"You own this cabin?" Ava’s eyes widened at the cabin in front of them. "I didn’t expect it to— "
"To be small?" Matthew chuckled behind her as he hauled their things from the sea plane. "All cabins around this area are this small. Making something big would only attract attention."
"Oh..." Ava nodded. This would be her first time fishing at Kvichak River more than two hundred miles away from Anchorage. To get here, one needed a plane or a chopper. To her surprise, Matthew actually knew how to fly a damn sea plane!
"I am more concerned about the fact that you actually decided to show yourself after letting them think you were dead for months." Matthew lifted two kayaks and walked them towards the cabin a few meters away from the small port
Ava ignored his words and pointed at the luscious trees behind the cabin.
"What’s out there?"
"A forest?"
"Oh. And why did you buy this place?"
"To fish?"
"You like fishing?"
"Not really." Matthew shrugged and lifted two coolers where their food and tools for cooking were placed. "I like camping."
"Oh..." Ava nodded and followed him towards the cabin that sat in the middle of a small clearing. Surrounded by weeds and other flowers that she didn’t recognize, the cabin was just about the size of their master bathroom. Maybe even smaller. So, the fact that someone like Matthew actually wanted to stay in a place like this was quite surprising.
She walked inside the cabin and what she saw was a homey, cozy fireplace that they could also use as a stove. A loveseat could be seen facing the fire. Behind it was a small bed perfect for the two of them.
"This is—" Ava roamed her eyes around.
The place looked comfortable. It reminded her of Gabriella’s house, except it was much smaller.
"Beautiful."
"I haven’t visited this place for years. But a local shifter maintains the place."
Ava nodded and immediately sat down on the bed as Matthew put the coolers and other stuff that they had brought for their camping later.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
The smell of wet soil and trees enveloped her senses. Then there were flowers and weeds and the sound of birds and some other animals.
She loved it here!
"So? Are you sure you are ready to reveal that you are alive?"
"I need to," Ava said. Her eyes were still closed. "They need to know." Ava smiled.
"Are you sure?"
When she opened her eyes, Matthew was already standing in front of her. He was staring at her face.
"Of course," she said. "Don’t worry, trillium will have a very busy schedule soon."
"What you are planning is very risky."
"I know. But we should stop talking about it and enjoy the weekend instead."
Matthew leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. Almost immediately, her whole body responded. It was as if he just lit a small matchstick and now the fireworks inside her body were set on fire.
She bit his lower lip, earning a surprise gasp from him.
But before he could push her down, she pouted and said, "I’m hungry."
"You are always hungry..."
"Hey! Stop that." She playfully slap his arm.
"I was planning on eating... all day."
"Well Mr. I am hungry and I need something that will fill my tummy and not my coochie."
He lifted her chin, lifting her head up. Then he smirked.
"Hey!" Ava frowned. "Not that kind of thing..."
"What thing?"
She squinted. "That thing..."
"Oh? You mean Salmon?"
"What?"
"I was thinking of eating Salmon all day. Don’t you want one too?"
She scowled and pushed him away.
"Yeah... yeah..."
He chuckled at her reaction. "Wait... what were you thinking?"
When she didn’t answer, Matthew widened his eyes. "Oh, do you mean..."
"Stop!" she held her palm towards him. "I— "
"Mr. Graydon?" An older man’s voice echoed outside of the cabin. "Mr. Graydon it’s Ernesto."
Matthew stuck his tongue out towards Ava before he laughed and went out of the cabin.
Irritated, Ava snorted. The man was just teasing her. How could she embarrass herself like this? She fixed her clothes and walked out of the cabin to meet the caretaker of the place.
But what she saw was ... different.
"You should be careful," Matthew was holding a woman’s arm as if he caught her when she tried to approach him.
"I—" the woman’s face was pale. "I’m so sorry... I wasn’t watching my steps."
"Right." Matthew removed his hand and the woman steadied herself.
"I’m so sorry for my daughter’s embarrassing actions, Mr. Graydon. When she heard that you were coming she was too excited. All she could talk about was—" the man stopped talking as his gaze landed towards Ava who was now standing next to Matthew. "You have company."
"Yes. Ava... meet Ernesto. He is the one taking care of this house. Ernesto meet Ava my girlfriend. Ava this is Nora Ernesto’s daughter."
"Girlfriend..."
"Actually I have been wanting to ask her to marry me." Matthew casually added. He ignored Ernesto and his daughter’s curious gaze as he looked towards the freshly caught fish on Ernesto’s hand. "Sockeye and King Salmon... my favorites."
"Ah... yes. It was Nora who caught it when she heard you are coming."
"What a strong girl." Ava noted.
"We have been living here for years. Nora started fishing when she was still three."
Ava nodded. "Impressive."
"So? Should we prepare that for lunch?" Matthew asked.
"Of course." Ernesto responded.
"Ah... why don’t you let Nora help you with the fire?" Matthew asked Ava.
"Of course... I am good with fires."
"I know." Matthew said before kissing her lips. "I will be at the back."
"You know how to clean a fish?" Ava asked.
"Mr. Graydon is good at everything," It was Nora who answered Ava.
"Was he?"
"Of course. Mr. Graydon is— "
"Alright Nora. Enough. You go help Miss Ava prepare the bonfire. We are having some grilled King salmon!"
With this, Matthew and Ernesto left the two women alone.
"So... " Nora looked at Ava from her head to her toe. "Have you tried camping before?"
Seeing this Ava smiled. "Absolutely not. I hated camping before I met Matthew." Ava lied.
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