The Inn at Misty Lake: Book Two in the Misty Lake Series (2 page)

As Riley watched her, smiling and apparently quite proud of herself, he wondered what in the world he had gotten himself into. He had done some difficult jobs over the years, some painstakingly tedious ones, some, in his opinion, downright ridiculous ones, but this one might fall in a category all its own. He eyed her, tapping his fingers on his thigh and considering, as he took a deep breath.

Susan nervously waited for his reaction. She hadn’t planned on springing the barn on him so soon but when he told her the schedule for the subcontractors, she realized it really couldn’t wait. She had figured he wouldn’t like it, but she was confident she could convince him. It was her place, after all, she had the final say. But, she knew she needed him on board. If he refused to tackle the extra work she’d have to look for another contractor and that was something she didn’t want to think about.

Finally, Riley gave a huge sigh, shaking his head and looking towards the ceiling. “Fine, let’s go walk through and you can tell me what you’re thinking. We’ll have to draw up more plans, see what kind of additional permits we need.”

She threw her arms around his neck again, jumping up and down while she did so. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’ll see. It’s going to be amazing. I have so many ideas.”

They headed to the barn with Susan barely able to contain her excitement. “Just so you know,” Riley warned, “if I think your ideas are stupid or impractical, I’m going to tell you.”

“Sure, sure, then you’ll tell me how to fix it so it’s not stupid or impractical,” she said with a grin.

Riley didn’t know whether to be annoyed or impressed by the fact that her ideas were neither stupid nor impractical. He made a few suggestions, a few changes, but mostly just for form’s sake. He found himself swept up in her vision and felt as if he could see the finished event center as clearly as she could. They talked, argued, negotiated, and finally agreed on some of the details. When it got dark enough that the small lantern they’d carried with them to the barn didn’t do much more than create some shadows, Riley knew it was time to call it a night.

“All right, that’s enough for tonight. I’ll draw some of this up, run it by you in a day or two, and I’ll talk to the electrician and the plumber about the additional work. Right now, I need a shower and something to eat. And you need some sleep.” He couldn’t see the dark circles around her eyes in the dusty, gray light of the barn, but he knew they were there.

As they left the barn, Susan started to worry. “What do I need to tell the electrician tomorrow? I’m not sure I understand all the blueprints well enough to explain what I want. What if he has questions I can’t answer?” She was biting her lip and twisting her hair.

“Don’t worry, an electrician knows how to read blueprints and I’m only a phone call away.”

“Okay. What if we haven’t thought of everything? What if I want to change something or add something later?”

“Relax, Red. The subs aren’t going to finish everything at once. There’s some work they need to do initially then they’ll be back later on as the work progresses.” Riley climbed into his truck and started the engine. “Everything will be fine. I’ll try to stop by some time during the day to check on things.”

“Thanks, that would make me feel better.”

“Okay then, see you tomorrow.” He gave a little wave as he started to back out, then stuck his head out the window and added, “Oh, by the way, electrician’s name is Cindy.”  With a devilish wink, he revved the engine and sped off.

2

“So, Cindy should be arriving soon,” Susan muttered to herself as she glanced at her watch while tackling the orange shag carpeting in one of the upstairs bedrooms. She had spent the better part of the night wondering who Cindy was and what kind of favor Riley had called in to get the electrician out to the house ahead of schedule. She had spent the rest of the night wondering why she cared. All in all, for as tired as she had been, sleep hadn’t come easily. She had tossed and turned and when she did drift off, images of a beautiful, blonde, and buxom Cindy fawning over Riley filled her dreams.

She better know what she’s doing, Susan thought. She wasn’t going to put up with some ditzy girlfriend of Riley’s who played at being an electrician. She’d fire her, that’s what she’d do. When she screwed up, or asked too many stupid questions, or wasted time talking on the phone, she’d fire her. Riley would just have to find someone else. Satisfied, she gave the carpet a good tug and was rewarded with a particularly stubborn section in the corner finally coming loose and sending her falling onto her backside.

Susan was still fuming when she heard a vehicle pulling into her driveway. Ready to let Cindy know she wasn’t going to accept anything but professionalism and quality work, she stomped down the steps and out into the yard. The small, trim woman heading toward her with a quick, purposeful gait had a clipboard in one hand and the other extended in a greeting. Her hair was short and black but showed more silver than black; her face was small with bright, keen eyes, and Susan put her age at about fifty-five. She must have looked confused because the woman laughed a little as she shook Susan’s hand and introduced herself.

“Hi, Susan Taylor? I’m Cindy Fossen.”

“Hi. You’re the electrician?”

“Riley didn’t tell you to expect a woman, did he? He likes to do that, likes to see what sort of a reaction I’ll get.”

