The home was enchanting. I could almost believe the rumors that it was originally built as a castle back in the 1800s and magically remodeled many times. It’s difficult to understand Caldwell Crest and the mysterious place that was Destiny Falls, especially since the definition seemed to always be changing.
It had been a wild ride of a month since I’d been thrown through a portal and landed here.
Destiny Falls is different from any place I’ve ever known before. I had to let go of my preconceived notions of what defines a town. I still can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that the town isn’t on any map and isn’t accessible by normal means.
You must be called here by either the home or the town. Then you whoosh through time and space, to the accompaniment of a flash of brilliant light, as you tumble through a mirror. It’s a one-way trip. Once you’re here, you are, well . . . “trapped” is a harsh word for such a lovely place. However, it’s accurate. I cannot choose to leave. Destiny Falls controls the comings and goings.
I feel a bit like Alice falling through the mirror into wonderland. Albeit a much nicer wonderland than Alice had to deal with.
I’ve figured out that’s it’s easier if I just go with the flow and don’t try to understand all the nuances of this place.
It was time to get moving and meet up with my brother Axel. I love the sound of that. I’ve been an only child all my life, and now all I want to say is brother, brother, brother.
As I stepped into the most beautiful kitchen of all time, I looked around to see what was new. Some days, it was the same as before, but on others, I would find something entirely different. A breakfast nook would appear where just a window was located before. On another day, the nook would transition into a large, formal dining room.
I took a deep breath and absorbed the glorious, homey feeling that enveloped me. The wood cabinets gleamed like they’d just been polished. The acres of black marble countertops reflected the twinkling lights. The collection of pretty copper pots hung on a rack suspended on long, black wires from the ceiling high above me. The cabin-like wood walls finished off the feel of a warm, rustic retreat.
I was so busy absorbing my surroundings that I didn’t even see Axel enter the room.
“Good morning, Hayden!” He pulled me in for a hug and finished it with a friendly tap on the bill of my hat. “Ready for a run or do you want a cup of tea first?”
“Oh, tea, please!” I noticed that he already had the tea fixings set up in the breakfast nook, along with a platter of rolls and fruit. I was moved that he already knew my routine and went through this effort.
“Did you give Princess Latifa her one-month-a-versary present?”
“I did! She’s up there now, batting it around and watching a movie. I expect I’ll find Chanel up there when I return. You know, she still won’t tell me how the two of them get in and out of the bedrooms. She’s afraid I’ll put the kibosh on her freedom if I know the secret.”
“She’s not wrong there,” Axel said. “You tend to be a helicopter fur mother. Is that a thing? Fur mother? I’ve heard the fur baby phrase.”
“Yeah, that’s hilarious,” I said. “But, you’re not wrong. I’m an overprotective fur momma. Guilty as charged.”
Bright morning sunlight flooded the cheery lime green and white breakfast nook. Looking out the wall of windows, I could see a group of sailboats racing in front of us. As I sat down, I looked to my left and noticed that the window seat was located right beside the nook, with a pretty, white Persian cat asleep on the pillow.
“Ah, there’s Chanel. And that’s where the window seat ended up this morning! I’ve never seen it downstairs before.”
Axel nodded as he reached for a breakfast roll. “There’s a first time for everything.”
2
“I have a treat planned for you this morning,” Axel said. “Two surprising places to visit. It’s about a forty-five-minute run to get there, but usually only about fifteen minutes to get home.”
He said that with such nonchalance—as if the surprise was at the end of the run, not the fact that the distance was variable. I was still adjusting to the unique magic of Destiny Falls, and it never ceased to amaze me. But now, instead of being shocked, I was charmed.
“What’s the surprise?” I asked.
“Oh, you’re one of those.” Axel nodded his head.
“One of what?”
“Those people who spoil surprises by finding out about them in advance. I bet you peek at your Christmas gifts and read spoilers in book reviews, too.” He shuddered and shook his head. “So sad.”
“I’d like to be offended, but it’s true. I sometimes read the last page of a book before I start it.”
His eyes popped open wide, and he gasped, “You do what?!”
“Well, it makes perfect sense,” I said. “I like happy endings, and I hate when things end badly for characters I’ve grown to love. So, unless I’m certain a book has a HEA, I’ll peek at the last page.”
“HEA?” he asked.
“Happily Ever After.”
“Okay, Cinderella. I’m only going to tell you we’re heading to my friend Vessie’s coffee shop, and to check in on a new tenant. You’ll love to see both, so there’s no need to peek at the ending.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha.”
He took off running down the driveway and yelled, “Come on, slowpoke!”
The morning was typical for Destiny Falls, at least since the day I’d arrived. Warm and sunny with a bright blue sky and a scattering of puffy white clouds. A gentle breeze was just enough to pleasantly balance the warm temperature.
Flowers lined the driveway and near the entry to West Caldwell Lane. There was a different arrangement of flowers here every day. They always grew in
