“Of course I am.”
Sort of.
Every rut we hit in the road makes Sydney yelp and grab the oh shit bar. Three minutes later, the lane finally opens up to a wider driveway. Both the log cabin and lake come into view.
Sydney leans forward in her seat as her eyes widen for the second time in a matter of minutes. “Wow,” she breathes.
Yeah.
The view is spectacular. No matter how many times I’ve been here, it always hits me the same way as we come over the hill and the road opens up, surveying the land and water. The truck rolls toward the embankment that overlooks the lake before I shift the gear into park and cut the engine.
For a long, silent moment, we sit and take in the landscape beyond the windshield. The water is surrounded by dense forest with cattails on the sides. Both deciduous and pine trees make up the jagged landscape. Even though all the leaves have fallen, carpeting the earth in reds, browns, and golden hues, it’s still a majestic sight. The land looks pristine and untouched by the hand of man. There are a few puffy, white clouds marring the cornflower blue sky. Their reflection is echoed in the glassy surface of the water.
“This is really beautiful, Brayden.” Her gaze stays fastened on the view.
“Yeah, it is.” And I’ve missed it. My dad loved this land, and just being here, seeing it again, smelling the crisp fall air, makes me feel like he’s here with me. Maybe I can’t see or speak with him, but his presence is all around me and somehow, that eases the ache in my heart. It only reconfirms that bringing Sydney here was the right decision to make.
My fingers settle over hers. “Are you ready to see the cabin?”
Her attention flickers to mine as she nods. We exit the truck and grab our bags from the backseat before heading toward the house. Our shoes crunch the gravel that lines the drive beneath them.
“You know, when you told me we would be staying in a cabin, I’d prepared myself for something...smaller. Maybe even a little dilapidated.”
My lips quirk as a chuckle bursts free. My family has always referred to this place as a cabin because that’s exactly what it is. A log cabin made from the poplar trees harvested from this very property. The structure itself is three thousand square feet and two stories high. There’s a wide front porch that wraps around the entire first floor. A white swing has been hung near the front door and other seating arrangements are spaced out to enjoy the differing views. In the mornings, I’d always find my parents lounging on the couch with steaming mugs of coffee. There were even a few times when I stumbled upon them kissing. Back then, it had embarrassed the hell out of me, but now it brings me comfort to know that they had a happy marriage. They rarely fought and always enjoyed being in each other’s company. Dad has been gone for four years and not once has Mom mentioned dating. As difficult as it would be to see her move on with someone else, I want her to be happy.
It takes effort to shake myself out of the sly memories attempting to wrap around me. “No, there’s nothing dilapidated about it.”
I pull out the key and slide it in the lock. We have a neighbor about twenty minutes away who stops by every other week to check on the mechanicals and make sure everything is in working order. Mom and Elle try to make it up here a few times a year. Whenever they plan a weekend, they invite me along. I always have a handy excuse ready. Neither of them has pushed the issue. I think all three of us realize what I’m doing. Mom was thrilled when I told her I wanted to bring Sydney here for a few days. I haven’t introduced them yet, but that’s next on the agenda.
When I open the door, she steps inside with her bag hoisted over one shoulder. Her gaze bounces around the double story family room. Beyond the expansive area is a kitchen. My parents designed the space to be open and airy. They wanted to create a place where we could all gather comfortably and spend time together as a family.
At the far end of the room is a massive field stone fireplace that takes up the entire wall. A chandelier made of antlers hangs from the ceiling. A white, oversized sectional curves around one of the walls. Opposite that is a long stretch of windows that overlook the lake. It would be a challenge to not find a gorgeous view from anywhere in this house. But the one from here is especially breathtaking.
“This place is amazing,” Sydney says quietly, soaking up all the details. She looks slightly overwhelmed. I probably should have mentioned that my family has money. It’s just not something that usually comes up in conversation.