Chapter 9

Aria

When Caleb called and said my house was on fire, I was just closing the cafe. Holly drove like a mad woman. My house was located all the way at the end of McClain Road ,it was the only house out that way backed One side by large trees from the forest and trees lining the long road in. From my front porch,I could see clear across the field to the resort Caleb was building and his place.

When we got there the fire truck was there. When I walked to the front of the truck I fell to the ground. My entire house was gone. It was burnt to the ground. Holly just held me.

“ What , I don't understand how… ”, I couldn't form the words. I saw the police chief, chief Matthews walking towards me.

“ Aria Sweetheart, I'm so sorry. Someone called in ten minutes ago saying there was a fire at your house. It seems the fire began a long time ago and someone just saw it. We'll find out what happened and how it all started” ,He said, patting my shoulder.

I grew up in this house,this was where I was raised. All my memories were here. Everything was gone, destroyed.

“ Hey Aria, I'm sorry. Don't go in there,the remaining beams can collapse at any time. The guys and I will go through everything and find everything that's left. I'm really sorry. By the time we got here it was already finished burning , I'm sorry” , Raphael said.

I nodded Because what could I say? Holly helped me up and I went back to my car.the minute we were alone, I began crying . My home was gone.

“ Come stay with me ” ,She said, holding my hand. I shook my head.

“ Stay here , I'll go make sure Raphael Finds everything okay ” ,She said

“ Okay ” , I whispered

My phone began ringing. I didn't check it.

“ Hello?” ,

“ Baby girl are you okay?” ,

“ No” ,

“ I'm sorry baby. You're going to go stay at the hotel in town until you decide if you want to rebuild it there or elsewhere, I'll send you the room card” ,he said

“ No . I can stay above the Cafe . There's an apartment upstairs. The building belongs to me. Thank you but it's okay ” I said

“ Are you sure baby?” ,

“ Yes I'll be fine, Lucian ” ,

“ Okay, I'm busy taking care of some stuff, I'll see you soon ” ,

“ Okay ” ,

“ Be careful baby, bye ” ,he said

“ Bye ”. I ended the call and sat there. My phone vibrated and a message came through. I opened it and was shocked.

“ How do you like your home now?”

That was all the message said. I got out of the car and walked over to chief Mathew and showed him the message. He promised to get to the bottom of it. I saw Raphael and Holly walking towards me with a box.

“ This is all that's salvageable. Also there’s a safe but it can't be open , hopefully whatever you had inside was untouched by the fire” ,He said, handing the box to me.

“ Can I go and open the safe?” , I asked him.

“ Sure ,Come on, I'll go with you ” ,he said

Caleb

Ryan and I were on my back porch,with binoculars. I saw her fall down and that shit hurt to see her like that. When I called her she sounded like she had been crying. All throughout the call Ryan was looking at me.

“ You're completely in love with her” ,He said, looking at me.

“ No” ,I said, refusing to admit it.

“ Caleb I've known you for over twelve years and I know what you're thinking just by looking at your face. Don't admit it to me but you're already in love with her. Why'd you have to stalk her damnit?” ,he said throwing a beer bottle cap at me

“ What happens when Catherine Finds out I have someone. Every single woman after Catherine, even a one night stand got stalked and hurt. I know it was her but there's never been proof. What happens When Jason gets wind of it . Do you think they'll stop and think before they hurt her? No they won't. Yes I'm in love with her and I don't want her to get hurt not until I Deal with Catherine and Jason properly and for good ” , I said while taking a swig of my beer.

“ Did she ask for a name ?” ,

“ Yeah, I gave her my middle name ” ,I said, and he began laughing.

We sat out there watching them , until she left around eight that evening.

When I woke up the next morning,Ryan was gone. He left a note saying he was heading Phoenix for the merger meeting . He'd meet me later at the Cafe. I grabbed a shower and headed out. I checked on the workers and the work at the site and it was coming along good.

When I walked into the cafe , it was quiet.
She and Holly were sitting at a table. She looked like she had been crying all night.

“ Ms Garcia, I'm extremely sorry about what happened “ ,I said, taking a seat in the usual spot.

“ Thank you Caleb. Thank you for letting me know ” ,She said

“ Did the police and firefighters find out how it started?” I asked her , opening my laptop.

“ No , there's nothing , they didn't find anything” She said, walking to the back.

“ Did they manage to save anything?”. I asked

“ No , just a few pictures that blew away and most of her important papers that were in the safe. Thankfully they weren't destroyed ” , Holly said.

She walked over to me and put a cup of coffee down on the table along with chocolate cake.

“ It's on the house ” ,She said walking to the front door.

“ Holly I'm going to head back up to the apartment and do some more cleaning “. She said walking out.

I texted Ryan and asked him to do something for me. Two hours later she reappeared. She was talking to Holly when the delivery guy walked in.

“ Delivery for Ms Garcia?”.

She stood up and walked over to him.

“ Please sign here,” he said, eyeing her. What the fuck. She signed it and he handed her the roses.

“ And who is sending you roses?” I heard Lacy ask her ,she shrugged her shoulders.
She walked back over to Holly . Her back was to me. I heard Holly laughing.

“ Shut up”. She said walking into her office.
I asked Ryan to send her a dozen red roses, and sign my middle name on the card.

Aria

I didn't expect Caleb to ask ,but he did and I was grateful he called me to let me know. I wasn't expecting the delivery guy to hand me roses. Holly helped me earlier last night to clean up the bedroom in the apartment above the cafe.

I cried half the night ,my mother loved that house. I could rebuild it ,I had more than enough money. I left Holly in the cafe and cleaned up the rest. Around closing time Everyone was gone. Just Caleb was there. I didn't mind . I saw the look Lacy gave me before walking out.

“ Do you want coffee or a Juice ?” , I asked out loud.

“ Coffee, “ I heard him say.

I grabbed the coffee and set it on the table.

“ Can I sit down?” I asked him

“ Sure ” ,he said, closing the laptop and taking off the sunglasses.

“ Why do you always take your Sunglasses off when you're talking to me ?”, I asked him

“ Because ” ,He said, smiling.

“ Thank you for calling me. How did you get my number?” I asked him.

“ The outside of the Cafe ” , He said matter of factly.

“ Hmmm. Only Holly and the police chief knows this. I didn't say anything about it because I didn't want the others to know. Yesterday after your call and I rushed there with Holly I was at a loss as to what to do or think. I had a phone call and after that call I received a text message asking me ,’ How I liked my home now’ ”, I said while taking a sip of my coffee.

“ You're saying with that message it's Arson? Someone Did it on purpose ”. He said, looking at me.

“ Yes. The chief said he would look into it. Raphael, that's one of the guys Holly and I went to school with, he's a firefighter. He said he and his colleagues will try to find out how it started “. I said

“ And where are you staying now?”, he asked me

“ There's a really big and spacious apartment above the Cafe ” ,I said

“ Ms Garcia, Aria sorry , I don't think it's Wise for you to stay here alone. I think someone is out to get you and I mean it in all seriousness “ ,he said looking at me.

“ I'll be fine ” ,I said standing up. I began closing the shutters.

“ When you take those glasses off and look at people,it unnerves them ” ,I said

“Does that include you?” he asked, I heard the undertone of that question.

“ Caleb,Are you interested in me?” ,I asked. Holly pointed it out to me so I figured I'd ask.