“Actually, he did tell me your name was Cindy. I guess I…” She didn’t know what to say, she felt like an idiot. Recovering somewhat, she finally said, “Well, thank you for coming so quickly. Riley only told me yesterday that you’d be able to start today.”

Cindy looked around, taking in the old house and barn. “I guess it’s a good thing we’re getting started, it looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us. Care to show me around?” With that, she headed for the house leaving Susan to follow behind.

It took only about five minutes for Susan to decide she liked Cindy. The woman was friendly, honest, open, and intelligent. Susan learned Cindy had become an electrician in order to work alongside her husband. “We built a business and a family and after thirty years still each think we’re the luckiest person on the planet. Guess you can’t ask for much more than that.”

“No, I guess not,” Susan agreed.

“Now, Riley showed me the plans and the inspector’s report so I have an idea of what I’m working with. Anything you’d like to add before I get started?”

“You’re ready to get started? Just like that?” Somehow Susan thought the process would be longer, that there would be more talking, more looking around, but Cindy seemed eager to get going.

“I don’t see any reason to waste time. You get back to that orange carpet and I’ll get my things moved in and set up.” In a flash, she was out the door and Susan was again left trying to catch up.

“How’s it going, Red?” Riley asked when he arrived later that afternoon. She was hard at work again tearing out more old flooring. This time, it was a ragged, faded, multi-colored shag carpet. She stopped to look up at him.

“Having a blast, McCabe, can’t you tell?”

“Getting along okay with Cindy?” he smirked.

Deciding not to rise to his bait, she answered calmly. “She’s wonderful. I can’t claim to understand all of what she’s doing, but it seems like she’s done a lot of it. She’s taken down fixtures, pulled out old wiring, basically just dug right in.”

“Yes, I find she likes to dig right in.”

She just glared at him then turned and went back to yanking on the edge of the carpet, taking care to stay on her knees in order to avoid taking a tumble in front of Riley.

“I talked to her about the barn,” Riley said in a tone intended to pique Susan’s interest enough to get her to turn around. It did.

“What did she say? I didn’t bring it up with her, thought it should come from you since you’re technically the one who hired her.”

“She’s fine with it, said she can fit it in her schedule.”

A smile spread across her face. “Perfect. I knew it would all work out.” But she hadn’t known, had been worrying about it for hours, and was relieved that, once again, Riley had found a way to make everything fall into place.

He nodded, looked like he wanted to say something, but turned and walked out. Just as quickly, he was back. “You’re working in town tomorrow?” It was more a statement than a question since he knew her schedule as well as she did.

“Yes, I have the nine to four shift. If Cindy can have some decent light rigged up, I plan on coming out here tomorrow night to start removing some of the doorknobs and hardware, stuff we talked about reusing. Sam and Jake said they’d help.”

“You don’t have to get everything done at once and besides, I can do that when I start on Thursday. For God’s sake, Susan, you’re going to kill yourself. Why don’t you just quit that job if you’re going to be here every day?”

She heard worry in his voice and, she thought, anger. She took her time answering. “I’m not trying to get everything done at once but there is a lot to do and I figure the more I help with things that I’m able to help with, the easier it will be for you. Besides, it’s exciting to finally be inside here after all the waiting for the sale to be finalized. And I can’t quit my job yet, I have to earn some money somewhere since I’m not going to be seeing any income from this place for a long time. Once you really get started there probably won’t be as much for me to do, for a while anyway. I can handle my job and this place. Not that I think I owe you an explanation,” she added.

“Sorry,” he said, his eyes not meeting hers. “It just seems like you’re putting in some pretty long hours, but it’s your business. I need to go over a few things with Cindy before I head out.”

Susan watched his back as he headed down the hall. What the heck was that? she wondered. She wanted to be angry with him for telling her what to do, but she was touched that he noticed, that he cared. Still, she wasn’t sure what to make of it. She turned it over in her head as she got back to the carpet.

That evening, she brought it up with Sam while they ate dinner. “Who does he think he is, telling me to quit my job, to work less on the house?”

“I’ve been telling you the same things, Suze.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“I don’t know, it just is.” Over the last few hours she had decided she was more angry than touched. She didn’t need anyone telling her what to do or when to do it.

“Well, I guess he’s just worried about you. You have been putting in some pretty long hours between the shop and the house.”

“I know, but I just can’t quit yet. Emily needs me at It’s a Lake Thing. Her maternity leave is starting soon and I can’t leave her short-handed. Besides, I’m months away from being able to open the inn and until then I’ll be bleeding money trying to get the place in shape.”

“I can help you,” Sam said tentatively, as if anticipating Susan’s response.

“No, you can’t. You’ve already done enough,” Susan answered automatically.

“I haven’t done that much.”

“You invested in the B&B, you helped me get the loan, you’ve done more than enough.”

