Chapter 45 | OK, BOOMER

Walking over to the couple's table, I'm informed that they're ready for the bill.

A few minutes later, and they're preparing to leave. However, before they do, the older woman smiles at me as she whispers over, "You missed it."

I feel my face morph into one of confusion. "Missed what?"

"What happened with the man who makes you blush."

Oh, the creepy Mick guy? She saw what happened to him...of course, she did.

I feel myself tilt my head to the side slightly, prompting her to continue.

"That embodiment of soggy toast who came in and was making you look uncomfortable. You missed his terrified face when the man who makes you blush started talking to him."

Wait...she's implying that Vaughn is the man who makes me blush? I mean, he does, but anyone can make me blush.

It's not that big of a deal. Right?

And, 'embodiment of soggy toast'? I'm using that one.

But then I really start to focus on what she said.

Vaughn started talking to the guy as soon as I left?

And the man looked terrified? Why?

What did Vaughn tell him?

"Did you happen to hear what was being said?" I ask, hopefully, but deep down, I know she didn't.

"No, sorry," she replies, still whispering lowly to me as her husband waits patiently by the door for her. "But you should definitely keep the one you like around. The way he looks at you is adorable, and he acts as a good, slimy-man-repellent. And, of course, he's certainly not bad on the eyes."

The way he looks at me?

Laughing awkwardly, feeling thoroughly confused, I nod, thanking the woman.

Before she leaves, however, she whispers one last final thing to me: "I wish my husband looked at me like that."

And then I'm hesitantly sliding over in front of Vaughn, trying to violently shove the woman's words out of my mind. Even if they did flatter me, there's no way Vaughn could like me that way.

Or like me at all period.

He's looking relaxed, but I can tell that he's also clearly on guard, staying aware of everyone and everything in the room.

And when he looks at me, I almost forget about everyone and everything else in the room. Why am I like this?

"Um...Vaughn?"

"Yes, Mikaere?"

"What did you tell that guy?"

He tilts his head to the side, "What guy?"

I purse my lips for a split second before I smile sarcastically, nodding. "Vaughn, you know what guy I'm talking about."

He maintains eye contact for a few moments, trying to read my expression. And then he immediately appears indifferent as he answers, "I didn't tell him anything."

This liar.

"K, but you see, that lady I just got done talking to, told me the creepy guy looked terrified when you started talking to him."

He inclines his head upward the slightest bit, listening to me intently. And though I haven't seen what he looks like when he's proud, I'd be willing to bet that it looks something like his current facial expression. "Did he? I didn't notice."

"But I thought you didn't tell him anything?"

He doesn't even blink. "I didn't. That's why I didn't notice."

Oh, my God. Why does he have to be so stubborn?

I take a deep breath, "I know you're lying, but since you seem set on not telling me, I'll stop asking."

He pauses, considering my words. Then: "You aren't really going to stop, are you?"

I smile, turning around to go check on the pancakes. "Yeah, nope! Not happening."

When I return, I have a plate of pancakes and questions for Vaughn.

But when he sees them, he shakes his head. "You have them."

I frown, "But-"

"You haven't had anything to eat yet today," he states. "And I'm not hungry."

"How do you know I haven't?" There's no way he could possibly figure that out.

"I'm guessing you've been working for a few hours already. It's just turned ten, about the usual time you wake up. You probably haven't been hungry until now."

I scoff. Well, guess who's spot on, as usual?

"Sherlock," I mutter, going to sit at the bar beside him.

"Does that make you my Watson?" He asks lowly, surprising me.

"Nope. Medical things bore me, and I hate the sight of blood."

He nods, and I start to eat the delicious food Henry made.

"When are you planning on leaving?" He then asks, so once I've swallowed, I answer.

"Uh...probably Thursday."

After standing up and grabbing his things, he places a hand on my shoulder, which surprises me. I don't object, though. "Be careful, Mikaere."

"With?"

He looks me in the eyes, "With everyone."

And after he says goodbye, he's walking out the door.

Did he really have to be so ominous?

A couple of days later, and I'm still working in the evening. So far, I haven't had any more experiences like the one with the creepy Mick guy.

However, the family of three that reminded me of my own came in about an hour ago. It's been nice to chit-chat with them, as they seem like sincere people.

But at the same time, it's also very unnerving because speaking with them only reminded me of my parents further. The man, William, talks fast, much like I remember my father doing, and the woman, Hayley, has a kind smile. Like my mom did.

I learn that they moved to Palmer roughly six years ago, but they often visit because Hayley's mother, Mary, lives here.

Their daughter, Vanessa, a somewhat shy but very talkative girl, tells me about the sled dogs they own, sounding ecstatic as she describes them.

As they're about to leave, I go up to them and thank them for coming.

"You know, we never did catch your name," Hayley says.

I smile, "I'm Mikaere."

"Mikaere..." she pauses, confusion gracing her features. "I've heard that name before."

Wait, what? "Really?" I ask.

"Yes...from a man who traveled out here years ago, long before Vanessa here was even born. We were good friends with him."

I instantly freeze.

Wait...

No.

No way. There's no way.

She turns to leave, but my curiosity stops her. "Was the man a photographer?"

She slowly turns around, "Yes...his name was John... how did you know?"

"John Agner was my uncle," I tell her quietly, and watch as her eyes grow wide.

I mean, what have I found about Henry and Nina that has genuinely reminded me of my parents so far? Nothing, basically.

