by Geeta Kakade
The rooms had been filled since November last year and word of mouth had bookings being made well in advance for the rest of the year. She worked very hard to make sure every guest enjoyed their stay and left happy knowing they were her best advertisement. Six couples referred by the Huttons had made bookings and to thank them Christy had sent them an email saying they could have a free weekend at Cupid Lodge in the summer.
Toby was thrilled with the heated greenhouse Mark had put up for him next to his shed and kept amazing them with the fruits and vegetables he was growing in there.
Moira and Frank were happy at Cupid Lodge. Moira had heard from her husband telling her he had found a job in Alaska and was doing well enough to send them some money each month. Christy had asked Moira if she would like to go to Alaska but Moira had said she wanted to stay where she was. Surprisingly Mr. and Mrs. Kemp had decided to remain as permanent lodgers, saying they preferred the hustle and bustle of a place with people around to being alone in a senior community. When Christy and Mark travelled, the Kemps took over the running of Cupid Home. It was an arrangement that suited everyone.
As for Mark, Christy felt herself falling in love with him all over again each day. She couldn’t be happier. He’d had two assignments one in Los Angeles and one in San Francisco for two weeks each but both times she’d travelled with him. The first time they’d stayed with Mother, as Mark did not want Christy to become estranged from her only remaining parent the way he had. The next time they’d stayed with one of the Cupid cousins married to a businessman. The couple had found them through the blog, were extremely excited about knowing so much of the family history and they promised to visit in the summer. Now Mark was working on something closer to home that he couldn’t talk about. At times he had to leave for two to three days at a time but as long as he came back to her safe she didn’t worry about it.
Christy stopped her work on the family blog as Mark came through the door.
“Thought I’d find you here.”
She lifted her face for a kiss from her husband.
“Had a good walk?” she asked.
“Yes wife.” He smiled as he saw the excitement in her eyes. “What is it?”
“I have an e-mail that’s very interesting. Tell me what you think of it.”
He leaned over her should so he could look at the email on her laptop.
“Hi Christy,
Thanks so much for keeping in touch with me.
I think I’m finally ready to share my past or lack of it with you.
I have no idea who my parents were. I was left at the doorstep of the Convent of St. Mary, Reno, 22 years ago with the name Bridget Cupid pinned on my baby blanket. The nuns raised me and I work in the Convent Office now helping Mother Superior.
When I saw your blog something compelled me to write to you.
I may or may not be a relative but I do have my reasons for wanting to find out who my parents were. If your offer to come and stay at Cupid Lodge is still open, I would love to take you up on it. I might find answers there. I could come in June if that suits you and I will let you know actual dates once I hear from you.
Though I can’t give you much towards my board and lodging, I can help around the house, with the blog or anything else you wish me to do to make myself useful.
Regards,
Bridget
“What do you think?” asked Christy turning to Mark.
“I think my wife would like to have Bridget Cupid come for a visit.”
“Then you don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind as long as nothing comes in the way of our trip to Chicago in the fall.”
They were going to Chicago for a reunion with Jake’s father’s side of the family. Christy hoped that Mark would make his peace with his mother and let her know he loved her.
“It won’t, I promise.”
He closed the laptop, put it on the table beside the rocking chair and lifted his wife out of her chair.
“What are you doing?” asked Christy with a smile that told Mark she knew exactly what he was doing.
He strode over to the bed with her. “I’m just reminding you of the other promises you made on our wedding day.”
Soon the rest of the world faded as they lost themselves in a world of their own.
The End
BOOK TWO
CUPID’S KISS
PROLOGUE.
PROLOGUE.
“The next assignment should be easier,” said the Recording Angel, “now you have some experience.”
“Hmph!” said Phillip.
“What was that?”
“It’s Agnes,” Phillip said, “just doesn’t listen. Keeps haring off on these wild schemes.”
“Agnes doesn’t have to listen to you anymore. She’s an independent spirit keeping you company. She doesn’t even have to go with you if she doesn’t want to. She can have her own assignment. Shall I tell her that?”
“Don’t do that,” said Phillip quickly. “I like to keep an eye on her.”
Not even to himself would Phillip admit that Agnes had always been his compass.
Phillip looked around the attic. He was so glad to be back here. If only he could find his pipe and enjoy a good smoke. They’d gotten rid of his chair or it had simply fallen apart but still he loved to linger by the window and stare out at Silver Lake.
“Ma!” he called, hoping she wasn’t up to anything.
“Yes Pa?” she floated down using the soft meek voice that he now knew meant one thing.
She had something up her sleeve.
“Have you found someone who needs our help?”
“Well I was thinking of the orphan who wrote to Christy asking if she might find a link to her past here…”
“That girl,” said Phillip. “Is she a relative?”
Agnes gave him a strange look. “Well that’s for us to find out isn’t it?”
Below her breath she added, “And for me to know but I’m not giving anything away.”
