Winter Storm by Barbara Winkes

how long this check would last her, and how long until the next one. When she turned, there was someone familiar coming her way. For some time, Betty had changed the sidewalk pretending not to notice Rebecca when they met in town, but it was too late for that now. She had wanted to talk after all.
    “Rebecca,” she said stiffly. “I didn’t know you were back in town already.”
    Rebecca had been angry at her, especially after she’d learned about the visit Betty had paid Callie last year, ranting about sin and punishment. At the moment, all she felt for her one-time friend was sympathy.
    “We were just gone for a week,” she said. “I talked to Roz. Seems like a lot happened while we were gone.”
    “Sure did,” Betty mumbled, looking around as if she was trying to see who witnessed her interaction.
    “How are you?”
    “Fine.”
    “Everything all right with Charles and the kids?”
    “Of course. Look…Rebecca.” Finally, Betty met her eyes. “I know we have to talk at some point. I don’t like the way things are between us now. You’ve always been a good friend.”
    “Okay. You know there’s still brunch on Saturdays. You could come.”
    “Are you sure about that?” Betty asked, more hopeful.
    Actually, Rebecca wasn’t, but she couldn’t take back her offer now. “It would be a start.”
    “I’ll think about it. Can I call you?”
    “Please do. It’s going to be the usual time.”
    Betty smiled ruefully. “Thank you.”
    Rebecca watched her walk away, uncertain if their communication had been a successful one. In any case, she felt even more like spending a little money now.
    * * * *
    The emotion came out of the blue, a wave that threatened to sweep her off her feet. Callie had shared a late lunch with Maggie since Rebecca hadn’t returned from her meeting yet. Her mind had taken an abrupt trip down memory lane.
    “Who is that friend of yours you don’t want me to meet?
    “Are you cheating on me?
    “Tell me the truth!”
    It was during those last weeks that Nicole would yell at her, not caring if the neighbors overheard anything. For a long time, Callie hadn’t seen through her scheming. All she knew was that she was feeling miserable all the time. The last few weeks of their relationship, she was no longer just miserable, but scared.
    “Just leave it,” she told Maggie when the girl began to put the dishes in the sink. “I’ll take care of that later.”
    In the bedroom, she sat on the side of the bed. Leaning forward, Callie rested her head in her hands as she tried to clear her thoughts. How could she ever handle this? Callie had no desire to go back to Autumn Leaves’ police station. There was a whole different set of upsetting memories waiting for her there. She couldn’t have Nicole show up like this all the time. She should talk to Beverly Wilkins, the new sheriff, just in case. Wilkins had replaced Rebecca’s former brother-in-law Craig Lowman. She was a smart, sensible woman. Callie would prefer to talk to her rather than Craig for a multitude of reasons. She had no idea where to start.
    Outside, the sky was starting to cloud over. More snow to come. If it wasn’t for Rebecca, Callie might have considered California an option—no winters like this, and many more miles between her and Nicole. She lay down, wondering if Nicole was honestly thinking they could start over after everything that had happened. It seemed that way, since she was putting a lot of time and effort into the attempt.
    Callie needed to go clean up, the living room where she’d left all the papers, the kitchen too. She felt incapable of doing either. She just wished Rebecca would come home.
    * * * *
    Maybe it was normal to feel a little paranoid after somebody had broken into your house, threatening your loved ones. While putting some gas into her car, Rebecca turned around twice, unable to shake the feeling that someone was watching her. She cursed the men she knew to be responsible, checked one more