Page 79 of Off the Beaten Path

His eyes cut to mine, and he says, “Just trust me, Red.”

I nod. I do trust him. But that knot of anxiety is still tied tightly in my stomach as we climb farther and farther up the mountain road. A few minutes later, we come to a stop behind a line of cars parked on the side of the road. Holden throws the truck in park and turns off the engine. I just stare at him, confused.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting out.” With that, he climbs out of the truck and opens June’s door to help her down. I guess we’re back to the two-word answers with him, because as we start walking up the steep mountain road, he doesn’t say anything more.

It’s not until we get closer that I start to recognize some of the cars. I’m too busy wondering why they’re here to notice the construction noises up ahead, so it’s not until we round the last bend and the cabin comes into view that I see what’s going on.

My eyes blur as I stare at what looks to be the entire town at work on my cabin. There’s fresh lumber in the yard and cans of paint on the open bed of someone’s pickup truck. Jimmy Chin is giving directions to a group of men and women in hard hats and worn jeans. People move around with saws and hammers and supplies, so busy with their tasks that they don’t even notice us approaching, which is good, because my feet have frozen to the ground, shock holding me in place.

“What is this?” I breathe. Holden’s hand finds mine. He gives it a squeeze, his eyes focused on me even though I haven’t torn my gaze away from the cabin.

“We didn’t want you to have to put off the renovations for another year. So everyone’s chipping in to finish it by next week.”

“Next week?” June asks, bouncing on the balls of her feet, excitement lacing her voice.

“Next week, June Bug,” Holden tells her before returning his focus to me. The sight in front of me still feels too surreal, too unexpected for me to process. But it only takes me a moment to look at Holden, understanding dawning. My throat clogs with emotion, the tears behind my eyes growing heavier and more persistent.

“Did you do this?”

He shrugs, avoiding my gaze, red staining the tips of his ears. It’s answer enough. I move in front of him, dropping his hand to put mine on either side of his face, drawing it down until his eyes connect with mine. So many things about him feel so familiar now, but he’s proving that he will never stop surprising me.

“Is this where you went last night?”

Holden doesn’t speak, and for a long time, he doesn’t move, but he finally tips his head in a nod.

“You did all this? For me?”

One of his hands settles on that spot on my hip, the spot that feels like it was made just for him, and the other twists around a lock of my hair. He’s so close that I can feel his breath on my lips as he says, “I’d do anything for you, Red.”

“Do you think Mr. Chin would let me use a saw?” June asks, interrupting the moment between Holden and me, and a laugh chokes out of me. Holden’s lips twitch, but when he turns around to face June, his expression is stern.

“Don’t even think about it.”

The town works nonstop in shifts for the next two weeks, Holden and I spending long hours there working until our backs are sore and our eyes are heavy, and somehow, by some miracle, we finish in time. The sun is setting as the last of the townspeople hop into their cars, headlights disappearing down the winding mountain road, and Holden and I watch from the front porch. We’re exhausted, sore, and hungry, but there’s a contented hum in my veins, the kind of tired satisfaction that comes from hard work.

Holden’s arm comes around my shoulder, pulling me into him, and I melt, using his strength to keep me up. After the first renter arrives tomorrow, I’m sleeping for a week. I’ve half fallen asleep on his shoulder when I hear another car pull up, followed by an opening door and a girlish squeal.

“Daddy, is it done?” June yells. Holden groans against the top of my head. I think it’s possible that the two of us both just fell asleep standing up.

Holden pulls himself taller, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. “It’s done, June Bug.”

I look up to see Jodi getting out of the car, her hands full of paper bags. “I brought takeout. Thought you all could use dinner.”

The truth is, I’m too tired to eat, but I don’t say that. Instead, I paste a grateful smile on my face. “Thanks, Jodi.”

She and June climb the stairs to the cabin, inspecting the finished work. It actually looks better than it did before the fire, and with the money the town raised, I was able to get nicer furniture for the living room and some cute vintage rockers for the porch. I’ll never be able to thank everyone for their generosity.

“It looks amazing, Wren,” Jodi says, a smile tilting her lips. She’s one of the few people who haven’t been here working on the cabin this week, instead keeping June so Holden and I could be here as often as possible.

I look around at the cabin, emotion making my throat thick. “Everyone really came through for me.”

She fixes me with a stare, the kind I’ve seen her use on her own children dozens of times now. “You deserved it, and don’t you dare go thinking you didn’t. You’ve given back to this community for years now. It was our turn to do something for you.”

Tears pool in my eyes, hot and heavy, and Holden’s hand finds my back, drawing wide circles over my spine.

He says, “I couldn’t agree more.”

---