Chapter 4: Sweet Notes | The Ground Between Us

By the time I pulled into the driveway, the sky had started its slow shift into evening. The last bit of sunlight rested across the yard. You can already see shadows on the path leading up to the house. I sat there for a moment before turning off the engine. The quiet inside the car felt different now. Full. Like memories that had followed me weren’t quite ready to leave.

            Finally, I grabbed the grocery bags from the passenger seat and stepped out onto the driveway. The air carried that early evening stillness that settles in just before night reaches across the land.

            The front door had barely opened before I heard it. A long, dramatic meow. Seeatee. Right on cue. He appeared around the corner like a tiny landlord coming to collect overdue rent. His tail was high, and his eyes locked on mine with unmistakable judgment.

            “Well, hello to you too,” I said, stepping inside. He circled my legs immediately, talking the whole time like he had a list of complaints he’d been waiting all day to file. Apparently, my absence had been unacceptable.

“Alright, alright,” I laughed, nudging the door closed behind me. “I’m home now.” 

Seeatee wasn’t happy with that answer. He followed me into the kitchen, still announcing his feelings to the entire house.

            I set the grocery bag on the counter while he supervised from the floor, occasionally glancing up as if to make sure I understood the seriousness of the situation.

            For a moment, I leaned against the counter and just breathed. After the crossroads… after the memories… after hearing GG-Lucielle’s voice so clearly in my mind, stepping into the house felt like stepping back into myself.

            Grounded.

            Safe.

            Present.

            Seeatee finally jumped onto a nearby chair, curling his tail around himself with a look that said he would allow my return this time. I shook my head, smiling as I began pulling groceries from the bag one by one.  I realized I had forgotten to wash my hands, so I walked over to the sink and turned on the water. Looking down at them, my mind drifted back to the crossroads-jumping out of my truck, running to the gate, discovering the locks had been cut. The huge tire tracks in the dirt. What was on those covered trucks that passed when I headed to town? I shook my head. I have to get dinner started.

            The water ran warm over my hands, washing the dust from the road and the grit that still clung beneath my fingernails. I reached for the towel hanging beside the stove and dried them slowly, letting the quiet of the house settle around me.

That’s when I noticed the note. It was sitting on the corner of the counter, held in place by the saltshaker as if it had been waiting patiently for me to find it.

Kimbe’s handwriting.

I remembered then that he had tried to reach me this morning while I was in town picking up groceries. I picked it up and unfolded the paper.

Hey Chè, mwen vin lakay la pou wè kijan ou ye. Mwen panse ou ale achte manje. Mwen renmen ou. Rele mwen.   

(Hey, love, I came by to see how you were doing. I think you went to buy groceries. I love you. Call me.)

A small smile touched my lips.

“Mwen renmen ou tou, Kimbe,” I murmured. 

I folded the note and set it back on the counter, beneath the saltshaker. My phone was still dead from earlier. It had given up somewhere between town and the crossroads, and I hadn’t bothered plugging it in yet. If it had been urgent, Kimbe would have called the house phone. Mrs. Stone had already proved that. Besides, I already knew what his first question would be the moment he walked through the door.

Why were you at the crossroads by yourself?

I exhaled slowly and glanced toward the hallway where the small monitor for the security cameras sat on the desk. Those covered trucks were on their way to The Pointe. Whoever cut that lock had driven onto our land. I needed to see who it was.

But first… dinner.