Chapter Text
Maya chopped wood. She was good at it. Her grandfather taught her how back when she moved away from her parents' home to live with her grandparents here, out in the woods. Since then, she learned everything about lumbering wood for the winter. How to hold an axe, and what other kinds of tools could be used. Her grandfather even taught her how to make her own axe, and he allowed her to enter the workshop only when he was around, she was never allowed to get close to the tools unless supervised.
But that was when she was still a teen.
Now, all grown up, Maya lives out here in her grandfather’s cabin in the woods. Though she should stop calling it her grandfather’s. It was her’s now. With the passing away of her grandparents, the house was hers to have. Her parents didn’t care much, it was Maya’s decision to move away from them. And it was Maya’s grandfather’s decision to give her the house.
So she did what she thought best. She lived in it, furnished it well, made her own furniture, and drove into town for other materials. She fixed the house up to make it a little closer to her comfort. And when it was all done and ready, she built a much smaller cabin a stone’s throw away from it. Which was a one-room-kitchen kinda home. And much less grand, but homely nonetheless. A place for guests, if any.
The main house had a big fireplace, despite having a heater. It had a dining table, complete with 4 chairs, a bedroom with a queen bed, and an attached shower. The bathtub was a wooden one carved and polished by Maya herself, something she was really proud of. It sat out of the bathroom, in the bedroom, with modern fittings, facing a window and it was Maya’s favourite spot when she just wanted to look out into the woods and relax.
The smaller house didn’t have a bathtub, it just had a shower, it didn't have a fireplace, but it had a heater, a sofa and a single bed. It was simpler.
And when Maya had both houses ready, she would sometimes call her friend Andy, a logger who also learned everything she knew from her parents and grandparents. The families were friends and so Andy spent a lot of time with Maya here.
It was Andy who gave Maya the idea of listing her perfectly made house on Airbnb. So she could earn from more than just chopping wood for the winter.
Maya thought about it. And went on to research a lot too. She considered Andy’s suggestion and then one day decided she should do it. What’s the worse that could happen right?
***
It was on one breezy day at the end of autumn that Maya received a notification on the Airbnb app for a booking starting the very next day that would extend for a month. It was the longest period anyone had booked the place for.
She had hosted around 8 odd bookings so far and everything went smoothly. Andy had helped her make the listing very clear and precise, pointing out the rules of the place and what would be available or not available to the guests. And all the stays got Maya’s place some good reviews, and she knew she was off to a good start.
But with this booking, Maya was a teeny bit nervous, not only because it was the first time that the place was being booked for the whole month, but also because Andy was on an annual vacation with her family, and wouldn't be back until another month.
When Maya checked the details of the booking, she noted, it was just one guest. It couldn't be that difficult then, on her own, right? She figured she’d have to manage. Andy actually was the better person for the people side of these bookings, she just knew how to welcome people better, and maybe her smile was softer. While Maya and Andy would welcome people together, Maya knew that they probably felt warmer because of Andy.
It’s not that Maya wasn’t welcoming, but she wasn’t a very people person and avoided long conversations. She liked her peace and would be willing to share silent spaces with anyone. She wasn’t much of a talker unless it really called for it. Now she knew, this booking would call for it, especially since Andy wasn’t around.
She put her phone away. She had a lot to prep in the house for tomorrow, change the sheets, put in some clean towels, fetch some new shampoo and other toiletries from the town, and move some of her stuff out of the main house and back into the other cabin. She would do all of it this evening. For now, she would get back to what she was doing before she got the notification. Chopping wood.
***
Day 1
Maya has always been an early riser. She’d wake anytime between 5 and 6 am, she’d make herself a cup of coffee, she’d have a heavy breakfast of two eggs, a sandwich, some bacon, and some beans, and would fill a protein shake flask to sip from later.
The heavy meal was important for all the energy she’d put into chopping wood through the day, whenever she found the time to do it. Today, she’d probably spend lesser time doing it, what with welcoming the Airbnb guest and having to show them around, and then also having to cook for them if required.
The main house was well stocked with basic things that would be required for breakfast and snack time. If the guest wanted to cook themselves, Maya mentioned in the listing, that she could stock the fridge with ingredients that they wish to have, at the price of the ingredients and no extra charge for getting them there for them, at their convenience.
Maya could make this happen thanks to the number of people that would drive up to her cabin to pick up wood for their homes or their shops in town. She could always ask one of them to drop off groceries for her if she didn’t have the time to go to the town herself. The drive was a 15 min one from her cabin.
This guest had made no special request for ingredients, so Maya knew that she would either think about it when she reached here or would request Maya to cook something, which would also be done at a charge. But given this was going to be a whole month, Maya figured the guest would need some ingredients and was mentally prepared to have to drive into town to fetch some things.
