by Tanya Agler
“I have to share something with you right off the bat, for full disclosure.”
“Do you go around collecting bats now?” Caleb kept his voice low, although his eyes twinkled, his good nature still intact. He leaped onto the log with the ease and grace of a puma and then shimmied across. The chains rattled when he dismounted and stood near her. “The Lucie I knew would have run for cover.”
That Lucie of yesteryear, the debutante whose outfits matched her purses, didn’t exist anymore. Her father had always chucked her chin and told her she was tougher than she thought. He’d been right. In the past two years, she’d learned how to make Hamburger Helper stretch for three nights and how to accept kindness with a smile.
“That Lucie had to grow up.” She kicked some pine straw with the toe of her faded sneakers before she motioned at him. He followed her toward three wooden cubes equidistant to each other, although each was smaller than the previous one. If the coworkers didn’t work together to cross the aptly named “alligator pit,” they’d all fall into the blue-gravel “swamp.”
“That’s a shame. That Lucie supported me during one of the roughest times in my life.” Caleb jumped onto the middle cube and stared at her. “By the way, you didn’t have to email me with a long explanation of our friendship and a request to email back. You’re pretty unforgettable, you know, and I’d never send you to voice mail.”
“I didn’t have your number.” She spotted the six-foot plank the teams would use to progress to the next cube. The problem arose when they figured out the plank didn’t cross the entire length but instead fell six inches short. A winning strategy required teamwork and communication. And if she wanted Caleb on her team, recommending her center, she’d better stop beating around the hollyhocks and start communicating. “And I wasn’t sure you wouldn’t send me to voice mail when my name popped up. You disappeared out of my life rather quickly after Justin and I announced our engagement.”
“About that. I introduced the two of you. I’m sorry. If I’d had any idea of his true character, I’d have done things differently for both our sakes.” He shifted his weight. “Well, I’m here now.”
He was apologizing to her?
“Thank you, but you did nothing wrong.”
Lucie jumped into the alligator pit and crossed to the plank, checking for any damage to the long wooden board. Finding none, she shrugged. “Enough about me. Here I am monopolizing the conversation, same as always.”
“I like it. Besides, listening to the sounds around me is a cornerstone of my work.”
“Speaking of work, I’m surprised you could get time off right now. How long is Yellowstone loaning you to us?”
“I’m back for good.”
Her hand slipped and the plank thudded into the dirt, the hard collision puffing up a cloud of dust before the echoes died in the surrounding woods. Fine particles lodged in Lucie’s throat and she coughed. For once, the Hollydale grapevine must not have had wind of a true scoop: Caleb’s homecoming. If she’d known he was returning for keeps, she’d never have emailed him. A long-distance entreaty was different from an in-person request somehow. She didn’t want to be lumped in with everyone else asking him for a favor.
However, his recommendation might lead to bookings in May. The more bookings, the sooner she’d pay back her aunt Rosemary and Mitzi.
She pointed to the wood benches that edged the perimeter of the low ropes course. “Want to sit down and talk? I’ve been on my feet painting all day.” Getting the meeting room in shape had consumed most of her morning.
“I’ve been doing nothing but sitting for thirty hours over three days.” Caleb stretched and smiled. “When Jonathan moved back to Hollydale, I requested a transfer. It finally came through. As soon as I finished packing, I drove straight to North Carolina, only stopping at night.”
And he’d come here to the Hollydale Training and Wellness Center first? He was a true friend. He could have gone anywhere in town, his favorite trail overlooking Timber River, his cousin’s house, or Sal’s Pizzeria for the best slice this side of New York. Her eyes misted and she stopped herself from giving him a hug.
“You don’t know how much that expression of friendship means to me.” She thumped her fist over her heart. “There are people in this world who are your true friends, and you’re one of mine, Caleb Spindler. You might be the best friend I’ve ever had.”
He reached up and stroked his stubble. “Lucie...” He paused and licked his lips.
“Some friend I am when you went out of your way to make me feel special again. I haven’t offered you anything to drink, although your choices are water or the juice boxes I keep on hand for the twins. My food and beverage deliveries aren’t for a couple more weeks.”
She turned in the direction of the main building, but he tapped her arm and cupped his right ear with his hand. “What was that?”
Silence pervaded the air until the sound of three faint pecks traveled their way, followed by a hoarse shrill call. “I hope that woodpecker isn’t tapping on my chimney again.”
“It’s coming from the woods.” He lowered his hand and stretched his back. “Have you spotted the Timber River woodpecker?”
“Except for penguins and chickens, most birds look alike to me. All I know is this one bird likes my chimney.” Although she loved animals, she was thinking of making an exception for the aggravating woodpecker.
“If you can, take a picture the next time you see it. That bird is endangered.”
With her luck, it figured the one bird she criticized was endangered and protected. They’d taken a few steps before she stopped and tilted her head sideways. “Is it just me or are you limping?”
“The long car ride must have aggravated the titanium rods in my back. I’m fine.”
His quick response sounded a little defensive but understandable given his first visit was to her.
