Sam had learned to swim here and had fallen in love with the sport. She could still remember the summer when she was first able to beat everyone else in a race, even her older cousins. The boys had insisted she’d cheated and had called for do-overs until they were forced to admit Sam was faster than they were. After that summer she had pestered her parents until they finally let her quit dance class and join the local swim club.
She supposed somewhere in one of the boxes she had moved into an extra bedroom and forgotten was her box of ribbons and trophies. Her grandfather hadn’t let her quit swimming after the deaths of her parents and grandmother even though she had cried and stomped her feet and said she wouldn’t go. He had let her have some time, then one day put her in the car and drove her to the pool. Once she was in the water, some of the sadness had started to slip away and Sam threw herself into the sport that became an outlet for her grief.
She missed the water. Before she moved to Misty Lake she had spent at least three mornings a week at the local health club, swimming laps to stay in shape. As she stretched her arms over her head, her muscles almost begged for a workout. Maybe it was time, she thought to herself as she stared at the lake, lost in her memories.
A sharp knock at the door had Sam whirling around and tripping over the dog dozing contentedly at her feet. Pulling herself together, she opened the door to Jake, grinning and looking more relaxed than she had ever seen him in his swim trunks and baseball cap.
The casualness with which he took her hand then leaned over to kiss her cheek had her swallowing the much less intimate greeting she had planned. “And how’s Rigi?” Jake asked as he leaned down to pat the dog and received a wet nose in the face as a reply. When the dog flopped over on her back in anticipation of a belly rub, Jake obliged and it gave Sam a moment to collect herself.
“You know, Jake, I really have a lot of work to do. I don’t know if it’s a good idea to go anywhere, I should try to—”
Jake stood and cut her off. “Oh, no, you don’t. You need a break, it’s already been decided. No backing out now,” he warned. “Are you ready?” he added before she had a chance to argue.
Blowing a breath out, Sam mumbled, “Fine,” and turned to grab her bag.
Once they were in the car and pulling away, Sam asked, “Just where is it you’re taking me?”
“It’s a surprise. One I’m sure you’ll enjoy,” he added in response to her doubtful look. “You do know how to swim, don’t you?”
“Yes. I know how to swim,” she replied and left it at that.
Ten minutes later they pulled up to a comfortable looking home on the other side of the lake. The weathered siding and shake shingles were brightened by red geraniums spilling from window boxes. The lawn was precisely mowed and dotted with trees and shrubbery. A whimsical wishing well gave the place a charming, homey feel.
“Is this your house?” Sam asked, thinking it wasn’t at all what she had expected and then wondering why she had given any thought to what Jake’s home would look like.
“No, I’m afraid I can’t take credit for this. It’s my brother Joe’s place. Although it looks a lot different since Karen got her hands on it.”
“Your brother?” She wasn’t quite sure how she felt about meeting Jake’s family. It seemed too personal and she was regretting her decision yet again.
“Come on, he doesn’t bite,” Jake said seeing the apprehension on her face. If Jake knew his brother, or better, his sister-in-law, they were peeking out the window right now, waiting to get a look at Sam. When he had called his brother yesterday evening to tell him Sam would be coming with him, he had heard Karen in the background firing questions at Joe. Since Jake hadn’t brought a woman to a family function of any sort in years, he was sure word had spread and his parents, as well as all his siblings, were curious.
Sam gave Jake a withering look then headed to the door with him. Damn, she wished she had known they were going to be spending the day with his brother. She wasn’t sure what she would have done differently, probably nothing, she decided, but at least she would have been prepared.
She put a smile on her face as the door opened and she was greeted by Jake’s brother and his wife. Sam caught the look between Joe and Karen and their attempts to hide their grins. Hadn’t Jake ever brought a woman around before? she wondered, but found that hard to believe. Surely he must have dated, and with a family as close as he had made his sound, it seemed only natural that he would have brought her home to meet his family.
