STAIN (My Soul To Wake Book 1) (19 page)

Ther
e’
s only one way to get the answers I need. Straight from Liza herself, and that means heading right back to where it all began. In more ways than one.

~*~

“
What do you mean yo
u’
re going back
?
” Cour
t’
s voice asks through the cell phone.

My headlights automatically turn on, lighting my path through the early night.

“
I need to do this, Court.
I’
ll only be gone a few days
,
” I reason with her.

She takes a deep breath on her end.
“
What about the coffee shop? That place ca
n’
t really run without you
.
”

I think sh
e’
s overestimating my role at the store.
“
Mo
m’
s gonna step in until I get back
.
”

I can feel her looking for her next point.
“
You ca
n’
t make that drive by yourself, Leah
.
”

Funny,
she
made the drive by herself, having been behind the wheel for our last trip.
“
I
t’
s six hours total, and
I’
m more than halfway there.
I’
ll be fine.
I’
ll drink lots of coffee
.
”

“
I can stay on the line with you to make sure you stay up
,
” she offers.

I laugh.
“
Thanks, Court. I just need to do some thinking, though. Can I call you when I get there instead
?
”

I can tell sh
e’
s hesitant.
“
Fine, I guess. But call me if you feel tired. And do
n’
t be afraid to stop overnight if you have to. There are plenty of hotels along the way
.
”

“
Promise.
I’
ll call you later
.
”

With the newfound quiet, I turn the radio on and keep the volume low on some sappy love song station. The ride was more comfortable the last time I took this route, having been chauffeuredin Cour
t’
s luxury car. Now, as I drive along in my five-year-old Jeep Wrangler, I miss the extra comfort her seats provided along the long hard roads, but am thankful in a way for the slight level of rugged discomfort as it helps to keep me awake.

My mind races over the facts again and again as I pour over the details, playing devi
l’
s advocate against myself, but this leaves me with more questions. Every mile brings me closer and closer to the answers.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“I’
d like a room, please
.
” The receptionist is different from the one I remember.

I
t’
s late, almost midnight. This is
n’
t exactly the type of hotel that probably gets visitors of the late variety.

“
Do you have a reservation miss
?
” Sh
e’
s very cordial, though.

I shake my head while withdrawing my wallet.

“
No. I was a guest last week. I decided last minute to come back. I should still be in the computer, I think
.
”

Her fingers get to typing the information I recite to her. Once
I’
m found in the database, my credit card is taken and swiped before a room-key card is activated.
I’
m handed a receipt slip and rental agreement to sign.

“
W
e’
re so glad to have you stay with us again. Your last room is available if tha
t’
s acceptable
?
” She must be a night owl to be so cheery this late.

I nod.
“
Tha
t’
s fine. It was a lovely room
.
”

We exchange the credit card slip in return for the room key.
“
Excuse me, but will Tom be working tomorrow? The waiter
?
”

Erin, according to her shiny name badge, widens her eyes.
“
He is. H
e’
ll clock in just before seven
.
”

I smile.
“
Thanks so much
.
”

“
Enjoy your stay here at the Hawthorne Hotel
.
”

I stop at the bookcases on my way to the elevator, searching for the very particular title I noticed last week. Once i
t’
s found, I tip the leather-bound spine toward me to free the book from its confines.

Along with my overnight bag and my new room key, the volume of
“
Olde Salem Homestead
s
” comes with me to my room.

~*~

The hallway lights are dimmed in courtesy to the hotel guests sleeping behind closed doors. I find my hotel room not by reading the numbers on wall plaques accompanying each door, but from memory.

I never thought I would be retracing these steps. My only regret is the late hour will prevent me from moving forward with my plan till morning. I calm myself, reciting that after over three hundred years, wha
t’
s another few hours?

~*~

Another short night of unfulfilling sleep passes. In between small little naps, I manage to find what
I’
ve been looking for in the maps of historic homesteads and farms in Salem. 1692 Salem, to be exact.

I have the information I need. It only reinforces my theory. The plan
I’
ve been able to loosely form during my car trip is a little shaky but i
t’
s the best
I’
ve got right now. I manage to wake, shower, and dress all before six
o’
clock in the morning, too anxious to wait another moment longer.

I do
n’
t condone book vandalism or disrespect in any way, but I feel I need to make an exception in this case. I close my eyes and wince as I tear a page free from the binding. The map is
n’
t easy to read, but based on the information that Wil
l’
s given me combined with the dated images on the book page, I should be able to find the place.

I pass a room service cart in the hallway and admire the sights and smells wafting from the silver trays.
I’
ve finally gotten my appetite back and need to grab something before I get started on what could quite possibly be the craziest thing
I’
ve ever done.

Just as the receptionist had informed me last night, Tom is dressed in his crisp white shirt and setting tables in the small dining room that will welcome the hotel guests for breakfast.

