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“I don't know—”
“Laura, you need to get away. I can provide an inexpensive solution, it's an opportunity for you to clear your head and get back on your feet.”
A look of surrender began to appear on her face and Adell smiled encouragingly.
“All right, but on one condition.”
Adell sighed happily. “Of course, what?”
“I'd like to leave now, and—” She looked seriously at the woman. “I-I don't want Dexter to know where I've gone.”
The gladness drained from her face. “I can’t do that, he'll be so worried.”
Laura shook her head. “I hardly doubt it. But that's beside the point. You must promise me.”
She looked unsure, but nevertheless said, “All right. He won't know. But I still think—”
Again she shook her head. “I can't Adell. You see you were right, I do care for your son, and his animosity towards me pains me greatly. I no longer have the strength to fight him.”
Slowly the man's mother began to nod, understanding if not exactly agreeing. “Then you must go, before he arrives. I'll face the wrath.”
“Thank you.”
The older woman disappeared into the study only to reappear shortly. In her hands she carried a leather folder and a set of keys. “Here's the keys to the cottage, if you leave now you should arrive before night fall. Directions are in the folder as well as a bit of money to cover living expenses.”
“I can't take your money.”
“And live off what? The wilderness? You're a brave girl, Laura, but I hardly think that much. Of course you'll take my money.”
Laura smiled with a tear in her eye. “I'll pay you back, every penny, I promise.”
“I don't doubt someday you will be able to.” She smiled in return, then went over to the writer's desk and retrieved another set of keys. “You'll need a means of transportation. In the garage is my old Volkswagen, I never use it.”
“Oh, Adell.” Impulsively, she hugged the woman and allowed the tears to fall. “You're wonderful. I'm going to miss you.”
“Nonsense. We'll see each other soon. You just take as much time as you need to recuperate. Now go, before I change my mind.” With a zestful grin, she gave the girl a push.
One last time she smiled her thanks then made her leave. Laura was going to miss the older woman. In such a short time they had become very close, a feeling kindred too maternal. Dexter O'Reilly didn't realize how good he had it.
The Volkswagen was exactly where she said it would be and after only a few attempts, it choked to life. Giving a final glance in the direction of the home, Laura gave a sorrowful sigh, before turning the vehicle onto the road. Fighting back tears, she dare not look back in fear of Dexter's car appearing in her rearview mirror as he drove up the street. Needing to break all contact with him, although in her mind she knew was right, her heart told her otherwise. Seeing him again would only break her heart, and that she was certain would be her ultimate demise.
With the directions stretched out across the passenger seat, she drove north until the city outskirts dropped off and she was cruising the wide-open countryside. Not long after she passed Huntsville, she climbed the steep back roads of the Nipissing inland, gasping at the breathtaking beauty of the countryside.
Towering pine trees, some as tall as the skyscraper buildings along the horizon of the province's capital, covered most of the land. Laura had lived all her life in the Muskoka yet had little opportunity to travel north. In all its flawless splendor she was even rewarded a glimpse of a bull elk hovering along the roadside sporting a magnificent crown of antlers. This was nature at its supreme. Untouched and oblivious to a complicated and sometimes unmerciful world.
It was nearing dusk by the time she whined the small vehicle along a grassy and narrow path leading to the cottage. At first sight, it appeared exactly that, a cottage. With its stone base and log cabin appearance, one could strongly feel the pioneer era. As she stepped out of the car she was assailed by a fresh untainted breeze of pine and lake water mingled with the cool sharpness of early fall. Adell was right; already she could feel the effects of the undisturbed surroundings and their restoring powers.
Leaving the vehicle behind the house, she wandered down the rocky path leading to the front of the building, and was confronted with the exact expanse of the “cottage”. What appeared to be a small wooden cottage from behind, turned out to be an enormous chalet from the front, seated precariously high above a rocky shore. It was completely made of stone and logs, which continued in the same theme within the home.
A warm living room with overstuffed furnishings, greeted her along with a huge elk head similar to the one she spotted along the road, keeping guard high on the cathedral's wooden wall. Its black beady eyes followed her as she crossed the room and went to investigate the rest of the cottage.
Underfoot the cold surface of the knotty pine floor caused her to wish she had left her shoes on as her perusals discovered a large kitchen with a wall of windows overlooking a breathtaking view of the lake in all its awesome glory. Behind the kitchen was a dining room hosting an old harvest dining table that could easily seat ten, while upstairs she discovered three fabulous bedrooms with their very own timber theme throughout.
Laura felt lucky to have met a woman such as Adell and been given the opportunity to stay in such an extravagant but welcoming home. And yet, the cottage was so big and vast she felt a sudden uncomfortable pang of loneliness. She would have given anything just to be able to share it.
A hard, cold and unloving face came to mind. With sorrow she pushed the image aside. The first step to healing would be to erase the memory of the man for good from her mind. She knew, however, it wouldn't be easy, especially with the many numerous family photos gracing the walls.
Surveying them all, her eyes fell upon the child image of Dexter. In one photo, he was beaming up at the camera, so full of joy, with his arm around his brother. Another photo showed him making a comical face, his eyes crossed for the photographer. She smiled and traced her fingers over the image of the boy he once was. It was not hard envisioning his childhood ghost running alo
