Truth and Solace (Love at Solace Lake Book 3)

by Jana Richards

  “What happened?”

  “Miranda and her boyfriend ran away together. But they didn’t have much money and couldn’t get far. Your grandfather caught them and brought Miranda home. He threatened to have the boy charged with rape and abduction if he didn’t leave town. The boyfriend was scared and broke and believed he had no choice but to leave. Miranda was broken-hearted, but she was also angry with him for leaving. She had some adolescent romantic notion that if he really loved her, he would have stayed, no matter what.”

  Abby leaned back in her chair, as if telling her this much had exhausted her. Maggie didn’t want to push, but she had so many questions, chief among them why Abby was telling her this story now. She curled her legs underneath her on the couch and leaned toward Abby. “What happened to the boy?”

  Abby turned to look at her, resting her head against the back of her chair. “He went away, worked hard, and built a career and a life.”

  “Did he ever come back to Minnewasta?”

  “He wanted to—”

  She stopped speaking and coughed again into the tissue. Maggie could see the tremor in her hands as she reached for her teacup and swallowed a few sips to quiet the cough. She wanted to jump up and do something, anything, to help Abby. But there was nothing she could do. The knowledge made her want to weep.

  Finally, the coughing subsided. One side of Abby’s mouth turned up in a grin, but her face was a mask of exhaustion. “I’m afraid the answer to your question is a story for another day.”

  Maggie tamped down her frustration and impatience. “You’re killing me, Abby.”

  “Sorry, sweetheart. I don’t mean to tease, but I don’t have the energy to tell you the whole story all at once.” She winked at her then, reminding Maggie of the fun-loving woman she’d been. “Besides, if I stretch out the story, you’ll have to come back and bring me more cookies.”

  Maggie chuckled. “You know I’d come back to see you even if you didn’t dangle this story like a carrot in front of my nose.”

  Abby reached for her hand. “I know.”

  “Can I ask one last question before I go?”

  “Sure.”

  “Why aren’t you telling this story to my sisters, too? Why only me?”

  “Because it’s your story, sweetheart. Someday you can share the story with them but for now, it’s only yours.”

  That didn’t make sense. A story about their mother should belong to all of them, not only her. But she wouldn’t push Abby. She trusted her.

  “Okay. I’ll be back in a few days for the next installment. It might have to be a quick visit though. We’re up to our eyeballs in preparations for Cam and Scarlet’s wedding.”

  “I’m hoping to come, at least for the ceremony. I’d so love to see Scarlet get married.”

  “I’m thrilled for her. I’ve never seen her so happy.”

  “I’ll make a special effort to get there. I’ll even wear my best wig.”

  Maggie laughed as she rose to her feet and leaned over Abby to kiss her cheek, the scent of Chanel Number Five surrounding her. Abby’s cheek was soft and smooth and paper thin under her lips. “I can’t wait to see it.”

  Luke stood with Maggie in the arrivals area at the Minneapolis airport holding two borrowed parkas. Coming from South Carolina, they’d been reasonably sure Celeste and Hope wouldn’t have outerwear warm enough for a Minnesota winter, especially a blustery day such as this. Fortunately, the weather hadn’t delayed their flight; the board told them the plane had arrived. Luke hoped they’d deplane soon and collect their luggage before the storm got any worse.

  His hopes were answered a moment later. He recognized Celeste and her daughter as they approached the baggage carousels. Smiling, Maggie walked toward them.

  “Hello! I’m so glad you made it.”

  Celeste smiled back with what looked like both relief and uncertainty as she shook Maggie’s hand. Luke could understand her emotions. She was stepping into the unknown, away from family and everything that was familiar. It had to be scary, like jumping off a cliff and hoping for a soft landing.

  Maggie was taking a similar leap of faith. For her sake and the lodge’s, he hoped this arrangement worked.

  Celeste put a protective hand around Hope, who clutched a stuffed rabbit and looked up at them with wary dark eyes. “Thank you. We’re glad to be here.”

  “We brought you some winter coats. I hope they fit.”

