The Hidden - Jessica Verday [82]
She glanced at the house. It was dark, except for a single light in the kitchen, and then she nodded. I opened the door and got out of the car.
“Thanks for the ride, Cyn,” I turned back to say.
She winked at me. “Have fun, Abbey.”
I was left standing there with what must have been a confused look on my face as she pulled away. Does she know about Caspian? There’s no way …
I squared my shoulders and turned back to the house. Something told me that even if Cyn did have an idea of what was going on, she wasn’t going to tell anyone. At least not anytime soon.
I glanced down at my phone again, feeling a pinch of nerves in my stomach. It was 12:13 a.m. November first.
Caspian’s death day.
Chapter Twenty-one
NOVEMBER FIRST
When he entered the house, the conquest of his heart was complete.
—“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
My legs were shaky as I walked up the front walkway, and I exhaled. I put one hand on the doorknob, turned it slowly, and then pushed the door open. A trail of red rose petals greeted me, leading the way across the living room and into the kitchen. I followed it and found a piece of paper there that said, Astrid, come find me upstairs.
Placing my purse on the counter, I slipped off my shoes, then padded over to the downstairs bathroom. My white dress was hanging on the back of the door there. Please let him like me in it …
Taking another deep breath, I unzipped the back of my red dress and wiggled my way out of it, draping it across the edge of the tub. I pulled down the white dress and gently removed it from its plastic garment bag. The silky fabric whispered across my skin as I stepped into it, and I could almost hear the soft sighs of another time and place. Of another woman, who had worn this dress before me, to go meet the man she loved before he would be taken from her forever.
The bodice took some extra time to lace because my hands were trembling, but finally, finally I was ready.
I turned and looked in the mirror, slightly stunned again by my miracle cleavage. The dress was just as beautiful as the first time I’d tried it on. It was as if it had been made for me.
My makeup, however, was not beautiful anymore. I pulled off the false eyelashes that I’d been wearing, and washed away the mascara stains from under each eye. Luckily, I had a spare cosmetics bag under the counter, so I was able to touch up my blush and lip gloss. I didn’t want to overdo it too much. It didn’t feel right in this dress.
I debated whether or not to take my hair down, but decided to leave it up. Caspian hardly ever saw me wear it that way and I wanted to surprise him. I did take out the rose that Ben had given me, though, and put it on the sink.
With one final look, I left the bathroom behind and started slowly up the stairs.
I could feel the rough pattern of the carpet runner underneath my bare feet, and I tried to focus on that. My stomach felt all fluttery and nervous, and with every step I took, I came closer and closer to the reality waiting for me just a few short feet away. Please, please let him like me …
Please …
The top of the stairs was lit with candles, and more rose petals were scattered on the floor. They pointed to my bedroom.
I bent to pick one of the rose petals up and rubbed the velvety smoothness between my fingertips. This is a dream. It has to be.
My bedroom door was open, and I could see more candles lit inside there. The flower petal path led me to the bed, and I didn’t even realize that I’d been holding my breath, until I stepped into the room.
Caspian was sitting there. Head turned. Looking away.
Holding my breath, feeling my chest get tight and my head grow fuzzy, I moved closer to the bed. Closer to him.
He was wearing a tuxedo. Classic black, with a white shirt and dark tie. His hair was swept back, but I could tell that stubborn black streak didn’t want to stay in place, and his green eyes were bright and unnaturally shiny in the candlelight. Twin orbs of flame reflected back at me in the irises.
He stood and took a step. Then another.
I held my breath again.
“You,