Knotty pine

Chapter 1

As a child I've always loved the fresh air. I don't know if it's the smell of the air, the wind blowing my blonde hair out of place for the millionth time, or the fact that I always feel at home.

My father always told me, that when I felt sad so did God, and it would rain. As I grew older, I realized that sometimes it was true, but other times it was hogwash.

He was always my biggest supporter. No matter how hard I wanted to quit at doing something he was always there to pick me  up and help me try again. My father and I had an extremely close relationship since my mother left us when I was a baby.

We owned a cottage up in the middle of nowhere and the only time it had over 30 people in the town is when it was the holidays and people wanted to enjoy the crystal blue lake surrounded by trees. Maybe that's why I love nature so much, my dad was an architect and loved to make his houses the best he could do.

He passed away a few months ago, and no one has noticed. They all went along with their lives, not caring about me and how alone I was. I'm only 16, i can't legally take care of myself.

That's why I ran away. I ran away to the one house with the crystal blue lake, living off my fathers millions he had saved.
My father had owned an oil company. He hasn't spent a dime other than buying this house, food, and clothes for me. He sold the oil company and started his own architect company since he wanted to help people. He had over 7 million saved up, and it was all mine.  Not like I cared.

I would do anything to have my father back into my life. I miss him singing in the morning making sausage and eggs, him bopping his head to the 80's music he loved. He was my best friend, and I was his.

Pat pat pat

The sound of the rain pounding on my window broke my thoughts. I quickly shut the curtains hope that when I opened them, it would be sunny and the birds would be chirping, but life isn't a happy ending.

It gets scary in this big log cabin house with three stories. I hear noises sometimes but it's usually just the trees and animals moving outside. I usually always have the fireplace going so I don't have to listen to myself think, and all the noises.

Our town here is very small, the only time it's even a tad busy is on the weekend in the summer. When the water is reflecting the sun, and everyone wants to go boating, and swimming. I used to love seeing all the people in the lake, laughing and smiling.

The fire place crackling broke me from my thoughts. I quickly got up and started making the sugar cookies my dad and I used to make together every time it was raining. It would always turn into a big huge food fight me throwing flour and him cracking eggs on my head, it was a blast.

But here I stand all alone by myself in the big kitchen that is full of so many memories. Part of me thinks it was my fault that he died. If I wouldn't have gone out to the barn maybe I would've been the one that died. Sometimes I think that he was deliberately killed, but the doctors say he just had a heart-attack and died. Which is probably the truth because I just assume the worst in every situation.

Since my father's death I've been able to just admire what he has done for me, other than moping and thinking about suicide. He won't ever come back, but I can still remember all the happy and bad memories we've had.

My father didn't have any family. The only family member that he did have was his brother. He looked up to him so much, but when my dad was just 11 he disappeared.
My dad was in a foster care all of his life since his parents left them when he was a baby. My uncle took care of him when he was four saying he would never leave his side, but obviously he did.
My dad tried to find him he hired the most amazing detectives, but none of them seemed to have any clue where he was, and said that he's probably dead.

I shook my self out of thoughts, admiring how perfect and soft my frosting was. My house looked to clean, to neat, just to boring. This house has 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, and four living rooms. A little big for the two of us, but it was his dream.

As I clean up, I realize that I need to get out of this giant house and go for a walk. The rain has cleared up, and I just need to get some air.
I grab my coat and boots on, and I'm out the door.

My father and I made a trail that goes through almost all of the woods and leads to a little creek with a very small waterfall. I used to jump in it with my clothes on every single time because I always wanted to see how big the splashes would get. Silly?

I hike up the little hill, moving some branches that revealed my creek. I looked at it, watching it's every movement. How the rocks sometimes block the current and it has to move past, how the minnows are always trying to run as fast as they can to get away from my hand that's trying to grab them, I loved this place.

I sat down on the wet grass, looking up at the sky. 4th of July was almost here, about two days away. You would always see caretakers prepping the lawn and trying to make the houses look like they've been so perfectly kept up even if they haven't touched anything in the houses in at least a year.

The houses around this lake, aren't even close to be as big as mine. Some of them are close, and then some of them are just humble cottages that are perfect and happy when they come up every holiday weekend.
When I was little I would always look around the lake and you could see all the campfires, and here all the music and laughter. It was happy, and I'm trying my best to still be that happy, even if I feel sad and down sometimes.

I stand up, not wasting any second to go back to my house and drive to the store before anybody comes up this weekend.

I come back and jump into my car. The store wasn't even a half a mile down the road.
It was a very small grocery store owned by a lady named Linderz. Well, her name is Linda, but I call her Linderz every since I was little.

I pull up to parking lot, no one is ever here, but as usual it's always open 6-10 every day.

I open the door smelling the fresh scent of freshly baked chocolate donuts.

"Hiya Hollie!! I missed that chirpy smile, haven't seen it in a Long while!"
I smile, looking at the food in the aisle, "I know Linderz, it's been hard, but I'm feeling happy today. Dad always loved 4th of July and I don't wanna be moping, you know?" She looked at me with sad eyes, trying to read any emotion on my face.
"Oh sweetie I know, if you ever need to come stay with me, I'm always here! But golly your house is so big, would rather stay at yours!"
I laughed, " Oh you're welcome to stay with me anytime, as long as you cook me a home cooked meal Linderz!"

I grab all the things I need and lay them on the counter, "Oh honey, it's on me sweet cheeks!"
I frown looking at her and her crackling smile, "No I insist, you never get any customers except me. You take this money right now! I love you Linderz see ya."
I lay the $50 dollar bill on the counter knowing that the price was only $15, and walked out the door. I know she's had problems with almost losing that store and I'm not going to see it be taken away from her.

I had gotten my drivers license just before my dad had past away. He always let me sit on his lap and drive when he was little, and when we would come up to this cabin, he would always drive us to this certain place.

I pull up hoping not to get to far down to the water. I watch the waves, calmly reach the shore line and go back. It's about 3:00 and warm. Warm enough to dive in that lake and swim.

I look at the water, contemplating whether to go in. Just breath do it.I run into the water, feeling the breeze hit my ears that send shivers down my spine. 
For once in my life I feel free, like all my worries are gone and that my life isn't a mess for one time in my life.