Truth and Solace (Love at Solace Lake Book 3)

by Jana Richards

  With Luke’s encouragement, she’d begun working on a more sophisticated dessert menu. For this dinner, she’d prepared the pastry for tarte au citron, a French lemon pie. The pastry had rested in the fridge for a couple of hours and would now be firm enough to roll out.

  “It’s done. I assumed you wanted me to finish the tarte. It’s chilling in the fridge. I didn’t mean to be pushy.”

  “You’re not being pushy, just efficient. Have you peeled potatoes?”

  Celeste pointed to the pot on the stove. “Yes.”

  “The prime rib’s in the oven?”

  “Yes.”

  Desperate, Maggie asked, “What’s left to do?”

  “I was about to get the vegetables ready to steam.”

  “I’ll peel the carrots.”

  “Let me do it,” Celeste said. “You’ve done so much for me. I want to do something for you.”

  Maggie decided to trust Celeste. “I know you can handle things on your own. But I don’t want to go out to the dining room yet. Cam’s nephew Drew has a bit of a crush on me, and he’s made it clear he wants to be more than friends.”

  Celeste’s eyes widened in alarm. “Is he harassing you?”

  Maggie put her hand on Celeste’s arm. “No, no nothing like that. But I don’t feel the same way, and I don’t want him to think I’m making time for him.”

  “Well, of course not. You’re already involved with Luke.”

  She abruptly withdrew her hand. “Involved? No! What made you think something like that?”

  “I thought…the way you look at each other… I’m sorry.”

  Maggie shook her head, embarrassed by her reaction to Celeste’s innocent statement. “No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I didn’t mean to jump all over you. Whatever Luke and I had is long in the past, and there’s no future. He’s only here at the lodge temporarily.” Maggie told her about Abby. “We were…close once. But that was ten years ago. I was a kid.”

  “If you genuinely care for someone, it doesn’t matter how old you are.” Celeste pushed herself away from the counter and pulled a bag of carrots from the fridge. “Come on. You can hide out with me while we get the vegetables ready.”

  They worked in compatible silence at the sink, peeling carrots and stripping the outside leaves from Brussel sprouts. Thankfully, Celeste didn’t ask any more uncomfortable questions.

  The way you look at each other. When Luke looked at her, what did he see? A girl he’d once loved? Or a bullet he’d managed to dodge?

  And how did she see him?

  She sliced a carrot in half with a ruthless stab and pushed the thought away, unable and unwilling to answer her own question.

  After dinner, the huge pine tree Harper had selected from their forest and had cut herself the previous day was dragged into the dining room. It required the strength of five men – Ethan, Cam, Luke, Drew, and Drew’s father Graham – to hoist the tree into a huge tub of wet sand and set it into place near the fireplace. The tree soared toward the ceiling and filled the room with its fresh, outdoor scent. A rush of memories sent Maggie back to childhood Christmases when similar trees stood in the same spot.

  Harper carried a scarred and battered cardboard box into the dining room, followed by Ethan and Cam who carried similar boxes. Maggie recognized Grandma Dorothy’s scrawling handwriting on the sides of the boxes, the words “Christmas Decorations” written with permanent marker. Scarlet followed with a couple of large plastic shopping bags displaying the name of a hardware store in Brainerd.

  Harper set her box near the tree. “These are Grandma’s old decorations I told you about.” She sliced open the tape sealing the box with a utility knife but turned to Maggie and Scarlet before opening the flaps. “Are you ready to see what’s in here?”

  Scarlet nodded. Taking a deep breath, Maggie did the same. They were only old Christmas ornaments. Seeing them again shouldn’t make her uneasy, but somehow, they did.

  Harper lifted the first tissue-wrapped bundle from the box and peeled back the paper to reveal a delicate, clear glass ball. A snowflake covered in glitter sparkled inside.

  “I remember these snowflakes,” Scarlet said. “Mainly because I broke one when I was ten and Grandma never let me forget it.”

  “That was dear old Grandma, wasn’t it?” Harper said with shake of her head. “Grampa once told me that possessions meant so much to her because she’d grown up dirt poor.”

  Maggie took the glass ball from Harper. “I didn’t know that.”

  It made sense. She’d often thought Grandma’s fine bone china meant more to her than she did. She’d treated the flowery china as if it were priceless beyond measure. Heaven help you if you chipped a piece or, God forbid, broke one. If Grandma had known she’d pawned her mother’s antique diamond earrings, the ones she’d passed down to her on her fourteenth birthday, she would have gone ballistic.

  A pang of deep regret struck her. She swept it aside, knowing regret changed nothing. She’d done what she’d had to do to survive. End of story.