With breakfast finally done, Maya changed into something warmer, a red flannel shirt over a tank top and a pair of pants. She tied up her boots and made her way out to the workshop. She picked out an axe and studied it. It was the same one she used yesterday and yet, every time she picked it up, she was reminded of the responsibility her grandfather instilled in her, the responsibility to respect the tools of the trade just as much as you respect the trade.
She put on her gloves and made her way out of the workshop, axe in hand, and Ford in tow. Ford was her pet dog. A small little guy who barked every time someone approached her place, even though he recognized people and their trucks by now, it was his way of saying hello. He was otherwise quiet and playful and she thoroughly enjoyed his company.
The morning breeze was cool and she knew a normal person would have to keep their shirt on. But she also knew that once she started chopping, her body would heat up enough to keep her warm. So she took off her shirt and hung it on a nearby pole. Her skin prickled with goosebumps from the cold air that kissed it but it was just a matter of time before she’d warm up. So she set out to begin her task for the day, bright and early at 7 am.
And Ford took his place on the porch of the cabin, lazying his day away.
****
With a bunch of wood cut up, her body warmed up enough, and a couple of breaks in between, Maya knew it was time to head back in and take a shower before the guest arrived. After resting her arms for a bit and stretching them out a bit, she heard the drum of an engine. And then Ford’s barking overpowered it. She looked towards the road that led up to her land and saw a truck drive up to her. She quickly checked her watch and then looked back up.
It was Jack, another logger who lived in town, an old friend of hers, and riding shotgun with him was a woman she hadn’t seen before. Maya put on her shirt and walked up to the truck, while Jack and the woman got out of the car. Ford drew closer as well, to greet Jack. He never barked at new people, unless he was really suspicious of them. It was only when he heard another bark from the truck that he barked back and that went on until she shooshed him and the woman shushed her dog in the truck.
“Hey,” Maya said to Jack, a question on her face, she wasn’t expecting him, let alone him with company. He stopped the truck and got out and the woman got out the other side, her dog following her.
“Maya, meet your guest, Carina,” Jack said while pulling Carina’s bags out of the truck.
“Carina, this is Maya, and that is Ford,” Jack said.
“Hi,” the woman said, reaching her hand out to shake. “This is Jeff” Carina said, gesturing at her puppy.
“Hi,” Maya said, smiling at her and shaking her hand, and then reaching down to pet Jeff, but Ford immediately made his presence and his jealousy known by slipping in closer to Maya.
She was confused as to why Jack was dropping her guest off.
“Thank you, uh,” Carina said, now turning to Jack.
“Jack,” Jack said
“Right, Jack, thank you, Jack, it’s so very kind of you, please tell me how much I owe you,” Carina asked, fetching her wallet from her sling bag.
“Oh nothing, don’t worry about it, Maya’s an old friend,” Jack said. Then he looked toward Maya, “Apparently your location wasn’t accurate, her car dropped her off at another cabin down the road, and I was passing by when I saw her lugging her bags uphill.
“Thanks, Jack, I’ll check on the location bit on the app, no one’s had an issue with it before,” Maya said, a little confused.
“Oh no, I’m sure it’s me, I’m directionally challenged,” Carina admitted. Maya smiled.
Jack bid them farewell, and while he reversed his truck to leave, Maya helped Carina with the bags, walking towards the cabin.
“Welcome,” Maya said as she walked with the bags two steps ahead of Carina. Ford was curious about Jeff, so he followed Jeff who was following Carina.
“Thank you,” Carina said, "this place looks just as beautiful as in the pictures."
“Hahaha, thanks,” Maya said, not knowing what to say next.
When she put the bags down and made to open the door, Carina spoke. “Are you okay? You seem to be sweating, it's so windy here though,” Carina said, holding her arms across herself to stay warm.
It was only now that Maya took the time to look away from her hand on the door and look directly at Carina and really take her in.
"Yeah, uh, I was working, I chop wood for a living," Maya said as she unlocked the door, eyes still on Carina's.
Carina smiled. "Wow, a lumberjack? Jill? I don't think I've known one before," Carina said, following Maya into the house.
"Well now you do," Maya said. Carina smiled.
She'd noticed the accent. Carina was definitely an Italian or had lived there long enough to pick up the accent. But she also noticed how beautifully brown Carina’s eyes were.
Maya put down Carina's bags and then turned to her. "I'll let you settle in, the bedroom is that way and the bathroom is attached. Is there anything you might need immediately? I'll be back here to show you around the house and answer anything you might need to know. My phone number is on the coffee table. I'm in the tiny cabin just out there I'm just gonna go shower before you think I'm a pig," Maya said, with a slight chuckle. Jeff entered the house and sniffed around at everything, maybe she could sense this was Ford’s home.
