Whispering Pines (Celia's Gifts Book 1)

by Kimberly Diede

  “No,” Renee admitted, “I didn’t think to look under the carpets. Next time.”

  Tabby continued with her suggestions. “Taking down the heavy drapes would let more light in. You could add simple shades for privacy. We could make the little bathrooms cute, too.”

  “But how can I possibly get all that accomplished on my limited budget? Not to mention my even-more-limited time?” Renee sighed. It was all so overwhelming.

  “I could go out to the resort with you when it warms up, maybe in May,” her friend offered. “We could spend a couple of days taking a look at all the cabins, deciding where we could have the most impact with the least amount of time and money, and put a plan in place. Obviously, this place will need to be a work-in-progress for the foreseeable future, but I think you’d be pleasantly surprised how quickly it could come together.”

  “You would do that for me?” Renee asked, truly touched by Tabby’s offer.

  “Of course! It would be fun. Kind of like a weekend at camp, but without anyone telling us what to do,” said Tabby. “You know I love these types of projects. Heck, maybe I could even help you with some of the actual work, take before-and-after pictures, use them to advertise my services. I love what I do, and I’m always looking for ways to expand. I’ve never thought about working on lake properties.”

  “But I couldn’t afford to pay you your normal fee,” Renee said. She didn’t want to dampen the conversation, but she felt it was important to be realistic.

  “I would never allow you to pay me,” Tabby replied, feigning a dramatically offended expression. “I wouldn’t be able to devote a ton of time to the project, anyway, but let me at least contribute what I can. I think it’s so cool your aunt left you that place. Why do you suppose she did?”

  “I’ve thought a lot about that, but I’m still not sure. I certainly wouldn’t be the most obvious choice. Maybe she could sense my growing dissatisfaction with my career. I don’t know why she gave it to me.”

  They both took a sip of their wine, and Renee’s mention of “career” reminded her about the job offer. “Oh, I forgot to tell you! I also have to decide whether or not to accept a job offer from MNC by Monday . . . a pretty solid company, and I’d make more than I did at my old job. But I’d have less time off and have to accrue it over time, meaning I wouldn’t have anything more than weekends to spend at the lake this summer.”

  “It sounds an awful lot like what you did before . . . sure you want to go back to that type of gig again?” Tabby challenged, an eyebrow arched as she looked at Renee skeptically.

  Renee shrugged in reply.

  Pushing back from the table, Tabby scooped up their ticket and reached for her purse. “Well, my friend, you do have plenty of thinking to do, don’t you?” She stood and gave Renee a hug. “Don’t be afraid to take some chances. If something doesn’t feel right, you should trust your gut. There are a million different ways to make a living. I don’t want to get all sappy on you, but if something feels like it’s sucking the soul right out of you, you probably don’t want to commit another decade or two of your precious life to it. Don’t be rash, but don’t settle either.” Tabby smiled warmly. “I have to say, this has been one of my more interesting Saturdays in a long time. Thanks for making it so much more than a quick buying expedition for my sister!”

  Chapter 38

  Gift of Trust

  “Hey, sis, what’s up?” It was Ethan, returning Renee’s call the next morning. “What do you need with my trailer?”

  “Believe it or not . . .” Renee replied, anxious about Ethan’s response, “I need to pick up five mattress sets from an auction house.”

  “What the hell do you need with five sets of mattresses?”

  “It’s all Tabby’s fault,” Renee blurted. She was suddenly afraid to voice the fact she bought them for the resort.

  Ethan laughed, making Renee sigh with relief. “That’s not the first time I’ve heard you say that,” he said. “You two still finding ways to get into trouble after all these years?”

  Renee grunted. We didn’t get in that much trouble.

  “I went to an auction with Tabby yesterday. Turns out it was a liquidation sale for a hotel chain. They had stacks of new and next-to-new mattresses and all I could think about were the gross, musty beds at the resort, so . . . I bought some. Well, five. I bought five.”

  “Really? So does this mean you decided to fix up the resort?”

  “I’m still trying to decide, but if yesterday was any indication, it certainly seems I’m leaning that way.”

