Page 21 of Where Daisies Breathe (Star Meadows #2)
“There could be a few reasons,” she replies.
“Perhaps your father’s death has triggered them.
Or it could be stress related. It could also be that you’ve returned to a town where a lot of your trauma has happened.
You’ve been away from Star Meadows for so long that it’s probably been easier for your mind to block out things, but returning and being in those surroundings may be what’s causing them to resurface.
” She gives a short pause. “I want to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.
I know you want to help with your father’s case and your friend’s, but if you push your mind too hard before you’ve had time to heal, I worry it might set your healing back. ”
I want to tell her I won’t, that I’ll let Ellis handle it, but I’m unable to do so. “I need to do this. It’s just… I need to.”
A beat of silence fills the line.
“If you feel that way, then okay. But please take care of your mental health first.”
“I will.”
We talk for a while longer before we end the call.
The answers she gave me about my surfacing memories helped a bit, but in the end, none of this really provided me with any answers other than why my I’m suddenly remembering stuff, and also that if I remain here to help with the case, it might get worse.
But I can’t back out now. I need answers and hopefully justice for all those girls.
By the time I finished my coffee, Bailey has wandered out of the room. He prances over to stand in front of the door, so I get up to grab a leash to take him outside. But then he starts growling, and the fur on his back stands up.
“What is it?” I ask, making my way over to him.
I stare at the front door. There’s a curtain covering a small window at the top of it, but it’s still too dark outside to tell through the fabric if someone is on the other side.
I pet Bailey as I inch closer to the door.
Then I flip on the porch light before pulling the curtains back.
Nothing is on the other side, but my heart is fucking soaring.
“There’s nothing out there,” I tell Bailey, although I’m unsure if I even believe my words. “It’s okay, though. This place gets to me, too.”
Even though I have no desire to go outside, I clip Bailey’s leash onto his collar and walk out into the chilly early morning air.
Bailey tugs on the leash and practically drags me to a cluster of trees out back.
Just behind those, in the distance, is the start of the woods.
His focus becomes fixated on the willow branches stretching toward the grey sky. He lets out a bark and then a growl.
“Come on.” I pull on his leash, trying not to panic. “Use the bathroom and let’s get inside.”
It takes some time, but eventually he does. Then I rush inside the house and lock the door behind me. I can’t shake the feeling that someone was out in the trees watching me, that maybe that’s why I felt like I was being watched earlier.
I need to mention this to Ellis. And to Clara, so she’ll be safe. I’m planning on having Ellis pick me up today so Clara will at least have the car to drive.
By the time I’ve finished feeding Bailey, Clara has wandered into the kitchen and is pouring herself a cup of coffee.
“You were up so early,” she mumbles as she lifts the brim to her mouth and takes a sip.
“Sorry if I woke you up. I couldn’t sleep.” I check the time. “Ellis will be picking me up soon. The car will be here so you can go wherever.”
“Thanks.” She slumps down into a chair. “How did everything go yesterday?”
“Okay, I guess.” I pull out a chair and take a seat across from her. “I made it up the mountain, so that’s a plus. But it was hard and it kind of triggered some old memories that weren’t very pleasant.”
“I’m sorry, Aves.” She sets the cup of coffee down then rests her arms on the table. “Did you find anything out about Trystan?”
I shake my head. “Not really. I want to find out what that key goes to, but I’m not sure where to start.”
She rubs her lips together, contemplating. “Can I see it?”
“Sure.” I push to my feet to get it from my bag. When I return, she has her phone out. I hand her the key, then sit down. “What’re you doing with it?”
She examines it before typing something into her phone. “I’m searching for the brand and number on it. It might at least tell us what kind of lock it goes to.”
I fold my arms on top of the table. “That’s a good idea.”
She smiles, but it swiftly fades. “It says it goes to a lock on a specific type of gate.”
“What kind of gate?” I ask. She extends her arm across the table and urges me to take her phone.
When I do, my breath catches in my throat.
A photo is displayed on the screen of a metal gate, similar to the kind that borders the house in the woods, at least from what I could tell from the top of the cliff. “I think I’ve seen this gate before.”
“It’s a pretty common kind of gate.” She takes a sip of her coffee and sets the mug back down. “But if you know of a gate like that, then I bet that key goes to it.”
She’s probably right, which means my parents probably own that house in the woods.
Although I took the key from my mother’s bedroom, Trystan was the one looking for it. He was on the phone when he came into my room, so could that mean he was speaking to my mother? If so, does that mean that my mother had something to do with the day in the woods?
Could she have that much darkness inside her?
With everything I’ve remembered lately, I think I know she can. And that makes me wonder what other awful things she’s capable of.