“If I know you, being out in nature is the best remedy for what ails you.”
The cool wind whistled across the tops of the pines. In an instant, the temperature seemed to drop; a sure sign spring didn’t have a tight-fisted hold on this part of the state yet. Pine straw and gravel crackled under her footsteps. Nearby squirrels chased each other and scurried up a tree. Peaceful moments like these gave her hope this whole venture was worthwhile.
Without another word, Caleb stopped on the path and raised a finger to his pursed lips. Then he pointed to the clearing in front of a line of camellia bushes that separated the ropes courses. Two deer, one bigger and presumably mother to the smaller fawn, graced the far-off distance. The mother deer sniffed the bush and the fawn copied her before they scampered off into the woods.
“How beautiful,” whispered Lucie.
The wildlife around here was one of the main reasons she hadn’t accepted offers for the land. One speculator had wanted to raze the lodge and construct a series of condos. Another had wanted to build a bigger hotel alongside the lodge since there was direct access to the Timber River and nearby amenities. But the Great Smoky Mountains held an important place in Lucie’s heart. Protecting this sanctuary for Mattie and Ethan, as well as for Hollydale’s residents, was the least she could do. Keeping this site off-limits to real-estate developers was the best way she could ensure this area would remain a sanctuary.
Besides, under the terms of the limited liability corporation she’d signed for the venture, the lodge and cabin were collateral for the loans Aunt Rosemary and Mitzi had given her to fund the necessary changes and pay the contractors. The first three clients’ down payments covered the staff salaries.
Unlike Justin, though, Lucie intended on paying her investors back.
They reached the side entrance and she pulled the lanyard with the security keycard from the bib of her overalls. Swiping the card through the new security system installed last month, she opened the door and waved Caleb inside.
Since the kitchen hadn’t been renovated in the ten years since the car accident claimed her parents’ lives, Lucie had sunk a pretty penny into updated appliances and code compliance. The whole center had been fitted with modern décor over the past few months. She’d also tested the Wi-Fi and added an extra signal booster since they were five miles outside of Hollydale and a fifty-minute drive north of Asheville.
The next two weeks were for the finishing touches her mother had especially taken pride in handling. Ironing the tablecloths for the main dining area and putting up the remaining window treatments topped her list.
Lucie filled a glass with water from the new refrigerator filtration system and handed it to Caleb.
“Thanks.” He accepted it with a smile. “Do you know you’re the first person all month not to treat me any differently since those three kids had the misfortune of taking the wrong trail?”
“But they did.” Lucie filled another glass and took a sip. “We can’t ignore what life hands us. We have to deal with what we’re given and adjust. Events change us. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse.”
He shook his head. “I don’t buy that. We react to events, but we’re still the same people underneath.”
Lucie Appleby would have smiled and nodded, and the thought of simply being Lucie around him, with no preconceived judgments, was worth more than a spa treatment a couple of weeks from now. “I hope our friendship can survive.”
“What do you mean by that?”
He had been gone a while. “Some people in town might not want you associating with the likes of me.” Caleb sipped his water and then placed his glass on the counter. “Like I said, I’m the same person underneath. After all these years, we can be honest with each other, right?”
She twisted the edge of the bandanna sticking out of her pocket. “Hate to break it to you, but you’re here under false pretenses tied with thread, twine and Kevlar rope. I thought we’d exchange a flurry of emails before I had to get to the point.” She stuffed the bandanna as far down as it would go. “As you can see, this is no longer the premier wedding destination this side of the Biltmore.”
“You weren’t going for the outdoor wedding destination experience?” He clicked his tongue. “Why didn’t you continue your parents’ business? Why build ropes courses and add a spa?”
The number of reasons would outnumber the remaining Timber River woodpeckers.
“Even though my main focus centers on companies coming in for trust-building exercises, this new setup will encourage other groups to book time here. Church groups, family reunions and others can reserve spots, as well. This location is unique with the Timber River a short walk away and a mere ten-minute drive to downtown Hollydale.”
Was she selling herself or him on the center? She wasn’t sure as time brought a new guarded edge to his gaze.
“Quite a few changes since I worked here. Those changes don’t come cheap,” he noted.
“Tell me about it. Thanks to some others, this is a dream come true. In addition to the two ropes courses, there are other outdoor activities like a nature walk and—”
Caleb yawned. “Slow down, Lucie. The drive is starting to get to me.”
If she’d been on the road for three straight days, what would she do first? Sleep? Eat? Greet her pets and get a shower of doggie kisses? Caleb had chosen to see her first. That type of loyalty and friendship was beyond rare. “Get some sleep. I’ll get to the point of my email—”
Her phone pinged and she held up her index finger. “Is it already two o’clock?” Digging deep in her other side pocket, she palmed the phone and laughed at her reminder to stop painting and greet Mattie and Ethan at the bus stop. “School’s almost out for the day, and the bus will arrive soon. You need some rest, but why don’t you join us for dinner later? We can talk about the center then.”
She led him through the kitchen, passing the conference rooms and ballroom before arriving at the reception area.
