Lakeside

by Davis, Mary

  “I thought they were invisible.”

  “Not entirely. That’s why the fish can see their shadows dancing on the water. If you look carefully, every once in a while you can see a ripple in the breeze as a fairy passes by.” He shook his head as he looked at her. She had an eyebrow arched in disbelief. “You aren’t buying any of this, are you?”

  “I don’t believe in fairies, and I don’t believe in magic.” In fact, I don’t believe in much of anything these days. “You want to try again?” She found she wanted to keep him talking to hear his smooth voice wash over her. She wanted to pretend he cared for her and wasn’t just being polite in keeping her company.

  “Gretchen never believed that story either. Actually, after the sun goes down, the air cooling combined with the warm lake water causes the shift in the air.”

  “Why’s that?”

  With her interest piqued he switched into what Lori could only describe as “the teacher mode” and gave an indepth, scientific explanation of how and why air travels. He didn’t talk down to her but explained everything so she could understand it.

  After “the lesson” they gathered around the fire with the others, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows and making s’mores. She guessed some of the food items were in the bag he was toting when he arrived.

  “Do you remember the three summers of the bandit?” a guy closest to the fire asked.

  “You mean the kissing bandit,” one woman said, and all the women giggled.

  “Craig claimed to be the bandit, but I’m sure he wasn’t.”

  “Several guys tried to claim the title.”

  The discussion bounced back and forth across the fire. The women reverted to schoolgirls as they reminisced. The men seemed envious of the bandit and puffed up their chests.

  “It was a guy from the other end of the lake.”

  “Didn’t Justin Edward live down that way?”

  “A lot of people thought he was the one.”

  “Josie, didn’t you fall victim to the kissing bandit?”

  “Who didn’t? Between the three summers of his escapades I don’t think anyone escaped unkissed.”

  Lori’s mouth went dry, very aware of the blond “bandit” next to her. Had he really kissed Josie and the others? He didn’t seem the type. At least she hoped not. Should she blow his cool cover and tell them she knew who he was?

  “Some were kissed more than others,” one girl said, eyeing another.

  “How many times?” someone coaxed.

  She shyly held up five fingers on one hand and three on the other.

  “Eight?”

  “All that first summer,” her friend said.

  “Anna, didn’t you date Justin one summer? Was it him?”

  “Wellll,” she said with a knowing smile.

  “She knows; she knows!”

  “Spill the beans. We want to know everything.”

  “It was Justin that first summer. But the next summer when we started going out I made him hang up his cape and mask.”

  Cape? Mask? Lori didn’t remember any cape or mask. But then he had made a water assault. Extra clothing probably would have weighed him down.

  Anna went on. “His cousin, Wayne, took up the mission in his place. They look a lot alike, same brown hair, brown eyes, similar build.”

  That’s not what my bandit looked like. Lori, lost in her thoughts, momentarily left the group and the fire far behind. No cape or mask, and his eyes were most definitely a marvelous shade of blue.

  She stole a quick sideways glance at the man next to her. He seemed unaffected and bored by the whole silly conversation, staring into the fire. Did he even remember a red-haired fifteen-year-old girl sitting on the floating dock? She supposed it didn’t matter if he did or not. Her memory was probably playing tricks on her anyway, piecing together unrelated details to come up with a wild and intoxicating tale.

  “I wonder why Justin thought to do it in the first place,” someone asked, pulling Lori’s wayward thoughts back to the fire.

  Anna’s friend piped up again. “Because he was too afraid Anna would turn him down if he asked her out. He thought jumping out of the bushes, scaring everyone half to death, was more effective.”

  Laughter erupted around the fire.

  Lori stole another quick glance at her own personal bandit. And why did you do it?

  Two

  Brother and sister walked side by side in a companionable silence along the beach, heading toward home. The moon was high, and the stars twinkled brightly.

  As they passed the Davenports’ place, Garth gave a pensive glance at the cottage cloaked in darkness, inside and out. Josie and Lorelei had left the gathering early, more than an hour and a half ago. Both women claimed fatigue from the long drive up, and Josie had to make the return trip tomorrow; but her friend with the silky red hair and bright green eyes would be staying. His lips curved up slightly at the corners.

  “Thank you, Garth.”

  Gretchen’s soft, sad voice brought his thoughts back to his hurting sister at his side. “For what?”

  “For being you.” She was more somber now than earlier. “You never push. You wait, and I know you’ll be there when I need you. You let me be me and work through things my own way. You’re a good listener. And a good friend.”

  “I’m glad you know you can come to me.” He put his arm across her shoulder and gave her a little squeeze.

  “I’m glad, too. You’re a lot like Mom, you know?”

  “Thanks. I take that as a compliment.”

  She looked up at him in earnest. “It was meant as one.”

  After a moment of silence he knew she wasn’t ready to talk about the real problem yet. “Are you in a hurry to leave in the morning, or will you come to church with me?”

  She gave a graceful wave of her hand and said in a stately tone, “I would be most honored to be escorted to church by my handsome bachelor brother.

