The plane is scheduled to land in just another hour and I am so excited to see Katie and Jade. It has been almost a year since I saw my two girls. The once familiar Lake Michigan coastline can be seen from my small window and my stomach tightens as unwanted memories assail me painfully. My ex husband was the reason I fled to Alaska to start over once my girls graduated from high school.
I have to admit that I do miss the lake in the summer since it does not get quite that warm in Alaska. My present career as a personal trainer makes me a sufficient income and gives me a self-employed schedule so I am free to go on extended vacations such as this whenever the mood strikes. Katie and Jade have begged me to come and stay for a while so I have agreed to a month. The girls found me a nice cottage to rent right on Lake Michigan where my nearest neighbor is a good half mile away. Peaceful and quiet, settled back in woods a little distance from the beach.
The girls are both in classes at the college when my plane lands, so I rent a car to take me to the cottage. Unaccustomed to the July heat I crank the air conditioner to deal with the heat and humidity.
Gazing around as I drive I smile happily as the large lake comes into view. There are lots of people at the beach swimming and tanning; children splashing and running in the surf. Seeing the waves wash up on the sand brings back memories of the girls when they were little.
The cottage is at the end of a long winding driveway lined with pine and oak trees. I was expecting a small one bedroom rustic cabin but instead I am in front of a large A-frame log cabin with huge windows that must sleep at least six people. It looks very modern and not at all rustic.
After giving myself a tour of the elegant interior I decide to sleep in the rear facing master suite that looks down over the lake below. The large bedroom has its own bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub out on the deck that is nestled in the trees.
Exhausted from the long flight I take a quick shower and climb into the soft king size bed, falling asleep immediately.
I wake to the girls sitting on my bed with tears streaming down their faces. Their grandmother on their father's side has just passed away. I hold them while they cry and feel sad that the woman is gone. She held the large family together and now everyone will surely grow apart. I will now have to attend the funeral since I am here visiting.
The next several days pass in a quick blur as the girls stay at the cottage with me and we catch up on the absence of the last year apart. We cookout, watch movies and lay out on the beach every day.
The day of the funeral dawns gray and gloomy. Thunder clouds are moving across the lake rapidly as strong winds whip the trees into a frenzy.
The girls have gone home so that they can dress and get ready for the funeral. I dress in my one black dress I brought in case of a fancy dinner or something and stare at myself uncomfortably in the mirror. Since the divorce I have lost a significant amount of weight and gotten in shape as a result of my new career as a personal trainer. I stand at 5'1 with wide shoulders, for a woman, and a muscular frame. I have the perfect shape to be a bodybuilder and I was really hoping that I could avoid seeing my ex husband, Ben, on this trip because I know he would take me back if I were to just say yes.
Sighing with frustration I look myself over one last time and see that I am more than presentable to see the old in-laws. My waist length black curls are gelled to perfection and my violet eyes are lined lightly with black eyeliner. I grab a light wrap in case there is a cool breeze later on this evening and head out to my rental.
The church parking lot is already full and I am forced to park along the street a couple blocks away. I came as close to the start of the service without being late because I don't want to mingle any more than I have to. Katie and Jade are waiting for me just inside the foyer and thankfully the rain holds off until I am inside before the downpour begins. I find an empty pew in the rear of the church while encouraging the girls to sit where they belong, in the front. I notice many curious gazes from the people who were once my family for so many years because of the change in my appearance. When I left a year ago I weighed a good fifty pounds more and looked years older than I do now. I was nearing 175 pounds out of depression and moving into a size 14 pair of jeans. I am now under 120 pounds and wear a size 3 jeans.
After the service I am forced to mingle with the many people who come up to exclaim at how wonderful I look and to ask what I am doing now because of the deluge of rain outside has prevented my quick escape.
I see Ben always on the other side of the room on the arm of an older woman who is not even five feet tall and by her shape looks like she could be a dwarf. She gazes up at him with adoration shining in her eyes and I can feel myself relax, hoping he will just keep his distance.
I catch the eye of Ben's nephew Max several times and I can see by the expression in his hazel eyes that he likes how I now look. Max resented my presence from the day I showed up in Ben's life. He is about six years younger than Ben and worshipped the ground he walked on, until I took all of Ben's time. I was never comfortable around Max because of the depth of the man's arrogance. He was always trying to force Ben to put me in a place lower in status than his.
