Town By the Woods

“I saw three ships a-sailing in from across the sea1

Strangers ne'er were welcome but for curiosity2

But come they did and when they did ready they did stand 3

And things would never be the same in our Village on the Sand...”4

The trucks rumbled past Eva’s room all night long.  Big trucks.  Trucks that could carry the heaviest loads.  Trucks that could fight Mother Nature and win.  She lay on her bed, sniffling and listening dull throb of the tires.  The rattling trucks scared away all the comforting nightly noises that Eva was used to.  5

Eva sighed and kicked off her blankets.  Her rich brown hair and dark blue-green eyes glinted as she padded softly over to her burgundy-and-gold curtains and looked out.  There they were.  An endless stream of gigantic flat-bedded trucks going in both directions.  The truck drivers and workers had brought good business to the little town of Nadine, but she hated them nonetheless.  Eva knew why they were going up that road, around that bend, and behind the lush forest.  They were in Nadine for the sole purpose of destruction.  6

“When the ships pulled in to dock the villagers did hide 7

When trouble came it usually was brought upon the tide 8

When the pirates disembarked they were making plans 9

And from then on things were not the same in our Village on the Sand...”10

It felt like years ago, but it was really only months since old Mr. Holmes died, and his scheming siblings, children, and distant cousins sold all his possessions for quick cash.  They had sold the Nadine Woods, which had been Eva’s second home for as long as she could remember, to Jacobs Logging, Inc.  The company was notorious for its disregard for environmental regulations.  Eva cringed to think of the densely-wooded hills being stripped bare.  She knew that they were going to clear cut.  The mayor had bent the town ordinances to allow it.  The town was uncharacteristically excited about the newcomers; to them, the truckers and loggers were nothing but walking dollar signs.  11

Eva was not pleased.  The Nadine Woods were the only place that she could escape her small town.  Not only did everyone seem to know everything about everyone, but there were also no opportunities for people with aspirations.  That is, people like Eva.  Eva was strangled by the rigid community, which would not allow a deviation from tradition.  She was a passionate individual.  Worse, Eva had a short fuse, and was known for blowing up when offended.  So no one expected her to become something more than a waitress at the local pub, the Green Tree.  12

Which was why she chose to frequent the forest.  It was so undemanding, so simple, yet so complex, and it was away from the confines of Nadine.  Outdoors, she sat for hours reading amid the roots of a large Douglas fir, or she did cartwheels down the narrow paths.  Eva daydreamed of life away from Nadine.  She sat with her feet in the stream and teased passing fish.  13

Eva closed the curtains and flopped back onto her bed.  She had pleaded with the Holmes family.  She had begged with the town mayor.  She had appeared before the city council and even pleaded her case at the town meetings.  She had chained herself to the massive oak in the middle of the forest until she nearly fainted of hunger.  But it was all to no avail.  The trucks came anyway, bearing destruction.14

When Eva awoke she walked to the Woods.  As she entered the forest, everything darkened slightly, and even the roar of trucks was dulled.  Eva walked, her feet taking her where they would.  15

From the top of the giant oak, the fresh spring scenery was breathtaking, but it was marred by the continuous stream of trucks.  Off to the left, the logging had begun.  For several miles, the landscape was completely bare.  It was like someone had grabbed a squirming cat and taken a razor to its soft underbelly.  Tears welled up in Eva’s eyes as she watched the distant loggers fell another tree, and load it onto a truck.16

Eva could not eat her food that night.  She could not bring herself to join her friends.  The trucks rolled by, each one of them seizing a piece of her heart and pounding it beneath their gargantuan tires.  17

“The smugglers came into our town and many sought to run 18

I stood my ground bravely and came face to face with one 19

Time and travel on the seas weathered face and hand 20

He was different than others in my Village on the Sand...”21

Eva wandered aimlessly through the twilight.  She hardly looked where she was going.  Two trucks had to swerve and honk to avoid hitting her.  But she did not care.  22

At the pub, the Green Tree, it was a busy night.  Drunk loggers, truckers, and managers careened around the pub, hitting on the local women and telling unintelligible stories in loud voices.23

