The Puzzle Read Free Page B

at this late hour. I’m too tired to drive down to Franklin. I need to stay here.”
    “I figured something like this might happen when I couldn’t reach you,” said Mike. “So, I threw a kerosene heater in the back of my truck for your bedroom on the second floor and also brought my old gasoline generator to set outside to run some lights. It won’t be exactly what you’re used to, but it might work. I sure wish you’d reconsider Franklin.”
    A hot bath in a warm hotel was very tempting. I gave it some thought and was on the verge of caving in, when I realized that if having my independence meant roughing it alone, then that was the way it would be. I glanced back at my car, my belongings, and who I used to be. Oh, and how could I forget all that emotional baggage I had brought? No, I had to stay. I had to make this work. I had to prove a point, if only to myself. I turned back to Mike.
    “I’ll manage here just fine, and hopefully you can straighten everything out tomorrow.”
    Then I looked up at the house, taking it all in. It was just as Stephen and I had planned: a beautiful log home, jutting out at the corners, connected and resembling a perfectly fitted puzzle, ironically in direct contrast to my life, which had fallen apart into many unrecognizable pieces.
    Looking off to the left, I caught sight of the magnificent view of the mountains across the way, and had difficulty speaking. I cleared my throat to mask the sudden ache and loss that surfaced so unexpectedly.
    “Samantha,” Mike said, gesturing. “About all this. Who would have thought so many problems would pop up at the last minute? You shouldn’t have to deal with any more stress. I’m sorry.” He shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what else to say.
    I turned back to him, surprised. Stephen’s death was not only redefining my life, but my previous impression of Mike, who used to seem as tough as nails. I forced a smile. “That’s okay, Mike. Just don’t forget me in the morning, okay?”
    His look of relief said it all. “You bet. I can be here by about…”
    The roar of an engine interrupted him as we both looked up. A large furniture van slowly eased on in behind my car.
    Uh-oh. This wasn’t working out the way I had expected.
    “What the hell?” Mike demanded.
    “I forgot. It’s my furniture. I meant to tell you it would be getting here today. With all this turmoil in my life, my mind has been in a fog.”
    To my relief, he smiled. “I’ll take care of it. Trust me, physical problems I can handle.”
    After some maneuvering, the furniture was unloaded and placed in all the rooms, while various wires were hooked up to the generator. The frenzy of activity eventually wound down and the driveway slowly emptied of the crew and their trucks, including Mike’s, which was the last to disappear over the crest of the drive and out of sight.
    I stayed out by the front door for a while after they’d gone. Where was my life headed from this point? What was I going to accomplish? I was constantly second-guessing myself. Was I overreaching in thinking my outrageous idea might actually work? Probably, but I felt I had to do something. Sitting back and doing nothing was just not an option.
    Even though neither the questions nor the answers were clear-cut in my mind yet, I still had to face living in a town I was not all that familiar with. I slowly pivoted in place, staring out at the woods, and then up at my house. The isolation of the location wasn’t ideal either, but I knew I had no choice but to remain and find out the truth.
    A step at a time, I thought, and I just might get through this.
    Once indoors, I clicked the deadbolt in place, firmly locking out the rest of the world, along with all my uncertainties for the night. And as usual, I would simply have to wait and see what would happen next in my iffy future. For now, I had some boxes and unpacking to attend to.

 
     
    Chapter 5
     
    The Good, The Bad And Me
     
    I stood in the