I shook my head and watched her go. The woman was a force of nature. I was simply along for the ride.
9
Piper
Blinking against the bright, late-spring sun, I silently prayed for the two Diet Cokes I’d downed this morning to take effect. If I’d had the option of a caffeine IV, I would’ve gone with that. Three hours of sleep wasn’t going to cut it.
Hunter and I had spent the remainder of the afternoon yesterday getting the lodge set back to rights. Thankfully, there hadn’t been much actual damage, mostly the decorative dishes from the hutch. But the thought that some of them had likely been antiques turned my stomach.
After Hunter had left, I’d spent the rest of the night doing a final once-over of the cabins that would gain inhabitants today. I dusted every surface. Straightened all the linens. Arranged the flowers I’d bought at the market in town.
This morning, I’d gotten up early for a trip to The Mad Baker and The General Store for more treats. I figured going above and beyond for my long-term guests couldn’t hurt. The welcome baskets I’d put together had everything they might need while they got settled in their summer homes. Coffee, wine, snacks, and baked goods.
I let out a slow breath as the first vehicle rounded the bend in the gravel road. The minivan pulled to a stop in front of the lodge, and a couple climbed out. I waved with one hand while patting Bruno’s head with the other. “Best behavior, remember?” I whispered to him. He just nosed my hand for more pets.
“Welcome to Whispering Falls. We’re so happy to have you here.” The we was a little misleading, but this family didn’t need to know that I currently ran the show alone.
“We’re happy to be here. And the kiddos are ecstatic. Too many hours in the car,” the woman greeted as she pulled open the van door.
A pang hit my chest as a memory rose of Jenn and me, begging to ride in the same car on our trip over. Racing around the ferry to find the best view. I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “That trip from the mainland can be brutal for little ones. But they’ll have lots of room to stretch their legs around here.”
The man smiled as he appeared from the other side of the van with a sleepy little girl in his arms. “Looks like it. We’re the Gragerts. I’m Colin. And this is my wife, Emily.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Piper.”
A little boy jumped out of the van and ran towards Bruno and me. “Doggy.”
“Ben!” his mom called, panic lacing her tone. “You don’t know that dog.”
Bruno’s tail wagged in excitement at the prospect of a new friend, but he remained seated. I crouched low to meet the boy. “This is Bruno. He loves new friends. Who are you?”
“I’m Ben. I’m six. And I’m gonna be a first-grader this year.”
I smiled. “Want to meet Bruno?” The little boy nodded enthusiastically. “Hold out your hand.” Ben did as instructed. “Shake, Bruno.”
Bruno placed a paw in Ben’s outstretched hand, and the boy squealed with delight. “He’s shaking my hand, Mommy.”
“That he is.” Emily placed a hand on her son’s shoulder and shook her head. “Sorry about that. He loves animals.”
“Not a problem. Bruno loves kids. And he’s been lonely without any guests, so I’m guessing Ben will have a new best buddy while you guys are here.”
“That will make him a very happy camper.”
I gave the Gragerts their key and the welcome basket and directed them towards their cabin. “As Corrie likely told you, we have some construction going on in the cabins on the south side, but the noise shouldn’t reach you where you’re located. There’s a boathouse down by the beach with kayaks, paddleboards, and beach toys for the kids.”
I’d done an inventory with Celeste two days ago and had breathed a giant sigh of relief that everything was in such good condition. The one thing I hadn’t assessed yet was the sailboat docked in our little cove. It was still floating, but I had no idea if it was truly seaworthy.
“Everything looks amazing,” Colin said. “I’m sure we’ll be on the beach this afternoon.”
I waved them off just as a truck pulled up to the lodge. A grizzled man in what looked to be his seventies climbed out. I waved, but he didn’t return my smile. Ambling up the steps, he said, “Checking in. Last name’s Simpson.”
“Yes, Mr. Simpson. I have your key. And here’s a welcome basket with some goodies and an area map. You’re in cabin twenty-one. If you have any questions, just come find me.”
He scowled at the basket as if baked goods somehow offended him. “You got me in a private cabin?”
“Yes, sir. You’re in the cabin farthest removed from the rest.”
He didn’t say another word, simply snatched up his key and basket and took off back to his truck. Bruno growled at his retreating form. “Oh no, you don’t,” I warned my dog. “He might be a grump, but we don’t growl at guests.” Bruno let out a little huff of air.
“Come on. I don’t think our next arrival is due for a bit. Let’s start on these flower beds.” It was a little late to put flowers in the ground, but I was determined to try. I’d loaded up on things from the nursery but hadn’t had a chance to plant anything yet since I’d been preparing for today’s arrivals.
I picked up gloves and headed for my pile of plants. I’d missed things like this living in my loft. The only gardening I’d been able to do was in a few pots on my balcony. But Vic had taught me all about plants growing up. Our garden at the house on Queen Anne had been a masterpiece, with everything from vegetables to a dazzling array of flowers. I just hoped my green thumb still worked.
I lost myself for a couple of hours, playing with arrangements and then sticking things in the ground. With each plant I rooted, I sent up a little prayer that they flourished. Pops of color would really brighten up the front of the building.
At the sound of tires on gravel, I pushed to my feet. Ridding myself of my gardening gloves, I did my best to wipe off the dirt, but it was a hopeless task. Our next guest would simply have to take me as I was.
A silver sedan came to a stop in front of the lodge, and a man with dark hair climbed out. He was tall and classically handsome. And something about him was almost familiar. An itch at the back of my brain that I couldn’t quite scratch. His eyes flashed in the afternoon light. “Piper?”
The voice did it. A flood of memories cascaded over me. A boy just three years older than Jenn and me, leading our trail rides when we were older, and always letting us take the long way back. The son of the couple who’d owned this place. “Nick?”
He grinned. “Are you the new owner?”
“I am. What are you doing here?” Maybe he’d come to visit his old home. I hadn’t gotten the details of how the resort had gone under, just that they’d faced some hard times.
A bit of Nick’s smile slipped. “I’m renting one of the cabins this summer.”
“The paperwork said Richard Crowley.”
“Nicholas is my middle name. I’ve always just gone by Nick.”