“EVA!  Thank goodness you’re here!” the manager, Chris, yelled as he passed four steaming plates of goop to a waitress.  “Jacobs himself is here, right now, with his son, and Maureen has called in sick.  Can you cover three extra tables?”  Before she had even opened her mouth, Chris had already turned and was yelling “Thanks!” over his shoulder as he proceeded back to the kitchen.  Seething, Eva walked up to the first table.24

“Good evening, my name is Eva, and I will be your server tonight,” she recited between clenched teeth.  “May I get you anything to drink?”  As she was barraged with a list of alcoholic beverages, she looked over her customers.  The one in the middle she recognized immediately as Ernest Jacobs.  She would have recognized his arrogant profile and balding head anywhere.  He was surrounded by men in suits.  To his left, Eva recognized Ernest Jacobs’ son, Aidan.  He contrasted sharply with the weathered, hard-living loggers around him, and from the discouraged, boring townspeople.  He was young, good-looking, and in an animated argument with the graying man next to him.  Eva kept her guard up as she eyed his dark blond hair and green eyes.  25

Between collecting drink orders, serving drinks, remembering food orders, serving food, and dealing with drunkards, Eva lost track of the Jacobs’ son.  Not that she minded.  Any Jacobs was a soulless demon.  But he was nice to look at.  26

The pub got rowdier and rowdier.  Eva surveyed her tables and found, to her surprise, that there were no pressing emergencies.  Eva flopped down on one of the bar stools in exhaustion.  27

“Could you pass me those napkins?” a voice asked in Eva’s ear.  She jumped, and looked up at Aidan Jacobs.  She handed him the napkins wordlessly.  He passed them to a wet-looking man in a black suit behind him.28

“Thanks.  Board directors,” he said, “They just can’t seem to keep a grip on to anything.  Except money, of course.” Eva laughed.  He looked at her, surprised, and he smiled.  “The name’s Aidan, by the way.”29

“Nice to meet you.  I’m Eva.”30

“Short for Evangeline?” inquired Aidan.31

“Yes.”32

“It’s a very pretty name.  Why don’t you use it?” Aidan asked, leaning on the counter.  33

“It’s just not me,” said Eva as she played with the straws in the dispenser.  “And it’s too many syllables.”  He laughed.34

“Since I’ve been here I’ve met more people named Faith, Mary, Joseph, and David than I have in my whole life!” He laughed again.  “Does it cause confusion?”35

Eva found herself smiling in spite of herself.36

“Only if you’re not paying attention,” she replied.  37

“Look at them,” Aidan said, motioning to the townspeople entertaining the truck drivers, “Is this how they’re going to spend the rest of their lives, catering to others’ needs in the hope of a juicy bone?”38

“Are you saying that we’re crawling pushovers?” she demanded, getting angry.  39

“Oh no,” Aidan said.  “I’m just saying that as a whole, people – “40

“People what?  Waste their lives?  Like we’re wasting that forest out there?” Eva interrupted.  Aidan was speechless.  “So people like you come along and decide to change it for us.  We don’t need change!  We’re happy the way we are!”  She could feel tears forming.  “So why don’t you all just go away!”41

Eva stormed from the Green Tree.  On her way out, she ripped her apron off, and fled to the safety of the Woods.  The tears started careening down her face, wet and fast.42

“Eva!” She heard Aidan calling after her.  Eva ran faster.  Chris wouldn’t notice she was gone.  He was probably busy drinking with the loggers.43

As she entered the forest, she didn’t slow.  She ran and ran.  Suddenly, Eva tripped, stumbling over a large log, breaking her fall with her hands.  Something tripped over her, and two shapes rolled down the hill, coming to rest at the base of the oak tree.44

“Are you alright?” Aidan asked from somewhere in the darkness.45

Eva rolled over, spitting pine needles and cradling bruised palms.  46

“I’m fine,” she spat.  Aidan made no sound, but the black shape next to her got to its feet.  47

