Shadows of wildstone, p.9
Shadows of Wildstone, page 9
‘I’m not sure, to be honest.’ Thankful for Caleb’s presence, Nyah fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. ‘It’s a lot to take in. This house…it’s full of ghosts.’ She felt compelled to reveal what she’d only told Hope. ‘And my mother left me a letter, telling me she had been having an affair the entire time she was married to Dad, so Skye might not be his…’ Her voice trailed off, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air between them.
‘An affair with who?’ His brows furrowed.
‘She didn’t say.’ Three words, that was all she could get past the emotion clogging her throat.
‘What a terrible thing to leave you with.’ Caleb straightened, his demeanour changing to one of focused attention. ‘Does your dad know?’
‘Apparently not. But I’m going to tell him when I get back home to Cairns.’ She met his eyes. ‘Do you have any idea who it could have been?’ She paused, gauging his reaction.
‘I wouldn’t have a clue.’ Caleb shook his head slowly, as if processing the information. ‘But this makes things a hell of a lot more complicated.’
‘How so?’
He rubbed the light stubble dusting the sharp curves of his jaw. ‘This person could have something to do with Skye’s disappearance.’
‘Yes, I suppose that’s true, I hadn’t even thought of it. But I bet it’ll be like navigating through a treacherous swamp, trying to uncover who this bloke is.’ Nyah’s voice faltered with a mixture of fear and frustration.
‘Swamps can be navigated, Ny,’ Caleb said softly, closing the distance between them. His hand reached out tentatively at first, but then with confidence, resting gently on her shoulder. ‘You’re not alone in this. I’m here with you every step of the way.’
Her eyes closed at his touch, a single tear escaping despite her efforts to hold it back. Caleb’s presence was an anchor in this chaos, his support a lifeline she hadn’t realised she needed so much. And when she opened her eyes again, they met with his and she saw more than just the police officer or even a protector—she saw a man who understood her loss and had the same yearning for redemption as she did. And she also saw, beyond all of this, that Caleb Hart was the one and only man she’d ever truly loved.
‘I got you,’ he said gently. ‘Please know that.’
‘Thank you, Caleb,’ she whispered again, allowing herself to lean into his strength.
His arms came around her a little cautiously at first, but when he felt her melt into him he held her, so tightly, yet so gently. She hadn’t felt so safe, and so loved, other than in her father’s arms, since Caleb had held her close all those years ago. And in the quiet kitchen, their two souls connected on a deeper level with their shared sorrow, and an unspoken solace in knowing that together they may be able to untangle the mysteries of the past.
The arrival of the charity workers, and their removal truck, burst their bubble. With all the hustle and bustle, before Nyah knew it the setting sun had cast a warm, golden glow over the rundown cottage, its rays gently filtering through the dusty windows of the now empty lounge room, illuminating the remnants of a house that had once been lived in. Caleb had left to head back to the station, with her two boxes tucked into the back of his Troopy, and she now stood in the hallway, her silhouette outlined against the fading light, and her weary eyes darting to the fluttering yellow lace curtains.
That was when the same chill from hours earlier skated up her spine.
She had to get out of there, right away.
Each creak of the aged floorboards under her hurrying feet reverberated like thunder in the eerie silence that enveloped her. Every shadow seemed to hold a hidden darkness, and while she concentrated on remaining rational, she couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling of being watched. The sensation clung to her like an unseen shroud, prickling her skin and making her heart race erratically. She paused at the front door, her gaze scanning behind her for a sighting of some ghostly mist. There was nothing, and she felt instantly stupid for searching it out. But as she ducked outside and went to close the front door behind her, hopefully for the very last time, a chill covered her neck, as if someone had just traced a finger along the birthmark at her nape.
She knew she’d felt it.
She wasn’t imagining this.
