Chapter 4
I followed my father approximately two miles through the woods, ending my travels at a Vermontesque cottage with cobblestone walkways and sunflower gardens. A small clearing opened up next to the lake. The place was exquisite and affluent looking, an artist’s paradise. The cottage was two floors, tiny in size but perfectly quaint. It was a sizeable property along the lake, so fairy tale-like, offering a flawless storybook setting. No wonder my father traveled through the woods to the cottage. Not only was it handsome, but it looked welcoming and cozy, the perfect getaway from his log cabin that lacked the simplest pleasures, such as water and heat.
I studied the edifice and clearing for a few seconds, and then watched my father merrily trot toward one of the cottage doors. And