With the introductions out of the way, during which time Sam had learned Joe was a high school science teacher and Karen a nurse, they headed to the back and towards the lake. Sam still wasn’t sure what the plan was until she saw a huge, shiny boat bouncing softly next to a long, sturdy dock. Even with her limited knowledge of boats, it was hard not to be impressed. “Wow,” she managed, glancing at Joe as they reached the dock.
He seemed to stand a little straighter and square his shoulders as a wide grin spread across his face. “Thanks, Sam, I’ll take that as a compliment. She is a beauty, isn’t she?” he said almost reverently.
“It looks brand new,” Sam said taking in the sleek lines and smooth upholstery. There wasn’t a scratch or ding anywhere that she could see.
“Just got her this spring. We’d been wanting a new one for some time, right, honey?” Joe replied with a look to his wife who only raised her eyebrows. “I’ve got the motor broken in, she’s ready to fly.”
Sam leaned back a little and craned her neck to peek at the part of the motor sticking out from the back of the boat. It looked huge. “Just how fast does this thing go?”
“Well, that depends upon the conditions,” Joe replied, his voice slipping into what Sam could only describe as teacher mode as he started educating her on horsepower, aerodynamics, and weather conditions.
When Karen gave a sigh and murmured, “Here we go,” Joe stopped the lecture and suggested they get in the boat and she experience it for herself.
After a lot of loading, arranging, and situating, they pulled away from the dock, the boat fully stocked with drinks, snacks, water skis, and a giant, rather intimidating-looking tube strapped to the back. They started out slow, cruising along the shoreline with Joe and Karen pointing out the homes of a couple people Sam had met and explaining features of the lake. The weather was perfect with just the lightest breeze and not a cloud in the sky. The water sparkled and as Sam gazed across the lake, she felt herself relax.
Jake sat with Sam in the front of the boat, pleased that she seemed to be enjoying herself. He had noticed the flash of anxiety when she first glimpsed the boat but it had seemed to pass quickly. As he watched her look out over the lake, her eyes hidden by the sunglasses she wore, he realized how little he really knew about her. Was there something in her past that made her fear the water? he wondered. Or was it just the memories of her time spent here as a child that had caused her to hesitate?
Sam noticed the gradual increase in speed as Joe guided the boat further from the shore. Soon they were racing across the open water, the boat seeming to barely skim the surface. The wind whipped her hair back while the sunlight warmed her skin. Sam hadn’t felt this free in a long time, as if she could outrace any memories that threatened to sneak into her consciousness. She closed her eyes and ordered herself to enjoy the day for what it was, a fun afternoon spent with friends. She wouldn’t allow thoughts of either ghosts from the past or vandals of the present to interfere.
When she looked over at Jake she found him watching her, his head tilted slightly as if trying to figure her out. She smiled and impulsively took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “Thank you,” she mouthed, knowing he wouldn’t hear her over the roar of the engine and the whip of the wind.
After a while, Joe slowed down then stopped the motor completely and let the boat drift. Karen passed around snacks and offered drinks. The men each grabbed a beer with the women both opting for bottled water.
“Well, now that we can hear each other, may
be we can get to know you, Sam,” Karen said with a look toward her husband.
Sam grew uncomfortable, not wanting to be the center of attention. “There’s not really much to know,” she began, determined to keep the details vague. “I grew up outside of Chicago. My grandfather owned property here and left it to me when he died this past winter.”
Karen looked at her encouragingly when she quit talking, expecting more information, but Sam remained silent. Although she wanted to ask more about her past, Karen decided to let it go, for now. “How do you like it here?” she asked instead.
“Truthfully, I feel like I haven’t had a chance to decide yet. I’ve been busy since I got here, unpacking, then getting my business going and working with the group of kids from Project Strong Start. There hasn’t been time for much else,” she said with a shrug.
“You’re enjoying working with the kids?” Karen asked although she already knew the answer based on the look on Sam’s face when she mentioned them.
