He walked into a large, dimly lit room with muted oil lamps spaced along log walls. A series of square windows on the far wall revealed a dark lake and the silhouettes of fir trees. A Wing and Son piano sat against the left wall, its keys worn and cracked. The wood flooring and wooden tables were all darkly stained and the place felt like a deconstructed forest reimagined. Thick, Santa Fe-style rugs covered most of the floor. An extensive bar made with thick oak backed up to the square windows. People on the barstools looked out upon the dark water and trees. There must have been thirty of them, all women. “Dear Prudence” played from little black speakers tucked into each corner.

He approached the bar, the music louder, voices chattering in his ears. Matt sat at the far end and looked down the polished wood. The women’s faces reflected the warmth of the room and the oil lamps—a pleasant, orange glow. They wore thick sweaters, some colorful. The women all had different hairstyles. Some of them smiled, others looked down at their drinks, wrapping both hands around the glasses and bottles. Some of them were in conversation. He recognized a few as exgirlfriends.

The young bartender sat on a stool, sleeves rolled up, exposing hairy arms. A white towel hung limp in his left hand as he looked out to the dark lake and forest.

One of the women glanced Matt’s way and walked over to him. Short blonde hair framed her china doll nose and full lips. A gray wool sweater hugged her hips, her fingers poking out the long sleeves.

Stacey.

He turned away.

“Matt—is that you?” she asked.

He rotated back towards her, embarrassed at his effort to hide. She held her fingers together monk-like, then pulled them apart and placed them on her hips.

“It is you! My God, it’s been so long. What have you been up to?”

He gazed into her eyes, smiling nervously. She always had that effect on him. She’d been the most beautiful girl he’d ever known.

“Pouring foundations. You know, the usual.”

She studied his face carefully, her eyes too sincere for this world. “Been taking any trips out west?”

“Nope. I should though.” Matt wanted to hide. He wasn’t expecting this . . . to ever see the love of his life again.

Stacey searched his eyes and smiled. “I still think about our trip to Grand Teton. Remember when that squirrel came up to our cabin and ran off with one of our powdered donuts?”

Matt laughed. “Didn’t we name him ‘Powder’?”

“Yes.”