Carina giggled, "You're good, don't worry about it. But before you go, just so I know, you are the caretaker of the place?" Carina asked.
Maya smiled. "Well, yes, but I'm also the owner. At your service, Ma'am," Maya said jokingly. And she cringed at herself internally the moment it left her lips.
"I'm so sorry," Carina said, laughing a little and her cheeks growing a little red. "I usually never meet the owner of the Airbnb, they generally have a caretaker meeting the guests. But I'm so glad to meet you," Carina said. "I'm sorry, I won't keep you, go ahead, I can look around," Carina said.
"Yes, I'll be back, I'll need some details about your stay anyway. In fact, why don't you rest, I can come by after an hour or so," Maya said. "And please, make yourself at home, there's a kettle by the stove and some tea bags in case you want some."
"Thank you," Carina said, smiling at Maya who was now closer to the door.
Maya didn't know what made her stop a few seconds longer than she should have. But she took a moment to notice Carina's beauty in the soft light of her cabin.
But she quickly caught herself and moved out. Shutting the door behind her. She breathed a sigh. That went well? She thought. Maybe she really isn't that bad without Andy.
***
On her way back to the smaller cabin, with Ford in tow, she wondered about Carina. Why would a girl as beautiful as her be spending an entire month out here alone? Yes, people did solo trips, but Maya wondered if there was another reason. It shouldn't be any of her business. So she wouldn't ask. But she hoped she wouldn't give Carina any reason to complain. There haven't been too many complaints, except for that one guy who didn't like the sound of her axe against the wood at 7 AM in the morning when she would begin chopping. He would sleep in every day for the week he stayed there. And Maya had to shift her schedule around it. Since then, she'd made sure she put that detail into her Airbnb listing. She didn't like shifting away from her routine much.
***
It was an hour later that Maya decided to go up to the cabin again. She approached the porch and rang the bell. A minute later, Carina was at the door, "Hi, Hi, I was just putting some tea on, would you like some?" Carina asked as Maya followed her back in.
"No, I don't want to get in the way, thank you though. I'm just here to show you around and answer any questions you have, and give you some instructions, if now's a good time that is" Maya said.
"That's okay, we can do it over a cup of tea," Carina said.
Maya didn't have it in her to fight, so she nodded. When Carina began searching the cabinets for two mugs, Maya jumped in and fetched them for her.
Carina smiled.
When they sat down on the couch, it was 12 in the afternoon.
"Sooo, I just need to know a couple of things. Will you be cooking for yourself or would you like me to whip up some meals for you? Cause if you want to do it yourself, you'll just need to give me a list of things you might need from the town, and I'll go fetch them for you," Maya said.
Carina smirked at her. Then she put her cup down, reached her hand out to Maya and said. "Hi, I'm Carina DeLuca, and you are…Maya…?"
It was Maya's turn to turn red now. She hadn't introduced herself properly. She knew Carina’s name from the booking on the app. "Bishop, I'm Maya Bishop. My friend Andy is usually the one who welcomes guests, so I'm a beginner. And I'm really just winging it," Maya said with a chuckle. "And if Andy got to know I'm sitting here and drinking tea with a guest, in the house they’ve rented, well, I wouldn't hear the end of it," Maya joked.
Carina laughed and Maya noticed how intense Carina's eyes were, on her. Like she was studying her.
"Well, she doesn't have to know," Carina said with a smirk, just before she sipped on some more of her tea.
Maya smiled. Carina seemed nice. "What do you do? If you don't mind me asking." Maya said, realising that it would be polite to get to know her guest a little more.
"I'm a writer, who's in the middle of terrible writer’s block, and some other things in my life, that I'm currently escaping," Carina said.
"I'm sorry," Maya started.
"Oh I'm not, look at this place!" Carina said, looking around at the cabin, "It's so beautiful and the view is just…" Carina said, moving her eyes from the wide windows now to looking at Maya, "gorgeous."
Maya smiled. "I'm glad you like it, this place belonged to my grandfather, but he passed away some years ago, I refurnished the entire place, and made most of the furniture myself, with the help of some of my friends, Jack and Andy.
“The bathtub too?” Carina asked complete awe in her eyes.
Maya smiled proudly, “so you noticed that?”
Carina nodded enthusiastically.
“Yeah, I got this huge shipment of wood one day and I wanted to do something different, so I began carving a bathtub out of it, polished it, water-proofed it, and it’s been the town’s envy,” Maya said proudly, but her eyes were on her hands, fidgeting with the cup.
