Day 1 This will not be in the novel. I add it here because reviewers think more time has passed.

Chapter 1 A

Early Friday morning Hallie Williams sat at the kitchen nook of her grandma's home and took a deep breath as she wiped away tears with the back of her hand. Six months ago today, Ben and Mallory were murdered.

"Somedays I'm not sure I can continue." Hallie sipped her coffee, watched a squirrel eat from the birdfeeder, and gave a slight head shake. "Little guy, Grandma will be upset."

Grandma walked in. "Why and who am I going to be upset with?"

Hallie smiled. "A squirrel helped himself to your birdfeeder." She set her coffee cup on the table and stood. "The coffee's fresh. I'll pour you some. What would you like me to make for breakfast."

"What are you having?" asked Grandma as she accepted the cup.

"Greek yogurt and a bowl of fresh berries, but I'll make whatever you want."

"Yogurt and fruit aren't a decent breakfast. No wonder you're skin and bones," replied Grandma.

With a sigh, Hallie replied, "There's protein, dairy, and fruit. So, numerous minerals and vitamins. It's a balanced breakfast and I'm not skin and bones. What would you like?"

"I'll fix myself some bacon, eggs, and toast. I'll need energy to chase away that pesky squirrel. Sure, you don't want some?" Grandma's tone softened, "Sweetheart, how are you today?"

"Doing fine."

"Don't think I haven't noticed the moisture in your eyes. I heard you crying last night. It's only been six months."

"How long did it take you to get over Grandpa's death?"

"You can't compare the two. Grandpa was eighty-two and in poor health. Ben was twenty-eight and Mallory only eight months. All I can tell you is that you'll always miss them, but you'll learn to live with the pain. Life continues."

"Thank you." Hallie glanced at her watch. "I'd better get to work. I have a few more things to prepare for my presentation. A fifth-grade class is coming this afternoon for a fieldtrip." She looked out the window. "The wind's picking up, again."

"I'm glad the elementary school is utilizing the art gallery."

"Me too." Hallie rinsed her coffee cup and bowl. "I noticed a few tree limbs fell during last night's storm. When I get home, I'll take care of them."

Grandma walked to Hallie and kissed her cheek. "I'm happy you moved back home." She sniffed and then patted her granddaughter's cheek. "I like that new perfume. It smells nice on you. Small changes are a good start to healing. I love you."

"Love you more and thank you." Hallie sighed and left through the front door.

***
On the three-block walk to the library, Hallie attempted to clear the memory of the night she arrived home from work and discovered Ben's body lying in a pool of blood on the living room floor, and Mallory's body lying on her blanket. "Why?" she shouted out loud.

She stopped and took a few deep breaths. I'm not doing this today. I need to stay focused.

As Hallie stood in front of the library, she searched for the keys in her purse. A bird's chirp caught her attention. She searched the branches of a nearby tree and found a cardinal. "You seem happy. I've heard when one sees a cardinal, it's a message from a loved one that they're watching over you. Ben, are you with me?"

In her peripheral vision, she saw something flapping. When she turned to get a better view, she noticed some loose shingles. "Not good. I guess last night's storm loosened them. The wind was strong. I'd better nail them down. It won't take long. There's only a few. Getting the ladder will take the most time."

Hallie leaned the ladder against the roof's gutters and reached up to set the hammer and some roofing nails that she found in the storage shed on the ladder's shelf.

***
Dr. Liam Wilson sipped his coffee and watched through a window of his veterinarian clinic. He pointed. "Janie, who's that?"

His mid-forty-year-old receptionist said, "That's Hallie Williams. About a month ago, she moved in with her grandma, Angie Brown."

"I know Angie. We go to the same church. Why'd her granddaughter move in?"

"It's a horrible story. She came home from work one night and found her husband, eight-month-old daughter, and dog brutally murdered during an apparent home invasion. She couldn't live in that house any longer. Too many memories. She moved back home."

"Home?"

"That's right. Her parents died in a car accident when she was about three or four. Angie and her husband, Arthur, raised her. When Margie retired, she took over as the library and art museum's coordinator. I heard she's also teaching an English as a second language class and a citizenship class for the junior college. The classes are held in the library, after hours.

Liam watched her climb the ladder. Her shoulder length honey-colored hair blew softly in the wind. "If she's not careful, she'll fall. I'd better help."

"Or introduce yourself." Janie giggled.

"Nonsense," Liam said over his shoulder as he left. "She's petite enough the wind could blow her off the ladder."

"I doubt that has ever happened. It sounds like an excuse to me." Janie laughed and answered the ringing phone.

Liam crossed the street and placed his hands on the ladder. "Hello. I'll hold the ladder still."

Not expecting she'd hear a voice, Hallie was startled and wobbled.

