Let It Snow(23)

After Lauren finished typing on her phone, she looked up and announced with a small satisfied smile, “Done.”

“Thank you, Lauren. I really appreciate it.” Tessa had been handling things on her own for so long that having people rally around and support her was a nice change. But one she knew she absolutely could not get used to.

“Not a problem. I have to run to a production meeting, but we are having a book club meeting tonight at Amanda’s at seven. You should come. Do you remember where Mountain Ridge is at?” Lauren asked as she pulled out a set of keys.

“Yeah. I learned to ride a horse at Mountain Ridge. Is Amanda running it now?” Tessa asked. As a teen, she’d loved going to the outdoor adventure park. There was horseback riding, kayaking, and nature walks. The summer she’d moved to Hope Falls, she’d been up there almost every day to take pictures, working on her craft.

“Yes, she is. Well, she and Justin Barnes.”

“That cute guy that worked there?” Tessa remembered that she’d always seen him around fixing things.

“Yeah. After her dad passed, he left the resort to Amanda and Justin, and they reunited because of it. It’s a very romantic story, but I’ll let her fill you in. Can you make it tonight?” Lauren asked.

“I’ll definitely try to.” Tessa didn’t want to commit to anything because she wasn’t sure how she would be feeling this evening since the day was only half over and she had already had a mini breakdown and almost passed out. “Nikki mentioned it when I saw her at Sue Ann’s this morning. It would be fun to catch up with everyone,” Tessa said sincerely.

“Well, I hope you can make it. If I don’t see you then, I will definitely be getting in touch with you tomorrow with plans for the work day Saturday.”

“Okay, sounds good.”

“Are you sure you are feeling okay? I can call and let them know that I’ll be late.” Concern laced Lauren’s voice.

“No, I’m fine. Really. I have a protein bar and water in the car. I just need to eat,” Tessa assured her.

Lauren’s eyes narrowed for a moment before she said, “Okay. You have my cell, right?”

“Yep. I got it from Henry.”

“All right. Call if you need anything.”

“I will.” Tessa waved goodbye to Lauren.

As Tessa watched Lauren climb into her SUV, she tried to focus on the positives that had come from the conversation. There was no structural damage. She would most likely have help fixing the place up. She had a month and a half to get the house ready to sell and then sell it. At least she had no doubt that, in Lauren’s capable hands, the house would be sold.

Deciding to brave another look inside, she made her way back up the walkway. “Okay, okay, okay, okay,” she mumbled under her breath. She could do this. Everything was going to be fine.





Chapter Nine




‡


Jake’s muscles were on fire as he ran up the incline on the steep hill and it just made him go harder. He was pushing his body further than he ever had. He didn’t care about the pain that was shooting up his legs and back or the fact that he still had to go play a basketball game tonight. All he cared about was running.

He wanted to get lost in the rhythm of his feet pounding painfully on the pavement, the sensation of the wind harshly hitting his face, and the constricting ache of his chest, so tight it seemed like he could not get oxygen. All of those things felt better than thinking about Tessa.

Running had always worked as a very effective form of cheap therapy for Jake. It cleared his head until there were no thoughts at all. Just him and the road. He’d spent the last thirteen years trying to outrun a ghost, and most of the time he’d been fairly successful. Especially since he’d stopped using alcohol to do it. But now that ghost was alive and well, right here in Hope Falls, and it was proving to be much more challenging.

Lucky, however, could not have been happier about his efforts. Two runs in one day was his version of doggie heaven. Jake saw Lucky’s tail disappear around the bend of Shady Creek Lane. When Jake had first rescued Lucky, they had always taken this route so Jake could run by and see the house that he one day wanted to own. To this day, every time they went on a run, his golden lab headed this way.

Jake came up around the bend just moments after his four-legged boy, but Lucky was nowhere to be seen. He passed the huge oak tree that stood tall in his front yard, which Lucky always peed on—marking his territory—and there was still no sign of him.

Then he saw him. Lucky was standing over someone who was lying on the grass. As he moved closer, his heart slammed in his chest. It was Tessa. She was unconscious.