The boys' bedrooms had twin beds with patchwork quilts. A small wooden table with a stained-glass lamp sat between them. There were two chest-of-drawers, one on each side of the room with round mirrors above them.

The modern printer looked out of place in the room.

When she turned to leave, she noticed how the placement of the mirrors worked with each other to reflect the entire room.

Charlie waited until she finished looking. "If you're ready, you can see that big bedroom now. It belonged to Frank and his wife."

She followed him out, and she could tell he liked this house. He stopped just outside the doorway and waved her inside. An antique four-poster bed with a beautiful hand-made quilt gave the room charm. She even wondered if Frank's wife had made it.

The dressing table had one of those round mirrors. That style had been popular through the 1950s. Instead of flat against the wall, it was positioned in the corner facing the door. Beside it was a full-length, freestanding mirror framed in dark wood. Beside the door, stood a chest-of-drawers with a large oval mirror above it.

The mirrors fascinated her. Each one worked together to reflect the room. Abby turned around to look into each one and saw the different directions. Why would anyone ever arrange mirrors to do that? There had to be a purpose.

A small, handcrafted wooden box sat on top of the masculine chest of drawers. The deep lines carved along the edges were stained dark. Of course, Abby's curiosity had her wondering as to what was inside. "Did Frank make that box?"

"He sure did, as well as the furniture. Though, that standing mirror he bought from a neighbor who was hard up at the time."

"It looks very old." Abby was about to leave when she noticed a pair of shoes with spool heels, which were popular in the late twenties. Her gaze flew to the twin wardrobes obviously used as closets. Glancing at those shoes, she wondered if the dress hung inside one.

"Are the wardrobes empty?"

"Yeah, all except for a dress that once belonged to his wife. When she disappeared, he kept the shoes where she left them."

"Was she kidnapped or something?"

"No one knows since she was never found. He came home from workin' in the garden with their two sons and found her gone. She didn't take any clothes either. You'd think she just went to the store, but when she didn't come home, a search began.

"The community hunted for weeks, sent out flyers, and put it on the radio. That was a real mystery, and it almost destroyed Frank. He kept sayin' she'd come back. His boys kept his depression from destroying him, and eventually, he began living for them."

"How old were they when she disappeared?" Abby asked.

He shrugged. "I'm not sure. They weren't teenagers yet."

That was something she would search out on the internet. She headed back to the front door. "I can't thank you enough for allowing me to see this house. It was like a walk back in history."

"I'm glad ya enjoyed it. I wouldn't get your hopes up about rentin' the place. As I said, it isn't somethin' they do. But it's because of that will Frank left."

"I understand, but just in case he decides to give me a chance, I'll be staying at one of those cabins nearby for a few days. You have my card if Mr. Davis wants to get in touch with me."

He stepped outside with her and locked the door. "I'll call Mr. Davis this evening. If he's interested, I'll give him your number. You should call me Charlie. Everyone else does."

"Ok, Charlie. I'd like to know if he says no. I need to find a place to live relatively soon."

"Sure 'nough. Like I said, my wife will want ya to come to supper. We live in a house just down this road. I'll call him when I get back home."

"If he agrees to lease me the house, I'll pay for your maintenance. Then you can come and visit me to make sure I haven't touched anything I shouldn't."

He scratched his head. "I don't know why you'd want to live in a place like this. There are a couple of little houses closer to town. They might be perfect for ya."

"I'll consider it if Mr. Davis says no. I do love the area. There are trees everywhere and mountains with incredible views."

"If you'd want a lakefront house, there's a few of those up for sale. The economy has started to grow around here, and that makes new jobs." He walked her out to her car, and watched her open the door. "I have a friend who has an A-frame house not far from here. It's by a creek, and no one lives close. If this doesn't work out, perhaps you can take a look at it."

"Is it empty?"

"No, it's furnished. He was renting it out, but he's tired of cleaning up after other people. But someone like you would clean up their own mess since you'd be livin' in it. Heck, he might want to sell it. The bedroom is the only room upstairs and even the bathroom is down on the main floor. But as I said, the house is right by a creek in the woods. It's really pretty there."

