Wildflowers; After the long wait

chapter 12

They pulled into a gravel road, lined by large oak trees. The three o'clock evening sun peeked through the thick branches blinding her. The trail veered to the right and Alice gasped at the sight before them. A cozy two-story log cabin with smoke rising out of a brick chimney seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Tucked into the landscape as if it had sprouted there and was as much a part of nature as the brilliant evergreens and tall trees that surrounded it. Someone had cleared a thirty feet radius around the premises, marking the boundary between civilization and the wilderness of the overgrown forest at the edge of the property.

Dawn drove up to it, stopping as he approached the front driveway. Alice sat stunned. He got out of his seat and walked over to open her door. "We're here," he offered her a hand out to the ground. Slowly she emerged from the vehicle transfixed by the sight of the old two-story cabin.

The white paint on the outer walls was flaking, giving the house a beautiful, rustic look. She could clearly see that it had seen some very hard and tough years, but it still looked incredibly perfect to her. The humble structure rose serenely among tall pine trees that scented the air and someone had nurtured a rose garden that bloomed beautifully at the right side of the house, vines of multicolored sweet-smelling roses clung to the pillars and verandah along the front porch. And to the left, a small goldfish pond fed by a gurgling stream seemed perfectly natural against the scenery and for a brief moment, she thought she'd stumbled into a painting of such picturesque landscape, the likes of which she'd never seen before. Only Dawn's hulking frame beside her pulled her back to reality. Her brows furrowed as her gaze darted alternately between the cabin to his troubled expression. She didn't think he'd brought her there just for the scenery, romantic as it was.

"Where are we?" she asked.

He gazed down at her thoughtfully, "I needed to do something," he explained glumly, she looked up at him in bewilderment, a perfectly shaped eyebrow arched in curiosity.

He suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders, taking her by surprise.

"You have to go inside." He urged her emphatically.

"Alone?" she asked confused, "Why? What's in there?"

"Your husband is inside and I think he's probably having a hard time." He held her hand and squeezed it comfortingly.

Alice's gaze darted up to the cabin and on auto-drive, she turned to it, but then she paused, turning back to him, "Why is he having a hard time?"

Dawn hesitated for only a brief second before taking her hand back into his, answering her, "He knows what happened to you after he left."

Understanding and guilt flooded her expression as her watery gaze moved back toward the building. Alice grew pale, tears brimmed the corners of her eyes. She pulled her trembling fingers away from his tight grasp.

"How?" Her voice sounded shrill and breathless.

"I don't know how, but I think he's having a hard time forgiving himself. I think, If you want to be together you need to let him know, you can both work things out together, you need to realize Alice only you can move your world and do what's right for you both." 

"What if we can't work it out and I still can't trust him anymore?" She asked in a soft whisper.

Dawn saw the fear in her eyes, and he became even more determined. "It might not work out, but I trust you and I know you know what's right for yourself, you are not alone in this. I'm always going to be here, and you are far stronger than you were back then. You can do this. He whispered back, hoping his encouraging smile and soft words were enough to motivate her.