Page 14 of Let Me Be the One
The finished attic, or bonus room, as Addie had called it, had a sloping ceiling around the perimeter, though it was high enough down the middle. Twin beds, made up like couches with plenty of throw pillows, were situated beneath the lowest part on opposite sides. Fresh pillowcases and quilts were waiting for them.
The stairs leading up to the room had opened into a small entry that led to a walk-in closet filled with holiday décor. The door had only been haphazardly closed, and inside Callie had seen a giant Santa head next to an electric star, with boxes and boxes of ornaments, some of them clearly homemade. There was also a rack of Halloween costumes in varying sizes, and a large Easter bunny costume beneath a shelf filled with baskets and colorful buckets. There was even some birthday décor.
When Callie had peeked inside, fascinated by it all, Addie had laughed, saying, “I started doing huge parties for the boys when they were younger and I’ve never stopped. Now it’s comical when I put on the bunny costume and make them take baskets to hunt for eggs, or when they have to sit beside me while I’m dressed like Santa.” She’d chuckled with the memory. “Gotta have my annual photos, you know, and the boys play along. They’re good sports.”
In that moment, Callie’s heart had begun aching and it hadn’t let up yet. A hollowness filled her, making heryearn for new things. Things she’d never had before and hadn’t realized were missing.
Holidays at her house were always formal affairs with everyone dressing up to entertain important clients. Never, not once in her twenty-eight years, had either of her parents ever worn a bunny or Santa costume. Someday, she’d love to see Addie’s photos.
If she’d be here long enough.
Tanner hadn’t made a secret about wanting her gone.
Addie had left them after saying that her kitchen was open if either of them got hungry, and that she’d have coffee ready by eight, but they should feel free to start a pot if they got up before that. No one could be more open, more welcoming than her new neighbor.
Now Callie sat on a bed, rethinking her plans. Because of Addie. And because of Tanner.
Glory, still exploring, said, “Behind that big closet is a bathroom with a shower and on the other side is a small kitchenette.”
Addie had said there were bottles of water and cans of cola in the narrow, apartment-sized fridge, but Callie didn’t want to impose more than she already had.
“It’s spotlessly clean,” she noted. “Addie must keep it that way, because she didn’t know we were coming.”
“Or,” Glory whispered, “It’s kept that way to remove evidence of past murders. If they lured us here for godawful reasons, you played right into their hands.”
With a roll of her eyes, Callie said, “I hope you’re joking.” When it came to Glory’s overblown imagination, she could never be sure. Honestly, she was jumpy enough after the bad vibes in the woods that she didn’t need Glory making her more nervous. “Addie said the boys used to hang out here with their friends.”
“I’d hardly call your smoking-hot specimen a boy.”
“First, he’s notmyspecimen.” Which was really too bad. If Tanner were just a little more agreeable, he could make her entire transition a far more pleasant experience. “And I’m sure she meant when they were younger.” Couldn’t deny the “smoking-hot” description. Tanner had it, in spades. The man was downright fantasy-inspiring, so it was no wonder she was already indulging a few fun scenarios.
Like…what if she did a rehab on the house with the intent of selling it, and along the way she got to play with Tanner? So far, he hadn’t seemed interested, but he might change his mind if he knew she wouldn’t be sticking around.
Glory shrugged. “I guess if Tanner and his mysterious brother used this space, the foosball table and gaming system on the TV would make sense.”
Callie grinned. “Plus those beanbag chairs. I haven’t seen those in years.” And she’d never seen them in her own home. For just a moment she had a flash of Tanner as a teenager, all long limbs and prominent bones, sprawled in one of those chairs with a controller in his hands. Somehow, the image didn’t work, because she couldn’t quite imagine anyone as intense as him ever being carefree like that…and yet it felt familiar, too, almost like she could see him.
“I’m going to take a shower,” Glory announced. “That is, if you don’t mind me going first.”
“Have at it. I’ll clean up after you.” She needed a little time to dig out a change of clothes from her suitcase.
“I’m locking the door,” Glory warned, “just in case any of our hosts decide to intrude. If you need to go, now’s your chance.”
“I’m fine.” She shooed Glory away, content to continue her speculation on Tanner. He’d said he knew her. She was from this area. Had they once crossed paths?
Getting comfortable on the twin bed, she plugged in her phone so it wouldn’t die, and then did a search of him on social media. Nothing. Seriously, he wasn’t onanysocial media? That seemed really odd.
Changing tactics, she looked for family-owned tree farms in Hoker, Kentucky. One business popped up: Willis Tree Farm. Curious, she scrolled through the details and some images, confirming that she had the right place. No photos of Tanner though.
He seemed the same age as her, so she looked up the high school. The website showed only current information with a few alumni from the year she’d graduated. Determined, she checked the class that graduated the year before her…
Bingo.
Tanner Patrick, a graduate who had gone on to sponsor at-risk boys and girls in numerous ways, including with summer jobs, outings for the holidays, and in various sports programs.
He helped kids from the school district. He…cared.
Breathing a little faster, Callie went back to social media and instead of searching for accounts under Tanner’s name, she went to each different platform and just searched for mentions of him.
