by Kay Correll
She turned to go back to work.
Cece came out into the great room. “I’m going to take a break on sorting out Mom and Dad’s stuff.” Her eyes were red from crying, though she had a fake I’m-just-fine smile plastered on her face.
“How about we all three work on the kitchen?”
“What needs to be done in the kitchen?” Abby asked.
Only everything.
Bree turned to her sister. “We need to box up things. We can donate some of the canned goods to the food pantry. We’ll leave out some plates and glasses to use while we’re here, but we can box up a lot of the pots and pans. The placemats and tablecloths. I assume we’re going to donate anything that’s in good shape?”
“I’d like some of Mom’s vases.” Cece’s voice held a just quiver.
“Fine. Take what you like.” Bree nodded.
“You think anything is worth much? We could sell it?” Abby added.
“You got time for that? Because I don’t.” Bree stood with her hand on her hip. No way she was going to be roped into a yard sale. There were people around town who could use some of Mom’s cookware. That was good enough for Bree.
The three of them headed to the kitchen, opening cabinet doors. Then they all three stood back and stared. It was going to be a bigger project than she’d planned. She sighed. “I’ll get some boxes.”
They sorted through the pantry items first, throwing away an amazing amount of expired food. Then they packed up non-perishables to donate. Bree kept a shelf of a few things that she could use to make quick meals, like the pasta and spaghetti sauce.
Abby grew bored of the work and went back to sit at the table, pretending to sort through paperwork. Bree was pretty sure her parents had every receipt and manual for every item they’d ever bought for the cabin. Even items that were long gone. Surely Abby could handle that much, right? They’d keep the manuals for the appliances for the new owners.
New owners.
It wouldn’t be their cabin anymore.
But what did she care? She hadn’t been here in years.
And yet, a tiny part of her heart was shredding at the thought of no longer being able to just walk into the cabin. Touch things her mother had touched. Sit on the deck like they’d all done so many times. What she would give to have one more morning sitting out on the deck with her mom and sipping coffee. Or sitting on the wooden swing with her dad, watching the sunset creep across the sky and throw splashes of color reflecting on the lake. She closed her eyes for a moment, either hiding from the memories, or embracing them. She wasn’t sure which. She opened her eyes determined to get on with the work.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cece open the key drawer.
And close it.
“How about I pour us all a glass of wine?” Cece went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of white wine.
“Great idea.” Abby looked up from where she was leafing through a magazine. Again. Lovely.
Bree nodded at Cece. “Sure, why not.”
Cece poured three glasses, took them over to the table, and sat down next to Abby.
Oh, they were evidently having glasses of wine and a break. She reluctantly went over to join her sisters.
She took the offered glass of wine and settled at the end of the table. “Here, at least give me a stack to sort through while we sit.”
Abby handed her a stack of crumpled booklets. She sifted through them while she sipped her wine. “Oh, look. Here’s the manual for that old radio. Remember? Mom used to play that jazz station all the time while she worked in the kitchen. Wonder where it is now? I haven’t seen it.”
“It broke,” Cece said. “Got knocked off the counter years ago.”
For some reason Cece’s remark irritated her. Cece knew about chewed phone lines and broken radios. It was obvious she still had come to the cabin.
And she was the reason that Bree hadn’t been able to come to the cabin. It didn’t seem fair. Why hadn’t Cece stayed away, and then she could have come to the cabin for all these years?
Though, she knew she wouldn’t have. Too many memories. She could still picture Peter standing at the edge of the lake, skipping stones. Or lounging against the deck railing. Or...
She closed her eyes.
Abby rose from the table. “I think I’ll go get my nail polish and do my nails.”
“Seriously? With all this work to do?” Bree stared at her sister.
“I’ve worked all day. I think I can take time off to do my nails.”
“Except you haven’t worked all day.” Cece chimed in. “You’ve been leafing through magazines and acting like you’re helping.
“You two always gang up on me.” Abby’s eyes flashed.
“There is no ‘us two’ anymore,” Bree said flatly.
“There would be if you wouldn’t be such a self-centered, self-righteous jerk about everything.”
“Hey, Abby...” Cece held up a hand.
“No, really. She ruined our family. Ruined everything.”
“I wasn’t the one who ruined our family.” Bree couldn’t believe Abby was accusing her of wrongdoing. Her? It was Cece. Cece had ruined everything.
“You did. You ruined everything. Cece apologized for sleeping with Peter. Okay, so he was your boyfriend. But we were all young. She made a silly, young girl mistake. You could have forgiven her. Everything could have stayed the same.”
A crash came from near the door. The three sisters turned in unison, the first time they’d done something in sync in twenty years.
“Petey...” Cece’s voice was hushed.
Mexican food lay all around Cody and Petey’s feet.
Petey’s eyes burned with anger and hurt. “You slept with Aunt Bree’s boyfriend? My dad was Aunt Bree’s boyfriend?”
“Petey, let me explain.” Cece rose from the table.
“I’m pretty sure there’s no explanation for that. So that’s why Aunt Bree didn’t come around much to family stuff.”
