Page 22 of After the Fall

HARPER

The doorto the theater room slammed shut, leaving me standing at the top of the stairs, gaping. Behind that closed door were answers connected to my father.

How could Wyatt be such a…

Plenty of nasty words and insults flew through my mind, but I settled on the one word I knew he hated most of all.Bigfoot.

Right now, Wyatt was living up to that moniker – an emotionless, brainless beast.

“Miss Davis?” The gruff voice of the security guard reminded me that Savannah and Connor were waiting for me. I wondered if they’d overhead any of our conversation.

I turned around to face the looming sasquatch. With my hands on my hips, I stared into dark eyes that conveyed no emotion. “Show them around the house to the back veranda. Please,” I added, refusing to stoop to Wyatt’s level of rudeness, even in my agitated state.

The guard seemed to hesitate.

“Wyatt just said not to let them inside. He didn’t say anything about the backyard.”

“Very well, Miss.” He nodded once and then disappeared.

With narrow eyes, I peered down the curved staircase. A faint echo, almost like a distant cry, drifted upstairs from the theater. Whatever was happening behind that closed door, I’d have to figure out later. I didn’t want to keep Savannah and Connor waiting, especially when I knew their presence wasn’t welcome.

Gloria was busy stirring a large pot on the stove in the kitchen. “Tonight’s dinner. Venison stew,” she grinned. “I promise you’ll love it. It’s my grandmother’s recipe.”

“It smells amazing.” The rich, earthy aroma filled the kitchen. “Is your grandmother still alive?”

Gloria’s brow raised. “Oh heavens, no. But she did live until the ripe old age of 91. In fact, she was still going for daily walks right before she passed.” Her eyes shimmered. “Here’s hoping I have her genes.”

If I had any lingering doubts of whether the small, petite woman was ‘one of them’, they were immediately quashed. It was a breath of fresh air knowing that there was at least one other human in the house, and that the sasquatches didn’t hateallhumans. Just me.

“I’m sorry to bother you but—”

She extended her palm. “Don’t apologize. It’s never a bother, Miss Harper. That’s what I’m here for. Now, let’s try that again,” she encouraged.

“My friends are joining me on the back veranda, and I was wondering if we could have something to nibble on?” I glanced toward the pantry. I wasn’t sure what Wyatt kept in the house in terms of food. It could be a pantry full of caviar, or homemade jerky.

“Say no more,” she said, smiling. “How about I prepare a small charcuterie board and some of my famous sweet tea. I know sweet tea is more of a southern thing, but all of Mr. Westwood’s guests seem to enjoy it.”

“That sounds great.”

“Just be sure to bundle up out there, it’s a chilly evening. And if you need help turning on the outdoor heaters, just ask. I’ll be out soon with your snacks.”

“Thank you,” I said, as she returned to her stew.

I slipped into a pair of sheepskin slippers and grabbed a thick wool blanket from the wicker basket to wrap around my shoulders, but the cold autumn breeze still hit like a shockwave as I stepped outside onto the veranda. The sun was setting much earlier these days, and the estate was already shrouded in darkness, except for the glowing lights of the patio.

Shivering, I pulled the blanket tighter around me. In just a few days, it would be Halloween. And after fall, came winter. My dad would be alone – in the cold, in his condition.

I had to do something, with or without Wyatt’s help.

Savannah and Connor waved from their seats at the large table. They must have figured out the heaters – a wall of warmth hit me as I sat down to join them, and I loosened the blanket, fidgeting with it on my lap.

Savannah’s smile faded immediately. “What’s wrong?”

“Savannah,” Connor hissed. “What she means is, hi. Thanks for having us over. And sorry for crashing your girly catch up…” he held his hand to his heart, “but you know how persistent my girlfriend can be.” Connor smiled, flashing a perfectly white grin.

“Your tooth,” I exclaimed. The missing gap had already been filled in. “When did you get it fixed?” It was hard to believe it had only been a day since I’d moved out, and last seen my best friend and her werewolf boyfriend. I felt like I’d lived one hundred lives since then.

“This morning. And now I can’t stop smiling, it seems.”

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