by Sarah Fox
“I’m hoping to do some of that myself this weekend,” I said. I’d packed a mystery novel that I’d started reading two days ago. I was only a few chapters in, but the story already had me hooked.
“Lily,” Kevin said, “Brett and Marley are our latest guests.” He addressed us next. “This is Lily Spitz. She’s an author as well as an avid reader.”
“That’s cool,” I said, intrigued. “What genre do you write?”
“I’ve been writing romance for several years, but I’ve branched out into mysteries as well.”
The phone on the reception desk rang, so Kevin excused himself to go answer it while Lily, Brett, and I headed into the lounge.
“I’ll have to check out your books,” I said to Lily. “I love mysteries.”
A hint of pink showed on her cheeks. “I hope mine won’t disappoint.”
“I’m sure they won’t.”
After exchanging a few more words, Brett and I left Lily in the lounge and headed out the back door onto a large deck. In the summertime, it would be a great place for outdoor dining, if the bugs weren’t too bad. The view was incredible and the air fresh, if a bit cold at the moment. A stairway led down to a shoveled path. The main part of the walkway stretched toward the lake while a branch to the left led to the hot tub, currently not in use.
The hot tub was tempting, but we bypassed it—for now—and made our way down to the frozen lake. The gray afternoon was already fading toward dusk, and lights glowed in three houses on the far side of the lake. Those dwellings were the only other buildings in sight aside from Holly Lodge. The relative isolation added to the tranquility of our location.
As we stopped to take in the view from our new vantage point, I noticed snowshoe prints along the shore, leading into the woods that surrounded most of the lake.
I pointed them out to Brett. “It’s been years since I last had a chance to go snowshoeing. We should go tomorrow.”
“We should,” he agreed. “We might be able to trek all the way around the lake.”
I liked that idea, and I could already picture us enjoying mugs of hot chocolate upon our return, either while snuggled up in our room or in front of the log fire in the lounge. We were going to have a great time at Holly Lodge.
The more the light faded from the gray sky, the more the temperature dropped, so we didn’t linger by the lake. As we were about to head back up the path to the lodge, Brett put a hand on my arm to stop me and pointed into the trees to our left without saying a word.
My breath caught in my throat when I realized what Brett had seen.
Two beautiful deer stood at the edge of the forest, perfectly still, their eyes on us. With the snow falling softly and the backdrop of snowcapped evergreens, the scene looked like it belonged on a Christmas card.
Brett and I stayed as still as possible, not wanting to scare the deer. After a few seconds, however, they abruptly turned away and bounded gracefully through the snow, disappearing into the forest.
I smiled and took Brett’s hand as we returned to Holly Lodge. Our vacation was off to a perfect start, and I didn’t think anything could possibly ruin it.
Chapter Two
Brett and I weren’t quite ready for dinner when we got back to Holly Lodge so we decided to try out the hot tub. I was glad I’d thought to pack a swimsuit and flip-flops. There were two fluffy robes hanging in the closet in our room, so we pulled them on for the trip downstairs. When we passed through the lounge again on our way out the back door, the fire was still crackling and popping away, but Lily had disappeared and there were no other guests in sight. Outside, the snow had stopped falling, and darkness had settled over the mountains.
As we made our way down the path to the hot tub, I questioned the wisdom of our decision. We could have stayed inside and enjoyed a hot drink by the fire before dinner. Instead, we were about to turn into icicles. Or, I was, anyway. Brett seemed completely unaffected by the cold. He was as relaxed as he would have been if we were out for a sunny stroll on the beach. In stark contrast, my teeth chattered and I tried to pull my robe more tightly around me, but it didn’t do any good. The cold air cut right through the fabric and nipped at my bare legs.
“How can you not be shivering?” I asked Brett as we turned off the main path.
“We’ve barely been out here five seconds,” he said.
“That’s long enough to turn into a popsicle.”
He laughed. “Want to turn around and go back?”