He raised a hand and placed it against her rear end. "Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Come down, and I'll introduce myself."

"Remove your hand, so I can."

Liam yanked away his hand as pink tinged the tips of his ears. "I was. Hmm. Trying to steady you. Hmm. So, you wouldn't fall." He studied his hand. "I didn't mean."

"I'm not used to strange men coming up and getting so friendly."

"That wasn't my intent." Liam swallowed. "My intent was to make sure you didn't fall." He stared into her sky-blue eyes. I've made a fool of myself.

Hallie pointed at the roof. "Last night's storm loosened some shingles. I need to repair them before they get any worse."

"I figured as much." He glanced toward his office and offered his hand. "I'm Dr. Liam Wilson. I'm glad to meet you."

She accepted his hand. "I'm Hallie Williams."

"You're new in town?"

"I am. I moved back home about a month ago. I was lucky to find a job this fast." Hallie tilted her head. "You must be fairly new in town. I don't remember you while I was growing up. This is a small town. I think our paths would've crossed."

"You're right. I moved to Eagles Peak about two getting close to three years ago."

"I need to finish nailing down some shingles before I open the library." Hallie put her hand on the ladder. "It was nice meeting you."

"Let me do it. You might fall." Liam put his right foot on the bottom rung.

"You could fall just as easily as I can. I'm capable of taking care of this problem. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I'm sure you have patients waiting." She scooted in front of him and pushed him aside.

Who is this feisty little spitfire? Liam bowed and pointed toward the ladder. "Be my guest, but I'm not leaving until you've finished, and the ladder's put away." What's her perfume? I smell apples, maybe apricots, and something else.

"You're bossy. It's a free country and the library sits on public property. You can stay if you want."

Liam ran his hand through his short brown hair. "Thank you for giving me permission to be on public property."

She climbed the ladder. "You're welcome."

Once the shingles were secured, Hallie took a few steps down as a gust of wind shook the ladder.

Liam held tight with one hand and used the other hand to steady Hallie. "You all right?"

"I am. Thank you. I wasn't expecting that last gust."

"Neither was I." Liam glanced toward his parking lot. "Where does the ladder go?"

"You can leave. I got the ladder out by myself. I can put it away myself."

"I know you can, but why not allow me to help? Friends help friends."

"So, we're friends now?"

She's pulling away. Possible classic grief or am I reading too much into it? He turned the ladder toward her. "Take that end, and I'll take this one. We wouldn't want another gust to blow it or you away."

"Okay, but I'm positive you're exaggerating."

Liam's deep brown eyes showed a hint of orneriness. "Maybe slightly."

After the ladder was in the shed, Liam pointed toward his clinic. "I'd better get back. My patients can get spicy."

"Spicy patients?"

"They already don't want to be there, so waiting isn't their strong area."

Hallie's eyebrows knitted together. "Interesting. Have a good day." She paused. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. You have a good day, yourself. I'm sure we'll meet again." Liam crossed the street but paused and glanced back.

***
It wasn't long after one o'clock the school buses filled with fifth-grade students parked in the lot. Hallie met the buses and welcomed about seventy-five students. She led them, their teachers, and the chaperones upstairs to the art museum section of the library.

Hallie shared the paintings, drawings, photographs, and sculptures by individual artists, some famous, but mostly local.

When she discussed the wood carvings, arrowheads, broken pottery, and tools made by indigenous people, who had once lived in Illinois, there were numerous comments and questions about their history.

It was a little after two-thirty when the tour came to an end. Questions were still being answered when a female chaperone walked up to Hallie, pointed, and whispered, "A couple boys noticed out that window there's an injured dog in the ditch."

Hallie's eyes widened. "I'll check it out." She walked to her assistant, Tina, and said, "Please help the students to the buses. I have something to take care of." She left.

~~~~~
CHARACTERS:

Hallie Williams - Heroine, widow, and coordinator of the library and art museum.

Angie Brown - Hallie's grandma, who raised her. Hallie is, again, living with her grandma.

Ben Williams - Hallie's deceased husband. Murdered during a home invasion.

Mallory Williams - Hallie's eight-month-old daughter. Murdered during the home invasion.

Dr. Liam Wilson's - Hero and a veterinarian.

Janie - Liam's receptionist at the veterinarian clinic.

Tina - Hallie's assistant at the library.

Author Notes

Thank you, Google Images, for the cardinal in an autumn tree. This is chapter 1. It's a long chapter and I'm posting it in two parts. This is the first part of it or chapter 1A. I hope you enjoy reading. It has a little over 1700 words. This the shortest novel I've ever written. It's just under 63,000 words. It still qualifies as a novel. It's over 50,000 words. Of course, you all know by now that I edit through my posting and constantly before that. I'm never completely satisfied with my writing. I always appreciate your catches. It helps me see what I've missed. Thank you.