Page 6

Chapter Six

SUNNY

S unny watched Asher’s truck making its way down the road, wishing she knew how to fix this. Everything was such a mess between the house and Asher that a big part of her wished she’d never come back.

She thought about going back into the bar, but that would only be putting off what she needed to do, so she headed to the diner to grab some food before heading home.

Something about pulling up to Ruby’s Diner made her feel a little better. This was the one place she still felt like she belonged. Her aunt Betty was the only person who made her feel wanted in this whole town.

The bell rang over her head as she entered the diner.

“Sunny,” said Betty. “Grab a seat at the counter. I’ll be right with you.” She took the food to the only full table.

Sunny was happy that it was slow. She didn’t feel like being around too many people.

She sat at the counter and pulled up a menu. While she was pretty sure she was just going to get a cheeseburger and fries, part of her wanted a salad or something fresh. But as much as she loved this diner, they weren’t known for their health food.

Betty came and slid her a cherry Coke. “What can I do you ya, Sunshine?”

She sighed. “Just give me a cheeseburger. Then I’m going to go home and try to get a little more work done on the house.”

Betty put in the order but then turned back to her. “How is the house?”

“Well... I have my bedroom, the bathroom, and the barely livable kitchen ... After that, it’s questionable.”

Betty nodded. “I was afraid of that. I tried to keep an eye on the property, but there’s only so much I could do.”

“No,” Sunny said before taking a sip of her Coke. “It’s okay. I need to deal with this mess. It’s one I made, so it’s only right that I should be the one to clean it up.”

“Are you okay?”

She let out another long sigh. “I saw Asher at the Corner Tap.”

Betty squeezed her hand. “How did it go?”

“I mean... as good as can be expected.”

Her voice shook as she fought the tears in her eyes.

“Oh, sweet pea, give him some time.”

Sunny nodded and swallowed down the lump in her throat. “I know... I just wish it was a little easier. I knew leaving without saying goodbye was wrong... but the longer I stayed away the harder it was to come home.”

“Are you thinking about leaving again?”

Sunny chewed her lip as she mulled over that question. “No. I’m here. As much as it’s going to suck to fix the mess I made. I know this is where I belong. I love the Hollow. This is home. I’m ready to put in the work to make it feel like one again.”

The answer surprised even herself.

“Do you want to pick up some shifts? I don’t have much available, but I might be able to help a little.”

“No, I think I might bartend a few nights a week down at the Tap... I’m also thinking about maybe reading some cards... Ya know... like Mom used to.”

A warm smile appeared on Betty’s face.

“The Midsommer Festival will be here before you know it. I could sign you up for a booth.”

“Ya know what? Do it... That should give me enough time to settle in a bit and get ready to deal with the Hollow on that level.”

After she ate, Sunny made it home. The pocket doors next to the front door called to her. That was the parlor her mother had read cards in. Her dad had closed these doors the day after the accident.

Maybe it was time to open them again.

Taking a deep breath, she slid the door open. It was just as her mom had left it.

She switched on the lamp, and even in the dim lighting, the layer of dust covering everything was apparent. In the center of the room was the small round table where she would tell fortunes, where her deck of cards was still lying in the center.

Sunny had her own cards in the van. She had the gift of sight just like her mother and had used that gift to read fortunes on the West Coast. She traced her fingers along the dust in the bookshelf, leaving little finger trails.

Letting out a shaky breath, she could feel her mother’s presence in this whole house, but in the parlor, it was like she was still here.

She made her way to the table. After picking up the cards, she could smell smoke. Not only that, but it seemed to be filling the room.

When she closed her eyes, she found herself surrounded by flames.

She opened her eyes, and she was on the road, rain falling everywhere. The car was burning in front of her.

“Mom!” She ran to the car and tried to look inside, but it was empty.

Where her mother should have been, along with Asher’s parents, was nothing but empty space.

Slowly, a large black figure stood in front of the car. Her mouth dropped in a silent scream. It was dark, and all she could make out was a massive frame until it opened its eyes. Two red eyes peered at her before the figure jumped straight up into the rain as sirens sounded in the distance.

She gasped for breath and opened her eyes but found herself there in her mother’s dusty parlor.

She jumped as loud music started playing from the living room.

After putting the tarot cards back on the table, she found the radio in the living room, which somehow, was blaring once again, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.

” This time, it was coming from the old stereo.

A big part of her was tempted to go to sleep in her van. This was all part of why she left. Since she’d been gone, she hadn’t had a vision like that in years. These visions were part of why she ran.

But there was a small part of her that, even through the terror of such an intense vision, drew her close to her mother.

Her energy was all over this place in a way Sunny wasn’t able to feel before she left.

But she could feel it, even if the blaring music had her on edge and served as a distraction from Asher.

She turned the radio down before heading up to her room.

The next day, she would get this house a little more cleared out.

Somehow, she would turn it into a home again.

Somehow, she would prove to the Hollow that she belonged here.

She would make amends to the Black family.

And she would make things better with Asher.

There was still a chance. But first, she would sleep.