by Jan Coffey
“You are putting me in the broom closet.”
“Not exactly.” She smiled. “The room we’re putting you in was rented out to guests before my daughter and I moved into the Inn. It’s small, but I think you’ll find it very comfortable.”
“How long ago was that?”
“Do you mean, since we rented this room?”
“Yeah. How long have you been at the inn?”
“Well, it’s been a couple of years, I guess,” she responded vaguely.
He motioned with his head toward the carriage house. “I would have thought that’s where you lived. A nice little place.”
“My parents used to live there. But it was easier for my daughter, Jade, and me to take over the third floor of the main house and move Janice and Bill in there. Those two are getting too old to climb that many steps every day.”
“You’re a very considerate employer.”
The softer tone surprised her, and Kelly found herself blushing. She scrambled to explain. “The Maitlands are the very heart of the inn. Plus, they’re like family to me.”
He leaned on the railing and took one of the last two cookies that were left on the plate. “What happened to your parents?”
He must have seen her watching his actions as he extended the plate toward her. Kelly shook her head.
“They’re both deceased.” She rubbed her hands together, suddenly uncomfortable with the coziness of standing there and chatting with him. “Rita should have your room ready in about an hour, Mr. Campbell. In the meantime, you’re welcome to sit here or inside, or walk around, or whatever. There is also a new plate of cookies on the reception desk that you are welcome to, as well. And we’ll also be putting some liquid refreshments out in the parlor as soon as I go inside and get to work.”
“So I should make myself at home.”
“Absolutely.” She took a half step back as he started up the steps.
“And is someone going to give me a tour of the place? Or should I just poke my head into everything.”
She wiped her sweaty palms on the seat of her pants and glanced hopefully at Dan.
“He’s pretty busy,” the guest stated.
“Well, someone will definitely show you around. We’ll just need a little time to get organized. So if you’ll forgive me...” Kelly turned and practically ran toward the door. She just couldn’t understand the nervousness this man created in her.
She must be crazy putting him up next to her own apartment.
~~~~
Lauren Wells stared out at the green blur of trees as the bus sped along the state highway. It seemed as if she’d been on a bus forever, and the air-conditioning on this one hadn’t been working right since she boarded it in Concord.
Well, she thought, they had to be getting close to the village of Independence.
She opened her travel bag and took out the schedule and the “Inns, Hostels, and B&B’s of New Hampshire” map she’d gotten at the bus terminal. An index card was paper-clipped to the map. She adjusted her glasses and peered at the schedule. The numbers on the paper were just too darn small, but the bus driver had told her they should get there about ten past two. Trying not to jostle the young man dozing in the seat next to her, she pushed her bag to the floor and opened the map. It didn’t give her much detail about the area, but the inn seemed to be reasonably close to Independence. She tried to figure out the distance from the village to the spot she’d circled.
“Going to Independence?” the young man asked, startling her. He was looking down at the map.
“Why…er, yes I am.”
“Me, too,” he said. “Me and my four friends back there are all going to Independence Village. Or near there, at least.”
“That’s nice,” she replied glancing over her shoulder at the people behind them. They looked like a pleasant group, talking quietly amongst themselves. She casually refolded the map. “Coming home from college?”
“Not exactly, ma’am.” He was a nice looking young man, clean-shaven with short blond hair and bright, blue eyes. “You’re right about the college part, but we’re all up here for jobs at a summer camp for kids.”
Lauren looked away. “Are there many camps around here?”
“Four or five of them,” the young man replied. “We work at a camp that teaches kayaking and outdoor sports to disabled kids. This is the second year for all of us working there.”
“Oh,” she said, feeling relieved.
“I’m Caleb Smith.”
“Nice to meet you, Caleb. I’m Lauren Wells.” She adjusted her glasses.
“So, Lauren, you home from college for the summer?”
She glanced at him and realized he was teasing her. They both laughed. Lauren knew she looked every bit her seventy-seven years. She was still in reasonably good health, except for her failing eyesight, but the years had definitely left their mark on her wrinkled skin and snow-white hair.
Lauren looked down at the map in her hand. The index card clipped to it was facing up, and the oversized printing on it was easily readable: Kelly Stone. Tranquility Inn. Independence, New Hampshire.
Putting the papers back in her bag, she sat and looked out the window again.
“Are you staying at that inn? The one on the card?”
She looked over at him. He was just being friendly. “Yes, I am.”
“Is someone picking you up?”
Lauren considered telling a lie, but he seemed like such an earnest young man. Plus, he was getting off the bus at the same stop. “Actually, I was hoping to get a cab at the bus stop.”
“I doubt they have one. There isn’t much of anything in Independence. Maybe you could call out to the inn for a ride. Some of these places have courtesy vans.”
“That’s a good idea,” she said. “I’ll call when I get there.”
“Which is right now,” he replied, gesturing out the window.
The bus was pulling into a combination general store and gas station. A little A-frame breakfast-and-lunch place sporting a sign that read, Alpine Chalet Family Restaurant was right next door, and an old-fashioned telephone booth stood between the two parking lots.
