by Terri DuLong
Within a half hour he’d finished. He ran to the passenger side of my car. I was still uneasy but clicked the lock for him to jump in.
“Whew,” he said, running a hand through salt-and-pepper curls. “You’re all set. The spare is on but you’ll need to get to a garage fairly soon. That’s just a donut I’ve replaced your flat with. You don’t happen to have a towel, do you?”
It was then that I remembered putting a stack of towels on the floor of the backseat just in case I needed them at the condo.
“I do,” I said, twisting and leaning over. “I’d completely forgotten about them.” I passed a bath towel to him and began drying my hair with another one.
“Thanks,” he said, rubbing the towel across his face and then his hair. “Where’re you headed? I saw the luggage. Are you moving or on vacation?”
“On vacation and heading to a rental condo in Ormond Beach, about another hour’s drive from here. Will I be okay till I get there?”
He nodded. “Sure. Just don’t go above fifty and don’t do too much driving around once you get there. I live just north of there in Ormond-by-the-Sea.” He reached in his pocket for a small notebook, wrote something and passed the paper to me. “Here’s the name and address of a good place to get a new tire in Ormond Beach. Be sure to tell Gil that Chadwick sent you.”
I wondered why he went by his last name and saw that Basil was attempting to scooch into the front seat with us.
“Hey, fella. I think you like me. Cute dog.” He reached out to rub Basil between his ears the way Gabe used to.
“I just don’t know how to thank you,” I told him and wondered if I should offer him money. “You were a true lifesaver. Thank you so much.”
“Not a problem at all,” he said, reaching back into his pocket and then passing me a business card. “Maybe when you get settled in, give me a call and I’ll let you buy me a drink as thanks.” He got out, and then stuck his head back inside. “Oh, and you might want to consider signing up with Triple A.”
I glanced at the business card and saw that Chadwick was his first name. Chadwick Price. And apparently he didn’t go by the nickname of Chad. I also saw that he was the owner of a real estate office in Ormond-by-the-Sea.
He tooted his horn and I looked in my rearview mirror to see him waving his arm out the window, indicating that he wanted me to pull out and drive in front of him.
“Well, here we go, Basil,” I said as I turned on my indicator and moved onto the road. The car felt a little strange with the donut tire on it but I was quite grateful that a stranger would stop, especially in such weather, to help me, and I trusted that he was right about the tire being safe until I got to the garage the next morning.
I kept my eye on Chadwick’s car, which followed me along SR 40 all the way to Ormond Beach. I wondered if he was doing this to make sure my car was okay or if he was just going in my direction. When we got to the end of Granada, I got into the right lane to turn onto A1A and he pulled into the left as he gave a beep of the horn and leaned over to give me a wave. I waved back and smiled before taking my turn.
Farther up on the left was the condo building where Basil and I would make our home for the next month. And if Chadwick Price was any example of the friendly and helpful people in the area, I had a feeling I was going to enjoy my stay here.
I punched the code to allow me into the parking garage, found a spot near the elevator, and decided to get Basil outside first before I began unloading the car. We found a grassy area that served the purpose and headed back into the garage. I knew it was going to take quite a few trips to fully unload the car and decided to bring Basil and my rolling luggage up first. As I was getting his leash wrapped on my hand, grabbing my handbag and the piece of luggage, another car pulled into a spot beside me.
A woman who appeared to be in her midseventies got out, smiled and waved a hand toward me. “Hello, there. Looks like you could use some help with your stuff. Are you new to the building? I don’t recall seeing you before.”
I shot her a smile and nodded. “I am. I’m Chloe Radcliffe and I’m renting Henry Wagner’s condo for the month.”
She walked toward me with hand extended. “Nice to meet you. I’m Louise Blackstone and I live right next door to Henry. Nice fellow. I think you’ll like his place. Here, let me give you a hand.”
