Nate, chainsaw in hand and ear defenders around his neck, strode through the woods. Fallen leaves crunched underfoot and the musky smell of moss and damp soil permeated the air. He smiled to himself as Rufus ran ahead, the little dog barking at anything and everything to announce their arrival. They both didn’t just love this place, they knew every square inch of it.
Nate soon spotted the tree he was aiming for and, putting the chainsaw down, assessed its lean. “Definitely more than fifteen per cent, hey, boy?” He could see he was talking to himself, the little dog, by now, far too busy scratting at a mound of earth to listen to anyone. Nate laughed and shook his head, knowing they’dbothbe needing a bath that night. He continued his assessment, stabbing at the ground at the base of the trunk with his foot, putting the lean down to a breakage or weakening of the roots. If he only had himself to think about he’d probably have left it a while longer. But now that he had neighbours to consider, neighbours who might not even notice the danger it presented, the time had come to chop it down.
A part of him still wondered why he was bothering. According to Flick they hoped to be leaving soon anyway, something he had to admit he thought a shame. Not only did he like Flick, but when it came to people living next door, she and Brenda had been perfect. He hadn’t seen either of them since he fixed their lawn mower, they hadn’t come seeking him out like he’d expected. It seemed they’d failed to pick up on his identity and his privacy had been maintained. Finally, he could start to relax again.
Naturally, he understood Flick’s decision. Making a change, let alone starting a new life, had to be a choice, and he of all people knew what it was like to be forced into it. Although in his case there was no denying it had been for the best, especially when he took after his mother a little too much. His life had long been heading in the wrong direction and unlike himself who’d courted controversy, he doubted Flick anywhere near deserved the treatment she’d received. He hadn’t meant to pry, but from what his aunt said, it seemed Flick had been burnt in the relationship department too. Not in quite the same spectacular way, of course, but for her it must have been spectacular enough.
A little voice in his head suddenly wondered what was wrong with Flick’s ex. As far as he was concerned, she was beautiful, quirky and funny, she teased him.Boy, did she tease him… A little voice said that he just as quickly dismissed.
He thought about the night of his aunt’s soirée, about how vulnerable Flick had appeared sitting there on her own out in the courtyard. He hadn’t intended on going to talk to her, but for some inexplicable reason had joined her anyway. He smiled to himself as he remembered how she’d challenged him on his lack of social skills. In his experience, not many people were so up front when it came to dealing with him. Then again, she didn’t actually know who he was. He suspected she wouldn’t have been quite so forthright in her comments had she recognised him. In fact, with his reputation, she probably wouldn’t have spoken to him at all. His mind moved forward to their last meeting and convinced she definitely wouldn’t have conned him into hauling paint about had she known his identity, he felt extra pleased that he remained anonymous. He’d enjoyed the time he’d spent with her. Maybe he’d enjoyed it a little too much?
A twig snapped overhead and Nate looked up as a bird flew from its resting place, enough to tell him he should stop thinking about Flick and get on with the task at hand. He put on his ear defenders, pulled a pair of safety goggles from his combat pockets, and picked up his chainsaw. In one swift movement, he yanked at its chord and the machine fired up ready for action.
Having done it countless times before, he worked fast. Deciding in which direction he wanted the tree to fall, he began with the face cut, efficiently fashioning a V-shaped notch that resembled a slice of cake or wedge of cheese. Turning his attention to the back cut, he checked for Rufus’s whereabouts, glad to see him safely out of harm’s way as Nate attacked the tree from behind. He used the chainsaw to create a flat, horizontal plane that didn’t quite meet the V shaped notch. Instead, leaving just enough of the trunk intact so as to create a hinge. Nate knew full well not to stand directly behind the tree, the potential kickback wasn’t worth the risk. Instead, as the hinge began to crack, he hastily retreated to a safe distance at the side just in time to watch it fall. The trunk groaned before slamming itself hard onto the ground, the tree’s branches bouncing up and down, tossing leaves in all directions. A job well done, even if he did say so himself. He took off his goggles and ear defenders.
“Well, that was a sight to behold.”
“What the…?” Half jumping out of his skin, Nate spun around. Surprised to find he had an audience, he spotted Brenda perched comfortably on a stump left from a previous felling. “Jesus Christ,” he said. “You should have told me you were here. If that had fallen the wrong way you could’ve been killed.”
The woman continued to calmly sit there, Rufus by her side. “But it didn’t, did it?” she simply said. “Besides, you looked quite the expert to me.”
Expert or not, that wasn’t the point. Nate moved towards her and, just grateful no one had, indeed, gotten hurt, plonked himself down on the ground at her side. “What are you doing here anyway?” he asked, his heart rate, at last, beginning to slow.
“I needed some fresh air and decided a walk in the woods would do me good.” Brenda chuckled. “It’s funny how after a while all the trees start to look the same, which is when I realised I was lost.” She looked around. “Thankfully I heard your chainsaw and thought whoever was using it could point me in the right direction.”
He shook his head. “And risk you getting lost again?” Nate didn’t think so. “Come on, I’ll take you home.” He started to stand up, but halfway to his feet, Brenda still hadn’t moved. He sat back down again, wondering what to do next. He didn’t want to babysit, but she obviously wasn’t ready to go anywhere and he couldn’t just leave her sitting there. “I make a mean cup of coffee, if you fancy one?” he eventually said. “Although I do have tea, if you prefer?”
Brenda smiled. “That would be lovely.”
Nate finally stood up, glad to see his unwanted guest do the same. “Shall we?” He indicated the way ahead.
They made their way through the trees, Nate pushing aside rogue branches and offering his hand when needed. At last, they reached a small clearing at the side of the lake. “Here we are,” Nate said. “My humble abode.”
Brenda appeared surprised by what she saw. Then again, he supposed with its not quite square façade, simple slate roof and crooked chimney, it compared more to a child’s drawing than a French castle. “Not quite a chateau but I like it.”
Brenda turned to him with a warm smile. “So do I.”
Nate unlocked the door. “After you.” He gestured his guest inside and directed her to a seat at the kitchen table, where Rufus automatically jumped up onto her lap. “Tea? Coffee?” Nate asked, getting on with making the drinks.
“Coffee, please.”
He sensed her glancing around the room, no doubt taking in its sparseness, he acknowledged, his sudden embarrassment at the lack of home comforts around the place surprising him. He didn’t normally care what people thought of his home, not that he had many visitors.
“How long have you lived here?” she asked.
“Coming up two years.” He felt himself tense, wondering where this might lead. “Why?”
“No reason,” Brenda replied, much to Nate’s relief her voice sounding innocent enough.
Nate handed her a cup of coffee and took the seat opposite. As he watched her take a sip, silence descended and he questioned if inviting her had been such a good idea. “So, what’s stopping you from going back?” he asked eventually.
“To the chateau? Nothing.”
Nate knew a lie when he heard one.
“We’ve been so busy decorating, I needed a break from the paint fumes, that’s all.”
Despite her trying to disguise it, Nate still heard the melancholy in her voice. “How’s it coming along?”
