Truth and Solace

by Jana Richards

  Scarlet’s smile was completely genuine this time. “It meant a lot to us to have you at our wedding, Phyllis. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”

  Everyone resumed eating and conversation centered on the wedding the previous night, an appreciation for the food and a discussion of the weather. By mutual, unspoken consent, they steered away from the topic on everyone’s mind. Luke stayed mostly silent, responding to questions, but otherwise keeping his thoughts to himself. Maggie wished there was something she could say that would make things better.

  Tessa and Hope emerged from the kitchen, each carefully carrying a bowl. Their giggles provided a much-needed ray of sunshine in the room. They’d become fast friends since Hope arrived at the lodge.

  Cam took their bowls from them and placed them on the table before helping the girls into their seats.

  “Where’d you get the ice cream?” he asked.

  “From Hope’s mom,” Tessa said as she kneeled on her chair and reached for her spoon. “She said if we ate all our breakfast, we could have it.”

  “Good for you.” Cam tucked a paper napkin into the neckline of Tessa’s shirt.

  Luke did the same for Hope, who gave him a charming gap-toothed smile. “Thank you, Mr. Luke.”

  “You’re welcome, Miss Hope. I wouldn’t want you to get chocolate ice cream on your pretty sweater.”

  She grinned at him and stuck a heaping spoonful into her mouth. Luke grinned back at her with genuine amusement and affection, and Maggie’s heart melted a little. She was grateful Hope had accomplished what she’d been unable to.

  Once she finished, Luke wiped the ice cream from Hope’s face and lifted her down from the chair. Hand in hand, the girls ran to the kitchen, giggling all the way.

  Phyllis smiled. “When I was kid, ice cream made me that happy, too.”

  If only a bowl of ice cream could alleviate the troubles of the world.

  A man stood at the dining room entranceway, holding a parcel wrapped in brightly colored paper. Maggie didn’t recognize Willy Eklund until he removed his cap. She hadn’t seen him since he’d turned up drunk at Harper’s wedding last June and made a scene. Her stomach clenched as she braced herself for more of the same.

  “Harper,” she whispered. “Willy is here.”

  Harper and Ethan both turned to watch him, the tension in Ethan’s body telling Maggie he was ready to spring into action at the first sign of trouble. Willy scanned the room, then headed straight to their table. Maggie held her breath, but as he came closer, she was relieved to see that his gait was steady, his clothes clean, and his eyes clear. His grey hair had been pulled back into a neat ponytail. He stood beside Scarlet’s chair and held out the package, the ribbons trembling slightly.

  “I want to congratulate you on your wedding, Scarlet, and to offer you this as a wedding gift.”

  He handed the parcel to her, then stepped back as if preparing to leave. Scarlet set the parcel on the table and got to her feet, grasping Willy’s hand before he could run away. “Thank you, Willy. That was very kind of you.”

  “I wish you much happiness, Scarlet. You deserve it.”

  She gave him a hug, then turned to Cam. “This is my husband, Cameron Hainstock. Willy is an old friend of the family.”

  Cam rose and shook Willy’s hand. “We’ve met. Thanks for coming, Willy.”

  He nodded. “I’ve seen you with Reese at the AA meetings.”

  Maggie winced. Obviously, Willy didn’t get the anonymous part of AA.

  “You’ve been going to AA?” Harper asked.

  “Yes,” Willy said with another nod. “Been sober forty-five days now. And I have you to thank for it.”

  “Me?”

  Willy twisted his cap in his hand. “When you washed your hands of me and said you wouldn’t pick me up the next time I was too drunk to drive, I hit rock bottom. You were my last friend. I want to make you proud.”

  “Oh, Willy.” Harper jumped to her feet and hugged him. “I am proud of you.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut and held onto her. When Harper pulled away, he pulled a small package wrapped in tissue paper from his pocket and handed it to her. “I didn’t get you anything for your wedding. I’d like you to have this.”

  Harper unwrapped the package and held up a man’s heavy, gold chain. “What’s this?”

