Page 18 of Timber Ridge
“I know, but she’s here now. Not everything has to be forever. You can enjoy her company while she’s here. You don’t have to marry her.”
I absorb my brother’s advice. It’s a reminder to appreciate the here and now without getting lost in dreams of forever. But deep down, I can't shake the longing for something more permanent, something enduring like the love my parents shared. Only death made my mother leave my father’s side. Thinking about them makes me wonder if it’s better to face the loneliness because love never found you or face it because it did and it left you.
Timber returns with a jar of Folger’s Classic Roast.
“This is like a jar of gold when you have to get up at four in the morning.” She reaches for a pack of gum and places it on the counter. “I think that’s all I need.”
Rhys rings her up. “Did I hear something about Nutella?”
Timber sighs. “Today, I could have killed for a bologna sandwich. I can’t imagine what I’d do for chocolate.”
“I’ll put it on the next order.”
“I’d hate for you to go to the trouble, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want it. I brought my number one vice, which is Jelly Bellies, but I don’t think they’ll last the entire eight weeks.”
I give my brother an “I told you so” look at the mention of eight weeks, and he shakes his head.
“I get weekly deliveries. You’ll have your Nutella soon.”
As Timber pays, I instinctively step forward, my hand reaching out to gather the bags before she even has a chance to reach for them. It's a reflex honed by my upbringing, a reminder of the lessons my mother instilled in me.
“It would appear chivalry isn’t dead.”
“Not among the Hollisters,” I say. I turn to my brother. “See you tomorrow, Rhys.”
Rhys nods and smiles. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Timber.”
“You had coffee in stock and you’re ordering me Nutella. The pleasure is all mine.”
I put my back to the door and push it open. Hailey skips ahead, sucker unwrapped and in her mouth. Timber walks through and smiles at me, and my chest tightens as if the weight of my brother’s words is sitting there. “You can enjoy her company while she’s here.” He’s probably right.
We reach the edge of the forest. “We’re happy to walk you home, or I can get the ATV and we can drive you.”
She shakes her head. There’s a pleasant look on her face. “Thanks, but I could use the walk after that dinner. Besides, I need to get used to making it on my own here.”
I hand her the bags. They aren’t heavy, but her words carry weight. Why is someone like Timber, clearly smart, capable, and beautiful, on her own here? My eyes drop to her hands. I hadn’t noticed a ring before, and there’s no glint of gold or flash of diamond.
It’s not my place to ask, and yet the question burns in my mind. It seems she’s carved out a space for herself in the world without anyone else’s help.
“Alright, but the offer stands,” I say. “Anytime you need help, just ask.”
She sets down the bags and gets on her knees, opening her arms to Hailey. “Thank you for being the best helper ever.”
Hailey falls into her arms for a squeeze, and when Timber stands, she hesitates for only a second before wrapping her arms around me in a brief hug.
“Thank you for making my first day great.” She picks up the bags. “See you both tomorrow.”
And as she walks away, I’m left wishing that the hug didn’t end so quickly.
Chapter Seven
TIMBER
As I part ways with Kane and Hailey at the dock, the golden hue of the evening sun drapes over Prince of Wales Island like a warm shawl. It’s nearing 6 PM, yet the June sky is bright, its light a lingering hint of the summer’s longer days.
The wooden walkway thuds under my steps, a steady rhythm that marks my journey toward solitude. The cabin, my temporary home, waits nestled in the forest, promising quiet. In Phoenix, I never got to unwind after a busy day. The relentless hum of the city reverberated like a never-ending echo, which is so different from the tranquil hush here where only the sound of nature exists.
With each step, memories of my first day on the job fill my mind. The laughter of the children, the look of discovery in their eyes, the sense of accomplishment—it’s more than I ever expected. The job description that brought me here suggested a different scenario from the reality. They needed someone adaptable, resilient, capable of turning the tide of young minds. Yet, they never said it would be creativity and chaos. And it’s perfect.