During the journey through the idyllic embrace of the forest, Eve's remaining anger subsided. The extinguished fire left only the painful sting in her heart. Eve swallowed harder and felt tears welling up in her eyes again.

"Shit," she mumbled hoarsely, wiping away the first one that was already making its way down her cheek in an agitated motion.

No. No, she couldn't let this throw her off track.

"You have to be strong," she told herself firmly. Then Eve turned up the volume on the radio and tightened her grip on the steering wheel before she began to sing along loudly.

What could be more healing for the soul than the right music?

A little later, the dense rows of trees revealed the Pineview Cottage. The guest house was located just a stone's throw from the shore of Everbreeze Lake in a small clearing on the riverbank. It would hardly have been found if someone hadn't known where the cottage was because of its rustic stone construction and dark grey shingles blended seamlessly into the surroundings.

The three-story building had a large, old chimney made of solid stone from where white smoke rose and spread with the wind. A bay tower stretched its round belly towards the forest, and a sloping roof spanned the veranda, under which two rocking chairs stood next to a wooden table.

Behind the house was a footbridge leading out onto the lake, down to a flat platform by the water, and a small boathouse. Since the double doors were open, a rowing boat could be seen.

A glazed greenhouse with iron arches topped with ivy vines and other wild plants completed the harmonious picture. Not far away, a swing attached to ropes swung gently back and forth under a thick branch.

Many years ago, she came here on holiday with her parents as a child. The place was a distant memory when they made their way here a few weeks ago. Even if the beauty of the childhood memories could no longer compete with the faded image, this place still had a very special magic. For her, it meant safety and shelter and was full of happy memories.

It's just what they needed right now.

As soon as Eve exited the car, she was greeted by a whirlwind of boy, covered in earth from head to toe and wrapped his arms around her waist in childlike excitement. In the process, the damp earth also smeared on her jeans and dark blue T-shirt.

"Mum! I built cairns with Aunt Ri! They're supposed to keep the goblins out of the forest!" her son told her proudly, grinning from ear to ear.

Whenever he looked at her like that, Liam reminded her of his father—at least when they were still frivolous teenagers and had met and fallen in love at high school. Her expression darkened at this thought, drawing dark clouds of memory into her eyes—but not for long.

Her son's green-blue eyes sparkled with excitement while she raised her hand and plucked a leaf from the boy's brown hair. Her son's enthusiasm brightened her mood like honey to some bitter medicine, and now the corners of her mouth turned upwards.

"Really? And judging by your look, you went looking for goblins in earth burrows right after?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, before opening the passenger door of the pick-up and releasing Chief into freedom.

The big German shepherd immediately jumped around Liam, wagging his tail wildly and barking happily. He nudged the boy and invited him to play with a lowered upper body. Of course, the invitation succeeded, and the cairns and her question were apparently forgotten.

At moments like this, when she saw him laughing and playing around naturally, Eve envied her son for how easily he could be distracted.

Smiling, she shook her head and reached for the two paper bags of groceries. With one in each arm, Eve walked across the flat stone path straight towards the house while Liam and Chief played in the garden.

The outer door with the fly screen squeaked noisily, and the inner door had been hanging on its hinges, which were a little crooked and jammed for some time. Soon, however, the craftsman would finally come and take care of it.

Little did she know that this man would disrupt far more than just her day.

"I'm back!" Evelyn shouted inside the house as she slipped off the shoes, balancing the shopping bags in her arms.

A blonde, curly mop of hair peeked out from behind the fridge door, matching the reproachful look from the fawn-colored eyes.

"About time!" Riona, her cousin and hostess, said with exaggerated indignation and closed the door with a swing as if to emphasize her following words: "I'm starving! Do you know how long it's been since I've eaten something?"

She pressed her hand over the striped shirt top and onto her chest as if she were in unimaginable agony. However, the curve of her lips, painted with rose-colored lipstick, twitched treacherously to hold back the mischievous smile.

Evelyn couldn't help but laugh at her cousin's mischievous acting talent.

"Since breakfast, if I remember correctly?"

