by Kay Correll
“Sounds like business is doing really well.” She looked at Nora.
“Jason here has been a godsend. He has a head for numbers, something I was more than happy to turn over to him.” Nora reached out and patted her son’s hand. “It’s nice to have help running this place too. Not to mention having both my kids live in the same town as me. And my adorable but mischievous grandsons.”
Jason smiled at his mom. Bree felt a momentary pang of jealousy, for the closeness of the Cassidy family, for Jason and Nora’s obvious contentment with life. For the life she once thought she’d have and now knew would never happen. And surprisingly, a fleeting longing for the closeness she used to share with her sisters. She drew in a deep breath. “I guess I better be heading back to the cabin.”
“Jason, you drive her back to her cabin.”
“Of course.” He pushed back from the table. “Come on, Breester.”
She stood and took his offered hand, then turned to Nora. “Thanks for having me.”
“You come back anytime. You’re always welcome.”
They crossed the dining hall with its mostly empty tables now. A young guy cleared tables with a clattering of plates as he filled up a gray bin propped on one hip. A cute, dark-haired waitress stopped near him and said something that made him blush. Jason just rolled his eyes as they walked past.
He led the way out into the soft evening light toward his truck. She paused for a moment to look at the moonlight dancing across the lake and the brilliant display of twinkling stars above them.
“I’ve missed having you here, Bree.” His low voice rumbled around her.
“I missed you too.” She sighed, willing him not to carry the conversation any further into dangerous territory.
He turned to look at her. “I’ve missed all of you. Everyone split apart and I rarely saw any of you.”
“I just couldn’t face coming down anymore. It just hurt too much.”
“Twenty years is a long time. You know, Bree, I’d been friends with Peter since kindergarten. You didn’t just lose your boyfriend when he died. I lost my best friend.”
“Jason, I can’t do this now...” She turned, scurried to his truck, and climbed inside.
Chapter 3
Bree woke up early the next morning with the sun peeking through the glass panels of the French door to her bedroom. The door opened out to a stone walkway that connected the bedroom she’d shared with Cece with the bedroom Abby had to herself. The benefit Abby had of being the oldest child. That, plus Abby always got her way, anyway. She was just like that. She expected to get her way and got it.
She sat up in bed and stretched. She had a lot to do today. Make a list of all that needed to get done. Go to the hardware store for paint and supplies. Ignore the memories Jason had stirred up last night by bringing up Peter’s death.
She still missed Peter with his curly blonde hair and dancing sky-blue eyes. Or she missed what they’d had together, while it lasted. Her first love. She’d dated him for three years. She missed him and grew angry at herself whenever she caught herself doing it. And hated him. Hate being the dominant emotion. She’d never forgiven him and never gotten over him.
She shoved the memories away. Time to start her day. But first things first. She needed coffee.
She slid out of bed and pulled out some jeans and a hoody from the suitcase she’d thrown on the other twin bed. Within minutes she was ready to leave, with her contacts in, her hair pulled back in a hasty ponytail, and her laptop bag in hand. After she found a decent cup of coffee, she’d stop by the grocery store and pick up some food and coffee for the mornings.
Bree wasn’t sure how many days she’d spend down here. She’d taken some time off from the catering business she’d started two years ago. Jolene, her assistant and all-around miracle helper, had promised to handle her phone calls and deal with any future bookings. Her business could handle her being away for a while. Jolene was very capable and could handle the work during a slow time. Besides, Bree hadn’t taken time off in the two years since she started her business. Not that this trip was her idea of a relaxing vacation.
Yesterday she’d headed straight to the cabin and hadn’t gone into town. Today she pulled her car onto Main Street and looked around. So much the same. Pretty storefronts lined the street. She wondered if her favorite old haunts would still be here. Stepping out of the car, she looked up and down the street. So many memories flooded back.
She ignored them. All of them.
She scanned the nearby storefronts and found a cute shop that boasted the best cup of coffee in Sweet River Falls. Perfect. And internet access. Double perfect. She entered Bookish Cafe and was greeted by a friendly woman who looked vaguely familiar.
“Good morning. Welcome.”
“Hi. I’ve come for the best coffee in Sweet River Falls.”
The woman smiled. “That’s what they say. I’m Annie, the owner.”
“Annie, Nora’s friend, right?”
Annie looked at her closely. “You’re Jason’s friend, Bree, aren’t you?”
“I am.”
“So are you staying at your parents’ cabin?”
“I’m here for hopefully just a few days. I’m getting their cabin ready to sell.”
“I’d heard it was going on the market soon. A lovely cabin. I was so sorry to hear about your parents. They were wonderful people. They came here often.”
She never knew how to react when people expressed their sympathy on her parents’ deaths. Sometimes she just gave a brief smile and nod, and sometimes the tears threatened to flow.
She luckily could just nod with a weak smile this time. So Annie knew her parents. Not surprising in a small town like Sweet River Falls. She wished she’d spent more time with her parents and not shut them out of her life. Regrets. Always regrets. She always thought she’d have time to work it out, at least with her parents. But that chance had been taken away. Quickly and completely.