  “Bachelor,” she repeated in normal tones. She looked at him with the same thoughtfulness in her eyes that was in her voice. “It doesn’t suit you, Bash. I don’t think you were meant to be alone your whole life.”

  He shrugged. “It’s worked so far.”

  “You’ve never been one to date much, a casual date here and there with a friend or colleague but nothing remotely serious. It’s as if your heart has been waiting for Miss Right and will settle for nothing less.”

  “Is that so?” He unlocked the door to his cottage. It was actually the family’s, but he called it home.

  “Yes. I know you too well, Mr. I’m-Just-Fine-As-I-Am. Tonight I’ll start praying for a wife for you.” She smiled and slipped inside.

  “Anyone in particular?” If his sister was going to start playing matchmaker as others had tried, he wanted to know who would be thrust his way. It seemed everyone had a daughter, sister, cousin, niece, or friend who would be perfect for him.

  “I can think of a few possibilities off the top of my head.”

  A few! He raised his eyebrow. “Anyone I know?”

  “Some maybe, some maybe not,” she said with a flourish and escaped into her room before he could question her further.

  He hated it when people tried to set him up with someone. Well-intentioned friends and family were not welcome in this matter. But his little sister was right on one account; he was not meant to be a bachelor his whole life—for now, yes, but not forever. He hoped his future included a wife and children.

  He viewed himself as belonging to the one God had chosen and tried to act in a way befitting an engaged man. He didn’t want his fiancée to be presented to him while he was dating someone else just to pass the time. God had someone special for him—in His time.

  Soon, he hoped.

  He would also pray tonight. Pray his sister would become so involved in her studies she would forget about meddling in this single brother’s life.

  ❧

  A light far off in the distance came closer and closer.

  It wa
s coming for her again.

  There was no escape.

  Brighter and brighter.

  Not a single light but a pair of lights.

  Headlights barreled down on her. She tried to scream, but it was too late.

  She always tried to scream.

  She couldn’t breathe. Something pressing on her chest prevented her from grasping a normal breath.

  Shooting pain accosted her head. Reaching up, she touched the throbbing that intensified with each breath. It came back wet. . .thick. . .like cherry-pie filling. Her white sweater would be ruined.

  Tired. . .so tired. . .and cold. The scene faded as she thought of her parents in the front of the car. She could hear no sound from them. Darkness closed in around her, and she knew she was slipping closer to death. It neither scared nor comforted her. It simply was. The darkness enveloped her, and she sank into its waiting arms.

  Then suddenly she was wandering in the middle of the road with a young orphaned child in her arms. She held the crying child close and rocked it.

  Without warning the child was wrenched from her arms.

  She cried out for the child.

  What little light there was faded.

  Darkness blanketed her.

  Alone.

  Invisible walls closed in on her—pressing—suffocating.

  Smoke.

  She couldn’t breathe again.

  So much smoke.

  Lori woke, gasping for air.

  “Doug,” she cried softly into the night.

  Always the same dream. The two worst days of her life woven into one.

  ❧

  Lori stood with her arms wrapped around herself, staring out the large picture window at the small lake, remembering a better time. She loved it at this place.

  Josie’s parents used to spend the entire summer at their cottage, and weekends and holidays during the rest of the year as Josie grew up. Now they were too busy to spend much time at all up here. They were more than happy to say yes when Josie asked if her old friend could use it. Josie was so lucky to have a lakeside cottage retreat at her disposal.

  Lori would like to have a cozy place like this. She had plenty of insurance money to buy one or a dozen—the whole lake if she wanted. She would rather have Doug and Aunt Lillah back—and her parents. If she were wishing, she might as well wish for them all.

  That night ten years ago still caused an ache deep down, the outcome devastating. The pain of a more recent night haunted her day and night. She pushed the agonizing memories aside as a single tear slid down her cheek.

  “Are you sure you want to be up here alone?” Josie came up beside her and draped her arm around her shoulders. “I could try to get some time off and stay.”

  Lori wiped the tear away. “Jos, I’ll be fine. I need some time to myself, to think.”

  “Okay, but just don’t isolate yourself.”

  A bit of isolation was exactly what she needed. “I just need to figure out what God’s purpose is in all of this.”

  Loneliness enfolded her as her friend left, but at the same time she longed for the solitude. Time to think and cry, to figure out what was in store for her for the future and what she was going to do with her empty life.

  ❧

  Garth straddled the bench-press seat and lay back under the bar. The all-in-one weight machine afforded him the freedom to work out in his own private gym down here in the cool basement whenever he wanted. During the school year he liked to work out on the school’s equipment. It gave him a chance to connect with some of the students. He gripped the metal rod with both hands and took a deep breath.

  She’s here! After all these years she’s finally here. He had made the right decision to teach in northern Michigan. He pressed up on the bar and did twelve repetitions in fast succession. Not only was she here, but she was also as wonderful as he imagined. No, more so. He did twelve more rapid presses. Or was it thirteen?

  Those green, green eyes gazed up at him in disbelief as he told her the fairy story. He didn’t know what possessed him to tell it, but he was glad he did. The look on her face was priceless. He would savor it for a long time.

  His last set of twelve went slower, but he still wasn’t breathing heavily. Had someone changed the weights on him? No, it was his usual 290. It must be the added energy he had today.

