"So I hear we have someone coming up to stay in Glen's property for a couple of months.  Did you happen to hear anything?"  the gentleman asked, as he sat down at Danielle's kitchen table.

"No, I mean, I heard that he rented it out, but didn't really hear anything about who was going to be staying there.  I'm surprised though.  Glen loves that house and I never thought he would rent it out.  He put a lot of work in to it."

Nodding his head in agreement, Steven graciously accepted the cup of coffee that Danielle had placed in front of him. 

"I don't know Dani.  He hasn't been up to the cabin in months.  I think that new little wife of his is keeping him as far from here as she can.  I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up selling it."

"Why would she keep him away from here?  I mean Cedar Falls has to be the most amazing place in the world.  Everything here is natural, untouched...and just....."

"Everything she isn't huh?"  Steven chuckled.

Giving him a strange look, Danielle sat down at the opposite end of the table and stared out the window across the lake as the morning mist rose above it.

"It's just that.....how can you not fall in love with this place.  Everyday I love it even more.  It's just peaceful here.  I would never want to leave."

"Well, I think Glen has been fully bitten by the LA bug.  Did you see him the last time he was up here?  It was insane.  Trying to manuver that low riding barbie car through this terrain."  he snickered.

"Well, I think it's ridiculous."

Getting back up from the table, Danielle sat her glass down in the sink and headed out on to the front porch.  She loved being out there in the early morning.  The smell of the crisp clean air, the birds singing in the numerous trees surrounding the lake and most importantly, the peacful and relaxed feeling that enveloped her when she was out there.  It was something she wouldn't trade for the world.

"So, any news on when our visitor will be coming?"  Steven asked as he joined Danielle outside.

"No, but if I hear anything I'll let you know."

"Same here.  It's funny that something as simple as this is a  big deal around here.  How pathetic is that?"

"It's not pathetic.  It's the way I like it.  No chaos, no drama, no gossip just......life.  They way it was meant to be lived."

After a slight nod of his head, Steven placed his hands deep in his pocket and turned to face her.

"I think I am going to go for a walk around the lake.  Care to join me?"

"Not today.  I think I am just going to kick back for a while before I head to the store.  Do you need anything while I'm out?"

"No, I'm good.  Thanks for asking though."

"Alright, well enjoy your walk.  I'll catch up with you later on."  Danielle said as she looked back over her shoulder.

"Sounds like a plan." he replied, casually trotting down the few porch steps.

Leaning back on her chair, Danielle watched as Steven strolled down the along the edge of her property toward the lake. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Are you sure you really want to do this?  Go all that way just to work on some new projects?"

"Yeah, I'm sure.  I need to get away from here for a while.  I'm putting my past behind me.  I'm not working for anyone else anymore.  I'm looking out for me and what's best for my career."

"Well I'm glad to hear that your focus is on the future of your own career, but I really don't know why you have to go that far away to do it."  Chantal said, looking up at her brother as he finished packing his suitcases.

"Look, I made the decision to go and I'm going.  It's the best thing for me....for everyone. I would think that of all people you would understand this Chan."

Letting out a heavy sigh, Chantal looked across the room at the photo that her brother still kept of his former girlfriend. Their relationship had been over for some time and yet he still couldn't bring himself to remove the small reminders of her that were scattered throughout the house. 

"Is this the real reason you're leaving?" she asked, holding up the photo. "It isn't healthy to hold on to all these reminders Wade.  You know that right?"  she continued, glancing around the room at the other objects he still had laying around.  "Are you ever going to get rid of this stuff?" 

Letting out a heartfelt sigh, Wade walked over to where his sister was standing and snatched the photo from her grasp, gently placing it back on his dresser. 

"She isn't the reason I am leaving, and no I'm not getting rid of it."  he replied abruptly.  "If I'm not mistaken, we've had this conversation several times before with the same outcome.  Why can't you just leave it alone?"

"Because I know she's the reason Wade.  Why else would you go all that way?  Everything you could possibly need to further your career is right here in LA.  Nothing is in Montana.  The fact that Glen hasn't been there in ages should tell you something." 

"Look, I'm leaving here in about an hour.  If you want to continue to waste the last little bit of time we have together arguing over this, then you might as well leave.  You're really not doing anyone any good right now.  Seriously." 

"I don't want to argue about this, but it's hard for me not to wonder if she's the reason you're leaving.  You know she's moved on with her life.  I just wish you would do the same."

