Read Online Cauchemar by Alexandra Grigorescu - Free Book Online

as though life rushed back into her body. She ate heartily and laughed loudly.
    Their Christmas was modest, and as she watched Callum light a candle at either end of his table, she thought of her Christmases with Mae, making pecan pie and pralines and listening to carols on the radio. How Martha would often stop in, with a covered dish full of steaming crab claws.
    Callum and Hannah watched the faithful head to Midnight Mass from the fire escape, and she said a clumsy prayer for Mae, not quite knowing what words would claim the attention of whatever was listening. She admitted to herself that despite the wealth of loss, she was in the grips of a happiness much greater than she’d ever thought possible.
    January’s chill came and went, but it barely seemed to touch them. Even the tips of their ears were warm with the constant blush of what Hannah was still reluctant to call love.
    One night, they arrived back at his apartment after a night of drinking. Hannah kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the couch. “You’re mighty comfortable here, aren’t you?” Callum asked, teasingly.
    Hannah sat up, blushing. “Sorry,” she stuttered. “I don’t mean—I just thought—”
    His laugh interrupted her. “No, no. I like it. In fact, I think it’s high time I gave you this. I’m miserable as a wet cat when you’re not here.” He held up something shimmering.
    Hannah walked over to him and plucked the key from his hands. “Are you sure about this?”
    He nodded.
    â€œThank you,” she said softly, and moved into his arms. “Nobody has ever given me a key to their house before.” She held the key as though it were a precious gem rather than metal. “I’ll get you a key to my house, too.”
    Callum flicked her under the chin. “No, silly. I want you to live here. With me.”
    Hannah’s eyes widened. She couldn’t imagine leaving her home. Who would stoke the memories that still lingered there? How could she move into the town that had so viciously exiled her as a child? She worked her thumbnail over the knotted copper bracelet.
    â€œThat’s a lot of thoughts that just rushed through your head,” Callum said, studying her.
    â€œIt’s a lot to think about.” Hannah saw a lightning-quick expression of hurt rush across Callum’s face and tried to explain. “I’m still tied to that house. Besides, this town hasn’t been very welcoming to my family.”
    Callum’s brow creased. “Who hasn’t been welcoming?”
    Hannah searched his eyes. He’d more than earned her trust several times over, and yet she still hesitated to tell him about her history. Would he understand the townspeople’s reaction, perhaps a bit too well?
    â€œIt all happened a lifetime ago. Let’s just say folks on this side of the river don’t take to people who are different from them.”
    â€œTrust me, it’s not just this town. It’s a global epidemic. You can’t just run from it, though. You’ve got to work to change their minds. And who wouldn’t love you?” He brushed her hair away from her face, his fingers lingering. “Give it some thought,” he urged. “There’s a lot that could be done with the money you’d get from the house. And you have a home here, whenever you want it.”
    After Callum fell asleep that night, she stared fixedly at the foreign ceiling that had somehow become familiar. She tried to match her own jagged breathing to Callum’s steady breath. There was an immense amount of comfort in something as minute as that sound. Tentatively, she touched Callum’s bare back. She faded into a dreamless sleep with the sensation of his warmth against her palm.

    Hannah itemized the things she couldn’t live without and sent Callum to retrieve them from the house by the water—certain books, spices, and Graydon, who