle.
Resolute in my decision, I switched off my car’s engine and turned my focus toward my new home and a sense of calm came over me. The two-story craftsman bungalow looked just as I’d remembered, except the once faded exterior seemed to have recently received a new coat of light and dark grey paint.
I’d purchased this home on a whim, which was why doubt had been at the forefront of my thoughts. I’d never done anything so ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ before, but I’d lost myself so many years ago and needed something to reconnect to. The sad part was that I hadn’t even realized how misguided I’d been until the rug was ripped out from under me, and I was forced to take notice of what I had sacrificed to get there.
Several of my former co-worker friends voiced their concerns, calling this purchase my midlife crisis. It was easy for them to judge my actions when they hadn’t spent their entire adult lives pushing everything and everyone aside in order to further their careers, like I’d done.
Unlike me, those same friends had spouses to rely on for moral support after our entire department had been dismantled and we had been sent packing. I’d been so distraught when I learned that my dedication hadn’t been worth a damn. All the weekends, holidays, overtime had been for nothing. There wasn't a thing I could’ve done to avoid being kicked to the curb. So much for the loyalty I thought the company had for me. It was a wakeup call the day I’d found out how replaceable I was.
God, I didn’t even have any other friends outside of work to confide in, who would understand my feeling of being dropped into the abyss. Thankfully, I did still have my sister, but she was busy taking care of her small children and husband.
I glanced down at my phone and opened the moving company's app to see how far the truck was behind me. Thankfully, I still had enough time to get inside, open everything and make sure the floor plan I’d envisioned would still work.
Letting out a deep sigh, I grabbed my purse and got out of the car. A chilly breeze pricked my skin through the tiny gaps in my sweater, causing me to quicken my steps. Dark clouds covered the sky, threatening to rain, but as usual, I’d planned ahead and had all my furniture wrapped in plastic before it had been loaded into the truck.
Kicking several pine cones aside, I made a beeline up the walkway and onto the porch. As I stood there, I was hit hard with nostalgia. Minus the porch swing that had always been there, it was exactly as I remembered.
I reached up on my tiptoes and ran my fingers over the metal numbers that displayed my new address and suddenly everything felt so surreal.
A mixture of doubt and excitement filled my belly at the same time, making me slightly queasy. I was moving into a home that held so many childhood memories at a time when I should’ve been clutching onto every dollar in my savings account.
With a hand on my uneasy stomach, I reminded myself that most of my investment in this house had come from the equity I’d made on my townhome. But still, I was currently unemployed and, even with my healthy severance pay, I had no business spending so much money.
Letting out a calming breath, I pushed those thoughts to the side for the moment, telling myself that everything would work out.
The door creaked when I turned the unlocked handle and pushed it open. My real estate agents, Ben and Lauren Stevens, had told me ahead of time that they’d leave it open for me today.
The second I stepped into the living room, the distinct lemony scent of Murphy’s Oil soap filled my lungs. As I took in the artisan interior, I was flooded with even more memories. My sister and I had some of the best times of our lives right here. From when we were little girls until we were teens, our parents had rented this house from the end of June to the beginning of August. We’d look forward to coming back, hanging out in town with our ‘Hope Falls’ friends and renting boats and jet skis out on the lake with our parents. Life had been so much simpler as a teenager, when the only agenda was to hang out with our friends all day and dream about our futures at night.
I wrapped my arms around myself and took a moment to soak it all in as I stared at the monstrous brick fireplace surrounded by built-in shelves and cabinets. Since we’d only been here when the temperature outside was blazing hot, we’d never had a chance to use it, but I’d always wondered what a chilly night in front of a roaring fire would be like here. Now, I had every intention of lighting that bad boy and curling up with a good book the first chance I had.
I made my way to the windows and opened each one to let in the fresh air. As I inhaled the crisp breeze, my mind was filled with thoughts of when times had been easy and I’d thought I understood what I wanted. I swiped my fingers across the window ledge, expecting to find a line of dust, and was surprised when nothing was left behind, just as my mom use to leave it.
Looking down at the shiny wood floors, I realized that someone had scrubbed the place down since I’d done the initial walk-through and the refreshing smell in the air made more sense. If the rest of the place was this clean, I could take that off my long to-do list.