“Do you want me to go?” he asked quietly.  Eva looked up at him.  The “yes” died as the soft breeze and starlight cooled her temper.  Aidan took Eva’s silence for a “no”.  He sat down beside her amid the roots of the mighty oak.48

“It’s so beautiful in here,” he whispered.  “I’ve been around forests my whole life but I’ve never been allowed to appreciate one.”   He stopped to assess Eva’s reaction.  She said nothing.  “It’s been so long since I climbed a tree.  I always used to enjoy that.”  Still nothing.  “I bet the view’s great from up there.”49

“It is,” Eva muttered.50

“You want to go tree climbing?” Aidan asked.  Eva looked at him in disbelief.  If he liked trees, maybe he did have a soul…51

“Why not?” Eva asked.  She scrambled to her feet, wiped her face on her sleeve and her palms on her pants, and stood in front of Aidan.  “Bet I can beat you to the top of the tree!” 52

“You’re on!” Aidan bolted to the foot of the tree.  As the two counted to three, the race was on.53

“He told me of the years he'd spent on the stormy seas 54

Then he spoke a poet's words of philosophy55

And when he had to leave again he asked me for my hand 56

And I knew I'd never see again my Village on the Sand…”57

When Aidan awoke, the first rays of sunshine were creeping over the treetops.  From the top of the oak tree, he felt like he could see the whole world.  Beside him, Eva stirred.58

“Good morning, girlie,” Aidan whispered.  Eva smiled at him.  59

“Good morning,” she whispered back.  Aidan put his arm around her as they watched the dawn slip down the hills, brushing the treetops pink and orange.60

As they began the descent to the ground, laughter filled the dark forest.  Halfway down, several loud sirens nearly made them fall out of the tree.61

But they made it to the ground safely.  They raced to the stream, shoving and laughing as they each tried to be first.  62

“If you could live anywhere except Nadine, where would you want to go?” Aidan asked Eva after a period of companionable silence.  63

“I would live by the sea.  I’ve never been there before, but I’ve always longed to live on an island and ride horses on the sand.  I read a book once where the main character did that every day.  That would be my idea of bliss,” Eva replied.64

“Sounds nice,” said Aidan.  “I imagine you would learn a great deal about yourself, life, the grand scheme of the cosmos…”  He rolled over onto his side, rays of sunshine playing tag over his face as the tree leaned in the wind.  “But wouldn’t you feel alone?”65

“I wouldn’t be alone,” said Eva in surprise.  “I would have my horses, and the waves, and the palm trees.”66

“You really are a daydreamer, aren’t you?” Aidan laughed.  “What I mean is, wouldn’t you long for human company?”  Eva pondered that for a moment.67

“Yes, I suppose you’re right,” she said at last.  “I would get lonely.  But there’s no one from Nadine that would want to bring.  There’s no one from Nadine who would come, anyway,” Eva mused.  68

Aidan looked sideways at her.69

“There’s a comment I would make but I don’t want you to run off again and hate me forever,” he said, eyes sparkling mischievously.  70

“Yeah, about that…”71

“It’s alright,” said Aidan, “I should have been more thoughtful about what I said.  I forgot that you’re from Nadine too.”72

“No, it’s not alright,” Eva argued, “I’ve just been having a really hard time lately, being stressed about the Woods and all, but it wasn’t right for me to take my anger out on you.”73

“Don’t worry,” he said, “You’re just human.”  He smiled at her, and Eva’s stomach fluttered dizzily.74

“What were you going to say?” Eva managed.75

“Oh, I was just going to say that the people in Nadine I’ve met are a little closed minded.  Not you, of course,” Aidan added hastily.76

“Yes, they are,” Eva agreed.77

They sat in silence for a while.  Overhead, butterflies danced and clouds drifted by serenely.  78

“I wonder what makes people narrow-minded,” Eva mused out loud.79

“They’re afraid of the unknown,” Aidan replied.80

“I’m afraid of the unknown,” she confided.81

“But you admit it,” said Aidan.  “That makes all the difference.  If you deny your fear you can’t face it and then you’re just stuck.”82