She turned her attention to a display of pastries by the coffee bar and changed the subject. “Oh, and maybe a danish.”
“You can order at the counter and there are comfortable chairs upstairs if you want to grab some internet.” Annie nodded at the laptop bag Bree carried.
“Thank you.”
She grabbed her coffee and danish and climbed the stairs. A beautiful view of the Sweet River flowing behind the building caught her eye. She walked to the window and looked down on a walkway threading its way along the stream. She added the walkway to her growing well-that-is-new list.
She turned and settled into a chair and opened her laptop to check her business email. The internet had been turned off at the cabin. The coffee was rich and dark, and the internet connection quick. She’d found herself a new favorite spot in town. Then she realized once she put the cabin on the market, she’d have no reason for favorite spots in Sweet River Falls anymore. She’d just close the door on that chapter of her life.
She finished her coffee—and it was all it promised—ran her errands, and went back to the cabin to tackle the job at hand. After walking around for an hour with a pad and paper, listing off everything that needed to be done, she decided it was time for a break.
She tugged on her coat and gloves and headed to the large wooden swing her father had made and placed beside the lake. The quiet of the lake wrapped around her. Of course, it was winter and the middle of the week. Though, as she remembered it, the lake was still peaceful even with the crowds in town in the summer. She frowned. She had no idea if that was how it still was here at the lake. Maybe it was busy and crowded now. Who knew?
She frowned again. She really didn’t know much about it. It seemed strange to be back here, sitting in that same swing—though maybe her father had rebuilt it and it wasn’t the very same one—and yet, feeling so disconnected from the place.
Today the wind blew gently, chasing tiny ripples across the surface of the water, which splashed soothingly against rocks at the edge of the lake. She sat and sta
red, lost in thought with memories crashing through her mind.
“Hey, Breester.”
She turned at the sound of Jason’s voice. “Hi.” It was good to see him standing there, pulling her out of her melancholia. There was no need to spend the next days railing against the fates and hashing out old wounds. That was not what this trip was about.
“I came to see if you wanted to come over to the lodge for a bit. Maybe grab some cocoa?”
“Ah, you remember my weakness for the lodge’s hot chocolate.” She smiled. “Thanks, but I don’t think so. I have a lot of work to do.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And I can see you’re just seizing the day with that to-do list.”
“I did work. Now I’m taking a break. But I need to get back to it.”
“How about I come by with the truck later this afternoon and I can help you pick up any supplies you need from the hardware store.”
Bree thought of the long list she’d made of repairs that needed to be made to the cabin. “I will take you up on that offer.”
“Good. I’ll be by in a few hours then.”
“Thanks, Jason.”
“You betcha.” He walked her back up to the cabin and waved as he disappeared around the corner. She heard his truck start and the crunch of his wheels on the gravel. Then silence surrounded her again. And memories. The quicker she got started on whatever needed to be done, the quicker she could escape the place, once and for all.
She pressed her lips together, threw open the door, and walked back in to face the cabin.
Bree was grateful she’d taken Jason up on his offer of help. They’d filled up the whole back of his truck with the supplies she needed from the hardware store. They headed back to the cabin where he helped her unload all the things she’d purchased.
“You’ve got your work cut out for you.” Jason stood inside and eyed all the supplies they’d piled into the great room.
“I know.” She grimaced. “I don’t know how I’m going to get all this done in one week.”
“One week?” He laughed. “I doubt it.”
“Well, that’s about as long as I had planned to stay.”
“Well then, I guess I’m just going to have to help you.”
“No, you have your hands full over at the lodge.”
“I should be able to spare some time.”
She realized she did need help to get everything done, and even though it was against her nature to accept help, she did, and gratefully. “Thanks. I appreciate that.” She set down the last bag with paint brushes, masking tape, and carpet cleaner. “How about I make you dinner tonight to pay you back for all your help? I’m a pretty good cook.”
“That would be great. Let me go check in on things at the lodge and I’ll be back.”
“Okay, I’ll see you then. And really, Jase, I do appreciate all the help.”
“It’s no problem. I’m enjoying spending time with you again. See you soon.”
She opened the fridge and looked at the food she’d bought, trying to decide what to make for dinner. She pulled out some chicken, fresh veggies, and salad makings. With a bit of seasoning, she turned it into what she thought would be a nice meal.
She’d always had a knack for picking out spices that blended well and food that went together. She loved plating it so it looked special and appetizing. Presentation was at least fifty percent of the meal as far as she was concerned. Her catering business had grown out of her love for cooking and presenting it in a festive style. Her business had really expanded in the last months, thank goodness. She needed a way to support herself, and motherhood wasn’t the most impressive item on a resume for finding a job these days. Her dad had loaned her some money to start the business, and she’d been proud to pay him back after only ten months.
The phone rang while she was putting together dinner. It startled her. She hadn’t had a landline in years. She walked around the counter and snatched the phone off the cradle.
“Bree. What are you doing down at the cabin?” Abby. Her sister’s voice filtered through the lines.
