The Guestbook (26 page)

Ian took a seat at the table, rolled up his sleeves, and asked, “So, how can I help? Beat eggs, line pans?

Hair spilling into his face, tiredness around his eyes, and he was still there for her. It meant a lot.

“We might make it to bed by midnight at this rate,” he said, staring at her with invitation in his eyes.

The same butterflies went through her as the first time he kissed her.

“Perhaps.”

A florescent hummingbird
 
made
 
kamikaze dives from feeder to flower, gathering nectar. The green of the
 
cedar
 
trees provided a sharp contrast against the deep rusty oranges of the flickering bird. Nestled in the corner office overlooking the lawn,
 
Lily watched, mesmerized
 
by
 
the tiny creature as its wings turned a rainbow of colors in the morning sunlight.

The crape myrtle trees were in bloom;
 
their vibrant petals floated on the breeze and
 
dropped to the ground,
 
creating the effect of rosy snow on
 
the
 
lawn. Everything looked like a fairytale on this early summer day: Puffy white clouds on the horizon, birds’ song echoing in the garden, and the sweet smell of alyssum in the air. A perfect day for a party.

Betty was in her yard snipping flowers for the table bouquets. Lily marveled at how much energy the eighty-year-old woman had–up at dawn, full of energy, positive attitude, what a great neighbor and friend. Mary was in the kitchen, and soon Lily would need to leave her perch and join her there.

Lilacs bloomed abundantly along the east fence in shades of purple and white. Whenever she walked out the back door lately, the sweet scent overwhelmed her senses. Tired of paperwork, she left her desk and headed outside to the tool shed.  She pulled out a pair of garden clippers. Lilac bunches would make great bouquets for the parlor and dining room today. She could hardly believe how well everything had come together. Her mother, first showing up unexpectedly a few weeks ago in jeans and a work shirt, and now back again, had almost been worth the whole experience. Finally, she had a mother who not only helped her with her complicated divorce, but painted trim and pulled weeds. The check was a very welcome gift too.

There were so many things to do to get ready, and here she was out in her sweats snipping more of the glorious peonies blooming in her yard. A smile crossed her face; there was nowhere else she would rather be. July fourth weekend was the perfect time to launch her new inn, and she would give one heck of a party to thank everyone too. She could hardly believe how well everything had come. She thought of her new adopted family, Ian, Jason, and Gretel, and of course, the angel with the white hair, Grandpa John. She had two soul sisters, Jude and Kyla. With their unflinching support, Lily now felt like she belonged.

She gathered the sweet blossom stalks and brought them into the kitchen to put in water. While Lily had baked and planned, Mary had spent the last two days cleaning and waxing until the inn gleamed. Lily and Mary put the flowers in vases, then pulled out the finely ironed tablecloths, lace doilies, and placemats and brought them into the parlor. The counters were piled high with trays of breads, brownies, and cookies securely covered with pink plastic wrap. Cases of cabernet and merlot were stacked in the pantry, and in the refrigerator, bottles of chardonnay and the local strawberry wine were chilling.

Lily surveyed the trays one more time. Stuffed mushrooms with feta and pine nuts, Roquefort cheese balls rolled in crushed pecans, platters of roasted turkey, and smoked
salmon. The outside refrigerator was overflowing too. The smell of freshly ground French roast coffee dominated the room. The last three days had been nonstop cooking, baking, and last-minute cleaning. The fact that the phone had been ringing off the hook for reservations and RSVPs had been gratifying.  The magazine article had really helped to get exposure.

She walked upstairs and checked out the rooms one more time before placing a thick velvet rope across the doorways of the guest rooms so they were available for viewing but not entering. In the Rose Suite, all of her mother’s things had been moved out of sight and into the closet. Lily heard a car pulling into the driveway and glanced out the hall window to see who was driving up.
She looked at her watch, 8:00 AM. Ian was true to his word when he promised yesterday to have the brochures to her first thing in the morning. She couldn’t wait to see the glossy, full-color work of art that Ian had designed. 
That man is so creative.
From graphic artist to painter, he had amazed her. The watercolor rendition of the B&B for the logo was gorgeous. Ian had wrapped the entire inn with climbing roses and in delicate calligraphy written Madrona Island Bed and Breakfast–Lily Parkins, Innkeeper.

