Page 66 of Hollow Secrets

I sigh into the mug of coffee I hold in my hands.

The front door opens behind me, and Ichabod appears. He still looks battered and bruised, but he’s starting to get a healthy glow back once more. He sits beside me in companionable silence and places a hand on my knee. I rest my head on his shoulder.

I’m not sure how long we stay like that, but eventually Meredith pokes her head around the doorframe. She’s pale, eyes red-rimmed, but she smiles.

“Breakfast is ready. Toby has made freshly squeezed orange juice. Watch out for pips.” Her voice drops to a whisper, and she winks.

The kitchen is filled with the scent of fresh bread and of course, orange juice.

Brom is already sat at the small breakfast table, tucking into a plate of berry and yoghurt pancakes. He looks up as we enter.

“Finally awake?” he grins, popping a strawberry into his mouth.

Meredith moves gracefully around the kitchen, setting down more plates of food, all prepared as if it were just another ordinary morning. Toby presses full glasses of juice into mine and Ichabod’s hands. We smile at each other.

I watch Meredith with quiet admiration. How strong she is, I think. The horrors she has seen, losing her husband, and here she is, nurturing her family.

We eat in comfortable quiet, the exhaustion of the last few days weighing on us all.

Toby has had a slight frown, as if trying to work something out, and finally, he looks up at me.

“Kat, you were there when the Horseman disappeared, but… where did he actually go?” he asks.

I think about it, but to be honest, I’m still not sure myself. This week has thrown up a whole load of questions for me. Before now, I didn’t believe in anything I couldn’t see. But now, I’m almost certain there’s an afterlife, whatever that looks like. I pause.

“I think he’s where he was always meant to be,” I reply.

“And what about you, Kat?” Ichabod asks, reaching for my hand and running his thumb across my palm.

I look around the table.

At Meredith who has lost so much but continues moving forwards.

Toby, so young to have learned about the evil in the world.

Brom, who has become the closest friend I have.

And Ichabod, who helped me to see the truth and then stood by me through it all.

“Me? I think I’m where I was always meant to be too.”

For the first time, Sleepy Hollow feels like home.