Hurrying down the front pathway with her shoes in her hand, she sprinted through the sagging gate, and her heart raced in union with her footsteps. She didn’t stop until she’d reached the safety of public ground, and the bitumen touched the soles of her feet. Then, and only then, did she turn and face her old home as if it were an entity unto itself. With each slowing breath she willed herself to remain composed, but the spooky feeling continued to chip away at her defences and she decided walking it off was her best option. After tugging her shoes on, she headed in the general direction of her bungalow, where she hoped to find both peace and safety behind the closed door.
* * *
Nyah awoke after a fitful sleep—feeling just as tortured as when she’d finally drifted off into nightmares of her mother and sister clawing their way back to the surface of their deep graves—to a firm knocking at the bungalow’s front door. Rolling from her tousled bed, she raced towards the sound, still half asleep, with her pyjamas askew. When she flung the door open, Caleb’s presence emerged in the blinding morning sunshine as a beacon of certainty. His tall, muscular frame loomed at the threshold of the doorway, his sharp brown eyes searching her face as if desperate for insight.
‘Is everything all right?’ His voice was a low hum, grounding and steady. ‘You look…’ he shrugged, ‘rough.’
‘I’m fine,’ Nyah lied, her words barely a whisper as she rubbed her eyes into some form of life.
But Caleb could clearly read the language of her body—the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers brushed against the tattoos etched into her skin—because he stepped in without a welcome and placed his hands on her shoulders, instantly settling them.
She remained motionless, her gaze avoiding his for fear of him reading her mind, which felt crazy and out of control. He didn’t say a word, but instead pulled her into his embrace. She allowed him to with utter relief, settling her cheek against his comforting chest. The scent of him surrounded her like a blanket, and the leather notes from his open jacket mixing with the spicy aroma of his aftershave created a fragrance that spoke of a promise to stand between her and any harm.
‘I hope you don’t mind, Ny, but I’m going to hang here for a little while.’ Caleb’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. ‘I’ll wait until you’re ready to head out for a bit. We can grab some lunch and sit down by the creek.’
‘Lunch?’ She breathed the word into his chest.
‘Yes, lunch, Love, it’s almost midday.’
She couldn’t believe she’d slept in, let alone lasted so long in the torment of her dreams. Her gratitude for his care, strength and solace was expressed with a quiet nod, her throat too tight with unspoken words to respond any other way. All that mattered right now was that, within this familiar man’s presence, she had a safe place.
After she’d showered and somewhat composed herself, they walked down the main street of Wildstone with their supplies from the local bakery—a ham and salad roll each with a big bottle of lemon tea to wash it all down. Caleb remained a constant shadow at her side as they wandered casually. He acted as a silent buffer against the bristling hostility of a few of those who judged while passing by without even saying a word, their accusatory gazes hanging in the air like a stench she didn’t wish to inhale. It was only Caleb’s steady assurance and unyielding presence beside her that allowed her to breathe a little easier.
‘Thank you,’ she murmured quietly as they turned towards the local creek.
‘Always,’ Caleb replied, his gaze lingering on her with an intensity that conveyed more than words ever could.
Needing to stop impending tears, she looked to the open sky that stretched endlessly above, so blue, so clear. Then and there, surrounded by the land and man that both haunted and supported her, she allowed herself a moment of respite. Caleb’s presence was a silent fortress. And the landscape was solid ground for her to steady herself upon. As they strolled, their skin occasionally brushed, the simple yet profound touch offering her comfort amid the tension that had enveloped her since returning to her childhood home. And step by step, lost in Caleb’s aura of calm fortitude, she found herself gravitating even closer to him. She adored how he spoke so little, allowing the natural symphony of the countryside to fill any lengthy silences, because she knew that words would just be noise against the deeper conversations of their hearts.
Reaching the creekbank after a short incline, she paused for a moment, watching the water flowing over rocks, the sound of nature music to her ears. Caleb stopped beside her, his gaze following hers. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, letting the soothing sensation shrink the weight of her world to a more manageable size.
‘Peaceful, isn’t it?’ she murmured softly, blinking and meeting Caleb’s steady gaze.
‘Nature has a way of putting things into perspective,’ he replied in a low voice imbued with an understanding that transcended the present moment.