"That's what I am trying to do.  I haven't seen her in months Chantal.  I haven't talked to her, I haven't asked anyone about her.   Not that I'm completely in the dark with what's going on in her life, but I'm not out there trying to find stuff out either.  But...I just can't completely walk away from it like it meant nothing to me.  I not going to throw away every reminder I have of her and try to pretend like she didn't exsist. She was a major part of my life Chantal."  he said glancing back over to the photo. 

Knowing that she had talked to his ex on more than one occassion since they ended their relationship, it was almost heartbreaking to know that she had to keep the fact that she still loved Wade a secret. Unfortunately, despite knowing that they both still cared for each other, the fact remained that his ex had moved on with her life.

"I loved her you know."  Wade said softly, straightening out their photo on his dresser.  "I mean, she was the one Chantal.  The only one I could have ever envisioned spending the rest of my life with and I threw it all away."

Seeing the still present look of hurt plastered across her brother's face when he spoke about her, Chantal knew that the best thing to do was drop the subject entirely.  Sure, he said he 'loved' her, but clearly by the look on his face as he studied the photo of the two of them, that feeling of 'love' was far from past tense and she was starting to wonder if it ever would be. 

"I'm sorry.  Let's just talk about something else. I don't want to end things on a sour note between us before you go."

"Neither do I."  he said, turning back to face her. 

"I'm gonna miss you." 

"I'm going to miss you too."  Wade replied, opening up his arms to her.  "You know, it's not going to be forever.  It's just going to be a few months and you can always come and visit me."

"In Montana?  No thanks!  There is absolutely NOTHING in Montana!"  she chuckled, wrapping her arms around Wade's waist.

"Thanks Chan."

"Oh you know I'm just playing.  Besides, what if you find some little country princess to keep you company on those lonely nights.  Then are you going to want your sister hanging around?"

Shaking his head at her, Wade dropped his arms to his side and let out a slight laugh.

"Country princess huh?  What exactly is a 'country princess'?  Wade asked, tilting his head to the side as if he was terribly interested in her answer. "Actually,  never mind.  It doesn't matter.  Glen said there are only a few properties on his side of the lake and that my neighbor's pretty much keep to themselves."

"Oooh.  Neighbors."

"Yeah, neighbors.  You heard of those before haven't you?"

"You're so funny Wade.  Do these neighbors have any names?"

"Yes they do and I don't think 'Steven' or 'Danny' are my type so wipe that grin off your face."  Wade chuckled, as he placed a few more things in to his suitcase. 

"Hey, it is out in the country with very little civilization.  Might get lonely out there.  Didn't you ever see Deliverance?"

"You are so nasty!  No wonder you don't have a man!"

"Hey, I chose not to be involved in a relationship."

"Yeah because no one would have you."  Wade laughed, his face wrinkled in to a look of disgust.

After dropping her jaw in shock, Chantal grabbed her purse from the bed and whacked Wade in his stomach.

"You're so mean!"  she yelled laughing. 

"Hey, I just call them like I see them."  he replied, quickly stepping to the side to avoid being hit a second time. 

"I hate you Wade!"

"No you don't."

Watching her brother stand there with a complete look of amusement on his face made her smile.  It was a sight she thought she would never see again.

"So, is there anything else you need to pack or are you pretty much ready to go?"  Chantal asked, watching him moved two of his suitcases over to the bedroom door.

"I have a few things to grab from my office, but other than that, I'm pretty much ready to go."

"You know, I still don't understand why you are driving all that way when you can just as easily have a moving company transport your truck down there and then just fly down."

"Honestly, I'd rather drive down.  I mean, originally I wasn't looking forward to the long ride by myself, but I think I could really use some time alone...to think."

Noticing that Wade was once again glancing back at the photo on his dresser, Chantal had the sudden urge to just come clean about his ex.  She wasn't sure how her question or comments would be received, but at this point in time, she was willing to risk finding out.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Chantal collapsed down on to the bed and pattted the space on the mattress beside her. 

"Come here.  I think there's something you need to know."

Raising his eyebrows slightly, Wade closed his closet door and hesitantly walked over to his bed.

"Should I be scared?"  Wade chuckled, turning himself around so that he could sit down.

"I don't know, but before you go to Montana, I need to ask you something." she said, her voice suddenly taking on a more serious tone.

"What do you need to ask me?"

Not wanting to beat around the bush, Chantal glanced up at the photo on the dresser and then turned her attention back to her brother.

"Do you still love her.  I mean, you said you 'loved' her, but is that really the case?  Because I can't help but think that you're not as over her as you want me to believe."

"I'm not sure what you're asking me Chantal."

"I'm asking you if you still love her?  If you knew that she still asked about you and that she still cared for you, would you stay here and fight for her?"