CHAPTER ONE
June 2012
Bridget got off the bus feeling apprehensive. What if Christy wasn’t waiting for her? What if she had changed her mind about having her at Cupid Lodge? Christy was really going out of her way having her spend a month at Silver Lake and she wouldn’t blame her if she had changed her mind. The next bus back was in half an hour and Bridget knew she could get back on it and be at the Convent by noon.
She saw the petite blonde waving, a huge smile on her face, the minute she got off the bus. Next to her stood a large man. Christy and Mark O’Keefe. Relief flooded her as she recognized the couple from the photo Christy had emailed her.
“How…” The formal greeting and hand she extended were ignored as Christy hugged her.
“Bridget! I’m so happy you’re finally here. This is Mark.”
“Hi Christy. Hi Mark,” said Bridget as she shook hands with Mark.
“Let’s get your luggage,” said Christy looking at the cavernous baggage space of the bus.
“I’ll get it,” Bridget stepped forward and took the old carry on that the driver had already unloaded. “Thank you.”
Mark took it from her and got into the back of the SUV. “Thank you for picking me up.”
Christy turned to her, “Sorry we couldn’t come to Reno to get you but it’s been a crazy week.”
“Getting to South Lake was no problem. There’s another bus I could have taken to Fallen Leaf which would have made picking me up easier for you.”
“Oh no,” said Christy. “You’d have had to wait for the connection and picking you up here was no problem. We needed some things from South Lake anyway.”
Her phone rang and she said, “Excuse me but I have to take this call.”
Bridget looked out of her window, glad she’d come in summer. The scenery on the California side of Lake Tahoe here was pretty much the same as the Nevada side. The aqua color of the Lake dominated in the foreground and beyond the houses that dotted the shore were low hill
s and then mountains in the background covered with the green of the pines and firs that were indigenous to the area. In the distance on this side of Lake Tahoe was the Sierra Nevada range.
Lake Tahoe Boulevard took them away from the lake and inland and very soon they were passing Fallen Leaf Lake its startling midnight blue a contrast to the color of Lake Tahoe. Bridget noticed like drivers do that Lake Tahoe Blvd had changed to Fallen Leaf Lake Road. They hugged the lake for a few minutes and then took a road that said Silver Lake Road.
“Sorry about that,” said Christy putting her phone away. “It’s a man who’s coming to help stack firewood for the winter in the back porch today.” She checked the GPS system and said, “We’ll be home in ten minutes.” Turning to look at Bridget she said seriously, “Mark and I are glad you decided to come for a visit. We hope you’ll be happy with us.”
“I will,” Bridget was touched. “Thank you for having me. It’s very kind of you.”
Christy didn’t say anything about the fact that Bridget hadn’t agreed till Christy had said she needed extra help in the house over the summer and if Bridget wanted she could have the position. She was determined to earn her keep.
“We have a few shops in Silver Lake City and some professional offices but we go into South Lake for all the big shopping once a month,” Christy said. “I use online retailers for some stuff too. If you like you can take over the shopping for us.”
“I’ll be glad to do that. I ran most errands at the convent anyway.”
“Silver Lake City sprung up after the first settlers got to Silver Lake in the 1850’s. Miner’s Rock is in the other direction ten minutes away and has a few more shops and even a motel for skiers as it is close to the famous ski slope called Devil’s Run.”
One both sides of the two lane road they were now on called Lakeshore Drive were woods. Through the woods Bridget caught glimpses of houses and Silver Lake.
Christy had described the walking trails in the woods behind the house and through the National Forest if one liked hiking. There was the lake for waterskiing, swimming and fishing, she’d told her, and if Bridget enjoyed staying in, plenty to do in the house as well.
They had turned into a very long drive edged with majestic pine trees.
“Welcome to Cupid Lodge.”
Bridget stared at the brown stone structure as she got her first glimpse of the house. She could only see the back of the house but it looked huge. It basked in the sunshine and the glimmer of the emerald lake behind made it look like something out of a movie set.
Mark had her carry on and Christy held her arm. “Let's go around to the front,” she said. “Mark will meet us inside.”
She smiled at her husband and Bridget could see the love and affection there.
They walked around to the front. Bridget didn’t know what she wanted to look at more…the lake or the house. The color of Silver Lake was just like that of Lake Tahoe, an incredible aqua, the sand on the private beach almost pure white.
“It’s so beautiful,” she said.
Opening the door, Christy said, “Yes it is. We’re lucky to call it home. Come on in.”
After a brief tour of the downstairs, Christy asked her if she wanted anything to eat or drink. When Bridget refused she took her on a tour of the house and then they ended up in the room Christy said was to be hers. “We’ve given you the first room across the landing from us. If you don’t like it, you can change to any of the other rooms.”
Bridget looked around the room. It was large. The four poster had a beautiful quilt on it, the nightstand had roses that perfumed the room. She walked over to the window and stared at the view.
“This is too good for me,” she turned to Christy. “I won’t deprive you of one of your guest rooms. Isn’t there anywhere else I could stay…a small room at the back of the house?”
“Well,” said Christy, looking puzzled, “There are no bookings for this room right now. Stay in it for a few nights and then you can pick something else.”
