The Hidden - Jessica Verday [57]
Someone else got it. Someone else is renting it, and now I’ll never have the chance to open Abbey’s Hollow.
“It’s gone?” I said sadly. “Did someone rent it?”
“Just go look at it,” Mom said again.
I ventured closer. The cardboard sign said FUTURE HOME OF ABBEY’S HOLLOW. I stared at it, then turned back to Mom. “What does that mean?”
She pulled a key out of her pocket and dangled it in front of me. “It means, do you want to go inside?”
“Yeah, of course. But I don’t get it. What’s going on?”
“Just come with me. Let’s go inside.”
She walked over to the entrance and put the key into the lock. Pushing the door open, she gestured for me to follow behind her. I stepped inside the shop and couldn’t believe what I saw. It was clean. Clean, clean. No cobwebs, no dirty windows. No blown-out lightbulbs or dust-streaked surfaces. Everything had been freshly painted with a coat of white paint. Some new bookshelves lined one corner, and the floors were actually shiny.
“What do you think?” Mom asked, standing in the middle of the room, arms spread wide. “I know white isn’t the most glamorous color, but it’s just a base coat. I wanted there to be something other than that old tan shade that was here before.”
“It’s gorgeous, Mom. I can’t believe everything is so clean. I’ve never seen it look this way before. But I still don’t get—”
She held out the key. “Happy early graduation, Abbey.”
“What? I …? You …? What?”
“I called Mr. Melchom. The rent is paid up for a year. Since it was on the market for so long, I convinced him to cover all the utilities for the first six months too. So your expenses should be minimal at first.”
I still couldn’t believe it.
“Take the key.” Mom laughed, shaking it at me.
I held out my hand, and she dropped it into my open palm. Is this really happening? Did I really just get handed the keys to my shop, with no strings attached? I glanced down at it. “Mom, I … I don’t know what to say.”
She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. “Do you like it? I wasn’t sure what to get you, and then I thought this would be the perfect gift.”
“It is perfect. Thank you. Thank you so much! I love it!”
Walking around the room, I took it all in. It was like looking through someone else’s eyes. Everything was fresh and new. Suddenly I could see so much more. I could see myself here.
“Mom,” I said, trying to find the words to express what I was feeling, “I …” But I couldn’t find them. I didn’t know how to tell her I was sorry for every mean thing I’d ever said, or how I wished we would get to have more time to spend together. Mere words couldn’t tell her that she was the best mom ever and I was glad she was mine.
She must have known somehow what I wanted to say, though, because she nodded. I just smiled.
We stayed for a while after that, talking about options for paint colors and window treatments, and what artwork would look best hanging on the walls. I told Mom my idea about making it a fall-themed shop revolving around “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” with pumpkins and old books, and she loved it.
When I got home, I was practically bursting with excitement as I hurried up to my bedroom. I couldn’t wait to tell Caspian about the shop.
But when I opened the door, I saw him on the bed. Asleep.
I grabbed my phone and dialed Kame and Sophie’s office number. Uri picked up.
“Hey, it’s Abbey.”
“Hi. Everything okay?”
“Caspian is asleep again.” I tried to keep the panic out of my voice.
Silence met me on the other end of the line. Then he said, “Why don’t you just give it some time?”
“Like, how much time?” I asked. “An hour? A day?”
“However much time it takes.”
I told myself to count to ten, trying not to scream in frustration at his answer. “Why does this keep happening, Uri?” I said. “Does it mean he’s slipping away from me?”
Silence again.
“I’ll take that as a yes. One of you is around here somewhere, right?” I asked quietly.
“Kame. He’s in the neighborhood. Do you want him to stop by?”
“Can he do anything?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll just wait. As long as Vincent’s not around, I’m fine.