AllFreeNovel
Share Us
This way is better, but it’s becoming almost painful. Walking around with a semi all day could be awkward. A week might make me lose my temper over something that usually wouldn’t even catch my notice. But I grit my teeth and show Mika around the house, all the places she can amuse herself with gadgets, like the hot tub and the shady spots for stretching out. I only see her eyes light up with delight when I show her the library, full of at least three generations of vacation reads. Most of them make me shudder. On the rare occasions I have time to read, I prefer a cutting edge thriller but Mika looks like a kid in a candy store so I think I’ll leave her here until lunch.
Not surprisingly, when I exit the beach house and start up the path to the lodge, I’m almost immediately ambushed by the dynamic duo of Chef and Mrs. Donnelly. “Tanner, is this serious? Can I start working on the table arrangements for the reception?” Mrs. Donnelly grabs my arm in her enthusiasm, her faded blue eyes sparkling.
“It’s Caitlyn’s final campaign,” I announce slowly. The light in her eyes dims a little at that. She adored Caitlyn, but then her spine stiffens. “Then I’m sure it’s a great one. What can I do to help?”
“Just let her be. I know that’s hard, Mrs. Donnelly, but it’s got to be her choice to stick.”
She sighs and releases my arm. “You’re right. But I’m ready now! We could have a fall wedding with the leaves falling on the veranda.”
Chef jumps in at this point. He has a name, but absolutely no one can pronounce it to his satisfaction, so he insists on going by the title. “Did she like the food? Any allergies? What did she enjoy the best?”
“She loved the food, Chef. If anything, it was too good. I found her staring at the breakfast spread. She was too afraid to touch it.”
Chef beams with pride. “I will try to make things less intimidating.” By the way his chest is puffed out, I frankly doubt it, but he’ll enjoy the challenge.
“Anything need my attention in the big house?”
“No, no. You get back to your girl. Don’t let her think you’re bored with her already.” Mrs. Donnelly turns me around like she did when I was ten and pushes me back in the direction of the lake house. I go, but with an eye roll and a small smile. I don’t want to be gone for too long. I enjoy watching Mika watching me.
Mika
I fall asleep midway throughThe Wolves of Willoughby Chase. I remember reading it as a kid at my grandma’s and being terrified. It’s still got a hardcore gothic vibe, but as an adult, I’m considerably less afraid of being left in the hands of a sadistic headmistress. It’s comforting in a way to set aside the fears of childhood. So I settle in on the library sofa for a brief nap, the sound of the water just outside the window lulling me to sleep.
I wake up to the sensation of eyes on me. I pry my own open to find Tanner sprawled in a nearby armchair.
“Hey, Sleeping Beauty.”
I frown. “You didn’t wake me with a kiss…” I point out.
“That’s your job, sweetness. You’re supposed to be kissing me.” He’s teasing, I can tell. Or sort of.
“So you were just watching me sleep or…?”
“It’s time for lunch, but you looked so peaceful. I figured I’d give you a couple extra minutes.”
I sit up and stretch my arms over my head, forgetting the top I have on rides up if I do that. I’m reminded by the way Tanner’s gaze zeros in on my midriff. I pull everything down immediately and stand up. Tanner sighs dramatically. I drop an equally silly kiss on his forehead as I move towards the door.
Lunch is another spread, maybe a tad smaller than breakfast but with just as many choices. There’s a cold cucumber soup, tiny finger sandwiches with pretty fillings, fruit salad, and dainty sugar cookies. Tanner picks up one of the crustless triangle sandwiches and eyes it with misgiving. “I think Chef is trying to win your heart before I can.”
That makes me giggle. “I thought I was supposed to be winning yours?”
Tanner’s gaze is steady. “That’s a means to an end, Mika love. You’ve got all the power here.”
I do? I gulp at the seriousness of his tone. But he lets it go, popping the bite of bread and crab into his mouth before loading up a plate with about twenty of the tiny sandwiches, along with what I swear is an eye roll.
Grabbing a little of everything, I watch Tanner as I eat. I think I might need to go have a chat with Chef. Clearly Tanner knows him well, so maybe he can clue me in on some of the most fuzzy areas.
“So, what’s the agenda for the afternoon?” I finally ask, trying to figure out when I can sneak away.
“Fishing on the dock. I always try to get that in on the first full day. You’re welcome to join me, but if that’s not your thing, you don’t have to.”
I nod, understanding more than he thinks. That was always a Tanner and Caitlyn thing. Something they would do together to re-cement the bond of siblings with such a big age gap. I don’t think he’s ready to have someone else join in.
“I thought I might take a walk, do a little exploring.”
He nods. “Just stick to the paths and you should be fine. Don’t wander into the trees after a cute bunny, though. It’s easy to get turned around in there.”
“Right. No cute bunnies.”
