Erik Alexander Kingsley. Thinking about his name made her gasp. A man not easily forgotten, even with time or distance. And hearing his name called out brought alive those memories again. She shuddered and then composed herself. Nobody knows her past with him, whose name she won't utter or think. I can't be him, she thought. Or can it be?

Mia feigned interest. "Do you know the man, auntie?"

"I do," she replied conversely. "Mr. Kingsley's family owns a handful of real estate in the US, Caribbean, and Dubai. They also have hotels around Europe and the US. His family also owns a bank. It's what makes them rich. He is also English, born and raised in England."

Adelia snorted. "Glad to know I have an answer to the mystery of their family's wealth."

"Indeed. I didn't know this myself until I've met Erik." Leanna admitted.

"Where did you say you've met him?" Mia pressed with interest.

"Oh, it was at a business event. After his death, I've taken over as his representative. I'm only a broad member by name, as the shares are now under my name. I'm only ever invited to such occasion to represent him." She informed bitterly than waved her hand, moving her story along. "Anyways, the young man was there and one of my business associates introduced us."

"And how long ago was that?"

"Maybe a year or so," she answered. "Why do you ask, sweetie? Have you met him as well?"

Mia was quiet for a moment, regarding whether to tell her aunt or not. The memory of their first meeting seemed fresh on her mind like it was yesterday. She understood why her aunt nearly swoon while thinking about him. She had the same reaction back then. His handsome features, and those deep blue eyes, hypnotized you into overlooking the darkness within.

Irresistible, and alluring. In a short span their eyes met, she was his prey. His ravenous gaze caged her until he looked away.

Should she tell her? She thought again, nearly giving up one of her secrets this past year. Luckily for Mia, Adelia announced they were close to the cabin, pulling her out the chokehold of her memories. And a man she wished she'd never meet again.

****

The road leading towards the cabin was mostly made of gravel and dirt. But the mush sound of the wheels told her its mud now from recent rainfall. When they pulled up, Mia felt a rush of euphoria. She had the impression its roof was made of straws and held up by thin decrepit wood walls. But the one standing in front of her looked like a decent farmhouse than a small cabin.

Rather than straws, the roof was titled with red clay stones. The walls were made of woods and painted in cream white. The front porch was also painted white to match the cabin. A stone chimney was perched on the left side, where smoke was evident.

"My grandson is tidying up the place for ye before I met ye out on the docks," Adelia said as she parked the car close to the porch.

"Richard is here? I thought would have he'd gone back last year." Leanna peered at Adelia with skepticism.

"No, he's here. He decided to stay and manage the Tavern for me. But he's..." she trailed off and cough to change the conversation. "Aye, we should head inside and get ye two warmed up. Ye must have been traveling air, land, and sea for the past twelve hours."

Leanna took notice of Adelia's abrupt dismissal on the previous topic and decidedly went along. "We did. Though it's not my first time, I'm always exhausted, especially with my age. And I'm sure Mia's tired as well." She glanced at Mia with a weary smile.

Mia beamed, opting off silence rather than making an off-handed remark.

They got out of the car simultaneously. Mia followed behind her aunt. Her eyes scanned curiously back at the cabin. It kept her thoughts occupied, thoroughly contemplating how she and her aunt would survive for three months. The last time she left the city and lived in a remote area such as this was at her grandparent's home. Even then, their place wasn't devoid of close neighbors. She hardly saw the next house from where she stood outside the truck.

It was then the front door of the cabin burst open. She stared at the new company. A tall, lean man walked out down the front porch. He wore a wool sweater with a white polo underneath and khakis. From the weather alone, he wasn't out of place in his cozy clothes. The breeze was chilly enough for snow to fall rather than rain.

As he approached, Mia caught sight of his facial features. His full dark brown beard covered most of his face, but it didn't betray him of his age. He was young, between his late twenties to early thirties.

