Page 9 of Safe With You

“He’s a second-year surgical resident. He had a major surgery to assist with today and another scheduled for Sunday afternoon.”

“Oh, so he’s a doctor. Yeah, I suppose that would be hard to get away from.” Not that Ethan wouldn’t have dropped everything to be there for his girl at a time like this.

Katie gave a half-hearted shrug as if she wasn’t even convinced by her next words. “He thought it was important to be there.”

More important than being here? He bit back the question that jumped to his tongue. This was none of his business. He didn’t know Drew, and after all this time, he barely knew Katie either. He’d best remember that. Fifteen years was a long time. Neither one of them were the kids they used to be. Neither was it his place to judge someone he hadn’t met, even if the situation got under his skin.

Silence fell again until Katie broke it. “I guess I never thought to ask about you. Are you married or have a girlfriend?”

He should have known he’d have to answer relationship questions next. “No. Not married and no girlfriend.”

Not for a long time. A good four years since his last date, which had ended a year-long relationship. He braced himself, afraid she would ask him why, and that was a question he didn’t have a simple answer to. Especially now after seeing her again for the first time in so many years.

Thankfully, she didn’t pry, allowing him to keep his complicated feelings tucked away where they had been for more years than he cared to think about. Turning off the highway onto a country backroad gave him the perfect excuse to change the direction of the conversation.

“Almost home.”

Chapter Five

Memories poured through Katie’s mind as they drove along the achingly familiar winding road lined with pines and ancient maples. In the fall, it sported color unlike anything she’d seen elsewhere. Occasionally, the trees parted to reveal a farm or house as the narrow road dipped and curved.

A couple of miles from the highway, she glimpsed water through the trees, and just beyond that, Ethan slowed the car to pull onto a long blacktop driveway. A driveway that had seen many a bicycle race years ago. At the end, a big lake house with dark green siding rested amongst towering pines. Katie’s heart lifted at the sight of it, and the emotions that swelled inside were like coming home. She’d spent more time here than almost anywhere else during her childhood.

A large shed sat opposite the house. Beyond that, tucked into the trees at the end of a gravel offshoot of the driveway, she spotted the smaller cabin that was the original home of previous generations of the Hart family. Ethan’s residence now, apparently.

When he pulled up to the house and stopped, Katie stepped out and breathed deeply of the damp pine and lake scent. For a long moment, all she could do was stand and take it all in. The memories of this place had become almost like a dream over the years. Only now did she realize how much her soul had yearned for it. A yearning she had buried so her heart would stop hurting with the longing. But seeing it again resurrected it.

On the other side of the car, Ethan opened the passenger door and grabbed her suitcase. He motioned for her to follow, and they climbed the steps up to a wide, wraparound porch. A muffled woof sounded from inside as Ethan reached for the front door. He glanced over his shoulder.

“Don’t worry. She’s friendly.”

The moment he pushed the door open, a large dog lumbered out, fluffy tail wagging. She resembled a Saint Bernard, though she was smaller, suggesting a mix of breeds.

“This is Rosie.” Ethan patted the dog’s back. “Us kids got her for Mom for her birthday last year.”

Katie let the dog sniff her and rubbed her soft ears. “She’s beautiful.”

Ethan turned back to the door, and Rosie preceded them into the entryway. Cozy wood paneling greeted Katie, accented with greens, reds, and plaids, typical of a Northwoods home.

Footsteps came from a doorway to the right, which led into the kitchen, and Ethan’s mom appeared. Her loving smile warmed Katie, and she happily accepted another hug.

Evelyn squeezed her arms as they parted. “I’m so glad you decided to stay here.”

“Thank you for welcoming me. I appreciate it.”

“Of course, you are always welcome.”

Though fifteen years had passed, Katie knew that was as true now as when she was a child.

“Let me take you up to the guestroom.”

Katie removed her shoes and took her bag from Ethan before following his mom down a short hall into the spacious open living area of the house. A wall of windows and a patio door led out onto the porch facing the lake. On the opposite wall stood the stone fireplace, where Katie, Ethan, and his siblings used to gather around to drink hot chocolate after playing in the snow for hours on end. A brown leather couch and chairs had replaced the well-loved dark green ones Katie remembered. But she recognized some of the colorful throw pillows scattered around. And though no childhood toys cluttered the space, a couple of crates in one corner contained some of them.

They climbed a log staircase to the second floor, and Katie swept her gaze over the numerous framed family photos on the wall along the way. They tugged at her to stop and study them more closely. At the end of the hall upstairs, Evelyn pushed open the door to the guestroom and ushered Katie inside.

“I put new sheets on.” She gestured to the bed. “We haven’t had company in a while, so I wanted to make sure they were fresh. I’m warming up a cinnamon loaf to tide us over until supper if you’d like to join us once you’re settled.”

“Thank you, that sounds great. I need to make a call before I come down.”

---