Misty Lake: Book One in the Misty Lake Series (17 page)

15

Sam hit the brakes harder than she intended and sent Rigi bumping into the dashboard. “Sorry, girl,” she said, rubbing the dog’s head. She had made an early morning trip into town for sandpaper and stain and was more than a little surprised to find a car in her driveway when she returned. “Who do you suppose is here?” she asked Rigi when she didn’t see anyone around.

Sam didn’t recognize the car and thought maybe it was someone looking for Sam’s Woodworking. As she climbed out of her car she noticed the Illinois license plate just a moment before she heard her name and saw Susan running across the yard, her reddish gold hair flying behind her.

Her cousin crashed into her and wrapped her in a bear hug. “Surprise!” she laughed and hugged Sam again.

“Susan! What are you doing here? Why didn’t you call? I would have been waiting for you.”

“We wanted to surprise you. It’s okay, isn’t it?” Susan asked pulling back, her big emerald eyes looking questioningly at Sam.

“Of course it’s okay! I’m so glad you’re here. Wait…we? Who else is here?” Sam asked and looked excitedly across the yard to the house just as her younger cousin, Kyle, came around the corner.

“Sam!” he called, and lifted his hand in a wave. Sam swore he looked even taller than when she had last seen him but figured at twenty-five he must have finally stopped growing. He was easily 6’-4” and his broad shoulders and all-over muscular build had helped make him a standout during his college football days.

“When did you get here? And more importantly, how long can you stay?” Sam asked.

“We’ve only been here about ten minutes,” Kyle said as he gave Sam a hug. “We’ve just been looking around a little. This is quite a place.”

Sam looked from Kyle to Susan, worried they were going to resent the fact their grandfather had left almost everything to her. “It is quite something. I was shocked when I saw it the first time. You saw the pictures I sent, right?”  Her eyes darted from Kyle to Susan, nervously trying to judge their reactions.

“It’s fantastic!” Susan exclaimed. “I love it and I haven’t even seen the inside. It all looks so different here than I remember.”

“It really does,” Kyle agreed. “There used to be a cabin over there,” he said pointing in the direction of the old Anderson cabin.

“The cabin’s gone. I guess Granddad bought the property and had the old cabin torn down. There’s a lot I still don’t understand. But, come on! Let me show you around.”

Sam gave them the tour, answering what questions she could and later, over coffee and muffins, showed them the letter. “I guess I’m still having a hard time not being kind of mad at him,” Sam admitted. “I wish he had told me—us—about it while he was still alive. We could have all enjoyed it, maybe Danny would have even…” She grew silent and her grief was evident in her expression.

Susan put a hand over Sam’s. “I wish he had, too. But he had his reasons and we have to accept that. I think it just would have been too hard for him, too many memories. I’m sure it wasn’t a decision he came to easily and I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt anyone by it.”

“Suze is right, Sam. He did his best and enjoyed his life but I know, deep down, the pain was always there. There were many times at Christmas, a graduation, whenever, where I’d catch him with this far-off look, sort of removed from all the chaos around him, and I could tell in his heart he was someplace else, imagining what could have been.”

“I know, I keep telling myself those things. I guess I just need to start believing them. So you guys aren’t upset about this place? That he left it to me?” Sam asked tentatively. “You know you’re always welcome here,” she added.

“Upset? Really, Sam? Of course we’re not upset. Right, Kyle?” Susan said looking at her brother who nodded his agreement. “I’m glad he left it to you. Besides, this way we can come visit whenever we want and leave all the work to you.”

“It’s a deal. I’m so glad you’re both here. Tell me what’s going on at home…I mean, in Chicago. I guess this is home now, isn’t it?”

Susan got a twinkle in her eye and started bouncing in her chair. “Well, we’ve been waiting to tell you something.”

“What?”