I glanced over my shoulder at the lodge, its windows glowing with warm light. We were far closer to the hot tub than the lodge now, and steam was rising from the water, visible thanks to the string of lights hanging above the small deck.
“Too far,” I said through chattering teeth.
I picked up my pace and hurried up the three steps to the hot tub deck, quickly dropping my robe and climbing into the water. I let out a sigh of happiness and relief as the hot water enveloped me, instantly banishing the chill that had been working its way into my bloodstream seconds before.
Brett stepped into the water and sank down onto the bench next to me. “Better?” he asked.
I scooted closer to him and rested my head on his shoulder. “Much.”
My muscles relaxed more and more with every second spent in the hot tub. Around us, the world was perfectly still and quiet. With my back to the lodge, it was easy to pretend we were in our own private world, alone in the wilderness.
“This is perfect,” I said as my eyelids grew heavier.
Brett settled an arm across my shoulders. “You’re not thinking of giving up beachfront living, are you?”
I smiled, hearing a note of teasing in his voice. “Never.”
“Good.” He kissed the top of my head. “But this is a great getaway spot.”
“It really is,” I said with a happy sigh. “I’ve never thought of having a hot tub before, but now I’m wondering if we should get one.”
“Do you really think we’d use it enough to make it worthwhile?”
“Maybe not,” I conceded, thinking about our busy schedules. “We’ll just have to make the most of this one while we’re here.
“That sounds like a good plan.”
Time passed, but I barely noticed. Brett and I spoke in low voices now and then, but mostly we relaxed and enjoyed the soothing heat of the water and each other’s company.
“Getting hungry?” Brett asked after a while.
“Mmmm.”
“Is that a ‘yes’ or an ‘I don’t want to get out of the hot tub?’”
“Both,” I said.
He leaned closer, as if about to share a secret. “I don’t think they serve dinner out here.”
A sleepy smile spread across my face. “You’re probably right.”
I decided it was time to force myself to get out of the water, though I didn’t relish the thought of how cold I’d feel in the seconds before I could get my robe back on. Before I could make a move, however, the sound of approaching voices stopped me.
“Have you thought any more about my offer?” It was a man who spoke, but I didn’t recognize his voice.
Brett and I twisted on the bench so we could get a look behind us. Kevin Manning was trudging along a path that came around the side of the lodge, illuminated by a floodlight mounted beneath the eaves. He was wearing jeans and a red and black plaid jacket, a hat pulled down over his ears. A broad shouldered, middle-aged man kept pace at his side. I was pretty sure it was the same man I’d seen in the dining room earlier.
“I don’t need to think about it.” Kevin’s voice was gruff and laced with irritation.
Brett and I stayed still and quiet, not wanting to interrupt the less-than-friendly conversation. Fortunately, the men didn’t notice us and continued along the path toward the lodge’s back steps.
“I think my offer is more than g
enerous,” the broad-shouldered man said.
Kevin stopped abruptly at the base of the steps. “I don’t need your generosity. I’m not giving up Holly Lodge, in whole or in part.”
The other man continued as if he hadn’t heard Kevin. “It has so much untapped potential.”
“I’ve got my own plans for expansion,” Kevin grumbled. “I’m not interested in selling.”
With that, Kevin stomped up the stairs and disappeared into the lodge. The other man watched him go, only following once Kevin was out of sight.
“Real estate developer?” I guessed.
“Sounds like it could be,” Brett said. He stood up, water dripping off his body while steam rose up around him. “I’m definitely hungry now.”
Reluctantly, I followed him out of the hot tub, trying to brace myself against the impending unpleasantness. Getting out of the water wasn’t as terrible as I expected, until a gust of icy wind blew past us. I tried not to let out a squeal of discomfort as the cold air bit at my wet skin, but I wasn’t quite successful. I tugged on my robe as quickly as I could, hoping it would shield me from the wind.
