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Chapter One
Caleb Archer pulled his car up as close as he could to the cabin then switched it off. It’d been the summer since he was last here and nothing about the rustic cabin had changed much.
Several months ago, his father had mentioned selling the place, since no one had the time to devote to its upkeep. But so far, that’s all it had been…talk. Caleb wasn’t really in the position to make such an investment, having recently gone through a divorce that cost him a huge chunk of his savings, but if his father did decide to follow through and put the cabin on the market, he hoped he’d at least be given a shot at it. Some way, some how he’d find a way to make it happen. Even if it meant taking on a second job.
The place held so many recollections for him and the thought of no longer being able to come here made him sick. The memories alone were priceless. So many summers spent with his brothers swimming in the creek out back. So many winters shoveling snow and making snowmen. So many Christmases spent opening presents in front of the big, stone fireplace.
What he wouldn’t give to have those times back.
It was hard to believe Drew had been gone for three years now. Not a day passed that he didn’t think of his younger brother.
Caleb often wondered if the pain would ever fully go away. Or would he spend the rest of his life filled with anger and remorse because his brother’s life had been taken way too soon?
“Caleb, get up,” Drew stuck his head around the door. “Mom needs us to go pick up the tables and chairs from the church.”
“Stop yelling,” Caleb moaned, the pounding in his head intensifying with each of his brother’s words. “I heard you the first time.”
“It’s not my fault you stayed out all night long. Come on, bro, I want to make it back in time to watch the game.”
Sighing, Caleb pulled the covers over his head. “Do I have to? Get dad to go with you.”
“Fine. Be that way, but when mom wants to know what took me so long…”
“Come on, Drew. Cut me some slack, won’t you? I’m tired. Can’t I just sleep a little bit longer?”
If Caleb could go back to that day…
But there was no going back. Drew was gone.
He knew the moment his father had burst through his bedroom door less than an hour after Drew had left that something was terribly wrong. And it would change his family…forever.
According to the authorities, Drew had died immediately, but there was no way for them to know for sure. The blown tire, the impact from the other car, his truck over the side of the bridge and into the bay…it was too much for the family to deal with. If Caleb had just gotten up to go with his brother, he might still be with them today.
Caleb reached behind the passenger seat for his baseball cap—Drew’s ballcap—and slipped it on. Though the cap was well-worn and frayed around the bill, he never went anywhere without it.
The cap had originally belonged to Drew, the very one they’d presented him with the day he’d officially committed to play baseball with the Mobile Bay Sharks. When Caleb had asked his parents about keeping it, they’d simply nodded with tears in their eyes. Caleb had never experienced something so painful in all his life.
Sadly, the heartache hadn’t stopped there.
Thinking he could find happiness in the arms of a woman, he jumped into a relationship, followed by a rushed marriage that never should’ve happened in the first place. He and Rebecca had argued the first night they’d spent together as spouses and that should’ve been the first warning sign. He now knew firsthand the meaning behind that old saying, ‘live and learn.’
In a matter of months, everything around him began to crumble. Anyone—including Rebecca—that insisted he should forget about his brother and move on wasn’t worth wasting time over. Sure, dealing with Drew’s death had gotten somewhat easier, but he wouldneverforget his little brother. Ever.
If being alone meant never being hurt again, then so be it. He’d live the rest of his life a single man. No way would he go down that path again, especially with someone so cruel and heartless, someone who couldn’t offer the least bit of sympathy.
The only solace he was able to find was coming back to the family’s cabin nestled in the foothills of eastern Tennessee where he could reminisce the times he’d spent with his brother. Caleb wished he could come more often, just to get away from everything happening in the world. Unfortunately, his job didn’t allow him to take more than four weeks off a year. And well, the way he looked at it, four weeks was better than three.
Climbing out of his car, he took in a deep breath. Nothing could compare to the refreshing, clean mountain air that quickly filled his lungs. Looking around at the woods surrounding the cabin, he couldn’t believe how thick the undergrowth had gotten since the last time he’d been there. Hopefully, weather permitting, he could still make it down to the stream without any issues.
Walking around to the back of the car, he popped the button on his key fob that opened the trunk and began to unload his things. It took three trips to get everything inside, and when he was done, he locked the car.
His mom had never cared to leave any linens behind, so he quickly set to work making up the bed in the master bedroom with the set he’d brought from home. Nothing felt better than climbing into a freshly made-up bed, and with the temperature dipping down below freezing tonight, the flannel sheets were sure to feel extra nice. He put away the rest of his things, including a couple of towels and washcloths.
Thank goodness there had been lots of sunshine today, so the house wasn’t too terribly cold. He knew, though, come nightfall, the cabin would get bitter if he didn’t prepare now for building a fire. Nothing like roughing it for the next two weeks—no central heat, just a couple of thick blankets and lots of firewood to keep him warm and toasty at night.
Next, he emptied the few sacks of groceries he’d brought along. Looking at everything sitting on the counter, there was no way he had enough food. Maybe enough to last him a week, but definitely not enough for the duration of his stay. In a few days he’d venture into town and pick up a couple more things.
Tired from the long drive, Caleb sighed as he sat down on the sofa. Leaning forward with his elbows pressed against his knees, he rested his chin in the palm of his hands. The cabin was so quiet he hardly knew what to do with himself.