She nodded in agreement, allowing herself this transitory respite from reality as they took a seat at the edge of the creek and tucked into their lunch. She couldn’t help but feel grateful for his unwavering support—a guarantee that as she faced the ghosts of what had been and what could have been, she wouldn’t have to do it all alone.
‘How about I cook us dinner tonight, Ny?’ Caleb’s voice broke through her contemplations.
Before she allowed herself time to overthink his kind gesture, she smiled. ‘That would be lovely.’
His widening smile was hers, and hers alone.
Later that day, as the sunshine bowed out to twilight, the rich, savoury aroma of garlic and rosemary filled Caleb’s impressive kitchen, mingling with the sounds of his cooking and the warmth of the flickering candlelight. His gorgeous German shepherd, Jet, lay at her feet, tired out from half an hour of her throwing his ball. Waylon Jennings wooed them from the record player, his honky-tonk voice belting out the lyrics of a song Nyah had always adored, ‘You Showed Me Somethin’ About Lovin’’. From her chair at the eight-seater rustic wooden table, she hummed the tune as she watched Caleb move with efficiency, his skilled hands flipping steak as he tasted the béarnaise sauce from the bowl he’d been whisking. Stifling a demure smile by taking a sip of her prosecco, she traced her fingertips over the grain of the table as she imagined them together, their lives united and their futures entwined. This simple act would become their shared ritual, a way to bridge the gap between the pressures of the day and the tender vulnerability of night. And as Caleb dashed over to her, wooden spoon stretched out to offer her a taste of the buttery sauce, her taste buds danced with deliciousness at the same time as she yearned for his intimate touch. But she couldn’t go there with him. It would ruin this. So, savouring the explosion of flavour, she murmured her approval with a genuine smile on her quivering lips.
With beautifully presented plates of food on the table, they sat down to eat, the soft clink of cutlery punctuating their easy-going conversation—a gentle reunion set against the backdrop of the peace-filled hum of the untainted countryside beyond the windows. Between the moments of lighter tête-à-tête, they also spoke of their dreams, both hopeful and delicate as feathers, and Nyah hesitantly but determinedly shared her aspiration to one day write stories that could heal broken children. All the while Caleb listened intently, his intense brown eyes reflecting the flicker of candlelight as he took his turn and confided in her about the challenges of his job, and how, for a man who upheld the law, justice often came at a steep cost, one that he couldn’t bear to measure.
After eating dinner and clearing away the remnants, they retreated to the living room where each object was a testament to a life lived by the man that she’d never stopped loving. Rustic handcrafted furniture, football trophies, crocheted cushions and a matching throw his mother had made him, and his treasured refurbished record player surrounded by myriad neatly lined-up records.
‘Thank you,’ she breathed out, gazing at a framed photograph of Caleb, Hope and their parents. ‘For being here for me, without judgement, without conditions, without…’ she hesitated, ‘any expectations.’
‘You don’t have to keep thanking me, Ny.’ With his handsome features full of deep emotion, he reached for her hand, his touch strong and warm, a grounding energy amid the storm of memories that threatened to capsize her. ‘I’ve always been here for you, and I always will be, no matter what, because I want to be, forever.’
If her heart could fly right now, it would be up among the stars.
He raised her hand to his lips and rested a gentle kiss against her knuckles. A flood of tears surfaced at his tenderness, and instead of presenting her usual stoic facade, she allowed them to roll down her cheeks. Caleb’s eyes filled with compassion. She didn’t need to speak a word, for her eyes conveyed all as he cupped her cheek and gently wiped each tear away.
* * *
In the following two days, Nyah went about the business of trying to get her mother’s affairs sorted, including the sale of the house that would hopefully pay all outstanding debts. And all the while her concerns about who this mystery man her mother had been seeing could be seemed to close in from all sides. Neither she, nor Caleb or Hope, had come up with anything so far.