  “Your mother gave that to me for my birthday, not long before she died.”

  She tried to hand it back to him. “This is yours. I can’t take it from you.”

  Willy put his hands over hers. “I want you to have it. Miranda would want you to have it, too.”

  For a moment Harper looked like she would argue the point, but at last she nodded. “Thank you. This means a lot to me.”

  “Willy, why don’t you grab a plate and sit down with us?” Maggie said. It seemed like the hospitable thing to do for an old friend, especially one who’d been working so hard to retain their friendship.

  He gave her an appreciative smile. “I’d like that. Thank you.”

  Maggie helped him fill his plate and carried orange juice and coffee back to the table for him. The spot beside Luke where Hope had previously sat was cleared by one of the servers.

  Once Willy got himself settled, Luke offered his hand. “I’m Luke Carlsson. I’m working temporarily at the lodge.”

  “I remember you.” Willy shook his hand. “Grew up in Minnewasta, didn’t you? Abby’s boy.”

  Luke smiled. “That’s right.”

  “I’m sorry she’s so sick.”

  “Yeah. So am I.”

  “I see your dad around town. Have you talked to him since you’ve been home?”

  “Yeah, I’ve seen him.”

  “Jerry’s a good man. Got a nice family now, I hear. Have you met them?”

  Luke fiddled with his cup. “Yeah, I’ve met them.”

  “You’re lucky to have such a nice family, especially now, with Abby…you know.”

  Luke’s expression closed down, his feelings concealed as if he’d pulled a shutter across his face. He grabbed his coffee cup and drank. Then stood up. “Excuse me. I need more coffee.”

  Maggie watched him go, feeling the anguish in every step. She hurt for him. Even if he were to make some kind of peace with his father, it could never make up for his mother’s loss. No one could replace Abby.

  Willy set down his knife and fork. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “His father is a sensitive subject,” Maggie said.

  “Yeah, I can imagine. But he needs to forgive him, for his own good. Forgiveness frees you. Otherwise, that anger sits inside your soul forever.”

  Maggie glanced toward the buffet table where Luke was examining the contents of the steam table. He was stalling, most likely. She was afraid Willy might be right. Unless Luke could find a way to forgive his father, and come to terms with his mother’s impending death, anger and despair would eat away at him.

  Willy dug into another pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small package, this one wrapped in red tissue. “I have something for you, too. Something your mother gave me years ago.”

  He handed the package to her. Maggie held the little rectangular gift in her hand, hesitating. “Why are you giving me this, Willy? I’m not getting married.”

  “Because Miranda was special. I loved her very much.” He added quickly, “As a friend. She was my best friend. Open it, Maggie. Please.”

  Nodding, Maggie ripped open the tissue paper to reveal a tiny framed picture of her mother as a teenager. She couldn’t have been more than fifteen, and she was laughing as if sharing a secret with the picture taker.

  “That’s my favorite picture of her,” Willy said. “It’s how I want to remember her.”

  Maggie tried to give it back. “Then you should keep it.”

  He closed his hands over hers. “No. It belongs to you. She belongs to you. And I need to make amends. For AA.”

  With that, Willy picked up his fork and resumed eating. Mag
gie stared at the picture, not sure what to make of this gift, or of him. She wanted to ask him more about his relationship with her mother, but this wasn’t the place. Still, she had questions. What kind of relationship had her mother and Willy really had?

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  On the day following the wedding brunch, the business of the lodge resumed top priority. Maggie sat with Luke, Ethan, and Harper around one of the tables in the dining room, and Celeste arrived a few minutes later with a carafe of coffee and mugs. Hope and Tessa played with dolls nearby. With Scarlet and Cam away on a short honeymoon, Tessa was staying with Ethan and Harper at their cottage. Shortly before the wedding, Cam and Scarlet received news that they would soon have sole custody of Tessa. The whole family rejoiced over the news and breathed a sign of relief.