He sees me approach and does a double take
.“
Leah
?
”

“
Hey, Tom
.
”

He deposits the handful of glassware in his arms onto the table nearest him.
“
Does-- does Will know yo
u’
re here
?
”

I shake my head.
“
No. Just got into town last night
.
” I look around to make sure we have no one eavesdropping nearby.
“
Can I talk to you for a bit? Somewhere quiet
?
”

He eyes me suspiciously.
“
Billy!
I’
m taking a break. Cover for me
,
” he calls out to the other waiter working to set tables.

Tom leads me over to set of doors on the far side of the room. He politely holds one open as I step through into what must be some type of ballroom.

“
Leah, yo
u’
ve gotta let Will know yo
u’
re here. H
e’
s been a wreck.
I’
ve never seen him like this before
.”
He lets me know immediately where his loyalty lies and I respect him for it.

I nod.
“
I will. I promise. But, I have to ask you some things first
.
” I can see h
e’
s wary, but he does
n’
t say no, so I guess tha
t’
s a good sign.
“
Why did you set me up with him that night at the bar
?
”

He looks surprised.
“
You knew about that
?
”

I laugh.
“
I kind of suspected. You were pretty specific about what time I should be there and Will told us that he was supposed to meet his friend and his frien
d’
s girlfriend. Correct me if
I’
m wrong, but I think that friend was you and that pretty little girlfriend you showed the picture of. Am I wrong
?
”

He blushes.
“
No. Yo
u’
re not wrong
.
”

“
I did
n’
t think so. What I want to know, is
why
did you do it? I mean, you did
n’
t know me from a hole in the wall
.
”

Tom looks nervous. His eyes dart around the empty room.
“
I just knew you would be good for him. That you were the one
.
”

My heart begins to beat faster.
“
Why
?
”

His eyes finally set on me.
“
Because as long as
I’
ve known him, h
e’
s never even given a girl the time of day. And i
t’
s not like they did
n’
t try. H
e’
s had girls crawling all over him and never tried a thing
.
” I can picture the little bimbos throwing themselves at his gorgeous body
.“
Every time I would ask him why he never jumped on any of them he would tell me about the girl of his dreams. The girl he was waiting for. The night you checked into the hotel, I heard your friend giving your name to the receptionist. Amelia
.
”

Of course Nina would use my full legal name while booking the reservation!

He finishes his explanation.
“
H
e’
s described her over and over to me. Not exactly how she looked, but, I do
n’
t know. Just the way she carried herself, the kindness in her eyes. Her curiosity. And even what her name would be. When I saw you that night, something just clicked. I thought you were her
.
”

A warm feeling starts to well inside.

“
But maybe I was wrong, Leah. You hurt him so bad. He finally takes a chance on a girl and it breaks his heart. H
e’
s a good guy. He deserves better
.
”

I nod, agreeing wholeheartedly.
“
I know, Tom. Tha
t’
s why
I’
m here. I was so wrong. But, I need to know one more thing. Was Will ever married
?
”

Tom laughs, loudly enough for me to search around to make sure it has
n’
t attracted attention.
“
Married?! Lea
h…
h
e’
s like, twenty-three! How in the hell could he have been married
?
”

“
Are you sure, Tom
?
” I feel the excitement growing, threatening to explode.

He nods, probably thinking
I’
m a nut job.
“I’
m positive, Leah. H
e’
s my best friend.
I’
ve known him since he first stepped foot in this town. We used to work for my fathe
r’
s construction company together. If he were married, ever,
I’
d know about it
.
”

I’
m so relieved, I can barely contain it.
“
One last thing.
I’
m going to need Liz
a’
s phone number
.
”

~*~

So far everything is falling into place. I need to keep myself in check, though, and not let any overconfidence mess things up. If sh
e’
s half as cunning and manipulative as I think she is, I have to be on guard.

I park as close as I can to where I remember Will having parked so many days ago. I follow the same course as last time, navigating through the heavily wooded trees, my memory serving as navigation to take me through to the field of wildflowers that was my special place with Will. It may have been special to us in our last life,
I’
ll trust him on that point, but i
t’
s special in its own right for the life w
e’
re in now.

The sky is clear, with very few fluffy clouds strewn about. I touch the flowers just as I had the last time, and the way I had in my dream. Whatever positivity this place has to offer,
I’
ll need it now.

Pulling out my cell phone, I type the carefully planned out message to Liza.

I
t’
s Leah. I know the truth. I know everything. Meet me in the field of flowers.
I’
m sure you know where it is.

Once I hit the send button, I know I have a limited time to do what needs to be done. The next communication wo
n’
t be by text. He deserves so much more than just a text. I remember the night I first met him and how he told me he does
n’
t text. How impersonal he thinks it is. I now understand the full weight of those words.

The phone rings twice before he picks up.

“
Leah? Is it really you
?
” I can hear his surprise.

I interrupt him, knowing my time is growing short.
“
Will, I need you to hear me. I believe you. I believe everything. I need something from you
.
”

“
Anything, baby. Whatever you need from me
.
” Just the sound of his voice brings the most wonderful sensations to every part, every level of my being.

“
Meet me at Marcell
e’
s cottage. You need to be there
.
” I give him the rendezvous point.

I can hear his hesitation.
“
The cottage? Are you-- are you in Salem
?
”