Contents
Cover Page
Copyright Page
Dedicaton
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
Chapter Thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-eight
Chapter Thirty-nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-one
Chapter Forty-two
Chapter Forty-three
Chapter Forty-four
Chapter Forty-five
Chapter Forty-six
Chapter Forty-seven
Epilogue
Dear Reader
RETURN TO OSPREY COVE
Book 2 of The Osprey Cove Lodge Series
A Novel By
LUISA MARIETTA GOLD
PLEASE BE SURE TO READ BOOKS 1-9:
Book 1 - Escape to Osprey Cove
Book 2 - Return to Osprey Cove
Book 3 - Sunrise at Osprey Cove
Book 4 - Decisions at Osprey Cove
Book 5 - Led by the Heart at Osprey Cove
Book 6 - Discoveries at Osprey Cove
Book 7 - Happenstance at Osprey Cove
Book 8 - Diamonds and White Lace at Osprey Cove
Book 9 - Wedding Gifts and Stolen Jewels
Copyright © 2016 by Luisa Marietta Gold
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Publisher's Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions or locales is completely coincidental.
Cover Illustration Copyright © 2016 by Luisa Marietta Gold
Cover design by Luisa Marietta Gold
Special thanks to Elizabeth, Irene, and Lynette.
Chapter One
CHICAGO
Catherine stood at the gravesite of her husband, Doug. She watched the empty coffin being lowered into the ground. Her brother and sister, Michael and Margaret, stood at her side. She had decided on a simple graveside ceremony with only a few friends and family present. Catherine had mixed feelings as she watched the casket being lowered. The nature of Doug's death made it difficult for her to feel grief. She hadn't even known how to handle the ceremony. It appeared that Doug died while attempting to leave her and start a new life.
The license plate of his car had been found alongside a road in New Mexico miles away from their home in New York City. All indications were that his Corvette had gone over an embankment and burst into an intense fire. There were little traces of the vehicle and no human remains found at the site.
Catherine felt saddened as she threw a yellow rose on the coffin. The yellow rose brought back to mind Doug's recent anniversary gift. Doug had given her a trip to Saint Martin for their anniversary. The airline tickets and travel brochure had been attached to yellow roses. He had also invited their best friends, Will and Emma, to go with them. The vacation was cut short for Catherine when she got an urgent call from her boss in New York City. He said he needed her back in New York immediately to try to save a contract with a large client. It required her to fly to Ottawa to visit the client, Droxell Outdoor Outfitters. Will, Doug, and Emma finished out the week in Saint Martin without Catherine.
When Catherine returned to New York from Ottawa, she had found Doug drunk in their upscale Art Deco loft. He was not only drunk but appeared to be a completely changed person. He was remote and distant. He barely spoke to her. That was just a few months ago. Now here she was watching his empty coffin being lowered into the ground. She was trying to come to grips with the turn her life had taken almost overnight.
What happened that weekend? The only information she had gotten out of Doug was that he had bought a Corvette. What had caused her husband to suddenly change and head for New Mexico only to die tragically in an accident? It appeared he no longer wanted to be with her, but why? Before that weekend, it seemed to her that they were both happy. If he had become unhappy, why hadn't he told her? He left without a word of explanation. It made no sense. It seemed to her as she watched the coffin being lowered that she would never have the answers. The answers had died along with her husband on that remote highway in New Mexico. It was as though they too had been destroyed by the intense fire.
What made matters worse was that Catherine found out that she was pregnant after Doug's disappearance. Doug never knew he had fathered their child. She assumed that she had gotten pregnant in Saint Martin. There had been no intimacy between them after she returned from Ottawa. She was carrying a child who would never know its father. Her eyes welled up with tears at the thought of this. It was for the sake of their child that she had decided to have a burial site. Doug's grave would be in the Gregstone family plot just outside of Chicago not far from the family estate. She wanted their child to at least have a place to come to acknowledge the father it never got a chance to know. What would she explain to the child about its father? She would not think about that today.
It was hard to grieve for a husband who appeared to have died while on his way to start a new life without her. The grief she felt was more for herself and the child she was carrying.
. . .
