by Susan Hatler
Hugs and kisses,
Grandma
My jaw sagged open. “We have to row across a Lake Lanier? I don’t even know where that is.”
Ben tapped the screen on his cell phone a few times, then looked up at me. “It’s about forty-five minutes from here. We’d better get going if we’re going to make it in time.”
“We have to make it in time,” I said, breaking into a sprint.
We ran all the way to the car. Moose yipped happily as I climbed into the passenger seat.
Ben turned to me as he started the engine. “We’ll have to rent a boat. Can you kayak?”
“Sure,” I said, even though I’d never kayaked in my entire life.
Though I had no experience, getting across that lake was my only option. I had to prove that Ben and I were committed, big time. My stomach danced at the thought of walking down the aisle toward Ben. . . .
I shook my head emphatically as we zoomed down the street. Um, I meant that I’d prove Jill and Ryan were committed big time. We’d get this wedding charm for them, hop on the plane, and fly back in time for the wedding. I hoped.
Chapter Ten
My nerves were on edge the entire ride to Don Carter State Park. It was still early in the morning, but we had to get to the airport and on the private jet by noon. The flight was a five-hour deal and Jill’s wedding was set to begin at six o’clock California time.
It would be quite a drive from the lake to the airport, especially if there was traffic. We had to find the wedding charm quickly, which meant getting across the lake in a big hurry, and returning to Atlanta. No pressure.
My brain kept trying to calculate how much time we had, but there were too many variables with traffic and such. Our safest bet would be to get the charm within one hour and that meant we had no time for mistakes.
Was an hour even enough time? I’d never been this stressed in my life.
“We’re here,” Ben said, as we arrived at the state park right on the shores of a vast and shimmering lake. The lake, a wide expanse of water shaded blue and green, spread along for miles. There was not a single house along those shores.
We parked and got out of the car.
“Where do we start?” I put on my sunglasses as the sun beat down hot and thick. Tall rows of trees ringed the lake’s perimeter. So many trees and so little time.
“Let’s get a closer look.” Ben slipped his hand around mine, which felt easy and natural as we walked toward the lake.
Visitors were everywhere. It was hot and the lake seemed to be a popular place. There were people standing on paddleboards, sitting in kayaks, and paddling merrily along the lake’s slightly choppy surface. Even more people lounged on towels or in lawn chairs, some with umbrellas over them. Music played from radios, a half-dozen different songs all rising into the warm, still air.
“That’s a big lake,” Ben said.
“Yeah, that about sums it up.” I surveyed it with a groan while Moose danced happily around my feet, tugging on the leash. “I wish Gina had given us a better clue. Do you think we could walk the edge of the lake and find that tree?”
Ben paused a second. “Jill’s grandma said we had to row across the lake to find it, so maybe we can spot the tree once we’re on the water.”
“I wish she’d given us a map.” I sighed. Moose pranced and barked as ducks flew off the surface of the lake and over our heads. “Well, we need a boat.”
Ben gestured to our right. “There’s a place to rent kayaks and canoes.”
We hurried along the curving trail. The red and white striped dress I’d put on this morning felt light in the heat, but I’d had no idea we’d be going out on a kayak. Oh, why hadn’t I worn a tank top and a pair of shorts? Ben wore jeans and a short-sleeved shirt, and I knew he had to be feeling the heat as well.
We stopped at the building that had the sign, “RENTALS.” The building had a wide window. A tall guy with blond hair and a tanned face stood behind the window.
Ben turned to me. “Maybe we’d be better off getting a canoe. We could both row and we might be able to get around the edge of the lake faster.”
“Sorry, we’re all out of kayaks and canoes,” the man said.
“Not one left?” I asked, watching him shake his head. My heart sank. I cast a look at the lake. It was crowded with people on kayaks and inner tubes and all manner of floating things. “Is there someone scheduled to return a kayak or canoe soon?” I asked.
The guy checked the black book in front of him and shook his head. “Nope, sorry. Not for two more hours.”
