Copyright © 2020 Cheaneulle DeRosier
All rights reserved
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.
Printed in the United States of America
This book was an absolute labor of love, and I'd like to dedicate it to those I love that supported me.
Ian, thank you for letting me babble at you my ideas and giving me some of your own. The Magi wouldn't be what they are without you.
Emily H, thank you for always, always, always being my cheerleader. You convinced me I could go the distance.
James and Emily F, thank you for your edits and advice. James, you helped me shape the entire story and make it into something amazing. Emily, you helped me make sure it was polished and ready to shine.
Karly, thank you for being there for me since I was little and always believing I had a talent for writing that needed to be exposed.
And to my mama, dad, siblings, nieces, and grandmas, thank you all for being there for me. You've never tried to stifle my creativity and let me blossom into the individual I am today.
Grandma DeRosier, I wish you could be here to see me release this novel. I spent so much time writing in your living room while we watched court shows together. Even without being here physically anymore, I know you're with me.
Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Eyes Like Autumn
C. E. DeRosier
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
About The Author
Books By This Author
Eyes Like Autumn
C. E. DeRosier
Chapter One
There were not one, not even two, but five salt packets in the pocket of my grandpa’s flannel shirt when I went to throw it into the wash.
“Are you kidding me, Grandpa?” I sighed, exasperated. I left the laundry room with my spice evidence in hand.
My dear sweet grandpa had the decency to look guilty with those blue eyes of his. He twiddled his thumbs. “I don’t know nothing about no salt packets.”
I put my hands on my hips and gave him the look. The one he said reminded him so much of Grandma Maggie when she was sore at him.
“Then how do you know that’s what I’m coming out here for?” I raised a brow.
“Now, Ali-Gator, you know your little ol’ grandpa would never hide something like that.” He looked up at me and then cleared his throat. “Without the help of Granny down at the diner…”
“Grandpa, your doctor was very adamant about your change in diet.” My shoulders slumped at his defeated look. It broke my heart to see him like that.
I sat beside him on the couch and grabbed his hand.
I had moved in with my grandpa a month ago. He had fallen getting out of his car and discovered a heart condition that had been the cause of his light-headedness. The doctor had informed my father and me, my grandpa’s only living relatives, that if he didn’t have someone to monitor him, he’d be moving to a nursing home. To add a cherry to the crap sundae, the one in town was full.
And there was no way Carlyle Barlow was leaving Janafield.
Ever since I could remember, Grandpa would regale me with tales of the small town he always wanted to take me to but never could. His stories were full of small-town charm, a local legend of a massive black wolf with a white-skull patch of fur on his chest, and most recently about a charismatic mayor.
I had yet to see said wolf, but as a child, I'd wanted nothing more than to go on an adventure to find him.
After my mom passed when I was in grade school, I ran away and got as far as the train station, determined to get to Grandpa in Janafield. My dad found me after Grandpa called him. He’d never looked so distraught. From that day on, I vowed never to disappoint my father ever again.
Which is exactly why he doesn’t know I’m living here.
Dad had put his foot down and gotten all in his chest, raising his already high blood pressure, as soon as I offered to move to town. He'd never explained his hatred of Janafield, but I suspected it had something to do with his rocky relationship with his mother.
He should know, though, that I have the same streak of Barlow stubbornness that runs through him in my veins as well. I couldn’t let my grandpa down. He was always there for me, never forgot a birthday, and every Christmas I knew there would be a crisp $5 bill and a box of cordial cherries that we’d eat together in one sitting after Dad had gone to bed. We were Ali-Gator and Croco-Lyle. As long as I was back for my weekly dinners with Dad, he’d be none the wiser. It’d worked so far, at least. I just told him Grandpa didn’t need someone anymore… It wasn’t a lie; he just didn’t know that it was because I had moved in.
My phone chirped in my sweater pocket. I didn’t have to look to know it was Suzanne, another teacher at Janafield Middle, letting me know she was outside waiting for me. We'd started carpooling on Mondays and Tuesdays that I worked full days when we realized she only lived a couple blocks from my grandpa.
“I’ve got to get going. I’ve got a roast in the slow cooker for you.” I peeled myself from the couch before kissing Grandpa’s cheek. That’s when I spotted the blanket he always wore over his lap on the floor with his wheelchair angled towards him.
“Now, I know what you’re thinkin’, Ali, but I was definitely not trying to run away when I heard you comin’.”
We stared at each other before I snorted out a laugh. “What am I going to do with you, old timer?”
“Hopefully give me those salt packets back.” He gave me a hopeful little smile.
I rolled my eyes. “That’s not going to happen.” I shoved them into my purse before throwing it over my shoulder. “Try not to get into too much trouble while I’m gone,” I called as I walked out the door.
Sue was practically hanging out of her car window when I approached. She grabbed a cup of coffee from the roof of it.
