Chapter 1

~Saturday, June 07th~

I had woken up before dawn almost every day of my life since I was a child. Even when I was away at college I woke up early on weekends. My college friends thought I was completely insane, but I was used to it. I was a creature of habit. I always had been.

Most days, my alarm would wake me up. As a kid, I had a regular alarm clock, but I eventually switched to a cell phone. Even in northwest Maine we had cell coverage almost everywhere. Of course, I would occasionally be woken up even earlier by a large tongue slobbering all over my face.

“Brady, stop!” I mumbled as I tried in vain to push away the large face.

My thirteen year old yellow lab kept licking my face, barking softly. I realized he probably had to go out, which meant I would have to drag myself out of bed. With a sigh, I pushed the blanket off of my body and sat up in the king size bed I shared with the Labrador.

“You couldn’t wait another half hour?” I asked Brady as I scratched his mostly-gray muzzle.

Brady’s only response was to wag his tail and look at me eagerly. Shaking my head, I grabbed the framed photo off my bedside table, gazing at it for several seconds like I did every morning. Placing the picture back on the table, I sighed and got to my feet.

My excited dog could not sit still as I hunted around for clothes. He didn’t care, but I was not taking him out while only wearing boxer briefs. Putting on pants and a shirt took longer than it should have since I just had to play with Brady a little.

I loved that dog so much. I was twenty-six, meaning Brady had been in my life for half of it. I remembered my sister and me opening the box on Christmas morning with a picture of a beautiful yellow puppy. My baby sister had cried when we first met him.

We had both taken care of him, and he loved all of us. Still, Brady had been especially attached to me. He refused to eat when I went away to college. Well, mostly. My mom had figured out that he would eat cheeseburgers from the local fast food place. Mom made sure to get the burger without pickles, because she was sure the pickles would upset Brady’s stomach.

“Okay, okay, we’re going!” I laughed as Brady playfully barked at me to hurry up.

Brady was all I had left. As great a companion as he was, it was still pretty depressing. He almost seemed to understand when I told him they weren’t coming anymore. He moped around for a few weeks. Even though he was sad, Brady was like all dogs; he could tell something was wrong, and he did everything he could to comfort me.

Yawning loudly, I followed Brady through the large cabin that we shared. I didn’t bother putting him on the sky line since I knew he would stay with me when I let him out. He quickly ran to his favorite bushes to do his business before strolling through the trees, panting happily. It was hot, even this early; the joys of a New England summer.

Summer didn’t officially start for almost two weeks, but no one had told the weather. Mosquito bites were already an issue all throughout the day, and humid weather made me sweat. I was pretty used to it, but I knew some tourists would be miserable.

It was a very woodsy area, but we still had a decent sized backyard. I threw a toy for Brady, and we played together for about half an hour so he could get some exercise. He was very well-behaved, and he didn’t try to run down the hill to get to the dock. It was quite impressive, especially with how much labs loved water.

Most of the area was shrouded in semi-darkness. With almost no light pollution, I was able to see the moon and some stars. The northern lights weren’t visible at that time, but there was still a spectacular view of the Milky Way.

Looking out over Moosehead Lake, I saw the morning fog rolling in and partially obscuring the small wooden dock I rebuilt with Dad five years ago. Dad. I sighed. I wished I could just pick up the phone and talk to him again.

No one was on the lake this early, and I could see a few bass jump out of the water to catch bugs. Brady was walking around about ten feet away from me, sniffing everything he could and peeing on the occasional tree. He would always come back to me, though. Always.

The two of us went back inside, and Brady curled up on his bed while I made breakfast. I put my breakfast on a plate before filling Brady’s water bowl and serving his morning meal. I winced when I watched him climb out of his bed; Brady was still very active, but you could definitely tell he was old when he tried to get up.

“Enjoy, big guy,” I said to the ninety pound dog before sitting down to my own breakfast.

After eating and cleaning up, I went through my usual morning routine. I quickly showered and shaved, leaving the usual stubble for a beard on my chin and cheeks. I had brown hair and eyes, and I thought I was reasonably attractive. My outfit for the day was my usual shorts and a t-shirt. Then I sat with Brady in the enclosed back porch so I could read the news on my phone while watching the sun rise.