  “Well, hey, I’m happy to help,” said Ethan. Renee was grateful he didn’t push for a more definitive answer. “My trailer is half full of tools and lumber, but I’ll have the boys help me clean it out this afternoon. I can help you tomorrow, if that works for you.”

  “God, thanks, Ethan, you’re a life-saver. Tomorrow would be great.” A beep sounded as another call came in on her cell. “Hey, I gotta run, but I’ll call you in the morning after I find out what time they open for pick-ups. Thanks, bro!”

  She looked down at the number. Matt! She quickly clicked over.

  “Hi, Matt! How are you?”

  “Tired. Just got off a long shift. Thought I’d give you a call, see how your weekend is going. Hope you’re having some fun.” Matt did sound tired.

  “It has been a fun weekend. I have a friend, her name’s Tabby, and she invited me to go to an auction yesterday.”

  “I love going to auctions,” Matt said. “We used to go to farm auctions when I was a kid, and when I was doing construction, we’d go to auctions held by the county where they sold architectural salvage pulled out of old buildings. Damn, I miss renovating those old homes. You can get a hell of a deal at auctions. Just depends on the other bidders. Buy anything?”

  “Actually, yes. I bought mattresses.”

  “You’re kidding ... used mattresses?”

  “No, not used,” Renee laughed. “It was the liquidation of a bunch of hotels, so these were new. There were new and used sets for sale. I bought ’em for the resort. Then, after I bought them, I kind of lost it . . . thought it was a really stupid—expensive—purchase. But I’ve come around. Lots of beds at the resort are going to have to be replaced.”

  “Sounds like you might open the old place up,” he said. It sounded like a question, but, like Ethan, Renee appreciated how Matt was careful not to pressure her.

  “Giving it some serious consideration, but I’m still exploring my options. Oh, I almost forgot! I did get a decent job offer. Still trying to decide what to do about it. I’m having trouble getting excited about heading back to an office.”

  “Really?” Matt replied, his voice slow and measured. “I’m not surprised, to be honest. You have lots to offer a company. What kind of vacation do they have? If it isn’t much, it could be years before I have the pleasure of another visit from you.”

  And I’m not too happy about that, Renee thought. They’d gotten closer through their regular phone chats and emails, but it wasn’t the same as being able to go for a walk with him, reach out and touch him, or see his smile. She wasn’t sure if he was dating, either. They hadn’t talked about it, but Renee had the strong sense Matt wasn’t seeing anyone else.

  “Don’t remind me,” she groaned. “I need to make up my mind and let them know. I’ll keep you posted.”

  “Sounds good. Anything else new?”

  “Well, let’s see. Talked to Julie this morning. She doesn’t have too much school left. Finals the first full week of May and then she’ll be home. She’s stressed about not having a summer job lined up yet. I told her not to worry, she can look when she gets home.”

  “She should be able to find something,” Matt agreed. “Hey, have you heard how that girl is doing? What was her name? Hope?”

  “Close!” Renee gave a little laugh, but sobered. “Her name’s Grace. Her father gives me periodic updates, but it sounds like recovery is slow. I do worry about her.”

&nb
sp; “That’s tough. Robbie all healed up?”

  “Oh yeah, good as new. Didn’t take him long. Sometimes it’s a relief to have a healthy growing boy.”

  Their conversation continued until Renee heard Matt yawn.

  “You better get some rest.”

  “You’re probably right. Hey, let me know what you decide about the job offer.”

  “Absolutely,” Renee assured him, signing off so he could go to bed.

  It would be so fun to see Matt again, but she didn’t know how she would be able to pull that off. He was so busy with work, and her world was in an upheaval right now. She couldn’t go traipsing off to Fiji anytime soon.

  Robbie was at a friend’s house for the evening, so Renee grabbed Molly’s leash and took the dog for a walk around the neighborhood. The air was cool but the days were getting longer. Early tulips bloomed on the south side of her house. Spring was almost here. She wondered what kind of flowers might be popping up at the resort. The snow was probably gone out there by now. The weather had been warmer this week. She had only made the one trip to the resort, but, she was pleasantly surprised to admit, she was already anxious to go back.