“You left it on there again, didn’t you?” I teased with a quirk of my dark brow.
She startled and nearly dropped her whole cup. Her green eyes snapped to mine, accented by her wealth of curly red hair pulled into a high ponytail.
“Yes, but that’s why I put those flat little magnets on the bottom. Hardly spilled a drop!” She beamed wide then frowned as soon as she looked down. “And there’s a leaf in it…”
I hopped into the passenger side and buckled up as she finally slinked back into her seat.
“You’re thinking about drinking it still, aren’t you?”
“Will you judge me if I do?” she asked while bringing the steaming cup to her lips.
I shrugged. “At least it wasn’t a bug.”
Sue nodded. “True facts.” She took a large gulp and then immediately spit it back out. “There’s a bug.
Oh, my God. Let’s never talk about this again.”
While trying not to laugh, my jaw was clenched so tightly it ached. There was truly never a dull moment with Suzanne around.
“Let’s go get some fresh, bug-free coffee at the place by work. I’ve seen you without your hot bean water in the morning, and it’s a little scary.” I turned and looked at her after she put her cup down and finally took off towards the school.
“You talking about Berta’s Beans or the gas station? They’re both practically next to each other,” she replied.
“Berta’s,” I said incredulously. “The gas station doesn’t have tea.”
“Sorry, I forgot you only like hot leaf juice.”
“I do not only like hot leaf juice.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Cold is also perfectly acceptable.”
When we pulled into the parking lot, in the stall next to us was a shiny Cadillac, one I’d seen around town on occasion. It belonged to Janafield’s Mayor Johannes Dodgson. I’d only ever caught glimpses of him, but rumor had it he was incredibly secretive, and incredibly wealthy.
My heart accelerated just from the thought of finally meeting him. He was practically a local celebrity.
“Are you going to drool over the mayor’s car all morning, or are you coming with me to get your tea?” Sue nudged her elbow into mine.
“Sorry, it’s just so shiny.” I got out of the car and shut the door. “My old granny wagon is put to shame.”
“Girly, my ’95 Honda puts your wagon to shame.” Sue giggled.
I gasped, an exaggerated noise accentuated by my hand covering my mouth. I pushed the door open to the café. “How dare you say that about—” My words caught in my throat.
Sitting at the counter was a man that had to be the mayor. He was absolutely striking. High cheekbones, perfectly coiffed chestnut-brown hair, and lips that sipped elegantly at his cup. Legs for days, lithe, but you could still see the muscle definition under his fitted button-up.
The little golden spider embroidered near his sparkling cufflinks had me gasping all over again, for real this time. That was the symbol of Ma Belle Francesca. Her designs were the ultimate in fashion to me. Her clothing at the Met Gala were always the most exquisite.
I turned to gush to Suzanne only to realize she’d slipped around me and was ordering at the register.
“Thanks for abandoning me,” I grumbled.
“Girly, you were staring so long I thought flies were going to land soon.” She gave me a suggestive wag of her brows. “Cute, though, am I right?”
Cute didn’t seem like a word to describe him with. Handsome. Opulent. Gorgeous.
“He’s wearing Ma Belle Francesca, Sue! Ma Belle Francesca!” I exclaimed as quietly as I could with him being so close.
The barista handed Sue two cups, one of which she gave to me. I was about to pull my wallet out, but she stopped me with one of her patented mom looks. She knew we’d been struggling since I moved to town. I had to take a pay cut, and Grandpa barely made enough for himself with his fixed income. I appreciated her help, but it made my father’s voice ring in my ear about how I shouldn’t be here. I shook the thought away.
“Go talk to him about it. I’m sure, like, no one else here knows about that umm… My Bell Fresca or whatever.” She nodded her head towards him.
“Ma Belle Francesca,” I corrected. “And I can’t just go talk to him. He’s the mayor.”
“Yeah, and his duty is to the people. Now shoo. You’ve got five minutes until we need to leave.” She waved me off.
I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. I could do this. Compliment his clothing, simple enough.
“Excuse me…” As soon as I was met with the shocking ice of his eyes, I stumbled over my own feet. My drink went down his front and saturated the once pristine powder-blue fabric.
Everything was completely silent in that moment. It was like time itself had stopped, and not even the coffee grinders were making a sound.
He looked down at himself before looking back up at me.
I wanted mother earth to open up and swallow me whole.
A fistful of napkins were thrust into my hands.
Sue leaned over my shoulder to whisper, “You got your cold leaf water all over the mayor.”
All other sounds came rushing back at once. The coffee drip, the clack of cups hitting the table, and the hiss of cold from Mayor Dodgson when he tried wiping it up.
“Oh, my God, I am so sorry, Mr. Mayor.” I put my cup on the counter and started dabbing up the excess on his shirt.