There wasn’t much to read on my usual news sites, so I pocketed my phone and grabbed my book off the coffee table. I had always been a fan of science fiction and fantasy, and the second novel in the latest trilogy by L. Walsh was a great read. Halcyon Nights. With half the book done, I was sad about finishing, since I’d have to wait a year to get my hands on the last book. At least L. Walsh wrote fast.

I read a couple of chapters before I realized I’d been blankly staring at the same page for about twenty minutes. Despair threatened to overtake me. Setting down the book, I pinched the bridge of my nose as I let out a breath. I was really dreading tomorrow, and the only way I could get through was to remind myself that this would soon be over. I’d be free.

Three years. I spent the last three years trying to hold things together. The first few months were a blur, an abyss of endless misery where Abbott Trails only kept running thanks to our dedicated employees. I was worse than useless, almost never showing my face.

A few employees got together and convinced me that I needed to keep things going. I tried. I really tried. I went through the motions, I did my job. I did my job well; we were very profitable. We were the only remaining independent campground and ski lodge. The only one that wasn’t gobbled up by a big corporation.

I just couldn’t do it anymore. The daily reminders of everything I once had, everything I lost; it was too much. They would understand. I knew they would understand that I had no choice. A little more of me died every day, and I had reached my limit. Was it pathetic? Maybe. Probably, in fact.

“I guess I should try and be productive this morning, what do you think?” I asked Brady, scratching behind his ear.

When I was ready, I decided to do a quick tour of the campground. My cabin was on one side of the campground, allowing me some privacy. Glancing out over the lake, I admired the beautiful mountain in the distance before making my way to the public areas.

Abbott Trails was quite large, with numerous buildings, walking paths, and entrances to the lake. In addition to cabins people could rent out, we had a large area for parking RV’s or pitching tents. There was also the main building, which functioned as a ski lodge during the winter season. There were rooms to rent out, and it was where guests came to sign in, or to speak with someone if they had a concern. Most people just called it the Lodge. We got both downhill and cross-country skiers, as well as the occasional snowboarder.

We also had quite a few activities for guests and campers alike. People could go canoeing or kayaking, there was even white water rafting at the nearby rivers. There were plenty of places to fish, and it was an easy drive to a nearby golf course. Those were just the beginning.

Then there was the wildlife. There were moose, foxes, beavers, wolves, and deer. We were in bear country, but they rarely caused any problems. In fact, the moose were far more dangerous than bears. Abbott Trails even had their own animals, including chickens for eggs. We had horses and rabbits as well. I had learned to ride a horse almost before I could walk.

“Hi, Tim!” the head groundskeeper called out from his riding mower.

“Morning, Austin!” I waved and smiled, walking over to him.

Austin Shepard was in his late fifties and has been a groundskeeper here since before I was born. He’s a very kind man, and he was one of the ones who helped force me out of my cabin. It was so strange to be his supervisor; a man who once put a bandage on my knee when I fell out of a tree.

“How are you doing?” he asked kindly as he lifted his hat and wiped some sweat from his brow.

“I’m alright, how’s your morning?” I replied.

“Living the dream,” Austin nodded happily. “You ready for the campers?”

“Mostly,” I answered. “I have to head into town today to buy some more life preservers and paddles for the kayaks. Then tomorrow I’m giving my usual welcome speech to the counselors.”

“Easy weekend for you, then!” he laughed. “All your counselors have been campers here since they were in middle school. They know the place.”

“They do, but some are barely eighteen and have never had any real responsibility,” I explained. “Plus, it’s good for them to know I’m here.”

“True, true,” Austin agreed. “Hard work will be good for them. And you need to get out of your head tomorrow. I haven’t forgotten tomorrow is her birthday. We always made such a big deal about it.”

“Yes, it is,” I sighed. “I miss her. I just wish...”

“I know, so do I,” he frowned. “This campground has been my entire life for over thirty years. It’s been in your family for over a hundred. It’s still home.”

“It’s felt less like a home the last few years,” I admitted reluctantly.

“I understand,” Austin responded sadly. “Just don’t forget you have us. We’re here if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Austin,” I said sincerely.

