in serious trouble.
Even Vic rambling on about the Packers great defensive line and star quarterback didn’t stop the burning in Roger’s chest.
Vic no sooner left when the bobber began hopping around in the water. Big Bernie?
Roger shot straight up, tightening his grip on the rod, preparing to reel in the sucker. He held his breath, praying for the bobber to disappear under water. When it stopped moving, he collapsed back in the chair. Damnit.
He’d caught a boatload of fish in this lake. Kate had one hundred and one ways for preparing them by now. Five generations of Donovans had swum in the lake and two generations had gone to camp Winnesaca. He fondly recalled dozens of repeat vacationers he’d gotten to know like family over the years. A rainy season put a major damper on his business financially, but if this season got any dryer, it could not only destroy his business, but his entire family, forever.
He glanced across at Sunset Lake then up at the sky, praying for rain, promising God he’d start going to church again and stop sneaking a beer behind Kate’s back before bedtime.
• • •
Olivia and her grandma’s reunion had been cut short when a vacationing couple joined them for breakfast and droned on about their children, who were spending the week at their grandma’s house so the couple could have time alone. Yet they chose to talk about nothing but their kids when Olivia was much more interested in hearing stories about her own family.
As Ethan and Olivia walked back to their cottage, he leaned in toward her, glancing over at Roger asleep on the dock. “He and Kate seem like great people.”
“They seem like a really close family.” She glanced over her shoulder at the wraparound porch and the flowers hanging from it. “My great-grandpa started the business in 1905. I can’t imagine having that amount of history in one home. We moved every two years, undoubtedly so nobody could find us or get to know us.” She glanced away from the house. “Even if family members have nothing in common, they have traditions and memories that bind them together. Kate probably taught all her kids and grandkids to swim. She probably taught me and now I’m terrified to even go near the water. I have nothing in common with these people. My history with them ended twenty-four years ago.”
“I’m sure they have great memories of you, and you’ll make new ones with them.” He made it sound so simple when it was anything but.
“My family is warm, friendly, and outgoing. Welcoming strangers into their home for breakfast and chatting with them like they were close friends. I don’t trust someone enough to give the key to my house to water my plants. I’m not used to family dynamics, to people relying on me. What if I don’t meet their expectations? What if I don’t fit in? I shouldn’t have come.”
Ethan stepped in front of her, bringing her to an abrupt halt. He leaned in, looking like he wanted to shake her senseless. “What do you want me to say? Go home, forget all about your family? What about Kate and Roger? They lost both you and their son. They knew what they were losing; you never had a clue until two days ago. Don’t they have the right to know that their son is dead and you’re alive? You may not have known about your family, but you have them now. Appreciate what you’ve got.”
And what he didn’t have. She had the feeling Ethan had no family outside of his aunt. He was right. She’d been given a second chance to know her family, largely thanks to Ethan. He’d given her the courage to come here, and now, the strength to stay.
She placed her hand gently on his arm and gazed into his eyes, wanting desperately to ease his pain. “You’re right. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry such an awful thing happened to you when you were just a little boy. I lost my mom when I was only five, but I can’t imagine having lost both parents.”
He opened his mouth, but wore a conflicted expression.
Even Vic rambling on about the Packers great defensive line and star quarterback didn’t stop the burning in Roger’s chest.
Vic no sooner left when the bobber began hopping around in the water. Big Bernie?
Roger shot straight up, tightening his grip on the rod, preparing to reel in the sucker. He held his breath, praying for the bobber to disappear under water. When it stopped moving, he collapsed back in the chair. Damnit.
He’d caught a boatload of fish in this lake. Kate had one hundred and one ways for preparing them by now. Five generations of Donovans had swum in the lake and two generations had gone to camp Winnesaca. He fondly recalled dozens of repeat vacationers he’d gotten to know like family over the years. A rainy season put a major damper on his business financially, but if this season got any dryer, it could not only destroy his business, but his entire family, forever.
He glanced across at Sunset Lake then up at the sky, praying for rain, promising God he’d start going to church again and stop sneaking a beer behind Kate’s back before bedtime.
• • •
Olivia and her grandma’s reunion had been cut short when a vacationing couple joined them for breakfast and droned on about their children, who were spending the week at their grandma’s house so the couple could have time alone. Yet they chose to talk about nothing but their kids when Olivia was much more interested in hearing stories about her own family.
As Ethan and Olivia walked back to their cottage, he leaned in toward her, glancing over at Roger asleep on the dock. “He and Kate seem like great people.”
“They seem like a really close family.” She glanced over her shoulder at the wraparound porch and the flowers hanging from it. “My great-grandpa started the business in 1905. I can’t imagine having that amount of history in one home. We moved every two years, undoubtedly so nobody could find us or get to know us.” She glanced away from the house. “Even if family members have nothing in common, they have traditions and memories that bind them together. Kate probably taught all her kids and grandkids to swim. She probably taught me and now I’m terrified to even go near the water. I have nothing in common with these people. My history with them ended twenty-four years ago.”
“I’m sure they have great memories of you, and you’ll make new ones with them.” He made it sound so simple when it was anything but.
“My family is warm, friendly, and outgoing. Welcoming strangers into their home for breakfast and chatting with them like they were close friends. I don’t trust someone enough to give the key to my house to water my plants. I’m not used to family dynamics, to people relying on me. What if I don’t meet their expectations? What if I don’t fit in? I shouldn’t have come.”
Ethan stepped in front of her, bringing her to an abrupt halt. He leaned in, looking like he wanted to shake her senseless. “What do you want me to say? Go home, forget all about your family? What about Kate and Roger? They lost both you and their son. They knew what they were losing; you never had a clue until two days ago. Don’t they have the right to know that their son is dead and you’re alive? You may not have known about your family, but you have them now. Appreciate what you’ve got.”
And what he didn’t have. She had the feeling Ethan had no family outside of his aunt. He was right. She’d been given a second chance to know her family, largely thanks to Ethan. He’d given her the courage to come here, and now, the strength to stay.
She placed her hand gently on his arm and gazed into his eyes, wanting desperately to ease his pain. “You’re right. I’m sorry. And I’m sorry such an awful thing happened to you when you were just a little boy. I lost my mom when I was only five, but I can’t imagine having lost both parents.”
He opened his mouth, but wore a conflicted expression.
Similar Books
