His Healing by Perfect Love

Chapter Ten

Alex shut off the engine of the hired car and leaned back against the headrest. The drive over was unexpectedly enjoyable. He drove a rose gold Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and hell, it even had that new car smell that tickled his nose with the cool, air conditioning blasting through the air vent. He wasn't going to lie, the car was way better than his Dodge Ram truck he'd left back in London and it was the perfect kind of drive for the rocks, bumps and potholes on the dirt track that was carved out between the tall Eastern hemlock and red oak trees. He had loved those trees as a kid. The way they towered above him like evil giants making him believe he was a small soldier out on the battlefield with his wooden sword and paper helmet. Alex took a swig of water from the bottle resting in the console of the jeep and stared at the Beaver home ahead of him. Despite the bright sunny day and blue sky, his mood darkened.

He didn't belong here.

Years ago, he'd sworn he would never step foot on the grounds of Muskoka Oaks again. He had gladly left the camp, Lake Rosseau and the people and pain associated with it behind him. At least that's what he'd thought, now, he wasn't so sure. He sat still in the vehicle as an unwelcoming ache squeezing his heart. That was when he knew... He'd made a huge mistake in coming back here.

The wind whistled through the trees and a gentle breeze stirred the leaves, making the branches sway, causing a calming effect that soothed him somewhat. He was thankful for the quiet where he was, but he knew it wasn't going to last when he finally showed his face.

He wasn't ready for this.

Needing a distraction, Alex pulled out his iPhone from the front pocket of his jeans. He had six missed calls, and all were from Chaz. He huffed. Why am I even surprised? Chaz was the only friend he had and the only one he trusted.

He opened the call log and tapped the entry under his friend's name and waited as the phone began to ring. Chaz answered almost immediately. "Dammit man! Are you okay? I've been calling all night! I swear you died on the plane or it crashed in the middle of the ocean or something."

Alex grinned at his friend's familiar drama. "I'm fine and in one piece, you idiot." He grabbed his duffle bag from the backseat and opened the car door. He had parked outside the lodge his aunt told him to occupy for the time being if or when he decided to come back home. She hadn't called again since that day and Alex figured she was giving him space− time to settle his mind and make a decision.

He cradled the phone to his ear and locked the car door behind him. The place looked so foreign now and as he looked at the cabin, he struggled to remember the important details through his foggy memory. One thing he never forgot though was how his aunt and uncle Joe liked to keep the keys to the front door in the plant pot around the corner. He walked there as Chaz chattered in his ear.

"When you meet a hot chick, and I'm certain you will, save some for me will you?"

Alex rolled his eyes. Chaz was disgusting, but guilt gripped him because he knew he wasn't any better. If anything, he was worse.

The day Julie called him was the biggest surprise of his life and he wasn't one to be bomb-shelled easily. They'd been asleep onboard the Revival ‒the yacht Chaz had bought for the sole purpose of occasional getaways and parties when the ringing of his phone woke him. He had jolted up, but a splitting headache had him laying back down in seconds, the bitter after-taste of alcohol burning the back of his throat.

"Answer the phone baby!" The thick sultry voice belonged to Rhonda, lying naked next to him...or was it Shona? Alex couldn't remember, but he looked over at the blonde bimbo and cringed.

"Answer the phone," she whined again. "Please, it's so annoying!"

Makeup was smudged all over her face and her breath stunk, but she rolled over on her side and fell back into drunken, sleep. Goodness he thought, I had to be desperate last night. He dragged a hand over his face and flung the white sheets off him. They'd had the guest cabin to themselves and from the look of the mess in the room, they'd made efficient use of it. Clothes were thrown all over the floor of the boat and he or maybe it was the blonde, had knocked over some ornaments during the tumble. As he got up, Alex made a mental note to repay Chaz for the damage.