Austin went back to mowing the grass as I continued on to another set of cabins. Our summer camp program was for ages thirteen through seventeen, and it ran over the course of eight weeks. We had three sessions, each lasting two weeks with a one week break between each session.

The camp counselors were mainly temporary summer staff. We hired college students, usually ones who were former campers themselves. Some only worked for one summer, some came back for several years. I would be speaking to them tomorrow, then they would have all next week for orientation.

After touring the grounds, I spoke with the two managers; one manager ran the summer camp itself, while the other was responsible for the main campground. Both reported to me. Everything was running smoothly, so I decided to head back to my cabin before lunch.

While the camp had lost its magic for me, my old interests still remained. Seeing the bass jump earlier had made me want to try some fishing to relax. I had to leave Brady inside while I fished, otherwise he would have jumped into the water to chase the lure. He was a smart dog, but he could not resist going after something in water.

Standing on the small wooden dock, I started casting. Bass spent a lot of their time in shallow water with lots of cover, so I focused my efforts on the large concentration of lily pads off to the right of the dock. It was still early morning, so it was a great time to crack open a beer and catch some fish.

My fourth cast resulted in a very impressive large mouth bass. Legally, you could keep them, but even the big ones didn’t have a lot of meat. It wasn’t worth it to me. I took the fish off the hook and tossed it back into the lake, smirking as I watched it dart away.

I caught several more fish as the sun rose and the lake came to life around me. My section of the lake looked out over a wide area, allowing me to see for miles once the morning fog cleared. There were a couple people in the distance who appeared to be riding jet skis, and I could see a few people swimming at the public beach a few miles to the left. At one point I noticed a canoe and a couple of kayaks as well.

When tossing a large bass off the left side of the dock, I realized there was a small motor boat coming out of the nearby inlet. The inlet that was never used. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but the neighboring cabin had been vacant for basically my entire life.

The cabin was built on a decent-sized plot of land, but it was clearly built as a personal residence, and no one had wanted to live right next to such an active campground. There was some construction a couple months ago. Someone must have actually bought the place, and a new boat from the look of things.

I had a new neighbor, not that it mattered. Leaving them to their own devices, I polished off my beer before casting again. My neighbor wasn’t bothering me, but I could hear the boat as they slowly made their way along the shoreline. I guessed they were getting used to their new backyard. Moosehead Lake was quite large, and they had quite a bit of exploring ahead of them.

“Wait!” I called out loudly when I realized they were heading into shallow water without slowing down. “The rocks!”

I watched in horror as the driver apparently didn’t notice the danger, or my warning. The small boat lurched, and from the back I heard something loud and expensive. It was a loud grinding sound on the rocks, and I knew that the propeller was likely being completely destroyed.

“Fuck!” a feminine voice cursed, causing me to look at the driver for the first time. “Shit, fuck, ass, tits!”

A panicked woman stood up, and my mind blanked. She was breathtakingly beautiful. The tall blonde was wearing sunglasses that partially obscured her model-perfect face. She appeared to be in her early twenties, and from what I could see, she had an amazing body.

Light, flawless skin, toned legs, and a flat stomach. She was wearing jean shorts and a dark blue bikini top. The strings from her bikini bottoms were sticking out of the jean shorts. The outfit drew my attention to her most impressive feature. Holy shit, she had absolutely incredible boobs. They were huge, yet they fit her tall body. All in all, she was a vision of perfection.

“Are you okay?” I shouted as I set down my fishing rod.

“I don’t know!” she wailed, her hands flailing as she spun in place in her panic. “I’m not hurt, but the fucking boat won’t move!”

“Do you have a paddle?” I asked while gesturing toward the small beach beside my dock. “If you can come ashore I’ll take a look.”

“Yeah, yeah, I have one!” she exclaimed, looking around the two seat boat to find the paddle. “I’ll be right there, thank you. Thank you!”

It soon became clear that she had no real experience with boats. She was barely able to get the boat away from the rocks. She didn’t know how to maneuver the boat, and it kept going in the wrong direction, much to her frustration. I also learned that she had quite the mouth on her. I smirked as her cursing grew more elaborate as she tried to get closer to me.

