Weeping Willows: A Thrilling Mystery Novella (Dark Desires Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

was
ready to take their relationship to the next step but Melly had
laughed at him. She said that Craig was being hasty and that she
wasn't ready to commit to one man. She loved her freedom too much.
Sure, she liked Craig but it was still early days. Craig in his
frustration had accused Melly of cheating, he knew that this was
not true but he had wanted to hurt her like she had hurt him in
trivializing their relationship, she in turn had become furious and
had forced Craig to stop the car as they were on their way to
Rosewood Creek's movie theater. She had screamed at him ranting and
raving at what an idiot he was, telling him that she wouldn't speak
to him ever again. They were over! He had called out to her to get
back into the car but she had stomped away on the quiet road. In
his anger and against better judgment Craig had driven away in the
opposite direction to the guest house that he lodged at, pride
preventing him from chasing after her.
     
    The last he saw of Melly was her angry back as she
marched off. The guilt he now felt at leaving her in the middle of
nowhere gnawing at his insides. It was all consuming. He should
have driven back to find her. Instead he'd left her, alone on a
deserted road. He felt a deep seated sense of blame and believing
that he was responsible for whatever had happened to Melissa.
    He wished that Melly would suddenly pitch up telling
everyone that she'd went off with a friend to the city of London
but deep in his heart Craig knew that something awfully dreadful
had happened to Melly, the love of his life. He had wanted to hate
her for mocking their relationship but he'd always know that his
feelings were not reciprocated.
     
    Melissa had commitment issues.
     
    The aroma of baking bread brought Craig out of his
deep reverie, Emma had been up at dawn attending to the chores that
were required to running a farm. She loved it, claiming it was
rewarding and made her life feel so purposeful.
     
    Since their parents had died while they were quite
young, Emma had taken the role of much older sister-cum-mother to
Craig. He'd been born when Emma was 12 years old and 7 years later
when their parents had been killed in a tragic airplane crash Emma
had become Craig's legal guardian. She'd been the solid rock that
he could lean on through all the trying challenging times,
especially when his anger and rage had consumed him making him lose
sense of reality. The killing of innocent little farm animals, when
Emma had found out she hurriedly sought professional help for
Craig. He'd spent many long years in his childhood with his
therapist, slowly coming to terms with the festering wound in his
heart. Emma was the best sister ever, she stood by him through it
all, as protective as any mum could be.
     
    Craig put down the axe, carrying the pile of wood
inside and setting it down near the hearth. Breakfast was already
set at the table. Freshly baked bread, scrambled eggs, sizzling
aromatic coffee, all prepared over the old fashioned coal store.
Emma was setting plates, telling Craig to wash up and join her.
Sitting across from Emma at the old polished mahogany table Craig
discussed with her his part played in what had happened to Mel.
Brother and sister both agreed that the police should not learn
about his troubled past. Emma reassured him that Dr. Lenard was
very discreet. They both knew that if the police dug too deep into
Craig's past, he could be considered a suspect in her
disappearance. Talk about his past coming back to haunt it – this
time with disastrous consequences. It needed to remain buried where
it belonged.
     
    That was Emma's decisive sentiment.

 
    - Chapter 10 -
     
     
    The winter had turned nasty. Its icy fingers curling
around the little town of Rosewood Creek and Hanover law bordered
just outside the city of London. People who loved Solitude opted to
live in these sleepy towns with their scattered farms and cottages
miles apart from each other in exchange for the quick pace of