The whole trip up the mountain had her questioning how anyone could actually live out here, and she dreaded what she would find when she finally got to the cabin. It was a good thing she had her GPS advising her on where the place was. Otherwise, she might have assumed she’d taken a wrong turn and gone back the way she came before she ever found the place.
Luckily, her sedan managed the trip, and eventually, she turned into the long, steep drive toward a small log cabin. When she pulled up, she saw Cal standing on the porch, waiting for her. She’d forgotten how tall he was, how physically intimidating.
She waved at him and parked. It only momentarily occurred to her that she should be cautious. She was spending the afternoonat a cabin with a man she’d only just met. The only other person present was a small child. But she couldn’t feel unsafe if she tried.
Either way, she took out her phone and called Crystal. “Hey,” she said as she approached the front porch. “I’m at the cabin… Yeah, he’s here. I’ll call you when I’m done, OK?” She had the conversation close enough that Cal could hear her. Just because she felt comfortable was no reason to be completely careless.
Cal didn’t react at all. He smiled warmly and invited her inside. “Owen’s been counting the days,” he said.
It took April a moment to realize that Cal had, in fact, just smiled warmly.Warmly. The man she’d met at the clinic would never have greeted her that way. He seemed so much more at ease here than he had been at the clinic. He was still reserved, still a man of few words. But he was welcoming and very clearly comfortable.
The cabin, too, was comfortable. After braving the roads and stepping out of her car, the first thing April noticed was how quiet it was. She had thought, after moving from the city to a small town, that Summit Falls was quiet. But Summit Falls was a rock concert compared to the soundscape here. All April could hear was the wind in the trees, the occasional bird, and a nearby babbling brook. It was like something you’d hear from a sound machine built to create a serene environment in an otherwise hectic one.
The sunlight was dappled, twinkling through the trees like she was in some kind of dreamland. April could hardly believe her luck. She was being paid to spend the day in a place like this. She pocketed her phone and waved back. “It’s good to be here,” she said to Cal. “Thank you so much for allowing this house call.”
Cal nodded once in acknowledgement. “Owen is inside.”
The inside of the cabin was as comforting as the outside. April immediately felt at home. The lighting was warm and bright, not at all what she’d expected. She’d been thinking of a hunting cabin, dark and decaying, with trophies hanging from the walls, staring down at her. She’d expected to feel awkward but understanding because this was probably the best this single father could do. But she didn’t feel remotely awkward. In fact, she thought she might have paid to stay here on vacation if it didn’t happen to be her patient’s home.
There was a clean, organized kitchen with lots of copper cookware hanging from the walls, a plush sofa in the corner with plenty of throw pillows, and an inviting dining table with a storm lamp sitting in the middle of it. The art on the walls was sparse, but there were paintings of landscapes, ships at sea, and the like. April found it all extremely cozy. She was immediately at ease in the place. “Where’s Owen?” she asked.
Cal leaned in close to whisper, “He’s in bed, pretending to be sicker than he is. He wants to surprise you.”
April couldn’t help a chuckle as she whispered back, “I’ll be sure not to let him down then.” She crept into the boy’s room, fully aware thathewas fully aware of every move she made. The light from the living room shone into his little bedroom, illuminating just enough that she could find his bedside table lamp, which she carefully switched on.
He didn’t open his eyes. In fact, he squeezed them closed even more, pretending to be asleep in the worst, most adorable way he could. “Let’s see,” she said aloud. “How is his temperature?” She pressed her hand to his forehead. “Hmm… feels better. But why is he still so sick?”
Instantly, Owen popped up, threw his hands in the air and shouted, “Surprise!”
“Oh my gosh!” April pretended to be shocked by his sudden outburst. “What’s going on here?”
“I’m all better,” Owen said with a wide grin.
“Wow!” April put a hand over her mouth in mock surprise. “You look so healthy. Can I take some measurements to show my boss? They’re never going to believe this back at the clinic.”
Owen nodded enthusiastically. “I guess it’s OK,” he said.
“Well, thank you so much.” April carried a bag with the things she would need, and she started by pulling out a digital thermometer. “Do you know how to take your temperature?”
Again, he nodded. “I’m good at that one.”
“Awesome.” She pulled her thermometer out of its safety box and pointed it at his forehead.
He immediately pulled back. “What’s that? Where’s the thing that goes under my tongue?”
She laughed. “This one doesn’t have to even touch you. You just have to hold still for a second, and it’ll tell me your temperature.”
“Really?” He leaned in to examine the thermometer. April handed it to him to allow him to look at it. The kid was curious, and that was always a good sign.
“Do you want to see how it works?” April asked him.
Owen nodded and handed the thermometer back to her when she held out her hand. She turned it on and pointed it at her own forehead. Then, she pressed the button and waited for the beep.When the thermometer finished taking her temperature, she showed the screen to Owen. “See? Normal. Shall we try taking yours now?”
“I guess so,” Owen said. He seemed a little unsure, but he was being brave. As soon as April had taken her own temperature, he seemed much more comfortable with the new device. “Hold really still now,” she said as she put the thermometer into place and pressed the button. When it was finished, she read the screen. “Well, look at that. You’re perfectly normal.”
“I am?”
“Yep.” April showed him the screen, even though she knew it wouldn’t mean a lot to him. “Your fever is completely gone. Your dad has done a great job taking care of you.”
