The Lake (The Lake Trilogy, Book 1) (29 page)

Along with the new season comes the anticipation of spring break, prom, and graduation. We’re days away from spring break and I’m giddy with anticipation at tearing through a good book with a blanket and a chair by the lake. It’s been months since I’ve been able to enjoy my favorite place, and now that Will and I have made amends it isn’t going to be so painful to go down there.

“Oh, Layla, Luke and I have a surprise for you!” Claire says as Will and I clear the breakfast dishes. It’s Saturday and Will is readying himself for a day of work in the basement. He always arrives an hour before he needs to so we have some time to hang out. Luke and Claire are always with us, so there’s no danger of any conversation that might convince us that we should get back together. I’m glad for their supervision because there are many moments when I look at Will and want to take him up on his first offer to run away together.

Luke walks into the kitchen as he hears Claire prep me for their news. “I thought we were going to tell her together?”

“You’re here now, aren’t you?” She winks at him, and Luke grabs her by the waist and kisses her hard on the neck. I love that Luke is so free in showing his affection for Claire.

“Ok…I’m in suspense. What’s the surprise?” I look at Will to see if he’s giving any hints, but he looks just as clueless as I am.

“We’re all leaving on Monday for week in Asheville. It’s the firm’s annual spring retreat. Mr. Meyer reserves part of a resort and the whole office shuts down for spring break. What do you think?” Luke says joyfully.

“It sounds great. Oh
, my gosh, that’s in two days! You’ll be there, too, right Will?” I look at Will but his expression is altogether opposite of mine. He isn’t excited at all. In fact, he looks scared.

“Um, yeah, I’ll be there,” he says.

“What’s wrong? You don’t seem excited at all?” I ask.

Luke and Claire can see that this conversation is not going to be lighthearted. Claire looks at me and I mouth the words
it’s ok
so she knows that if they leave they won’t return to find Will and me in a passionate embrace.

“Ok…
clearly there’s more to this than you’re letting on,” I prompt after Luke and Claire exit the kitchen.

“I don’t think you should go,” he says as a matter of fact.

“Why?” I ask.

“You wouldn’t like it there. It’s just a bunch of attorneys talking shop for a week. It’s lame. You shouldn’t go. Let’s stay here. Stay here with me.” He’s getting anxious. This is a side of Will I immediately do not like
, not because it makes me afraid that I’m going to see the Will from Halloween, but because I can see that he’s hiding something.

“Will, if we’re going to be friends, you can’t lie to me,” I say.

“It’s nothing. I guess I’m just nervous about you being around my father again. My feelings for you haven’t changed, Layla, and he’ll see that,” he says.

“Mine haven’t changed for you either, Will, but we won’t be lying when we tell him that we’re not romantically involved. Ok? It’ll be ok.” I stand behind Will as he sits at the island and put my hands on his shoulders in a show of comfort and support.

“Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry I was being ridiculous. It’s going to be fine. Chris and Ty will be there, so we’ll just all hang out. It’ll be great,” he says working to convince both of us.

“It’ll be great. You’ll see!”
 

*****
 

The drive to Asheville is as stunning as the drive to Grandfather Mountain. I’m glad I’m not behind the wheel because I can’t take my eyes off the view. Around each bend in the road is a new perspective that rivals the one before. It feels like I’m opening an endless present.

The resort is nestled in the mountains and surrounded by trees as far as I can see. The décor of the lobby is beautifully rustic with wood-carved lamps topped with parchment shades ornamented with silhouettes of cowboys, bears, fish, and maple trees. There’s a fireplace in the lobby big enough for five people to stand in. The red and orange flames licking the underside of the thick mantel are mesmerizing.

Luke, Claire and I step off the elevator and walk the long, low-lit corridor to our rooms. It takes a long time to reach our doors as we have been assigned
to the farthest end of the hall. I think that it must be a move on Gregory Meyer’s part in his efforts to ensure I’m kept as far away from Will as possible.

