It was strange to be driving back to the park. It had only been three weeks, and she used to do this drive often, but now it felt unreal.

She had four new tires, a new side panel and gas tank, but otherwise, her SUV was the same.

She itched for the day when life would feel normal again.

She felt a fluttering in her belly, and not for the first time, she wondered if that was the baby wiggling inside her. At fifteen weeks, it was still too early to feel movement for a first child, but not completely impossible. The fetus was now the size of an apple, and she was definitely starting to show.

This was a good reminder that there would never be a return to normal for her. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

She opened the gate. After a moment’s hesitation, she pulled out her phone and dialed Jae. When he didn’t answer, she left a message. “Hey. I just wanted to give you the heads-up that I’m heading to the lodge. First to drop off things in the Baldwin cabin, then I’m heading up to the site to record the damage. I guess I’m feeling superstitious because I had the urge to call you at the gate. I promise, I won’t do that every time moving forward…but maybe for the next little while.”

She set her phone back on the console and drove through the gate, then closed it behind her again.

She felt silly making the call, but also, it was like a phantom that would haunt her if she hadn’t. An OCD tick.

She needed a successful number of trips down Lake Olympus Road before it would feel normal to not check in at the gate.

Jae had been her fairy godfather before. Best to keep him in the loop.

It had been at least three days since the last rain, and the air was unseasonably warm, alleviating any black ice fears she might have.

But still, tension knotted her shoulders as she drove. It was impossible to escape thoughts of the last time she’d been on this road and what had awaited her at the end of the drive.

She needed to get over this fear. She loved this lodge and forest and refused to give it up. Besides, she had to work here.