Lost Me, Gained Regret (Jane and Bryant Ferguson) novel Chapter 815

...

Christine made the decision to leave Vista Town with Merritt, not out of a profound trust for him, but because she suddenly felt that even living in Elmwood Villas wouldn't shield her from bumping into Dailey.

She knew Gregory wouldn't be a solid barrier against Dailey. He always seemed to enjoy watching the drama unfold from a safe distance, occasionally stirring the pot just to see what would happen. He liked to pacify Jane without really taking sides.

So, she wanted to put some distance between herself and the whole situation.

Of course, there was another reason for accompanying Merritt to his hometown. She wanted to uncover the truth about that night. She could wait for Dailey to finish his investigation, but who knew how long that would take. She felt Merritt wanted to tell her; he just had his reservations. Once they were in his hometown, she planned to coax it out of him.

...

Mistwood was a picturesque and comfortable city.

Merritt was returning home because his grandmother's illness had taken a turn for the worse. The old lady wanted to spend her last days in her hometown. Plus, the movie he was working on had some scenes to shoot in Mistwood.

Vista Town was on the cusp of winter, while Mistwood still retained its warmth. Aside from the chilly mornings and evenings, sitting out in the courtyard under the midday sun was a delightfully warm experience.

Helena, Merritt's grandmother, had already left the house when Christine woke up. Merritt must have gone off to shoot his scenes. The trust they placed in her was surprising, but then again, their cozy home, despite its beauty and comfort, had little of material value to tempt a thief.

"Sweetie,"

Helena walked in, "I dug up some sweet potatoes and mushrooms. How about I make us some mushroom soup and bake these sweet potatoes for lunch?"