Welcome to Westbrook

Chapter 1

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One

"I'm sorry, ma'am. All flights are cancelled as of right now due to the snowfall."

I wanted to protest, but it wouldn't have done much. Besides, there were already plenty of other angry customers that were doing that. It would be pointless to waste the little amount of energy I had left on arguing about the forces of Mother Nature.

I sighed and nodded. "Can you tell me if any buses are going in the direction of Pennsylvania?"

The employee, whose bored expression had not changed in the slightest the past ten minutes, checked his computer and informed me that the next bus leaving for New York City would be in thirty minutes, and there would be other buses leaving from there to Pennsylvania.

"Mom, I'm tired."

I looked down at my son, Ben, who did indeed look tired. I hated going through travelling delays or other issues with him. All I wanted was for us both to be in Pennsylvania right now.

"I know, sweetie. You'll be able to sleep on the bus. Just hang in there for a little more, alright?"

Ben simply nodded. He was one of the most understanding 7-year-olds I ever knew. Time and time again, he showed me how hard he tried to be grown up. Sometimes I thought he tried to act older than he really was, which worried me. Since it was always just the two of us, I think he thought he had to act older instead of just being a kid.

"Alright, I'll take two tickets for that bus," I told the employee. Once he gave them to me, I took Ben's hand in mine and walked outside, where our faces were hit with an icy wind—something neither of us was used to.

Although I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, I've lived in California for the past twenty years and Ben has been accustomed to the warm, California weather as well. Of course I still hold Pennsylvania close to my heart, but I quickly became sold on California once I went to college at UCLA. Therefore, I only have the opportunity to experience harsh winters during the holidays, when Ben and I visit my family back in Pennsylvania.

"Let's hurry on the bus," I said, wanting to get in a warmer, enclosed space.

I gave the bus driver our luggage and tickets before finding seats on the stuffy vehicle. I wasn't surprised I was able to get tickets at the last minute, considering there were only about five other people on the bus with us. Nonetheless, I was ready to head home. I didn't want to stay in Vermont any longer than we had to. It seemed a million degrees colder than my parents' home in Pennsylvania. Plus, I spent the past three days in Vermont with Ben for a short business trip before the holidays, and I didn't want to extend my stay any longer than that. I was ready to get to Pennsylvania and see my family members, and Ben was ready to be reunited with his grandparents and cousins.

"Can I go to sleep now?" Ben asked me, rubbing his tired eyes.

"Yes, of course," I replied, pulling him into me. His eyes shut within minutes, signaling he was sound asleep. At some point, I ended up dozing off as well, until I felt the bus slow down and make the final stop, according to the bus driver.

Good, we're almost home, I thought.

Except we weren't. Before the bus stopped, I saw a sign that we passed. In big, elegant-looking letters, the sign read, 'Welcome to Westbrook.' According to the sign, we were still in Vermont.

"This can't be the last stop. We're not in New York yet," I said to the driver. He halted to a stop finally, in the middle of an older-looking town. I couldn't see much since it was dark outside, only what was floodlit with lights.