2nd Anniversary
Part 5
Logan and Max drove through the city in his car. Before
they left her neighbourhood Logan stopped at a store. He'd
insisted that Max remain in the vehicle while he went
inside. He came out a few minutes later carrying a bag and
stowed it in back.
"Okay. What'd you buy?" Max asked suspiciously.
"Part of the surprise." Logan said. When Max just to
continued to stare at him he added. "Just trust me
alright."
"Fine." Max said. She really wasn't upset with him she
just preferred to know what was going on all the time. She
really didn't like feeling helpless and right now that's
how she felt.
They passed the last checkpoint out of the city and found
them selves on a familiar highway. Max frowned even more.
This was the way to Logan's uncle's cabin, and also to Cape
Haven. She doubted they were going to either though.
Cape Haven was too far for an afternoon jaunt. And the
cabin had to have been confiscated by the government, along
with the rest of the Cale Industries assets.
Logan had popped a CD into the player the moment they'd
cleared the city. It was upbeat, not the one he'd played
when he'd last brought Max here. He had never listened to
that music again. It hurt too much.
He smiled to himself thinking of the past and the fools
they'd been. They'd denied their true feelings for too
long and ended up apart for far longer. He felt lightness
now that he hadn't felt in over a year. They didn't have
to pretend anymore, they'd been given a great gift and he
for one wasn't going to waste it.
When they turned up the lane to the cabin Max turned to him
with a confused look.
"We're going to your uncle's cabin?" She asked.
"Yup." Logan said happily.
"But I thought the government confiscated all the family
assets?" She said still confused.
"They did and they didn't." When Max crossed her arms and
glared at him he chuckled. "It's a long story and I'll
explain everything when we get there alright."
"You'd better." She said. Max felt a little trepidation
about going to the cabin. The last time she'd been there
she'd been running for her life with Zack and the memories
weren't some of her favourites. She'd almost lost Logan
and for a time she'd lost Zack.
Thoughts of Zack lead to wondering what his life was now
like. Was he happy, had he come to terms and learned to
live without a past. She could only pray he had. She knew
that Logan's friend would have watched out for him and let
them know if there had been problems. But sometimes even
that reassurance wasn't enough. She owed her life to Zack,
literally and she still worried about her big brother.
Her mind came back to the present when Logan pulled to a
stop in front of the cabin. Logan shut off the engine and
looked at Max. He could see the anguish in her face.
Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all. Maybe
the memories of her time here were too much.
"Are you okay?" He asked in concern.
Max took a deep breath and looked at Logan's worried face.
She smiled a little sadly, "I'm fine. It's just a lot of
memories, not all of them good."
"I know, I just." He paused for a moment. "Come on lets go
make some newer happier memories." He suggested giving her
hand a gentle squeeze in encouragement.
Max smiled a little more genuinely now. "Yeah, that's a
good idea."
Logan smiled a little more happily and releasing her hand
got out of the car. Max took another deep breath and
followed him.
When they got inside Max just stood by the door for a
moment. Logan carried the bag over to the fireplace and
turned back to Max with a smile.
"I'll start a fire if you want to get everything else
started." He held the bag out to her.
She frowned at him but came to take the bag from his hand.
He made no move just watched as she looked inside. Max
stared in the bag for a moment and then looking back up a
Logan and laughed happily. "S'mores?" She said.
Logan smiled back, relief washing over him. "You know,
fresh country air, s'mores. I think we'll leave the hiking
for another time."
Max grinned, walked into his arms and kissed him. When she
pulled back she looked into his eyes. "Thank you."
"Your welcome." Logan said and giving her one final kiss
pushed her toward the kitchen with a wry grin. "But you'd
better get those things ready or we're never gonna get a
chance to try them."
Max smiled broadly and headed for the kitchen.
When Max had left Logan took several deep breaths to get
his equilibrium back and turned to start the fire.
*****
Logan sat and watched as Max devoured her sixth and last
s'more. He'd managed to eat two of them; they were just a
little to rich for his taste buds anymore. He could
remember being a kid and eating half a dozen at a time
without a problem, except for the nauseous feeling
afterward. Max it appeared had a cast iron stomach to go
with her iron will. He found himself slightly distracted
when Max began to lick the rest of the sticky concoction
off her fingers.
Max finished her last s'more and licked the last of the
marshmallow off her fingers. With a sigh of contentment
she settled back against Logan's chest. They were sitting
on the floor before the fire, his back against the loveseat
and her sitting between his thighs. 'If this isn't heaven
I don't know what is.' Max thought.
Logan handed Max her glass of wine and just relaxed
enjoying the feeling of happiness and contentment that came
with being in Max's presence.
After a few sips of the dry white wine Max remembered
Logan's promise to explain about the cabin. She turned her
head to look at his face and asked, "Okay, this is
wonderful, but know I want to know. How come the
government didn't take the cabin too?"
Logan smiled and pressing a kiss to her lips began. "When
the government froze the assets of Cale Industries they
tried going after the personal assets of the family also.
Aunt Margo's family were, are pretty well off as well. And
since they had little to do with Uncle Jonas' business they
weren't affected by the takeover."