Eva laughed, and Aidan joined her.  83

Eva closed her eyes and half-slept, enjoying the warmth of the sun.  84

Quietly, Aidan picked a flower and tickled Eva’s nose with it.  She squealed, and smacked him lightly, laughing.85

“Don’t!” she giggled.  “That tickles!”86

“Stop moving,” Aidan commanded.  “I’m decorating you!”  He carefully covered Eva’s hair with flowers, then tucked some in her hands.  “There,” he said, “My masterpiece is complete!”  Eva opened her eyes, and tried to move her head to look at Aidan, but he cried “No, no, you’ll ruin it!  You can’t move.”87

“I have to move!” Eva laughed.  “I can’t see you.  Who knows what you’ll do next?”  Aidan’s head appeared above her as he sat up and sat beside her.  88

“See, now you can see me.  Don’t worry, I promise not to build a sandcastle around you.”  Eva laughed, and several flowers fell out of her hair.89

“Oh no, my ‘magnum opus’!”  Aidan cried dramatically, carefully replacing the dislodged flowers.  Eva looked up into his visage, eyebrows bunched in concentration.90

“Don’t do that,” she said, rubbing the wrinkles between his eyebrows.  “Those wrinkles will become permanent!”91

“Ack!” Aidan yelled, pointing to the flowers her hand had dropped on its journey.  “What am I going to do with you?”  He tickled her stomach.  Eva writhed on the ground, giggling insanely, flowers tumbling from her hair.  92

“Stop, stop!” Eva giggled.  “I can’t breathe!”  Aidan stopped, then bent and gently kissed Eva’s lips.  Startled, Eva made to push him away.  Aidan stopped.  93

“Sorry,” he whispered.94

“Don’t be,” she whispered back, and Aidan kissed her again.  95

Pain and woes forgotten, we walked hand in hand:96

Me and my pirate by my Village on the Sand.97

Of all the jewels and treasures my scoundrel love plundered, 98

The greatest was my heart, from my village ripped asunder.    99

The pink-and-orange splendor and tendrils of mist had receded by the time the pair thought to look at the time.  100

“11:03,” Aidan announced.  “Is there someplace you need to be?”101

“Nope,” Eva said, running her fingers through his hair.  “You?”102

“No.  Yes.  Wait, I dunno,” Aidan thought for a moment.  “I have to meet my father at 1:30,” he said at last. 103

“You want to go back?” Eva asked.104

“Not yet,” said Aidan, settling down beside her.  “My father’s an asshole.  Biggest asshole in the country, possibly the world.  I spend as little time with him as possible.”105

“I’m sorry,” said Eva. 106

“Not your problem,” he replied.  “My greatest fear is turning out like him.”107

“I think you can rest easy,” Eva said as she wove the fallen flowers into a chain.  “’Asshole’ is the last word I would use to describe you.”108

“Thanks,” Aidan chuckled.  “I appreciate that.  You know, I hate what he does.  I wish he would just retire already, or better, disassemble the company.  I’m ashamed to be part of the logging industry.”109

“Glad to hear it,” she said, placing her wreath on Aidan’s head.  “I was wondering how to ask you about your position on the logging issue.”  Aidan gave Eva a quick squeeze, then got to his feet.  110

“Are you hungry?  Let’s go find something to eat.”  111

Eva got to her feet, and they walked, hand-in-hand, out of the forest.112

Nadine was practically shaking with gossip.  Never had something of this magnitude happened in Nadine!  Ernest Jacobs, dead from a heart attack!  It was the talk of the town.  The townspeople cared little about the man.  They had been assured that the logging would continue, and that was all that mattered to them.  Once their livelihood was again safe and secure, the entire event became entertainment.  The Green Tree had already hung tourist banners proclaiming “Site of Ernest Jacobs’ Last Drink”.  The mood was one of festivity, as if it were a national holiday.113

Aidan and Eva had a very late breakfast in her little house on the edge of Nadine, near the Woods.  The wreath occupied the place of honor in the middle of the table.  The pair laughed and talked and somehow managed to consume their food without choking.  114

