Connections Jan 2015 | Page 63

Copyright ©2014 Melanie P Smtih

Chapter One
Melissa pulled into the driveway, shut off
the car and just sat looking at the old house.
Memories flooded her mind.
Happy
memories. Life had been so simple as a kid.
Summer afternoons taking turns on the slip-nslide, tag in the dark, truth or dare. All the
things a happy, healthy child needed. She
glanced in the backseat and smiled. Jeremy
was still sleeping. At seven the long drive from
Denver to Hidden Lakes must have seemed like
a life time. Jer had finally settled down and
conked out about an hour ago.
Melissa took a deep breath and quietly
opened the door to her Ford Escape. It was one
of the few luxuries she was able to keep after
Mitch’s death. Melissa closed her eyes, took a
deep breath and tried to push the memories
from her mind. Thinking about Mitch was still
too difficult.
She was so proud of him.
Knowing he gave his life to save a young
mother and her infant child helped her to
accept the loss. But the knowledge didn’t take
away the loneliness, especially at night when
she tried to sleep alone in that big king sized
bed of theirs. It had been over a year now, but
the pain of losing not only her husband but her
best friend was still so acute. She wondered if
she would ever have peace again. Mitch wasn’t
only a good man; he was a wonderful father to
Jeremy. Their little family would never be the
same. She just hoped this move would give
them the change they needed to move forward.
Melissa headed for the front door but
stopped to study the wooden stairs leading to
the porch. Two of the steps were rotting to the
point they had become dangerous. She’d have
to fix them right away. Her son was full of spit
and vinegar, just like his father. She knew that
with all his energy, he’d fall through them in no
time. Melissa skipped the damaged steps and
walked the length of the porch. Once she
reached the far end, she tipped the empty
flower pot and retrieved the key. She smiled,
her mother had hidden a key under that pot for
as long as Melissa could remember. Hidden
Lakes was a small, friendly town. Even if the
neighbors knew about the key, they would

never abuse the knowledge. Melissa placed a
hand on the old railing and winced when it
swayed. There was so much work that needed
to be done to this house. The growing list of
neglected repairs demonstrated just how
serious her father’s condition really was. The
doctor’s said he would live a long, happy life.
But only if he slowed down and made some
drastic changes. Thus the move from Hidden
Lakes to retirement heaven in sunny Florida.
She pulled a hair band from her pocket,
gathered her long blond hair into a pony tail
and headed for the house. She knew the inside
of her new home would be not only clean, but
immaculate.
Connie Peters was meticulous
about her housework. That and the best
homemade pies in Colorado were two things
Melissa could always count on from her loving
mother.
Melissa pushed open the large door and
reached for the light switch. She smiled as she
studied the humble furnishings. It wasn’t the
most elaborate house on the block, but it was
home. For the first time in over a year, Melissa
relaxed a little. Stepping into the familiar home
made her feel as if a huge weight had been
lifted from her shoulders. She moved to the
thermostat and turned up the heat. According
to the calendar it was already spring, but
Mother Nature had her own schedule in
Hidden Lakes, Colorado. Once the sun set, it
was downright chilly. Melissa stepped back
outside onto the porch to check on Jeremy.
Once she was sure her son was still sleeping,
she rushed into the house and up the stairs.
She automatically headed for her room, but
stopped in amazement the moment she
switched on the light.
Her parents had
completely redecorated. The room was painted
white with a sports wallpaper boarder running
across the top. There was new carpet and the
full sized bed was covered with a large
comforter that matched the wallpaper. Clearly
this was made for Jeremy. Had they set up the
master for her? Of course they had. Melissa
frantically blinked, trying to prevent the
moisture forming in her eyes from falling. She
was almost successful.
It was a lost cause the moment she opened
the door to the bedroom that had always been
her parents. They had completely remodeled.
The new bedroom set must have cost them a