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Mystery Author’s story (Chapters 15 & 16)

Read from the beginning – links at the bottom.

March 31, 2022

Can you guess who the mystery author is?

Chapter 15

The next morning, Jason roused Paige up with a soft kiss on her shoulder.

“Are you ready for this,” She looked up.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” She smiled as they kissed. “I want to apologize in advance for anything that I say or do that offends.” He laughed.

“I know.” Twenty minutes later they met at Winnie’s car. Aiden drove while Winnie stared absentmindedly out the window. They held hands on the way, a silent show of unity however once Jason pulled into the lot, she let go and became guarded. When the car stopped Winnie hopped out leaving Aiden behind. By the time he entered the shop, she was already heading to the pristine corner room. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw her put on the painter’s outerwear.

“Winnie,” called a deep voice. She turned over to find Joseph walking in her direction. At 5’6 with a muscular build, middle of the Roland children. His no-nonsense attitude and brutal honesty often turned people off however Winnie found it quite refreshing. He walked in for a hug but saw her bristle and take a step back in a defensive stance. Instead he offered her his hand and shook it warmly. Guarded, she would not meet his gaze.

“What did they do to you,” he asked. She shrugged.

“Do you have a job for me yet?” Winnie asked. He nodded and led her into the sterile room. A sketchbook laid open to a picture of intricate waves crashing on a sandy beach. Smiling to herself, Winnie began tracing the sketch with her fingers, imagining the interlocking colors in her head, excited to begin the work.

“I have already done the prep work, stripping, priming, and buffing the hood before you got here. It is prepped and waiting for your artistic touch.” Winnie looked up in surprise, with the amount of work that he had already done. Tilting her head and raising an eyebrow, Joseph called her bluff. “It’s my car. When I heard that you were back, I had to make sure that you worked on mine first.” She couldn’t help but laugh out loud until she noticed Aiden on the other side of the room grinning from ear to ear.

“What are you smiling at?” she barked loudly in his direction. Shaking his head in pity in Aiden’s direction, he turned back to Winnie.

“I am glad that you are back but Go easy on him.” Turning back to the room, Winnie entered her safe haven and began to mix paint. Familiar with her surroundings, Winnie cranked up the music and began to work.

When lunchtime came around, Winnie grabbed a sandwich and sat at the table, When Aiden sat down next to her, she stood up and moved back to the main room and took her lunch sitting against the wall alone. His gaze lingered, longing to say something to her, however he held back. Joseph noticed and walked over to Aiden.

“She’ll come around.” Aiden looked up, surprised at the insightfulness of his boss. Joseph had always been honest in his work and his treatment of others. His practice hadn’t changed in the last six years. In another life, would they be close friends and allies?

“You think so?” Joseph nodded.

“Give her time. Who knows what she’s been through in the last few years.” Aiden grinned wryly. He did know what she had been through and prison wasn’t it.

It was then that Larissa walked in. At seventeen, she was a looker. Same height as her oldest brother however where he was buff, she was slender with high cheekbones and jet-black hair which flowed down her back. Her boyfriend Todd trailed behind looking irritated that a stranger was in the paint room. He had been hired about six months ago as a painter. Though he could handle an airbrush, his talent was in the prep work and basic painting, not the custom artwork that Winnie was known for. Customers would be thrilled to hear that she was back, and Joseph wanted to capitalize on her talents.

“Is it true? Is Winnie back?” Aiden pointed to the painting room where Winnie had returned back to work. Todd slammed open the door and yelled.

“Who are you?” Winnie looked up startled and pulled the mask off of her face.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Winnie?” Larissa squealed. “You’re back and have purple highlights now!” It took a few seconds for Winnie to process who was standing in front of her.

“You are all grown up. Larissa, when did that happen?” Winnie forgot to flinch when Larissa reached in for a hug, however she stepped away quickly. “What are you up to?”

“I am a Senior now, and work at the coffee shop down the street. How are you doing?” Todd snorted.

“Didn’t you say that she was in…” Larissa elbowed him in the ribcage. Sudden awkwardness took over the group as Joseph and Aiden made their way across the shop. Both aligned themselves with Winnie and stared down Todd who didn’t take a hint. “Wait, that is your baby, Joseph. What is that criminal doing?” Angrily, Joseph took the boy’s arm and led him away. Embarrassed, Larissa muttered an apology and followed them leaving Aiden and Winnie alone. She looked up at him defiantly.

“Do you have a problem with me working here also?” Without waiting for an answer, Winnie huffed, put the mask over her face, and went back to work.

Chapter 16

For the next few weeks, the days became a familiar routine schedule. Aiden and Winnie arrived at the auto shop together in the morning, worked in their separate stations, and went home in the evening together.

Over time, Winnie began to take her lunch at the table with the rest of the group and began sitting next to Aiden. She mostly stayed quiet and avoided friendly chatter; with the exception of Larissa who’s teenage innocence was refreshing. As the days and weeks passed, she became a bit more at ease with the people in the shop dropping her guard occasionally. She didn’t volunteer information about her incarceration, and no one asked. The Roland’s, Aiden and Winnie avoided the uncomfortable nature of the conversation.

At home, they maintained their distance in the living room and kitchen weather supper was cooked or bought and had guarded conversation over dinner and evening television. They went upstairs separately at routine times and were able to finally drop their guard. No one at work suspected the true nature of their relationship though many of their coworkers dropped hints that they should get back together.

Friday evenings, the couple would take turns driving to Paige’s house where they spent Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sunday mornings with Aiden and Rachael at Church and lunch.

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