It was nearly 1:00 when Aidan and Eva emerged and walked down Main Street to find an air of merriment.  No work was being done in Nadine.  It seemed as if every man, woman, and child had all decided to inhabit the streets at the same time.  115

As Aidan and Eva fought their way toward the building in the very center of Nadine which was the headquarters of Jacobs Logging, they were accosted by a portly man in a suit.116

“Aidan!” he gasped.  “Come with me, quickly!”117

“What’s going on, Johnson?” Aidan asked, confused. 118

“I’ll tell you inside.  It’s important!” Johnson panted.119

“Look, do you mind taking it up with my father?  I’m not due to be at the office until 1:30,” Aidan said, slightly annoyed.  He side-stepped Johnson and led Eva toward the coffee shop next to the Jacobs Logging building.120

“It’s about your father,” Johnson said quietly.  “I think you should come straight away.”121

Eva tugged on Aidan’s sleeve.  122

“Go see what’s up.  I’ll be sitting in the coffee shop if you need to find me,” Eva said as she tried to detach herself from Aidan.  He held onto her, gently touching her face.  123

“See you soon,” he agreed.  Kissing him on the cheek, Eva disappeared into the crowd.  Aidan and Johnson watched her go.124

“What about my father, Johnson?” Aidan inquired.  “What does the old coot want?”125

“Please sit,” Johnson replied as he guided Aidan into the Jacobs Building, up the stairs, and into his office and shut the door.  “As your father’s attorney, it is my duty to inform you of his death.”126

“His what?” Aidan asked, shocked.127

“His death,” repeated Johnson.  “He died of a heart attack early this morning.  There was nothing that could be done for him.  As I’m sure you know, your father was a wealthy man.  He has left you everything, including Jacobs Logging, Inc.”128

Aidan sat, speechless.  Johnson kept talking, but Aidan didn’t hear a word.129

The day passed rather quickly for Aidan.  People and scenery whizzed by as Aidan was whisked from place to place, taking care of business.  There was the company to run, funeral details to attend to, and of course, the all-important last will and testament to be interpreted.  130

It was also the longest day of Aidan’s life.  The day crept onward at a snail’s pace as Aidan sat through meeting upon meeting and read document after document.  And the whole time, Aidan’s felt numb, like he had been plunged into a vat of ice water and was being held there by a giant hand slowly compressing his skull.  131

By the time that Johnson guided Aidan into the Green Tree, the gaudy sign was down, and the merrymakers had dispersed.  Eva looked over and saw Aidan enter, looking robotic and careworn.  On the pretense of refilling water glasses, Eva made her way toward the table.  132

The pub was just background buzz to Aidan, and the colors flashing before his eyes held no significance.  Aidan looked up to see Eva approaching.  He blinked.  His mind began to defreeze.  It seemed like an eternity had passed since he had sat with Eva in the grass that morning.  133

“Good evening, my name is Eva, and I will be your server tonight.  May I get you anything to drink?”  She looked at Aidan out of the corner of her eye.  As she jotted down drinks, he just looked at her.  Disconcerted, Eva left the table and went to the bar to submit her list.  As she turned, Aidan pulled her off to one side.134

“What’s wrong, Aidan?” she asked softly, looking to make sure no one was watching before she hugged him.135

“My father’s dead,” he said without emotion.  “Heart attack.  Died sometime early this morning.  Bastard deserved it.” 136

“Oh, Aidan,” Eva breathed.  “I am so sorry.”  He pulled her close and Eva hugged him tightly, sensing that despite all his bitter words, Aidan needed comfort.  “Your mother, how is she…”137

“Dead,” said Aidan.  “Left my father when I was six.  Died not long after.”138

“And your siblings…”139

“Are nonexistent,” Aidan responded, burying his face in Eva’s long hair.  “He was the only family I had,” he whispered.  His voice was close to breaking.140

“Oh, Aidan,” Eva repeated.  She hugged him tighter and gently rocked him back and forth.  After a few minutes, Aidan let her go.141