It was Independence Day. And in two more weeks her independence day would come too. After today, she would be truly an independent business owner too. All her hopes were coming true. Only a year ago, she didn’t even know
how
to dream.

Jude’s car flew into the driveway behind Ian’s. She had insisted on arriving early too. “We come bearing gifts,” Jude and Katherine said, carrying containers of food.

Ian followed, holding a box of brochures and waving one in the air. “Just in time.”

They crowded around Ian, admiring the slick new brochure.

“This makes me want to vacation here myself,” Jude said. “Karen will be here soon to help supervise the food, and her husband has promised to take photos today for you to put on the website.”

“Everyone has been so great, thank you guys.” Lily hugged them both.

Jude led the way up the stairs to the kitchen. “Now, let’s get this party started.”

The dining room table would act as the indoor buffet table.  Coffee, ice-cold strawberry lemonade, and some appetizers on silver platters would line the kitchen counters, garnished with herbs and edible flowers. Ian and Katherine were setting up the round tables on the grass. Under the shade of the cedar and dogwood trees was another long buffet table covered in an antique linen floral tablecloth. People kept arriving to help, and pretty soon the place was being transformed into a fairytale setting.

Betty and Shirley were placing huge bouquets of roses, foxgloves, and daisies on every table. Lily set out the coffee urn and the beautiful silver tea set. Mary, dressed in a gauzy floral skirt and hot-pink top, carried out several boxes of heavenly scented baked goods and a large sheet cake. The smooth, white icing on the cake was lined with red, white, and blue roses. In the center of the cake was a golden sugar star. The cake, which was baked by Betty and decorated by Shirley, read “To our island star. Good luck, Lily.”

Lily hugged her neighbors. “You both have been wonderful. Betty, you’re like a magic elf, fixing everything, and, Shirley, you’re a mother lion protecting her cub.”

“And with a mane to prove it,” Betty said.

Shirley glared at her. “At least I’m not an elf.”

“Come on, group hug. I love you two.” 

Ian walked over and saw the three women a bit teary. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes, yes,” Lily replied. “Just happy.”

Jude walked out. “Lots of work to do, Lily.” Jude clapped her hands. “Get a move on, ladies and gentlemen, it’s almost show time.”

It was 11 AM, and Lily assessed their progress. Her mother was directing the delivery men where to store the champagne. The food was ready, the parking marked. Not much was needed there on this glorious, sunny day. The pond sparkled with droplets of sunlit gold, and an occasional white puffy cloud floated in a brilliant blue sky. Across the Sound, the jagged outline of the Olympic Mountains jutted out across the turquoise sky. And to the south, the imposing peak of Mount Rainier presented itself. “Gorgeous,” she whispered to herself.

Jude took Lily by the hand. “Off to the shower with you. I’m going to go pick up Kyla.”

She hurried inside and bumped straight into Ian. Instead of letting her through, he swept her into a corner for a kiss.  She was lost in that blissful place that lovers go, floating in the colors and sensations.

“How are you doing, Miss Innkeeper?”

Lily sighed, still breathless from the kiss. “A bit frazzled, but happy.”

He held her close, pressing his face into her hair. “I knew you could do it. Not for a moment did I doubt this would turn out so well.”

Lily raised her eyes to him. “Thank you, Ian.”

A loud car horn blasted outside. “Go,” Ian said. “I’ll take care of it.”

A bit panicked, she hurried off to the shower. She looked back to see Ian grinning as he watched her stumbling up the stairs. She blew him a quick kiss.

✦✦✦✦

Celtic music floated in the open windows of her bedroom. She took a last look in the mirror and walked outside to greet her arriving guests. Lily glided across the lawn, her rosy linen dress picking up the breeze. Katherine was already greeting guests as she walked over to join them. Ian, dressed in a pale blue shirt and jeans, waved to her as she passed by. He’d set up a face painting station for the kids, and Jason was running around it blowing bubbles. Gretel jumped at the floating objects, punctuating the air with barks.