“Seeing what needs to be done to put it on the market.”
“By yourself?”
“Yes, by myself.”
“Well, you should have asked me. I would have come with you. I probably could have made time next month some time. No wait, I have that big presentation next month and that conference I’m going to.”
Bree knew her sister well enough to know that when the next month after that rolled around, that month would be too busy too. “Abby, why are you calling? How did you find out I’m down here?”
“I called your work number, and what’s her name, that woman that works with you, she told me.”
“Jolene.” Abby had met Jolene twice when she’d flown through Austin on business trips. Obviously, Jolene hadn’t really hit her sister’s radar. But then not a lot of people who weren’t movers and shakers ever did stick in Abby’s consciousness. “Why were you looking for me?” Bree asked again.
“I was wondering when the estate stuff is going to be finished. I found this wonderful investment I’d like to throw some money into.”
“I’m doing the best I can. It takes time. And the cabin needs to be spruced up before we put it on the market. A few minor things, and it will show much better.”
“Can’t we just sell it as is?”
“We could, but without spending too much money, we can probably get a better price for it.”
“Will it take long?”
She sighed. Hadn’t her sister just asked why she hadn’t waited until she could help? An insincere offer at best. “I’m doing what I can, Abby. I’m here for about a week. But then I have to get back to my catering business.”
“You could hire someone to fix it up.”
“Abby, I don’t have that kind of money right now. Everything I earn goes to keeping a roof over my head, or back into my business.”
“Well, money’s tight for me too now. Cece never has an extra dime to her name. So I guess we’ll just have to let you fix it up.”
No other offer of help with the work. No offer to pay for the supplies. Typical Abby. “Okay, that’s what I’ll do. Fix it up. I’ll let you know when it goes on the market.” Bree hung up the phone. She was positive Abby, with her flashy sports car, fancy condo, weekly maid service, and recent vacation to the Caribbean, had a different definition of money is tight than she did.
Before long she heard a knock at the door and Jason came in, carrying a bouquet of flowers. “I swiped them from the delivery of fresh flowers that came to the lodge today. I’m tight with the owner. She won’t mind.” He winked.
“Thanks, they’re lovely.” She poked around in the cabinets until she found a vase. Her mom had always loved to pick wildflowers and scatter them around the cabin in vases. She was forever planting more flowers even though they had such a short growing season here. She’d collected a wide variety of vases from mason jars, to silver vases, to expensive hand-blown glass, to the chipped pottery vase Cece had made in grade school.
“Wow, something smells great.” Jason came up behind her. He smelled of soap and a clean scent aftershave.
“Hope you like it.” Bree fiddled with the salad makings.
“I’m sure I will.”
“Well, I can’t really compete with Nora’s cooking.”
“I know you were always one of the few people Mom would trust in her kitchen. Thank goodness she finally found Judy to help her out. She was trying to do everything herself at one point. Anyway, I thought I heard you opened a catering business.”
“I did and it’s doing pretty well. I do like to cook up fancy food. I’ve been catering a lot of parties and some small weddings.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes, I do.” That part of her life was good, even if the rest was in ruins. She was good at this catering thing.
Jason reached around her and swiped a stick of celery she’d been ready to chop into the salad.
“Hey.”
“Thanks.” He grinned at her. “You wouldn’t want a man to starve waiting for his dinner, would you?”
“Of course not.” She shook her head, then flashed him a smile. “Do you eat at the dining hall every night?”
“Well, I have my own cabin at the edge of the property separated from the other cabins by that small grove of trees. Remember it? It’s one of the older cabins, but I’ve fixed it up. It has a small kitchen, so I do cook sometimes. Most of the time I eat at the lodge or at Mom’s. She’s started letting Judy run the lodge’s kitchen more without hovering all the time.”
She handed him a stack of plates and silverware. “Here, go set the table. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”
They ate their dinner, catching up on news and what they’d been up to in the last years. Jason regaled her with stories about happenings around town. When they finished their meal, he helped her clear up the dishes. “Do you want to go for a walk?” He set their plates on the counter.
“I’m beat. How about we go sit on the swing with a bottle of wine?” She pointed to the bottle of wine on the counter.
“That sounds great.”
Jason rustled around the drawers and found the corkscrew to open the cabernet. As she rinsed the dishes and slipped them into the dishwasher, he reached over her head and snagged two wine glasses. She grabbed a blanket her mom always kept on the back of the couch, and within minutes they were headed down to the swing.
Bree settled onto the swing, and Jason sat beside her. She spread the blanket across them to ward off the crisp air.
“You’re turning into a city girl. This is almost balmy weather for us.”
“Not for me. Though I read this is a warm front for you. They’re predicting a rain storm tonight and maybe changing to snow.” She wouldn’t mind seeing snow again. Didn’t see much of it in Austin, though they had gotten a dusting of it last winter.
As if the universe was agreeing, a roll of thunder rumbled in the distance.
“I guess we’re going to get that storm they predicted.”
“Feels like it.” Jason leaned back and poured them glasses of wine.
