Page 33 of When Cardinals Appear

“All right, I’ll give her a call and put in the order. Pepperoni and pineapple?”

I nodded as I got a glass of water. Steven was right—it had been a productive day, and I was amazed at how fast we were accomplishing everything. If we were able to sell the house as quickly as we had readied it for sale, I would be back on the West Coast in no time. That knowledge should have made me happy, but for some reason, it didn’t. To be fair, I had expected to be there a while, which was why I had told the principal of my new school I couldn’t start until the summer. It would be nice to have some time off to relax and enjoy some downtime.

Between caring for Mom, finishing school, finding a job, and then dealing with Mom’s estate, I hadn’t had much time to just be. Then again, whenever I did have a moment to myself, it was harder to keep the crushing weight of grief at bay. I preferred to stay as busy as possible.

At least I would be with James, and maybe having some distance from Cedar Haven would help me to move on. Besides, I reasoned, I’d be busy enough setting up our new home and establishing myself in California. That last thought brought me up short. It shouldn’t bother me so much that James was looking for a place without me, but it did. I wanted to be part of the process, especially to ensure he didn’t get something out of our price range. Lately, my life felt out of control, like I was just going through the motions. Choosing where I would live gave me a sense of purpose and a tether to the future I wanted to create.

I stared out the kitchen window and watched as the shadows lengthened with the setting winter sun.

Chapter Seven

My trepidation about the apartment continued into the next morning. I was still stewing over it when the doorbell rang. Who on earth would be stopping by so early? With a sigh, I shoved away from the table and went to greet my visitor. My eyes widened when I opened the door and found my neighbor, Cassandra Winters, standing on the front porch, dressed in all black, her gray hair cascading down her shoulders. She held a picnic basket, and the tantalizing scent of baked goodies wafted through the air.

“Mrs. Winters,” I said. “What a pleasant surprise.”

“Good morning, Lanie.” She held out the picnic basket. “I thought you might want something other than toaster pastries for a change.”

I blinked. “How did you—?” But before I could continue, a cardinal landed on the porch railing.

“Well, hello there, little fella,” Mrs. Winters cooed, holding out her finger to the bird. I half expected the cardinal to hop onto it. Maybe I’d been wrong all those years about my strange neighbor. Maybe she was really a Disney princess in disguise. The bird cocked its head and chirped. I recognized the black spots near its beak.

“That little bird has visited me almost daily since I’ve been home,” I said, shivering as the frigid air cut right through my thin shirt. “Ah, where are my manners? Would you like to come in?”

Mrs. Winters glanced up, startled, as if she had forgotten I was there. “Actually, I think you need to come with me.”

“What do you mean?” I tilted my head, frowning at the change in her tone.

“There’s something I want to show you,” she said. “Would you join me for a cup of tea?”

“That would be lovely, Mrs. Winters, but I—“

“Oh, my dear, I think you’re old enough to call me Cassandra now.” She gave a wink before spinning on her heel, startling the cardinal in the process. It flew overhead as she walked down the driveway. I debated whether to follow her, my blood chilling in my veins and not from the winter air. But curiosity got the better of me, so I quickly grabbed a coat and shoved my feet into my shoes before I hurried after my eccentric neighbor.

I hesitated on the porch, my muscles tense, but I took a deep breath and forced myself to step into the notorious home of the neighborhood witch. Even as an adult, I found that Cassandra’s decor made me uneasy. Herbs hung from the ceiling, and the house still smelled like sage. The walls were painted in the rich colors of nature, a dark earthy brown in the hall giving way to a vibrant green in the kitchen. It felt like stepping into some enchanted forest instead of a house.

Cassandra indicated a seat. Sinking into it, I let my eyes dart around the room as I looked for evidence that would confirm my childish suspicions. While I didn’t see a cauldron on the stove, I wouldn’t have been surprised to find a broom perched in the corner, ready to take flight.

“I’m not going to turn you into a newt,” she said with a chuckle.

I jumped at the sound of her voice then bowed my head sheepishly. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, it’s all right. I can understand why you children were afraid of me all those years ago. I’ve been called worse than a witch,” she replied with a mischievous gleam in her blue eyes. After filling the kettle, she set it on the stove to boil then reached into her oven and pulled out a tray of scones.

“Were you expecting company?” I asked.

“You never know.” She set out two small plates then took the seat across from me. “I understand you’re selling your mother’s house.”

“We have an estate sale this weekend, and then it will go on the market.” At first, I nibbled at the scone, but the sweet, flaky pastry was too delicious, and before I knew it, I had gobbled up two.

The kettle whistled, and Cassandra stood and poured the water into two cups. She placed a bag of peppermint tea into one and handed it to me. After grabbing a sugar bowl, some honey, and spoons, she sat down again.

“I was so sorry I couldn’t visit more often with Melody before she passed.” Cassandra’s eyes were moist with unshed tears. “She was kind to me. The baked goods she sent over with you kids were always a welcome treat.”

“It’s hard,” I said, swallowing around the lump that formed in my throat. “Living there without her.”

Cassandra slid her hand across the table, and I clasped it.

“Your mother will never truly leave you. She’ll always be in your heart.”

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