Page 41 of Vanish From Sight (High Peaks Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers #2)
N oah took a deep breath as he climbed out of the Bronco.
Gretchen was standing at the window, waiting for him. She still lived in the same house that she and his uncle Patrick had built thirty years ago. It was a rustic private property nestled in a clearing located beside Echo Lake just off Mount Whitney Road.
Standing tall and proud amidst the lush greenery of the forest, the five-bedroom abode was a charming retreat worth millions now and would have netted Gretchen a tidy profit, but she refused to sell it.
Even though she was getting on in age and it would have made sense for her to move into a small condo, it wouldn’t happen.
Her words, as he could remember them, were something to the effect of they would have to carry her out in a coffin before she let the place go .
It wasn’t all stubbornness; it was nostalgia and love that kept her there.
The truth was it was a physical tie to Patrick who had tragically passed away in his sleep two years after Noah lost his mother to an aneurysm.
The exterior of the house was a stunning blend of natural materials, featuring a mix of sturdy wooden beams, rugged stone accents and traditional shingles. The roof had a steep pitch, creating a striking silhouette against the clear blue sky.
The wraparound porch, which added to the allure of the property, was full of comfortable seating that invited guests to relax and take in the tranquil scenery.
As Noah approached the house across a cobblestone walkway flanked by rows of colorful wildflowers, he eyed her.
“He’s around the back, Noah,” Gretchen said, waiting at the door.
“And Mia?”
“She’s with me.”
He nodded and skirted around the house past a charming wooden shed that housed outdoor equipment. Ahead of him, he spotted Ethan sitting on the dock, his arms wrapped around his knees. Ethan glanced over his shoulder as his father approached, his eyes red from crying, before looking back out.
Noah sidled up beside him, standing there for a second and looking out across the water that shimmered in the afternoon sunlight.
The gentle rustling of the reeds was soothing but even nature couldn’t ease the pain of a fourteen-year-old boy.
Noah glanced down and exhaled softly as he sat beside his son.
He said nothing for a good couple of minutes.
Too often people were in a rush to speak, to fill the silence when all that was needed was someone to be present. Sometimes words weren’t required .
Finally, he spoke softly. “I know how much it hurts, son. I wish I didn’t but I do. I was only eighteen when I lost your grandmother. My mom. It was sudden too. I never got to say goodbye. Greatest pain I’ve ever felt. Thirty years later, I still grieve.”
Ethan lifted his eyes. “I never met her.”
“I know. She would have loved to meet you, to see how tall you’ve grown, how much you are becoming your own person.”
Ethan turned to him, tears streaming down his face. “Why did this have to happen, Dad? Why did mom have to die?”
Noah put a comforting arm around his son. “I really wish I had the answer, son. But what I do know is that pain never really leaves you. It just becomes a little less sharp over time.”
“I don’t want to feel this.”
“I know. We grieve because we loved someone. Grief doesn’t end because love doesn’t end. We just miss the person. All that changes is how we carry, feel and express that grief. I know that might not make much sense right now but eventually it will.”
“What happened to mom?”
Noah knew Ethan would have questions, and he would do his best to answer them honestly. He deserved to know the truth about how she died, but in that moment, he couldn’t say she was murdered, even if that was what he believed.
“We’re still investigating. We don’t have all the details yet. But what I do know is that we’ll get through this together. I won’t lie. I can’t promise it will be easy or that pain will be gone tomorrow, next week or even in a few months, but I’ll be here for you.”
“I keep thinking about one of the last conversations I had with her. I was angry.”
“Over what?”
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“Listen to me. What happened, happened. It was not your fault. You are not to blame. And I don’t want you to beat yourself up over what you didn’t or did say.
Your mom loved you and that’s all you need to hold here,” he said, placing a hand on his kid’s heart.
“Let me tell you something I’ve never told anyone.
Hours before my mother collapsed, I had an argument with her.
It was over my father. As much as she supported my decision to leave for the military, she tried to get me to understand that my father only wanted the best for me.
I couldn’t see it back then. I said a few choice words I shouldn’t have.
” Noah dipped his chin then raised it. “I can’t change that now but I sure as heck blamed myself for those words after she was gone.
” He paused. “I only learned after my mother passed that she had gone to bat for me and tried to get my father to understand my decision.”
Ethan nodded.
Noah gripped his son tightly. “Even though her life was cut short, I know your mom was grateful for every year she got with you and she understood you. She knows you loved her. Okay?” Ethan wept, leaning into his father. Noah choked up, a few tears rolling down his cheeks.
He wasn’t sure how long he sat there with Ethan, only that in time, he heard movement behind him and looked back to see Mia.
Not far behind her was Gretchen, a strained smile on her face.
Noah motioned for his daughter to join them.
She hurried over and sat, and he wrapped his arms around her too.
He sat there holding them, staring out across the water until their tears ran dry.