I was really glad that I’d listened to Henry and purchased a cart on wheels. He told me it easily folded up to keep in the trunk and would be helpful transporting shopping bags from the garage up to the condo. I filled the cart with bags of food that I’d brought along, various other bags, and put Basil’s bed on top.
“Thank you so much. If you could take Basil, I can handle my piece of luggage and the cart.”
Louise bent over to give Basil a pat. “Well, aren’t you just the cutest little guy,” she said, taking his leash. “My Ramona is going to like you. She’s such a flirt.”
I laughed as we walked to the elevator and Louise pushed the button for the third floor. “You have a dog?”
“Well, don’t tell Ramona she’s a dog. She truly thinks she’s a human. Spoiled rotten. But I love her to pieces. She’s a mixture of this and that, but I’m sure if she could speak, she’d tell you she was descended from royalty.”
I laughed again as the doors slid open and we stepped into the corridor.
“Just down here,” Louise said, turning left. “Here you go. Three oh eight. Got your key?”
She pointed to the door and I nodded as I fished for the key in my handbag. “Thank you so much for your help. Would you like to come in for a few minutes?”
She waved a hand in the air. “No, no, I’m sure you have plenty to do getting settled in. Besides, Ramona is waiting for me to take her out. And I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.” It was then that she spied one of my tote bags filled with knitting. “Oh, you knit?”
I heard the excitement in her voice that all serious knitters seem to share. “I do, and I take it you do too?”
“Oh, my yes. I’ve been knitting practically all my life. Except for Ramona, it’s my favorite love. Well then, you’ll just have to join us at Yarrow’s for tea and knitting. Do you like tea?”
“I’m usually a coffee drinker but, yes, I enjoy tea now and then.”
“Great. Well, my very best friend is Mavis Anne—Mavis Anne Overby—and Yarrow is her niece, who owns the tea shop downtown. A group of us meet there to knit and gossip a few times a week. You go get settled in and I’ll be in touch in the next day or so.”
She passed me Basil’s leash and I unlocked the door. “Thanks so much, Louise, and I look forward to seeing you again.”
Chapter 6
Basil and I stepped into a small tile foyer, and the first thing I saw was the breathtaking view straight ahead. I dropped his leash and walked to the sliding doors in the living room, which led to a good-size balcony. Unlocking the doors, I stepped outside to where a table, four chairs, and potted plants had been placed. In front of me was a stretch of beach and the mighty Atlantic. I inhaled a deep breath of salt air. The Gulf was very pretty but it was placid compared to what was before me. Large waves crashed onto the shore and I smiled. Already I felt a sense of calm.
I knew Louise’s condo was to my left but a brick wall separated our balconies and provided privacy.
Basil had followed me outside and was sniffing every inch of the balcony. “Come on, fella, let’s go check out the rest of our new home.”
The living room was spacious and open with the kitchen on the other side of a counter with two stools. Tastefully decorated in muted colors of beige, brown, and tan, it looked identical to the photos on the Internet. We walked into a good-size bedroom with king-size bed, nice furnishings, and another glass door that led out to the balcony. Off the bedroom was a modern bathroom complete with tub and separate walk-in shower.
“Very nice,” I said, walking back to the foyer and pulling the cart into the kitchen. “Let’s get the food unloaded firs
t,” I told Basil as he sat and watched me emptying bags.
I glanced at my watch and saw it was already going on two o’clock. No wonder I was hungry. Courtesy of Lucas, I had some nice homemade soup to warm up in the microwave. I had just settled myself on the sofa to enjoy both the view and my lunch when my cell phone rang. I answered to hear Henry Wagner’s voice.
“Chloe? Sorry to bother you, but I just wanted to make sure you arrived okay and the condo is what you hoped.”
I smiled. “That’s so nice of you, Henry, and yes. Despite a flat tire on the way over, I managed to get here a little while ago.”
“Oh, no. I’m so sorry to hear that. Did you get the tire changed?”
“Well, a nice gentleman stopped and took care of it and I’ll have a permanent tire put on in the morning. Basil and I were just getting unpacked and settled in. The condo is beautiful, and I love it. This view is really something.”