  Maggie poured mugs of coffee and passed them around. “I guess the biggest item on our agenda today is figuring out where we’re all going to live. Celeste and Hope can’t live in a hotel room forever. If we get as many bookings as we’re hoping for during our grand opening, we’re going to need the cottages we’re living in as well.”

  “Well, there’s the owner’s suite above the event center,” Harper said. “Reese says it can be finished by the middle of January if we need it. It’s got two bedrooms, with a small living room and kitchen. It’s a lovely space.”

  “Have you found a place to buy or rent, Harper?” Luke asked. “Ethan mentioned you’ve been looking.”

  “No, not yet, but our real estate agent found a rental house for us to look at. We’re meeting with her later today to check it out. She seems excited about it so hopefully, it’s the one.”

  “If you’re not going to be living in the owner’s suite, I think it makes sense for Celeste and Hope to move into it as soon as it’s finished,” Maggie said. “Celeste doesn’t have a car, so if she lives on-site, she doesn’t have to worry about commuting. The school bus can pick Hope up at the door.”

  “What about you?” Celeste asked. “Where are you going to live?”

  Good question. What she really wanted was her own place again, but until the lodge started to make money and she could draw a salary, she couldn’t afford one. Besides, she didn’t have a car either. “I suppose I can stay in one of the smaller hotel rooms, at least for a while.”

  “I appreciate you giving us the owner’s suite, Maggie, but you need a place to stay, too. You should have it. You’re part owner. I’m only an employee.”

  “You’re an integral part of the success of the lodge. I’ll be fine. I’m sure I’ll find something.”

  “You could stay with us. Hope and I don’t mind sharing a bedroom,” Celeste said.

  “That’s generous of you, but I think Hope deserves her own room, and so do you. I want you to feel comfortable, like it’s really your home, not some temporary accommodation.”

  Celeste shook her head and smiled. “Now who’s being generous?”

  Maggie shrugged. “I’ve got ulterior motives. I want you to be happy here, so you’ll stay with us. We need you.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Maggie.”

  “I’m glad to hear it, but I’m still not sharing the suite with you. It’s barely big enough for two.”

  Celeste blew out a breath. “Well, if you’re determined,” she glanced at the others. “And if it’s okay with everyone else, then I’ll accept. But you’ll need to give the place a new name. We can’t call it the owner’s suite anymore.”

  “That’s easy,” Maggie said with a grin. “From now on we’ll call the apartment Celeste’s Place.”

  Celeste reached over to squeeze her hand, her eyes suspiciously bright. Maggie squeezed back, glad the matter was settled. It really was the best solution, for Celeste and Hope, and for the lodge.

  “The place we’re looking at renting today is a three-bedroom house in Baxter. There’ll be plenty of space for you to stay with us,” Harper said.

  The last thing she wanted was to be a guest in Ethan and Harper’s house. She’d feel like she was impinging on their privacy. Harper’s offer was made with love, but she hoped she never had to take her up on it.

  Before she could respond, Luke spoke. “Would you consider staying with my grandmother and me in town, at least for a while? I know she’d love the company. You’d be doing me a favor, too. I hate the idea of her rattling around that big old house all alone after I leave.”

  Abby would soon be gone and so would he. The thought of losing them both shattered her.

  He lowered his gaze. “If you’re not interested, it’s okay.”

  He must have mistaken her silence for refusal. She forced a smile. “It’s a good solution. I like your grandmother and I think she’d be a fun roommate, but I don’t have a vehicle either. I need some way to get to work every day.”

  “If that’s the only thing that’s stopping you, I’ll leave you my truck.”

  “I can’t afford to buy your truck.”

  “I didn’t say I wanted to sell it to you. I’m giving it to you.”

  She blinked at him, floored by his generosity. “You can’t do that.”

  “Sure I can. I want to.”

  She didn’t know what to say so she simply nodded her acceptance. And she knew as she looked into his eyes that she loved him, that she’d never stopped loving him.

  Old fears crowded into her memory. He’d left her before, and he was planning to leave her again. Her love hadn’t held him then, and it likely wouldn’t be any different now.