People smiled, said hello, made their way to the food and wine. Many people she recognized, several were new. The overnight guests with reservations for the weekend would be settling into their rooms after the party ended at 3:00.

“Why, you must be Lily,” a silver-haired lady said. “I knew your grandmother. She would be so pleased how wonderful everything looks.”

“Thank you,” Lily said as people complimented the remodel, the food, her fortitude in reopening in the inn.

Thank you, Grandma Maggie, she whispered to herself.

Jude knocked on Kyla’s door and wondered why she was not waiting outside as planned. A voice yelled, “Come in.” Jude walked in and found her friend standing over the table trying to tie a ribbon around a potted bouquet of dried herbs. Kyla’s hands were shaking, and crushed, fragrant leaves spilled to the wooden floor. “Darn, I’m already late and now this. I’m sorry, Jude, everyone must be wondering where the heck I am.”

“Are you all right?” Jude asked.

“Fine, fine,” Kyla said, brushing loose dirt back into the pot. “I’ll just go wash my hands.”

Something was wrong, Jude was sure of it. She followed her friend to the bathroom and watched her briskly comb through her mane of fiery red hair, tightening tortoise shell and amber combs in place. The June sun poured through the window, but Kyla was shaking and rubbing her arms as if she were freezing. She removed a small clump of hair from the comb and tossed it in the wicker wastebasket.

“I guess I have to go, for Lily,” she said.

“Don’t you want to go?” Jude asked.

Kyla just stared at her with a faraway look. “I guess running is no longer an option,” was all she said. Then she hiked her green satin skirt up, laced up the leather thongs of her knee-high sandals, and adjusted the embroidered belt over her peasant blouse. She looked like a gypsy princess with gathered sleeves falling gently over her porcelain-like shoulders. But her pupils, wide as a spooked horse’s and surrounded by emerald eyes the color of an Irish hill, betrayed her. Jude kept silent. Kyla would tell her when she was ready.

Kyla dropped onto the velvet sofa. “Remember when we posed for
Coast Flight Magazine
, when they featured the inn’s grand opening?”

“Sure,” Jude said. “The picture of the three of us smiling, toasting Madrona Island B&B looked great.”

“What had I been thinking that day?” Kyla said, looking at Jude her eyes pools of sadness.

“What do you mean, Kyla? Tell me.”

“The story was picked up by the travel section of the
Seattle Times
. I was recognized and he tracked me down.”

Jude felt concern building in her chest. “Who tracked you down?”

Kyla rambled on, “He must hate me for leaving like that without a word. How can I face him again?”

“What do you mean?” Jude asked, hoping Kyla would make some sense.

Kyla walked over to her answering machine and pushed play. “Kyla, my love, per chance do you remember me? It’s Lucas. How lovely you look in the
Coast Flight Magazine
, flowering herbs in your hair, not at all the NY model splashed across
Vogue
that I remember.”

There was a sharp edge to the voice, each word pronounced with precision and aim.
Kyla was frozen in place. Jude tried to compute all the information being spilled out in this message.

“Imagine my astonishment finding enchanting little you on this remote island. Ah yes, I am here too. I wouldn’t miss this grand opening for anything. Until then…”

Breathing deeply, Kyla reached for a glass of water and took a sip. “Enough,” she said, rising to her feet. “Let’s go, Jude. I will not give in to fear.” Rushing now, she jumped into Jude’s car. “Please don’t ask me about this now. I’ll tell you everything after the party.”

Jude drove, her mind reeling. Who was this woman she called her friend? All the missing pieces started to fill in, Kyla’s secrecy and fatigue.

There were cars lining the lane and filling the parking lot when they got there. “Good for you, Lily!” Jude said aloud. Kyla emerged from her car, a vision of green satin and red curls, holding a large woven basket of rosemary and other flowering herbs. Jude watched her eyes scan the crowd and lock into another pair watching her from his lone perch on a nearby bench.

He was at their side before Jude could catch her breath. “May I help you carry anything, Kyla? It is you, right? I just had to see for myself.” His eyes went from her hair to her eyes, from her clothes to her shoes. “From sophisticate to country gypsy, I didn’t think that was your style.”