  Moving on to lateral pull-downs, leg lifts, leg extensions, and leg curls, he worked out quickly and eventually broke a sweat. As he did he formulated a plan to talk to the red-haired beauty again then ask her out.

  When he was finished, he leaned back against his weight machine with a crooked grin. She still held onto her youthful looks with the exception of her shorter hair. That’s what had caught his attention originally, all that red hair, spilling down her back, glistening in the sun.

  He jumped up when the phone rang and bumped his head on the bar above him. Lorelei! He dove across the room to answer before the machine upstairs picked up. If she reached the recording, she might not leave a message.

  “Hello!”

  “Hi, honey.”

  His enthusiasm dipped. “Oh, hi, Mom.” He held his palm on the rising lump on his head. Why should it be Lorelei? Just because Gretchen had forced his phone number on her and he wanted it to be her.

  “I’m sorry to disappoint you, son.”

  He picked up the cradle of the slim-line phone and walked back over to the weight machine to snatch his towel. “What’s up?” He wiped the sweat from his face and draped the towel around his neck.

  Should he tell his mom about Lorelei? That the girl he hadn’t been able to get out of his head for the past ten years had come back to him? Well, not to him but to Starvation Lake. That she was wonderful and sweet and had the most gorgeous red hair he had ever seen?

  “Is she pretty?”

  “Oh, yes.” He realized what he’d said and snapped out of his daydream. “What? No! What do you mean?”

  “Garth, I’m your mother,” she said in a no-nonsense tone. “If you don’t want to talk about her, that’s your business.”

  He slumped down on the couch and sighed heavily. “Very pretty.”

  “Do you want to tell me about her?”

  “She’s a red-haired angel with a cute little nose sprinkled with freckles.”

  “Does she have a name?”

  “Lorelei.” He let her name linger on his tongue. “Isn’t that a beautiful name?”

  “It sounds as if her name could be Mud and you’d still think it was beautiful.”

  “Huh? What?”

  “Nothing, son,” she said with a smile in her voice. “Have you two been seeing a lot of each other?”

  “Shawn Hill had a beach fire last night. She was there.”

  “You’ve only seen her once?”

  “Not exactly.” He shifted on the couch and sat forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. “You remember when you and Dad first bought this cottage? We spent the last two weeks of summer up here?”

  “I remember.”

  “Josie Davenport had a friend visiting with her for the summer.”

  “This woman who has captured your heart after one meeting is the same girl you snuck over and kissed when you were a boy?”

  He sat up straight. “You knew about that?”

  “You were glued to one tree at the edge of our property for two weeks. How could I not know? I worried about you. Suddenly you were gone. I saw you steal that kiss.”

  “I didn’t know what to say to her.”

  “Hello would have been nice.”

  Yeah, if my brain had been working. He wiped the fringes of his face and along his jaw with the towel.

  “Did you do better this time around, or did you just grab her and kiss her again?”

  He wouldn’t dignify his mom’s poor joke with an answer. But he did wonder what it would be like to kiss Lorelei again one day. “I talked her ear off. I hope I didn’t bore her with my scientific mumbo-jumbo.” He took a deep breath and leaned back on the c
ouch. “She has a nice smile.” He pictured her smiling at him as he spun his fairy tale. “A gentle, welcoming smile. Do you think I should have told her it was me ten years ago?”

  “Absolutely not. If she remembers—”

  “I don’t think she does. She didn’t recognize me.” He would have cringed inwardly if she had. He couldn’t believe when the conversation wandered around to the bandit. If she were going to remember, it would have been then.

  “If she remembers,” his mother said firmly, “it will only embarrass her and put your relationship on an awkward footing. And if she doesn’t, your feelings won’t be hurt for not making a lasting impression.”

  “You’re probably right.” His mother had insight and a woman’s instinct. Her advice had always been good.

  After a moment of silence his mother said, “When are you going to see her again?”

  He could hear the hope in her voice. “I was thinking of going over later in the week and inviting her to church with me on Sunday.” A crick was forming in his neck, so he switched the phone to his other ear and rotated his head to loosen his neck.

  “That sounds good; then you can find out where she stands spiritually.”

  “I’m sure she’s a Christian.” She had to be. He cradled the phone with his shoulder and picked at a loose thread on the arm of the aging green sofa bed.

  “Just because you wish it doesn’t make it so.”

  “She has to be a Christian. Josie’s a Christian.” The three-inch strand pulled free. He wound the couch fiber around his little finger then unwrapped it and did it again. He was wrapped around Lorelei’s finger, and she didn’t even know it.

  “I hope so. I’ll keep you both in my prayers. I really called to see how you were doing. I hadn’t talked to you in a while. Since it seems you’re doing great, I won’t keep you any longer; I’m sure you still have a lot of preparing for school.”

  “A boatload.”

  “Keep your mind on your task, and you’ll get through it.”

  “Easier said than done.” He rolled the thread up into a ball and let it drop to the floor. The green shag carpet swallowed it immediately.

  “I know. I look forward to hearing more about your Lorelei. And meeting her?”