“Layla, how about you take this room?” Luke says pointing to the door next to theirs. Our rooms are adjoining, but Luke gives me the key and motions for me to enter through the main door in the hall. “I think you’re going to like this room a lot.” I open the door and discover the most perfect room I have ever seen in my life. There’s a double four-poster bed
made of rich wood caddy-corner in the room, a small dresser, and skinny French doors that open to a private balcony. The most perfect piece of all is a rocking chair that sits waiting for me on the balcony, a warm blanket folded neatly over one arm.

“Thank you, Uncle Luke. It’s perfect,” I say smiling at him. He smiles back and leaves me to soak in the beauty and perfection of this room.

After taking in the view from the rocking chair for a few minutes, I unpack my things and go to find Luke and Claire in the dining room. It is here that Luke introduces me to two attorneys and a paralegal and their families. Their kids are a few years younger than me, and I can already see what Will has been talking about. They are so self-absorbed. One girl spent five minutes complaining because there was no one available to carry their luggage when they arrived. Another whined because one of the seven sweaters she brought is one that she wore last year. It’s laughable and Claire has to help me stop before I end up in hysterics.

Each family is on their own for dinner so Luke, Claire and I
eat in the hotel seated at a table by the window overlooking a meadow and the far end of a vineyard.

“So how are you and Will doing with trying out the friend thing?” Claire asks
.

“I think we’re doing really well, actually. It was hard at first, still hard, but not having too much time alone together has been helpful. Has he…said anything?” I
ask Luke, wondering if all that time in the basement has offered much opportunity for conversation.

“Nothing that you don’t already know. He’s still very much in love with you,” Luke replies. His delivery is interesting, like he’s hoping I’ll say the same thing.

“How are
you
feeling about
him
?” Claire asks directly.

“Honestly? I love him more now than I ever have. But…you were right, Claire. You said if we could just wait until graduation then you’d be able to help us. I’m sorry that I put you at risk. It would have devastated me if Mr. Meyer had done anything to the two of you,” I say.

“Don’t be sorry, Layla. You’re our family and we would do anything for you. We love you and take joy in being there for you, regardless of what the situation is. It means more to us than you realize,” Luke says reaching across the table and squeezing my hand. Claire pats my back. It’s nice to feel so bonded to them. It feels like when Mom and Dad were alive.

“We just wanted to make sure you were doing ok. I know it’s been difficult, but we’ve been watching and we think you’re doing a great job,” Claire says sweetly. It’s nice to know that they’re actively watching out for me.

After dinner we go back to our rooms and I take a shower. I can hear the obnoxious children whining across the hall as I get ready for bed. I sit with a blanket in the rocking chair on my private balcony and think about what a gift Luke has given me. It’s dark and there’s a chill in the air. I can’t see the mountains but I can hear the rustle of the trees.

A warm rush of emotions comes over me and I am overwhelmed with the wish that Will was with me. I wonder what he’s doing, if he’s thinking of me, too. I sit and rock and listen to the wind blow through the trees for a long time. I listen so intently that soon the sound drowns out the annoying screeches of my young prima donna neighbors. Eventually they quiet and go to sleep, which means I can, too.

That night I dream that Will and I are walking hand in hand on the beach when his father approaches us. Will takes a physical stance to protect me when his father puts up his hands in surrender. Gregory Meyer holds his arms out to give me a hug, embraces me and says, “Welcome.” Then he hands me a broom and directs me to get to work on clearing all the sand out of the beach house we are suddenly standing in. All the associates from the firm are there and I’m in a maid’s uniform. I look around and see Will standing with a beautiful blonde, smiling, with his father’s arm hung proudly around him.

It’s still pitch black outside when I wake up very disturbed.
Why does this have to be so difficult?
I think. All I want is to be really and truly happy. More than that, I want Will to be happy. I can’t help but become torn. Maybe being friends is really the extent of where our relationship is supposed to go. Perhaps my anticipation of the freedom graduation will bring is over zealous. Do I need to really sever my feelings for Will so he can find someone his father approves of? This isn’t about severing my feelings for Will. It’s about understanding that Will and I can never be together, no matter how much we love each other. Will is my best friend, and I’m committed to doing whatever I have to do keep him safe.

