Page 95 of Take Care, Taylor

Soft chimes sounded, but after several seconds there was no answer.

I knocked as hard as I could.

Nothing.

Holding back a groan, I raised my fist to try again, but the door swung open.

A familiar woman in a pink robe and hair rollers stood before me. Her fingers gripped a glass of wine, and she looked like she’d just gotten out of bed.

“Hi,” I said, struggling to remember her name. “I’m looking for Audrey.”

“Taylor Wolff?” She squinted. “Is that you?”

“Yes. I really need to speak to Audrey.”

“Well, then.” She looked me up and down, taking a long sip from her glass.

“All these years have been very good to you. I can see why all the girls used to go crazy for you. Audrey should’ve fallen in line with them, huh?”

“What?”

“It’s not every day I see a younger man who makes me aroused.”

“Ma’am…” I kept my voice firm. “I’m looking for Audrey.”

“She’s not here.”

“Okay, thank you. Do you know when she’ll be back?”

“Maybe she’ll visit me for the holidays.” She shrugged. “Anyway, it’s very nice seeing you, Mr. Wolff. You can addcare of Aunt Lydiato your next packages if you think they’ll arrive faster.”

“All my letters have come here,” I said. “Has she read them?”

“I don’t know.” She sighed. “I just forward them to her, Taylor. I don’t know if she’s actually opened them or not.”

“Well, where are you forwarding them to?”

“I…” She bit her lip and shook her head. “I’m sure she’ll reach out to you when she wants to hear from you, okay?”

“No, it’s not okay.”

“I don’t know what else to tell you, then.” She downed the rest of her wine and stepped back. “No pun intended, but take care, Taylor…”

She shut the door, and I stood there staring at it for what felt like forever—fighting the urge to knock again and demand more answers.

Returning to my car, I circled the block until noon, hoping to catch a glimpse of Audrey, but there was nothing.

When my gas light flashed, I finally returned to my hotel.

I’ll figure this out a different way…

The following morning, I picked up a bouquet of yellow lilies and drove back to Audrey’s aunt’s place.

As I parked across the street, a woman walked up the steps and knocked first.

Confused, I watched Aunt Lydia hand over a stack of envelopes—and when the woman turned around, recognition hit.

Cecelia.