“Oh, yes. What’s not to enjoy? They’re amazing kids. Talented, funny, sweet…it’s incredible working with them,” she gushed.
“Have you had any more trouble at your place?” Joe asked.
“The kids aren’t responsible for anything that has happened there! They wouldn’t cause that sort of damage, especially to their own work.” Then, seeing the surprised look on Karen’s face and realizing she was practically yelling, Sam calmed and apologized. “I’m sorry, I guess I’ve just gotten in the habit of defending them,” she said with a sideways glance at Jake.
“What sort of damage are you talking about?” Joe asked slowly. “I thought it was a broken window, dead animals, and a couple other minor things.”
“Oh.” Sam let out a breath. “I assumed you knew when you asked about trouble…” Her voice trailed off as she glanced at Jake, unsure what she should say.
“There was some vandalism overnight Thursday night,” Jake said. “Her shop was pretty badly damaged. We don’t have any suspects yet.”
“Oh, Sam, that’s terrible!” Karen said, shocked. “Were you home? Did you hear or see anything?”
“I was home but no, I didn’t see or hear anything. The shop is on the other side of my lot so not real close to the house and I had the air conditioning running, the house closed up…I guess I just slept through it.”
Karen gave Jake a long look, clearly implying that he had better do something about the problem.
Sensing Sam was uncomfortable with the conversation, Jake decided she needed a distraction. “Look,” he said pointing. “Your place looks pretty good from here.”
Sam turned and saw her home. The boat had been drifting with Joe starting the motor a couple of times and slowly directing the boat away from shore. Not really knowing the lake well at all, she had lost her bearings and had no idea they were in front of her property.
This was the first time she had seen her house from the water and she couldn’t help but stare. It was stunning, there was no denying it. The windows sparkled and reflected the lake. The log construction coupled with the wide stone chimney and coordinating stone accents gave the home a sturdy yet warm and inviting feel. Sam was quiet as she studied it, once again fighting the melancholy that threatened.
“It’s beautiful,” Karen said softly. “We watched it being built, curious what it would look like when it was finished. It’s more incredible than I even imagined it would be.”
Sam nodded. The fact that everyone seemed to know more about her house than she did bothered her. She wanted to ask questions, find out how long construction took, when it started, if anyone had seen her grandfather when he visited, but she didn’t know if she really wanted the answers so she remained silent.
They floated for a few minutes, studying the house. When Sam didn’t say anything Joe gave Jake a questioning look, tilting his head toward the open water. Jake answered with a short nod and Joe announced, “Hold on!” before he started the boat up again and they took off flying across the lake.
Sam appreciated the gesture. At the moment, she just wanted to put some distance between herself and the house she knew so little about. She lifted her face to the wind and let it blow the tension away.
“How about a ride?” Joe asked as he slowed the boat once again. Sam was about to ask what he meant when Jake got up and went to unstrap the giant tube from the back of the boat.
“I’m ready,” Jake said.
“We’ll see,” Joe answered.
The look that passed between the brothers wasn’t lost on Sam. She had spent enough time in competition with her brother and her cousins to recognize a challenge when one was given. The men continued to grin and eye one another as Jake wiggled into a life jacket and Joe secured the rope to the hooks on the back of the boat.
Karen moved up to the front of the boat next to Sam while Jake and Joe continued their preparations. “You should see it when all four of them are together,” she said with an exaggerated eye roll. “Everything from who can eat the most hotdogs to who can tell the best joke to who’s driving the fastest car is a contest with them.”
“I remember doing the same thing with my cousins when we were kids. I guess we eventually outgrew it,” Sam said with a laugh.
“Maybe when you have three brothers the competition never ends. I don’t get it but they seem to thrive on it.”
“Sounds like a close family,” Sam said soberly.
“Very close. Joe and I started dating in high school. Once they realized I wasn’t going anywhere they started treating me like a sister. The McCabes are a crazy bunch but there’s nothing they won’t do for one of their own,” Karen said looking lovingly at her husband.