“Do you still make the best macaroni and cheese in the world?” Caleb opened the front door for her and she smiled as they made their way onto the front lawn.
“You remember my cooking?”
“I could never forget anything that good.”
“It’s because I use cheddar, Gruyère and mozzarella—” She stopped when the familiar pecking sound she’d come to dread reached her. “There’s that woodpecker again.”
She pointed up to the chimney, where a dotted brown-and-black bird made a racket.
“That is the Timber River woodpecker.” Something akin to awe laced his words.
As much as she’d like to delve into her sales pitch, asking for his endorsement would have to wait. With her two children, the only family she had left in the world, depending on her, she had to focus on them. “If you arrive late for dinner, your chances of getting a full plate will be endangered. See you at six. I live in my parents’ old home now.”
He nodded, and she strode away without looking back. She never looked back anymore. Only forward.
* * *
CALEB SPINDLER SHUT his cousin Jonathan’s front door, double-checking the lock before heading out toward downtown Hollydale. He didn’t need his windbreaker, the cool weather luxuriously warm compared to the frigid temperatures he’d left behind in Montana.
Though he’d loved Yellowstone with its sweeping vistas, there was no place he’d rather be in spring than right here in North Carolina. The sweet scent of rhododendrons filled the air, the vibrant colors of pink and purple in the passing yard catching his eye. While hollyhocks were his favorite, they wouldn’t bloom until late summer. This year he’d see them again at last.
On the sidewalk, Caleb stopped and tied his boot. When he straightened, he spotted a neighbor, who waved and called out, “Welcome home, Caleb. Way to go saving those boys. You made Hollydale proud.”
The neighbor’s name eluded him, so Caleb waved back with a smile, a simple “thanks” his only response.
He kept on strolling along Oak Street. If memory served him right, Lucie’s house was within walking distance of his cousin’s place. The thought of hopping in his car, even for a short drive, had turned his stomach.
Almost as much as the decision before him. Oh, for a hiking stick and his camping gear, as a night under the stars usually helped him focus and come up with solutions.
It had sounded so easy on the drive. Dig around into Lucie’s life to see whether his parents should invest in an attorney to broker involvement between the authorities and whoever was in charge of a restitution account, however small, to see if they could recover the fifty thousand dollars Justin had swindled from them.
Spying was the more accurate word, but that was harsher to his ears.
Then came the words he’d never expected to hear after all these years.
Lucie considered him her best friend.
Friends didn’t spy on each other.
Friends didn’t lie to each other.
Yet his father, Drew, expected information for his impending decision, which would necessitate his parents traveling here from Atlanta. While his mother, Tina, reveled in being alive and second chances at life, Drew wasn’t as forgiving toward anyone whose last name was Decker.
Had Caleb known on that fateful Friday morning that they’d turn over a substantial portion of their savings to Justin and his phony investment corporation in the hope of solid returns, what would he have done differently? Argue with them? Beg them not to trust the man they’d fed so often when he’d come home with Caleb during college breaks?
Not one of them had had any idea the authorities would swoop in and arrest Justin before Caleb’s parents completed the paperwork, which would have provided enough proof they, too, had fallen victim to his schemes.
After Drew had been transferred to Atlanta, Caleb had begged his parents to go to the authorities, but they had insiste
d no one would hire Tina as a bookkeeper if the word got out that they’d trusted a swindler.
Then came the phone call that still sent a shiver up Caleb’s spine. Tina had delivered the devastating revelation of her breast cancer diagnosis. For their peace of mind, they’d focused their energy on that battle, especially after Justin was convicted.
Now, the truth hit him hard. Any wisps of hope their savings might still be recoverable were just that. Wisps in the wind that wouldn’t pay the mortgage or the remaining doctor bills. They also would never get back the money for that trip to Australia his mother had saved a hundred dollars for every single month.
His boots slapped against the pavement with each step as he remembered childhood winters when his mother had needed a new coat and she’d shrugged on her old one, saying it would be warm in Sydney when she and Dad set foot in the Southern Hemisphere. If he didn’t change his attitude and think with a little more optimism, they wouldn’t recover anything. A little legwork on Caleb’s part couldn’t hurt, and it might result in enough of a windfall for his parents to regain their nest egg with some left over for that dream vacation. If he played his cards right, Lucie might not even know. Lawyers were expensive. He’d just observe a little longer and then report back to his parents.
Stretching out his spine, he ignored the tingle below his scar. Driving thirty hours over three days hadn’t done his backbone any good, but walking and stretching might alleviate some of his discomfort.
He cut down Timber Road, the spire of Hollydale’s oldest church rising high. Made with timber that put Hollydale on the map, the church with its stained-glass windows attracted visitors interested in local history.
Heading west on Maple Drive, he took his time, soaking in the old and the new. Corner Grocery had been there forever; it had always been his first stop—for a bottle of orange Fanta and a Moon Pie—after he cashed his paycheck from his landscaping job at the Applebys’ wedding resort. He’d held the job during his junior year until he’d had to quit when the doctors decided surgery was his only option.