The Lakeside Inn

by Leeanna Morgan

  Penny looked across the lake. “Did you enjoy living in Chicago?”

  “I loved my wife, so I learned to like Chicago.”

  Penny frowned.

  He knew what she was thinking, and she was right. “If I could have chosen where we lived, it wouldn’t have been in a city. But we bought a house in the suburbs, not the center of town. It wasn’t too bad once you got used to it.”

  “Your nose is growing.”

  His gaze shot to her face. Penny’s smile surprised him. “We always went on a long summer vacation. It helped to have something to look forward to. What will you do next?”

  “I’ll call my manager. If I can’t work from Sapphire Bay, I’ll think about what I’ll do next.”

  Charlie let out a deep-chested woof, then tore ahead of them.

  “That sounds like a good plan. In the meantime, we can enjoy the rest of our walk.”

  Penny looked along the trail. “If Charlie makes it home without jumping in the lake, I’ll be happy.”

  Wyatt nodded. Sometimes you had to look for the silver linings—even if they were small.

  Chapter 6

  After thinking about it for far too long, Penny was finally ready to open her grandma’s chest. Earlier this morning, she’d told Diana about the mystery surrounding their grandma’s father. Since then, they’d both looked through their grandma’s closets and a few dusty boxes in the attic. But it was the old wooden chest they were both eager to open.

  “Do you have the key?” Diana asked.

  Penny held the tarnished silver lock in her hand. “I didn’t think it would be locked. Hopefully, Mom knows where it is.”

  “Do you want me to call her?”

  “That would be great.” She stood and looked around the dusty attic. “While you’re talking to Mom, I’ll hunt through the other things in here.”

  “Watch out for the cockroaches and mice.”

  Penny glanced at her sister. “They don’t scare me. It’s Katie who hates creepy crawlies.”

  “Talking about Katie”—Diana pulled out her cell phone—“has she called anyone since she arrived in Los Angeles?”

  “She spoke to Barbara before she started work. The flight was on time and the traffic from the airport was horrendous.”

  “She should have stayed here.”

  “If we need her, she’ll come back.” Penny opened the top drawer of a long-forgotten dresser. A layer of dust filled the air and she coughed, waving the worst of it away. “Once we figure out what we’re doing with the house, it might not matter, anyway.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If my manager wants me to work from Seattle, I might not be able to stay.”

  Diana lowered her phone. “Don’t say that. You have to live here.”

  The last few months had been difficult for Diana but, seeing the worry on her sister’s face, Penny had a feeling it had been worse than anyone realized. “You could live with Mom and Dad.”

  “I know. I just…” Diana’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m devastated that I missed saying goodbye to Grandma. After I left Derek, I promised myself I’d see everyone in our family more often. But I only saw Grandma a few times before she died.”

  “She knew you loved her.”

  Diana wiped her eyes. “I hope so. I was grateful she wanted us to live together for a year. I’ve missed everyone.”

  “I’ve missed you, too, but I don’t know if I can stay in Sapphire Bay.” She rubbed her sister’s arm. “You’ve had a rough year. How are you feeling?”

  “Lost. I thought Derek and I would be married for the rest of our lives. Even after I found out about his affairs, it didn’t make leaving him any easier.”

  Penny didn’t know what to say to comfort her sister. Derek had seemed like a nice person. He had a good career, a friendly family, and he seemed to genuinely love Diana. Everyone, including her sister, was shocked when they heard about his double life.

  “At least you can make other plans now.”

  “I wish it was that easy. Our house is being sold, I don’t have a job, and Derek took half of everything I own in our divorce settlement. It will take me years to get back on my feet.”

  “And you think living here will help?”

  Diana nodded and sat on a dusty chair. “This house is full of wonderful memories. Do you remember when Katie cleaned the chimney?”

  It was hard to forget, especially when their granddad had spent the next two days getting the ash and soot out of the rug in the living room. “She wanted to make sure Santa could deliver his presents.”

  “And what about the time you cut a hole in the back door?”

  Penny sat beside her sister. “I thought putting in a cat door would be easy, but I didn’t realize how big Pickles had grown. What about the last time we went fishing with Granddad? Barbara was so excited when she caught a trout that she fell into the lake.”

  “But she still kept it on the end of her line.” Diana’s sad smile brought tears to Penny’s eyes. “This house feels like home. It’s part of who we were and who we’ve become. I’m not ready to give it to someone else.”

  “We might not have a choice.”

  Diana frowned. “We always have a choice, starting right now.” She opened the cover on her cell phone. “If Mom doesn’t know where the key to the chest has gone, I’ll call Dad. He might have a pair of bolt cutters in his garage.”

  While her sister was busy on the phone, Penny opened another set of drawers. Carefully, she pulled out a tiny baby bonnet and booties and smiled at the other hand knitting.

  Diana was right about one thing. Their grandparents’ house was full of special memories. And after everything that had happened, she wasn’t sure if she was ready to say goodbye to them, either.

  But before she could tell Diana if she was staying, she needed to call her boss. And she would, just as soon as the chest was open and they’d looked inside.