Both women tried to walk past him, but he blocked Kyla’s way and Jude would not leave her there alone.

“I can see the allure of this lifestyle,” he said, staring out at the water. “You could have given me the choice to follow.” He moved closer, his lightning-gray eyes searching her own. “Or was that part of the plan…to leave me behind?”

Kyla’s voice came out in a whisper. “Lucas.” She averted her eyes and clutched her chest.

Jude stepped over to rescue her friend. “Kyla, let’s go greet Lily.”

“It’s okay, Jude. I owe him some explanation.” Kyla turned to Lucas. “I have no good excuse, my fears took over and I just had to run.”

The anger in his face seemed to drain out and uncover the grief lurking below. Lucas ran his fingertips over Kyla’s arm and shoulder. “What were you really running from Kyla…from me?”

Tears spilled down her sun-touched cheeks. “No, Lucas, I was just…” Kyla covered her eyes.

Jude had had enough. She took Kyla’s arm and guided her toward the house, leaving Lucas behind and praying he wouldn’t follow them.

✦✦✦✦

Lily tightened her grip on Ian’s warm hand. They stood motionless, watching the scene unfold between Kyla and a man Lily had not seen before. She could feel Ian’s body stiffen, and his eyes never left the couple. Jude was with them, so she was not too worried. Ian did not share his thoughts with her, but Lily was pretty sure he knew more than he was saying right now.

“What the heck? Who is that man and why is Kyla crying?” Lily said, loosening her grip on Ian’s hand.  “Should I go after her or let her have her space? She’s such a private person.”

Ian kept his eyes on Kyla. “I’ll go,” he said. “Trust me, Lily, she needs support. It appears the whole story will probably come out now.”

Lily cocked her head. “What story, Ian?”

His eyes softened and he kissed her cheek. “Let me go now, we can talk later.”

She watched him head toward the back door, and an uneasy feeling moved through her stomach.  She considered following him. Did she still not trust this man she loved?  Brad’s face crossed her mind, and she banished it to where it belonged, gone.  She noticed the golden boy who had caused all the trouble with Kyla was watching Ian too. His face looked like he had seen a ghost.

The man walked over to Lily and introduced himself.  “You have one fantastic place here, and I’m sure you will be very successful.” He put out his hand to shake hers. “Lucas Alexandro Curti.”

She shook his hand. One thing for sure, he was not hard to look at. “Nice to meet you,” she said.

“I’ll be leaving now, but I’m sure I will be back. Good luck with your new endeavor.”

She watched him walk away. Who the heck was he and where was Kyla to ask? Perhaps she would check in the house.

Lily peeked into the kitchen. “Everything going ok in here?”

Mary smiled. “Couldn’t be better, especially with Jason, my little helper, here.”

Jason was so busy decorating trays with sprigs of fresh herbs that he didn’t even notice Lily was there. She crept up behind him and covered his eyes. “Guess who?”

He pulled her hands down, turned, and gave her an enthusiastic hug. “I love helping with the food and tasting it too.  Mary said I have a good plate.”

Lily laughed. “You mean palette, good tasting ability.  You have your dad’s creative eye too. I see. Maybe one day you’ll be a master chef.”

Jason clapped his hands joyfully. “Yes, yes, I want to be a baker too.”

“Speaking of your dad, have you seen him lately?”

Jason thought for a moment. “Oh yeah, I saw him a few minutes ago go up the stairs with Kyla.”

She ruffled his hair. “Thanks, Jason, I’ll just go find him.  Keep up the good work.” She winked at Mary and headed up the steps.

A cloud of fear crept over her heart. Images of the two of them in one of the bedrooms raced through her mind. Old wounds from her life with Brad propelled her up the stairs while trepidation nipped cruelly at her heels. When she reached the closed door to the Lavender Room, she could hear muffled voices inside. At least it wasn’t the Rose Room, where she and Ian had declared their love.

Quietly, she cracked open the door and saw them sitting on the edge of the bed. Ian had his arms around Kyla, and her head was resting on his chest. Kyla’s head jerked up, startled, eyes wide and puffy and tears staining her cheeks. Ian was comforting her. But why here, now, why him? Was he breaking up with her? Kyla was supposed to be Lily’s friend and Ian… Her thoughts came to a halt as her body began to tremble.

