Lake Cabin – Part 1

My wife and I had taken a 7 to 9 day vacation to a cabin on a lake in the northern part of the state in the late Spring for the past 20 years. When our children were younger we would take them to her mother’s. It would give them time with grandma and give us some time alone with each other. We would take our family vacation at another time. Once they were older, the kids would stay home alone, at least until they had moved out on their own.

Last year my wife and I had just returned from our annual trip. About a week later she woke up with a great pain in her abdomen and severe nausea. She occasionally had some small pains and occasional nausea for several months, but it was never severe enough to concern her. Today it was different. I took her to the emergency room. I called into work to take the day off as she waited to see someone. After several tests and a few days they discovered she had advanced cancer in her liver and it had already spread outside her liver to other organs. They recommended trying chemotherapy, however because of it’s advanced stage any surgical procedure was out of the question. She was put on pain killers and went through several weeks of chemo, but the chemo had no positive effect. Her pain continued, she continued to take stronger and stronger pain meds, and she continued going downhill. Eventually I hired someone to be with her during the day while I was at work. I cared for her at night.

One night she insisted that we have sex. I don’t think we had had sex since her diagnosis, it was too painful for her. Tonight she tried to act normal even though I could tell she was in pain. We went through our normal love making routine. I asked her a few of times if she was sure she wanted to continue. She insisted that we continue. Soon I heard the familiar sounds she made when her orgasm was close. She grimaced and when her orgasm took over. She shook and shuddered with a combination of pain and delight. I exploded into her so happy she had reached her climax.

She smiled and said, “The last time was as good as the first.”

She made me promise that I would go up to the cabin the next Spring at least one last time. Three days later she passed away peacefully in her sleep.

The next Spring I headed up to the cabin alone. I was so very sad and cried much of the way. I made a couple of traditional stops along the way for food and gas. I almost turned around after one of the stops. The memories were nearly overwhelming. I drove through the city on the southwest side of the lake remembering the good times, but mostly remembering my wife. I drove up the road along the west side of the lake. I turned around the northwest corner of the lake and then turned into the resort. I parked the car, turned off the engine, and just sat inside the car. More memories came flooding back. I sobbed for several minutes. If I hadn’t promised my wife I would come here a least one more time, I may have restarted the engine and gone back home. After I regained my composure I decided to go in and register.

“Good afternoon Mr. Thomas,” the desk clerk greeted me. “Are you all right?”

“Y…Yes, I am fine,” I managed to say hoarsely.

Because we were there every year the owners and many of the staff had gotten to know us by sight. The owners were an older couple. The resort had a hotel with about 30 rooms and 24 cabins all along the lakeshore. We always stayed in one of the one bedroom cabins. The resort also had an indoor swimming pool, a swimming beach, tennis courts, a restaurant, a bar and also a variety of boats and bicycles for rent. The cabin had a nice screened in front porch that faced the lake. Near the lake there was a fire pit with outdoor chairs. We would have a number of bonfires while we were there. A BBQ grill also came with the cabin and we would use it for several meals.

The staff mostly consisted of high school and college aged kids who worked there during the summer. We got to know several of the housekeeping staff and wait staff, because many worked there during high school and throughout college while off school in the summer. The vast majority were very friendly and outgoing. Most called us by name because we been there for so many years. It got to the point where we would ask them about how the last year had gone for them. I will expand on individual members of the staff later.

The woman owner was having a meeting with a large number of the staff in the lobby.

When the owner saw me she said, “Staff this is Mr. Thomas. He lost his wife during the last year. Let’s do all we can to make his special.”

She was the one I spoke to when I had called originally with the intent to cancel my reservation. As the phone rang I could hear my wife’s voice asking me to go to the cabin at least one my time. Instead of cancelling I just informed her there would only be one of us coming. I explained the situation. She gave me her sympathy and guaranteed they would do their best to make my time special.

Several of the housekeeping staff said, “Hello Mr. Thomas,” in unison.

When my wife and I were on vacation at the cabin we would do a little fishing, and go to a number of state and county parks to do some hiking and sight seeing. My wife’s family came from the area so she had many places she like to visit to remind her of her childhood. We would drive by her grandparents former homes, visit their graves, and some of the historical places around town some of them historical only to her family. I would go with her to these places. My wife would go by herself to do some shopping, sometimes for antiques, others for souvenirs and flea markets. She would go by herself because she liked browsing, I only liked knowing what I was going to buy. I planned to do several of the things we had done together while I was here this year.

The first night I unpacked and ordered a pizza from the place we always ordered from while we were here. The pizza was good, but I did not enjoy it without my wife. I went to bed early. I had a hard time sleeping. I kept missing having my wife next to me in bed.

I woke up early, showered, dressed, then walked down for the free continental breakfast that was offered. After breakfast I purchased a local newspaper, picked up a bag of ice, and walked back to the cabin.