CHAPTER 12
"Turn right up here," Kathleen directed from the backseat.
Liam turned the car onto a small dirt road that was beginning to get slick from the heavy snow accumulating on it. "Are we going to get snowed in?" Doug asked.
"Nah," Kathleen answered. "My dad leaves a plow truck here. There are a few snowmobiles too, so we'll be able to get around no matter what."
They bounced along the road over potholes, and rocks. Sera's head pounded with every rut they hit. She closed her eyes and forced herself to picture the cabin at the end of the road. She had come up here with Kathleen once during their freshman year, and she had loved it. When Kathleen had suggested coming up now, she had instantly jumped at the chance to go, despite her reservations about missing classes.
She had fallen behind already; she didn't need to fall behind any further. But the idea of spending a couple of days at the cabin, with Liam, was too tempting for her to refuse. She could do some studying here, and really crack down when they got back. So what if she didn't get straight A's this semester, in the grand scheme of things it didn't seem that important anymore.
The cabin was at the top of a steep hill and was set back in a grove of trees that surrounded it on three sides. Snow was just beginning to cover it, and old snow had been plowed into a big pile at the end of the road. Behind the large cabin, mountains loomed high against the night sky. Kathleen's family stayed here through the summer, and visited it often in the winter.
Liam pulled the car up and turned the engine off. "Thank God," Jack said, throwing his door open. "My legs are killing me."
They piled out of the car, and Sera took a deep breath of the crisp, cool air. Snow filtered down the back of her parka and caused a chill to run down her spine. When they had left Massachusetts the weather forecast had predicted a chance of snow showers in Vermont. When they had gotten to Vermont, they had begun to predict at least six inches.
The wind howled around them and Sera pulled her parka closer around her. "We'll get the stuff," Mike said. "You guys go inside and get the heat turned on."
"No problem," Kathleen said as she eagerly rubbed her bare hands together.
She bounded through the snow toward the cabin with Sera and Danielle following more cautiously behind. They huddled together on the huge, wraparound porch as Kathleen dug the keys from her pocket and threw the door open.
Kathleen flicked a switch and the lights came on. The living room on their right had a large, cathedral ceiling, with old wooden beams running across the top of it. The beams were the same dark mahogany as the floor, while the walls were a light, oak color. A large stone chimney took up the farthest wall, tapering slightly as it went out the ceiling. The room was furnished with two large, creamy white couches that were extremely comfortable. A forest green recliner was in between the couches, and a glass coffee table was in the middle of the room. The far back wall was taken up by a long bar with a green bumper running around the edge of it. The wall behind it was a mirror, and the glass shelves were lined with bottles of alcohol.
Kathleen turned down the hall on the left hand side and flicked on another light switch as they passed a doorway on the right. The small half bath was done in a pale blue that was warm and comforting. Kathleen moved onto the kitchen and to the thermostat on the wall. The floor of the kitchen was light blue linoleum. In the center was a small island crafted from a light oak wood. The kitchen counters were a pale yellow tile, and the cabinets were stained the color of dark wood. The curtains were long and a shimmery yellow that brightened the whole room.
Sera paused in the doorway and smiled as she leaned against the frame. She loved the cabin, with its elegant beauty and comfy furnishings. The smell of wood permeated the air to mingle with the hint of spices, crisp apple, cinnamon, and vanilla from the candles, and potpourri, scattered throughout the house.
"This place is beautiful," Danielle whispered.
"Thank you," Kathleen said as she turned up the thermostat on the wall. "I love it up here, but I never have a chance to come. Lack of transportation and all."
"We have to come here a lot more," Danielle said.
Sera looked around as a sense of peacefulness settled over her. This house was like a real home, a home that she wanted to have one day, with a family of her own. A family that would be nothing like hers. Her children would know that they were loved and cherished.
Sorrow flickered through her as she realized that the family she was picturing would never be. Not as long as she was with Liam. Sera closed her eyes and took a deep breath to ease the pressure building in her chest. She forced herself not to think about it, not now. For now she was going to enjoy her time here, and she wasn't going to let any depressing thoughts interfere with that.
Kathleen flicked another switch, and the back porch was illuminated. "Would you give me a hand?" she called over her shoulder.
Sera walked out to the screened in porch. Snow was billowing down outside as the wind howled through the trees. "It's getting nasty out there," Sera said as Kathleen began to grab piles of wood.
"We'll light a fire and cozy up," Kathleen said with a sly grin. "Just grab some wood for me."
Sera piled wood into her arms before following Kathleen back to the living room. "Danielle, why don't you put on some hot chocolate," Kathleen called over her shoulder.
The door opened with a blast of cold air as Mike, Doug, Liam, and Jack piled through. "Shit it's cold!" Mike called, dropping his arm full of bags on the floor.
Kathleen grinned at him and playfully bumped his hip as she walked past. "It is winter," she said.
"Actually Miss Wise Ass, it is technically still fall," he retorted.
"Where do we put this stuff?" Jack asked as Doug slammed the door.
"Just leave it there for now. I'll get the fire started. The heat takes awhile to warm this place up."
"Awesome place," Doug said. He took in the large staircase before him and the chandelier over his head before turning to follow Kathleen into the living room. "Sweet," he said, plopping onto one of the couches.