Turning pointedly away from Max I happily notice that it has finally stopped raining outside. I let the girls know that I am heading out and that they should spend the next few days with their dad.
On my way out to the cottage I notice a new Irish pub and decide to stop for a drink or two. Having developed a taste for craft beer I order an IPA draft I have enjoyed before and sit at a quiet table to people watch.
After two beers and a couple hours I decide to head back to the cottage and maybe go skinny dipping. About two miles down the road I blow a tire and when I see that the spare is missing I groan in frustration. I am still at least six miles from the cottage and I am wearing three inch heels. When I check my cell phone I see that I have no service so I cannot even call a tow truck.
I start walking back towards the pub since that is only a couple miles away instead of at least five. A black Ford diesel quad cab pickup pulls up just as I begin my trek. My smile of relief turns to surprise when Max hops down onto the ground from the driver's seat.
"Aurelie." He whispers in a husky voice.
"Max." I greet softly and back up a couple steps uncomfortably. He stands a foot taller than my 5'1 frame and I can feel the dominance just flowing off of him in waves.
"I can change your flat for you." He offers politely.
"There isn't one." I explain, embarrassed. "I haven't any service to call the rental company to inform them of their mistake." Max nods his understanding and then nods towards his truck.
"I would be happy to give you a ride." Max continues in his polite voice. I nod, having really no other choice. He follows me to the passenger side and I look up at the height of the door with a grimace. Max chuckles down at me having seen my expression and picks me up by my waist after opening the door, helping me inside.
He vaults into the driver's seat with a grin at me and the truck roars to life. I buckle up tightly and hold on for dear life as he speeds down the road.
"Katie told me that you are renting a cottage just down the road from me." Max states as he pays attention to the road. "I have to stop at my house quick first before dropping you off." My stomach tightens nervously and I hope he doesn't expect me to come in with him. Too soon he stops the truck in front of a large beautiful log cabin. Refusing to make eye contact I gaze out the window at the dark forest and silently pray he hurries inside.
"You might as well come on in." Max whispers.
"I can wait here." I try insisting.
"Aurelie." Max's voice gets a touch harsher. "I may be a few minutes." He leaps out of the truck and comes around to open my door. He extends both of his arms up to me to help me to the ground. When I meet his gaze I see his arrogant dominance shining brightly in his hazel eyes. With a sigh I unbuckle and slide down into his arms. He skims me down the front of him and then holds me against him for several seconds before releasing me. I blush furiously and back away from him anxiously.
He gestures me to proceed ahead of him to the door and grudgingly I oblige.
"Where's your bathroom?" I ask timidly as soon as the door shuts.
"Second door on the right." He murmurs as he points towards the hallway. I scurry away hoping we will be on our way as soon as I am done.
He has his suit jacket and tie off with his dress shirt unbuttoned when I exit the bathroom. I look to the door expectantly when I see the two beers in his hands. He shakes his head and hands me one of the bottles with the familiar dominant gleam on his face.
"I appreciate the ride Max, but can you bring me back to my cottage please." I state without reaching for the beer. He steps towards me and I back away anxiously until my back hits the wall. I see him smile down at victoriously as he pushes the beer into my hand forcefully.
Snatching the beer from his hand I scoot around him quickly and stand in front of the large windows overlooking the lake. The full moon is creating a silver glow across the water and I can hear the waves lapping the shore down below.
Max comes to stand behind me and silently drinks his beer. I can feel myself begin to tremble in response to his nearness and I am so afraid I can hardly hold the bottle.
After several minutes I hear him move away and set his bottle down on a table. When I hear a door close I turn and nearly run for the front door. A tear of frustration slips down my cheek when I find the door locked and only a key opens it from the inside.
"Leaving so soon Aurelie?" Max chuckles from behind me. "I was hoping we could spend some time catching up."
"I would really rather not Max." I reply tightly. "If you will unlock the door I can find my own way back to my cottage."
"I couldn't allow you to just wander out there in the dark." He protests, the humor obvious in his arrogant tone as he takes my beer out of my fingers. He sets it down on a nearby table and then leans up against me, placing his hands on either side of my face.
