Chapter 2: Shadows in the Snow
1376 Words
Scarlett didn’t sleep much that night. Her mind swirled with thoughts of Ethan’s visit, the mention of James, and the cryptic way Ethan had spoken about secrets. She tossed and turned, staring at the faint light of the moon filtering through her curtains, wondering what it all meant.
Morning came with a soft knock on her bedroom door.
“Mommy?” Lila’s voice was a whisper.
Scarlett sat up, rubbing her eyes. “Come in, sweetie.”
Lila peeked in, clutching her favourite stuffed rabbit. “Can I sleep with you for a little while?”
Scarlett’s heart softened. She lifted the blanket, and Lila scrambled into bed, snuggling close. Her tiny hands were cold against Scarlett’s arm.
“Did you have a bad dream?” Scarlett asked, stroking her daughter’s hair.
Lila nodded. “I dreamed a scary man was knocking on the door, and he wanted to take the Christmas tree.”
Scarlett’s chest tightened. Even though Lila had never directly seen James’ darker side, she’d picked up on Scarlett’s unease over the years. Scarlett kissed her forehead.
“No one’s taking our tree,” Scarlett said softly. “We’re safe here, I promise.”
But as the words left her mouth, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her.
The day unfolded like most others. Scarlett focused on keeping things normal for Lila. They baked sugar cookies shaped like snowflakes, decorating them with excessive amounts of sprinkles. The kitchen filled with laughter as Lila’s nose became dusted with flour. For a few blissful hours, Scarlett managed to push her worries aside.
It wasn’t until late afternoon when Lila had gone down for a nap, that Scarlett’s thoughts returned to Ethan’s warnings. She sat at the kitchen table, her fingers tracing patterns on the wooden grain, trying to make sense of it all.
Ethan wasn’t the type to exaggerate. If he thought James was still a threat, there had to be some truth to it. But why now? Why would James care after all this time? She had given him what he wanted—the divorce, the freedom to continue his life unchallenged.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone buzzing on the counter. She glanced at the screen and saw Daniel’s name.
Daniel was her older brother and, aside from Ethan, her closest confidant. He had been her rock through the chaos of her divorce, offering a steady presence and a listening ear.
“Hey, Danny,” she said, answering the call.
“Hey, Scar,” Daniel said. His voice was warm but tinged with concern. “I just got off the phone with Ethan.”
Scarlett sat up straighter. “Oh?”
“He mentioned he stopped by yesterday,” Daniel said. “I didn’t want to alarm you, but I figured I should check in. How are you holding up?”
Scarlett hesitated, glancing toward the living room where Lila’s toys were scattered across the floor. “I’m fine,” she said carefully. “Just... trying to wrap my head around everything he told me.”
Daniel sighed. “Ethan’s been looking into James for a while now. He thinks James is tied up in something illegal—money laundering, maybe worse.”
Scarlett’s stomach churned. “Why would Ethan involve himself in this? It’s not his problem.”
“Ethan’s always had a hero complex,” Daniel said with a small laugh. “But honestly, I think he cares about you. He wants to make sure you’re safe.”
Scarlett’s chest tightened. The idea of Ethan risking his own safety for her and Lila was both comforting and terrifying.
“What do I do, Danny?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Keep your head down,” Daniel said. “Ethan’s got resources. Let him handle this. And if anything feels off, call me or him right away.”
Scarlett nodded, even though Daniel couldn’t see her. “Okay.”
They talked for a few more minutes before hanging up. Scarlett set the phone down and leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. Her quiet life in Aspen Grove felt like it was unravelling thread by thread.
Later that evening, as Scarlett tucked Lila into bed, the unease she’d been suppressing all day resurfaced. She kissed Lila’s forehead and whispered a soft “Goodnight,” but as she left the room, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching her.
She double-checked the locks on the doors and windows before retreating to the living room. The Christmas tree glowed softly, its lights casting dancing shadows on the walls. Scarlett curled up on the couch with a blanket, trying to lose herself in a book, but the words blurred on the page.
A sudden noise made her freeze.
It was faint, almost imperceptible—the crunch of snow underfoot outside the house. Scarlett’s heart pounded. She set the book down and stood, her breath catching in her throat.
Quietly moving, she approached the window and peered through the curtains. The yard was blanketed in snow, undisturbed except for a single set of footprints leading up to the porch.
Scarlett’s blood ran cold.
The sound came again, this time closer. A shadow moved across the porch, and Scarlett’s instinct kicked in. She grabbed her phone and dialled Ethan’s number with trembling fingers.
“Scarlett?” Ethan’s voice came through almost immediately.
“Someone’s outside,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “I think they’re on the porch.”
“Stay inside,” Ethan said firmly. “Lock the doors and don’t open them for anyone. I’m on my way.”
Scarlett nodded, though her heart was racing too fast to respond. She ended the call and hurried to the front door, double-checking the lock. The shadow passed by the window, and Scarlett’s breath caught.
Minutes felt like hours as she waited, her eyes darting between the windows and the door. Finally, headlights swept across the driveway, and she saw Ethan’s SUV pull up.
He was out of the car before it had fully stopped, his stride purposeful as he approached the house. Scarlett unlocked the door and let him in, her hands trembling.
“What happened?” Ethan asked, his gaze scanning the room as he stepped inside.
“There were footprints,” Scarlett said, her voice barely above a whisper. “And I heard someone outside.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened. He glanced toward the window, then back at Scarlett. “Stay here. I’m going to check the perimeter.”
“Ethan, be careful,” Scarlett said, her heart pounding.
He nodded, his expression serious, and stepped back outside. Scarlett locked the door behind him, her hands shaking as she clutched the phone tightly.
She waited, her ears straining for any sound. Minutes later, Ethan returned, his face grim.
“There’s no one out there now,” he said, brushing snow off his coat. “But there were footprints, just like you said. They lead to the back of the property and disappear into the woods.”
Scarlett’s stomach churned. “Do you think it was... James?”
Ethan hesitated, his green eyes meeting hers. “I don’t know. But whoever it was, they wanted you to know they were here.”
Scarlett felt a wave of nausea. The thought of someone watching her and Lila, lurking in the shadows, was almost too much to bear.
“I’m staying here tonight,” Ethan said firmly.
“You don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do,” he interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’m not leaving you and Lila alone after this.”
Scarlett nodded, too shaken to protest. As much as she hated feeling like a damsel in distress, she was grateful for Ethan’s presence.
He set up camp on the couch, his eyes constantly scanning the room as if expecting someone to burst in at any moment. Scarlett retreated to her room, but sleep was impossible. She lay awake, listening to the faint sounds of the house settling and Ethan’s steady breathing from the living room.
As the hours stretched on, Scarlett couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.
- Writer
