Finding the Invisible Woman by Heidi Renee Mason

Author:Heidi Renee Mason
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781922359872
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I awoke the next morning still tired from my restless night. I had slept little, most of the hours spent caught in a series of horrible dreams from which there was no escape. Each one involved Charlie and highlighted my guilt over his death. The worst was when I got to experience over and over again the moment my husband’s car made impact with the oncoming bus that ended his life. It was a dream I’d had nearly every night since his death. It haunted me, and truth be told, I often wondered if it was some sort of cosmic punishment for my lies.

Groaning, I rolled out of bed and headed to the shower, doing my best to push the horrific images to the back of my mind so I could function. It was a routine to which I’d become accustomed. I could barely remember what it felt like to awaken rested and refreshed.

Dressing quickly, I poked my head inside Stella’s room. She was on the phone again, and mouthed the words, “I’m sorry,” when she saw me.

I smiled at her reassuringly, whispered, “It’s okay,” and blew her a kiss.

Grabbing my purse, I headed out the door. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I looked at the screen. It was a number with a Cleveland area code, and I was pretty sure it was the same one I’d had all those missed calls from when I first arrived in Cottage Brook. I debated on whether or not to answer, but in the end, I let it go to voicemail. I figured if it was a legitimate call, whoever it was would leave a message. But they didn’t.

“Definitely a telemarketer,” I decided.

Tossing my phone into my purse, I made my daily stop at the coffee shop, sipping my triple espresso as I drove toward Aunt Viv’s house. I hadn’t seen her in several days, and I knew it was time to pay her a visit. I might not want to see my mother, but Aunt Viv was another story.

Pulling into her circular drive, I jumped out of the car and knocked on her front door. The maid answered mid-knock, and I wondered if the woman simply sat by the front door waiting for visitors. She was certainly prompt about answering.

She led me to the sunroom, where Viv sat sipping her morning tea and reading the newspaper.

“Ms. Hadley, ma’am,” the maid announced.

“Thank you, Janet,” Viv replied. “That will be all.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Janet replied. With a curt nod, the woman left the room as quickly as she’d entered it.

“Such efficiency.” I laughed.

“Janet has been with me for many years. We don’t require a lot of words,” Viv replied with a smile. “Come, sit with me. I’d offer you some tea, but I see you are already drinking coffee. Dreadful stuff.”

“It’s the elixir of life,” I joked, lifting my travel mug in the air as I sat in the chair beside her.

“So, what have you been up to, dear? Tell me all the details of how you’re settling into Cottage Brook life.

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