Bridget hesitated and her hostess said, “Why don’t you come down when you’re ready and we’ll have lunch and then I want to show you the garden and beach. Unless I’m tiring you out and you would like a rest?”
Bridget shook her head. “I took a nap on the bus coming here. It must have been the excitement of coming here I couldn’t sleep properly last night and I was up at dawn.”
After Christy left Bridget unpacked the carry on bag and put her two changes of clothes and small toilet bag away. Her diary she slipped into the chest of drawers. She placed the doll she’d had since she was three among the cushions. Emma looked happy there.
After Bridget washed up she stared at herself in the mirror. Her light grey shirt had full sleeves. Her skirt was calf length and below it her knee highs and sturdy, lace up shoes completed the outfit. The face above it was plain, framed with dark hair fastened at her neck with a clip. Dark eyes completed the picture.
‘Thank the Lord for the face He gave you’, Sister Winifred had said when a twelve year old Bridget had asked her at which age girls turned into swans. She may as well have said, ‘In some cases, never.’
Bridget took a deep breath and turned away from the mirror.
Christy looked at Mark as he bent to kiss her.
“Well what do you think?” She turned to take out the salad she had made before they left.
“She’s nice,” he said cautiously, getting out the bread and plate of sandwich meats. “What do you think?”
“She’s very pretty and that smile is a knockout. I wish I had a neck like hers long and graceful. Her jet black hair looks like silk and those dark eyes are gorgeous. She’s very quiet but that isn’t a problem. It’s just a matter of getting used to us.”
Christy took out the jug of lemonade and said, “Shall we eat outside? It’s such a beautiful day.”
Mark nodded.
“But?” he asked knowing his wife had more on her mind as he took out some sliced cheese.
His wife placed three glasses on a tray. “After meeting her I’m worried she won’t find the evidence she’s looking for to prove she’s part of the Cupids of Silver Lake. What happens then? Will she just go back and become a nun?”
“Nothing wrong with that,” said Mark. “You’d have given her a good vacation and while she’s here she might be able to come up with other things she could do instead of becoming a nun.”
“I just don’t want her accepting a future that’s picked for her.”
“You didn’t,” Mark pointed out.
“Yes but I knew what my options were…she’s just lived such a sheltered life.”
“If I know you sweetheart, all that is about to change,” said Mark picking up the tray and heading for the door as he heard their guest coming downstairs. “Bridget doesn’t know it but she’s coming up against a mini tornado that will change her life.”
FROM BRIDGET’S DIARY…June 2012
This whole month has been a kaleidoscope of new experiences.
Mark and Christy are the nicest people I know. They’ve made me feel at home and the Kemps and Moira are so kind. Toby’s in charge of the garden and he likes nothing better than to have someone to talk to as he works. He and his wife came out from Lancashire, England after he retired to be close to their daughter who lives in Reno. His wife was happy being close to their daughter and helping with the grandchildren but Toby hated being retired and felt alone in a new country so he looked for gardening jobs in the area. Jake Cupid, Christy’s Dad hired him to work part time in the garden. After his wife’s sudden death from influenza, Toby started drinking heavily. When Mr. Cupid saw what was happening he told Toby to come in every day and found odd projects for him to work on, spent time talking with him and made sure he wasn’t lonely any more. Toby and Mark helped Mr. Cupid through his final battle with cancer and Toby’s an important member of the family now. Christy loves him as she says he was her first friend when she arrived at Cupid Lodge.
Toby’s happy
when I go out into the yard and hoe the rows and listen to him tell me how to grow the best vegetables. He tells me old stories about Silver Lake and shows me the grafting experiments he’s doing…he wants to graft a nectarine and a plum on a peach tree so we can have a branch of different fruit on the same tree. That’s amazing to me but he says there’s a professor in Sacramento who’s done fourteen different grafts on one fruit tree successfully.
I guess I’m most relaxed around Frank as he isn’t reserved around me. He says he likes doing his summer homework with me and Moira is so relieved not to have to go through that stress with him every day, she keeps thanking me. Frank has to do an hour’s work every day in the summer so he won’t be behind when school starts. He also has to write half a page on whatever topic he wants, as he’s not doing great with writing. He also has to read for half an hour each day. We do the work up in the tree house, as that is more fun for him. The tree house is amazing, with two rooms. Frank and I wanted to sleep there one night but Moira refused to let us. She said she was afraid a black bear would climb up and get us. Frank says he can’t have any friends over for a sleepover in the tree house for the same reason. Moira is terrified after reading in the papers how the black bears in the area wander into backyards in search of food in the summer. Mark keeps telling her he and Toby check the fences every week and they are so high, no bear is going to climb over them, but she is still too afraid to change her mind. Mark and Christy mentioned having a dog might be the only thing that would reassure Moira on that score.
Three days after I got here Moira helped me clean out the apartment Mark used before he and Christy were married and I’ve rearranged the furniture in my bedroom and brought in an old armchair from the furniture stored in the garage so I can sit by the window and knit.
