This story is completely fictional.
*
Max sat in the old cabins porch swing, holding a large mug filled with steaming coffee and for warmth, a thick blanket held tightly around his shoulders. The weather is turning cold at this elevation, wisps of fog float across the quiet lake.
Snuggling deeper inside the blanket, he made a mental note: bring in more firewood and check the new power generator. "No need for a middle of the night, freezing your ass off escapade again; because you're too stupid to think of it during daylight hours and while fully dressed." He smiles inwardly and pushes that particular nights fiasco out of his head.
Months had passed renovating the dilapidated cabin. It sat upon a small bluff overlooking the lake, seventeen miles from the nearest town and the last four; only accessible by off-road vehicles and bush planes. The place had been neglected for several years.
When he first arrived, the cabin had become home to several small animals and the surrounding area, reclaimed by the undergrowth. Finding some tools and patching material became his first priority. The shed wasn't in any better condition, but surprisingly well stocked and contained everything he would ever need. The patchwork went quickly.
Clearing out the animals was another thing entirely; he had done everything imaginable, trying to persuade the little critters to hop off into "forest bliss" using the open doors, but they obviously had other ideas. After what seemed like hours of scrambling around, Max was lying on the floor exhausted and looking at the "ring leader", its beady eyes staring back. "OK, you win", he says. "Just give me tonight and I'll leave in the morning." The pesky rodent turns its head slightly, it chatters into the air and his family following, decides to finally leave.
Max jumps to his feet, quickly closes all windows and doors, and then, does a little jig. Up on one foot and then the other, hopping around and chanting, "I'm smarter than you are. How do you like that, Mr. Critter?" He stopped and laughed at himself for the childish display, but those little bastards were gone! He placed his bedroll on top the bed and opened a can of chicken soup. He ate slowly, and then crawled into the sleeping bag knowing, there's a ton of work to be done, starting tomorrow.
The work had been back breaking, but rewarding. Cleaning the cabin wasn't easy, but clearing the brush away was hard work. He was fit and trim from the grueling labor; a deep tan remained on his sleek body from the outside work. Building the equipment room and installing the new power generator was the last major project. It was getting down to finishing the cabin wiring, outside deck work and the steep stairs leading to the floating dock at the bottom of the bluff.
Taking another sip of coffee and pulling the blanket up around his ears as the morning chill seeps under its edge; he sees the doe first; then her young fawn emerging from the woods, both warily approaching the water. Max doesn't move.
The mother doe tests the air, nostrils flaring, sniffing cautiously, her snorts of air creating small clouds of moisture that rolled away before dissipating quickly; ears twitching, listening for any unfamiliar sounds; then when satisfied; moving a few steps further, the fawn close behind. This scene repeated itself several times, until finally reaching the bank; they lower their heads to drink. Their reflections played upon the still water; small ripples, dancing outward, growing ever fainter with distance.
As the deer quietly lap the surface, Max wonders if they know he's here or even care. He's made enough noise lately, especially now, with the power tools, they surely know he's been around. The generator softly purred within the new equipment room. He's been here, what... four months now, busting ass and looking forward to relaxing.
The rough timber interior was now free of bird and animal nests; scrubbed with a power washer and air-dried. He bought a new pillow-top mattress and bed linen, for the old bed; thought he would kill himself before finally dragging it inside, it now felt and slept like heaven. There was plenty of firewood split and stacked alongside the cabin and food supplies, enough for 10 people; and was threatening to run him out of the place.
He slowly came out of this train of thought wondering, what the hell is that noise, his satellite phone? He spills his coffee as he stands; the deer, alerted by the ringing, were gone at his movement, white tails flashing briefly, before disappearing back into the woods. Cursing, while entering the cabin, he searches for the phone. It rings again and he realizes; it's still in the backpack he wore the first day here. He reaches under the bed, drags the pack out and finds the phone. Amazed the batteries still have a charge; he hits the receive button and says the customary, "Hello."
"Hello, Max? It's Paige. Can you hear me?"
He hadn't heard his sisters voice in years, "Hi, Paige! Yes, I hear you fine. How are you? Everything OK?"
"Yes, things are fine with me, but how about you?" "Max, I tried your office and they said, you sold your part of the business after the divorce and then fell off the face of the earth." "I even called Susan. Asked if she knew where you were." Paige didn't tell him about "boyfriend number, whatever", yelling in the background and wanting to know "who it was" on the phone. "Finally, I remembered you have this satellite number. Where are you?" she asks.