  Within fifteen minutes of calling their mom, Mabel opened the attic door and smiled at Penny and Diana. “I should have given you the key the other day.”

  “You didn’t need to rush over here, Mom. Diana and I could have found something else to do.”

  “It was no bother. Besides, your dad is happy to look after the store while I’m here.” She pulled a silver key from her pocket and placed it inside the lock. “The last time I opened the chest was before your grandma went into the retirement village.”

  With a satisfying click, the lock sprung open.

  Penny leaned closer, eager to see what was inside. When she saw the carefully folded clothes placed between layers of tissue paper, she sighed.

  Her mom chuckled. “You won’t find any gold or silver in here, but treasure comes in all shapes and sizes.” She handed Penny a cotton dress with a delicate lace collar. “Your great-grandmother made this dress for your grandma. The bobbins and pins that she used to make the lace are in the attic, too.”

  Penny ran her fingers across the pretty dress. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Your great-grandmother was a wonderful seamstress. After her husband died, she made clothes for the people of Polson. It was the only way she could survive.” She handed Diana a heavy brown jacket. “This was your great-grandfather’s. It’s one of the few things of his your grandma kept.”

  Diana slowly unfolded the jacket and held it against her chest. “He must have been about my height, but twice as wide.”

  Mabel touched the sleeve. “Your great-grandfather’s name was Patrick Kelly. He traveled from Ireland to begin a new life in Montana. Your grandma told me he was a boxer before he worked on the steamboats.”

  “Have you checked the pockets?” Penny asked. “There might be a stray piece of paper or something that would tell us more about him.”

  “That was the first thing I thought of, too,” Mabel said. “But the pockets are empty.”

  While her sister draped the jacket over a chair, Penny took a handkerchief out of the chest. Embroidered in one corner we
re the initials PK. “What do you know about our great-grandfather, Mom?”

  “From what your grandma said, he had a lot of big dreams, but struggled to make anything work. Everything I discovered is written in the notebook I left in the kitchen. I made a list of everything your grandma told me, then added the other information I found.”

  “Did you ask the librarians at the Polson Public Library?”

  “I did. They helped me photocopy the census records and land information from when your great-grandparents lived in Polson. They have a historical photograph collection, but most of the images don’t have captions. After a couple of days of searching, I found nothing.”

  Their mom reached into the chest and handed Penny a leather journal. “If you want to understand your great-grandfather a little better, read this. It’s one of your great-grandmother’s diaries.”

  “I should wear gloves. This is too precious to risk getting dirty.”

  “I know what you can use.” Mabel hunted inside the chest. “Try these. They might fit.”

  The cream, cotton gloves were incredibly delicate. Penny admired the row of pearl buttons, the fine lace along the top edge. “Did these belong to our great-grandmother?”

  “I think they’re too old to belong to Margaret, your great-grandmother,” Mabel said as she pulled herself to her feet. “Most of the photos I’ve seen of gloves like this were worn in the 1890s. That would make them your great-great-grandmother’s or another woman’s from the same era.”

  “They’re so small,” Diana said.

  Penny carefully placed her hand inside a glove. Diana was right—they were far too small for her. “I’ll damage them if I pull them on. I’ll open the journal after I’ve found something else to wear.”

  “We have gloves in the first aid kit,” Diana said. “I’ll get them.”

  After Diana left, Mabel took a small enamel box out of the chest. “This is the box your grandma was talking about. There was no mention of it in any of the journals.”

  The box was painted a soft shade of blue with butterflies and birds decorating the surface. When Penny turned it over, she was surprised there were no marks on the bottom to show who had made it. “It’s lovely.”

  Mabel nodded. “Even though your grandma didn’t know anything about the box, she treasured it.”

  Penny unclipped a small metal catch and carefully opened the lid. Nestled within a black velvet lining was a small gold key.

  “We spent a lot of time looking for anything it might open.”

  The top of the key was shaped like a heart with filigree arches turning it into something special. Penny took it out of the box and rubbed her thumb across the metal. “I could look on the Internet. Someone might have taken a photo of another key that’s like this one. It might help us discover what it opens.”

  “Your grandma thought it opened a drawer, but it didn’t fit any of her mother’s furniture.”

  Diana hurried into the attic and handed Penny and their mom some gloves. “Is that the special box Grandma was talking about?”

  “It is. Do you want to have a look?”

  While her sister studied the small box and key, Penny pulled on a pair of gloves and picked up the journal. Considering its age, the binding and pages were in good condition.

  A lump formed in her throat as she read the beautiful handwriting. She’d never met her great-grandmother, but she’d heard many wonderful stories about her. She was a strong, brave, and very stubborn woman. In the early 1900s, with no family living in Montana, she’d raised her daughter on her own, started a business, and created a life that would make anyone proud.

  Diana held the key up to the light. “This looks like a Victorian skeleton key. They were used to open all kinds of furniture. Are you sure there isn’t a grandfather clock or a desk that you haven’t checked?”

  “We’ve already looked at everything in the house,” Mabel assured her. “I just hope no one sold the piece of furniture that matches the key.”