“What are we going to do?” I turned to Ben, wanting to cry as Moose leaned against my legs. I dragged air into my lungs, trying to think. “We don’t have two hours to wait. We’ll never get to the wedding charm in time!”
“Is she okay?” the guy asked, giving me a strange look.
“She’s a city girl, and it’s her first trip to the lake.” Ben slipped his arm around me and pulled me against him. My heart was in turmoil, but his hug gave me a bit of reassurance. Getting the wedding charm might seem hopeless if I were on my own, but maybe as a team we could win. He pressed a kiss to my temple. “Can you paddleboard, honey?”
“No,” I admitted, feeling like the worst fake-fiancé ever. I couldn’t kayak, canoe, or paddleboard. I had no idea why I was being honest at that point and not trying to fake my skills. I guess risking my life in an attempt to paddleboard was where I drew the line.
Ben pointed to a small blue plastic contraption, leaning against the building. “What is that?”
The guy hung his head out the window and looked where Ben pointed. “That is a pedal boat and it’s our last one.”
I blinked. “Did you say pedal or paddle boat?”
“Pedal,” the guy said, grimacing. “If you don’t mind bicycling, then you’ll love it. That’s a good choice for you,” he said, although his expression did nothing to convince me.
“You good on a bike?” Ben asked.
I clutched his hand. “Yes! My spin class instructor says I’m the best in the class. Do you bike?”
He grinned. “As often as I can.” He turned to the rental guy. “We’ll take the pedal boat.”
I shot Ben a look of triumph. “It will seat the two of us, right?”
“Oh, yes. But you have to wear life vests,” the guy said, leaning out the window to look at Moose. “He’ll need one, too. We rent human life vests, but not dog vests.”
“A dog vest? Are you serious?” I clutched the hair on either side of my head. It seemed like every time we got an edge then a new obstacle popped up. Moose whined, clearly sensing my anxiety. “But we don’t have a dog vest and we have to get across the lake right now.”
The guy raised his hands in the air. “You know what? I didn’t bring Spicy, my dog, with me today. She’s about your dog’s size. You can borrow her vest if you promise to bring it back.”
Ben pulled out his wallet. “We promise. We’ll pay to rent it, too.”
“Nah, I like dogs.” The guy grinned, shaking his head. “You just get your wife on the lake so she’ll start smiling again.”
I was going to correct him that I wasn’t Ben’s wife, but instead I smiled and thanked him. I liked being called Ben’s wife. If only that were a possibility. Sigh.
****
Twenty minutes later, I figured out why the rental guy had been so odd about the pedal “boat.” Because it was a super wobbly thing. It did have the ability to seat four people on its two bench seats, so Ben and I sat side by side in the front seat, both of us working the pedals at the bottom of the boat as fast as we could—even though we barely seemed to be going anywhere.
It turned out that pedaling this boat was so not at all like spin class. In addition, the only thing this pedal boat had in common with a bike was the pedals. The boat didn’t have a paddle or a steering wheel either. We’d figured out that we had to lean in the direction in which we were trying to go, then pedal hard, and hope for the best. This was
just a sad excuse for a boat. I was sweating like mad, and regretting my wardrobe choice all over again.
Moose rode on the front part of the boat like the world’s cutest figurehead, and he kept trying to lap at the water in between wild dashes toward the birds flying overhead.
“We have to go to the right,” Ben instructed.
“I am leaning right, Captain.” I leaned further to the right just as Moose leapt after a bird and right off the boat! I gripped his leash, but the line was too long. He splashed down into the water. I panicked and threw my body in his direction. “Moose!”
“We need balance, Sarah!” Ben shouted, reaching toward me.
“Come here, boy!” I yelled, brushing Ben off, because I had to save our beloved foster dog. Moose looked pathetic with his head barely above water and his tail moving from side to side in the doggie version of a rudder. His little paws broke the surface and then went down again as he paddled. Suddenly, panic slammed into me.
What if he drowned? I leaned further toward him and the boat rocked big time. I still couldn’t reach him, though. I scooted to the very edge of the seat and leaned over a little more. Just as he seemed within my grasp, the boat tipped hard to the right and then flipped over, throwing me face-first into the lake.