  She handed a bright blue parka to Celeste. “I borrowed this one from my sister Scarlet. I think the two of you are about the same size. And this one’s for you, Hope. My niece Tessa was excited to lend it to you. She’s close to your age and can hardly wait to meet you. Can we try it on and see if it fits?”

  Hope nodded wordlessly. Maggie took the stuffie from her and helped her remove her Dora the Explorer backpack. She handed both to Luke and he gave her the purple down-filled parka. Maggie helped Hope push her arms through the sleeves, then zipped it up to her chin.

  “It fits!” Hope gave a gap-toothed smile.

  “It’s perfect. There’s a hat and gloves in the pockets. You’ll need them today. It’s pretty cold.”

  Hope reached into a pocket and pulled out a lavender-colored knit hat with white pom-poms dangling from the top. She held it out to Celeste. “Isn’t it pretty, Mama?”

  “Yes, so pretty. It’s so pretty…”

  Celeste burst into tears. Luke blinked at her, stunned by her reaction. Passersby stared and made a wide berth around the weeping woman. He wished he could do the same. He had no idea what to do or say, or even why she was crying.

  But Maggie seemed to understand. She pulled her into her arms. “It’s all right. You and Hope are safe now. Everything’s going to be okay.”

  Celeste soon got herself under control. Maggie handed her a tissue, and she wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Hope wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist, her excitement of a moment ago forgotten.

  “Why are you crying, Mama?” Her dark eyes filled with anxiety.

  Celeste ran her hand over the top of her daughter’s head. “Because Miss Maggie and Mr. Luke have been so kind to us. And I’m very happy to be here.” She looked at Maggie and smiled tremulously.

  Maggie smiled back. Looking at her made his heart expand in his chest. She was amazing. She was a person able to feel another person’s pain and do something about it.

  The carousel bearing the luggage from their flight came to life. Luke gestured toward it. “Let’s get your things. I’d like to get on the road as quickly as possible.”

  Fortunately, their two suitcases were among the first to appear on the carousel. Soon, they were on the highway, making their way to the lodge.

  “Mama, look at all the snow!”

  “I’ve never seen so much snow, except on TV,” Celeste said in wonder. “And I’ve never been so cold! I thought I was going to freeze into a popsicle when we stepped outside the airport terminal!”

  “Welcome to Minnesota,” Maggie said with a laugh.

  Luke hoped the snow and cold wouldn’t prove too much for their new sous-chef. He prayed she’d be able to tough it out.

  “How far is it to the Solace Lake Lodge?” she asked.

  “It’s about a two-hour drive,” Maggie said.

  “I see.”

  Luke glanced in the rear-view mirror at Celeste’s tense face. Aside from the weather, his biggest fear was that she’d find the lodge too isolated, and the nearby town of Minnewasta too small. If that happened, homesickness could drive her back to South Carolina.

  He wanted to say something to reassure their new employee. “You’re coming to the lodge at a great time. We’re not officially open yet, so you’ll have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the kitchen and the menu before we get really busy. Our grand opening isn’t set until the middle of February.”

  “That’s true, but we do have one very important event coming up next weekend.” Maggie turned in her seat to look at Celeste. “My sister Scarle
t is getting married. We’re holding a small reception at the lodge for about forty people.”

  She talked about the food choices for the wedding and the fact they were using servers from Miller’s resort to look after the buffet and cleanup since they hadn’t yet hired wait staff of their own.

  Celeste nodded eagerly. “I’m excited to get to work. I can handle most of the preparations so you can be free to enjoy the wedding.”

  “That would be very nice,” Maggie agreed.

  “Did you make a wedding cake already?”

  “No, I was going to make a chocolate sheet cake, but I haven’t had a chance.”

  “I enjoy decorating cakes. I can take over that job from you, if you’d like. Do you think your sister would mind?”

  “No, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind at all, and I’d appreciate the help. I’ll introduce you to Scarlet, and the two of you can talk about what she’d like.”

  “That’s good. I want to be useful and do my share.”