Michael and Margaret slid their arms through Catherine's. They guided her over to the limo for the ride back to the family estate where a luncheon had been prepared. The estate was now the home of Catherine's brother, Michael. Sadly, Catherine's parents had been killed just a few years ago. Their plane had gone down over the Indian Ocean. They had left the large family estate to Michael. The rest of the sizable assets were divided equally among the three siblings. The greatest asset was the family business, Gregstone International. Each of them received one-third of the stock. The company, started by their grandfather, was now one of Chicago's largest construction companies. Michael, Catherine, and Margaret had become quite wealthy upon the death of their parents.
After his father's death, Michael began running Gregstone as president and CEO. Catherine had chosen to remain with her job back in New York where she was vice president for Raynott Marketing. Raynott was a large, prestigious marketing firm in the city. Michael was yet unmarried and spent most of his time focusing on the family business. Catherine had come to visit Michael just before learning of Doug's death. It was while she was visiting Michael t
hat she had received the call from the New York City police department advising her of the accident. Catherine had filed a missing person report with them shortly after Doug disappeared.
During her visit with Michael, he had urged Catherine to think seriously about leaving her job in New York and moving back to the family estate. He invited her to help run the company. He also encouraged her to think about the advantages of raising her child in the beautiful home where they had grown up.
Catherine's sister, Margaret, was different from her and Michael. She had no interest in the family business. She was unmistakably the 'black sheep' of the family. She had barely made it through college. Her struggle with college was not because she did not have intelligence or ability. What she did not have was the desire to work hard to achieve anything. She would not have even attended college if her parents had not insisted upon it. Upon graduation, she began a life that lacked any structure or hint of responsibility. She moved from one exotic location to another with her current love interest. Then she would move on when she grew tired of the location or the company. She had been in Rio De Janeiro with Chad, her latest love, since their parents' death.
The three siblings were quiet as they rode in the limo back to the estate. Each had many thoughts running through their mind. Michael's mind was full of concern for his sister whom he loved very much. He wanted nothing more than for her to agree to move back into the family home with him. He did not want to see her go back to New York alone and pregnant. He knew she had few friends there for support. Her best friends, Emma and Will, had recently moved to Texas. So even they would not be there for her. Michael knew it would not be easy to convince Catherine to leave her job. It was important to Catherine to make it on her own. Her promotion to vice president had meant a lot to her. He knew it would be difficult for her to leave it.
Catherine's thoughts were scattered. She was mostly trying to focus on getting through this day. She would be glad when the last of the guests would leave. She had so many decisions to make. She needed time to meditate on what she was going to do with her life now. The shattering of her life had all happened so suddenly. One day she was in what she thought was a happy marriage, sitting on a beach in Saint Martin, enjoying the trip Doug had surprised her with as an anniversary gift. And now, here she was leaving his gravesite. To make matters worse, she was pregnant. How and where was she going to raise this child? Would she be able to continue working? Did she want to keep working? She certainly would not need to work with the wealth she had inherited. She tried to rein in her thoughts so that she could concentrate on getting through this day. Yes, now more than ever, she needed to try to take one day at a time.
Margaret's thoughts revolved around herself as they usually did. She was thinking little about Catherine. Oh, to be sure, she was sorry for Catherine and her loss. But Margaret viewed her sister as her parents had viewed her. Catherine was always the perfect daughter. She was intelligent, hard-working, responsible, and a high achiever. She balanced all those virtues with compassion, empathy, and humility. Margaret did not necessarily view these qualities as admirable. But she knew most people did. Catherine was always in control of any situation. She had an analytical mind that could quickly solve problems. She was a survivor. Margaret was sure that Catherine would meet the challenges that she now faced.
Margaret had resented Catherine and Michael for most of her life. It was always obvious to everyone that Margaret was different. She was indeed the least favorite child. In recent years, though, her resentment had subsided. Perhaps it was because her parents were no longer around to compare her siblings to her. Or maybe, it was that the confidence one acquires as one grows older made it less relevant. Margaret did not feel a need to prove herself any longer. She sought only to be happy. At times she even admired Michael and Catherine. For sure, she was glad to be benefiting from Michael's hard work and ability to run the family business so well. She was reaping the rewards of his hard work each time she got her dividend check as owner of one-third of the company's stock. She was glad they were happy with the lifestyle they had chosen. It was just not for her.
Margaret had more important things to be concerned with at the moment. Chad had tired of her and the lifestyle they were leading in Rio. When he learned of Margaret's need to return to the States for the funeral, he used it as an opportunity to move on. And move on, he did. He took with him the fancy sports car that Margaret had bought him and his wardrobe of designer clothing. He also left with the funds in their joint checking account. Oh well, Margaret thought, he earned them. It was fun while it lasted. She would find someone new; she always did. But it did concern her that for the first time, she had not been the one who had initiated the moving on.