But if I was wrong about them being the ones that John told me to find, then...

"You're John's Mikaere? Oh, my goodness. He said you might come to Chickaloon one day, but..."

"But we never thought you actually would," William finishes for her. "So we moved."

Then maybe John wouldn't have entrusted me with them.

So, I ask them a question to help verify. "Do you know of a Vaughn Westergaard?"

"Of course," Hayley says. "Everyone knows of him, and everyone knows where is. Well, not exactly where he lives, but everyone knows that if you want to find him, you just walk into the woods until the...what is it, the birds? Yeah, until the birds find you."

"Though, that has always sounded too vague and ominous for us, so we never did," William adds.

I listen intently as everything I thought I'd known becomes uncertain.

Everyone knows how to reach Vaughn.

Henry and Nina are not the ones that John meant for me to find.

I suddenly feel like a fraud, for some reason, staying under their roof for so long.

Hayley and William start asking me questions, including how I got here, what I think of it so far, and how long I'll be staying.

I answer patiently, though deep down inside, I'm focused on this new revelation. Knowing that John didn't necessarily trust the Strands makes me place more uncertainty on Henry's name.

And, I know just as well, if not more than anyone, that it's innocent until proven guilty.

But it feels different when you're amid two disappearances, and everyone is throwing names around like they're confetti. It's hard to stay objective and just focus on the facts, avoiding speculation.

By the time they leave, we've made plans to have breakfast tomorrow morning.

I don't tell them about the letters.

And, I've decided to quit for the day, as it's almost closing.

Also, I want to act as if nothing's wrong, so I cheerfully say goodnight to Nina and Henry before hurrying up the stairs to the guest room.

But as I go to bed that night, laying in the comfortable yet cold and empty room, I can't help but miss the warm, cozy cabin I've grown much too accustomed to.

It confuses me how easily I've gotten attached to the place and its inhabitants. Well, at least one of them. The first time I stayed here at the tavern after coming back from the cabin, I was glad to get away from there.

But now...

Now, not so much.

I mean, I don't really know what has changed, I only know how it has changed.

The conversations, the bonfires, the walks, the cooking, the reading, the butterflies I get when he looks at me...that's what has changed whatever uneasy feelings I had around him at the start.

Of course, I'm not so naive as to believe I know his personality inside and out. I don't even know why he decided to move out here in the first place, and I probably never will. However, now there's a basis of trust. A...companionship, or sorts. I enjoy his company, and he no longer seems to despise mine.

Of course, he still isn't as talkative as I am when I'm with him. However, would day one Vaughn have carried me like that, even though he knew I was perfectly capable of walking and just choosing to be lazy?

I doubt that he would have.

Therefore, I like to think there's been some character development. Considering Vaughn even tells me about his sister, now, that has to mean something, right? Like, a sign of some amount of trust on his part? He wouldn't just tell anyone that, would he?

No.

Of course, not. Who else is there to tell?

And for some reason, I feel myself smile a bit at that.

He's been isolated by choice for eight years, and I've not been very outgoing or social for the past seven.

But now, for some odd reason, I've chosen to be blatantly open with this man, and in return, he's decided to slowly open up to me.

I smile, closing my eyes as I focus on sleeping, recalling the sight of wooden walls lit up by a glow of a fireplace in the darkness.

Tomorrow's Thursday, the day Vaughn arrives to escort me back to the cabin. Therefore, I'm standing outside the store, deciding to buy a few more books and snacks in preparation for another month in the woods. Also, maybe I figured if she's working, I could try and get Luna to talk.

And when I push myself to push open the door, I see that she is.

Peering up from her current work of stocking items, she immediately glances away once she sees it's me.

One other person is shopping--an older man I have not yet seen before.

I decide to find what I need first, opting to wait for the older man to leave before trying to persuade Luna.

But he doesn't leave.

Long after I've been through pretty much every aisle, he's still shopping at the rate of a sloth. And, he's not even that old, either. Maybe fifty, only?

Either way, eventually I get tired of waiting, so I bring all the items to the counter.

She's the first to speak, keeping her voice low. "I heard you're working alongside Henry, now."

"And Nina. It's just when I stay here," I explain. "I'm still keeping my distance."

She only nods, so I opt to ask, "Why should I be cautious of him, Luna?"

She sighs, handing me my change. "Mikaere, you can ask all you want, but I'm not going to tell you."

I frown, about to answer when I feel something, or someone, poke my shoulder, and upon turning, see that it is the sloth.

He looks annoyed and crusty, and though I'm used to these judgemental stares coming from Jack, it's different coming from a complete stranger.

I shift, a bit nervous, even though he doesn't intimidate me in the slightest, and he notices.

I smell the scent of cigarette smoke on him, and his voice only confirms it.

"Are you going to stand there all day? I'd like to check out sometime this year."

I keep my face neutral, though I'm quite uncomfortable with this situation.

Ok, boomer.

But seriously, though...the irony of his statement.

I waited at least fifteen minutes for him to finish, but two minutes into my conversation, and I need to hurry it up?

I sigh through my nose, nodding passively before turning around, grabbing my things, and walking out.

Luna doesn't say anything as she watches me go, and frankly, I don't care. She won't tell me anything, period, so I'll have to find my information somewhere else.

Next month I'll focus on finding that source, but now I'm currently more focused on finishing my laundry and packing my things.