The rest of the dinner passed in relative silence. A few giggles came from Alexis and Bryant’s side of the table as they flirted with each other, otherwise Melody and Alan ate in an almost comfortable silence. Occasionally they would make small talk about the goings on of things in the town; who had taken over what business, who had stayed and who had moved.

As dinner was being cleared, Alan excused himself to use the restroom. While he was gone Alexis disengaged from Bryant long enough to focus on Melody, “Mel, would it be alright if I didn’t give you..”

“It’s taken care of Lex,” Alan said smoothly coming up behind Melody’s chair. Alexis looked between the two questioningly. “When we realized you would be otherwise occupied, I offered to bring her home. It's no bother really. Ah, thank you.” That last bit to the waiter who was returning his credit card. As Alan signed the check, “Dinner is on me all. Consider it a celebration of hopefully new beginnings.”

“Alan,” Melody protested, “I can not let you pay for my meal! I am perfectly capable of paying for myself.”

He eyed her carefully, appearing to consider his next words. “While I’m sure you can, as I said I’d like to celebrate the return of old friends to town. Now, let’s head out shall we?” He pulled out Melody’s chair for her and offered his arm.

For not the first time that night Melody wondered what happened to the person she knew and grew up with, and took his arm. They walked outside and quickly lost sight of Alexis and Bryant as they scurried to Alexis’s car. Alan led her further into the parking lot to a Jeep.

“Even you can’t resist a car whose top can come off, huh?” Melody laughed.

“Melody, I'm hurt that you would compare my Wrangler to Lex’s roller skate. Genuinely hurt. I would never drive her Mustang.” With that he opened the passenger door for her.

“Well would you look at that. I’ve grievously wounded your pride and I’m still getting impeccable service. Thank you sir.” She gave a slight bow and then climbed into the car.

Alan climbed in the driver’s side and started the Jeep. “Well it just wouldn’t do to not treat a lady well. Besides, if I was anything less than an irreproachable gentleman my sister would have my head on a platter. You know it, I know it. As I much prefer my head where it is, I will allow you to wound my pride a little.” He began driving towards Melody’s house.

Melody looked out the window during the drive to her house; mesmerized by the trees passing by. The drive passed in relative silence, only the music on the radio creating any kind of noise. She knew that being mad would get her nowhere with Alexis; and in reality she wasn’t too upset about her current situation. Alan had proven to be much more civil than any of their past interactions when they were children.

As Alan turned onto the road to her house, Melody was startled from her wonderings as she saw a pair of red glowing eyes in the trees. With a start she turned away from the window and sat upright, shaking her head.

“Everything alright there?” Alan said, glancing over with a concerned look on his face.

“Hm? Yea, just dozed off for a second there.” She lied, forcing a smile to her face. Her heart was hammering wildly in her chest. “Calm down you idiot!” She chastised herself. “It’s late and there could have been any number of things in those trees. And with lights reflecting off an animal’s eyes and the amount of martinis you had. Just breathe.” She took a few measured breaths to try and steady herself, realizing that they were turning into her driveway.

As she was beginning to unbuckle herself and reach for the door, it was already opening. Alan had already parked and beat her to it. “Damn Alan, a girl could get used to this if you aren’t careful. You really went all out to ensure your sister did not end you. And all those times of having to pick her up before she finally passed her driving test did not go unremembered I see, since we made it here unscathed and without you asking for a single direction. That or I need to be concerned for my safety.” Melody added the last part in mock concern and horror.

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Alan laughed, “Never, never don’t you worry. I just promised to be the picture of elegance tonight for Lex’s sake.”

Melody grinned, “Well, since she has decided to throw us together for the night we might as well make the most of it.” She lifted an eyebrow and gave him a crooked smirk. “Coffee and board games to keep you from having to run home to whatever you might find waiting for you? It’s a big house Alan but not that big. Not with Alexis’s escapades.”

Alan looked grateful for the suggestion. “Let me just check in with work. One of the two of us should at least be doing our job. I’ll be right there.” He moved away to the other side of the Jeep, lifting his phone to his ear.

Melody made her way to the front door and realized it was locked. “Max didn’t have a key. How would he have locked it? Unless he’s still here? Or?” Melody didn’t want to think about the or, and silently prayed that Max was not still in her house. She did not want to explain that to Alan. Explaining to Alexis had been easy, he had been helping pack and she got overwhelmed so went for some air. She wasn’t sure Alan would accept that explanation and she didn’t want to have to give him one.

Melody unlocked the door and swung it open. Only to be greeted by the sound of very fast and urgent clacks against the hardwood floors. Copper ran by her and towards Alan’s Jeep.

“Shit! Copper no, come!” Melody chased after her misbehaving dog, only to find him on the other side of the Jeep staring Alan down. “Alan I’m so sorry. He must have seen the car and realized someone was here.” Was that it though? She wasn’t so sure. He had come from the back of the house near the kitchen, he couldn’t have seen the car from there.

“It's alright, Melody.” Alan said, returning his phone to his pocket. “He’s a lovable guy isn’t he?” Alan held out his hand to Copper. Copper in return inched forward and sniffed it slightly. Melody silently urging him to be nice. She had never seen him react this way to anyone.

What Copper did next surprised her. Jumping up he placed his paws on Alan’s shoulders and started sniffing his face. With a final huff, Copper fell back to all fours and padded away.

“Apparently I passed muster,” Alan chuckled.

“Apparently.” Melody laughed in agreement. “Now about that coffee? If you were actually done with your phone call that is?”

“Yes, quite. Your pup provided just the excuse I needed to end the call.”

“Well glad Copper could be of service.” Melody said, leading the way into the house and back into the kitchen. Copper, having followed them inside, took up residence under the sink.

Melody worked on getting the coffee going while Alan took a seat at the kitchen table. “The house is beautiful by the way. It’s very easy to tell it was well loved for many years. The story of how your parents restored this place has always been the talk of the town, and now I see why. It's magnificent. Thank you,” as Melody handed him his coffee.

“Well thank you. Yea it is really something. This place was their pride and joy. They always were touching up something or other when time allowed. Or going antiquing to find something that better fit with the time period of when the house was built. That was mom’s favorite. Her goal was to have one antique in every room. Cream and sugar?”

“Yes please,” he said, reaching for both. “I can understand why. With what your parents have done to this place it is so easy to picture being there, in that time. It's fascinating to think about.”

“Hmm? Yea it is. They really did love this place and everything it could be and represent.” Melody responded, lost in her thoughts of the past. Helping her parents paint and wallpaper rooms, redoing floors as they got worn down, and going antiquing on weekends her parents weren’t too busy because her mother wanted a new piece for one of the rooms. There was always something to do, always something going on, now the house was empty save for her and Copper.

Alan cleared his throat. “So, about those board games?”

“Yea, they are in the living room. I’ll be right back. We are better off here, better light and a bigger table. Plus closer to coffee refills and snacks.” Melody was putting up a wall, she knew. In fact she just didn’t want him seeing the rest of the house. It would lead to more of the same conversation and it was too painful. She didn’t want to think about those things.

As Melody reached up to grab the board games from their shelf on the living bookcase. Something fluttered past her face as she pulled them down, a note.

Beware.

-Max

Like a train everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours hit her. The pentagram in the basement, Max coming through it, his fantastical story, Copper’s eyes changing color, the thing in the woods. The room started to spin and she had just enough awareness left to her to notice the note was disintegrating in her hand. With that Melody, for the third time in less than twenty-four hours, passed out.