Kyla and Ian darted over toward her. All Lily could do was put up her hands in a stop motion. Ian looked at Kyla, as if for permission. Silence, then Kyla wiped her cheeks with a handkerchief and nodded to him.

“Lily, please come in,” she said. “It’s time I told you more about me. I am so sorry I waited this long to confide in you.”

Heart thumping violently inside her chest, Lily took a seat by in the rocker by the bed. The scent of lavender filled the air, and though it was one of her favorites, the smell turned her stomach sour now. Ian moved behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She reflexively flinched at his touch. “Why don’t you start by telling me what’s going on here?”

Kyla sat on the edge of the bed facing Lily. Staring down at her clasped hands she took a deep breath and began. “Lily, Ian and I knew each other before I moved to the island.  It was in New York.”

Lily pushed herself from the chair. “I’ve changed my mind.  I really don’t need to know—”

Ian stopped her, pressing down gently on her shoulders. “Lily, it’s not what you think, not even close. Please listen, just for a minute.” He tipped her chin up so she could meet his eyes. “You know me, Lily. Trust me for just a few moments…please.”

Kyla began again. “Five years ago, I was a top New York fashion model. It was a glamorous life, money flowed, and it was one long fantasy. Ian and I met at his premier art showing at the Findley Rose Gallery in Manhattan. My fiancé, Lucas, bought some of Ian’s work and invited him to the loft to join us for drinks.”

Lily started to breathe again. “Go on.”

“The three of us spent several days together hitting NY’s finest clubs, restaurants, and theaters. We sailed on the bay and enjoyed the good life that Lucas and his family fortune could amply provide. One afternoon, when Lucas was conducting one of his endless business calls, Ian told me all about Madrona Island. At the time, it sounded like the far end of the Earth.”

Kyla looked up at Ian, “You have been such a good friend to me.” She turned back to Lily. “Lily, you are a good friend. I would never intentionally hurt either one of you.”

Ian took Lily’s hand. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.”

“Until now,” Kyla said, “it was important to me that Ian keep my secret, even from you, Lily.”

“So, what was so important that you couldn’t tell me?” Lily asked. She watched Kyla’s face grow pale. The room grew very still, except for faint sounds coming from the party outside. Lily looked from Ian’s face to Kyla’s and saw nothing but pain in both.

“Lily, I have advanced Lupus.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that, Kyla, but I still don’t understand why you couldn’t tell Jude and me. We would have been there for you, helped you out.”

“Lily, it wasn’t just the disease, it was every other lie I wove to hide the fact that I was even on Madrona Island. My lies all began to unravel when I became friends with you both.  I knew you wondered about Ian and me, but I hoped after you realized there was nothing between us except friendship, your fears would just fade away.”

Ian tuned Lily toward him. “My love, I did not like keeping any secrets from you, but I had made a sacred promise to Kyla. I was in a tough position trying to be honorable.”

Lily was still confused and looked questioningly at Kyla. “Tell me more.”

“About a year after I first met Ian, I could no longer cover up my symptoms. I was horrified, worried about my career and losing my jet-set fiancé, not to mention my life. Without telling anyone, I saw a specialist and began steroid and then chemotherapy treatments.”

Lily stared at her friend. All the pieces started falling together. Why Kyla never
wanted to go out and kept to herself so much. How alone she must have felt. The times she was whispering to Ian. “Why did you come here?”

“I decided it would be easier to just vanish to the wonderful little island Ian had spoken of. I was a fool. I know this now. And I couldn’t be sorrier for dragging Ian into my complicated little drama and causing you a moment of pain or doubt.”

“It must have been very hard on you. What about your family, couldn’t you go to them?”

“My family lives in New York, and if they knew I was ill, they would never have let me leave, particularly alone, and I was determined to disappear. I fell back on my family legacy of herbalists and healers, and started a new life here.”

Ian broke in. “You’ve been hiding so much for so long. Maybe it’s time to let all of that worry go and reveal yourself to those who love you.”