“Don’t let me keep you from your job,” Aidan said.  142

“Some things are more important than jobs,” Eva replied, touching his face.  “I’m here for you if you need me.”  At that moment, there was a sharp clink followed by the sound of raised voices and breaking glass.  “Oh, no!” Eva cried, kissing Aidan quickly before running to grab a dishcloth to perform damage control.  Aidan stood for a moment, then returned to his table, feeling slightly cheerier.143

The men stood respectfully as the casket was loaded onto the van.  Nearby, Aidan and Eva held hands in an unobtrusive doorway, partially shaded by a rhododendron.  Aidan reached over and held Eva tightly to him.  144

“How long will you be gone?” she murmured.145

“At least weeks, and maybe months,” Aidan said softly, lifting her hood as a pair of truck drivers passed their hiding spot.  “There’s a lot I need to do.  My father did a lot more administrative work in the company than I ever imagined he did.”146

“You’ll come back soon, won’t you?” Eva whispered, nearly choking.  Aidan stroked her hair.147

“As soon as I can,” Aidan said.  148

“Mr. Jacobs!” someone called.  149

“I have to go,” Aidan whispered.  He kissed Eva, gently tugged on her hair, then released her and stepped out into the warm spring sunshine.  Eva followed, but stopped short of the crowd.  Standing on the steps of the Green Tree, Eva watched Aidan get in the car, and drive away.  He looked back twice, but in a matter of moments the car had rounded the corner and was lost to view.  Eva dashed her tears away, and returned to the Green Tree.  150

“Good evening, my name is Eva, and I will be your server tonight.  May I get you anything to drink?”  151

Eva was lifeless inside.  Looking around, the pub was the same.  Nadine was the same.  Life was back to normal.  But somehow, she felt different.152

All too soon the ships departed, and my love left as well,153

Promises he gave of his return upon the sea’s great swells. 154

Despite the men that flocked to me in never-ending droves155

I could not forget the way a weathered smuggler loves.156

Spring blossoms and showers of petals gave way to azure skies and fluffy clouds.  Summer deepened, and the logging continued.  Somehow, in her heart of hearts and despite all common sense, Eva had hoped that Aidan would stop the destruction.  But still it continued.  Trucks rattled back and forth.  Trees crashed to the ground with an almighty groan, a death scream that grated on Eva’s soul.  But she remained optimistic.  Aidan had not forgotten her.  He had not forgotten Nadine.157

June and July wore on, and no news came.  Aidan must be very busy.  Still, he would visit soon.  The forest was resplendent in its summer finery.158

August brought drought, and the magnificent trees began to fade, their roots weakened by the loss of their neighbors.  Eva’s faith waned too.159

August became Autumn, a change of three letters that nevertheless brought astounding renovation to the landscape.  Deciduous trees became fiery swatches of red and orange on the hillside, reminding Eva of that magical dawn months ago.  The logging continued.  She watched day by day as the forest receded up the hillside until at last, as September entered the scene, there were no trees at all on the near side of the hill for the sun to paint and repaint at dawn and dusk.  As the leaves fell, Eva’s hope plummeted.  160

November brought chilling rains, and then blissful snow.  Logging ground to a halt after two trucks skidded to their doom on their winding way up to the Nadine Woods.  Eva was thankful.  The pubs were packed with idle drivers and workers, wasting their money and precious hours of their lives on drink and drunken talk.  Where was Aidan?  161

Winter passed all too quickly, and soon the talk in the pubs turned to spring, and the resumption of destruction.   Men boasted of the progress they would make in the coming year.  162

Eva’s heart sank with the melting of the winter snows.  By now she knew that Aidan was not coming.  He had forgotten Nadine.  He had forgotten her.163

In the second week of April, logging resumed.  That night, Eva cried herself to sleep, and the trucks rumbled ever onward.164

“Good evening, my name is Eva, and I will be your server tonight.  May I get you anything to drink?”  165

Yes, indeed, the saying was true.  Life did go on.  If you could call it life.  166