"Aunt Margo was able to hire a team of lawyers to battle
the government for the family." He chuckled remembering
her consternation when it turned out that Logan would also
benefit. As far as she was concerned he deserved nothing,
since he'd contributed nothing. "She got lucky, they drew
a judge who though considered tough refused to be bribed or
bought in any way. He decided that personal assets, even
those purchased with proceeds from the family business were
not part of the assets of the company."
"So she got to keep everything?" Max asked.
"Well yes, the house, the artwork etc. But she didn't have
more than a small income from her family, not enough to
maintain her lifestyle. So she started selling things she
no longer needed or wanted."
"Ah," Max said in understanding. "Including the cabin."
"Yup, she always hated this place and only ever came here
at Uncle Jonas' insistence. She asked everyone else in the
family if they wanted to purchase it before she even
considered asking me. But she had no interest in selling
family property to outsiders, and black sheep or not I'm
still family, so when she gave me the chance I jumped."
Logan looked around at the main room. He had a lot of
happy memories of this place from when he'd been a boy.
"Okay." Max said after a moment's silence. "I understand
all of that. But where did you get the money to buy the
cabin? If I remember, and I do, your pretty much broke."
"My mother. Her family, like Aunt Margo's was well to do.
Nothing like the Cale's but they weren't hurting. When she
died she left me a small legacy. I never had reason to
touch that money until now."
"Oh." Max said quietly. She took a sip of wine and
putting her glass down on the coffee table turned to look
at Logan. "I still don't understand. You could have used
that money, to keep Eyes Only going, instead of selling
your paintings."
Logan nodded and put his wine glass down as well. "I never
wanted to use that money for Eyes Only. My mother was the
only one in my family who ever encouraged me to do what I
wanted, without reservation. I think she'd be happy with
me buying the cabin. We used to come here for vacations in
the summer when I was a kid. Dad would go back to the city
every day on business and come back in the evening so we'd
have the place to ourselves all day. It was great. We'd
fish, hike, swim; we were always busy doing something
together. When we'd go home she was always too busy to
spend that much time with me. I guess I just wanted the
place I always felt happiest with her."
Max looked at the smile on Logan's face, he looked so
happy. She smiled back and snuggled into his arms. "I
guess I can understand." Max murmured, "You do realize
we're going to have to come back cause you still owe me."
"Okay." He said a little confused.
"Mmm." Max said contentedly, "I've had the fresh country
air, and the s'mores. And even though this isn't the
Cascades, you still owe me the hiking."
Logan chuckled and kissed Max. "I'm always ready to pay my
debts." He told her happily.
The End
For Now
Part 5
Logan and Max drove through the city in his car. Before
they left her neighbourhood Logan stopped at a store. He'd
insisted that Max remain in the vehicle while he went
inside. He came out a few minutes later carrying a bag and
stowed it in back.
"Okay. What'd you buy?" Max asked suspiciously.
"Part of the surprise." Logan said. When Max just to
continued to stare at him he added. "Just trust me
alright."
"Fine." Max said. She really wasn't upset with him she
just preferred to know what was going on all the time. She
really didn't like feeling helpless and right now that's
how she felt.
They passed the last checkpoint out of the city and found
them selves on a familiar highway. Max frowned even more.
This was the way to Logan's uncle's cabin, and also to Cape
Haven. She doubted they were going to either though.
Cape Haven was too far for an afternoon jaunt. And the
cabin had to have been confiscated by the government, along
with the rest of the Cale Industries assets.
Logan had popped a CD into the player the moment they'd
cleared the city. It was upbeat, not the one he'd played
when he'd last brought Max here. He had never listened to
that music again. It hurt too much.
He smiled to himself thinking of the past and the fools
they'd been. They'd denied their true feelings for too
long and ended up apart for far longer. He felt lightness
now that he hadn't felt in over a year. They didn't have
to pretend anymore, they'd been given a great gift and he
for one wasn't going to waste it.
When they turned up the lane to the cabin Max turned to him
with a confused look.
"We're going to your uncle's cabin?" She asked.
"Yup." Logan said happily.
"But I thought the government confiscated all the family
assets?" She said still confused.
"They did and they didn't." When Max crossed her arms and
glared at him he chuckled. "It's a long story and I'll
explain everything when we get there alright."
"You'd better." She said. Max felt a little trepidation
about going to the cabin. The last time she'd been there
she'd been running for her life with Zack and the memories
weren't some of her favourites. She'd almost lost Logan
and for a time she'd lost Zack.
Thoughts of Zack lead to wondering what his life was now
like. Was he happy, had he come to terms and learned to
live without a past. She could only pray he had. She knew
that Logan's friend would have watched out for him and let
them know if there had been problems. But sometimes even
that reassurance wasn't enough. She owed her life to Zack,
literally and she still worried about her big brother.
Her mind came back to the present when Logan pulled to a
stop in front of the cabin. Logan shut off the engine and
looked at Max. He could see the anguish in her face.
Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all. Maybe
the memories of her time here were too much.
"Are you okay?" He asked in concern.
Max took a deep breath and looked at Logan's worried face.
She smiled a little sadly, "I'm fine. It's just a lot of
memories, not all of them good."
