I wanted to leap right into the adventure without knowing. It was safer to ask.
Why don’t you come and find out? came the reply several seconds later.
How do I know it’s safe? I countered.
Really, Serenity? Trust me, have a little adventure.
How can I trust you if I don’t know who you are?
How many other people do you think would even know about that place? Come find me.
I supposed the mysterious texter, who I was now more than fairly certain was Grayson, was right. Only the three of us had known about that special place in the woods where we gathered. Or rather they went together and I chased after them, demanding that I be included. I had never shared the location of that place with anyone else, although sometimes I still liked to go there and practice my harp—when it wasn’t too cold, of course.
I went back to the other room where my mom was still cleaning. “I need to go out,” I said, “but I promise I’ll be back soon. Don’t feel like you have to keep cleaning without me.”
She smiled. “Go have fun—I promise I’ll leave you your fair share of work to do when you get back.”
“Jeez, thanks, Mom.” I gave her a kiss and headed up to my room to put on some warmer clothes worthy of going outside. Snow still covered the ground and the trees, and every now and then a breeze would knock it off and down your neck like your own personal snowstorm. A down jacket. A soft sweater. A big scarf with a matching hat and gloves. Once I was sure that I wasn’t going to freeze to death, I headed out the back door of the house and into the woods.
It had been quite a few weeks since I had last gone down to our old childhood haunt. Once the weather got cold enough, I had to protect my hands with gloves so I wasn’t really able to play the harp or comfortably read outside. Then, I much preferred the warmth of indoors and the safety of the heater to the crisp air out here.
But I had been to this spot so many times that even with the snow covering and distorting the landscape, I had no trouble finding my way to the fort that we frequented as children.
Inside, I found Grayson, a blanket spread across the floor, and a small portable heater whirring away. “You know that won’t do any good,” I said, plopping down in front of him and holding my gloved hands up to the heater. “This place isn’t insulated at all.”
He shrugged. “Perhaps that’s something we change, then. We could renovate the place, make it cozy even in winter.”
I laughed. “Like that will ever happen. And what’s wrong with leaving it as it is? This place has plenty of memories already.”
Grayson examined his fingernails, preoccupied. “Perhaps I was thinking that we could make new memories. Or maybe I just wanted a project to occupy my time while I’m here. Besides, your brother told me you like to come out here when it’s warm enough. Wouldn’t it be nice for this retreat to be a place you could come in any season?”
I looked around the little fort. We had built it like a treehouse on the ground, leaning against a pretty little circle of trees that I used to believe fairies danced in. By some miracle, the roof hadn’t fallen in yet, but it was growing weaker every season and the windows had no glass in them at all. I usually just spent my time in the grove of trees rather than the fort itself.
“Do I really need that, though? It feels fine as it is right now. Besides, what would I even do out here when it’s like this out?”
“I don’t know. Read. Daydream. Nap. Whatever you like to do most in the winter months. I’m not the one who would be using it, so I can’t really tell you, can I?” He gave me a smile.
“I guess not.” I sighed. “Really, it’s not of much consequence to me, so you can feel free to renovate it if you want to.”
Grayson leaned forward, taking my hand and bringing it up to his lips for a kiss. “Thank you, Serenity. I look forward to making you a little retreat here.”
I blushed and pulled my hand away too quickly. He knew just how to get to me. “You don’t have to do this, you know.”
“Do what? Renovate this