Brett didn’t seem as bothered, but he still wasted no time pulling on his robe. As I tied the cord of my robe tightly around my waist, I noticed someone else nearby, this time heading up to the lodge from the lake. I couldn’t see the man’s features, but he appeared to have a thin build, despite the bulk of his winter clothing. If he noticed us, he gave no indication.
Brett and I made our way along the pathway. I was glad for the lights that lined it. Every last hint of daylight had disappeared now, and it would have been hard to see where we were going without lights to dispel the darkness.
By the time we turned onto the main path, the man up ahead of us was already climbing the steps to the lodge. The door to the lounge opened, spilling warm light out into the dark evening.
Lily stood framed by the doorway. “Ambrose!” she called out. “Where have you been? I was getting worried!”
Whatever his response might have been, it didn’t reach my ears. Lily ushered him into the lodge and shut the door behind him.
We hurried up to the deck and into the lounge, relieved to get inside. The wet ends of my hair had felt like they were starting to freeze on the walk back, and my fingers and toes had been on the verge of going numb. Lily and Ambrose had disappeared, and the room was empty as we passed through it, but I could hear quiet voices coming from the dining room.
Now that I’d left the soothing comfort of the hot tub behind, I realized that I was hungrier than I’d thought. Upstairs in our room, we dried off and changed before heading back down to the main floor of the lodge. When I was three steps from the bottom of the stairway, I drew to a halt, forcing Brett to stop behind me.
Hushed, angry voices floated toward us. I recognized Kevin’s voice and I was pretty sure the other one belonged to Rita. After a second or two, I realized that they were in the office behind the reception desk. The door stood open a crack, letting their argument seep out into the lobby.
“This is my lodge just as much as yours!” Rita’s anger was unmistakable. “You can’t do anything without my say-so.”
“You’re holding us back.” Kevin’s words were just as heated. “We could do so much more with this place if you’d give my ideas a chance.”
“People come here because it’s quiet, because it’s not busy,” Rita shot back. “I won’t let you destroy this place. I’m not going to let you take away what I’ve worked so hard to build.”
“You’ve worked? What about me? I’ve been breaking my back here for years!”
“This is supposed to be a partnership.” Rita sounded close to tears now. “You always disregard anything I have to say.”
Brett stepped down next to me and put a hand to my back. By unspoken agreement, we descended the remaining stairs as quietly as possible and made a beeline for the dining room, leaving Kevin and Rita’s angry voices behind us. I exhaled with relief once we could no longer hear them. I wished we hadn’t overheard the argument. Kevin and Rita probably would have wished that too if they’d known their voices had carried beyond the office.
Three other guests were sitting in the dining room when we arrived. Lily was at a table with a man I figured was Ambrose. He matched the build of the man we’d seen outside. He had golden hair and wore wire-framed glasses. Ambrose and Lily both appeared to be around thirty, just a few years younger than me and Brett. At a neighboring table was the man I’d seen reading a newspaper before. I took in the sight of his broad shoulders and decided he was definitely the man who’d been outside with Kevin earlier.
“Ah,” the man said when he spotted me and Brett. “New guests. Come to enjoy the winter wonderland?” He stood up as we approached, and Brett and I shook the hand he offered. “Wilson Gerrard,” he said by way of introduction. “Mostly of Seattle, though I like to get around.”
Brett and I introduced ourselves, both to Wilson and the other two guests.
“This is Ambrose,” Lily said with a bright smile, indicating her companion. “He’s a renowned poet.” She practically glowed with pride.
Ambrose pushed his glasses up his nose. “I’m not sure about renowned, but I will admit to the poet.”
“Are you both from Seattle too?” I asked them as Brett and I sat down at one of the free tables.
“Originally,” Ambrose said, setting a cloth napkin on his lap, though he had no food in front of him yet. “I moved to the peninsula a couple of years ago. Lily lives in Seattle. That’s where we met and became friends.”
“We became well acquainted through various writing events around Seattle and realized that we’re kindred spirits.” Lily beamed at Ambrose. “Isn’t that right?”
