Page 91 of The Locksmith's Promise

Washing away a shame that wasn’t fucking mine.

Rubbing the rough terrycloth over my limbs drummed a bit of life back into me and reassured me of who and where I was.

Pulling Miller’s clothes on reminded me of far too many times past. I held his shirt up to my nose, remembering now as I had then the luxury of freshly laundered clothing.

I tossed my towel into the hamper and padded down the stairs to the kitchen.

Miller sat at the table, his thick fingers closed around the handle of a heavy mug.

In front of him rested a plate piled high with buttered toast, the cure for any ailment according to Miller’s mother.

Tears stung my eyes.

“She’d love to see you, Bax. She hasn’t pushed, but she’s asking for you all the time.”

I nodded tightly. “I’ll get around to see her soon.”

When I sat down across from him and rested my elbows on the table, he slid a mug of steaming coffee toward me.

I raised the mug to my lips, the tremor in my hand betraying my nerves, then met his eyes. “Something happened that night, Miller. But I can’t go back there.”

22

Round Two

Maggie

I opened my fleece jacket and rewrapped my scarf before zipping it back up to my neck as I slid in front of Baxter on the narrow trail.

The sun was bright, but the air was cold, typical weather moving into October this far north. But not entirely welcome.

The fall festival, a bright spot in the cold, waited just around the corner. And though we were small, Moose Lake knew how to throw a party. With my mom on the planning committee, I was privy to all the details.

Corwin was going to get his first taste of small-town fun, and I couldn’t wait.

Bax and I had asked Corwin and Mickey to come with us on our hike, but they opted to hang out at Miller and Maxine’s.

The warmth Miller and his wife extended to my son, along with the novel proximity of my parents, gave me a new lease on life. For the first time since becoming a mother, I was free to do things for myself, things I didn’t feel comfortable doing while leaving Corwin with virtual strangers when we lived in the city.

My mom had even cajoled me into joining the Moose Lake ladies’ club.

They kept themselves busy with yoga in the park, walking clubs, cross fit training, hiking, and trail biking along with quilting, crafts, and our festivals.

Some of the older ladies I’d known since I was a child. They were the most ill-behaved of the whole group, reveling in their ‘empty nest, I’m now a grandma and no longer subject to the rules of parenting or society at large’ roles.

I’d been to yoga twice but enjoyed the hiking far more. The fact Jenny showed up at yoga the second time may have been a contributing factor in that determination.

I didn’t hold the past against her or hold ill will toward her, not consciously, but I hadn’t dealt with it either. Every time I ran into her, bad memories cropped up and froze the breath in my lungs.

I hadn’t even been back to Buns and Biscuits since we ran into her on the street. I felt terrible about it.

It wasn’t her fault my brain misfired every time she showed up, and I knew I had to get over myself, but Baxter wasn’t the only one who betrayed me that day.

Which left Baxter and me on the trails on our own which was just as well because I had questions.

When the path opened up again, Baxter’s long legs brought him up beside me, and he laced his calloused fingers through mine.

I gave him a gentle squeeze and tried to keep the accusation out of my voice. “I tried to call you last night.”

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