Caroline

Chapter 29

Caroline's frame of mind on her drive home the next day was vastly different from what it had been just two days before. Most of the questions that had been swirling through her head were gone now. In their place was a new-found knowledge about the people to whom she had been closest in her life, and by extension, about herself.

Some questions still remained, of course. She would like to better understand her parents' motivations for acting as they had. They had been happily in love throughout their marriage; she'd known it and Terrence had confirmed it. What had really happened to make her father willing to risk that? What had caused her mother, who hated the smell and taste of alcohol, to decide that a bout of heavy drinking would be the answer to her pain? Where had she been to do it? She had been alone in the car; had she been alone in her misery, as well?

The only two people who could answer those questions were no longer alive to do so. She set the thoughts aside, fully realizing that they would remain mysteries, and feeling grateful for the truth that she had finally been allowed to know. In less than a week, the pedestal on which she had placed her parents when she was a child had shattered and collapsed. But from the dust and rubble, two people emerged... real, flawed, and human. She was honored to have finally been given a glimpse of who they really were, and knew her love for them remained unchanged in their transfiguration.

The situation she'd left with Derek was what it was. She knew she would still be hearing from him. He still carried a thread of hope that she would change her mind and allow him back in. Though it had galled her to say it, she had told him her suspicion that Treacy Butler would be more than happy to help him move on. The laugh he'd given her in response had had no humor in it. She gave herself credit for trying, then thought no more about it.

In truth, she believed she would always have some connection with Derek. They had shared too much that was good during their time together, though she had spent months trying to forget that fact. It wouldn't be easy at first, for either one of them, but she hoped a friendship with him was possible. If he were willing to nurture their easy companionship, she would absolutely try.

Her self-inflicted isolation had outworn it's usefulness. She was tired of pushing people away from her. Trust issues, she realized, were always going to be a part of her, but she refused to allow herself to live a lonely life because of them. The most exciting prospect ahead of her, the one that made her grin the most, was the reunion that she knew was coming with Hannah. Her sister. They had so many years to make up. It was embarrassing that Hannah very likely knew much more about Caroline's life than Caroline knew about hers. But she was determined to rectify that as soon as possible. Please, she prayed fervently, let Hannah be ready to reconcile with me.

By the time she pulled onto her own property, there was only one name and face occupying her thoughts: Michael. She had been in such a hurry to get her answers that she hadn't even thought to exchange contact information with him. That he had been willing to wait her out meant a great deal. His patience, she knew, was one of the many things about him that were going to push her straight into love with him. It seemed inevitable, and that caused her some concern.

The path that she and Michael were traveling had been put in place by her father, the last act of a man who'd tried much too hard to protect and shield his little girl. Knowing that she was still going in a direction over which she had once had no control gave her pause. But one difference was glaringly obvious between her before and after. Now, it was entirely in her hands to choose. Before, she'd barely considered the ramifications of having her choices be her own. Now, the contemplation of it was heady, and a thrilling, somewhat frightening, sense of freedom filled her.

She parked her car beside her cabin and switched off the engine. The gentle noises of the car settling after the long drive sent her memory back to that dark day when she'd thought her heart had been broken beyond repair. With a smile, she gathered up her things and took them inside.

As she sorted her belongings and put them away, she thought about surprising Michael with another home-cooked meal, delivered to his cabin. It could be a sort of reset for them, a way to begin again on their own terms, and learn each other in their own way. Walking toward her kitchen to check what she had to prepare, she passed the large window that looked out on the clearing where the wooded paths converged.

As if on cue, Michael appeared from one path and walked straight to the other. It occurred to her then that she had seen him do this at the same time each day she had witnessed it. Amused that he was such a creature of habit, she decided this time she would catch up to him, and they could finish the walk together. But first, she needed to change her shoes.

Finally in her socks and hiking boots, she took off down the trail behind him. He'd had a good head start due to her change of footwear, but she walked quickly, still paying attention to rocks and tree roots. This was still unfamiliar ground for her and she needed to learn where any hazards were before she could take off at a trot. It was another lesson she had learned while exploring the woods with Hannah.

It was several minutes later when she saw evidence of another clearing ahead of her. The unmistakable sound of a woman's squeal or shriek carried over the sound of rustling leaves to her ears, and she picked up her pace.

Inside the clearing was another cabin, in front of which stood a man and woman, hugging each other. The man was obviously Michael. The woman, she thought, must be Hannah. Hannah was her neighbor as well! She stepped into the clearing itself to run to greet her sister.

But at that moment, the woman looked up over Michael's shoulder and saw her. She was young and beautiful... and she was not Hannah. As she looked at Caroline, the smile on her face grew, and she said something into Michael's ear. Michael turned to look in Caroline's direction, wearing a large smile of his own. But she watched as his expression morphed to one of shock, and then pain, as he recognized who she was.

She did hear his voice call out her name as she stumbled back and began jogging the path back home. But again, no one followed her.