Ambrose didn’t have a chance to respond before Wilson spoke up.
“Writers on vacation?” He seemed amused by the idea. “Isn’t your whole life a vacation? Typing a few words and then staring out the window, waiting for inspiration to hit?”
Lily’s smile faded and flinty annoyance showed in her eyes.
Ambrose didn’t appear impressed either. “Actually, that’s not—”
Rita swept into the dining room, her arrival cutting off the conversation. That was probably for the best, judging by Lily and Ambrose’s expressions. Wilson seemed oblivious to the feathers he’d ruffled.
“Everyone’s here,” Rita observed with a smile. She picked up two menus from an unoccupied table and handed them to me and Brett. “Can I get you something to drink to start?”
We both requested water. I was still thinking about a mug of hot chocolate, but I decided to leave that until later so I could enjoy it by the fire.
“I’ll be right back with your drinks,” Rita said. Then she addressed the others. “And I’ll check on your meals.”
She disappeared into the kitchen. Wilson produced a cell phone from his pocket and focused his attention on the screen. Ambrose and Lily talked quietly together at their table, no longer appearing so irked by Wilson’s comments.
Out the back window, I could see that snow had started falling again, thickly this time, the flakes illuminated by the lights on the back deck. That made the lodge seem even cozier, and the flickering votive candles on our table added a touch of romance.
Brett reached across the table and I gave him my hand.
“Anything catch your eye?” he asked.
I smiled at him. “Definitely.”
He grinned and squeezed my hand. “I meant on the menu.”
I’d forgotten all about the menus. “I knew that.”
“Sure, you did.”
Still smiling, I slipped my hand from Brett’s and turned my attention to the list of available meals. It was fairly limited, but that wasn’t surprising considering the small size of the lodge.
As I read over the options, Rita returned and placed two glass
es of ice water on our table. We thanked her and she disappeared into the kitchen again, returning a moment later with two plates of food, which she delivered to Ambrose and Lily’s table.
She fetched another plate from the kitchen and placed it in front of Wilson. As she headed our way, I closed the menu, having finally decided what I wanted. Brett ordered the butter chicken while I requested the quinoa-stuffed bell peppers.
Rita took our menus and headed for the kitchen once more.
“I hope Flapjack and Bentley aren’t missing us too much,” I said.
I was itching to send my mom a text message to ask how things were going, but I’d purposely left my phone up in our room. I didn’t want anything distracting me from my time with Brett.
“I’m sure they’re doing just fine,” Brett said. “You know your mom will be spoiling them, and Grant loves taking Bentley for long walks.”
“I know. I’m sure they’re having a great time.”
Brett must have sensed the residual worry lingering in my mind. “We can text them later to make sure.”
I nodded and pushed my remaining worries to the back of my mind, determined to stay in the moment and enjoy every minute of our vacation.
A short while later, Rita brought out our dinner, setting the plates in front of us. Delicious smells wafted up to greet my nose and my stomach grumbled in anticipation. We thanked Rita and started in on our meals. Right from the first bite, the food didn’t disappoint.
Rita had only taken a few steps away from our table when Kevin appeared from the lobby.
“Is everyone enjoying their dinner?” he asked the room at large.
We all assured him that we were.
He slid an arm around Rita’s shoulders. “If there’s anything you need, just let me or my wife know. We want to make sure your stay at Holly Lodge is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.”
Rita gave him a loving smile and Kevin returned it before they parted ways, Kevin heading back toward the lobby and Rita disappearing into the kitchen.
I couldn’t help but wonder if they were really on such good terms as they had appeared to be a moment before. Maybe they had hot, short-lived tempers and had already put their argument behind them, but somehow I had my doubts. There had been such a bitterness underlying their angry words, and I couldn’t help but think that their loving smiles hadn’t quite reached their eyes. Maybe I was wrong, but I had a sneaking suspicion that the apparent affection they’d shown a moment ago was nothing more than an act.