  Her night was spent tossing and turning. Renee just couldn’t fall asleep. She missed Matt. She missed Jim. She missed Aunt Celia. She didn’t know what to do about the job offer, and she’d dropped a huge wad of cash for the resort.

  When Renee finally drifted off, her sleep was fitful.

  ***

  She again stood on the warm sands of a beach in Matt’s arms; she was so happy to be there with him. She reached up to wrap her arms around his neck, to run her hands through his dark hair—she loved the thickness, the sleek feel of it. But, as dreams often do, a shift occurred. The texture of the hair changed. She recoiled in surprise, her body stiffening. What the hell? She peered into the dusk, now finding herself eye to eye with Jim. How is this possible? She recognized that look—it hadn’t changed, and her immediate response to it hadn’t diminished, despite all the time that had passed—desire flaring in his piercing blue eyes. Her body registered what was happening before her mind. She relaxed against his familiar form . . . reacquainting herself with it . . . running her hands over the body she’d once known better than her own. As they collapsed on the sand in a tangle of limbs, desperate to satisfy a long-buried need, the beach of her dreamland suddenly filled with crowds of tourists and Jim vanished, again leaving her alone. Always alone, even in a crowd. Renee stood up quickly, mortified, brushing sand from her sundress, but no one paid her any attention. She walked up the beach toward a cluster of cabins. The beach changed, ground underfoot taking on the crunch of shale, her footsteps sinking slightly into the shifting, heavier dark sand . . . every step an effort. Now she was at her resort, alone on a hot summer day. She recognized the small cabins, but they looked different, fresher. Dark wood gleamed in the sunlight, trim painted an apple-red with new rust-colored shingles capping roof lines. Boats on the water filled the air with the sound of summer. But where were all the people? Why was she all alone? The grounds were immaculately tended, green grass perfectly mowed with beds of flowers sprinkled throughout and stately trees crowned in green providing shade here and there. An empty hammock swayed softly in a summer breeze, but once the boats moved out of earshot, all was eerily quiet. The smallest cabin, tucked into the edge of the woods, appeared in stark contrast to the others; its shutters hung askew and everything had faded to a dull gray. Grass around this cabin, unlike the rest, was brown and crunchy. It was as if something inside the house had leached the life away around it. Unable to resist, Renee was slowly pulled toward the bleak structure. She stepped up on the small covered porch. Wood creaked ominously under her feet. A decrepit wicker rocker slowly creaked of its own accord in a far corner. A gentle push of the door sent it swinging silently back on its hinges. Renee was unable to make out much through the gloom inside. Not wanting to enter, but unable to stop, Renee stepped into the tiny kitchen, and the door swung closed behind her. A scratching noise, coming from the bedroom, pulled Renee deeper into the gloom. Sunlight barely penetrated filthy windows and did nothing to dispel cold, dank air. Renee stopped at the doorway to the bedroom, hit by a strong smell of rot and decay. The water-damaged wall now seemed to run with a shiny dark substance; flies buzzed in the air. The scratching, scuffling sound was coming from the bed. A quilt covered the mattress, its faded patchwork streaked with weak sunlight. Something’s under the quilt. Stepping ever so slowly, quietly, toward the bed, Renee reached out and pinched the threadbare edge of the heavy coverlet. She tossed it back with a quick flick of her wrist and gasped in terror as a mass of chattering squirrels thrust up onto their hindquarters, interrupted from their feasting upon something lying in the middle of the bed. The enraged creatures terrified her. She spun on her heels, intent on escaping the cabin. It took so much longer to reach the small kitchen than it had to reach the bedroom. Renee was sure she heard the vermin jumping off the bed, pursuing her. She threw open the cabin door and burst back out into the sunshine, not bothering with the stairs, leaping off the porch and onto the dead grass. She ran all the way to the lodge, never looking back. Thankfully the lodge door was unlocked. Renee pushed her way in and quickly slammed the heavy wooden door behind her, collapsing against it. She could hear voices in conversation and the low strum of music from the back of the lodge. The inside of the lodge was bright and smelled of cigarette smoke with the underlying aroma of pine. Everything looked different. The collection of photos was still on the wall, but there were fewer of them and no colored shots, only the older black-and-white ones. As she approached the bar, she noticed well-stocked shelves sporting bottles of clear and amber liquid, sparkling in light reflected off the mirrored backdrop. A bearded man was wiping the counter with a dirty towel, talking to a woman with her back to Renee. The man glanced in Renee’s direction, greeted her with a silent nod, and walked around the end of the bar out of sight. The woman turned slightly and patted the barstool next to her—an invitation to join her. Exhausted from her scare in the gray cabin, Renee gladly took a seat and swiveled to thank the woman. To her utter shock, she found herself looking into a familiar set of bright blue eyes. They seemed to smile at Renee, although the smile didn’t reach Aunt Celia’s lips. Gone were the laugh lines and wrinkles Renee had so loved, reminding her of wisdom and kind-heartedness. Celia appeared to be about Renee’s age now. In front of Celia, on the counter, was an ashtray holding a smoldering cigarette with red lipstick smudged on the butt along with a neat glass of whiskey.