Eventually, she got near enough for me to toss her a rope. Together, we were able to bring the boat toward the small beach next to my dock. Once the boat was tied off, I was able to instruct her to lift the outboard motor so I could beach the boat.

“Careful, watch your step,” I warned, extending my hand to help her out of the boat.

“Thank you,” she replied, using my hand to steady herself while stepping onto the wet ground.

When she was standing only a few feet away from me, I was able to get a much better look at her. She really was tall, a couple inches taller than I was, in fact. Meaning she stood at almost six feet, and since she was wearing sandals, that height was all her. She took off her sunglasses, revealing striking blue eyes before she brushed her long blonde hair back behind her ears. She really was gorgeous.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, offering my hand. “I’m Tim. Tim Abbott.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” she replied with a smile that showed her pearly-white teeth as she shook my hand. “Lauren Anderson.”

“Let’s take a look at the damage,” I offered, releasing her hand to approach the boat.

Lauren’s boat was a pretty standard two seat boat made for smaller bodies of water. It was white with some red and black trim, and it looked like it was brand new. Standing in a couple inches of water, I examined the shredded remains of the propeller.

“How bad is it?” Lauren asked, looking over nervously.

“No damage to the boat itself, so that’s good,” I told her. “You just need a new propeller.”

“Shit. Okay,” she sighed, looking incredibly adorable as she pouted. “I’ll call the salesman. They should be able to fix it.”

“No need to pay someone to fix it,” I replied, walking back over to her. “It’s an easy fix, you can buy a replacement propeller in town. I can put it on.”

“Oh, no, I can’t ask you to do that!” Lauren stammered, looking uncomfortable accepting help. “You’ve already done so much.”

“I haven’t done anything,” I laughed. “And it’s really no big deal. I have to go into town anyway to get some camp supplies.”

“Right, this area is part of that camp,” she nodded. “Wait. Abbott Trails...”

“Yes. I’m Timothy Abbott,” I sighed. “I’m guessing they told you we were family owned when you bought the place next door?”

“No,” Lauren shook her head. “Jenny just let me know that there was a campground and ski resort next door. To make sure I was fine with it. I forgot she did mention the owners lived in the cabin closest to me. I said it was fine as long as I had some privacy.”

“Jenny?” I asked. Mother? Aunt? Girlfriend?

“Oh,” she said, seeming surprised. “Jenny Walcot, the Realtor. Sorry. I assumed everyone knew everyone around here.”

“For the most part, yes. We do. Well, I’m happy to give you your space,” I commented with a smile. “And it’s just me. Well, and Brady. Brady’s my dog.”

“He the brains behind the operation?” she suggested with a cute giggle.

“He really is,” I agreed, chuckling as I tried to keep my eyes on her face. “But, in all seriousness, guests don’t come to this section, so you won’t be bothered at all. I promise.”

“So, just the creepy guy next door? I can live with that,” Lauren quipped, impressing me with her wit.

“Oh, I’m not that creepy,” I countered. “All I did was lure you onto my private beach. Wait...”

“I just won’t drink anything you offer me,” she reasoned. “I don’t wanna wake up with one less kidney.”

“I’ll split the profits with you,” I shrugged and gave her a helpless smile.

“You’re alright, I guess,” she laughed before looking over at her boat then back at me. “I just moved into the area, do you know where the best place to get the new propeller is?”

“Taking me up on my offer? Smart!” I smirked. “I did say I had to go into town. I need life preservers and paddles. We can get your propeller at the same place. Maybe grab lunch before heading back?”

“Are you asking me out?” Lauren asked, her eyes widening in surprise. I then saw her glance down at my ring. “Will your wife be okay with that?”

My face fell. My stomach dropped and I felt my chest clench. I couldn’t breathe. Lacey. My best friend. My high school sweetheart. The love of my life. We were supposed to grow old together. It’s just wrong that I’m stuck here without her by my side.

“Oh. Oh, God. Fuck. I’m so sorry. I’m an idiot. You said it was just you and your dog. I’m so, so sorry. Please,” she tripped over her words, looking like she was about to cry.

“It’s fine. You didn’t know. She’s gone. It’s a long story that I don’t really want to get into right now. I, look, you still want help with the boat?” I tried to smile, knowing it looked forced.