"Richard!" Adelia waved over at the man. "Come and help us with the bag, and greet Mrs. Leanna Stanton and her niece, Mia Harnett."

Richard walked up and stopped within arm's length, holding out his hand to them. "I'm glad to see yer trip went smoothly, ma'am." He paused and turned to Mia. "Miss Harnett."

Mia studied his outreached hand for a moment. She cleared her throat and then shook it briefly. "Nice to meet you, Mister–uhm–what's your name again?"

"Richard McKenzie, ma'am."

Mia let go with pursed lips. "Mr. McKenzie."

There was an awkward pause as they studied each other's appearance closely. Somehow time stood still as they stared. It was then Mia noticed more of his features. The soft crinkle at the edges of his eyes, and the hue of it. There was a bit of light left and caught a glimpse of a shade of green and yellow in them. He had lovely eyes, she thought, but it couldn't compare with another. As it crossed her mind, she felt herself going rigid.

Adelia cleared her throat, bringing the two newly acquainted youth out of their ogling.

"The luggage is in the car, mo ghràidh," Adelia informed Richard. Mia noted the unfamiliar word­ —language, really—she used. But then, she got distracted when Adelia gestured towards the cabin. "And ye two, please come with me. Let Richie handle the heavy lifting."

Leanna grinned at her niece and gave Richard her business smile. Yet underneath her façade, she noted her worry. "Thank you, Richard. It's lovely to see you again."

Richard coughed, peering briefly at Mia, before turning back to Leanna. "Ye too, Mrs. Stanton. I'll fetch yer things. Please head to the house and warm-up. I already got the fire going."

"Thank you again, Richard," Leanna said and gazed back at her niece. "Let's go, Mia. Your nose is red as cherry now." She added teasingly and then marched ahead. Adelia was already waiting by the porch.

Mia quietly walked away from Richard with a quick backward glance, following closely behind her Aunt's shadow. She watched the young man's silhouette heading around the trunk, pulling out the luggage.

She averted her attention towards the cabin, hearing her aunt's footsteps on the wooden stairs. Its quirky characteristic gave the edge of Mia's lips a ghost of a smile. She first noticed the lime yellow curtain peeking through the wooden French window. Walking up the porch, the coffee table with two wooden chairs facing each other dominated the right corner. In front, the door made her look twice. It had an odd color of red. The same shade as blood.

As she entered, the floorboard creak in every step. The cabin was felt small. When they entered, it was already the living room. Yet it's not too cramped. It reminded her of the old apartment in college. Her first impression was not what she expected. The place had a sense of normalcy. Something she knew her aunt lacked living lavishly in the city.

Looking at the place more, she noticed the velvet couches facing the chimney had knitted pillow covers. Her eyes wander towards the firewood, which hiss and crackle as the flames grew brighter. Across the hall, the dining table was furnished oak and mahogany wood. The far wall was the kitchen, which was lined with a granite countertop, had a stove and sink made of stainless steel. A luminescent lamp was stationed strategically around the room, engulfing the cabin in a warm glow.

This wasn't home of a widowed multi-millionaire. Yet here they were. Mia judged her aunt by whom she'd married. She nearly forgot she was her mother's sister. Someone who grew up with a minimum-wage professor as a father, and a dressmaker as a mother. This was a familiar homely set-up, reminiscent of her childhood home.

Mia understood why she visited this place more times than her other houses. It truly was a home, or merely an imitation of what she thought it would be. And for that, her aunt made this her home for three months, going back every year. With enough financial support to do it, she may have done the same.

By the minute, she was getting accustomed by the cabin's charms already— and what it actually meant to be away from her past life.

"Where are the rooms, auntie?" Mia asked. She continued assessing the area while moving further in until she stood in the middle, between the living room and the dining table.

Leanna gestured towards two doors on the right corner. "You can take the one by the kitchen, Mia. The bathroom is the door in the middle," she replied.

Nodding, she turned and made her way, eager to see her own private quarters.

