Dashiell slouched on the leather armchair, his arms crossed over his chest, and propped his boots up on the desk. An overworked mind and an empty stomach made any attempt at work feel futile. His hunger grumbled loudly, drawing his attention away from the clock. It was seven o'clock.
A familiar sense of heaviness washed over him, pushing aside his frustration. This feeling always struck in the evenings when he was worn out and alone. Would there ever come a day when he wouldn't dwell on his past and ponder what could have been?
He got up, strolled over to the window, and glanced out at the bustling main street. The spring storm had finally cleared, and the streets were now teeming with traffic and people passing by.
He ran a hand through his hair, pushing aside the painful thoughts that had been bothering him. "That's enough of that," he muttered to himself. It was time to get back to work. After all, the Azure Bay project wasn't going to complete itself.
In about fifteen minutes, Dashiell walked right into Aunt Gwen's place, and the smell of sautéed bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms had his stomach growling even louder. He couldn't help but follow that delicious scent straight to the kitchen, which just happened to be his favorite room in her house. The kitchen had this rustic charm with its original bead board paneling against those country white cabinets. And those heart of pine floors? They just spread this warm, honey-colored vibe all over the place.
And then, out of nowhere, a childhood memory hit him like a ton of bricks. It was about his grandma, always handing him those freshly baked, warm chocolate chip cookies whenever he'd show up at her doorstep after one of his bike rides.
The sizzling skillet and Aunt Gwen's cheerful humming blended into an impromptu kitchen concert that snapped him back to the present moment. She beamed a smile at him from across the room and went to grab plates from the cabinet. His eyebrows shot up in a subtle surprise.
Aunt Gwen appeared to be in higher spirits than the last time he had seen her. Her cheeks had a healthy flush, and her eyes sparkled with happiness. His heart felt lighter. It seemed like she must have been feeling better. With a casual saunter, he approached her and enveloped her in a warm hug.
His embrace lingered for a moment before they both pulled back, their smiles filled with warmth.
Her eyes twinkled as she said, "It's been way too long, Dash. I've missed you."
He nodded in agreement, a touch of nostalgia in his voice. "Yeah, it's been too long indeed. You're looking great, Aunt Gwen."
Her cheeks flushed with a faint blush as she responded, "Thank you. Life has its ups and downs, but I'm doing better now."
"I'm glad to hear that. You deserve all the happiness."
They exchanged a few more words, catching up on the events of the past two years, their conversation flowing naturally as if they had never been apart.
She wiped her hands on her apron and gave him a big smile. "So, how was the trip?" Her voice had that familiar sing-song quality he'd always enjoyed.
"Not bad. Finally got all the boring stuff done on the east side on my way here," he said, casually hopping onto an old stool at the counter, which predictably wobbled under his weight, adding one more thing to his list of things to fix.
"I know you're relieved that it's done," Gwen said as she effortlessly cracked an egg open and emptied it into an antique bowl, swiftly discarding the shell in the trash with a practiced flick of her wrist before reaching for another egg.
Dashiell nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. With how hot it was today, I can't even imagine fixing it in the summer heat."
His eyes scanned the counter, searching for a snack. At this point, anything edible would be taste good. He spotted a few pieces of chopped bell pepper, grabbed one, and popped it into his mouth. He savored the sweet flavor as he crunched down on it, a small moment of respite amidst their conversation.
Gwen chuckled as she leaned against the counter. "Well, you've always been the one to handle the nitty-gritty stuff. I'm just here making sure you're well-fed while you work your magic." Her tone was light and affectionate, just like old times.
He grinned, feeling at ease in her presence. "You've got that right, Aunt Gwen. Your cooking is the real magic here." He winked playfully, the years between them melting away in their easy banter.
She cocked her head slightly, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "So, what brings you back here after all this time, Dashiell? It's not just for a home-cooked meal, is it?"
"Well, Aunt Gwen, I realized I missed this place. Missed you. And I figured it was about time to reconnect with the past, you know? Plus, there's something I need to talk to you about."
Her eyes widened in disbelief, her hand resting on the counter. "You missed me? After all this time? Cut the crap!"
Dashiell chuckled at her candid response. "No, seriously. I did miss you. And I'm not here to play games. There's something important I need to discuss, and I trust you more than anyone."
Her skepticism slowly melted into a soft smile. "Well, I never thought I'd hear that from you, Dashiell. Alright, I'm listening. What's so important that you had to make a surprise visit after all this time?"
His expression turned solemn as he began to talked, "You remember that project I've been working on, right? The Azure Bay resort development?" He paused, searching her eyes for understanding.
"Yes, of course. You've been pouring your heart and soul into it."
Dashiell sighed, his gaze fixed on some distant point. "Well, there have been some unexpected complications. Things I need your help with, your insight." He hesitated, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "It's about to get a lot more complicated, and I don't know who else to turn to."
"I see now, Dashiell. You wouldn't be here for a simple visit or a meal unless it was something serious. What do you need from me, Dashiell?" She leaned closer, her gaze unwavering. "And why is it that you trust me with this?"
"Aunt Gwen, you've always had a way of seeing things differently, finding solutions where others can't. I trust you because I know you understand what this project means to me."
He leaned in a bit closer, his voice lowered. "I also need to know if you've heard anything about the Azure Bay project, any rumors or insider information. It's become more complex than I ever imagined, and I need to handle it carefully."
"You know I've kept my ear to the ground, especially when it comes to developments in this town. I haven't heard much, but I can start asking around discreetly. If there's anything fishy going on with Azure Bay, I'll do my best to find out." She paused, her voice filled with sincerity. "You can count on me, Dash."
Her humming resumed as she continued to whisk the eggs, and Dashiell couldn't help but raise his eyebrows even higher.
"You sure seem quite happy and healthy," he remarked, a playful tone in his voice.
Gwen simply smiled in response but didn't offer any comments, her focus on the whisk as it whirred and scraped against the side of the bowl.
Dashiell couldn't help but wonder what she might be keeping to herself. "So, how was your medical report?"
Her expression grew somewhat distant. "Well, they ran a bunch of tests and then basically told me to start behaving my age."
He chuckled and playfully shook his head. "Well, I could've given you that advice for free." He waited, hoping for more details, but Gwen went back to humming, leaving him curious.
"Did the doctor say what might be wrong?" he probed further.
Gwen poured the egg mixture into the skillet, where it sizzled and popped, releasing vapors that swirled up toward the vent hood. "Nope," she replied casually, "but he wants to run more tests."
"More tests? Why?" He couldn't help but be concerned about her health.
She shrugged and grinned wryly. "You know how doctors are, right? They just want to poke and prod at every little thing." Her humming resumed, as persistent as ever.
Dashiell decided it was time to cut to the chase. "Alright, Aunt Gwen, what's the real story here?"
Her eyes widened, clearly surprised by his direct question. "What do you mean, Dash? What are you getting at?"
He leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. "Yeah, it's been ages since I've seen you this cheerful, but something feels off. You're practically skipping around the kitchen like a carefree kid. I know you well enough to sense when something's bothering you. I'm just concerned, that's all."
"I'm feeling so much better, Aunt Gwen!" The voice called down from upstairs. "Whatever you're cooking smells amazing!"
Dashiell snapped his head around so quickly that he felt a twinge in his neck. That voice—it couldn't be.