Chapter One

Why couldn’t the lawyer have waited to read the will? Gran had only been dead a week and he pushed to get all the loose ends tied up sooner rather than later.

Renee Tate frowned at the bright October day as she watched leaves cascade gracefully down. The sky had no business being as bright and cheery as it did when her whole world had turned a dismal shade of gray. The tissue in her clenched fist had been squeezed into a tiny ball and was next to useless to her now. She stuffed it back into her purse and kept glancing at the door, willing the man to walk in.

She looked at the people sitting in the uneven semi-circle. They had been Gran’s friends for years, and she knew Gran wanted them to have certain items. If her appearance was as bad as everyone else’s, she must look like an ungroomed poodle. When she got the news of her grandmother’s passing, she immediately closed up her shop. Her regular customers understood she needed to take some time off. She’d been close to her grandmother, and Gran’s unexpected death had taken a heavy toll on her state of mind.

Renee grabbed a fresh tissue from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. The nights had been hard enough, but the days had been almost impossible. She counted herself lucky she remembered to shower every day. Today of all days, she forced herself to put on at least a little bit of makeup. Gran’s oldest friend reached over and patted her arm. She smiled at the kindness the woman showed. In fact, all of Gran’s friends had been kind and supportive. The now familiar lump formed again in her throat.

She swung her left leg in a small arc for several minutes before she switched to the right. The lawyer had called them all here at the last minute, and now he had the nerve to be late. Renee wanted this whole situation over with so she could go home and cry some more. She’d lost her parents in her early teens. Her grandfather died several years ago, and now her grandmother had passed on as well. The musty smell of the office had begun to get to her. She pinched her nose to stop a sneeze from coming out. If she sneezed, she might be sick.

The small, cramped office was filled with filing cabinets and overflowing bookcases. The lawyer’s desk was smaller than she imagined, but at least the large window behind it let in a lot of light. Of course, the bright sunlight also highlighted the worn spots on the carpet and the shabbiness of the furniture. He’d been Gran’s lawyer for decades, and she’d told Renee on many occasions good lawyers didn’t need to be flashy lawyers. She’d never trusted those types, saying they seemed more interested in money than helping people.

The door opened, and the lawyer walked in. He greeted the small crowd as he shook hands with everyone. He edged his way behind the cluttered desk and scorched his chair closer. About time he showed up. He lifted up an uneven stack of papers and smiled when he found a large manila folder. He put on his glasses and cleared his throat. The small crowd waited for him to begin.

“I’m sorry to call you in on such short notice, but Esther Tate wanted it this way. One week after her funeral, she wanted her will read.”

“Then, get on with it,” an older gentleman said. “You’ve made us wait long enough.”

“Right.” The lawyer opened the envelope and pulled out a stack of papers. “Let’s begin.”

Renee tuned him out while he gave away Gran’s possessions to her friends. A small bird had landed on the windowsill and drew her attention. She watched it hop back and forth on the sill while the lawyer droned on in his monotonous voice. Even though the window was shut tight, she could hear it chirp, and wiped her eyes. She and Gran would watch the birds land on the hanging bird feeder outside the back door and whistle with the birds who came and pecked at the seeds.

Why can’t I be as free as you, little bird? Why do I need to deal with all this hurt?

“Ms. Tate, did you hear me?”

“What? I’m sorry. I guess my mind wandered for a bit.”

He gave the will a quick shake. “I said, your grandmother left you her house, the money in her bank account, and she has a request of you. She wants you to go to Garland Falls, Minnesota, and stay at Warner’s Bed and Breakfast. There, you will look for a special oak tree and spread her ashes around the base.”

“Oh. Okay. Gran used to tell me stories about Garland Falls, but I have no idea where it is in Minnesota. Do you?”

“I’d never heard of it until I helped her make this will.” He pulled a small piece of paper out of the envelope. “This is the information for the bed and breakfast. You can call that number to make your reservation. Thank you all, again, for coming in. I know this is a hard time.”

“I’ll leave as soon as possible,” she said. “I appreciate your help with everything you did for Gran and me.”

“I was glad to be of service. Esther and her husband and I were friends for many years. I miss them both very much.”

His words tightened her throat again, and she fought back the tears trying to spill. Gran was the only family she had left, and now she was gone. Loneliness held her heart in a tight grip, refusing to relinquish its hold. Maybe someone in Garland Falls would remember Gran, and maybe it would help ease her grief. She guessed she’d find out soon enough. Right now, she just wanted out of this claustrophobic office.