It wasn’t for lack of trying, although they’d tried to be subtle. Caleb wanted them to be very careful, making sure not to ask outright questions, so they didn’t raise suspicion and chase off a possible suspect in Skye’s case.
Nyah also had to contend with the whispers and glowers of Margery and her loyal followers—the town’s renowned gossips—who seemed to be permanent fixtures along the main street of the township. Half the time it felt as if they were following her. But she stood firm against every lingering scowl and whispered word, a lighthouse against crashing waves of accusation and judgement.
The support of her true-hearted friends, Hope and Caleb, and her newfound alliance with Vance, became her sources of comfort. Listening and supporting, they each eased the burden of pain in their own unique ways. And with each practical obstacle overcome, she moved closer towards closure, and her impending return to Cairns. It was a trek she was both keen for and begrudging towards. For it meant another tear-jerking goodbye to the two souls she loved with all her heart. It also meant having to tell her father what her mother had divulged. She’d made sure to keep any hint of it out of her daily chats with her dad and Rae—it was the last thing they all needed to deal with.
Now she sat on the edge of her bed, with the sinking sun taking another day away, and allowed herself a moment to reflect over the days she’d been in Wildstone. There were questions still to be answered—a cold case that clung to her like a shadow and a mystery man who’d been sleeping with her mother—but amid all this turmoil, there was always Caleb. Just thinking of his steadfastness created a warmth within her like a campfire on a cold night. Their connection had deepened with every shared silence, every knowing glance, and every meal where laughter became their temporary reprieve. And her friendship with Hope felt like it was back where it had always been; they were sisters through choice. Both the Harts had become anchors right when her world seemed as if it were adrift.
In this quiet moment of deep contemplation, she flopped back onto her bed and dared to let her heart fully feel for the dashing, loyal, forever unwavering Caleb Hart. It was dangerous, the hope that nestled within her chest at the mere thought of him, whispering of things that could never be. Living so far away in Cairns, amid the tropical greenery and humid expanses, she knew the impracticality of nurturing such dreams, and such emotions. Wildstone, with its aching reminders, was a chapter of her life she needed to close, not cling to. And sadly, Caleb was a big part of that story. He’d been born here, and her instincts told her that he would one day die here, too, surrounded by beloved children and a very lucky wife he’d made extremely happy.
She would never be that woman.
Wildstone would never again be her home.
Turning to gaze out her window at the world between the softly shifting curtains, she watched the very first stars appearing, encouraging her to look past her heavy heart, and be grateful for what she did have. A wonderful father, a loving stepmother, a gorgeous paradise to call home, her darling Ragnar, and an amazing job she loved to go to each day. And she allowed herself this one concession, bestowed upon her by Mother Nature herself. To simply feel. To simply be. To live, in this very second. And then on to the next.
So in the sanctuary of her rented bungalow, she let the walls around her heart crumble just enough to admit the true intensity of her feelings for Caleb, and how, if given wings, such feelings could shape her present and her future. Maybe in their next lives they’d find each other again. A soft smile came to her lips at the thought, and echoed in her heart.
If only…
Get a grip, Love, before you go and do something you regret!
With a heavy but determined sigh, she rose from the bed, feeling the weight of the last few days beckoning her to rest. And yet there was solace in knowing she was no longer alone on this journey. Even though the road ahead was shrouded in uncertainty, there was a glimmer of something else too—it wasn’t quite hope, but it wasn’t despair either. It was the recognition of her own strength, the resilience that had carried her through the toughest of storms. Just like the ones before, she’d make it through this one, too. And after taking a nice warm shower, she carried this thought beneath the covers and dared it to join her in her dreams.
While sleep claimed her, her last thoughts lingered on Caleb’s disarming smile. The way his eyes often held hers with an unspoken understanding. How his touch could soothe her in an instant. How his presence made her feel safe, protected and deeply loved. And while the future remained unwritten, for now it was enough to know that in the relentless ebb and flow of life, they’d found each other again, and reconnected—two souls reaching out across the void, touching ever so briefly in the vast tapestry of existence.