With the front door and windows open, I passed the staircase and wandered into the kitchen, opening the windows and back door. A large meat, cheese, cracker and wine basket sat on top of the island, along with a ‘Welcome Home’ note
from my realtors. I tapped each item and said aloud, “It looks like I can mark dinner off the to-do list, too.” Next to the basket laid a set of keys attached to a keyring that read: Home Sweet Home.
My home. Not the family summer house, but the place that would guide me in my new ventures. A shiver of excitement ran down my spine at the revelation.
Placing my palm on the olive-green tiled countertop, I pictured Mom on the other side, preparing her potato salad, coleslaw, and homemade lemonade, as my father barbecued in the backyard.
When I’d first decided to purchase this home a month ago, I knew coming back would stir up some memories, but I was surprised at how comforting they were.
Knowing this house was mine now lifted my spirits and gave me the courage to take a risk and see what was out there for me.
A notification pinged on my cell, taking me out of my introspection, and I saw that the moving truck was getting closer so I made my way back outside.
Zipping to the car, I grabbed a heavier sweater from the backseat, then stood on the sidewalk, peeking down the street for the truck. From the corner of my eye, I saw a guy stepping off the front porch next door. I tried not to stare, but I knew I would feel awkward if he came toward me. I was out of practice with making small talk, especially with a good-looking guy like him. My previous neighbors and I never interacted. We were working professionals who gave each other a courtesy nod if we ever passed each other in the hallway.
It had also been a long time since I’d talked to any guys outside of work, let alone a handsome one. By the friendly look on his face as he approached, I could tell he was excited to meet the newest Hope Falls resident. I just hoped his optimistic demeanor would rub off on me and push aside my unexpected insecurity.
Sticking his hand out in greeting, he said, “Hi, I’m Elliott. I assume you're my new neighbor?” His bright blue eyes lit with expectancy as he waited for my response.
Rattled first by his appearance, then his enthusiasm, I most certainly wasn’t prepared for the burst of desire that came from his baritone voice. I took a moment to appreciate the small dip in his chin that was right at my eye level. While I gathered my thoughts and contained those forgotten feelings, my eyes traced the scruff along his jawline and his full lips.
Of course I had to move next to an attractive guy who seemed to be in his late thirties, early forties, just like me, and checked off every one of my physical ‘must haves’ when picking a man.
Until recently, my appearance had been professional and classy. My work clothes were all I’d splurge on. After losing my job, I fell into a comfier, practical style, but my gut warned me I was going to be spending more time making myself presentable anytime I had to step outside.
With a tilt to my head, I realized how long I’d taken to respond. “Looks that way.” I shook his callused, outstretched hand. “I’m Tess.”
“It’s nice to finally meet the person who outbid me on this place.” He jerked his head toward my front door, and I snatched my hand out of his.
“Oh, so that was you?” It only took a second for my sudden irritation to show as I crossed my arms over my chest. Maybe my first impression of him had been wrong and he was more like the cutthroat businessmen I’d worked with. Guys like that thought they were above the rules.
While I might not be very good at chitchat, I was confident talking business. “You know I ended up paying ten-thousand more than my original offer because of you.”
He rocked back on his heels, taken aback by my outburst. “Yeah, sorry about that.” Seeming uneasy, he rubbed the back of his neck. “I really wanted this place, but when your real estate agent contacted me and said this was your childhood home and you weren’t backing down, I decided to let you have it.”
I raised an indignant eyebrow and didn’t even try to mask the aggravation in my tone. “Let me have it?” What a jackass.
“Well, you know what I mean.” He shrugged his shoulders. “One thing was confusing, though. Gus owned this house most of his life before he passed, so how was it your childhood home? Were you related?” He widened his stance and placed his hands on his hips, waiting for my answer.
My defenses went up right away. I thought he’d come here to introduce himself, but it looked more like he wanted to size me up to see how hard he would need to work to compel me into selling to him. Luckily, I was a pro at fighting guys like him who thought they could manipulate anything to their benefit if negotiation failed. That was the one thing I was glad I didn't have to deal with anymore, yet here it was at my doorstep.
“No, not related.” I kept my voice even. “But this is my childhood home since my family and I spent almost every summer here. And I have no intention of leaving anytime soon.”
Relaxing, even though the tension between us was clear to me, he dropped his hands. The softness of his eyes offered acceptance. “That makes sense, I remember him telling me about renting it out when he traveled during the summer.”