The limo turned onto the tree-lined drive that led to the Gregstone estate. Michael used his remote to open the massive iron gate which allowed entry. They drove around the multi-tiered fountain that was situated directly in front of the entrance in the middle of the circular drive. The limo pulled up to the front door, and the chauffeur opened the doors for them to exit the car.
. . .
Michael had kept on the staff that had run the house while his parents were alive. There was a live-in housekeeper, Ella. There was a cook named Jean; and Sandy and Rich, a married couple, were the groundskeepers. Ella and Jean had done an excellent job in organizing the luncheon after the burial ceremony. It had gone well. It had served its purpose.
Catherine managed to hold herself together through the luncheon. The intimate group of friends and family were all supportive. Thankfully, no one was staying over at the estate. It was a relief when they had all left. Doug had little family. He had no brothers or sisters. His mother had passed away shortly after he finished college. He had no contact with his father who had abandoned him and his mother when Doug was very young. There were a few aunts and uncles along with some cousins who attended his service. Catherine had few relatives as well. Some were at the service, but many lived too far from Chicago to attend.
Catherine was glad the day was nearing its end. It had been harder than she had imagined.
Chapter Two
CHICAGO
Catherine rose first the next morning. She was in the habit of waking at 5:00 AM to start her work day back in New York. Even the events of the day before did not cause her to sleep in. She made her way down to the dining room. Jean had already prepared a pot of coffee and had arranged some of the leftover pastries on attractive crystal plates on the side table.
"Would you like me to fix some breakfast for you now, Catherine, or would you like to wait for Michael and Margaret?" Jean asked.
"I will wait for Michael, thank you. Margaret may not be down for a while. I don't think I'll be wanting too much. Thank you, Jean, for the excellent job you and Ella did yesterday in arranging the luncheon. It was lovely."
"Well, it's the least we could do. I'm so sorry, Catherine, that you have had so much pain in your young life. You sure didn't deserve this. Michael says he has asked you to come back to live here at the estate. I hope you will think about it. It would be so nice to have you back again. I know your brother gets lonely. I think your parents would have liked to see their grandchild grow up here in the same house in which they raised you. There couldn't be a better place to raise a child."
"Thank you, Jean. I plan to give it serious thought; it's all just so overwhelming right now. I need to let my emotions settle down before I make any major decisions."
"I'm sure that's the wise thing to do. Well, let me know when Michael comes down and what you both want for breakfast. Remember, you need to eat healthy now for the baby."
Catherine smiled and said, "Thanks for the reminder. You are right. Keep reminding me if I forget."
Jean had been with the family since Catherine was young. She was another constant in Catherine's life, like the house itself. Catherine was grateful for her. Her motherly manner was comforting especially since her mother's death.
Life had changed for Jean o
ver the years as it had for everyone else. There was a time when the Gregstone estate was the scene of many formal affairs. Jean had been instrumental in seeing that they were successful. She missed those years. The house was lonely for her with only Michael living here. It would be nice to hear the footsteps of children running through the house again, she thought. She did hope that Catherine would come home.
"Good morning, Catherine." Michael said as he entered the dining room, "How are you this morning?"
"I'm still feeling a bit overwhelmed. It is hard to believe it's real. I am glad yesterday is over. Now I can focus on where I go from here with my life."
"It was a rough day. But I thought it went well. And it's over now. No need to feel pressured into making major decisions. Just take your time. We'll work through this together, Catherine. You are not alone."
Catherine smiled and said, "What would I do without you, Michael. A sister couldn't ask for a better brother than you. I'm sorry we weren't as close the last couple years since my marriage. I'm not sure why that was the case."
"Well, both of us were preoccupied. You were trying to adjust to being newly married and your new job. I was trying to get a handle on running the company. We both had a lot on our plate."
"You're right, Michael, life sure is full of changes. One needs to keep adjusting."
"I feel confident, Catherine, that everything is going to be okay. You're only thirty-six; you have plenty of time to build a new life for yourself and your child. And wherever you choose to create that life -- whether New York or here -- I'm sure you will make a success of it."
"I wish I were so sure, but thanks for the encouragement."
Michael smiled and said, "Well let's start with deciding what we want for breakfast! I think some of Jean's pancakes would be a good choice. What do you say?"
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