She looked back at the cabin with eyes full of desire. "If this doesn't work out, I'll take a look at it." When she turned her head to look at him, he was smiling at her.

***

After Abby drove away, Charlie walked down the dirt road back to his house. He had never met a woman like her before. She gave him the impression that the small house meant more to her than just a place to live. When she looked at the rooms, it was as if she had once lived there and memories swamped her, which was crazy.

One thing for sure, she wouldn't be a problem. People who appreciate something take care of it. When he got home, he poured a cup of coffee and called Mr. Davis, who quickly answered.

"Good evening, Charlie. How are you?"

"Fine, Mr. Davis. Just fine. I was at the house today, and it all looks good. I met a woman, her name's Abby Frasier, and she's a romance writer. Ida is gonna have a fit to learn that one of her favorite authors is thinkin' about moving here in our little community."

"Did you say, Abby Frasier? Abigail Frasier?"

"That's right. Have you heard of her, too? Yeah, guess my Ida has told ya about her books. Anyhow, Abby, that's what she told me to call her, was askin' if your little house was for sale. When I told her it wasn't, she was disappointed and wanted to know if you might lease it to her."

"Yes. I will definitely lease it to her. Where is she? Is she there with you?"

Charlie heard the almost panicked eagerness in his voice. "She went to town to rent a cabin for the night. But I told her I'd give you her phone number."

"What is it?"

Charlie pulled her card from his shirt pocket and told him the number. Matt's response was to say he'd call her. He couldn't help but wonder if Mr. Davis read her books.

* * *

Abby was almost in town when her cell phone rang. She pulled to the side of the two-lane road and answered it. The curving mountain roads needed her full attention since she was unfamiliar with the turns.

"This is Abby," she said as she answered.

"My name is Matt Davis. Charlie told me you wished to lease the house."

Her fingers came up and pressed against her quivering lips. "Yes, yes I do. I promise not to disturb the way you have it. I'll only bring my personal belongings and perhaps a toaster if the electricity will handle it. I really wish to live there, Mr. Davis."

"Charlie told me you were very interested. With so many places around to rent, why did you choose this cabin?"

"It's hard to explain. I write for a living, and the noise is distracting, so I sold my condominium. For the past year, I've planned to move to the mountains, and your little house would be ideal, but that isn't why I want it. When I saw it, I felt like I belonged there. I know that sounds crazy, but it's how I felt. Like I had been there before, and it meant happiness."

"Would you like to meet me at the house in the morning?"

"Are you considering renting it to me?"

"Yes, and I'll need to work on a renters agreement. Do you spell your name A.b.i.g.a.l.e?"

"No, that's A.b.i.g.a.i.l."

"What's your middle name?"

"Louise." She heard an intake of air from his end of the phone and wondered about it. "Is anything wrong?"

"No! Everything is fine. I've not leased it before, but it would help to have someone living in it." He shot her a price to charge each month for rent, and it included utilities in the price.

"I can tell you have never leased it before, the rent is too low, Mr. Davis."

"Not when you agreed not to change anything. That gives you limited..."

"No, I don't want anything changed, but I am curious why there are so many mirrors."

"Frank Davis liked mirrors. By the journal he kept, that's how he met his wife. She was looking at him in the mirror."

Abby smiled at the idea of that since it was so very long ago. "That is very romantic. How soon can I move in?"

"Tomorrow?"

She had chills from excitement. "Thank you."

"I'll see you in the morning—oh, one more thing. The house only has a kettle and a teapot."

"That's perfect. I drink tea. But perhaps I'll get a coffee pot for Charlie. He wears coffee stains on his shirt."

Matt laughed. "You are very observant, Ms. Frasier."

"Please, call me Abby. All my friends do."

He agreed by calling her Abby when he said he would meet her in the morning and then hung up the phone

He called his dad next. "You won't believe who wants to rent Frank's house..."