Her bedroom was what she expected from a cabin. A single bed on the left corner with a tall wooden dresser beside the door, and one vanity table across the bed. It had its own mirror, and a chair tucked underneath the desk. She continued her assessment with the dresser and started pulling the two drawers. To her luck—and dismay to see something mysterious—it was empty. She continued her search on the vanity table, pulling the drawer in and out, finding nothing again.

Her pursuit was abruptly halted by a knock on the door.

"Mia, your things are in the living room. Do you need help moving it in?"

She sighed in relief hearing her aunt's voice across the door. Somehow, she expected someone else.

Richard McKenzie.

It caught her off guard to show some interest in the newly acquainted young Scotsman. But she'd be lying to herself if she said he wasn't attractive than most men his age. And thinking so only surprised her more. How long has it been since she found anyone attractive besides... she shook her head, pushing off the memory.

"I'll be out, auntie. I can get it myself," she called out after closing the bottom cabinet.

Mia glanced around the cozy and compact room one last time, smiling at the closed window across the door. At least she had access to clean air if the room got stuffy.

When she joined her aunt, Adelia, and her grandson, Richard, they were huddled by the main door. The luggage was placed near the couch, half scattered on the floor. With a creaky floorboard, making it difficult to sneak up on someone, everyone turned in her direction once she arrived. Mia smiled shyly like she was caught doing something mischievous.

"I'll get my things and start unpacking. I might sleep in early and skip dinner," she informed, moving towards her things.

"Oh, nonsense. Don't you dare skip a meal, Mia. Adelia's going to prepare us something before she and Richard head back to the farm." Leanna turned to her confidant. "What are we having for dinner, Adelia?"

The old woman smiled and met Mia's gaze. "I'm making Shepard's pie with one of my family's recipes. It's one of yer aunt's favorite dishes."

"Oh! You're making that tonight." Leanna took a deep breath. "I can smell you haven't started yet. Would you be able to do it now? We can just have sandwiches. Mia loves a classic BLT sandwich."

Adelia scoffed. "I can do it, Leanna. Don't ye worry about it. I'll be done once ye've both cleaned up and unpacked." She glanced briefly at her wristwatch. "And I have some time on my hand. It's no worries."

"If it's alright with you, then it's fine with me." Leanna grinned and walked up to Mia. "And you, my dear, are having dinner with us?" She arched her eyebrow in challenge, though her question was not open for refusal.

Mia pursed her lips in defeat. "Fine. I'll be glad to join you." She started pulling her bags from the pile, grunting as she goes. "I'll start unpacking now."

It was then Adelia nudge at her grandson, pulling him out of his stupor. "Richie, go on. Help the lass."

Like being drenched in cold water, he half-ran towards Mia and took the bags out of her hand. "Here, let me." He stated before she could oppose it. He then headed towards her room, not waiting for her offer.

Mia grabbed the last of her things, which didn't weigh as much as what Richard was carrying, and followed him a minute later.

****

Leanna and Adelia watched the two with apprehension. They finally let out a sigh as the two disappeared from the living room. When they were alone, Adelia finally asked her a question— something she couldn't say with Mia present.

"Would her being here change anything?"

Leanna smile ceased. "I hope so. If not, I'm afraid there is nothing we can do for her but pray she'll recover herself."

Adelia sighed and stared at where Mia and Richard are. "I pray she will, my dear."

"And Richard? Is he okay?" Leanna, in turn, asked her a question as well.

"I've prayed for him daily. But I'm no sure he'll recover as I have."

"He's a strong young man, Adelia. From my last visit, I assure you I see some progress in him."

"Are ye sure? Because he looked the same to me since he came back."

Leanna smiled. "I am. And truly, all we can do for them is pray."

"I shall add yer dear Mia in my prayers from now on."

"Thank you, Adelia."

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Thank you so much for reading! Let me know what you think on the comments below. I will be updating this new story every Wednesday and Saturday. Until then, enjoy the rest of your week everyone. :)