Cece hurried across the distance and reached out to touch his arm.
He jerked away. “No, don’t touch me. Don’t talk to me. You’ve lied about my dad all these years. Saying what a great guy he was. He wasn’t. He was a cheater, just like you.”
Petey whirled around and fled out the door. Cece still held her arm outstretched.
Cody stood dazed, the Mexican food splattered around him.
Bree got up from the table. “Way to go, Abby.”
“I didn’t know he was here.” She defended herself. “You did ruin things.”
“No, she didn’t. It was my fault.” Cece slowly lowered her arm.
“Great, even when you two aren’t speaking you’re ganging up on me. It won’t ever change.” Abby rose and sent a stack of magazines tumbling to the floor with a dramatic sweep of her arms. “You two never did understand me. I’ve always been the outsider. Fine. Why should things ever change?”
“Abby—” Bree took a step toward her sister.
“Don’t bother. I’m leaving. You two finish up what you want on the cabin. Or don’t. I don’t care. Just get it on the market and let’s get it sold.”
Abby hurried to her bedroom and Bree heard the door slam, the sound reverberating through the now silent cabin.
Cody looked at her. “Mom?”
“We’ll talk. Let me just get this mess cleaned up.”
“You think I should go after Petey?” Cody’s browed creased.
“I think maybe he needs a little time to process everything.”
Jason looked up at the hill between the lodge and the Stuart’s cabin and swore he saw Peter standing there. Like so many times before when they’d cut back and forth. He squinted and looked closer.
No, it was Petey up there.
He put down the broom he’d been using to sweep the deck steps and headed up the pathway. He needed a break anyway, right? Or maybe he just wanted to get to know this part of Peter. Peter’s son. The son who looked just like his father.
&
nbsp; He climbed the hill and walked up to the gazebo. Petey whirled around when he heard him. Jason swore the kid had been crying.
“You okay?”
“I’m great. Just great.”
“You don’t sound great.”
Petey swiped at his face. “I just found out about—” He looked at Jason. “But I bet you already know.”
“Found out what?”
“About my father. And my mom. And Aunt Bree.”
So somehow the boy had found out. “I did know.”
“You knew that my parents were cheaters? That mom lied to me all these years?”
“I don’t know what your mom told you, no. But I will say that to wrap all the things your father was up into one word—cheater—doesn’t describe him at all.”
Petey stared at him then frowned. “So... how would you describe him? Can you tell me more about him? Mom doesn’t talk about him much.”
“He... he was a great guy. My best friend. He was funny. He was smart. His laugh could bring a smile to everyone’s face. He went to visit his grandmother every week, without fail. He was great at sports. Loved to hike. He was the first one every year to plunge into Lone Elk Lake, when the water was frigid. Not that it ever really warmed up.”
Petey sat on the bench and continued to look at him.
“He never got sick. He could outrun me in the mile by three seconds. Three seconds.”
The boy almost smiled.
“He did make a stupid mistake with Bree and Cece. He was young, but that’s no excuse. If any of us could have known how this would have turned out...”
“So that’s why Aunt Bree doesn’t come around. She hates my mom.”
“She doesn’t hate Cece. Not truly in her heart. I’ve always hoped that the two of them could work things out.”
“Why would Aunt Bree ever forgive my mom? That’s a rotten thing to do to your sister.”
“We all make mistakes, son. All of us. Some bigger than others. We do things we regret. That’s life. It is.”
“So Mom’s probably sorry that I was ever born. I’m a constant reminder.”
“I doubt that’s how Cece looks at you. She loves you. You have to know that.”
“Honestly, I don’t know anything right now. Everything I thought was the truth... it isn’t.” Petey looked out at the mountains in the distance. “But I’m glad Aunt Abby blurted the truth. I am. Because now I know. Now I understand.”
“Maybe. I’m not sure any of us fully understand. We all made choices that led up to how things turned out.”
“I’m just so mad at my mom right now.”
“It’s okay to feel upset and angry. I’m sure it was a shock. But did you ever make a dumb mistake that your mom forgave you for?”
The corners of Petey’s mouth turned up in the tiniest smile. “I did shoplift when I was in high school. I was trying to fit in. It was stupid. Mom made me go to the store and return the jacket. Then I was grounded for a month and she took my phone away.”
“So, you were young and made a stupid mistake.” Jason looked at the boy. “She still forgave you and loved you.”
“But it wasn’t as big as Mom’s mistake.”
“Your mom’s been paying for her mistake for a long time. I think it’s time she was shown some forgiveness. Anyway, how about I walk you back to the cabin. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s no good to run from your problems.”
Chapter 12
Cece looked up when the door to the cabin opened.
Petey.
She sprung to her feet and hurried over, reaching out a hand, but then dropping it back by her side. “You’re back.”
He nodded.
She looked at Jason standing beside Petey. “You found him?”
“We were just having a bit of a chat.” Jason shifted from foot to foot.
“I don’t really want to talk.” Petey started to walk away from her.