"Don't do this to me."  Wade sighed, letting his head fall back in defeat. "Not now."

"Im serious Wade.  Answer the question.  Would you?"

"You know, I'd love to be able to say yes.  To say that if there was any chance we could find a way to be together again, that I would stay and fight for her, but that's not a possibility and we both know that!  She's moved on!"

"Has she?"

"You know she has.  Isn't it obvious?!" 

"You mean Kaleigh?"

"I mean all of it Chantal!"  Wade said, quickly getting up from his position on the bed and heading over to the window. 

Taking a deep breath, Chantal let it out slowly and tried to calm the tension she felt building up in the room.

"Just talk to her Wade.  Before you go to Montana, just promise me you will call her.  That's all I'm asking."

"Chantal I haven't talked to her for a reason!  I mean, do you really think she needs me constantly bringing up the past?"  he asked, briefly glancing over his shoulder at her.  "She deserves to have a normal life.  She deserves...she deserves someone better than me." 

"So then basically you're saying she is better of with him?  Are you serious?!"

"He loves her Chantal.  I know he does.  And in some sick and twisted way, I know she loves him too."

"Not like she loved you.  Like she STILL loves you."

"Chantal...."

"She told me she still loves you Wade."

"I CAN'T BE WITH HER!!"

"Why?!"

"God Chantal, just please let it go."  Wade said, his emotions quickly getting the best of him as he squeezed his eyes closed.  "I can't do this right now.  Please."

Realizing that she had done more than just upset her brother, Chantal stood up and headed over to where he was standing.  She didn't mean to open old wounds, but at the same time, she hated the idea of her brother leaving town and thought that if anything would keep him in Los Angeles that this would be it.  Except now that she saw his reaction to the whole discussion, she wish she would have just kept her mouth shut.

"I'm sorry.  It's just that..."  she started to say, as she placed her hand on his shoulder.

Unable to even say anything at the moment, Wade wiped the tears from his eyes and turned to walk the other way.  The ache that he had felt in his heart only moments ago, now increasing ten fold as he finally let the reality of what he lost sink in for the first time.

Chapter 2

As Wade stood in the opposite end of his bedroom, Chantal curiously watched for any sign that it was safe to speak.  Some softening of his now still frame, a sigh, anything to let her know that she hadn't pushed him too far. 

Noticing that Wade continued to remain relatively still, Chantal took a few steps closer to her brother.  This was not how she wanted things to end with him before he left town.  She had to fix this. 

"Wade..."

"Chantal, I know you're just trying to help here, but honestly, I thought you knew where I stood with her.  Why would you wait until now to bring this all back up?"  Wade asked, his bloodshot eyes still lined with tears as he turned around to face his sister.

"I don't know, I mean...it's just that..."  Chantal started to say, but she quickly found out that the more she tried to explain where she was coming from, the more tongue tied she got.  Letting out a heavy sigh, Chantal continued over to her brother and wrapped her arms around him.  She knew he was hurting.  And not the kind of hurt that fades over time.  This was a hurt buried deep inside him that obviously was never going to go away. 

"I miss her Chantal."  Wade sobbed, wrapping his own arms around his sister. "I miss being able to wake up beside her.  I miss being able to hear her laugh or see her smile.  I miss having her in my life."

"I know you do."  Chantal replied softly.  "So then maybe it's time for you to tell her how you feel.  Be honest with her and give her the chance to tell you how she feels."

"No!  I can't."  Wade said, quickly pushing himself out of the arms of his sister to wipe his eyes. 

"Why?  I don't understand!"

"Chantal, she left me.  She left me for a reason.  I can't go back in time and change things, make things right again.  I mean, even if we somehow managed to just get together and try to carry on a normal conversation, what do you think she would be thinking as she looked at me?  How much she misses having me in her life?!  No!  She would be counting her lucky stars that she's not still wrapped up in my fucked up life!  That she had finally got the life she always wanted."

"But she still loves you Wade.  She still loves you...and you still love her!  Don't you owe it to the both of you to at least be honest with each other?"

"I've done nothing but make mistake, after mistake, after mistake with her Chantal.  I'm not about to make another one.  I need to just forget about it, about her.  I mean, don't get me wrong.  I miss her.  I miss her a lot.  But I need to move on, like you said."

Hearing her own words come back to haunt her, Chantal stood there speechless.  She just didn't know what else to say.  He had obviously made up his mind and nothing else that she could say or do was going to change it.

"If that's really the way you feel, then I'm sorry for even bringing it up.  I just thought you needed to know."

"I understand why you felt the need to tell me.  I just hope you understand why I can't be with her.  Why I need to go away for awhile."

