“He never even told me about the improvements.”
“Well, technically he hadn’t finished them when he died. The guys and I finished the project. I can’t leave things half done. It’s my flaw.”
“Good flaw to have.”
“Yeah, that’s only because you’re not waiting on me to finish a project to start yours.”
“True. I can see where that could become a problem.”
“It happens. My old girlfriend used to hate that.” He walked over and opened the door for her. “Let me show you inside. Wish I’d known you were coming. I’d have opened the place up and turned on the heat and everything.”
“Please tell me there’s more than a wood fireplace.”
“Oh yeah, but the woodstove comes in handy when the electricity goes out, and that does happen. You’ve got plenty to burn just in the small trees that naturally fall. The electrical panel is all set for the mini-split, but it hasn’t been installed. I could help you get that set up. The units are still boxed in the storage shed.” He pointed to the smaller wooden building. “You’ve got plenty of wood stacked up to get you through the winter.”
“Looks like a great place for snakes to hang out.”
“Better there than over here by the house, don’t ya think?”
She hadn’t considered that.
He reached up over the porch light and used the key there to open the door. He reached in and turned on the lights. “After you.”
She stepped through the doorway, knowing this was a new start.
Inside, the cabin was clean and neat. Devoid of feminine touches, it was still welcoming in its own way.
The black-and-white buffalo-check comforter on the bed was the one she’d ordered for Jeremy the first year they were together.Was it for Christmas? Maybe his birthday.
She recognized a few other things too. The wooden gun rackwas hand-carved by an artisan in Gatlinburg. Jeremy had gone on and on about it when they’d seen it while on vacation, but wouldn’t buy it because it was so expensive. She’d surprised him with it for Christmas that year. It was so big she had to use two rolls of wrapping paper to cover it and practically a whole roll of tape.
Tucker walked through the cabin, turning on the lights. “Everything is in working order.”
“You’ve really taken care of the place. Thank you.”
“Happy to do it. There is more than enough money to ensure everything is kept up in that fund. There’s not much to it. Whatever is left over each year, I use to upgrade something. I like piddling around with the place.”
She felt a pang of guilt that she’d be taking that from him. “I feel bad. I mean—”
“No. Don’t. It’s good you’re here, and I’m happy to continue helping with whatever you can’t do.”
She walked into the kitchen. Pots and pans hung from a rack on the wall, probably out of necessity since there weren’t many cabinets. An old woodstove with burners on the top was the focal point.
“Do y’all use this?” she asked.
“A couple of times, but honestly, mostly for heat. We did our cooking outside.”
She pulled open one of the drawers. “Everything is here.”
“Yeah, you could move in today. None of us kept anything personal here except for Jeremy. There are a few of his things in the drawers. I didn’t disturb them.”
The water ran clear when she twisted the handle.
“Good spring water,” he added. “Oh, and there’s a ceilingfan.” He walked over and flipped the switch. “Keeps things really comfortable pretty much year-round.”
She turned and leaned against the counter. “It’s more than I’d hoped for.”
“Not much closet space, but this is a great place. I’m sure you could add some nice little touches here and there. One of the guy’s wives made a wreath for the door at Christmas last year. We begrudgingly hung it to make her happy, but it did look nice.”