"It's amazing, it’s beautiful," Carina said. "And you stay here when there are no guests?" Carina asked.
Maya nodded in the affirmative.
"Wow, I feel like I'm keeping you out of your home now," Carina joked.
"No no, relax, I'm the one listing it on Airbnb, remember?" Maya said. "I like hosting people, it feels nice to share the experience of being this far out here. There's a different life to see and feel here,” she said, looking around. “And I built the other house just as cosy and comfortable as this, it also feels like home, so really I don’t mind sharing this home with people from around the world.” then she stuttered, “I mean, not sharing sharing,” she was afterall, sitting in the living room with her guest while they had the place booked, “I mean like hosting them, I stay in the other cabin all the while,” Maya went on.
Carina just smirked at her and Maya felt like an idiot.
“Well, I’ll go get lunch started. Are you alright with some grilled chicken and a salad?” Maya asked, not wanting to overstay.
“Yes, that would be perfect, are you sure you won’t need any help? I feel guilty for having you cook for me,” Carina said.
“No don’t worry about it, you’re here to relax, and I wanna give you the best experience,” Maya said and once again rethought her words.
“I’ll take you up on that,” Carina said with a smile of her own and then a quick sip of tea.
Carina promised her she would make her a list of ingredients she would need for the week so she could take care of most of her own meals, she said she enjoyed cooking and even though she’s here to write, she would actually also love to cook in that beautiful kitchen Maya had set up.
Maya was glad to hear it.
***
Carina looked around again at the cabin and for the umpteenth time that day, and it wasn’t even half-day yet, she was finally glad about her decision on escaping her life, even if just for a month. She needed a new scenery, she needed a new breath, she needed some space. And this space was warm and welcoming, beautiful, and calming, and everything she needed right now.
It truly felt like a breath of fresh air after being suffocated for too long. Okay maybe suffocated might be too harsh a word. Her ex-girlfriend, well, girlfriend or ex, she isn’t sure, but they were on a break, and while Carina allowed them to call it a break, she didn’t know yet how to tell Gabriella that she really just wanted a break-up, but was letting her down slow. But Gabriella wasn’t reading the signs and now Carina is away from home, needing some space, needing to clear her head and needing some peace and quiet.
And on the way here, she wasn’t quite sure she was doing the right thing. Why wasn’t she brave enough to just let Gabriella down? Why isn’t she capable of putting herself first? But with no one to console her on her solo trip, she consoled herself, and she told herself that taking this trip, away from it all was her ‘putting herself first’.
Of course, Gabriella didn’t understand why. But Carina only had that many words to explain it, she had exhausted them and she had exhausted herself. This trip was selfish. It was for her. She told Gabriella, that there is very little chance that they could be together, and this break was a moment of reflection before they decided what to do. Carina tried to make it clear to Gabriella that she had actually already checked out of the relationship, but it was like her words were landing on deaf ears.
Carina couldn't help but leave in a fight. On her way here she dropped Gabriella a message. It was an apology but it was also a surrender. That she didn't want to do this anymore. It was cowardly. But she hoped a message would reach Gabriella better than her words.
When she opened the Airbnb app to look for an escape, very few would be available from the very next day itself, and for a whole month at that. This place was one of the 2 options. And she’s glad she chose, and she quotes ‘A quaint cabin in the woods, owned by a local, her dog Ford, and all of nature. Most of the furniture is handmade while the rest is top-notch modern home solutions, all in place, for your comfort. The owner lives in this home when it’s not being rented out, so you can rest assured it is well maintained and warm.’
Carina smiled at herself as she reopened the Airbnb listing and only now noticed the list of services that the owner mentioned she could provide on request.
A one-hour workshop on lumberjack tools
Basics on chopping wood
A guided walk through the forest
A guided walk to the lake
A campfire and BBQ
Food, as requested
A tour through the town
All at additional charges.
Carina thought back to Maya Bishop, the host of the property. What a nice woman she thought. She seemed nervous for most of their interaction, but maybe she’s like that around all new people, like she said, someone else does the welcoming usually. But Carina was glad it was her.
She had the softest blue eyes she’s ever seen and her smile was so raw and genuine. It’s like her mind showed on her face, every moment, her expression changed, when she was embarrassed, when she was confused, when she was shy and when she was proud, of this home.
Carina decided then that she needed to stop daydreaming and make that list for Maya, the one with all the things she needed in the pantry. So she set out to do just that. Maybe, just maybe, she could cook a meal for Maya one day, in the form of thank you, for sharing her home with her - this mess of a person right now, and for opening her doors, her world to Carina.