Caleb and Caleb walked down the long dock, which was practically empty. It was as if they had the island to themselves. Despite the time of year, the weather had warmed on their boat trip out. It was now unseasonably warm, at 65 degrees. Caitlin felt herself wanting to get rid of some of her layers of thick clothing.
She looked down, and felt embarrassed that she was still wearing the clothing she had picked up days ago, at that Salvation Army. She desperately wanted some more clothes. But she had no money on her. And she couldn’t ask Caleb.
She looked over and saw Caleb adjusting his collar, apparently also affected by the warmth. It felt like a late spring day, hardly like March. The sun was brilliant, and shining everywhere, bouncing off the water and off of everything.
Caleb suddenly looked at her, and, as if reading her mind, said, “Why don’t we get you some new clothes?” Before she could respond, he added, “Don’t worry. I have a credit card with an unlimited credit line.” He broke into a sheepish smile. “One of the advantages of being around for thousands of years. You amass wealth.”
Caitlin marveled at how he could always read her thoughts. On the one hand, she loved it, but on the other, she worried as to how much he could read, exactly. Was he able to know her deepest thoughts and feelings? She hoped not. But she had a feeling that, even he did, he was able to control how deep he probed, and that he didn’t pry.
“As long as you’re sure it’s not a problem,” Caitlin said tentatively. “And that you’ll let me pay you back one day.”
He took her hand and led her on a walk down the main street of the quaint, historic village. Despite the beautiful weather, there were hardly any people out—probably, she assumed, because of the time of year. This seemed to be a seasonal place. She felt as if they had the whole town to themselves—and it was the most beautiful place she had ever been.
The village was so clean, so perfectly maintained, and was filled with small, historic houses, each more stunning than the next. It looked like a time set, like they had gone back to the early 1800s. The town was a quiet masterpiece.
The only thing ruining the illusion were the modern retail shops. She assumed that in the summertime, these were probably all opened and crowded with wealthy people, that this was probably one of those places that she could have never afforded to visit. She marveled at her luck. She was so happy to be here now, and with Caleb, and on such a beautiful day.
She closed her eyes and breathed in the spring air, and she could almost see herself living here with Caleb, back in time, in another century. A part of her wished that they could just stop running, just settle down here, live a normal life together. But she knew that was not meant to be.
“Should we find the Vincent House?” she asked.
“We will,” he said. “Let’s get you your clothes first.”
He led Caitlin into the one shop that was open. Lily Pulitzer.
The quaint little bell rang as they opened the old door, and the saleswoman seemed thrilled to have customers. She put down her paper and hurried over, and couldn’t have been more gracious.
Caitlin handed Rose to Caleb as she browsed, and the saleswoman was delighted.
“Wow, what a beautiful puppy,” she said, her eyes opening wide. “Is that a husky?”
Caleb smiled. “Something like that,” he said.
Ten minutes later they exited the store, Caitlin dressed in a new outfit from head to toe. She felt like a new person. She looked down at herself and nearly laughed aloud. It was so not her. She had gone from wearing all Salvation Army to being decked out in a series of pastels: lime green jeans, a pink tee-shirt, a light purple, cashmere sweater, and a lime green Kiera coat. It’s not like she had much of a choice: it was the only store open, and it was all that they had left this time of year in her size. The coat hugged her firmly, and had an inner pocket just big enough to hold her journal, which she transferred from her other jacket. For shoes, she’d bought gold, sequined flats. She could have been in a Lily Pulitzer catalog.
Well, if she was going to get caught up in a vampire war, at least she’d be fashionable. And probably the only vampire not wearing black.
She smiled as she recalled the saleswoman’s surprised expression when she’d told her to just throw out all of the clothes she’d wore in. It must not have been every day that a customer said that.
A part of her kind of liked it. It was a whole new her. It certainly wasn’t the wardrobe she’d had in mind in this journey with Caleb. She pictured herself wearing something all black, like him, maybe something leather, with high collars, something Gothic. But that was fine. They were new, and she was so grateful for that.
“Thank you so much, Caleb,” she said, as they walked out the store. She really meant it. She’d never had any guy in her life buy her clothing, much less clothing this nice. And having been so kind and gracious about it. She really felt taken care of, and she was more appreciative than he would ever know.
He smiled and took her hand, as they strolled down the street. She felt so warm in her new clothing, perhaps too warm, but she knew it was an unusually hot day, and that it would be better to be too hot than too cold.
They had asked the saleswoman if she’d heard of The Vincent House and had been happily surprised that she not only knew where it was, but reported that it was only a block away.
As they headed in that direction, for the first time, they were not walking in a mad rush. They strolled, taking their time. In the back of their minds, they both had a feeling that once they got to this house, discovered the next clue, things would heat up again. They were both tired. Neither of them was in a rush to get rolling at a frantic pace again. And neither of them were too eager to find whatever was there. On the one hand, they did. But on the other, they both knew that once they found it—whatever it was, wherever it was—their lives would change irrevocably. And that would probably entail their parting ways.
Caitlin set Rose down and allowed her to walk beside them. She was happy to see that she was well behaved, keeping pace with them and not wandering off. She ran to a small patch of grass to relieve herself, but then ran right back. Caitlin reached down and gave her another small piece of the hotdog, and she ate it happily.
They passed a large, historic church, walked alongside a small, white picket fence, and then turned and entered a walkway that led through immaculately kept grounds. The grass was green and vibrant, even this time of year. To one side of them was a magnificent old whaling Church, and to the other was an enormous whaling house from the mid-19th century, with a large veranda in the back. The sign read: “The Daniel Fisher House.” It was the most beautiful house she’d ever seen. She could happily picture herself living there. Strolling through its backyard, with Caleb holding her hand and Rose by her side, it almost felt like they were home.