I sleep for a while longer, but not well after my disconcerting dream. When I wake the sun is just starting to rise and there’s a faint orange glow outside. I get up, pull my hair into a ponytail and get dressed. I quietly brush my teeth and make my way down to the lobby. I follow a sign I noticed last night pointing to a nature trail. The trail is well marked, so I’m not too nervous about being a Florida girl alone on a hilly and twisted nature trail for the first time in my life.

The sun is rising and casting the most brilliant light through the trees. The leaves look like they’re glowing. The wind whips around me and the smell of spring fills my nose. There are flowering trees and bushes all around and they smell divine. I stop and close my eyes, inhale deeply, and exhale slowly. In this moment I can be in love with Will. I can feel every emotion I have for him and not have to hide my expression. I picture his remarkable smile, remember how it felt when he kissed me, and even how he smells. I think about the first time he held my hand as he helped me along the path from the dock in the dark. I know I can’t stay out here forever, so I want to enjoy the moments I have.

But my Zen moment is interrupted too soon with an unexpected visitor.

“Well, good morning!” I hear the man’s voice bellow too loudly for this hour of the morning.

I turn and see Gregory Meyer approaching me, just a few yards away. I hadn’t expected to see anyone, let alone him, out here so early. At least I know I can answer him honestly about my relationship with Will, should he feel the need to question me again.
Despite my efforts to force mind over matter, nervousness weighs me down like a ton of bricks and I’m glued to this spot.

“Good morning, sir,” I say, trying to sound strong. “It’s nice to see you again, Mr. Meyer.” I extend my hand to shake his. He offers his as well and I give him my best firm handshake. He holds my hand and my gaze even longer than he did the night of the dinner party inquisition and my stomach ties itself in knots.

“It’s very nice to see you, too, Layla. How are you enjoying Asheville?” he asks, charming as ever. I’m on my guard, doing my best to analyze everything from the words he uses to the tone and delivery of each one.

“I like it very much. It’s beautiful, and this is a wonderful resort. Thank you,” I say with a smile. All I want is for him to see that I appreciate th
is trip, thus, appreciating him and hope that he backs off.

“Oh, you’re so welcome. I’m glad you like it. Have you met any of the other children here? Oh, I’m sorry. You’re
clearly
not a child.” He corrects himself but his
mistake
is intentional…and creepy. He drops his eyes and lifts them up the length of my body. I literally feel dirty in that moment and have an uncontrollable compulsion to take the hottest shower I’ve ever had in my life.

“I did meet a few younger kids who are staying near our rooms. Everyone has been very welcoming,” I say, ignoring his pedophilic stare.

“And you’ve had a chance to see William?”

“Not yet, sir.” I reply.

“Well, just try to contain yourself,” he says. “Show a little decorum.”

“I’m sorry? I don’t understand,” I say.

“Let’s not play games, Miss Weston. If you think for one second that I don’t know what’s going on between you and my son, you’re profoundly mistaken,” he says coolly.

“Mr. Meyer, there is nothing going on between Will and me. We’re just friends,” I say, confident in my truthful statement.

“Watch yourself, Miss Weston. I know when a witness is lying through her teeth,” he says, lifting my chin with the tip of his finger. I am officially scared and have finally grasped the full reality of Gregory Meyer’s ability to intimidate someone into doing exactly what he wants. I turn my head away and take an uneasy step back. His face grimaces even more at my defiance. “Stay away from my son or there will be consequences. Do you understand, Miss Weston?” I nod in acknowledgment, grateful that he isn’t requiring me to speak. “Well,” he continues smoothly, “I’ll be on my way. I’m going to finish my morning walk and then head back to the dining room for some breakfast. I take a walk on this trail every morning. Perhaps I’ll see you again out here enjoying the morning air. It certainly has been the highlight of my day,” he says.