"I know, I just." He paused for a moment. "Come on lets go
make some newer happier memories." He suggested giving her
hand a gentle squeeze in encouragement.
Max smiled a little more genuinely now. "Yeah, that's a
good idea."
Logan smiled a little more happily and releasing her hand
got out of the car. Max took another deep breath and
followed him.
When they got inside Max just stood by the door for a
moment. Logan carried the bag over to the fireplace and
turned back to Max with a smile.
"I'll start a fire if you want to get everything else
started." He held the bag out to her.
She frowned at him but came to take the bag from his hand.
He made no move just watched as she looked inside. Max
stared in the bag for a moment and then looking back up a
Logan and laughed happily. "S'mores?" She said.
Logan smiled back, relief washing over him. "You know,
fresh country air, s'mores. I think we'll leave the hiking
for another time."
Max grinned, walked into his arms and kissed him. When she
pulled back she looked into his eyes. "Thank you."
"Your welcome." Logan said and giving her one final kiss
pushed her toward the kitchen with a wry grin. "But you'd
better get those things ready or we're never gonna get a
chance to try them."
Max smiled broadly and headed for the kitchen.
When Max had left Logan took several deep breaths to get
his equilibrium back and turned to start the fire.
*****
Logan sat and watched as Max devoured her sixth and last
s'more. He'd managed to eat two of them; they were just a
little to rich for his taste buds anymore. He could
remember being a kid and eating half a dozen at a time
without a problem, except for the nauseous feeling
afterward. Max it appeared had a cast iron stomach to go
with her iron will. He found himself slightly distracted
when Max began to lick the rest of the sticky concoction
off her fingers.
Max finished her last s'more and licked the last of the
marshmallow off her fingers. With a sigh of contentment
she settled back against Logan's chest. They were sitting
on the floor before the fire, his back against the loveseat
and her sitting between his thighs. 'If this isn't heaven
I don't know what is.' Max thought.
Logan handed Max her glass of wine and just relaxed
enjoying the feeling of happiness and contentment that came
with being in Max's presence.
After a few sips of the dry white wine Max remembered
Logan's promise to explain about the cabin. She turned her
head to look at his face and asked, "Okay, this is
wonderful, but know I want to know. How come the
government didn't take the cabin too?"
Logan smiled and pressing a kiss to her lips began. "When
the government froze the assets of Cale Industries they
tried going after the personal assets of the family also.
Aunt Margo's family were, are pretty well off as well. And
since they had little to do with Uncle Jonas' business they
weren't affected by the takeover."
"Aunt Margo was able to hire a team of lawyers to battle
the government for the family." He chuckled remembering
her consternation when it turned out that Logan would also
benefit. As far as she was concerned he deserved nothing,
since he'd contributed nothing. "She got lucky, they drew
a judge who though considered tough refused to be bribed or
bought in any way. He decided that personal assets, even
those purchased with proceeds from the family business were
not part of the assets of the company."
"So she got to keep everything?" Max asked.
"Well yes, the house, the artwork etc. But she didn't have
more than a small income from her family, not enough to
maintain her lifestyle. So she started selling things she
no longer needed or wanted."
"Ah," Max said in understanding. "Including the cabin."
"Yup, she always hated this place and only ever came here
at Uncle Jonas' insistence. She asked everyone else in the
family if they wanted to purchase it before she even
considered asking me. But she had no interest in selling
family property to outsiders, and black sheep or not I'm
still family, so when she gave me the chance I jumped."
Logan looked around at the main room. He had a lot of
happy memories of this place from when he'd been a boy.
"Okay." Max said after a moment's silence. "I understand
all of that. But where did you get the money to buy the
cabin? If I remember, and I do, your pretty much broke."
"My mother. Her family, like Aunt Margo's was well to do.
Nothing like the Cale's but they weren't hurting. When she
died she left me a small legacy. I never had reason to
touch that money until now."
"Oh." Max said quietly. She took a sip of wine and
putting her glass down on the coffee table turned to look
at Logan. "I still don't understand. You could have used
that money, to keep Eyes Only going, instead of selling
your paintings."
Logan nodded and put his wine glass down as well. "I never
wanted to use that money for Eyes Only. My mother was the
only one in my family who ever encouraged me to do what I
wanted, without reservation. I think she'd be happy with
me buying the cabin. We used to come here for vacations in
the summer when I was a kid. Dad would go back to the city
every day on business and come back in the evening so we'd
have the place to ourselves all day. It was great. We'd
fish, hike, swim; we were always busy doing something
together. When we'd go home she was always too busy to
spend that much time with me. I guess I just wanted the
place I always felt happiest with her."
Max looked at the smile on Logan's face, he looked so
happy. She smiled back and snuggled into his arms. "I
guess I can understand." Max murmured, "You do realize
we're going to have to come back cause you still owe me."
"Okay." He said a little confused.
"Mmm." Max said contentedly, "I've had the fresh country
air, and the s'mores. And even though this isn't the
Cascades, you still owe me the hiking."
Logan chuckled and kissed Max. "I'm always ready to pay my
debts." He told her happily.
The End
For Now