Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“Oh. There’s one more thing. If you plan to go hiking or anything like that, check in with us so we can know. The trails are clearly marked and are very safe. But still, you can’t be too careful. We provide GPS and maps at the main house as well.”
“Thanks.”
“Enjoy, hon.”
After she had disappeared in the distance there was a peaceful quiet. Some leaves shivering in the wind, some birds singing in the branches. Other than that. Beautiful silence. I stood for a moment, enjoying the absence of city sounds and taking in the scenery around me. Jo-Anne’s mention of the hiking trails made me glad I had picked up my hiking boots at the last minute, even though I had not hiked in years. The last time had been on a weekend camping trip with⎯
I swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in my throat. Memories of that first time I went away with Max rose up before me. I pushed them aside hastily.
“Get it together, Savannah. Don’t let them intrude. They are the reason you had to run away in the first place. Don’t let them mess up your little peace right now.”
I headed inside and put away the groceries in the refrigerator. I left a frozen pizza out for dinner and changed out of my travel clothing.
The next morning when I woke up to silence, it hit me that I was free, if even for a few days. I had taken a few books with me and for the first time in years, I was able to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes of reading. I became so engaged I found that I spent most of the first two days in the hammock on the porch, voraciously devouring pages of novels, taking a break only to eat or answer the call of nature. By day three, I felt the stress begin to leave my body. I decided to take Jo-Anne up on her recommendation of a hike and so, shortly after breakfast, I presented myself for accountability at the main house. With my backpack filled with water and snacks, and armed with a map and GPS, I set out on one of the trails. I was sorry I had not taken my camera. The scenery was beautiful.
When I returned that afternoon, my body ached in a good way. I discovered muscles I had not used in years and they were not averse to making their presence felt. I committed to finding more time to do more of this. I stopped at the main house to return the GPS and map before trudging back to my cabin. My mind started to spin out ideas for a committee retreat. I could see us camping out here one weekend in the fall in one of the bigger cabins. It was an idea I would pitch when we had our next meeting.
I showered, grateful for the hot water as it eased the ache in my sore muscles. Tonight, I felt like having soup and in a few minutes, the aromatic liquid was simmering on the fire. I heard thunder rolling in the distance as a summer storm brewed. By the time the lightning began flashing and the first fat drops of rain plopped to earth, I was snuggled up with my laptop which I had tethered to my phone for the internet.
I finished my soup and retreated to the bed with the laptop, falling asleep to the sound of the rain and the drone of the mechanical laughter from the comedy in the background.
The next morning, the air felt crisp and there was a cleanliness to it that could only be achieved after a storm. The ringing of my phone interrupted my thoughts. I frowned at the strange number.
“Hello?”
A few moments later, I turned as white as a sheet. Without hesitation, I raced inside to pack. Within the hour, I was heading back to the city, my heart in my mouth.
19
MAX
I wasn’t exactly delighted to receive Savannah’s message, and did actually entertain the thought of rushing to her apartment and cutting her off at the pass, but rationality prevailed. Obviously, she needed time to figure things out, and I would give it to her.
I needed time to sort my head out too.
I was quickly becoming utterly and completely obsessed with her. She thought I was using her for sex. Little did she know I was crazy, actually insanely crazy, about her. More than I had ever been. She was all I thought about day and night. I was even having trouble concentrating on work, and work had always been my oasis of peace. No matter what was going on in my life I could slip into the immutable, unchangeable world of numbers and codes and forget my troubles even existed. I was just trying really hard to do that when, any hope I could return into my safe world and forget her even momentarily, flew out of the window.