The sun was beating down on Helena's back as she swung her leg to the ground. The muddy patch of land among the stone path sunk under Helena's feet. She comforted the horse, who seemed to be tired, by petting it's shoulder. "It's alright Tim-Tam, I'm leaving you with Smith, you'll be back home in no time at all." Tim-Tam bobbed his head as if in response.
"Skire?" Helena turned to see a man standing only ten feet away from her, holding a small Labrador puppy.
"Smith!" Helena smiled broadly, and grabbed onto Tim-Tam's reigns. "How nice it is to see you."
"What are you doing here?" Smith asked looking at Tim-Tam skeptically.
"Well, I know I'm not supposed to be here until next Tuesday, for the groceries and such, but I had to come…because…I need you to bring Tim-Tam back home for me." Smith looked at Helena as if she was crazy, but then his gaze softened as he saw the paper in her hands. Her mother's loopy writing clearly visible.
"Oh, Skire…what's going on?"
"Smith, I think you know, you were best of friends with my mother…before…" Smith looked down at his muddy boots.
"I know…" he didn't meet Helena's eyes. "I'm sorry…you have to go, I'll miss you coming over to play checkers with Abby." His grey eyebrows furrowed, and his thin lips frowned as he tried to seem as happy as possible.
"It's alright. I will visit you and Abby again, tell her thank you for all those times she made me cherry scones." Smith's eyes welled up with tears as the memories flooded his mind. He was much like a grandfather to Helena, and Abby was like her grandmother. The whole town knew Helena's family,
her father and her mother were well respected and well liked by much of the population.
But Smith was the only one Helena believed she could trust to not urge her to return home, or perhaps even let on that she had left town.
"I'm just going because…well I'm not sure…but I have to find some answers…" Helena looked down the street, hoping to find something that caught her attention, no luck.
"Tell Christine I said hello, I miss her very much." Helena smiled weakly at the mention of her mother's name.
"I will…" Helena let go of the reigns, and held out her hand, Smith grabbed and held it tightly. "I will miss you too."
Helena couldn't bare to be here anymore, it made her feel guilty, besides, she had a place to be. She had to meet up with someone very important. Someone that might very well lead her to all the answers, she has been longing for.
After Helena had said goodbye to Tim-Tam and Smith, she started heading down the hard road towards "Maplewood Lane." Christine had been buried there, in the lavish cemetery, underneath maple trees, and soft light, her daughter sat a few feet away and her husband and friends stood around her casket. Erik stood behind one of the massive trees, eyes soaked with sadness. "Christine…"