  Get a grip, Maggie. She pushed away the realization of her love for Luke, and her fear. She made herself smile again, not wanting him or anyone else to pick up on her feelings.

  “If Phyllis is okay with the idea, then so am I. We can take care of each other for a while.”

  He smiled in relief. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

  Maggie looked deep into his eyes. The excitement and wonder of being in love was dulled by fear. How she wished she could declare her love, and rejoice with her sisters in her happiness, the way they’d rejoiced with her. Mostly, she wished Luke could return her love, that he’d stay with her, but that wasn’t to be.

  Ethan cleared his throat, and Maggie dragged her gaze from Luke to him.

  “Now that we’ve settled on living arrangements, let’s move on.”

  The discussion turned to other matters – the new reservation system, the purchase of recreational equipment and possibly a van to pick up guests at the airport – but Maggie barely listened. She imagined she and Phyllis trying to comfort each other once Abby was gone. And after he left.

  But no amount of comfort would ease the pain of losing them.

  Maggie squeezed her eyes shut. What was she going to do? He wouldn’t stay, and she couldn’t go. She’d made a commitment to the lodge and to her sisters that she couldn’t, wouldn’t go back on.

  It didn’t matter who stayed or who went. She might be in love with him, but he’d given her no indication his feelings ran the same way.

  Once more, she was in this thing alone.

  When the business meeting concluded, Harper sat back in her chair and looked around the room, a smile on her face. “I haven’t seen the lodge decorated so beautifully for Christmas since I was a kid. Grandma loved dressing the place to the nines.”

  “I remember,” Maggie said. “Next Christmas we should throw a party and show off the lodge while it’s looking its best.”

  An idea began to brew in Luke’s head. “Why wait till next Christmas? The dining room is already decorated. We wouldn’t have to do anything elaborate. It could simply be a Christmas open house one afternoon for neighbors. We can show people around and let them see what we’ve done so far, and what we plan to do in the future. It would be a good opportunity to advertise our grand opening – like a kick-off to the grand opening.”

  Maggie leaned forward. She hadn’t said much during the latter half of the meeting, but now her dark eyes shone with excitement. “That’s a good idea. We’ll keep things simple
. We can serve coffee and hot chocolate and cookies. Maybe we can have games for the kids and some prizes.”

  “I love making Christmas cookies. Sugar cookies are my favorite,” Celeste said. “What kind do y’all like?”

  “Gingerbread,” Luke and Maggie said together. They both laughed, as if they were sharing a secret. But it was only a cookie.

  “So, what do the rest of you think? Are you onboard with this idea?” he asked.

  Ethan looked at Harper. “I am. If we keep it simple, it’ll be like inviting friends over for Christmas. What do you think, Harper?”

  “I’m all for it. I think it’ll be fun. And since Cam and Scarlet are away on their honeymoon, I’ll vote yes for them, too,” Harper said with a laugh.

  “We might be slightly crazy to plan an open house along with everything else, but I say we go for it,” Maggie said. “If we’re going to get the lodge off the ground, we’re going to have to take some chances.”

  Luke nodded at her. “Yes. We’re going to have to take some chances.”

  She regarded him solemnly and returned his nod. He wasn’t sure if he meant taking a chance with the lodge or with their hearts.

  He was used to taking chances in business. He didn’t know if he was brave enough to risk his heart.

  Maggie arrived at about one in the afternoon, early enough so Abby wouldn’t be too tired. She knocked on the door and when it opened, Maggie was surprised to see an unfamiliar woman on the other side.

  “Hi. You must be Maggie.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  The woman stepped aside so she could enter. “Please, come in. I’m Paula Jenkins, Abby’s nurse. She told me you were coming for a visit.”

  Maggie made herself smile. Of course, the nurse. Reese said he was going to have someone stay with Abby during the day. “Nice to meet you, Paula. Is Abby awake?”

  Paula smiled. “She’s in the living room waiting for you. She’s been looking forward to your visit.”

  “I’m glad. I’m looking forward to it, too.”