“Sorry, just forget about -” Lauren stammered, her earlier confidence gone.

“Really, I’m just trying to help the new neighbor. I’m happy to help,” I cut her off. “I could sure use some company that doesn’t chase the ducks. If you really feel bad, you’re welcome to thank me for the help with lunch.”

“Well, I can’t promise not to chase the ducks, but I will buy you lunch,” she teased, trying to lighten the mood.

“Noted. I’ll keep the window up in the truck so you don’t jump out,” I smiled. For real that time. A genuine smile. It had been awhile since that happened.

Fortunately, Lauren had her purse in the boat. Unfortunately, she also had a plaid button-down shirt. I made sure to find the view of the lake and mountain especially interesting while Lauren put on her shirt, covering her massive, bikini-clad breasts. Then we were ready to go.

“You run the whole camp yourself?” Lauren asked as I drove us down the long, winding road. “That’s a lot of work for one person.”

“I’m the owner, not a micromanager,” I countered with a small smile. “I have two right hands, which makes it hard to buy gloves but keeps things running smoothly. They’re managers. One is in charge of the main campground and resort, the other is responsible for the summer camp and has other responsibilities off-season. Then there’s the head groundskeeper. Lots of people keep the place up and running.”

“So, you are a ski resort during the winter and a summer camp with a campground during the summer? Then you have spring and autumn off?” she inquired, alternating between glancing out the window and looking at me.

“Pretty much,” I nodded in confirmation. “Spring and autumn are much shorter around here than in other parts of the country, so there isn’t much downtime. Also, we have a fifth season.”

“A fifth season?” she wondered with a frown.

“Mud season,” I explained. “After the snow and ice melt. It can get really bad. I remember La- ah, someone lost their flip-flop and made me reach into the mud to get it. The mud was almost up to my shoulder.”

“Gross,” Lauren said, crinkling her nose adorably.

“Just be careful,” I told her as we continued down the country road. “And I hope you don’t drive a car that is low to the ground.”

“I have an SUV, we’re good,” she giggled. “I bought it when I moved up here. I didn’t need a car before.”

“New car, new boat, new place,” I commented, listing off her recent purchases. “Did you have a chauffeur before you moved to the middle of nowhere?”

“No, no driver,” Lauren laughed, shaking her head. “I lived in the city, so I would just use a rideshare app if I couldn’t walk.”

“From the big city to the back country? That’s quite a change in lifestyle,” I pointed out.

“It is,” she agreed, looking deep in thought.

“Why?” I asked. I wanted nothing more than to get away from the small town where everyone knew everyone’s business. Where everyone knew mine.

“Huh?” Lauren asked before realizing what I asked. “Oh, sorry. I came into some money over the last few years. Things changed, and, well, I just needed to get away. I’ve always wanted to live in the country, so I decided it was now or never.”

“I hope you find what you’re looking for up here,” I told her sincerely.

“The forest, the lake, the mountains; it’s incredible,” she gushed. “I’ve always loved nature, and I had never loved the city. It’s more than that now, it’s a sanctuary. A place where I can be alone with my thoughts, with my imagination.”

“Just be careful; too much loneliness can eat away at you,” I replied.

“So, what?” she began, her voice tight. “Are you a psychiatrist in the off-season, or is this just a hobby?”

“Shit. I’m sorry Lauren,” I quickly apologized. “I was trying to make conversation and I’m ... fuck. I’m out of practice. Sorry. The only people I talk to anymore are people at the campground, and they’re usually either kids, or I already know everything about them. Fuck. I’m...”

“I’m sorry, too,” Lauren responded as she reached out and put her hand on mine where I rested it on the gear shift.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” I insisted. Her hand felt way nicer than I wanted it to, and I was torn between asking her to stop and begging her never to.

“I don’t know the details, but you clearly have a past. I was insensitive when I mentioned wanting to be alone,” she explained, giving me a self-deprecating smile. “Looks like we both have some long stories.”

“And both hold our cards close to our chests,” I added.

“Some cards would be further away than others,” Lauren laughed, gesturing toward her breasts with one hand as she lifted her other hand off mine.

“I hadn’t noticed,” I replied innocently.

“Bullshit,” she snorted.

