Chapter 1
Esme has been wandering around every corner of the airport terminal looking for phone signal. Hitting the redial button countless times but the call went straight to voicemail every time. It must be the heavy rain! Esme murmured to herself. It was almost an hour since she has touched down and stranded in the airport. She took out her phone again and the time showed 10 p.m. on the screen and the service bar was still in grey. She stared at the screen while her mind was thinking—panicky—on what to do.
She was supposed to be picked up by Aunt Linda once she has touched down but Aunt Linda was nowhere to be found when she arrived. She has been trying to call Aunt Linda, but to no avail. The non-stop heavy rain has messed up the phone signal. Esme wanted to take a cab by herself to Aunt Linda’s but then she realized that she didn’t have Aunt Linda’s address as she was supposed to be picked up.
I should have just stayed at home, Esme started to blame herself for agreeing to this trip. How she wished she was now on her comfy couch sipping hot chocolate while Netflix-ing instead of sitting alone on the steel cold airport link chair like an abandoned puppy. She was tired and cold. Cold as in shakily cold. Cold as in forgetting to pack your jacket during this windy season.
“You should come,” this was what Aunt Linda said when they facetimed. “Take a fresh breath of air. Amber Creek is beautiful especially during this Autumn season. You’re gonna like it.” Aunt Linda persuaded wholeheartedly and Esme just couldn’t reject the woman’s good intention.
She knew why Aunt Linda kept convincing her to come over to Amber Creek for a vacation. In fact, this was what everyone was doing for the past two years. Convincing Esme to get out of her house. To have a life. Esme has sought refuge in her own home for the past two years after Samuel had left her. Besides going to work or attending the necessary social interaction, she has spent most of her time at home.
While she was rubbing her hands together to warm them up with her large size Michael Kors tote bag now acting as a heating pad on her belly, Esme suddenly felt a warmth presence. Unknowingly to her, there was a man sitting right beside her. Esme was a little bit startled but somehow, she felt safe and warm around the man.
She took out her phone again but this time not to make a call but to search for a hotel room. She figured that she will stay in a hotel tonight and reach out to Aunt Linda again the next day. The internet connection was weak but luckily not totally out. She managed to book a hotel room and a cab. All she has to do now was waiting for her ride by the main entrance. She rose to her feet, gathering her things and realizing that the man who was sitting beside her a few minutes ago has gone. Esme didn’t give much thought to it and hurriedly left the steel cold chair for the main entrance.
“Smith,” Esme announced her last name to the receptionist.
The receptionist with a friendly smile immediately typed in the last name on her keyboard. “One queen size?”
“Yes.”
“Breakfast starts from 6 to 10 a.m. and here’s your key to your room,” the receptionist with the name tag ‘Marie’ explained.
“Thanks,” Esme said. She then turned her back, ready to head up to the lift to her room and she was startled—again.
The man from earlier at the airport—who sat beside her—was now standing right in front of her. The man, wearing all white, curved up a faint smile on his lips and Esme felt compelled to reciprocate the smile. He then walked past her to the front desk and at the very moment, Esme felt the same warmth presence again. The one that she felt earlier at the airport when she realized someone—the man—sat beside her. The feeling was unexplainable, almost mystical.
Esme suddenly felt like she has fallen into a dream where there was only her and the man. It was warm, safe and secure.
“Ma’am?” Esme was awoken by the sound of the bellboy. “May I carry your luggage?”
“Oh, yes. Thank you,” Esme thanked the young bellboy who immediately picked up her luggage and led her to the lift. She turned to catch a glimpse of the man but he was nowhere to be found now. Must be the hunger, she thought. That caused the hallucination.
“I am so sorry, my dear,” Aunt Linda apologized profoundly on the phone.
“It’s okay, Aunt Linda. Don’t worry ’bout it,” Esme comforted her while still laying on the comfortable, cloudlike hotel bed in her PJs. “So, how’s your leg?”
“Well, I’m on clutches and curfew now,” Aunt Linda sighed. Esme chuckled at the statement that she has just received on the other line.
“I tell you what. I will check out now, go to the nearest grocery store and to your place and cook you a nice chicken soup,” Esme offered.
“That sounds good, my dear. I’ll have Gabe to go pick you up.”
“It’s okay. I can take a cab,” Esme refused. She felt more comfortable to do things alone than in the company of people. Since Samuel had left her two years ago, she has been doing everything alone—all by herself—and she got used to it as time has passed.
“I won’t take no for an answer,” Aunt Linda insisted.
“But-”
“No buts. Gabe will be your chauffeur for the day,” Aunt Linda said.
Esme paused for a second before she surrendered, “Okay.”
“So, what do we need for a chicken soup?” Gabe who was around Aunt Linda’s age, asked. “A chicken?”