"So she is the reason you are leaving."

"Ok, so she is one of the reasons why I'm going.  She's just not the only reason I'm leaving town for awhile.  I really do just want to get away from all these distractions and do some work.  I have a lot of ideas, a lot of projects that I had pushed to the back when I was with her.  I'd like to see if any of these are actually worth pursuing."

"Well, then I hope Montana proves to be just what you were looking for."  Chantal said, offering her brother a genuine smile.

"You and me both."  Wade replied, glancing down at his watch.  "I think it might actually be a good idea if I just head out now.  There's really no reason to wait around.  I know you have things to do anyway."

"They can wait.  Just stay a little longer."

"I can't.  I really should get going.  Lord knows I have quite a drive ahead of me."  Wade chuckled, heading over to where he had placed his suitcases.

"How long it is?"

"A little over ninteen and a half hours.  Give or take."

"Oh my god!  I still can't believe you are driving all that way.  I would never even entertain the idea of doing this.  EVER!"

"No kidding princess."

"Hey, I'm no princess.  I just don't think spending hours on end driving in a car is my idea of a good time.  I'd rather be sitting in First Class sipping a glass a wine and watching a good movie."

"Uh huh.  You're not a princess.  Right."  Wade laughed, grabbing one of his bags from the floor and tossing it over his shoulder.

"Here, let me help you carry these down to your truck." 

Grabbing one of his bags from the floor, Chantal watched as Wade gathered the last one and headed out the bedroom door.  As she watched him descend the stairs, she let out a heavy sigh and hoped that Wade really was alright.  For the most part he seemed to have recovered from their conversation, but then again, that was what he was good at doing.  Hiding things.

"Now, I'm assuming you are stopping somwhere along the way.  I mean, you're not driving ninteen hours straight, are you?"  Chantal asked, banging the suitcase off each step as she continued her way down.

"No, I'm going to stop somewhere for the night.  Just not sure where.  Depends on how good I am doing on time."

"Well, make sure you call me when you stop.  I don't care if it's at 4am.  Call me and let me know you're ok."

"Yes mother."

"I'll give you 'yes mother'!"  Chantal laughed as she followed Wade across the foyer and over to the front door.  "Which reminds me.  Did you talk to her this morning?  Does mom know you're leaving today?"

"Yeah, I called her when I woke up.  Of course, she was just as bad as you, telling me she didn't want me to go all that way just to work.  But I think she understands that I need to do this...for me." 

"Now I'm going to have to go stop over there after you leave to make sure she is ok."

"Probably a good idea.  After all, you know how emotional she gets."  Wade said, rolling his eyes as he headed out the front door and down the driveway.

"Well, you are her baby boy."  Chantal chuckled, as she followed after him.

"Oh don't you even start on me with that."

"You know I'm just playing."

"Yeah, yeah."  Wade groaned, as he disengaged the alarm on his truck to that he could open the doors and finish loading the last few things he needed for his trip.  "And just so you know, the conversation we had earlier, it isn't going to be like some set back or anything for me.  I'm going to be alright.  I'm not going to go and...."

"I know you won't Wade, and I'm sorry I brought it up.  Really, I am.  It's your life and you're going to do what you want with it.  All I want is for you you to be happy.  That's all I ever wanted."

"I know.  But I am...or...at least I will be.  Someday.  It's just going to take some time, that's all."  Wade said, taking the last bag from her and tossing it inside.  "Well, that's the last of them." he continued, slamming his door shut.  "I just have to get my things from the office and then it's goodbye LA, hello Montana!"

"Hype it up all you want Wade, it's Montana.  You're going to be bored out of your mind before the first week is even over.  I guarantee it."

"I'm not going to have any time to be bored my sweet sister." Wade laughed, as he patted Chantal on the head.  "I'm going up there to work, remember?"

"So I'm told."  Chantal said, brushing Wade's hand off of her head before turning around to kick him in his butt as he headed back up to the house.  "Well, since you are going to be heading out soon, let me say my goodbyes now so you can make sure you have everything you need packed up without having me to distract you." 

Letting out a slight chuckle, Wade turned back around and headed over to where Chantal was standing.  Seeing her eyes start to gloss over, Wade exhaled deeply and pulled his sister in for a hug.

"This isn't goodbye you know.  It's only going to be a few weeks and then I'll be back before you know it.  Just think of this more as a...I'll see you soon kind of deal."

"I know."  Chantal sobbed, turning her head sideways so that she could rest her head on his chest.  "It's just hard to know you aren't going to be here.  What if I need you?"