  “Don’t worry. You’ll get your chance. Once the lodge officially opens, the kitchen is going to be very busy. Or so we hope. You’re going to be a very big asset.”

  For Maggie’s sake, Luke hoped that was true.

  The next day Maggie stole away from the lodge to visit Abby. As she’d hoped, Celeste was talented and efficient, and she had no worries about leaving her in charge of the kitchen for a few hours. She borrowed Harper’s truck again and drove to town, anxious to hear more of Abby’s stories of her mother.

  Reese answered her knock on the door. His smile was tired, but welcoming.

  “Come in, come in.” She handed her coat to him and he hung it in the closet. “I’m afraid Abby is sleeping. She wanted to see you, but she had a bad night and didn’t get much rest.”

  “Oh.” She couldn’t keep the disappointment out of her voice. She so wanted to learn more about her mother. “I can come back another day.”

  “Why don’t you stay a few minutes? Abby made me promise to keep you for a little while. It was the only way I could get her to lie down. If she wakes up soon, you could have a visit.”

  Maggie hesitated. She had a lot to do at the lodge to get ready for the wedding. But she could spare a few minutes, even if she didn’t get to see Abby. “All right.”

  Reese looked pleased and a little relieved. “Good. Would you like some tea?”

  “Sure.”

  He busied himself in the kitchen while she restlessly prowled the living room examining knick-knacks. A picture of Luke on the fireplace mantle caught her eye and she picked it up. He was about ten and dressed in his Boy Scout uniform. His impish grin made her smile.

  Reese brought in a tray with the tea and set it on the coffee table. “That’s Abby’s favorite picture of Luke. He’d just earned a badge for canoeing and he was feeling pretty proud of himself.”

  “I can see why it’s her favorite. He’s adorable.”

  “Abby told me the two of you fell in love as teenagers.” He poured tea into two cups and sat on the sofa. “Do you still feel that way about him?”

  Maggie carefully set the picture back on the mantle, avoiding his eyes. “That was long ago.”

  “Sometimes those feelings linger.”

  “Until a few weeks ago, we hadn’t seen each other in ten years. We barely know each other anymore.”

  Maggie moved to the sofa and sat next to him. Reese stared into his teacup. “Abby and I hadn’t seen each other for about ten years either, but as soon as we did, the years melted away as if we’d never been apart.”

  “Were you two sweethearts in high school?” Maggie reached for her own teacup.

  “No. We were friends, sort of. I was a few years older, so I didn’t hang around with her much in those days, but I knew who she was. Even back then, she was bright and funny.”

  She knew what he meant. She’d always remember Abby as a ray of sunshine. “So what happened when you met again all those years later?”

  A smile curled one corner of his mouth. “For once, I really saw her. I’d been blind before, but finally the scales fell from my eyes.”

  Maggie waited for him to elaborate, but he remained silent, sipping his tea in quiet contemplation as if lost in memories. She sat wordlessly, not wanting to intrude.

  Finally, he roused himself. “Perhaps you and Luke can recapture what you once had.”

  “It was a long time ago and we were very young. Besides, Luke isn’t staying. He’ll go back to California when—”

  She flinched. Abby’s impending death was the last thing she wanted to remind Reese about. To her amazement, he smiled at her.

  “Maybe for the right reason, he’d stay.”

  “I don’t think I’m that reason.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short, Maggie. And don’t ever pass up a chance to love. Those opportunities are very rare.”

  Maggie tilted her head as she studied him. “That almost sounds like a warning.”

  He shrugged. “I guess it is. I almost let Abby slip from my life, and it would have been the biggest mistake I’d ever made.”

  She lifted her gaze to his. “Even knowing what you know now, about how it will end?”

  “Absolutely. Loving Abby is even worth the pain of losing her.”

  Reese smiled again, but said nothing further on the subject. They chatted about Scarlet’s upcoming wedding and how easily Celeste was fitting in as they finished their tea.

  Finally, he set down his cup and got to his feet. “I’ll see if Abby is still sleeping.”

  “Please don’t wake her on my account. She needs her rest.”

  He nodded. “I won’t, but I know how much she wanted to see you.”