The warm, silky water enveloped me, going into my mouth, down my throat, and up my nose. Little fish swam past me as I kicked and flailed my way to the surface. I came up sputtering and gasping, pushing my long dark hair out of my eyes.
“Sarah!” Ben shouted.
I wanted to answer, but all I could do was cough out the lake water, hoping those fish would stay away from me. They seriously gave me the willies. Ironically, Moose chose that moment to paddle over to me and lick my cheek. I looked over my shoulder to see Ben and the boat sliding away on the current. I grabbed Moose by his floating device to keep him from being swept away.
Ben hung on the overturned boat, and swung his gaze in my direction. “Sarah, are you okay?”
“Just groovy,” I called out, as something slimy brushed by my ankle. I shuddered. “I do not love pedal boats!”
A relieved expression crossed his handsome features. “Let’s move toward the shore a bit to get out of this current.” He gripped a handle on the boat, yanking it out of the strongest part of the current. “I need your help to get it upright.”
“We have to hurry!” I shouted, swimming toward him with Moose.
When I got over to Ben, we managed to right the boat. He put Moose up in the boat then he commanded him to stay in a firm voice that made him sound parental. If I weren’t so freaked out about the time, I would’ve swooned.
Now that we were in shallow water, I stood and my sundress clung to my body. I’d also lost a sandal. Ben held the boat while I climbed up. I held both sides to keep it from rocking while he got back in the boat.
Once in his seat again, he grinned at me. “Well, at least we’re cooler.”
“That is a very thin silver lining,” I said, but couldn’t help cracking a smile. He looked so cute and funny with his hair all slicked back and his shirt dripping water.
He shook his head. “I can’t believe you tipped us over.”
“Me either.” I laughed, then bit my lip. “I was too focused on catching Moose.”
“He was wearing a life jacket, honey.” He smiled, then cupped my face in his hands. Before I knew what was happening, his mouth came down on mine in a slow, sweet kiss. His lips warmed mine and I felt tipsy enough to knock the boat over again.
The birds sang from the trees and I breathed in the scent of pine as my mouth opened for a deeper kiss. Ben’s taste was familiar and welcome. We’d arrived in Atlanta as competitors and somehow this Southern city had brought us together. It hit me then, how hard I’d fallen for Ben. I’d had a crush on him forever, and somehow this weekend I’d fallen completely in love with him. But we had a job to do, so I regretfully pulled away.
“We have to find the charm,” I whispered, staring into his beautiful eyes.
“I know.” He brushed his knuckle along my jawline, studying my face a moment more, making me feel beautiful, which was saying something considering I was drenched in lake water.
We started off again, pedaling like mad, until my clothes had nearly dried. All the trees looked alike to me, but none seemed to have a twist in the trunk that looked like a lady’s face. I feared that we’d already passed the tree we were supposed to find, and that we might need to loop back. I opened my mouth to suggest turning around—
“Does that look like a lady’s face to you?” Ben asked.
“Where?” I squinted in the direction where he pointed. The trees clustered thick along the lake, and many of them had long sweeps of grayish-green moss dangling from their limbs. One, though, had the unmistakable shape of a lady’s face. “It does,” I said, my voice trembling. “We found the tree!”
My heart raced. I may not have destroyed Jill’s wedding after all. We’d found the tree and now we were the closest we’d ever been to finding the wedding charm.
****
We pulled the boat up against the deserted jut of shoreline. Then we jumped off into the shallow water and brought the boat up to the tree. Ben tied the boat off and I let Moose off his leash to run around while we inspected the tree.
“The wedding charm has to be right around here,” I said, gazing around and noticing how quiet it was here.
Ben nodded, fingering his chin. “Unless Jill’s grandma had a wicked sense of humor and left another task for us.”
“Don’t even joke about that,” I said, my heart rate kicking up a notch at the mere thought of more tasks. I walked around the tree again, looking for a clue.