“Johannes,” he amended.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Johannes. I—”
He grabbed my hand. My attention snapped to his face.
“Just Johannes, darling.” He smiled.
My heart thumped at his term of endearment.
“I’m so sorry for spilling on you. I was coming over to compliment your gorgeous Ma Bell Francesca shirt, and now I’ve ruined it.” Tears gathered in the corners of my eyes.
“I’ll tell you a secret. These shirts are virtually indestructible.” Johannes had a twinkle in his eyes that I couldn’t quite place. It was a playful sparkle that said he knew something that I didn’t.
“Are you sure? I can’t imagine how much a shirt like this cost, but maybe there’s some way I could make it up to you.”
I couldn’t help but notice he’d still kept hold of my hand.
“I’ll prove it to you at dinner tonight. How about it?”
His forwardness blindsided me. The mayor, the gorgeous, sexy, pseudo-celebrity mayor, wanted to go to dinner with me?
“I, um…” I stammered. Without a doubt I wanted to, but I couldn’t seem to find my voice.
“She’d love to, Mr. Mayor.” Sue peered around me. “Go on, give him your number.”
“Right, of course, I’m sorry.” I pulled my phone out of my purse and was immediately embarrassed when I remembered my phone had a grey rubber case in the shape of a cat with a little red bowtie.
He quirked a brow but thankfully said nothing about it. I gave him my number, and he sent me a quick text.
Johannes: See you tonight at seven.
“I’ll see you then.” I gave him a little wave. He returned it just in time for Sue to grab my hand and drag me to her car. I felt like I was in la-la-land.
I barely registered getting into the car and buckling up. Was this all a dream?
My cheeks were burning up. I straightened to look in the rear-view mirror to see if they were as red as I was imagining.
Just behind the car was a massive black wolf, staring right back at me. I whipped around, nearly choking myself with the seatbelt in the process, to get a better look.
But nothing was there. I settled back down and looked to Sue. She shoved her coffee into my hands.
“I think maybe you need this more than me. You’re about to be the talk of the town again.”
Chapter Two
Sue had been right when she’d said everyone was going to be talking about me again. As soon as I walked into the teacher’s lounge to eat with her and Cole, another coworker, all heads turned to stare at me.
When I'd first moved to town, it had been just like this. Janafield didn’t get many new residents, and it had been hit with a rash of missing people. There were no leads to be seen, and it was stressing the rest of the population, reasonably so. Unreasonable, though, was their suspicion of me. The naughtiest thing I ever did growing up was stealing a cookie from the jar on the kitchen island. Even then I made myself so sick about it I threw up and couldn’t eat a peanut butter cookie for the following five years.
I squeezed my purse tighter to my side and took a deep breath. I got through this once; I can get through it again.
Suzanne waved her hand wildly over her head. I rolled my eyes and laughed. We always sat at the same table, so it wasn’t like I’d be able to miss her. Especially not with her fiery red hair in a sea of varying shades of blondes and brunettes.
I p
ulled my plastic chair out. The scraping seemed so loud even with the din of the room because I was so hyperaware of everyone’s stares. I sat down with my back stick straight. With slow, mechanical movements I put my lunch and purse on the table.
Sue gave me a flat look. “Relax, they’re not a bunch of t-rexes that can’t see you if you move slowly. You’re just drawing more attention to yourself.”
“Then why do I feel like a hunk of meat being put in the cage? I’m the goat, Sue! The goat,” I seethed. “I’m just really uncomfortable.”
My body ached from the tension, but I couldn’t seem to will it away. The ancient box spring I was sleeping on wasn’t going to help me later tonight either.
“Oh, here comes Cole,” Sue said with a roll of her eyes.
I looked over my shoulder at him hustling over to us. He had his nose so far into his book, I was surprised he could navigate the room without tripping. All you could see were tufts of his unmanaged blonde hair.
When he was close enough, he put his book down on the table along with his messenger bag. But that was when I saw the most hideous affront to fashion that he'd promised never to wear again.
“Cole, no, absolutely not,” I said with a finger pointed to his chest. “You promised me.”
The dreaded pencil-themed tie, complete with the pointed lead and bright pink eraser.
He gaped. “You know you love this tie. It adds whimsy to the place.”
“It adds nothing to the place.” I leaned onto the table and cupped my chin in my hand. “Ugly tie day was the appointed time for it.”
Sue nodded. “You did promise, Cole.”
“I got something on my other tie! This is the backup I keep in my desk. I’d like to remind you that someone lovingly picked this out for my first day teaching,” Cole rebuffed.
Sue and I gave him nearly identical flat looks.
“Okay, fine,” he relented. “It’s ugly, and I promise I really won’t wear it again.”
“That’s all we’re asking,” Sue said before taking a triumphant bite of her mac and cheese.
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