Rugged Redemption

Timber Ridge

Timber Ridge

At least half the name was accurate.

The road stretched on for a while still. A straight line through neverending forest. The trees were tall, needley, mostly green and from the looks of it, most were quite old. And that was about the extent of what I knew about trees.

Just about fifteen more minutes

"Kinda in the middle of nowhere."

"Yeah it is. But that just adds to the charm." She put what was meant to be a reassuring hand on my shoulder and I fought the urge to shrug the unwanted touch. She read my face and dropped her hand almost immediately, turning her eyes back to the road. "You'll see."

Eleven more minutes.

I crossed my arms and kept alert for any sign of change in the view ahead. Slowly, but surely, the horizon began to open up to allow more sky in. The hole in the treeline widened with every second that passed, we actually were headed somewhere.

Eight more minutes.

I sat on the edge of my seat. Not that I had doubted my sister, but I hadn't been exactly thrilled with the idea of being hedged in on all sides by the dark, gloomy nothingness of a neverending forest.

Five more minutes.

"Here we are," She announced as we approached a large wooden sign emblazoned with 'Timber Ridge' in equally large white lettering with a multitude of trees. Seemed a little redundant as who in their right mind would travel down that road without an idea of what was up ahead? How many Sunday drivers had they encountered out on an adventure to discover what may end of that very long, very wooded gravel stretch?

The road made a swift change from gravel to pavement as the trees fully retreated behind us. The boundary marked our entry into a brand new world.

Up ahead there were houses, buildings, roads, people all in the orderly pattern of a civilized society. I let out a relieved sigh. Slowing our speed, we edged across the boundary between forest and civilization. I watched kids play in a park up ahead with a newfound sense of peace. This wasn't going to be so bad. I should have guessed that the relief and peace were short-lived.

We turned away from the greener outer edges of town and made our way down what was definitely their mainstreet. Businesses of all types lined both sides of a busy two-lane road. I found myself surprised at how big Lucy's adopted hometown actually was. It dwarfed where we had come from. And all the businesses looked well kept, bustling, modern. Nothing like what we had had to deal with, what I had been forced to keep dealing with. We turned off of Main Street with a sharp left at one of three traffic lights that lined the road.

Two more minutes.

Pulling my eyes off the world outside, I slumped in my seat and crossed my arms. This is where the hippies had come from? I looked down at the shoes I had on, the pants, the old band t-shirt. The best of everything I owned, shabby by comparison.

"See, nothing scary here."

I shook my head and kept my gaze on my shoes. Maybe not her idea of scary. But this new world and its unattainable perfection was scary in its own way. Of course, she wouldn't find it scary. Didn't she know who I was? What I was? This was a mistake.

Thirty more seconds.

Lucy slowed down to a crawl as we entered an orderly development of nice, modest family homes. She took the second driveway on the right and pulled in to a happily opening garage. Its interior, an accommodating void; not a single box, mess or pile of discards that would negate its use as a vehicle house, to be seen. Who was this woman I called sister?

My feet hit the smooth concrete floor as soon as her clean car was put into park. My heart was pounding and my head buzzing with thoughts that I wouldn't let form. Not yet. I needed to find a way to exit that wouldn't draw her concern. My feet led me to my things in the trunk once I heard the telltale pop as its latch released its hold. Grabbing my items, I used them as a shield against the new, threatening environment. Lucy arched an eyebrow at my stance and I forced myself to appear normal.

"Follow me, I will show you to your room." She waved a hand and opened the garage door. I was greeted by the sparkling interior of my sister's perfect house. Pictures of her and her new life, and the people in it covered the walls and spilled onto the surfaces. In every single one of them, she wore a smile and so did everyone else, for that matter. I didn't belong here. The panic grabbed at my throat and threatened to close it between its ruthless, irrational hands.

"Here is the kitchen," Lucy held open her hands as she entered the well-stocked and clean-countered space. Not a single dish in the sink, an empty garbage can. "And this is the dining room, though we hardly ever use it for eating. Usually just for our weekly game nights."

I focused on my breathing as we moved from one room to the next and finally to the stairs. She began to climb them with very little problem and I attempted to follow. Keeping my eyes on the next stair and then the next all the way up, I managed to get to the top without feeling light-headed from my struggle to get a good breath past the panic monster still plaguing me.

Once at the top, Lucy directed my attention to a darkened space that turned out to be the guest bath. I nodded and tried a version of what someone might call a smile. That satisfied her and she turned to the door directly across the hallway. With a flourish she opened it to reveal a rather sterile but cozy bedroom. Stepping through the door I was able to get a good breath as the vice at my throat instantly loosened.

"Is this mine to use?" I hesitated to set my duffle down but ached to have a safe space to unpack mentally and physically.

"Yes, as long as you want to use it." She pulled me into an unexpected hug and I sagged a little against her. It was good to be with her again. Maybe this wasn't such a big mistake. "Alright, I will leave you to your devices. I have a meeting in a half an hour that should go until four and Thomas won't be home until 6 or so." She pulled away and her kind eyes locked with mine. "Will you be alright by yourself until we return?" My lips curled to one side at the reminder that this house was shared between my sister and him.

"I will be fine." I curtly responded, and gave myself a mental kick in the junk when I watched Lucy's face fall at my irritated tone. With conviction, I gave her a genuine smile and pulled her into another hug. "Thank you, Lucy." She squeezed me tightly before we both pulled away.

"Alright, you have my number and I will just be down the street if you need anything..." I rolled my eyes at her mothering.

"Just get going. I am an adult, sis, I will be fine." I turned my back to her and set my duffle on the bed.

"Right. Of course. Toodles." Her soft footsteps were muffled further by the carpet and I only knew for certain she had left when the door's soft click shut confirmed her exit. The earlier anxiety and panic left me when she did. The reality that even though I was going to have to face the both of them smack in the middle of their flawless lives, I had some precious alone time now to adjust without any pressure did wonders for my mood. I mean I wasn't a suddenly sunny Sally or anything, but I also wasn't a negative Nancy anymore.

My belongings barely filled three drawers of the six that she had provided. I laughably had nothing for the generous closet, but stored my now empty duffle on the top shelf. Now it was time to give myself space to adjust, the best way I knew how.

Eagerly, I crawled in between the soft covers and let the weariness of the last few months creep over me.

I looked out the window adjacent the bed and let the view of the town occupy my thoughts for a bit. More houses spread out, then behind them Main Street and in the distance a grand looking building loomed. Probably their town hall. What a f*****g paradise.

My vision began to blur and I let them close. My first impression of Timber Ridge may have left me with a sour taste in my mouth. How would I ever live up to its orderly, shiny, perfection?

I turned angrily to my side, facing away from the offending window, my eyes closed tightly.

Regardless of how uncomfortable, worthless and unbalanced this place made me feel, I knew that I was safe here and that was worth a whole lot more than any momentary bad feelings.