“I am a kind, respectful man, and I would never view a woman as an object,” I insisted primly.

“Respectful man who lures ladies to his private land in the woods? Sure, I believe that,” Lauren rolled her eyes.

“It wasn’t my fault you don’t know boats can’t sail through rocks,” I mumbled.

“You probably put that rock there, hoping some poor, innocent girl would need rescuing,” she reasoned cutely.

“I guess it didn’t work, since you’re definitely not innocent. Not with that mouth of yours,” I pointed out.

“We just met, and you are already thinking about my extra curricular activities?” Lauren wondered. “Aren’t you bold.”

“You’re the one flirting with me,” I observed. “Not that I blame you.”

“You think this is flirting?” she snorted. “Maybe I’m just a bitch.”

“You definitely have an attitude, but it’s cute on you,” I complimented her. “And a little scary.”

“You’re scared of me? Good, you’re not completely stupid,” Lauren giggled.

“Do you try to scare every person you meet?” I inquired.

“No, just the guys,” she answered immediately. “I like them to know who’s in charge right away.”

“I am wondering what I’ve gotten myself into,” I laughed.

“Oh, you have no idea!” Lauren smirked. “Perhaps you’ll find out. Plus, we’ll have a lot to talk about!”

Despite her assertion that we’d have a lot to talk about, we spent the rest of the ride only exchanging banter. Lauren seemed to get more comfortable with me, and I realized my earlier observation was correct; she had a mouth on her! Once I parked the truck at the Trading Post, I led Lauren inside and helped her find the right propeller for her boat. She thanked me by assisting me in filling a cart with life preservers and kayak paddles.

We paid for our purchases and loaded them into my truck. I drove us to the nice diner down the street. It wasn’t long before we were sitting at a table with a couple of menus. The waiter came by for our drink orders, and Lauren ordered a mixed drink.

“Could I just take a quick peek at your ID, please?” the waiter asked.

“Sure,” Lauren nodded, taking her wallet out of her purse so she could extract her driver’s license.

“Thank you,” the waiter smiled, handing back the license after checking it.

I ordered a beer while Lauren put away her wallet, and I saw her smirk at me when I wasn’t carded. We declined an appetizer and the waiter left to get our drinks. I wasn’t sure what to say next; I was definitely attracted to Lauren, and it made me uncomfortable. I was too hurt to be in a relationship, and I had no interest in a one-night stand. I wouldn’t be around much longer anyway.

“Guess your days of being carded are behind you, old man,” Lauren teased, saving me from needing to think of something to say.

“Hey! I’m only twenty-six!” I protested. “Although, I guess that’s ancient to you. Good thing he didn’t suspect your ID was fake.”

“It isn’t fake, assmunch!” she countered.

“What’s an assmunch?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Look in the mirror!” Lauren instructed, showing her strong personality once again.

“I do every morning,” I nodded. “And when I do, I’m honest about my age.”

“Nice try,” she shook her head. “Didn’t they teach you in the country that you shouldn’t ask a lady her age?”

“I learned manners, yes,” I nodded and grinned. “What did they teach you about the country in the big city to make you wanna move here? I expect you’ll regret your choice; a lot of things are like mud season here. What was the word you used? Oh yeah, ‘gross’, that was it.”

“I’m not some girly-girl!” Lauren gasped with mock outrage. “I love the beauty of nature, and I can crawl around in the mud!”

“Have you ever even seen mud?” I wondered with a raised eyebrow. “A concrete jungle isn’t a real jungle, you know.”

“There’s no jungle in Maine either, dummy,” she stuck her tongue out at me cutely. “A forest isn’t a jungle, you know.”

“Well, golly! I guess a country hick like me wouldn’t know the difference,” I said, enjoying our banter. “I ain’t got some fancy Portland education like some people.”

“I’m from Boston, thundercunt,” Lauren rolled her eyes. I once again wondered if she really was like this with everyone.

The waiter returned before I could reply, setting our drinks down in front of us. Lauren picked hers up and placed the straw to her lips. She smirked at me as she took a sip, her baby blues sparkling as she looked at me mischievously. The waiter then took our meal orders.

“Thundercunt?” I questioned when the waiter left.