He stood, and everyone followed his lead. Renee shook his hand, then spoke with a few of the people. She made arrangements for when they could pick up the items. They all gave their condolences to her again. She dragged herself out to her car and drove the short distance home. She walked in and threw her keys on the table, grateful for the silence in her apartment. After the way the lawyer droned on, she couldn’t deal with Wayne and all of his talk about his work, his clients, or himself right now.

Their apartment was modest and comfortable, but right now, it sure didn’t give her the comfort she usually found here. She’d added different colors to break up the bland, white wall monotony. She’d added tan and silver striped furniture in the living room with bright blue curtains. All the other rooms had different bright colors, with a beach theme in the bathroom.

Pictures of her parents and her grandparents were scattered throughout their home. She had asked Wayne if he had any pictures of his parents he wanted to put up. He had one of him and his dad when they’d gone on a fishing trip when he turned sixteen. He only had a few of his mother and several with both of his parents. She’d framed the one he’d told her was his favorite. His mother held him in arms when he was a baby, while his father smiled at him over her shoulder. The rest of his photos were stored away in albums, and there weren’t any more of his mother.

She made herself a cup of lavender tea and sat at the kitchen table. It was Gran’s favorite, and now she was gone. She’d never again get to do the fun things they loved or have a quiet cup of afternoon tea again. The will had been read, and she’d been given special instructions. Sure, Gran had mentioned Garland Falls a few times, but now Renee wished she’d been more persistent about getting her grandmother to talk about this small town. Gran would always smile and said they’d talk about it later. Well, she was headed that way tomorrow. It would have been nice to know more about where she was going and what waited for her there.

She stared at Gran’s urn where it sat in the middle of the kitchen table while she thought about the trip west. Loneliness once again reared its ugly head, turning her blood to sludge. She washed out her cup and turned it upside down on the plastic dishrack. How would she get along without her grandmother’s love and advice? She groaned quietly when she heard the front door shut. Wayne walked in and kissed her cheek before leaning against the counter.

She and Wayne had been dating for going on seven months now. At first, his looks attracted her when he walked into her shop. Light brown hair with golden highlights, classic movie star good looks, and he carried himself with supreme confidence. From the cut of his suit, she knew he must have a good job and couldn’t be classified as “a bum.” Gran had always warned her to watch out for freeloaders. They moved in together three months into their relationship. Now, she had to wonder if this arrangement was a huge mistake. Her friends certainly thought so, and Gran had made no secret of her dislike.

“Hey, baby,” he said, making her cringe. “What a day I had today. Picked up three more clients for the firm, and my boss told me I’ll get a substantial raise soon.”

“Gran’s will was read today. In it, she requested I go to Garland Falls, Minnesota,” she said. “I’m heading there tomorrow.”

“What?” Wayne immediately straightened up and stared at her. “I don’t think you should go, at least not so soon. Stay away until you do some research about the area and the people. You don’t know what kind of weirdos could inhabit that town.”

“Have you ever heard of Garland Falls or been there?”

“Just rumors,” he said and glanced away. “Nothing more than rumors.”

Renee folded her arms. “Then I’m not sure I understand your attitude. Gran requested I take her ashes there and spread them. I’m going to do it, Wayne, whether you like it or not. I want to. I think we both need a small break right now. And stop calling me baby. I keep telling you how much I hate that name.”

“Sorry.” His eyes narrowed when what she said finally hit him. “Wait a minute. How small a break are you talking about?”

“The couple of weeks that I’ll be gone, that’s all. I think we need a little distance right now. I should be home around Halloween.” She glanced at him. “We’ll talk about where we’re headed when I get back. All right?”

“I suppose, but I don’t like the thought of you all alone in a strange town.” He pulled her close. “Don’t stay away too long. I have an important question I want to ask you. I wish I could get the time off to go with you, but the firm is in the middle of some important negotiations. The boss needs me there.”

“I know he does. You’re an important part of the company. I’ll call you the minute I get there.” She pushed out of his arms. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I’ve got to pack.”

“I’ll call you, too, just to make sure you’re all right.”

She pulled out her suitcase and laid it on the bed. Flipping it open, she put in several pairs of shoes and started putting her clothes on top. Garland Falls. The name sounded nice, but nice small towns figured in a lot of horror movies. Should she put off the trip until she knew more about this town like Wayne wanted her to?

She had told Gran’s lawyer she’d leave as soon as possible. No, she’d head out tomorrow, like she originally planned. She’d find out all she needed to know about Garland Falls when she got there. If it turned out to be a haven for creepy people or objects, she’d turn around and head home.