Chapter One – Doreen
It had all seemed like such a good idea when Doreen agreed to bring the book-deal contracts to Bear Creek for her friend Sorcha to sign.
A few days of peace and quiet in the small town Sorcha had fallen in love with was just what she needed. A small escape, a soft reset, a chance to breathe again after months of feeling stretched thin.
“Urgh.” Doreen wiped dog drool from her face with the sleeve of her sweater as Bash eagerly attempted another slobbery kiss. The golden retriever’s tail wagged with such enthusiasm that it seemed capable of generating electricity.
Honestly, she admired the dog’s optimism. Someone ought to. It certainly wasn’t coming from her right now. This peaceful retreat was beginning to have “disaster waiting to happen” written all over it!
“Bash! Down, boy!” Jake called from the backseat of her once immaculate SUV, though his giggles undermined any authority in the command.
What Doreen hadn’t counted on was the frantic phone call from her sister Pauline, two hours before she was supposed to leave. Her husband, Mark, had taken a tumble down some hotel stairs during his business trip. Nothing life-threatening, just a suspected broken ankle and a concussion that required monitoring—but enough that Pauline needed to fly out immediately.
“It’ll just be for a few days, Dor,” Pauline had promised, her voice tight with worry. “Jake’s been looking forward to spending time with his favorite aunt, anyway.”
Doreen had agreed. Of course, she had. But this sudden change of plans meant she’d hastily finished packing before heading over to collect Jake and Bash, along with all the paraphernalia that went along with a boy and his dog.
And she had a sneaky suspicion she had definitely forgotten something. Probablyseveralsomethings.
Not that she didn’t love the boy and his canine friends to bits. But with only two hours’ notice, she hadn’t had time to work out an itinerary to keep dog and boy busy. For a woman whose life revolved around strict schedules, this left her feeling a little panicky. But she’d cope. She always did, no matter what life threw at her.
Coping was her superpower… and her curse. It kept her steady, but it also kept her lonely.
Jake pressed his face against the window as they turned off the highway onto a narrow road lined with towering pines. “Look at those trees, Bash!” he exclaimed, his breath fogging the glass. “We could play hide and seek for hours!”
Doreen glanced at the snow-covered forest surrounding them, mentally calculating the likelihood of frostbite, lost children, and wild animal encounters. Hide and seek in a wilderness was not exactly her idea of a relaxing retreat. But she knew this trip was not about her. Not anymore. Plus, she wanted Jake to have fun. It would take his mind off his father’s accident.
But safe fun. The kind with boundaries. Real boundaries, not miles and miles of open forests and mountains. It would be so easy to get lost out there, and in these temperatures, they would not last long. Maybe she should fit trackers to Jake and Bash. Was it weird to microchip a nephew? Probably. But still…
Panic welled up inside her. A ridiculous thought, she told herself, but the fear underneath it wasn’t ridiculous at all. Maybe she should just drop off the contracts, then head home.
However, as she glanced over her shoulder at Jake’s excited face as he stared out of the window, one arm wrapped around Bash, she knew that wasn’t an option.
“We’ll see what activities they have around town,” she said, her fingers tightening on the steering wheel.
She took a deep breath, inhaling the lingering scent of dog and beef jerky that now permeated her car. She was determined to enjoy this stay, no matter what unexpected turns it took. It would be good to spend time with Jake. Since he was probably the closest she would ever get to having a child of her own. A dream she’d quietly folded up and packed away years ago.
When Pauline had broken the news that she was pregnant, Doreen had been so excited at the idea of them raising kids together. She’d gone home and talked it over with her husband, Walt.
Walt had made all the right noises, said he wanted kids too… one day. But that day never came. Instead, he had had an affair, which had ended their marriage.
The memory of her ex-husband’s betrayal sharpened briefly, then settled back into its familiar dull ache. Her divorce eight years ago had left more than just paperwork in its wake. The trust she’d once given so freely had shattered, leaving her cautious and guarded. That’s why she felt that twinge of something—was it jealousy?—when thinking about Sorcha. Her friend had somehow abandoned all reason and fallen head over heels for a man she’d just met.
Doreen wasn’t bitter. She was… bruised. There was a difference. Mostly. Which gave her a glimmer of hope. After all,bruised people could still heal. They just needed a safer place to do it.
Doreen was yet to find that safe place. Or safe person. Someone she could trust completely. No questions. No reservations.
“Are we almost there, Aunt D?” Jake bounced in his seat, Bash mirroring his excitement with panting enthusiasm.
“Just a few more minutes,” she promised, following the signs for Bear Creek Cabins.
When they finally pulled into the parking area, Doreen’s shoulders were tight with tension. She’d spent the last twenty minutes mentally cataloging everything she’d forgotten to pack in her rush—extra dog food, Jake’s favorite cereal, her own carefully selected novels.
Her suitcase looked full, but she felt unprepared anyway. This was way out of her comfort zone.
“We’re here!” Jake shouted, unbuckling his seatbelt before she’d even put the car in park.
“Wait, Jake…” But he was already tumbling out of the car, Bash following in a blur of golden fur.