“I’m glad you like it and yes, I never tire of seeing that stretch of beach and ocean. Well, I won’t keep you. If you need anything, just give me a call.”
“I will and I’m sure I’ll enjoy my stay here. I’ve already met your neighbor, Louise Blackstone. She was kind enough to help me upstairs with my stuff.”
I heard a laugh come across the line. “Oh, yes, Louise. She’s a real character and a very nice person. Okay, you take care and I’ll be in touch.”
I smiled as I disconnected the call and began sipping my soup. Henry was a very responsible property owner, but I had a feeling that some of his calls were due to loneliness on his part. It was too bad I wouldn’t get a chance to meet him when he did get down here. From his voice during our phone chats, he seemed like a very nice person.
I finished my soup, gave Basil a biscuit, and dragged my luggage into the bedroom along with Basil’s bed.
“Here ya go,” I told him, placing his bed in a corner of the room. “Home sweet home. I think we’re going to like it here.”
After I finished unpacking my clothes, I grabbed some bath products to place in the bathroom and flipped on the light switch. That was when I saw myself in the mirror. Good God! I still looked like a drowned rat. My chin-length brunette hair hung in limp strands. My eye makeup was smeared from all the rain pelting down on me. I was a total mess. Chadwick Price instantly came to mind. After seeing what I looked like to him, it was hard to believe that he’d even bothered to give me his card and told me to call him. No doubt he was only being nice.
By the time I’d finished settling in, I realized I needed to give Grace a call.
“Hey,” she said. “It’s going on four. I was starting to get a little concerned. Everything okay?”
I explained about the flat tire and the delay in getting to the condo. “Then I had some of Lucas’s yummy soup and got unpacked. But yes, everything is fine. I love this place. The view is to die for, both from the living room and the balcony. Basil has already settled in very well.” I glanced to the end of the sofa where he was curled up, snoozing away.
“Oh, that’s good. But gosh, sorry about that tire. Lucas told you to get—”
I interrupted her. “Yes, I know. Triple A. I’ll definitely have it before I make the return trip to Cedar Key in a month.”
“Well, you really were lucky that guy stopped. But I’m happy it seems to be going well.”
“It is. I even met my neighbor. Louise Blackstone. A woman in her midseventies. I met her in the parking garage downstairs and she lives right next door. Guess what? There’s a group of women here who gather at a tea shop a few times a week to knit and gossip.”
Grace laughed. “That’s great. I guess I’m not surprised, though. With the knitting craze continuing, most towns now have yarn shops and groups. Is there a yarn shop in town too?”
“Oh, gee, I don’t know. She didn’t mention that but I plan to stop by the tea shop in the next day or so and I’ll find out.”
“Okay. Well, get a good night’s sleep and tomorrow you’ll be ready to start exploring. You keep in touch. Love you, Chloe.”
“Love you too.”
I hung up and smiled. Although Grace didn’t come right out and say it, I think she worried about me. About what would happen to me long term. I knew she really wanted to move to Paris with Lucas but she didn’t want to leave me alone. Ah, well. What would be would be.
I walked to the sliders and saw the sun was now beginning to peep through the clouds over the water. It looked like the rain had stopped. I had made a promise to myself before I left Cedar Key that I’d lose the pesky ten or so pounds that had snuck up on me.
I reached for Basil’s leash and my keys. “Come on, I need some exercise. Let’s go walk the beach.”
By the time we returned, I was surprised to see we’d walked for close to two hours. It was so tranquil walking along the shore, watching the waves roll in, and seeing how patterns of clouds above me constantly changed. It was easy to lose track of time here.
I was a little late feeding Basil his supper so I got him fed before I sat down with a heated-up casserole, also courtesy of Lucas. I had uncorked a bottle of pinot noir and filled a wineglass.
