Stubborn Hearts

CHAPTER ELEVEN

It had already been a few days past that morning-gone-sour and Kassie had found her way back to her usual routine - the one she had tried to establish since she arrived.

She decided to get confined in her little home for the week in order to focus on her writing. From time to time, when her ‘rare mood’ would come up, she would hang out in her kitchen, trying to cook something edible other than toast.

Her stocks were meant to last for a couple more days based on her calculation, unless her tummy would crave again for Danny D’s. She kept the card but never tried calling as there was a big chance she would see Marcus again, and she still could not wrap her mind around how awkward it was going to be.

It was a given that they were neighbors and she would still notice the sound of the truck coming in and out of the driveway, the lights being out and on, and sometimes, a mellow tune he was playing late at night - a contrast from last time’s pop-metallic.

Other than these, she seemed to get more centered, more at peace, which made her a bit productive; she felt proud of herself.

It was already a Friday and she was looking forward to weekends - she planned to go to the lake this time and stay longer.  While heating up some left over from last night’s meal for her lunch, she heard some knocking on the door.

Thinking it had to be Marcus, as there was no other person she was expecting, she quickly fixed herself a bit.

She headed to the front door and while doing so, she tried to come up with something good to say and calmed her panicky senses.

And indeed, it was Marcus.

“Hi,” she started and looked down into a small brown paper bag he was holding.

“Sorry, I hope I am not interrupting something,” he said calmly.

“That was me last time on your door,” she recalled, referring to her marching over to his cottage. 

“Yeah,” he replied, smirking, then handed the small bag to her. “Pork steak and mashed potatoes...from Marge.”

She opened the bag, and indeed it was Danny D’s specialty. 

“She thought you were too busy to visit or even call and might have forgotten to eat again,” he added. He was looking at her as she was savoring the smell of the freshly cooked meal.

Smiling widely, she looked up to him, “Wow! I mean...like we just met and...well, she should have not bothered. ” 

He just shrugged. “Not a big deal.”

“Uhmm...kindly tell her that...well, you know what, I’m going to ring her later to say thank you,” she chuckled. It was too kind of a gesture she did not expect from someone she just met. “And thank you for bringing this to me,” she managed, and offered a grateful smile.

“Sure,” he replied.

They stood by the door for a few seconds, then Kassie broke in.

“Hey, I’m sorry about last time. I was being rude,” she tried to look straight to his eyes while saying so. She really meant it, and even thought of going to his door again just to apologize.

He smiled which made her heart skip a beat.

Whoah! You’re back at it again!

“It’s fine. I may have also not been so nice myself.”

“In more than a few counts, yeah, I guess you’re right,” she teased, making the conversation light.

He laughed. “So, you are finally in a good mood then.”

She glared at him with her funny eyes. “Hey, I am in a good mood most of the time!”

“Yeah, right,” he teased.

“Okay, fine. You just have to work on your timing,” she shot back.  

“I’ll keep that in mind when I barge in again in one of your morning naps.”

“I’ll be sure to keep the other benches inside.”

“Now, that’s not fair,” he leaned his hand to the door frame, his face a bit closer to her that she suddenly forgot how to blink. “I had those benches made for that patio. Those are shared properties.” 

So the benches were his, but at her...er, Mrs. Arving’s patio.

Oh, those grayish blue eyes were at it again, pulling her into a beautiful trance. Coming to her senses in a snap, she cleared her throat. 

“All right, y-you keep the benches...I mean, they’ll just be...right where they are.”

And I’ll be waiting for you to take that seat beside me again, then we’ll enjoy a nice talk over coffee on a quiet morning.

He smirked, still not moving.

Gosh, how could his charm be so magnetic! Did he just put me under a spell?

And those lips...my, would he k---

“Good,” he cut off then moved back, his hands on his side pockets. She could still catch his scent in the air, across her face. “Got to go back now.”

She was unsure why she felt a bit disheartened but was able to manage a wave before Marcus drove away. When she was back inside, she leaned on the door for a good ten seconds, and could not believe that she almost lost her bearings around him.

Was that him flirting or just playing around? She did not want to think of it that way as she already set her mind that he was already in a relationship with the red-haired woman who she saw was with him.

He liked to play around but back to point one, it could not be in a way that would involve too much closeness.

Or maybe, she was just overthinking on things. Maybe Marcus was just really being playfully friendly and she had to put it that way, nothing more.

Oh, Kassie, please get a grip!

Right. At least, they were now on speaking-neighbor terms. Then, maybe somehow she could ask him about her plan on camping by the lake. If everything went well and nothing changes in the weather forecast, she planned to camp next weekend.

Maybe you can try asking him if he would want to camp with you?

“Urgh!” She grunted, and headed to the kitchen. Feeling the warmth of the bag, she remembered to call Marge.  

She found the card and gave her a ring.

“Danny D’s, good afternoon,” she heard Marge’s perky voice picked up.

“Marge, hi! This is Kassie,” she greeted. 

“Kassie, yes, hi!” She could picture Marge’s beaming face with those words. She was such a kind and lovely woman. “You got your steak?”

“Yes, I did. Thank you so much! You shouldn’t have.”

“Hey, no biggie. Just haven’t seen you come by so I had one sent instead.”

She could hear her smile and sincerity in her voice. Such warmth like a big sister.

“Yeah, sorry. I owe you this one.”

“Oh, don’t mention it. Just come visit when you’re free.”

“Will do, thanks again!”

“Anytime. Bye!”

“Bye!”

She hung up smiling and too excited for her meal. Her week seemed to be ending much better than expected.

After her sumptuous lunch, she went back upstairs and continued her work, more energized compared to the previous days.

MORNING CAME TOO FAST FOR Kassie but she was not budged. It was going to be a fine day. She made quite a good progress this week and she wanted to reward herself some free time. 

She put on her jogging gears, and headed out to the already familiar trails to the woods. She took the path to the lake which she already marked in her phone’s map, just to be sure she won’t get lost.

Even with the same welcoming breeze and silence, she would always be overwhelmed with how calming and relaxing it was to be swallowed in the coolness of the trees, breathing one with nature. 

After about 20 minutes, she reached the lake and once again, taken aback by its beauty. She glided slowly down to the narrow path toward the lakeside. 

The water was glistening, just like last time, sparling from the rays of the morning sun. Hands on her hips, she breathed the sight of the statue-still body of water and she thought she could stay in this moment for a long time. 

After a while, she took her phone to take a photo. Contented with a couple of shots, she was now trying to do a selfie, but heard some movements on the bushes from her far left. She could tell something’s coming through and out as the sound of the bushes swaying, crushing was fast.

She moved a few steps back and clutched her phone tightly, but was frozen in place when the noise stopped.

Then it came out from the bush - a red fox, on its mouth was his dead squirrel prey. Its eyes were fierce and fixed at her. 

She was dumbfounded, unable to move and it seemed like all the blood drained from her body, she was shivering with fear. 

With no one around to help or tell her what to do, she felt so hopeless that her eyes were starting to brim with tears.

Could someone please, help me!

Her mind was screaming in distress, wishing the forest fairies could hear her and deliver some help.  

The fox was about to step forward, but its head suddenly snapped to the trail and jumped back quickly to the bushes. 

“Kassie!” She heard someone call her name.

She turned absentmindedly from where the voice came from.

Marcus!

The fairies heard her after all. 

Then, her limp knees gave in and she slumped to the ground.