“Yes,” Esme chuckled. “One whole chicken,” she added. Gabriel, who was affectionately known as Gabe, was friendly and approachable and Esme was very comfortable around him. They have a very wonderful conversation during their ride to the grocery store.
They strolled around from aisle to aisle to collect the ingredients for their chicken soup. They talked. They laughed. Like an old friends seeing each other for the first time after a long time. Esme felt connected.
The same warmth appeared again. Esme instinctively turned around to look for the man. And she caught a glimpse of him. Standing at the frozen food section farthest end from her. She was trying to run toward him. She wanted to ask him—to know—what’s his deal? Was he following her? But before she could do so, Gabe reappeared in front of her, putting a halt to her intention.
“I got your Aunt Linda’s favorite orange juice,” Gabe announced and put two cartons of orange juice inside the shopping cart. “You got everything you need?”
“Um, yeah,” Esme replied but her hazel eyes were still wandering around looking for the man.
“Is everything okay, my dear?” Gabe asked.
“Um,” she hesitated before she continued, “I think I saw someone.”
“Someone you know?”
“No, not really. You know what, I might be mistaken,” Esme decided to forget-about-it. “Let’s get going.”
Gabe nodded with a warm smile.
“Hey, how are you?” Aunt Linda greeted affectionately, standing in the doorway with clutches.
“Hey,” Esme reciprocated with the same affection. “Here’s some flowers for you. Hope you’d like it.” Esme handed Aunt Linda a bunch of bright yellow sunflowers that she bought from the grocery store.
“Aww, they’re lovely. Thank you,” Aunt Linda said. She invited them in and Gabe disappeared into the kitchen almost instantly with the grocery bags.
“This is lovely,” Esme complimented when Aunt Linda showed her the bedroom that she’s going to stay for the rest of her vacation. “Thanks for taking me in.”
“Oh, don’t mention it. The door is always open for you,” Aunt Linda reached out for Esme’s hand and gently patted on it. Esme could feel the warmth of her wrinkled but delicate hands embracing hers.
“Thanks,” Esme smiled appreciatively. “You know what, I think I should start making the chicken soup now. And Gabe is going to make his meatloaf. He said that he makes the best meatloaf in Amber Creek and I should try.”
Aunt Linda laughed. “What a feast! And this calls for more people to join. Do you mind, my dear?”
Esme hesitated for a second before politely nodded in agreement.
Esme was in the kitchen with Gabe when the doorbell rang. She could hear Aunt Linda opening the door followed by muffled conversation a few seconds later. It was a man’s voice. Esme could feel the same warmth presence—again!
“It must be Michael,” Gabe announced and hurried toward the door. Esme felt compelled to follow suit.
“Are you stalking me?!” Esme couldn’t believe that she actually saying it out loud.
Aunt Linda was perplexed. “You know each other?” she asked, looking at Esme then turned to the man who was standing in the doorway.
“We met briefly at the hotel,” Michael replied for both of them.
“And also at the airport,” Esme added. And in the grocery store. She kept the last location to herself as she wasn’t sure was it really him standing at the frozen food section.
“Well, I guess it’s a good start. Michael, this is Esme—my oldest friend’s daughter. Esme, this is Michael,” Aunt Linda officially introduced them.
Michael stuck out his hand for a handshake. He curved up the most mesmerizing smile when Esme reciprocated the handshake. Esme was captivated by his smile. Almost hypnotizing. His hand was warm enough to make her cheeks blushing brilliantly like the color of the fallen leaves in Autumn. For a moment, Esme felt like there was no one else around her except him. Just him.
“So, do you like it here?” Michael asked. They were heading to a place where Michael said that it was meant to be a surprise for Esme. Michael was tasked to
show her around.
It was Aunt Linda’s idea though Gabe didn’t seem very enthusiastic about the idea.
“Um...I guess so. You know, today is just my second day in Amber Creek, so it’s a little bit too early to tell,” Esme replied. “Are we there yet?”
“Almost. You’re gonna like it, I promise,” Michael assured her. She nodded with a faint smile.
They were mostly silent throughout their walk. But there was a sense of familiarity between them. It was like they have known each other forever. Esme felt like she has experienced his presence throughout her life especially when Samuel took his last breath. It felt like there was a warmth presence that gave her comfort during the darkest period of her life when her whole life just shattered right in front of her. How could she feel this way about him when she just met him?
“We’re here,” Michael announced.
Esme was startled at the sound of his husky voice as she was deep in thought. But before she could say a word, she was astonished at what was right before her eyes. An endless row of brilliantly stunning maple trees by the creek. The fallen maple leaves that displayed the striking shades of yellow, orange and red were floating calmly on the creek. Esme raised her hand up to the sky, trying to reach for the sunlight that made its way through the maple trees. She closed her eyes and smelled the serenity that this place has provided.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered in awe.