Gus and my father had met decades ago at an annual teacher's conference and had been friends until Gus passed. From what my father had said, we were the only people he’d rented his house to, which in my mind validated this as my childhood home.
Elliott looked past my shoulder, then at my car. “Are you here on your own?” It was a known fact that people in small towns were up in everyone’s business, but this guy wasn’t even trying to disguise his curiosity. Or was he still trying to size me up? Maybe see if I’m just a helpless woman who has no idea what she’s gotten herself into? I wouldn’t let him see that I’d wondered that same thing quite a few times since I first signed the paperwork.
“Yep. Just me,” I answered, stealing another peek down the street. Why was the truck taking so long?
He seemed deep in thought as he rubbed his finger across his full bottom lip. “I helped Gus work on several projects the last few years and know the house pretty well. Let me know if you have any questions.”
Distrusting his intentions, I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “Sure thing.”
He pointed, calling my attention to the side of the house. “That breaker box can be a bit tricky at times—”
“Yeah, I already heard about it after the home inspection. Someone’s scheduled to come out and replace it. I’m sure I’ll manage in the meantime.” I gave him a sarcastic, tight smile.
It was his turn to raise an eyebrow at my quick, snarky reply. I probably shouldn’t have been so rude, but not only was I tired after driving since yesterday, only taking a few hours to rest, but I needed to stand on my own two feet no matter how unsure I was feeling.
Just as he was about to say something else, a beautiful, much younger woman who must’ve been in her mid-to-late twenties stepped out of his house and down the steps. Her long brown hair flowed effortlessly in the wind as she headed our way. I would’ve almost guessed they were siblings until she leaned affectionately into him, kissed his cheek and handed him a steaming cup of coffee.
Her striking blue eyes reminded me of a clear sky and she smiled as she practically floated toward us to introduce herself. “Hi, I’m Cassandra.”
I felt the corners of my mouth rise slightly, offering what I hoped was a friendly introduction. “Tess.” I pointed to my front door. “I’m just moving in.”
“Oh, you’re our new neighbor?” She looked back and forth between Elliott and me, and her young features suddenly changed as though she was a wise old soul who instinctively knew something I couldn't see. “Wow, I didn’t expect someone so pretty to move in.”
The gentleness in her voice gave me cause to want to accept her kindness at face value. I wasn’t prepared for a compliment from a woman who didn’t want to see what I could do for her in return. My position in the company had offered me many opportunities, but an honest friendship with female coworkers were difficult to come by.
I caught Elliott narrowing his eyes at Casandra, almost telling her silently to back off. The last thing I needed was to get in the middle of this couple.
With a pout on her lips, I heard her whisper to Elliott, “You’re no fun.” Then she whipped around to me and asked expectantly, “I’m heading to the market, do you need anything?”
“Yeah. Everything,” I snickered. “But I’ll go myself once I’ve settled in.” I suddenly got a whiff of Elliott’s coffee as he took a sip. I almost groaned, feeling a strong need for some of my own caffeine, and I tried to remember if I’d labeled the box I’d packed my coffeemaker in. It didn’t matter, I would open every box in the house until I found it.
Cassandra rubbed her hands together, pulling me out of my thoughts. “I know a thing or two about decorating if you need any help.”
Elliot beamed with obvious pride. “Cass stages homes for open houses. She has an incredible eye for detail.”
She leaned in and tapped his chest. “And you’re not the least bit biased, huh?” Their playful, easy interaction reminded me of my younger self, before I’d become so serious about everything in my life. Maybe it wouldn’t be so terrible to drop my guard and let this couple in. Who knew, spending time with them might even help me find the girl who’d disappeared so long ago.
Cassandra turned to me again. “I really would love to help if you’d like.”
“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.” I relaxed and actually began to consider her offer when I spotted the large truck finally rolling down the street. I’d need to take baby steps with this whole neighborly business and decided I’d rather do this part on my own. “But for now, it looks like I’ll be busy for a while getting everything situated and unpacking boxes.”
“Okay, well don’t be shy.” After kissing Elliott on the cheek again, Cassandra waved goodbye and headed toward a shiny new SUV. Before she pulled out, she rolled down her window and yelled out to Elliott. “Oh and don’t feed my baby boy anything else. He’s still having a hard time digesting all the food he ate yesterday.”
Baby boy, huh?
“Yes, dear,” he answered back as she drove away, just before I waved the moving truck to back into my driveway.
