Page 1 of Wandering Closer

CHAPTER ONE

lily

Iknew this drive would be long, but I didn’t expect it to be so cathartic. The further I get, the more the tension in my chest seems to dissipate. I wouldn’t call it running away, I wouldn’t even call it an escape. It’s a fresh start to find myself; to feel alive again. The cabin I bought two weeks ago is small and in need of some serious love, but it’s all mine. Michele, the real estate agent I worked with, informed me it was fifteen minutes from downtown Cedar Ridge, a small town she called “dreamy in the winter.” I’ve never been to Washington, but I’ve been dreaming of lush mountains since I was a kid. A small cabin in the woods, far from people–or, more specifically, far from Arizona–is precisely what I need.

I’ve been on the road for eight hours today with just one more to go. I rub my hand over Marge’s dash, my old Jeep Cherokee, encouraging her, “We’re almost there, girl.” She’s loaded down with everything I own, but she’s chugging along like a trooper. I’m grateful for her all-wheel drive because looking around at the towering evergreen trees in the surrounding hills, I know I’ll need it to navigate the snowy roads in about four months. In the last two days, I have driven through three states, but the surrounding sights right now arethe best I have seen, bar none. The stunning mountain peaks as the backdrop for endless forest is what I have always dreamed of seeing. Waterfalls cascade down tall rock formations along the roads, while the odd creek runs alongside the highway. It’s incredibly verdant, with a wider array of greens than any hardware store paint aisle could offer. I cannot wait to see what it all will look like as it changes colors in the fall, and is covered with snow in the winter.

Despite the breathtaking scenery around me, the cramped confines of Marge has me yearning for some fresh air. My back is aching, and my voice is a little hoarse from all the singing I have been doing to make the time go by faster. Thankfully, I seem to have chosen the best real estate agent around. When I called Michele this morning to ask where to pick up my keys, she told me they would be under the mat, and my fridge and pantry would have enough food to last me a few days while I settled in. I’m so grateful to her, and I’m really looking forward to finally meeting her face-to-face.

I did some research on this quirky town, but as I drive down the main street, I’m surprised by the eccentric storefronts. The stores are all alpine-style and fit into the Bavarian inspired theme of the town. Even the grocery store is quaint and fits the style, with pretty arches and painted cornucopias on the front. I follow my GPS as it guides me off the main street and out of the town center, further up the mountain and deeper into the woods. It’s pretty clear Michele did not steer me wrong and my neighbors are few and far between, exactly as I asked for.

Turning right onto the gravel of Alder Avenue, I spot three mailboxes at the end of the street. All three of us have long driveways surrounded by thick forest, so none of the cabins are fully visible from our gravel road. I pass a driveway on the left, mine is a little further up on the right, and the last is straight ahead. As I pull up my driveway, the trees clear, revealing thesmall A-Frame cabin. It has a covered front porch, a bright red door, and the cutest little circle window near the top where I know the bedroom is.

Stepping out of my car, I take a moment to breathe in the crisp mountain air around me. It’s what I imagined it would smell like, with a blend of damp earth, pine needles, and something slightly sweet, like wildflowers. I fill my lungs with the heady scent and breathe out the stress and anxiety of the last few days.

Grabbing only my purse, I retrieve the key from under the mat and step into my new home. The sunlight streams into the space, illuminating the expansive windows along the back. The entryway is small, with a coat closet and laundry closet to the left, and stairs leading up to the bedroom to the right. Beyond the entryway is a large open room housing a kitchen to the left with a small island and an adorable breakfast nook. The bathroom is to the right, and while it needs a deep clean and some updates, it’s a decent size and functioning, so there’s no room to complain. The rest of the open space along the back of the cabin is the living room. It has a large fireplace in the center with glass doors to the right and floor to ceiling windows to the left.

After setting my purse on the island, I head back to the stairs to check out the bedroom. There’s a queen size bed on a side wall with two small side tables facing the opposite wall with two doors leading to small closets and a built-in dresser in between. This house is a complete contrast to my modern Phoenix condo, but it suits me beautifully. It’s the view outside the glass door beyond the bed that made me fall in love with this cabin. I flip the lock and walk out onto the small balcony. It’s the perfect size to fit a cozy chair and a small table to put my coffee and laptop.

