Page 3

3

THORN

“It is better to sell, right, Dad?”

My omega dad was what people called “a free spirit.” I hated that expression, not that Dad gave a damn. He was passionate about saving the forests, the whales, coral reefs, and protesting big corporations that took advantage of the little guy. And I was proud of him.

After I left home for college, he was able to pursue his dreams and he was to be found in far-flung corners of the world. Like right now!

“Sweetheart.” The wifi was slow and there was an echo, reminding me of the dial-up modems from my childhood. “It’s up to you, but I wouldn’t go ahead with that before you see the place. It might be your future.”

I scoffed at that suggestion. Dad was always looking for signs that we should take one path over another, but I had my head down, a vision of that office with windows and a door embedded in my mind.

“Me and non-existent cougars! I don’t think so.”

Dad shuffled some papers and cleared his throat. “Did the lawyer mention anything else about Brett?”

Other than he’d been living under an assumed name, not that I could recall. “Like what?”

“Before Father passed away, he wrote a new will because he was worried that as a single parent, I’d need support.”

“Financially?”

“No, your father had life insurance, so we were fine for money.” He glanced away from the screen. “Brett was also your godfather.”

“What?” Why hadn’t anyone told me? “But I didn’t know he existed.”

Dad explained that he had disapproved of Father’s choice, having met Brett once. He thought one of the other uncles or aunts were better suited to being a godparent.

Father’s lawyer had been in touch with Brett at the time. He had replied saying if Dad ever needed help, he’d be there. But Dad hadn’t and never contacted him, thinking he’d be a bad influence on me.

It wasn’t like my dad to judge people like that, especially family, without getting to know them, but life was messy and complicated.

“Maybe I made a mistake not telling you, and I’m sorry.”

If I’d known, would I have insisted on finding Brett? I might have, as I’d gone through a rebellious phase as a teenager. Searching for an uncle who was considered the black sheep would be someone a teen was drawn toward.

I shrugged, one that was tinged with regret, but I had to look forward, not back. I hoped Uncle Brett had lived a happy and fulfilled life. That was all anyone could ask for.

There was a part of me that was intrigued about Brett, his assumed name Alexei, the lodge, and Cougar Lake. I continued having dreams about those dark eyes, and I’d wake up in a sweat, thinking there was a wild animal at the foot of the bed.

But I had to keep to the plan, and my boss wouldn’t be happy if I took a week or two off. I found the scrap of paper where I’d scribbled the real estate guy’s phone number. Not wanting to wait for Noah’s paperwork, I had called him back and gotten the number.

But now as I stared at it, there was no name to go with it. Not that it would matter. How many lodges did Cougar Lake have? Especially ones owed by Brett Taylor? Or was that Alexei Blaze?

I paused, thinking of Alexei Blaze as a swashbuckling pirate, sailing the seas for treasure, when in reality he was probably cleaning toilets for guests and cooking bacon and eggs for their breakfast.

But selling the lodge was the right thing to do.

I grabbed the phone. The number I’d written down was a little smudged. Hmmm, was that a one or a seven? It had to be a seven, as I always put a slash through the middle to differentiate it from a one.

It rang and rang, and I pictured a dusty realty office where the guy was asleep with his feet on the desk. But I pulled myself back from that thought. I didn’t know him or Cougar Lake. Just because it was a small place I’d never heard of didn’t mean they didn’t do a bustling business. That was a fault of mine: forming an opinion before I had all the facts.

“Yeah.”

Okay. The realtors in Cougar Lake were different from the ones I was used to.

“Hi. I’m Thorn Taylor.”

“Whatever it is you’re selling, I don’t want it.” He ended the call, the noise loud enough to have me pulling the phone away from my ear and making a face.

I tried again. Given the location, the odds were this was a landline I was calling, so he might not be able to see my number.

“Yeah.”

“I’m not selling anything, but I’m hoping you can sell something for me.”

“Doubt it.”

“Don’t hang up on me, please.”

“Can’t see why not. Besides, this place is not for sale.” He ended the call again. Unless the guy was at the lodge, we were talking about two different pieces of property.

I considered dialing again but decided against it. Getting up and pacing over the tiny bit of carpet, I came up with plan after plan—yes, I liked making plans—as to how I could achieve my goal of selling the lodge without actually going to Cougar Lake. Every concept was dashed because the one guy who was recommended to sell the place, had gotten the wrong idea about me.

After doing an online search for the lodge and Alexei Blaze, I spent an hour reading of his antics and how people in the small town looked up to him. I might never have heard of Cougar Lake, but my uncle and godfather made sure many other people did.

I had to go there but needed to convince my boss that it was necessary. But instead of being worried I’d get behind on my work or wouldn’t be considered for promotion, I was intrigued.

The workday ended, and as my boss was in meetings out of the office, I waited until after dinner to phone him.

“Thorn. I hope you’re not working and you’re watching the big game,” he said when he answered.

Big game? Oh right, some of my colleagues had been talking about the football match this evening. Our home team was playing, and they were expected to win. Football wasn’t my thing, and I had been intending to work but my head was full of Cougar Lake and the adventures of Alexei Blaze.

“My godfather died.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that. You just take time off.”

I didn’t have to plead or beg. He told me to take a week’s bereavement leave, and if I wanted more time, I had plenty of holidays due. I promised to finish the report that was due at the end of the week and started packing.

The drive would take a day and a half, so I’d stop overnight along the way. Even though it was spring, the early mornings and nights would be cold and I’d need more outdoor clothing, so I’d buy that in the morning on the way out of town.

I shot Noah a message and started the dishwasher and put on a load of laundry. While I loved my job, the thought of being on the open road and going somewhere new was exciting, with fresh air and hopefully good food along the way.

The next morning I was at the outdoor retailer and was the first customer through the door, to the surprise of the guy who opened up. Racing around, grabbing clothes and trying on boots, I was at the counter ten minutes later before the guy had made it from the front door. A tiny exaggeration but not much.

He asked where I was going, and when I told him Cougar Lake, his eyes lit up, and they were kinda like the ones in my dream.

“Used to spend a lot of time up there growing up.” His eyes glazed over with memories, and I would have liked to stay and chat but wanted to get on the road.

“Not many cougars up there these days,” he said as I dashed toward the door. And as I headed outside, I thought he added, “Some of us are here now and meet up once a month.”

He must have been talking about a club of some kind.

Stashing my purchases in the back seat, I drove off. I turned on my favorite playlist and sang along at the top of my voice. With work behind me and Cougar Lake in front, I wondered why I hadn’t spent my leisure time in the great outdoors rather than being stuck in a library during college and being surrounded by four walls when I started work.

Perhaps I could take up a hobby when I got home. One with a group of people where I could make friends. I didn’t have a lot. Acquaintances and colleagues but not many friends. My own fault.

The phone beeped, and I pulled over to read the message, thinking it was from my boss.

Looking forward to seeing you .

It was from Noah.