Chapter 7 - The Long Drive North
Leaving the suburban house behind for good, Daniel loaded their suitcases into an SUV and drove north toward Lake Superior. He had taken an indefinite sabbatical from his corporate firm, liquidating his investments to rent a modest log cabin nestled among the white pines of Bayfield.
For the first four hours of the drive, Sophie didn't utter a word. She held her stuffed rabbit tightly against her chest, watching the sprawling concrete interstates gradually give way to endless stretches of dark green forest and sparkling blue water.
"Daddy?" she asked as the sun dipped behind the timberline.
"Yes, my love?"
"Are there basements in the woods?"
Daniel swallowed the lump rising in his throat. He pulled over at a scenic turnout overlooking the vast expanse of the lake, unbuckled her, and carried her to a wooden railing. "No basements, Soph. Only open skies, pine trees, and fresh water. Where we are going, the doors don't have locks on the outside. Every room is open, and every window lets the sunshine in."
May you like
Sophie leaned her small cheek against his collarbone, feeling the steady thump of his heartbeat. "And do they have dogs?"
Daniel chuckled, kissing her temple. "If you want a dog, sweetheart, we will find the kindest, gentlest golden retriever in the whole state."
