Jana responds. “Our family used to use it for fishing and camping years ago, when we were little kids. It’s got a big main room and then a small room attached to the side with several bunk beds in it. It’s nothing fancy by any means, but we always had fun there.”
James nods. “Yeah, we did. But like I said, it’s probably in bad shape now.” He looks at his sister. “When was the last time you were out there?”
She thinks about it for a few seconds before answering. “Maybe ten years? Fifteen?”
“It’s been longer than that for me.” James looks at Leah. “But if you want to go check it out, that’s fine with me. Just be careful in the snow.” He looks at Ralph. “Maybe your brother can go with you.”
Before anyone can answer, I rush in. “No, that’s totally fine. I’d actually love to go up there alone. I could check it out, clean it up, and let you know if there are any major repairs that need to be done.”
“The roof’s probably a mess. There’s no guarantee it’ll even be habitable when you get there. What would you do if it’s not?” James looks at me, waiting for my answer.
I shrug, acting like I’m completely cool with the idea of being stuck in the snowy mountains with nowhere to live. “No big deal. I’ll just rent a motel room somewhere.”
“Are you sure?” Leah asks me, concern shadowing her gaze.
“Yes!” I put as much cheer into my answer as possible. This feels like the right thing to do, and it’s been a long time since anything’s felt right. “I’m absolutely sure. It’ll be a blast!”
“If you need help, just let me know,” Ralph says. “I can take a day or two off work.”
I wave him off with my fork. “No, no need. But thanks. I’m completely fine on my own.” I think. I hope.
“You aren’t seeing anyone?” Leah asks. “Someone who might want to meet you there, maybe?” She winks at me.
“Nope, it’s just me.” I’ve had enough of tired, boring relationships that never seem to get past the living-together stage, but I don’t say that part out loud.
“I guess it’s settled, then.” Jana smiles. “We’ll go to the museum, have a girls’ night out, and then see you off on your adventure.” She loses a bit of her happy expression. “Not that you have to leave right away.” She looks around the table. “You probably planned to stay for a while first and at least catch up.”
Leah looks at me. “You can stay as long as you want.” She shifts her gaze to James. “Right, Boo?”
He nods. “Whatever you want.”
I grin back at my friends, half happy, half scared I’m jumping into something way over my head. But I go ahead and commit anyway, to keep myself from backing out. “I’ll catch up over the weekend and leave on Monday, I think.”
Now that I have a plan, I’m anxious to get started on it. For the first time in a long time, I have hope that things will get better and not worse.
Chapter Six
I MUST HAVE BEEN INSANE to think this was a good idea.
I’m standing in the driveway leading up to the cabin, hoping there even is a cabin up there somewhere behind all these trees. My tire is stuck in a hole in the ground that could more accurately be called a pit, and the snow is coming down in giant, stuck-together flakes. My hair is quickly being soaked through.
“What the hell is my problem?!” I yell out, frustrated that the world seems to have it in for me. I must have really done some terrible things in my life to deserve this kind of punishment.
My tire isn’t going to get out of that hole without help of some kind. I spun it out too many times, letting it dig in really deep. Abandoning my car¸ I set out on foot, continuing my journey up the long, steep driveway I was told would lead to the Oliver family cabin. With my luck going the way it is now, I’ll be safer and warmer sleeping in my car. I can only imagine the horrors that await in a cabin that’s been empty for over fifteen years.
Five minutes into my walk, the shadow of a building appears through the heavily falling snow. As I get closer, I realize that it’s actually bigger than I expected it to be. When they told me the cabin was one main room with a smaller one attached, I was expecting an apartment studio kind of situation, but this has to be at least a thousand square feet. And it has a porch attached to the front. Dilapidated Adirondack chairs sit askew just past the wood rails that surround the porch. I smile at how quaint it all looks. Yay! Things are already looking up!