The five college kids and Lauren were the only ones getting off here, and she let them pile out in front of her. The driver opened the outside trunk for them, and they hauled out backpacks and bags. She waited until they started across the parking lot toward the store, where there was a blue transport van parked by the door. As she went down the steps, she slung her bag over her shoulder and watched her travel companion talking to the driver through the window. The others were piling their things into the van.
The bus pulled out of the lot, and Lauren walked toward the telephone booth. The fresh air felt good after the stuffy confines of the bus, and she breathed in the smell of pine. Just as she reached the phone, the van pulled up behind her, and the front window opened.
“Hi again,” Caleb said. “Listen, we’re going in the same direction that you are. We can drop you at the Tranquility Inn.”
“Well, I…” Lauren thought about it for a moment. “I’d hate to take you out of your way at all.”
“It’s no problem, ma’am. We’ll be happy to give you a lift.”
Lauren looked at the phone and then back at the van. Finally, she decided. “Well, Caleb, that’s very nice of you. I think I’ll take you up on that offer.”
“Great!” He hopped out and opened the sliding door to the van.
She could see the other four had seated themselves in the back two bench seats, leaving room for her on the seat behind the driver. As she settled herself in, the door slid shut with a bang, and the young man hopped back into the front seat.
“All set,” he said brightly, pressing the door lock.
Too late, she saw the small silver crescent moon hanging from the mirror, for the van was already pulling out onto the state road.
Chapter 3
There were trails into the woods. Trails around the lake. Trails to take you to other tra
ils and to rutted fire roads and to more trails. A rough carving on a wooden sign next to the parking lot showed the layout of the hiking trails and the lake. The inn property covered half the shoreline, and the trails seemed to end abruptly where a camp on the far side was situated.
Walking back toward the main building, Ian saw a round-faced young woman who must be Rita looking out a second floor window at him. She appeared to be pretty much always on the run and obviously wore several hats in the operation. After moving his car to a better spot in the parking lot, Ian also noted a heavyset biker type with a shaved head dropping a garbage bag into a Dumpster. The man was wearing a white T-shirt and apron. Ornate tattoos covered every inch of his arms. He only grunted in answer to Ian’s greeting before disappearing back inside what had to be the kitchen.
Ian entered the inn and settled down at a table by the windows on the porch. From that vantage point he could see both the reception desk and the lake. The sun was warm and comfortable. Ian got up once, when the cook appeared with a bin filled with bottles of water and soft drinks. The baldheaded bruiser didn’t even look at Ian and retreated immediately.
An older man that he decided might be Bill, Janice’s husband, appeared by one of the lakefront cottages a few minutes later, backing an old pickup right to the door. Looking out the porch window, Ian watched him use a key on a padlock and disappear inside the building for a few minutes. When he came out, he was carrying another box the same size as the ones Ian had seen on the steps near the door.
More candles.
After padlocking the door again, the old man put the box in the back of the pickup and looked up at the inn. Spotting the boxes by the deck, he climbed into the truck and drove across the soft grass up to the deck. Ian watched him as he lifted the three boxes into the pickup. He was still pretty fit for an older man, Ian thought, as the pickup pulled around to the front of the inn.
It wasn’t long before Dan came trudging up from the cottage. He had changed into khaki shorts and a white polo shirt bearing the logo of the place. The words Tranquility Inn were surrounded by a simple, stylized rendering of a lake, a mountain, and a small crescent moon above that. Dan came in and gave Ian a quick nod on his way toward the kitchen. The young man didn’t get far as Ian heard Janice calling him.
Ian stood up and looked out the window again. The fog was still blocking any view of the far side of the lake. He was considering taking a walk when he felt a tug on one pant leg. He looked down into a small face with huge green eyes, still puffy from a nap. Long curly hair that had escaped the clip holding the rest in a ponytail stuck out in every direction.
“Can you read?”
Half a dozen books that collectively weighed probably as much as the girl herself were stuffed under one arm. She was a tiny thing.
“Can you?” he asked.
“No, silly. I am only three and a half.”
“You’re old enough to work here. You must be old enough to read.”
“I don’t work here.” She scrunched up her nose and looked up at him with new interest. “Ohhh…you must be the Cookie Monster.”
Amused, Ian crouched down on one knee until they were eye level and lowered his voice. “Who told you?”
“My mom,” she whispered, taking Ian’s chin and turning it toward the reception desk. Kelly was greeting two men who were just arriving. “She told Wilson in the kitchen to make more cookies because we have the Cookie Monster staying with us.”
“Hmm…so she’s on to me,” Ian whispered. “But I thought the Cookie Monster was blue.”
She considered that for a moment. “Maybe you keep your fur suit in your bags.”
The books were getting too heavy for her, and as she adjusted them, one slipped out, hitting the floor. Ian picked it up. “And you’d like me to read to you, is that it?”
“We can start with that one,” she said firmly. She pointed to the door. “I like the rocking chairs on the deck when it’s warm and sunny out.”
For a second Ian tried to put herself in the young mother’s position, mulling over how he’d feel about a daughter of his going outside with a total stranger. He wouldn’t like it.