  “I think you need this more than I do right now, honey,” Celia said in that smoky voice Renee remembered so well, pushing the glass Renee’s way. “Something must have given you a scare to send you rushing in here like that, white as a ghost.”

  Finding her dead aunt’s comment ironic, Renee scooped up the glass and tossed back half its contents. She sputtered as the liquid scorched her throat, setting the glass down, and she worked to catch her breath. She waited for Celia to clue her in on whatever the hell was happening.

  “This was always my favorite place to spend time,” Celia finally said after sitting quietly next to Renee for a minute. “I first came here years ago, as a teenager, with a friend and her family. We spent a month here, and I fell in love. I never told anyone. We were crazy about each other, but I was heading to college in the fall and he was going into the military. We promised to write, and we did for a while, but he went overseas and the letters eventually stopped. I never knew what happened to him. I also never forgot how magical this place felt that summer. I always dreamed of coming back here, bringing a family of my own someday. Fate intervened. Circumstances were different from my idyllic dream, but I came back none the less. By then, buildings had fallen into disrepair. Many thought I was crazy—a single woman with no family of my own, taking on a project of this size? They just didn’t understand. But it was always where I came to recharge my soul and restore my sanity. And everyone was wrong about me not having a fami
ly of my own. I did have a family. I had you and your brother and sisters, along with my siblings and other nieces and nephews. Renee, I know you’re confused as to why I was inclined to leave this place in your capable hands. Trust me. I did not make the decision lightly. Notice how I once brought this old place back to life. I know, if you grace Whispering Pines with your spirit and time, it will breathe life back into you as well. Find a way to use it to give back, and you will always get more in return. I left the gray cabin untouched to serve as a reminder to me, and now to you, of what can happen to your life if you don’t keep striving for more. Over time, with no attention and rejuvenation, things first turn stale and then crumble away. Don’t be afraid of the light. Be afraid of stagnation and be afraid of predators. Make this place shine again. I never had enough time here . . . and I so regret it.”

  As Celia spoke to Renee, she visibly aged. She took on a look more familiar to Renee, but then faded away completely, leaving Renee alone again.

  Chapter 39

  Gift of the Leap

  Renee’s vivid dream stayed with her into the next morning. She felt lonelier upon waking. Her encounter in the gray cabin bothered her the most. She clearly remembered feeling empty and bereft entering that cabin. She supposed the nasty squirrel episode was prompted by their real-life encounter with the family of squirrels in the lodge, but her visions of tended lawns and freshly painted cabins sparked her interest. Everything looked so . . . fresh. Alive.

  It had been a delight to dream about Celia. Renee missed her so much. Maybe she was finally starting to understand why Celia gave Whispering Pines to her and not someone more obvious.

  She wanted to give me what she never had . . . more time to enjoy a place we both loved.