Timber

Chapter Sixty-Six: Déjà vu

The summer air was laden with the scent of sawdust and sap as Hazel leaned against a towering ponderosa pine. Perched on a thick branch, she swung her legs in idle patterns. Sunlight peeked through the canopy, caressing her cheeks and soaking into her hair and skin. Her eyes fluttered closed with a deep sigh as the sounds and smells of home saturated clear through to her soul. Despite the peacefulness, something about her surroundings tickled the back of her mind with familiarity.

"You're going to eat all that by yourself, Hazelnut?" a voice pulled her out of her serene reverie.

A smile spread across her face. She glanced down at a small bundle in her lap, wrapped in a checkered cloth, then to the redhead staring up at her from the ground. His copper tresses shone in the warm summer sun. He was the same as she remembered—tall, with that easygoing smile and teasing green irises.

She raised an eyebrow at him as she held up the two slices of homemade apple bread for him to see. "If you don't hurry, I will," she replied, pretending to take a large bite.

"Hey, wait!" He yelled as he scrambled to climb.

Hazel laughed freely at his desperation. He made climbing trees look effortless as he glided from branch to branch. Within a minute he pulled himself up to the limb she was relaxing on, "Your Mom make lunch again?"

"Yes, sir. This apple obsession she's in is definitely one of the better ones." Hazel gestured with a piece of the luxurious bread. "But I'm going to start charging you if you keep stealing my food."

Cedar's bubbling laugh filled the woods, "Would be money well spent." He grinned wider as he swiped the slice from her hand. He leaned back and stretched out on the massive branch beside her. His presence was like a mellow breeze. Warm, comforting while also refreshing. "You know I can't resist Fern's cooking."

"It always has been your weakness,'" Hazel teased, elbowing him, "But you might think differently if you had been around for her asparagus phase."

Cedar chuckled as he took a slow bite, clearly savoring his treat. Hazel nearly forgot about her bread as she watched the satisfaction spread over his face.

"I don't know. I think I would've enjoyed the asparagus phase. If anyone could pull it off, it would be Fern."

"Yeah, well, speak for yourself. I can still taste the pudding." Hazel shivered.

Cedar coughed, choking on a piece of the treat. His face screwed into a sour expression. "Pudding?"

Hazel grinned at his expression, "All the chewing is what really got to me."

Cedar raised his hands, "All right, all right. I get it."

Hazel couldn't help but laugh again, holding her side as she watched him try to clear his mind of the image.

Cedar stared back down at his bread in sudden hesitation, "Fern is nothing if she isn't creative. I think that is half the reason my brother married her. Smartest thing he ever did."

Hazel's heart sank, and her eyes dropped to her lap as she toyed with her lunch.

Cedar tilted his head at her sudden change, "What's wrong?"

"I'm done with him, Cedar. Permanently."

Cedar stared at her, his expression growing serious.

Her hair fell over her shoulders as she shook her head, pushing the memories of her last interaction with her father out of her mind, "I had to. He's done unspeakable things, Cedar. Unforgivable things." Her voice faded to a whisper.

Cedar considered her words. Then, his head bent forward in a slow nod. "You did the right thing."

"He was never the same after," Hazel's eyes met his, "after you died."