“Let’s see…Jason’s doing well, working his butt off for that law firm but he claims he loves it. Whatever. I couldn’t stand it but I guess that’s his thing. Mom and Dad are happy and busy. Dad hints around about retiring sometimes but I know he’s not ready. He’s afraid to turn the business over to Brad, I think. Not that he thinks Brad can’t handle it but I think he’s afraid he won’t know what to do with himself. Mom’s still working at the flower shop and volunteering at church all the time.”

“Okay…that’s all good. Is that what you were waiting to tell me? Seems like I probably could have guessed most of it.”

“Oh, just tell her, Suze,” Kyle prodded.

Sam looked from one to the other. They seemed happy but it was odd how they were avoiding telling her whatever it was they wanted to tell her.

Finally Susan, looking like she was ready to burst, shrieked, “Brad and Mia are going to have a baby!”

The words came out so fast it sounded like one long word and it took Sam a moment to process the meaning. “They…but…how? Really?”

“Isn’t it fantastic? They are so excited. They just told us, they wanted to wait until she was at least three months along. It’s a miracle, Sam, it really is.”

Sam knew they had been trying for years and had been told by more than one doctor their chances of conceiving were very, very low. They had prayed for a baby, the whole family had prayed. “Everything’s okay? Mia and the baby are doing well?”

“Yes, everything is going just as it should. The doctor told them there’s no reason to worry, that it’s a normal pregnancy. The fact that their chance of conceiving was so low doesn’t in any way affect the pregnancy itself.”

“Oh, I just can’t believe it. I’m so happy for them. When is the baby due?”

“Early January.”

“Huh. Same as Jake’s brother and his wife. I’d imagine Uncle Ben and Aunt Caroline are thrilled,” Sam said, knowing how it had broken their hearts when their son and daughter-in-law had given them the news that it appeared they would never have children.

“Mom and Dad are over the moon. We only found out a few days ago and Mom has already started shopping for baby clothes.”

Sam looked at Kyle who had remained quiet during the baby talk. He looked uncomfortable. “What’s up, Kyle? Don’t like all the baby talk?” Sam teased.

“It’s fine, I’m happy for them, but do we really need to talk about all the…the
details
?” He fidgeted in his seat.

Just then Susan interrupted. “Wait a minute. Who’s Jake?”

“Oh, he’s the sheriff here in Misty Lake,” Sam replied, trying to be vague.

“Why do you know the sheriff?” Susan demanded. “And how do you know his brother and his wife are having a baby?”

Sam sighed. “There have been a couple things…a little trouble here. Jake came to check things out. I got to know him.”

“What kind of trouble?” Kyle asked.

“What do you mean, ‘know him?’” Susan asked at the same time.

“It’s kind of a long story. You know what? I’m going to call Brad and Mia. Why don’t you guys unpack, make yourselves comfortable, and I’ll tell you everything after I talk to them?”

“Good idea. You got any beer, Sam? If we’re going to be talking babies and sheriffs all afternoon, I’m going to need one,” Kyle said, looking miserable.

Feeling sorry for him, Sam pointed to the fridge.

Later that evening, Sam and Kyle sat on the deck watching the sun set over the lake while Susan showered. “I’m glad we came, Sam. It’s really good to see you.”

It had been a good day spent talking, swimming, and goofing off almost like they had done when they were kids. Sam was happy, happier than she had been in a long time. “I’m glad, too. I’ve missed all of you so much. But, I’m starting to think I did the right thing by coming here. Putting some distance between myself and Chicago has helped. I can’t say things are perfect but I think they’re better than they would have been had I stayed in Chicago. Too many memories.” She paused a minute then added, “That’s how Granddad felt, isn’t it?”

Kyle nodded. “I think so. You know, I’m proud of you. You’ve done an amazing job here with the house, your business, and with a group of kids from what I’ve been hearing.”

“I think they’ve helped me more than I’ve helped them. Spending time with them, trying to get them to believe they have possibilities in their futures…it’s been good.”