As soon as Eve put the shopping bag down, Ri reached into it, looking for something she could devour immediately. Her blonde hair puffed out just above her chin curled around her tanned features from spending much time in the fresh air. Reprovingly, Eve slapped her on the knuckles.

"You're unbearable! You are almost like an insatiable raccoon." Eve pointed to the fridge, and her younger cousin grumbled quietly as she put things away in the kitchen cupboards instead of stuffing them into her mouth.

"Oh, by the way, Mr Hawkins brought us some fresh meat," Ri informed Eve with a light voice.

Eve gave a questioning frown.

"Who?"

"Mr Hawkins." At that moment, Riona's mind seemed to snap, and she smacked her forehead with her flat hand. The silver bracelets on her wrist jingled, and her smile slipped. "Sorry, I forgot you weren't around last time he brought something." Ri piled a few apples into the fruit bowl. 'Mr. Hawkins is..." she seemed to be searching for the right words, "... the weird guy from the cabin in the woods," she said, lowering her voice to the tone that Riona always used when she wanted to scare Liam.

"He is a hunter. He hunted a black bear in this forest—in vain. One dark day, the bear appeared. It attacked and ate his wife. Since then, he has lost his mind and roamed the forest for revenge..." she whispered darkly, but the nonsense was given away just by the broad grin that dug tiny dimples into her freckled cheeks.

"I see. Let me guess: He's the creepy hermit, eats squirrels raw, and constantly shoots at anything that moves. And according to rumors, he has also hunted humans and eaten their flesh - which is why no one dares to go deep into the forest?"

Riona's eyes enlightened like Eve had just put dry wood on an unholy fire.

„I wanted to say something else, but your idea is brilliant!" The younger woman laughed, and the two women's shared chuckles mingled into a pleasantly familiar sound.

"All the joking aside. The meat is down in the cellar in the big freezer, but I've already put a piece in the fridge. I thought ..."

"That I could cook you some of it?"

"You've got me. There's just no fooling you."

The door creaked as Eve opened it and eyed the plastic bag containing the meat. Her eyebrows drew together slightly as she scrutinized the piece and released it from its icy prison.

"What's that?"

"Huh?"

"The meat." Eve lifted the bag and pressed a little on the meat to feel its texture. "I've never seen one like this before."

Riona's gaze fell on the pouch.

"Hmm... I think deer?"

"What? No. This is never deer." Eve turned the bag so that she could see it better. "The flesh of Deer is darker. Trust me, I've cooked it enough times."

The other blonde scratched the back of her head, and her blonde eyebrows drew together.

"Uhm... so ... maybe moose?" Ri pondered, "Definitely something with antlers."

"Riona," Eve moaned and put the meat aside to get a plate from the kitchen cupboard. "This is important. If I'm going to cook it properly, I need to know ..."

As if by a twist of fate, the shrill ringing of the old telephone rescued Riona from her embarrassment. With the skill of a sprinter, she rounded the kitchen counter and sofa before quickly reaching for the phone, which, like almost everything else in the house, seemed to be from the last century.

"Pineview Cottage?" Riona blurted into the telephone.

A lot had changed in Eve's life. Among other things, she had learned to be more attentive. But in this case, that wouldn't even have been necessary to hear the change in Ri's voice when she asked shortly afterward:

"What do you want, bitch?"

There was silence for a moment. Then, a new tone of voice surprised Eve:

"Oh really? Well, if that's the case, I'll be on my way to get him immediately."

Now, Riona sounded motivated, almost full of anticipation.

Evelyn couldn't help but lean over the kitchen counter a little, curious to see if Riona's expression matched her voice...

But at that moment, there was a clatter as Ri hung up. The blonde woman sauntered to the counter and casually reached for a red-cheeked apple.

"I'm afraid you have to cook for four today," she announced, already about to put on a leather jacket and shoes.

"And who else do I get to cook for today?"

Eve twitched her eyebrows. It wasn't unusual for Ri to sometimes bring a date from her bar for dinner. Since Liam and she had been here, Riona had already met at least three 'super-hot future husbands' ... and dumped them afterward.

"This is going to be a surprise!"

The door slammed shut behind the energetic woman with a bang, and Eve sighed with silent amusement. A surprise? Oh great.

To be honest, surprises had never been her thing.