Joe, catching her looking at him, came over and planted a kiss on her lips. “Love you, baby, now hold on, I’m going to give my brother a ride he won’t soon forget.”
Jake looked at Sam as he stood on the edge of the boat. “He’s going to try his darnedest to get me off that tube. In case I decide to let go and let him think he succeeded, make sure he doesn’t leave me in the middle of the lake.” With that, he was in the water swimming for the tube.
Joe threw his head back and laughed and Sam couldn’t help joining him. This afternoon was just what she needed, she decided. She watched Jake skim and bounce across the water holding on to the tube for dear life. Joe sped up, slowed down, drove the boat in tight circles and, as Jake had predicted, did everything he could to throw him from the tube.
Sam saw Jake bounce several feet into the air only to come crashing back down again. At times, when Joe took the boat into a tight spin, he slid so far off to the side of the tube she had no idea how he managed to hold on. It looked horrible to Sam but Jake laughed during the entire ride.
Finally, Joe slowed the boat and Jake let go, sliding into the water. He was floating on his back, breathing heavily when Joe circled back around to pick him up. “Looks like that’s one for me, little brother,” Jake grinned as he heaved himself back into the boat.
“Hmpf. I took it easy on you, didn’t want you to embarrass yourself in front of Sam,” Joe shot back. “Now give me that jacket and get behind the wheel. It’s my turn out there.”
The brothers switched places and Jake gave Joe a ride as wild as the one he had just had. Joe slid, bounced, and even flipped over once on the tube but, like his brother, managed to hang on. Sam was convinced they were both crazy.
“I guess it’s a draw today unless you’re up for another round,” Joe said as he toweled off back on the boat. “Or a go on the skis?”
“No, once is enough for me,” Jake replied, subtly rubbing the marks on his legs where the tube had done a good job of scraping up his skin. “What about you, Karen, are you ready for a spin?”
“No, not today,” she replied looking toward Joe. Sam caught the look that passed between the two but couldn’t quite figure it out.
“I’ll give it a try,” Sam said earning her curious stares from the others.
“Really, Sam? Have you don
e this before?” Jake asked, sounding unsure.
“Oh, nothing like the rides you just gave each other,” she said, “but the neighbors here on the lake used to take us once in a while when we were kids. The boat was much smaller, I’m sure it didn’t go nearly as fast as this one, and the tube was nothing more than a rubber ring,” she continued with a look at Joe’s tube complete with a nylon cover and cushioned hand grips, “but it was fun. I’d like to go for a ride. You have to tone it down a little, though,” she said pointing at Joe.
“Don’t worry. My brothers are the only ones who get rides like that. Well, maybe my sister if she gets a little too big for her britches.”
Sam tossed her hat and sunglasses in her bag and peeled off her t-shirt and shorts. It had gotten hot and she could hardly wait to cool off in the lake. As she stepped up onto the side of the boat preparing to jump in, Jake stammered, “You, ah, um, the life jacket…have to wear one.”
Jake thought he might have to jump back into the lake himself to cool off when Sam took off her clothes and he got a look at her in her swimsuit. The electric blue bikini didn’t leave much to the imagination. Her long legs were capped off at her hips by blue strings holding the suit bottom together. The top was more strings with two tiny blue triangles covering her breasts. He struggled mightily not to stare as he held the life jacket out for her.
“In a minute,” she mumbled quickly. Then, before Jake knew what was happening, she dove into the water and swam with long, sure strokes away from the boat.
The cool water felt heavenly on her burning cheeks. Sam had forgotten she was wearing the silly bikini. It had been the only suit she could find in the few minutes she’d left herself to get ready for the afternoon with Jake. The far more sensible racing suits she wore when she swam laps were packed somewhere along with her goggles and other swim equipment but without digging through countless boxes, she didn’t know where. The bikini had been a gift from her cousin Susan when she had dragged Sam to Florida last winter for a long weekend following her grandfather’s death.
Misty Lake: Book One in the Misty Lake Series Page 8
