at the house, I decide to try my luck. It’s obvious they’re not home because surely one of the brothers would’ve come out the moment they heard a car pull up. Still, I decide that standing on the veranda is a better option than out in the rain and wind which is beginning to pick up speed. I’ll just wait for them there. Hopefully they’re not as aloof and unwelcoming as Cassidy indicated and won’t mind me taking shelter on their veranda whilst I wait for them to return.
Stepping onto the wooden boards, I move towards the front door of the cabin and knock on the thick wooden door just in case they’re inside and didn’t notice my arrival. It’s smooth, and stained with a varnish that seems to bring out the natural whorls. I find myself caressing the satiny wood with trembling fingers as another memory lingers just out of reach. Pressing the palm of my hand against the wood, I close my eyes and breathe in deeply. A mixture of wet pine needles, soaked wood, sawdust, earth, and a masculine musk fills my senses, making me feel lightheaded and woozy. My knees buckle a little, and I have to lean my body against the door to support my weight. When I open my eyes again, I notice a statue beside the front door of a girl with curly hair, wearing a pretty sundress. She reaches my knee and is perfectly proportioned despite her small size. A tremor runs up my spine as I crouch down to look at her. It’s a beautifully carved statue, detailed and intricate. The girl has a serious expression on her face, like she’s thinking deeply about some choice that will affect her life. There’s something about her that gives me pause. Standing upright, I shift away from the statue, shaking out the feeling of unease. I never thought I’d be creeped out by something so beautiful, but I am.
My teeth start to chatter as the rain behind me slants sideways, droplets hitting me with the force of the wind even beneath the huge veranda. The sky has darkened threateningly, and I know that this shelter, though better than being out in the thick of the rain, isn’t going to keep me safe for much longer.
I need to get inside and in the warm.
Clutching the door handle with cold, stiff fingers, I twist. It’s locked, which really shouldn’t come as a surprise. Moving along the veranda, I peer through the windows. This time I have a much clearer view of the inside than I did when I peered through the window of their shop. Dotted around the open plan room are a few table lamps, their soft light illuminating the space. The interior is huge with a perfectly comfortable looking sitting area and a kitchen island that must be at least ten feet long. The living area and kitchen appear just as rustic as the outside with some soft furnishings in the form of animal pelts. A thick sheepskin rug is thrown across one leather armchair, whilst another is on the floor in front of a huge inglenook fireplace. It’s also a very masculine space, with a muted colour scheme of browns, beige, black and cream. I rap my knuckles against the window just in case the brothers are deep inside the house and didn’t hear me the first time. But there’s no movement. Nothing.
Thunder cracks above me, making me jump almost out of my skin and forcing my brain into action. I push up on the sash window, praying it’s unlocked and not caring that I’m actually considering breaking and entering. It won’t budge.
Moving around the veranda, I try the next set of windows knowing before I do that they’ll be locked too. These brothers might live in the middle of nowhere but they’re not stupid enough to leave anything unlocked. Still, I have hope. Methodically, I try each window I come across, only to end up back at the front door still unable to get in. Around me the weather has worsened, the trees, though still stubbornly upright against the howling wind, are beginning to bend at the very tips. Lightning illuminates the now blackened sky and the rain is forming huge muddy puddles on the drive. Resting my back against the door, I slide downwards feeling suddenly exhausted. My teeth chatter uncontrollably as I haul my knees against my chest and try to generate warmth beneath my wet clothes. For twenty