Nadine was in a frenzy.  How could this happen?  What had they done wrong?  They had entertained the truck drivers, flattered the loggers, and lavished their finest entertainment on the managers.  But their efforts were all in vain.  Only one year since their little town had gained a place in the world, it was all ending.  Trucks, drivers, saws, and loggers: they were all leaving.  167

The Jacobs Building was a flurry of activity as the furniture and people were removed from the places which had become quite comfortable to them.  Eva privately rejoiced.  Her forest was safe.  For how long, she didn’t know, but she had learned to live for the here-and-now.  She was glad to be rid of the crude drivers and workers who had ensconced themselves in the Green Tree for so long, joking and pointing at her.168

But most of all, she was happy to finally be rid of Aidan.  Every night at the Green Tree reminded her of that first meeting.  Every sunrise and every tree-climb unearthed those long-departed memories.  As the final white-collar workers staggered out arm and arm with the blue-collar ones, Eva slammed the doors shut and breathed a sigh of relief.  169

Removing her apron, Eva ran all the way to the Nadine Woods.  They were dark and silent.  She pushed all remembrance of a happier day out of conscious thought, and once again she climbed the massive oak in the middle of the forest.170

The morning sunshine lit the bare earth and dusted it pink and orange.  If Eva squinted, she could see young shrubs and the humble beginnings of tree beginning to reclaim the hillside.  Eva climbed down from the oak, and sat by the stream.  She picked flowers and wove them into a wreath, which she set on her table at home, next to a dried, faded wreath which she had never quite gotten around to removing.  171

A new day, a new beginning.172

The Green Tree was uncharacteristically silent without the drivers.  Eva almost missed the bustle.  But when she looked out at the treetops of the Nadine Woods, she was content.173

“Good evening, my name is Eva, and I will be your server tonight.  May I get you anything to drink?”174

Finally he returned to me, wearied by fire and death,175

Reunited in the village where we first had met.176

He embraced me tightly then swept me from the land,177

And soon we had settled in our own Village on the Sand.178

It was nearly closing time.  Chris had gone home to sleep off his cares and his alcohol.  A lone car crawled up the street.  Only the most devout of drinkers remained in the pub.179

Eva wiped down the counters.  She wiped down the tables.  She went into the back and started washing the dishes.  The regulars could be trusted not to burn the pub down while she was in the kitchen.  180

The bell on the bar counter chimed, a distant call to reality.  Eva sighed and wiped her hands.  She hated it when people forgot their coats, jackets, walking sticks, or other possessions in the pub.  She picked up a tray of clean beer mugs to put away while the person searched.181

As she backed through the swinging kitchen door, the bell chimed again.182

“Coming!” Eva called, struggling not to bump the tray into the wall.  She made it to the counter, set down the tray, and addressed the errant patron.183

“May I help you?” Eva hunted for her drying towel.  She wished Chris wouldn’t move everything she set down!184

“It’s in your apron pocket,” a familiar voice supplied.  Her back to the counter, Eva froze.  “I swear.  Don’t you trust me?”  She reached into her apron pocket.  There was her towel.  She turned slowly around.  Aidan was leaning on the bar.185

“Look who it is,” Eva said disinterestedly, turning her back on Aidan and busying herself with a mug.186

“I’m sorry I was gone so long, Eva, there were things I had to do.”187

“Like what?  Like find another forest to decimate?” She rounded on him.188

“Like finding another direction for the company to pursue.  My father’s advisers wouldn’t let me disband the company.  And I couldn’t leave them to their own devices.  So I had to find something else to do.”  Aidan searched Eva’s face for any signs of encouragement.  He found none.189

“So what is Jacobs Logging, Incorporated, doing now?” Eva demanded.190

“Conservation,” he replied, smiling.  “It’s surprisingly lucrative.  In fact, it’s lucrative enough that the company actually welcomed the decision.”191

“Let me get this straight.  You’re exploiting the public and the environment?  Yes, this is a much better scheme.”  Eva slammed the mugs onto their shelves, dry or not.  She really didn’t care.192

“Wrong,” said Aidan, laughing.  “Instead of selling lumber, we’re selling artwork.  Do you have any idea how much a good oil painting of a landscape sells for?  Anyway, we’re using part of the profits to conserve forest land.  I thought you would approve.”  193

