With Nate’s help.
My brow creases as I consider this. Now that I’m sober, I’m not sure I want his help in finding a job. I don’t want to be indebted to someone I barely know. At least it would be a job working for the county, and he doesn’t own the actual forestry service.
What all does he own?
And what was with Jessie’s warning? She’d refused to elaborate as to why she thought I needed to be wary, but I’m sure it’s more than just the usual “be careful with men” kind of cautioning.
I shiver though I’m not sure if the cause is my thoughts or the fact that the sun is now hidden by clouds, and the temperature under the bare trees is beginning to drop. A light rain begins to fall, so I head back to my car.
Deciding to take a slightly different route home, I pass by the Winter Lodge I keep hearing about and stop to check it out. I find a parking spot in the visitor’s section and head to the front doors.
The lobby area is huge with a pair of grand staircases spiraling up to the second level. A giant wooden carving of a grizzly bear stands on one side of the doors and a similar carving of a wolf on the other side. Aside from the reception desk, I see a gift shop, an arcade, and a coffee shop. Coffee sounds pretty good, so I stop in and order a latte.
The place is pretty packed, but I find a small table in the corner and sit, watching the tourists try to keep up with their rambunctious children.
As I sip the latte, a woman in a lodge uniform walks up and leans toward me, her curly ponytail flopping over her shoulder as she smiles warmly.
“Do you mind if I join you?” the woman asks. “I’m just on my break, so I’d only be a few minutes.”
“Sure.”
“Thanks so much! I’ve been on my feet for hours!” She sits with a groan and holds her legs out, flexing her ankles. Despite the groan, she’s all smiles as she turns to me and offers a friendly hand. “I’m Cher.”
“Hi, Cher,” I say, taking her hand briefly and smiling back. “I’m Cherry.”
“Ha!” Her smile broadens. “I’m Cher with a shh, and you’re Cher like a cherub!”
“I can’t argue with that!” I laugh along with her.
“Are you visiting with your family?” Cher asks.
“Oh, no, I’m not a tourist,” I say. “I’m just new in town and thought I’d check the place out.”
“Oh really?” Her head bobs up and down as she stares at her feet. The air of friendliness is still there but muted. “Where do you live?”
I stiffen slightly. I know exactly what she’s asking—am I Eastside or Westside? I bite my lip and take a deep breath.
I need some answers.
“Before I answer that question,” I say slowly, “will you answer a couple of mine?”
“Weeeell…” Cher says, drawing out the vowel far longer than necessary. She tilts her head and examines me for a moment before her smile returns. “I suppose so.”
“How long have you lived in Cascade Falls?”
“My whole life,” Cher says. “My father worked on the construction of the lodge back in the eighties.”
“I’ve only been here a couple of weeks, and I’m trying to figure out this whole “West Side-East Side thing. Can you explain it to me?”
Cher pauses, her smile waning. She hastily scans the room as if she might encounter a spy hidden in a shadowy alcove.
“Yeah—that’s what I’m trying to figure out,” I mumble, and Cher looks back to me quickly.
“It’s a bit of a…family feud issue,” she says quietly. “To be honest, we don’t talk about it.”
“I got that idea,” I say, “but how am I suppose to keep myself from committing regional faux pas when I don’t understand any of it?”
“You seem like a nice girl, Cherry,” she says, “and since you were kind enough to let me sit with you, I’ll give you a very brief overview, but then I need to get back to work.”
“That would be helpful, I’m sure.”
“But first, tell me where you live.”
“East side of town.”
She lets out a long breath, clearly relieved. Leaning back in her chair, she closes her eyes for a moment before looking back at me.
“There are two prominent families in Cascade Falls—the Orsos and the Ramsays. The Orso family is on the east side of town and the Ramsays on the west. Their conflict goes back decades—way before I was born—and I’m not exactly sure how it all got started, but they hate each other with a daytime-drama-like passion. Both families are into the real estate business—keeping to their own side of town, obviously—and both families have other businesses, too. For the most part, they stay out of each other’s way.”
“So, two big families have grief with each other. I get that, but why is the whole town involved?”
“In Cascade Falls, you have to choose a side,” Cher says with a shrug.
“Why?”
“It’s just safer that way,” she says as she stands up. “Sorry, my break is over. I need to get back. It was good to meet you, Cherry.”
She runs off before I can say another word, and I’m left with even more questions than I had before. I pitch my empty coffee cup and head back to the car.
*****
It’s five minutes before eight o’clock, and my hands are starting to sweat. I rub my palms on my jeans and force myself to stop pacing by plopping my ass on the kitchen chair.
“You are still being ridiculous,” I say aloud.