There were no knotholes or anything obvious. The ground around the tree was rampant with wildflowers and tall grass as well as a pile of rocks right at the water’s edge. Where could the wedding charm be?
My phone rang, invading the silence. Wondering who could be calling me right now, I hurried to the boat, and pulled my phone out of the waterproof pouch. The screen read: AVERY SUMMERS.
“Hello?” I answered, bending to examine a pile of rocks by the tree, hoping the charm might be buried somewhere under the pile. I lifted a rock, peering beneath. Nothing.
“Sarah!” Avery’s voice was high and nervous. “My landlord just told me I had to move out tonight. He was supposed to give me another week, but he just came by and said I only have until this evening. What should I do?”
“First, try to calm—”
“You don’t understand. I picked up the bridesmaid dresses this morning from Jill’s and she’s hanging on by a very thin thread. If I have to miss the wedding, she’ll be crushed.”
If I didn’t find this charm in the next few minutes there wasn’t going to be a wedding. But I didn’t think mentioning that would help Avery. I started pacing. “I’m so sorry, Avery. Can’t he can let you stay until the end of the week like he promised?”
“No,” Avery said, sighing. “I asked already, but the man is relentless. But that’s not even the worst news.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. “What is worse than that?”
“Jill just called and she’s supposed to leave for her mani/pedi appointment. But she’s ranting that she won’t get the charm in time and that her wedding is doomed. She’s considering calling the whole thing off. You have to get back here now and stop her, even if you don’t have the wedding charm.”
“But we’re so close . . .” I stared at the lady’s face on the tree, grunting in frustration. What if someone had stolen the wedding charm? I knew it was sentimental, but I hadn’t heard if it was monetarily valuable or not. “Avery, tell your landlord you’re not moving out today. Then take Jill to her nail appointment and assure her that we will be back with the wedding charm in time for the wedding. Bye.”
With two hands free again, I picked up another rock, but there was nothing under that rock, either. Moose stuck his head in my way, sniffing eagerly. If only he were a do
g who had been taught to smell out treasures during a search.
Ben walked around the tree again, studying each branch carefully. Finally, he stopped and looked at me, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head.
“Look, I know finding the wedding charm may seem impossible . . .” I grabbed his hands and squeezed them as I stared into his eyes. “But we’ve come this far and I know that you and I can do this together. We are committed to finding the wedding charm no matter what, just like Jill’s grandma said in the letter. Nothing will stop us. Right?”
The corner of his mouth hitched up. “Agreed.”
“Okay, good.” I dropped to my knees and parted small patches of flowers. My eyes widened, hoping to see a freshly dug spot. But, nothing was there. “Now if I were a wedding charm, where would I hide?”
“Somewhere in plain sight would be nice.” Ben turned over a rock and then dug through the grass on his hands and knees. Moose began barking non-stop from behind us. Ben came up next to me, nudging my shoulder. “He seems as stressed as we are.”
“Moose, quiet down so we can think.” I stood, steadying myself since one foot felt slightly higher than my other one. I glanced down at the one sandal I still wore, having forgotten I’d lost the other in the lake earlier. I kicked the last one off, which seemed more practical balance-wise. Too bad. They were cute, too. The soft muddy ground gave below my feet and my toes sank into the shoreline as Moose’s continued barking raised my stress a notch.
“Moose, stop!” Ben called as he pushed to his feet. Then his brows rose. “What’s he got . . .?”
“Huh?” I turned to see Moose stuff his nose under a bed of flowers. Then his head popped up and a dirty-but-shiny gold box dangled from his mouth. My breath caught in my throat. No way.
Moose trotted over, dropped the box at our feet, and then sat down on his rump, clearly pleased with himself.
“It can’t be,” I said, my voice shaky as I stared down at the glittery box.
Ben glanced over at me. “I think it is, though.”
We both bent to pick it up at the same time. Our heads knocked together and we both cried out in pain. I started laughing, even though it had hurt. Ben picked up the box, giving Moose an affectionate pat on the head. Ben brushed the dirt off the box and then handed it to me.