As the sun filters through the trees, an hour before sunset, a sense of tranquility washes over me. Aside from some far offbirds and a creek, it’s utterly silent. Looking down, I can see the large back porch with two old wicker chairs in the center that I do not trust to hold me. There’s a small yard surrounded by a mix of grass, weeds, and wildflowers that leads straight to thick forest. God, it smells so good out here–I know this is where I am meant to be.

After I emptied my car, ate a small meal from the pantry, and put away what I could, I called Andrea before going to bed. She’s my publication manager and one of the few people who knows I bought this cabin and moved out here.

She picks up on the third ring, “Hey Lily, did you make it there alive?”

“I thought I was supposed to be the dramatic one, seeing as I’m the writer. But yes, I finally made it about three hours ago, and I’m exhausted.”

Her deadpan tone is obvious, “If you weren’t in such a rush to get out there, you wouldn’t be so tired. No sympathy from me. Is it everything you hoped and dreamed of, or did the realtor sell you a run-down piece of shit?”

I roll my eyes, but I appreciate her blunt honesty in everything she does. It’s what drew me to her out of the four publishers that wanted to work with me. Some see her as harsh, but I know it all comes from a place of love. She truly loves what she does and is brilliant at it. There is nothing she wouldn’t do for her authors, and she has become a friend because of it.

“Loving the optimism. Honestly, it needs some small renovations and updating, but it’s all in working order. It has cozy vibes and I haven’t even decorated yet. The partial furnishings are saving my butt right now, but I can feel thecreative juices flowing already. My next book will be done in record time.”

“That is exactly what I want to hear. Send me some pictures and updates. I would love to have at least ten chapters in the next month, but take some time for yourself, too. You deserve it, that’s for damn sure.”

I couldn't agree with her more. “Thanks. I’m probably going to crash for a solid twenty hours, but I will keep in touch. Talk soon.” Sleep was already beckoning to me before I even put my phone down.

The sun is blazing through the windows when I finally open my eyes. Curtains will have to be added to my list of items to shop for this week. My body still feels exhausted, but my bladder and the prospect of coffee drags me out of bed. Grabbing my phone on the way downstairs, I tap the screen to see it’s already almost ten. Not quite the twenty hours of sleep I joked about, but the most sleep I have gotten in the last few weeks.

There’s an old coffeemaker on the counter that I fill with the grounds from what looks like a local coffee shop. While that is busy brewing, I head to the bathroom for a quick shower. I should have showered last night, but since I slept in a sleeping bag because my new sheets needed to be washed, I don’t feel so bad. The pipes creak as I turn them on, and water sputters out for a minute before a steady stream starts. A new shower head will also be added to the list of things I need. As I step into the shower, I see more than a few cracked tiles; okay, so maybe a whole shower reno would be best.

Despite the crumbling shower, I take my time washing the road trip grime from my body. With my hair wrapped in atowel, I head back into the kitchen for my freshly brewed coffee, the delicious scent spreading through the small space. To my surprise, there’s vanilla creamer in the fridge. The woman is a god-send for supplying me with local coffee and creamer, let alone enough food to get me through the week. I put on a David Kushner playlist as I make myself some eggs for breakfast. When done, I hung my towel back up in the bathroom before taking my plate and coffee to the back porch to take in the late morning sun.

The chairs look as sketchy as I first thought, with holes and cracking wicker throughout. Instead of risking a broken tailbone when I inevitably fall through, I take a seat on the top step of the deck, letting my feet feel the warmth of the grass a few steps below. The peace I felt last night still radiates through me as I eat my breakfast to the tunes from my phone while the birds chirp around me. Setting the empty plate next to me, I stroll around the yard, sipping my coffee. It was recently mowed, but I will definitely have to find a lawn service or add a mower to my ever-growing list of must-haves. Making my way back to the deck, I notice quite a few of the boards are rotting and warped and need to be replaced soon.

My type-A brain is spinning with a need to get these lists onto paper before they fall out of my ears. Grabbing my plate, I head back into the cabin to write everything down. I find lists very calming, and I’m sure I’ll cover the dining table with them soon. First things first:

1. Go to town and look for more furniture and paint

2. Make Michele a thank you basket and deliver it to her

3. Make another list of must-haves that will need to be ordered

4. Get cleaning supplies to give the cabin a thorough deep clean

5. Make a list of things to repair and renovate

6. Find maps and information on the best hiking around

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