“How about those chairs in the parlor there by the fireplace. I have to stay close to the cookies, you know.”
She shrugged and took his arm helping him up. He’d never been a parent and wasn’t used to being around kids, but this one definitely ranked high on the adorable scale.
Ian was watching Kelly as the moment of panic hit her. Her eyes scanned the area, looking for her daughter, and then relief showed in her face as the two of them walked into the sitting area. She looked at Ian, at the books, at Jade, and then back up at Ian.
He motioned toward the leather sofa where Jade was putting down the books. “I’m about to be tested on my reading ability.”
“That’s really not necessary, Mr. Campbell. Her baby-sitter is supposed to arrive any minute.”
“No problem. We might get through one of the books.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, looking uncertain.
He nodded. “This way I can keep track of you and Janice and make sure you don’t give my room away to somebody else.”
One of the guests she’d been speaking to, a very short man, approached Kelly after a brief conference with his friend.
“Come on, Cookie Monster.” There was a tug on Ian’s hand, and he turned his full attention to the bossy thing at his side.
“I’ve got a name, you know,” he said, letting her lead him to the sofa. “It’s Ian.”
She climbed up and patted the seat next to her. As he sat down, she extended her hand toward him. “Nice to meet you, Ian. I’m Jade.”
Her tiny fingers disappeared inside his hand. She was dead serious, and he somehow succeeded in keeping a straight face. Then it was right down to business. She opened the first book, a counting book.
“You can’t rush through the pages, like some people, because I like to look at the pictures, too.”
“Okay.” He glanced at the first few pages. There were no more than a dozen words on each page. This would give him ample opportunity to keep an eye on things.
Janice had seated herself at the reception desk and, after a quick look in his direction, was focusing on some guests who were just arriving. The woman was definitely an old hand at this, playing the part of hostess to perfection. She greeted the couple—a guy and a beautiful woman who looked familiar—with the enthusiasm and familiarity of a woman welcoming family home. From the conversation, Ian realized he’d seen the woman on a number of magazine covers.
Naturally, Kelly was introduced to the newcomers, as well, who were apparently returning guests. But it was obvious that her department was to deal with problems—such as the two men and Ian himself. She was standing by the porch with the two men. A pull on Ian’s sleeve brought him back to a page showing eight little eggs. Embellishing on the text, he gave Jade his version of the best way to have them for breakfast. Somehow, watermelon, peanut butter, and sweet pickle ice cream made it into the description.
She giggled. “You’re funny,” she said, immediately flipping the pages back to the beginning. “We’ll start again. And this time, tell it your way.”
It was difficult to understand, but the little girl’s approval had an effect on him. He looked down at the top of her head and the tangle of light brown curls. This tiny human, so open and honest, actually liked him. It was as simple as that.
“Mmmmmm…one pig…a side of bacon.”
“On a burger?” she asked.
Ian nodded. “With mustard and ketchup.”
“And marshmallows.”
“On a cheeseburger?” Ian made a face.
Jade nodded exuberantly. “And blue M&Ms for a topping.”
“Are we still talking about the pig?”
“No, the cows,” she smiled, turning to where pictures of two cows filled the page.
“Back to the burger.”
Ian felt Jade become tense beside
him.
“What’s the matter?”
“She’s here,” Jade whispered, cuddling closer against him.
“Who’s here?” he asked, looking around the parlor. A family who had checked in earlier were back downstairs. The younger son, cookies in hand, was already raiding the refreshment table. The couple Kelly had been speaking to earlier was leading Dan out to the car to get their luggage. Ian saw the object of Jade’s obvious unhappiness. A teenage girl with a red backpack slung over one shoulder had just come into the inn by way of the hallway behind the reception desk. “Her?”
Jade nodded. “That’s Cassy.”
“Your baby-sitter?”
“I’m not a baby. I don’t need her.” Jade half hid under his arm, glaring fiercely across the lobby.
The child’s discomfort sat wrong with Ian. He looked more closely at the teenager. On the surface she was just another pop star clone. Maybe sixteen years old. Spiky golden hair and the requisite band of skin showing between the shirt and low-slung jeans. Pierced naval. She had a bright and expressive face, and she spoke up intelligently as she approached Kelly.
“What don’t you like about her?”
He got a shrug for an answer.
“What do you two do when she comes over?” Ian asked, hoping for Jade to elaborate.
Again, he got a shrug.
“Is she mean to you?” he asked seriously.
The child’s head shook from side to side, making the ringlets dance. The little fingers clutched at his sleeve when Cassy looked in their direction as she continued to talk to Kelly.
“Why don’t you tell your mom that you don’t like her?” he whispered back as the baby-sitter approached, suddenly feeling uncomfortable at the way Jade was clutching at him.
“I want to read more,” Jade said, burying her face against his arm. “I want to stay here.”
There was no way the girl could have missed hearing the complaint. Without thinking, Ian put his arm around Jade’s shoulder, drawing her more protectively to his side.
“I hear somebody had a short nap today. Hi, I’m Cassy Harper,” she said brightly to Ian.