Jason rested a hand on Petey’s sleeve. “Like I said, it doesn’t pay to hide from your troubles.”
Petey stopped and turned to face her. “You slept with your sister’s boyfriend. Dad cheated on his girlfriend. Aunt Bree was Dad’s girlfriend. I... I don’t even know how to deal with that.”
Cece noticed Bree and Cody standing back. And Jason was right here. So it appeared she was going to have to do this in front of everyone. “I was young. Your father was young. We made a terrible, terrible mistake. We broke Bree’s trust and her heart. I’ll never forgive myself for that.”
“I think that maybe I’ll just head to the kitchen and leave you two alone.” Jason walked away, and Bree and Cody followed him into the kitchen area.
Not that it would give them much privacy, but at least they weren’t standing right here while she talked to Petey.
“So I’m just one big mistake in your life.” His eyes flashed, full of pain.
Pain she’d put there. Her heart twisted. “No, I didn’t say that. You are not a mistake. You are the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Right. Except I ruined everything. Aunt Bree can barely stand to be around me. Everyone says I look just like Dad. So I’m a constant reminder to her.”
“It’s not you she doesn’t want to be around, it’s me. And even though Bree was very hurt, I don’t regret being with your father. I got you. I’m only sorry it blew up the family in the process.”
“Did Grams and Granddad know about it?”
“Yes, I told them.”
“So I was the only one in the family left out of the truth?”
“I don’t think Cody knew either, but you’d have to ask him. It wasn’t mine to tell him.”
“Why did you keep it a secret for so long?” Petey scowled. “I should have been told the truth.”
“I didn’t want you to think less of your father. He was a good man. He was. We just made a mistake. A big one. And as I said, I only regret that Bree got hurt. I will never regret that I had Peter’s son. That I had you.”
Bree stood in the kitchen trying to ignore the conversation going on just a few yards away. She tried really hard to ignore it.
Cody had headed up to the loft with his headphones on. Good choice.
Jason stood and rattled around, packing up a stack of pots into a waiting box.
Cece had said she’d never forgiven herself for breaking Bree’s trust. Or her heart.
And she had to admire her sister—just a tiny bit—for saying she didn’t regret being with Peter because he’d given her a son she adored.
Even though it still made her angry just thinking about the whole affair. She frowned and reached for a glass to get some water. Not that she needed it, she just needed to keep herself busy.
For the first time she wasn’t raging angry when she thought about Cece and Peter. Kind of. Her own actions after it had happened had been what tore the family apart. She couldn’t really blame that on Cece. It had been her. She’d ignored the family and refused to visit until her mother positively guilted her into a quick trip. And then she’d made sure that everyone knew how miserable she was and what a big favor she was doing them.
She took a mindless sip of water.
How had she become that person?
The one who thought that everything was about her?
“You okay?” Jason asked quietly. “You look... funny.”
“Funny?”
“Well, like... you’re getting sick or something.”
“No, I’m just thinking.” She kept her voice low.
“About what?”
“About... well, maybe I’m not as blameless in the mess our family has become as I thought.”
He gave her a quick smile. “Adulting is hard, isn’t it? Everything isn’t as black and white as we sometimes think.”
She looked at his kind face, full of empathy more than sympathy. He’d always been there for her.
But she’d deserted him, too. Without so much as a word. What kind of friend does that?
She felt a frown creas
e her forehead.
She had a lot of thinking to do.
Abby returned her rental car, checked in for the flight she’d booked—the red-eye—and headed to the gate. She had two hours to kill before the plane departed. She settled into an uncomfortable seat at the gate. Then got up. After aimlessly walking down the terminal, she entered the nearest bar and ordered a drink, mindlessly munching on the nuts the bartender put in front of her.
It wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t. She hadn’t known Petey was there. That he could hear her. She never would have told him the truth. The family had hidden it from him for years. Cece’s choice.
But now he knew.
She sighed and took a sip of her drink.
And he knew because she’d lost her temper.
The two of them—Cece and Bree—just brought out the worst of her. They’d always been the unstoppable duo. She’d been the odd man—girl—out. She would hear them laughing and talking in their room late into the night when they were kids. They hadn’t offered for her to join them.
But she couldn’t change what had happened, and now Petey knew the truth, and maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. She’d tried to get Cece to tell the truth to her son years ago, but she wouldn’t listen.
Abby could understand how Cece didn’t want her son to know about her... transgression... but the truth had a way of always managing to set itself free.
Okay, she had helped it along a bit in this case.
And she was honest enough to admit to herself that she’d kind of left her family to pick up the pieces after she’d announced the truth.
Oh, well. She couldn’t change things. She’d head back home where she couldn’t cause any more trouble.
She just hoped Cece and Bree got the cabin ready to sell in a hurry.
She needed that money.
Bree walked into her bedroom later that evening. Cece stood gathering her things together.
“Are you leaving?” She walked farther into the room.
“I thought I’d move into Abby’s room. No need to share if she’s gone.” She folded a sweater and put it on a stack on the bed. “Petey’s leaving tomorrow, though. Has to head back to school.”