"Yeah, sold out to Greg, remember him?" Not waiting for an answer, "I didn't want to work those long hard hours anymore. The traveling, always gone, you know. Although, my dear, you couldn't tell it by the way I've been slaving on this old cabin. God! What a mess it was!"
"Besides, I needed to get away, get my mind clear and sort out the pieces. Maybe even come to understand why. Anyway, I've got the old place looking pretty good! You should see it."
Paige felt so sorry for her older brother. Two failed marriages for her alone and now his, after 26 years. Maybe he had been right; both of her marriages were thankfully short; neither one of her husbands ever measured up to Max's standards of deserving her. He had always been protective of her, particularly after both parents passed away; she loved him dearly for that.
Having divorced her last husband several years ago, Paige had done well for herself. Starting as a receptionist in a small clothing designers office, she learned the business and now does freelance design work for the movie industry. Her good looks opened many doors, but her drive, talent and personality closed the deals.
"So, you're at the cabin? My God! I haven't been there since the time you tried to teach me how to swim. Remember, the water was so cold and I kept shaking so very hard, even after we got out; you held me, rubbing my arms and legs until I warmed up. I finally calmed down and listened to you explain the motions of swimming, watching you swim in the air. I laughed hysterically, as you grabbed your nose and pretended you're drowning. We had such fun back then, I miss that."
"Who, me? Why, I'd certainly never do something as foolish as that!" They both laughed at his awful attempt to imitate Curly, from the Three Stooges. She could sense the chaos of his thoughts and felt the need to be there for him, to be someone to talk to, a shoulder to cry on and for him to unload some of the heartache and misery.
As though hearing her thoughts, he says, "You should come up, Paige. Before the snow falls, the air is cool and crisp; the resident chef can grill you a fresh caught trout! We can catch up on the long overdue card games and gossip to our hearts content. Besides, I need someone to tend to the firewood and new generator, in the middle of these cold nights!" he teases.
"You've got a generator up there now?" then adds, "Hey, just a minute! You would kick me out of bed, just to tend to the things you should have done earlier?"
"That and maybe to bring me a drink of water" Max says in his best childish voice.
She laughs. "Well, I guess I do owe you on the late-night drinks of water. You brought me a drink many times, while we were growing up." Pausing briefly, she says, "Max, I think I'll take you up on this. I've got some free time and the drive will do me good.
"Sounds great, I'll meet you in town at Lily's restaurant. We'll leave the car there; you'll never get up here in it. In addition, remember this is the wilderness, pack some warm, rugged clothes; it's cold at night. When will you be here?" he asked. "Friday, around noon. This sounds like fun, see you then." and she hung up. Max wondered if this was a good idea, he'd gotten accustomed to being alone.
Max left the cabin early on Friday, making sure to not be late meeting Paige. He parked the jeep in front of Lily's and waited inside for almost an hour, sipping coffee. Paige arrived promptly at noon, parking her sports car next to the jeep.
Stepping out of the car, she pushes her sunglasses up over her head; the earpieces pull her long blonde hair away from her face. She's even more stunning than Max remembered.
Her beauty could have started wars in ancient times; kings and princes alike would desire her. Lavished with the finest oils and perfumes their coffers could afford; pampered and granted the slightest whim; ruling kingdoms from behind the throne.
Her deep, aqua green eyes had a luminescence about them, almost glowing, drawing you in, mystifying, loosing yourself in them was almost impossible not to do. A face of subtle angles and sweeping curves, nose and lips slender, delicate and inviting.
Small of stature, with hair to her waist, her body was shapely and appealing. Her large breasts; firm and high, always a distraction. She sees him through the glass storefront, smiles and enters the restaurant.
Max guessed she thought, dressed in tight jeans; a white, long sleeve frilly blouse with denim vest, and sneakers was roughing it. He smiled as she hurried to his open arms. They embrace one another, releasing after a minute, she says, "It's good to see you, Maximum. How long has it been? Ten.... fifteen years?"
Maximum was not his name; it really was Maximus! He was dubbed Maximum by his schoolmates, he hated both names; Max was what he preferred. Except when she said it, it was different. "Fourteen, to be exact" he says, then adding, "You know, when mom died. Here, sit down. We'll have lunch and then go up to the cabin." Sitting across the booth table from her, he looks at her and asks, "How was your trip and how long can you stay?"