  With that, he quietly walked down the hallway to the bedroom. A few moments later he returned, his face solemn. “She’s sleeping soundly, and I hate to disturb her.”

  Maggie rose from the sofa. “Of course not. Please tell her I’ll stop by again, probably after the wedding.”

  “I will.”

  He removed her coat from the closet and held it for her it while she slipped it on. “Drive safely, Maggie.”

  “I will. I’ll see you at the wedding, I hope.”

  “If Abby’s feeling up to it, we’ll be there.”

  She mulled over her conversation with Reese all the way back to the lodge. He believed Luke would stay if she asked him to. And he’d implied a relationship with him would be worth the risk, even if it ended badly.

  After barely surviving Luke’s last rejection, she wasn’t as sure.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Cam’s sister and her family arrived at the lodge the day before the wedding. His nephew Drew pulled Maggie into a hug as soon as he saw her in the front entry of the lodge. “Good to see you again, Maggie.”

  He let her go as soon as she pulled out of his embrace, though he continued to hold her hand. “It’s been too long. Thank goodness your sisters keep marrying my uncles.”

  His smile told her he wanted to be more than partners in the wedding party. A shiver of unease trickled up her spine, but she made herself smile. “Well, this is the end, I’m afraid. I’m fresh out of sisters.”

  “Ditto for me. No more uncles.” He leaned in close to whisper in her ear. “It would be great if the next time we meet it would be on a date.”

  Maggie stared at him, not knowing what to say. She liked Drew. He was Cam and Ethan’s nephew, and he was a nice boy. But that was the problem. She thought of him as a boy, not as a potential partner. Somehow, she had to let him know she wasn’t interested in him romantically. She gently tugged on her hand and he released his grip immediately.

  “Drew, that’s not going to happen. I live too far from Minneapolis for us to date. Not to mention, I’m nearly four years older than you.”

  “Neither of those things matter. Not to me anyway.”

  “Drew—”

  “Give me a chance, Maggie. That’s all I’m asking. If at the end of this weekend you still don’t want to go out with me, I w
on’t bother you again.”

  She really didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “I don’t think the weekend is going to matter. I’m not going to change my mind.”

  His smile was quick and full of youthful confidence. “Never say never, Maggie. I have amazing powers of persuasion. You’ll see.”

  She couldn’t help laughing at that. “You’re full of yourself, aren’t you?”

  “It’s part of my charm.” He clasped her hand again, his expression growing serious. “I really like you, Maggie. I think you’d like me, too, if you’d let yourself.”

  She stared up at him. For one crazy minute, she wished she could be attracted to someone like Drew, someone uncomplicated and fun. Someone she didn’t share a complex, painful history with.

  Like Luke.

  Where things were going with Luke, if they were going anywhere, she didn’t know. But she did know she couldn’t manufacture feelings for Drew that didn’t exist.

  Once more, she pulled her hand from his. “It’s been nice seeing you again, Drew, but duty calls. I need to check on dinner. I’m sure we’ll talk later.”

  “We will. Count on it.”

  Maggie inwardly groaned as she hurried to the kitchen. How the hell was she supposed to handle Drew?

  How the hell was she supposed to understand her feelings for Luke?

  She ducked into the relative safety of the kitchen, glad to have an excuse to hide out for a while. She grabbed her white chef’s jacket from a peg near the door and slipped it on. At least in the kitchen she’d been able to regain a sense of control, and for that she was profoundly grateful. She’d gained more confidence in her abilities as a chef in the last few weeks than she had in the last couple of years.

  Because of Luke. He’d praised her efforts, pushed her to believe in herself the way she had when she was younger.

  But right now, she didn’t want to deal with her complicated, mixed-up emotions where Luke was concerned.

  “Maggie, hi.” Celeste looked up from the pot she was stirring. “I thought you were visiting with your guests.”

  “They’re more my sisters’ guests than mine. Cam and Ethan’s sister and her family and some relatives from Wisconsin. I did the polite thing and said hello, and now I thought I’d work on dessert.”