porch and watched him drive off, then turned to look at the water. A thick layer of fog hovered over the surface. If there were fishermen out there, she couldn’t see them. She looked at the clock; it was just eight. She’d leave in three hours, and the fog would be gone by then. It rarely hung around much after nine lately, the air cooler than usual.
She had two things on her mind that morning: hiking over to the site where the foundation had been dug and prepped for concrete to see how it had progressed. The trail that led to the road, the same trail Justin rode from the clinic to her cottage on horseback, was in the process of getting widened so the trailer could be hauled over and set into place. Steve and Kelly’s dad, who had donated the trailer, said it was ready to go as soon as the concrete truck poured the foundation and it had cured for a number of days. The trailer was going to be placed up on pilings like all the buildings in the bayou were, to protect it from flooding, which happened every summer and early fall during hurricane season, not directly on the foundation, so they didn’t have to wait a month or more for the concrete to cure.
The second thing she wanted to do before she left to meet Gus for lunch was to decorate a big pine tree that grew right alongside the dock. Justin had purchased lights that were powered by a small solar panel, and he’d installed that the weekend before.
Pulling wellingtons on, she leashed up Brulee, and they set off for the site of Cypress Cove Rescue. They were there in twenty minutes, and the change was phenomenal; the cleared trees had been planed into lumber they would use for the deck around the trailer. The leftovers were cut into firewood and neatly stacked around the new fence line.
The trail had been widened, and the fresh, sandy dirt would be covered with thirteen tons of gravel. She was so excited.
Next, they went back to the cottage and retrieved the lights for the tree. Brulee wasn’t sure what was going on, but she was all for an adventure. Dragging the ladder out from the shed, she hauled it down to the giant spruce that grew next to the dock. Setting it on level, solid ground, she felt safe climbing it, and strung lights around the entire perimeter of the tree, placing a large star on the top. It was so beautiful.
She’d also purchased a timer from Casson’s Hardware so the lights would go on automatically at sunset. Anyone out on the water after dark would see the beautiful tree, and she’d see it from the house.
After placing the ladder back in the shed, she went into the cottage to get ready for lunch with Gus. It was almost time to leave, and she noticed the fog was still pretty thick on the water. She’d text Gus and ask him to wait for a bit, hopefully it would clear close to shore, and he told her just that, to hug the shore on the trip into town. At quarter to twelve, it looked like the fog was finally starting to dissipate.
“Brulee, I think you’re staying home today. I don’t need any distractions trying to get to town in the fog.”
The dog was curled up on her bed, licking the sand off her paws, ignoring Maggie, which was a good sign. She wouldn’t mind being left behind.
Grabbing her bag, Maggie left the cottage, locking up. She took a last look around, pleased with everything. The porch looked beautiful with the Charlie Brown tree. She walked down the dock, focused on the spruce. The tree would light up at sunset.
The beautiful star at the top of the tree symbolized so much for her. The cottage had become her refuge after a broken heart. She and Justin were going through a rocky time, the growing pains of a relationship, but she knew steadfast in her heart that they loved each other. When she reached the skiff, she closed her eyes for a second.
“Thank you for this beautiful place.” A whispered prayer to the universe.
Smiling while she climbed in, the bimini cover was a new experience. She hadn’t driven the skiff with the awning on it, and it felt a little odd sitting under it, protected and safe from the elements. The motor started right up, and she headed to