“Oil paintings,” Eva said disbelievingly.  “You’re selling oil paintings.”194

“You’ve got the general gist of it,” Aidan replied.195

“Who’s doing the painting?” she asked pragmatically.196

“A number of people,” he explained.  “We advertised and we’ve set up an agreement with some art schools where we help sponsor some promising students and then they produce art during school and work for us when they graduate.  We’ve expanded to all kinds of mediums.  I mean, we’ve got oil paintings, sculptures, an interior design line, garden implements, you name it!”  Eva was staring at him.197

“Wherever did you get the idea?” she asked, still not quite believing he was telling the truth.198

“I’ve always loved painting.  Nature has always been particularly inspiring to me.  I thought others would appreciate its beauty as well.  But I have to warn you; I’m here on business.  I keep trying to paint the essence of Nadine and it keeps eluding me.  Can you help me?”  Aidan looked so forlorn that Eva couldn’t help but smile at him.199

“What do you need?” she asked, smiling.200

“Come with me,” he said.  201

“I have to close up!” Eva protested.202

“Then close up,” Aidan laughed.  “I’ll wait.”203

Eva woke the remaining patrons and hustled them out the door.  She swabbed the tables briefly, then gave up and just locked the doors.204

“Alright.  Where are we going?”205

“I’ll show you,” Aidan said mysteriously.  He led her down the path toward the Nadine Woods.  They walked through the Woods, and emerged on the other side.  The sky was starting to lighten in the east.  He sat down on the barren hillside.  “We have to wait,” he explained.206

Eva sat beside him.  She was torn.  She was angry with Aidan for being gone so long, and angry with him for having the nerve to just appear and act like nothing was wrong.  But her curiosity about whatever he was going to show her surmounted her anger.  So she sat, and waited.207

A streak of the very palest pink emerged over the hill.  Eva leaned against Aidan.208

“I still don’t understand,” she complained.  209

“Hush,” Aidan whispered, looping one arm around her waist, and playing with her hair with the other.  Another streak, an orange one, sought to upstage the pink one, racing across the sky in tangerine glory.  The tattered purple clouds were illuminated against the light background.210

“There,” Aidan said, as the sky was suddenly lit with pastel warmth and the light skimmed the ground, leaving a pinky-orange trail.  “There are no sunrises like the ones in Nadine,” he whispered.  “And there is no one like you to share them with.  That is the magic of Nadine.  That’s what I’ve been trying to capture.  But I can’t.  I just can’t.  Not when I’m away.”211

“Set up here.  Paint.  Do whatever you need to do to get that perfect painting,” Eva said offhandedly.  Her heart was pounding furiously.212

“That’s just it.  I thought it was Nadine.  But it’s not.  Eva, I need you to come with me.  That’s all there is to it.  I should have had you come with me last time, but I didn’t want to uproot you.  Unfortunately, either you’re going to have to put down roots somewhere else or I’m going to have to learn to love people named Faith.  There’s no way around it.”213

“Did you get me my island?”214

Aidan looked very puzzled.  Eva laughed, and removed the creases from his forehead with her fingertips.215

“How about my lovely horse, and my palm trees?”216

Suddenly Aidan remembered, and he laughed.217

“I will if you want me to,” he laughed, tickling her.  Eva beat him away.  She looked up at him.218

“Then let’s go,” She pronounced, standing.219

“Where to?” Aidan asked, following her and catching her arm.220

“I don’t know.  Wherever we end up!” Eva said.221

“I thought you were afraid of the unknown,” he remarked.222

“I was,” said Eva.  She smiled at him.  “I’m not anymore.  I’m so much braver when I’m not alone.”223

“I can assure you, from this point on you will always be brave,” Aidan said, taking her hands.  224

As Eva and Aidan strolled down the hill, the sun completed its journey up the far slope of the hill and its tumble down the near side.  The growing seedlings basked in the warm sunlight, spreading their leaves and drinking in the sun’s healing light.  225