Sitting at the counter, I also had a view of the beach, ocean, and sky. I had only been here a few hours but it felt comfortable. My thoughts drifted to Gabe. I missed him and felt bad that he couldn’t be here with me to enjoy the beautiful evening. But then, if he were here, we wouldn’t be at this condo. We’d be on the outskirts of town in the house we’d planned to buy. Strange how things worked out—one change can lead to so many different patterns in one’s life.
I had just finished filling the dishwasher when my cell rang. It was Isabelle.
“Chloe, hi. I wanted to see if you arrived in Ormond Beach okay.”
“Yes, fine. A minor mishap with a flat tire but Basil and I got here safely around two. How’re you and Haley doing?”
“Oh, gosh, sorry to hear about the tire. But I’m glad you’re there. Yeah, we’re doing okay. Things just aren’t getting any better for Haley, so I’ll be glad when school finishes in a couple weeks.”
“Geez, I was hoping the situation would improve for her. Is there anything that can be done?”
“Well, the school is involved and it seems there are a few other girls being bullied as well. Parents have been meeting to try to find a solution, but so far, nothing. One thing I did do, and I feel bad because it seems it was more of a punishment to Haley than anything else—I took away her iPad and the Internet capacity on her cell. No getting online.”
“God, that’s terrible and you’re right. Poor Haley has done nothing and yet she’s the one being punished. So it’s cyberbullying as well as in person?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s both.”
“I’m so sorry to hear this, Isabelle. I wish there was something I could do.”
“Well, as I said, I’ll be glad when school ends. At least then she’ll be away from it for a while. Listen, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to touch base and make sure you arrived okay. So you like the condo and everything’s going well?”
“Yes, the condo is very nice with a gorgeous view, and Basil and I are settling in well.”
“Well, have fun and keep in touch.”
I hung up and decided to take a shower, get into my jammies, and settle down on the sofa with a glass of wine and the book I was reading.
I must have dozed off because I woke from a sound sleep and momentarily felt disoriented. I looked around and realized I was in Ormond Beach at the condo. I glanced at my watch and was shocked to see that it was three in the morning. Basil was curled up at my feet sleeping away. I began to get up to head to bed, and it was then that I recalled the dream I’d had before waking.
I saw a pond in my mind. A fishpond. Located in a beautiful area surrounded by a low brick wall, large leafy trees, and butterflies hovering above the pond. I pulled at the dream, trying to remember more, but that was it. I did remember I was standing beside the pond, looking down into the water, and it appeared th
at the multitude of fish were looking up at me—smiling.
I shook my head and took the last sip of wine remaining in the glass. “Come on, Basil. Let’s go to bed and get a proper sleep.”
Chapter 7
I awoke the next morning feeling rested and refreshed. Glancing at the clock, I saw it was just after six. I must have dozed off around nine, woke on the sofa, and went right back to sleep in the comfortable bed, with no further dreams. But the fishpond dream was tugging at my mind. I wondered if there was a connection between it and the house dream.
I’d left the bedroom drapes open the night before and, sitting up, I could see the gorgeous ocean and sky from the glass door. Basil began stirring at the foot of the bed. Guess he’d passed on sleeping in his own bed and preferred to be with me.
“Come on, fella,” I told him as I got up and threw on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. “Let’s hit the beach for a walk.”
When we returned, I was true to my word and only had a container of yogurt and piece of fruit for breakfast. I decided that a drive around town might be in order. It would enable me to get to know the streets and the surrounding area. After I changed into cropped pants, a cotton top, and sandals, I clipped on Basil’s leash and we were off to explore, making our first stop a service station to get my flat tire fixed.
The area the condo was located in was called Beachside, for obvious reasons. But if you got back onto Granada Boulevard and drove over the bridge, you ended up in the downtown area of Ormond Beach. Just before the bridge, I glanced across the street and saw the sign for the Casements, which I remembered from the brochures that Henry had sent about Rockefeller’s winter home. I made a mental note to add it to the list of places I wanted to tour.