"Then you call me.  You should by now that if you ever need me, I'll be there in a heartbeat.  All you have to do is call sis."

Wiping her eyes, Chantal stepped back and let out a slight chuckle.

"Oh god.  Look at me!  Now I am just like mom!"

Letting out a few laughs of his own, Wade leaned forward and placed a kiss on Chantal's cheek.

"I have to go get the last of my things so..."

"I know, I'm going.  Just promise me you will call when you stop."

"I will.  I promise."  Wade replied, shoving his car keys back in to his pocket.  "Now go before you have me in tears."

Offering him a sincere smile, Chantal reached in her purse and pulled out her own set of keys.  After disengaging the alarm on her BMW, Chantal walked over and opened up the driver's side door to get in.

"Drive carfeully Wade." 

"I will.  Now go."  Wade laughed, closing her door for her and taking a few steps back.

Placing her key in the ignition, Chantal turned her car on and lowered her window.  After taking one last look at her still smiling brother, Chantal shifted her car in to drive and slipped her sunglasses back down on to her eyes.

"Bye Wade."

"Bye sis."

After watching Chantal pull back on to the road, Wade let out a heavy sigh and headed back up his driveway and in to his house.  Knowing that so much of what went wrong in his life happened here, it was almost comforting to know that he was getting to leave it all behind for awhile.  He even thought about getting Chantal to have someone come in redo the place while he was gone, but he also knew that despite everything negative that the house reminded him of, it also served as a reminder of the few happy times he shared with her in it. 

Knowing that thinking about her any more was just asking for trouble, Wade closed the heavy front door behind him and headed down the hall to his office.  After pushing the door open, Wade headed over to his desk and began rummaging through the stack of folders off to his left.  Realizing that the one he was looking for wasn't there, he pulled out one of his drawers and began scanning through the various hanging folders.  Yet he still couldn't find what he was looking for.

"Where in the hell did I put it."  Wade said aloud, as he let his back fall back against his leather chair.  "I know it's in here somewhere."

Then, almost as soon as the words fell from his mouth, he remembered placing the folder in the file cabinet across the room that contained his personal items and paperwork. 

"Ah ha!"

Jumping up from his desk, Wade headed across the room and pulled on the handle of the top drawer.

"God damn it!"  Wade yelled as he realized that he had locked the cabinet after he was in it last time. "Now where in the hell did I put that key."  he continued, sitting down once again in his chair so that he could sort through the various pens and paperclips that littered the small drawer underneath his desk.

As he continued to shift the items from one side to the other, he caught sight of a small photo off in the back corner of the drawer and sighed.  Knowing exactly who the photo was of, Wade did his best to ignore it and continued on with his search.  Unfortunately, he soon realized that the photo was actually laying on top of the key he was looking for.

"Of course."  Wade sighed.  "Why in the hell did I think that this was going to be uneventful."

Shaking his head with utter disbelief, Wade swallowed the lump that was now forming in his throat and slid his hand to the back corner of the drawer.  He originally planned on just slipping the key out from underneath it and continuing on with the real reason he was in his office, but the second his finger tips touched the small photo, he had no choice but to pull it out as well.  It was almost as if he had no control over what he was doing. 

After placing the key down on to the suface of the desk, Wade flipped the photo over and felt his heart sink to the pit of his stomach.  Everything about her was still embedded in his mind.  From the smell of her skin to the feel of her lips against his. 

"God, I never meant to hurt you.  I hope you know that."  Wade said, softly tracing his index finger down over her cheek and across the smile that always seemed to light up a room.  "I wish things would have turned out differently, that I would have done things differently.  I just hope you know how sorry I am."

Once he placed the photo gently back in his drawer, Wade pushed it closed and stood up to head over to the file cabinet.  After unlocking the top drawer, Wade beganning thumbing through his files in search of the folder he needed to take with him.

"And there you are."  he said, quickly plucking the folder from it's place among his other files.

Closing the drawer back up, Wade flipped open the folder and double checked to make sure that everything he needed was in there.

"Shit!  His business card!

Heading back over to his desk, Wade sat the folder back down and began sorting through the business cards he had collected over the course of his career.  Finally finding the one he was looking for, Wade grabbed his wallet from his back pocket and slipped the card in to one of the slots.

Satisifed that he now had everything he needed to take with him, Wade picked the folder up and was about to shove his wallet back in to his pocket when he suddenly stopped.  After quickly flipping it back open, Wade opened the drawer once again and snatched the photo of his ex back out.  Then without giving it another thought, Wade slid the small photo back behind one of his credit cards and walked back out the door.