Kyle studied her. She had a desperate look in her eyes. “I know you, Sam. I have no doubt you’re helping them. But please do me a favor? Try to remember that, in the end, the choices they make are their choices. You can teach, guide, encourage, and support but their lives and their decisions are ultimately their own. If one of them makes a mistake, it’s not your fault.” When he saw her shoulders shake on a sob, he went to her and held her tight.

That’s how Jake found them, Sam and a man he didn’t recognize wrapped in an embrace on her deck. The jealousy that racked him from head to toe came as a surprise. Had he ever felt something so strong and so fast before? He didn’t think so. He had come to give her a report on his conversation with Zach. Apparently he should have called.

Kyle caught sight of Jake first and stepped in front of Sam to face the man making his way towards the house. “Can I help you?” he said, his voice none too friendly.

Sam, startled for a moment, peeked from behind Kyle to see Jake square his shoulders and look Kyle in the eye. Kyle, meeting the challenge, seemed to get taller before her eyes as he attempted to move Sam further behind him. Determined to diffuse the tension, she put a hand on Kyle’s arm and stepped forward to quickly make introductions.

“Hi, Jake. This is my cousin, Kyle Taylor. Kyle, Jake McCabe, Misty Lake’s sheriff.”

Jake felt the vice around his heart loosen and stepped forward with his hand extended. “Kyle, good to meet you. Sam has talked a lot about her cousins. Was this a surprise visit?” he asked, looking from Kyle to Sam.

“It was. We figured Sam must be getting homesick about now and Susan and I were both able to block off some vacation time. The fact that it’s been close to a hundred degrees in Chicago may have played a part in our decision.”

Sam wrapped an arm around his waist and hugged. “Well, whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here.”

Susan came out through the sliding glass door with a questioning look on her face. Sam made more introductions and Susan’s eyes grew wide when she learned the man on the deck was Jake. As she tilted her head and studied him, Sam quickly suggested everyone have a seat.  She threw a warning look at Susan who was standing behind Jake grinning crazily and giving two thumbs up.

“Did you talk to Zach?” Sam asked Jake, figuring that was the reason for his visit.

“I did, but we can discuss it later,” he answered, looking around to gauge Sam’s cousins’ reactions and wondering how much Sam had told them.

“You can say whatever it is you have to say in front of them. I’ve already told them what’s been going on.” Susan was still grinning like an idiot and Sam needed to get her alone for a minute. “Why don’t Susan and I go grab some drinks and snacks? We’ll be right back,” she said as she grabbed Susan’s arm and pulled her from her chair.

“You think you can take it down a notch?” Sam asked when she had dragged Susan into the kitchen.

“But he’s so cute!” Susan laughed. “You didn’t tell me how cute he is.”

“Oh, for crying out loud. Don’t embarrass me.”

“Embarrass you? Would I do that?”

“Yes.”

“Well, dear cousin, it seems as though you might need a little help in the romance department. As long as I’m here, I may as well do what I can.”

“Susan,” Sam pleaded.

“Oh, don’t worry. That gorgeous sheriff of yours won’t know what hit him.”

Outside, Jake and Kyle found a lot to talk about as they discovered both had played college football, both came from big, meddling families, and both cared deeply about Sam.

“Is it more bad news you have to give her tonight?” Kyle asked, hating the thought of her getting upset again.

“Actually, there’s not a lot of news. I didn’t learn much of anything from the conversation I had today. The kid I talked with was anything but cooperative.”

“One of Sam’s students?” When Jake looked unsure of how much to tell him, Kyle said, “She told us you suspect one or more of the kids from this camp on the lake might be responsible for the stuff going on around here.”

“It was one of her students, a boy named Zach. I know she’s not going to like even talking about it, she’s ready to defend those kids until the end. It’s a little unsettling, actually. She gets so upset and worries so much about them I’m afraid it’s not good for her. I understand caring about them and wanting to help, but it seems like there’s more to it with Sam.”

Kyle was quiet, debating what to tell Jake. If Sam hadn’t told him, maybe it wasn’t his place to do so but he felt like Jake should know what he was dealing with and thought it might even help in the investigation if he knew where Sam was coming from.