The cabin came into view at last but as they gathered their luggage and went to the door, they hesitated, smiling awkwardly at one another. Dr. Crane still looked as though something was bothering him, the way his breathing had become staggered. Perhaps he was feeling guilty, bringing her here. Of course he was.
She stood beside him, peering into the cabin window as though something special awaited her inside its four walls. Niles inserted the key and turned the lock, the metal clicking out of place. He'd barely turned the knob when by eerie coincidence the door floated open, perhaps by a gust of wind.
Or perhaps not.
A flash came over her then; a vision. She wasn't exactly sure what the images were but she knew one thing. This was wrong. They had to go back.
Despite what misery awaited her at home, it wasn't fair to Dr. Crane. He was married and he deserved every happiness in the world.
As before her chest tightened but she willed the painful feeling away. She was about to turn and tell him that it was best if they return home when the silence was broken between them.
"Here we are."
Her heart raced as she looked at him with a new determination. "Dr. Crane-."
He stopped adjusting his luggage in his hands and turned to her, smiling.
"I don't-."
But when she saw the cheerful look on his face she couldn't bring herself to disappoint him. And so she remained silent. However, he continued to look at her, showing genuine interest. "You were going to say something?"
She swallowed hard and thought quickly. There were so many things she wanted to say; so many things she couldn't say. But there was one thing that she could say. "I don't know if I've told you thank you, Dr. Crane. For bringing me here. I know you said you were coming alone and the invitation was so unexpected. So thank you."
It wasn't a lie, for once.
The smile on his face remained, but his eyes grew brighter. "You're welcome, Daphne. It will be nice to spend some time with a friend."
And there it was; the validation that she'd been waiting for. She really was his friend, and he was hers. He had no idea how much those words meant to her. She was so relieved that she almost cried. Mercifully the tears were kept at bay.
He walked into the cabin, dropping his luggage to the floor with a final and defiant thud. Daphne gave a small smile and followed him, stepping inside just as he turned on the light. She'd been here before, of course, but she'd forgotten how lovely it really was. How beautiful…
"Come on, I'll show you to your room."
Taking her bag and purse, he led her upstairs and down the hallway, where they paused momentarily as he opened the door. She stared into the room in disbelief. It was even bigger than her room at his brother's and much more beautiful. It was rustic, to be sure, but it had a touch of elegance, as only a cabin owned by Dr. Crane could. The wooden walls housed similar warm log wood furnishings, including a large rocking chair and a four poster bed, dominated the room; adorned with plaid patterns in green, red and blue adorned the matching bedding. Pillows were piled onto the bed, each in a shade complimenting the fabrics.
But it was the large window in the center of the room and its view that took her breath away. The snow-capped mountains, framed by autumn-hued trees and the mixture of fading sunlight and clouds beckoned to her and she let out a small gasp, feeling its pull as she moved toward it hypnotically.
"I'll leave you to unpack." He said quietly, momentarily breaking into her thoughts.
"Thank you." She replied, low and heartfelt. She looked at him but for a moment before she turned back to the window as he closed the door. "Thank you." She said again, this time to the closed door.
She knew what a mistake it had been to come here mere moments after they'd left Seattle, not long after it had started to sink in that she was in love with a married man, a man she could not have. And yet she was about to spend a weekend with him.
