“I know you’re teasing, but I truly think it was an incredibly romantic gesture.”
“Now all the romance books I spotted on your shelves make sense.”
“A word of warning, Callan,” I say, as we step over the turnstile. “Do not joke about romance books.” I stab him with a sharp look. “There are many things I can excuse, but mocking romance in any form is not one of them.”
His grin is so wide it threatens to split his face in two. “Don’t knock romance. Got it.” He taps his temple, and I barely resist an eye roll.
“Remind me to tell you my parents’ story after I finish telling you this,” I say, leading him into the forest. Slivers of golden sunshine sneak through the branches and gaps between the trees, providing enough light to guide our path. Not that I need it. I could find my way through this forest blindfolded.
Our feet crunch on debris as we tread deeper into the woods, and I open my lungs, inviting the pine freshness in the air to fill me up.
“What happened to the inventor and his wife?” Callan inquires.
“They lived happily here for many years until they tried to have a family. They really wanted to have children, but his wife couldn’t get pregnant.”
Callan darts forward suddenly, holding some low-hanging branches back for me to walk through.
He mocks romance, yet his gentlemanly actions speak volumes.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
A spark ignites the space between us, like always, but I ignore it, forging on and continuing with the story. “His wife became depressed, and he tried everything to cheer her up. Then, finally, she got pregnant, and they were filled with joy. Until the baby was stillborn.”
“Fuck. Something tells me this romance does not have a happy ending.”
“Unfortunately not, which, technically, in book terms, would mean it’s not a romance, but anyway…” I cut my babbling off before I give him a rundown of the difference between a romance and a love story. Something I’m sure would confirm my geek status. “His wife was inconsolable, and the story says she, quote”—I make little quote marks with my fingers—“fell into madness. She was often found wandering the woods, whispering her dead child’s name and calling out for him. One morning, she was found face down in the lake, and it destroyed her husband. He thenfell into madnessand was often found wandering the woods whispering her name.”
“Let me guess, another morning, he was found face down in the lake too?”
“Yep,” I say, taking a sharp left and heading in the direction of said lake, which is barely visible through the blanket of trees.
“Well, that sure as shit is not a romance.”
“It’s a tragedy of Shakespearean magnitude.”
“So, what happened to the property and the house then?”
“It ended up under government control, not sure how or why, but currently, it’s under the control of the Agency of Natural Resources, which is how it’s open to the public.” Pushing through a curtain of trees, I emerge on the eastern side of the lake. “This is it.” I glance over my shoulder as Callan follows me out of the forest onto the small, cobbled beach surrounding the lake.
The water is placid today, glistening a vibrant blue under the cloudless sky, dappling gently in the late summer breeze. I point across the lake. “That’s the official trail over there if you want to walk or run. I brought us to this side because we don’t have much time, and it was quicker, but if you want to come back, you just turn left at the entrance where we turned right and follow the signs.”
“This is breathtaking.”
“I’ve always thought so.” Mountains rise majestically behind the elevated woodland, cocooning the forest and lake below. Rays of magnificent sunshine cast glittering shadows across the water, mirroring a rainbow dancing across the lake. “Imagine owning all this.”
“Imagine growing up here.”
“It would be like stepping into Narnia. I’ve always felt a special draw to this place, and I don’t understand why more people don’t come here, but I’m selfishly glad residents and tourists prefer the larger lakes and woodlands with water activities, outdoor grills, and picnic spaces.” Sitting on a fallen log, I squint under the glare of the sun, wishing I’d thought to grab my sunglasses from the car before we left.
Callan sits beside me, his thigh brushing against mine in the process. My tongue darts out, wetting my suddenly dry lips. I purposely don’t look at him, staring out at the water. “If I need to think, I come here, and it always helps to settle my mind.” Iglance at him briefly, catching him staring at me. “It could be that for you, too, at times when you might need it.”
He nods slowly before clearing his throat. “Thanks for sharing it with me.”
“Anytime.”
Our eyes connect as the invisible thread between us pulls tight, vibrating in the small gap between our bodies. As if he’s been zapped by lightning, Callan whips his head around, staring across the lake as he scoots down a bit, creating space between us. I try not to take it personally.