  “So do I. It would be wonderful to see what it opens.” Diana closed the box and handed it to Penny. “Have you talked to your manager about your job?”

  She kept her head bent over the journal. “Not yet.”

  Her sister’s silence spoke for itself.

  Mabel rubbed Penny’s arm. “Barbara told me you didn’t get the promotion. I’m sorry.”

  Penny closed the journal and held it against her chest. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Of course, it does,” Diana said. “You have all the qualifications and experience they wanted. Even your manager thought you were perfect for the job.”

  “The recruiting team must have been looking for something else.”

  Diana frowned. “It’s still disappointing. The least they could have done was tell you before they sent the email.”

  Penny thought the same thing, but there was nothing she could do about it now. Talking to Wyatt had helped her figure out what was important. Reading her great-grandmother’s journal had sealed her fate. “When I call my manager, it won’t be to see if I can work from Montana. It will be to tell him I’m resigning.”

  Diana’s mouth dropped open. “You’re staying?”

  Penny nodded. “I have no idea how I’ll earn money or what I’ll do with my house in Seattle. But, for the next twelve months, I’m not leaving Sapphire Bay.”

  Diana let out a squeal of excitement and wrapped Penny in a hug. “You won’t regret it.”

  Tears filled Mabel’s eyes. “I’m so happy,” she murmured as she pulled her girls into a tight embrace.

  For the first time since her grandma had died, a weight lifted off Penny’s shoulders. It was the right decision made for all the right reasons—even if it was a little scary.

  Two days later, Penny went for a long walk around the lake. Barbara and her dad were thrilled that she was staying in Sapphire Bay, but they knew what a tough decision it had been. She loved her job; loved creating and selling new homes that people would cherish.

  Living permanently in Sapphire Bay, even though it was spectacular, wasn’t something she’d ever imagined doing. For someone who was used to dealing with property developers, architects, builders, and prospective homeowners, living on the shore of Flathead Lake would be like going on a permanent vacation. As much as the thought appealed, she needed to find a job. And the chance of finding anything that she enjoyed as much as her role in Barclays was frighteningly low.

  “You don’t have Charlie with you today.”

  Penny nearly stumbled over a tree root. She was so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t seen her neighbor walking toward her. “Hi, Wyatt. Charlie stayed with Diana. She’s baking his favorite treats.”

  Wyatt’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “That makes sense. Did you enjoy your walk?”

  Penny nodded. “It’s a beautiful day. I haven’t seen you walking at this time of the morning before.”

  “I’m usually painting by now, but I’m talking to the residents of the tiny home village in an hour. I thought I’d get some exercise while I could. Have you called your manager?”

  “I did, but it wasn’t to ask if I could work from here. I resigned.”

  Wyatt’s eyebrows rose.

  “I know. It’s not what you expected to hear, but it’s the right thing to do. I want to spend time with my family and I can’t do that from Seattle. So, here I am.”

  “Your mom and dad must be happy.”

  For the first time that morning, Penny smiled. “They are. Barbara’s staying as well.”

  “And Katie?”

  Penny’s smile dimmed. “She’s thinking about it.”

  “If she could find a job here, it might make a difference.”

  “I’m not sure even that would help.”

  “What about you? Would finding a job in Sapphire Bay or Polson make it easier to live here?”

  “I need to find a job regardless of why I’m staying. If I rent my apartment in Seattle, it will cover most of my mortgage. But I still
need money to live on while I’m here.”

  “What sort of job do you want?”

  “I’m happy to do anything. If you hear of any vacancies, let me know.”

  “I need help with the registrations for the art program. It doesn’t pay anything, but it would keep you busy until you find something else.”

  “When would you need me to start?”

  “Today?”

  “Do you want me to come to the meeting with you?”

  Wyatt nodded. “Only if you have the time. I could fill you in afterward if that’s easier.”

  Apart from cleaning out her grandma’s attic, she had nothing else planned. “Okay, but I’ll need to let Barbara and Diana know what I’m doing. Are you walking back to your house?”

  Wyatt nodded. “Do you have time for a quick cup of coffee? I could tell you a little more about the project.” He smiled when she didn’t immediately reply. “If we’re going to be neighbors and work colleagues, I’d better make an effort to be nice.”

  Making an effort was totally unnecessary. Each time she saw Wyatt a tingle of awareness skittered along her spine. After her terrible dating track record, she’d given up on ever finding anyone who made her want to know more about him. But her new neighbor intrigued her.

  “I’ll come for coffee if you show me some of your paintings.” She was surprised when he hesitated. It never occurred to her that he wouldn’t want anyone seeing them. Maybe he had some kind of superstition about people looking at the paintings before they were finished.

  “It’s okay if you don’t want me to see them.”

  “I’m not sure they’re worth seeing at the moment. Only one is finished. The others are in various stages of development.”

  “That sounds like something I’d say. For someone with a creative brain, you have a very analytical way of looking at the world.”

  “My parents had something to do with that.” Wyatt walked toward his house. “Because we traveled around so much when I was younger, I had to be more organized and independent than most children. At the time, I hated it, but it taught me some valuable life lessons.”