“Susan, I want to help. I have the money from Granddad. I still don’t think it’s right he left almost everything to me.”

Susan knew she felt guilty, but wished she wouldn’t. Their grandfather had raised Sam and her brother, Danny, after their parents died. It was only right that the majority of his estate went to Sam, he had been more like a father than a grandfather. If Danny were still alive Susan knew half of what Sam received would have gone to him. As it was, Susan was glad the lake home and most everything else that had been their grandfather’s was now Sam’s.

“It’s yours, you need to stop feeling guilty. No one worries about it but you, you know.”

Sam sighed. “I know. Promise me, though, that you’ll tell me if things start getting tight financially. I’m more than willing to help.”

“I know, and thanks. But let’s change the subject,” Susan said as she bounced with excitement. “How are the wedding plans coming?”

Sam’s face softened and her eyes took on a dreamy expression. “Oh, Susan, it’s so wonderful but so overwhelming at the same time. I can’t believe all the things I’m supposed to be thinking about. We need to pick a date, find a place for the reception, think about food, music, flowers…I haven’t even looked for a dress.”

“And I haven’t been much of a maid of honor. I’m sorry, Sam. I’ve been so consumed with the inn I feel like I haven’t helped you at all.”

“Don’t worry about it. Jake and I were supposed to get serious and hash out some details last night. We didn’t get anywhere. I don’t know why it’s so hard. I’m worried he’s starting to think I’m stalling.”

Susan studied Sam. Her cousin seemed somewhat lost, unsure, and had been that way since her engagement a couple of months ago. Susan had put it off to excitement, to love, to all the things that go along with getting engaged, but now she wondered if there wasn’t something more. Her mind started churning and the idea blossomed sending a slow smile across her face.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Sam asked.

Susan knew she had to tread carefully. She was convinced she knew what Sam needed, but convincing Sam would be another matter. “Have you talked to Mom and Dad much about your plans?” she asked casually.

Sam immediately looked away and tension seemed to creep into her very being. “I called Uncle Ben and Aunt Caroline after Jake proposed, you know that.”

“I talked to Mia the other day,” Susan said, referring to her pregnant sister-in-law. “She said she’s getting big and is eating everything in sight. Apparently Hawaiian pizza and chocolate milk shakes are her current favorites.”

Sam gave a little half smile then looked down at her hands clasped tightly in her lap, but not before Susan saw the longing, as well as the fear, in her eyes. She needed to go home, Susan knew, needed to visit her family and friends and face the past.

“Do you remember Lindsay? My friend from high school?” When Sam looked up and gave a little nod Susan continued. “She runs this shop now, wedding dresses, bridesmaids dresses…I think we should go check it out. What kind of a maid of honor would I be if I didn’t help you find a wedding dress?”

Sam opened her mouth to argue but then closed it again and was quiet for a long time. Finally, she said, “You think I should go home.”

“Sam, I think you need to go home. It’s been a long time, I know you miss everyone. I think a trip back to Chicago will help you finally get the closure you need and make it easier for you to think about what’s ahead.” Susan saw the pain in her eyes and wished she could say something to take it away.

“I do miss everyone and I want so badly to see Mia while she’s pregnant.” Sam got up and paced around the room. “I’ve been thinking about it, thinking about making a trip back.”

“Really? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because just about the time I tell myself I’m going to do it, I chicken out. I haven’t even mentioned it to Jake. I know he’d go with me but I don’t think he should, not the first time. It would be too easy to lean on him and to avoid facing the things I need to face. Do you think he’ll understand that?”

“I know he will. He loves you, Sam. I’m sure he’s figured out there’s something that isn’t quite right, some reason you’re holding back just a little with the wedding plans, and I’m sure he’s frustrated that he can’t fix it.”

“You’re probably right. I need to talk to him.”

“Well, do that later. Right now, let’s pick a weekend to go home.”

Relief washed over Susan as Sam nodded. She knew Sam couldn’t move forward before she went back. Susan had more plans, more ideas, but they could wait. One step at a time, she told herself.

The woman sat staring out the motel window at the dead, brown grass that ringed the pot-holed parking lot. A cigarette hung loosely between her fingers, the ash growing until it finally fell to the shabby, stained carpet. The woman never noticed.

The little boy crawled across the bed using the lines on the frayed bedspread as roads for the small car he held tightly in his hand. When he made his way to the end of the bed he sent the car flying off in dramatic fashion, delighting in how far it flew before crashing mightily into the dresser and coming to rest on the floor. Scrambling down, he retrieved the car and headed back to the bed, ready to replay the scene.

He peeked at the woman and in a small, hopeful voice asked, “Wanna play, Mommy?”

“No.”

“My car can drive all the way down this road then fly over the river.” He moved the car along the bed as he spoke thinking that maybe if he showed her how fun it was, she’d want to play.