The Point (May 24)

Here is Providence Point as it looked by the time Rob had grown old enough to begin imagining it might one day be his own. But in fact its surroundings and appearance changed little from the earliest days.

“A local couple had first started to build what later became the Point. It would have been their year-round dwelling. But a logging accident cancelled that dream when only the walls and roof were complete. The widow set up house with relatives in Midland and opted for summer rentals instead. Granny and Grandpa were her first tenants. In their second season, they became the owners…

“They christened it Providence after a home they once rented in a village south of London. Point was a nod to the rocky outcrop where it stood … On driving in, they would park the car in a hut that served as a garage in summer and a boat-shed in winter. A grove of oaks and pines surrounded both it and the main building. Dappled sunlight trickled through the branches, and the view across the Bay was glorious. Naturally, there was no electricity, telephone, or indoor plumbing. In a word, it was paradise!”

(Providence Point, pp. 2-3)

In those simpler days Georgian Bay cottages were expected to be rustic cabins rather than anything like city-style homes. As a result, outlays to cover upkeep and running expenses were much reduced. Still, what the Colonel observed regarding his own Bayside acreage holds true for any cherished property: “There’s no Eden without a serpent.’ And anxieties need not only be financial.

The Point’s untouched natural setting was central to its appeal, and no resident would ever entirely control that part of the puzzle. Knowing the names of every flower, tree and wild fruit might provide a semblance of dominion, but Rob could not escape the truth that such a perfect environment would inevitably fall prey to countless forces beyond his control.

Perhaps you, too, have confronted that dilemma. If so, by all means leave a comment to illustrate what you’ve seen. And if you’re wondering how this particular instance of the universal heartache will unfold, seize your opportunity to buy a copy of the novel in order to follow it firsthand.

(Illustration generated by AI)