“Are you doing okay over there?”Mack asked.
“Yeah.Would you believe it if I told you that this is the furthest I’ve ever been away from home?”
“Really?”
“Yep.I’ve always wanted to travel, but I’ve never had the money or the opportunity to do it.”
“I’m going to hit this next rest stop so we can fill up one more time before we get to Arrhythmia.It’s a good time to stretch our legs, too.”
“Perfect.”I needed to pee so bad, but I refused to be that girl who asked every few miles to stop because she needed to use the bathroom.I thought about walking Muffin on her leash, but she was sound asleep and didn’t much care for being outside anyway.She wasn’t an outdoorsy type of cat.I hoped she would be okay for a few more hours.
As soon as the truck rolled to a stop, I jumped out of the door and made a beeline for the front door of the building.My quest for a bathroom was my top priority.
“All better?”Mack asked as he waited down the hall from the women’s restroom.
“Haha.Yeah.I guess.I had to pee worse than I thought.”
“You should have said something.We could have stopped sooner.
“It’s no big deal.I’d like to grab a fresh drink, though.”Just then, my stomach growled.
“Maybe a sandwich too,” Mack laughed.
“I like sandwiches.”
We grabbed cold sandwiches to go and headed back to the truck.I was leery of leaving Muffin alone too long.
“I got something for you.”Mack handed me a small jewelry box.
“What’s this?”Surprise flittered through me.
“Just something small for the newly minted traveler.”
I carefully opened the box to find a silver medallion.“It’s beautiful.Thank you!”
“It’s said to protect travelers on their journey,” Mack explained.
“I’ll keep it with me.Always.”I promised.
7
“Finally!”I said to my bear as we drove along the winding driveway, the truck's headlights brightening the way and highlighting the land around my home.As the sun set and dusk fell, a gentle glow spread over the forest.I sensed the day's tension easing as I looked at Audrey, her excitement clearly visible.
She’d been able to cross over the threshold of Arrhythmia without any issues thanks to the silver medallion I’d given her at the rest stop.I hated lying to her about the need for it, but I didn’t know what else to say without letting the whole cat out of the bag thing.I had to beg and plead with Gal, the local necromancer, before I went to meet Audrey, just in case I needed it.Gal finally gave in and made the damn medallion.She wouldn’t take cash for a payment.She said I could return the “favor” later.I had no idea what it was going to cost.Hopefully not my soul.
“This place is amazing,” she said, her voice filled with awe as we approached the log cabin.
I glanced over at her, and I could see her bright blue eyes sparkling with anticipation.“Just wait until I show you around,” I replied, unable to hide my pride.I had put a lot of love into this house, building it for my future mate, and I was eager to share it with her.
When we finally reached the front of the cabin, I parked the truck and turned off the engine.The sounds of nature surrounded us, and I gestured for Audrey to check it out.“Welcome home,” I said, stepping out and taking in the familiar scents of pine and earth.
Audrey jumped out of the truck, her eyes wide as she took in the sight of the cabin.The log house stood tall and inviting, framed by the dense trees that surrounded it.The soft glow from the porch light highlighted the intricate craftsmanship of the beams and the inviting porch that beckoned us inside.
“I can’t believe how beautiful it is,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.“It feels like a fairytale.”
“Come on, I’ll show you around,” I said, leading her to the front door.
Once inside, the cozy atmosphere surrounded us.The living area was spacious and filled with natural light, thanks to the large windows overlooking the forest.I watched as her eyes darted around, taking in the stone fireplace, the warm wooden accents, and the comfortable furniture that invited relaxation.