  Ethan brought a stepladder into the dining room and set it up near the tree. Harper handed him a large, glittering star and he secured it to the top branch. Luke and the others strung the new lights and garlands that Scarlet had purchased. The tree was beginning to make the place feel like Christmas.

  Christmas had been her favorite holiday as a child. Not only because of the presents she received, but because of everything surrounding Christmas – the carols, the concerts at school and church, the special baked treats and meals only made once a year. But mostly she loved it because of the time spent with her family. The lodge would always be closed to guests between Christmas and New Year’s, and the five of them spent those days together skating on the lake or playing board games next to the fire. Those Christmases were her happiest childhood memories.

  Maggie shook herself out of the past. She used Harper’s utility knife to open the last of Grandma’s boxes. Pushing back the flaps, she carefully removed tissue wrapped bundles and set them on the floor. Scarlet knelt beside her and unwrapped the first one, a glass angel with the words “Baby’s First Christmas” written in gold script. Beneath those words was the year of Maggie’s birth. Maggie couldn’t remember ever seeing it before.

  Scarlet held the angel up to the light. “Harper, do you remember this?”

  Harper knelt beside her, taking the angel from her. “Yeah. Mom bought this the year Maggie was born. I remember it on our tree in Minneapolis. I think that was our last Christmas there with Mom and Dad.”

  Maggie’s breath caught in her throat. She wished she could remember that Christmas, wished she could remember them.

  Harper began digging in the box. “These must be Mom’s decorations. There should be two more angels.”

  Scarlet pulled out ornament after ornament from the box. “I remember a lot of these. If Grandma saved them, why didn’t she ever put them on the tree when we were kids?”

  Instinctively, Maggie knew. “Because it was too painful for her.” Despite all their differences, she’d always known how profoundly their mother’s death had affected Grandma Dorothy. She’d been destroyed, mentally and physically, growing more cynical and bitter with each passing year. When their father killed their mother, he’d killed her, too. It had just taken her longer to die.

  Scarlet uncovered two more glass angels, identical to the first, the only difference the dates printed on the bottom – one for Harper’s birth year and the other for Scarlet’s.

  Cam gently lifted one of the delicate ornaments from Scarlet’s hands. “We’re definitely putting them on the tree this year.”

  He handed Scarlet’s angel to his sister Lydia and she placed it, along with the other two, in a little circle at the front of the tree. “A place of honor,” she said. “You’ll be able to see them whenever you look at the tree.”

  Maggie watched as tears filled Scarlet’s eyes. Cam pulled her into his arms and she rested her head against his broad shoulder. For a fleeting
minute, Maggie wished for that kind of safe harbor, for someone who would hold her as she cried, and make everything bad go away.

  Her gaze collided with Luke’s. Did he ever think about what might have been if he’d stayed in Minnewasta? She had. Too often.

  With an effort, she returned her attention to the box in front of her. There was something at the bottom, another smaller box with a lid. She pulled it out and laid it on the floor, then removed the lid. Her breath caught in her throat at what she found.

  A framed picture of her parents on their wedding day. They looked so young, so happy, their fresh faces showing no hint of the tragedy to come. Maggie traced the lines of her father’s face. She’d never seen their wedding picture before and had only seen a few candid pictures of her father that Abby had shown her. Grandma had removed all traces of him from their lives. Maggie had assumed she’d destroyed all the pictures she’d had of him.

  But she’d kept this one. She may have planned to give it to them one day. They’d never know.

  “I wish I remembered him,” she said. “He was very handsome, wasn’t he?”

  “Yeah, he was.”

  She didn’t realize she was crying until Luke sat beside her on the floor and put his arm around her. For a moment she leaned into him, letting herself remember the happiness of being in his arms. All these years later, her body hadn’t forgotten how safe he made her feel.

  How loved.

  Too soon, he pulled away. He gently removed the picture from her hands and offered her a tissue. She dabbed her eyes with it and tried to get her emotions under control.

  Luke handed the picture to Harper and Scarlet, and they wordlessly stared at the photo together. Then, Harper handed the picture to Ethan. “Would you put this on the mantle? I’d like to keep it there, at least until after Christmas.”

  “Of course, sweetheart.”

  No one spoke as Ethan set the picture on the mantle. Finally, Lydia broke the silence. “For whatever reason, your grandmother saved these mementos but hid them away. I think finding them again is cause for celebration, don’t you?”

  Scarlet wiped a tear from her cheek. “Yes, you’re right. We should celebrate. Maggie, why don’t we make some hot chocolate? And what about some Christmas music?”

  “I’ll take care of the music,” Harper said. She held out her hand and Ethan helped her to her feet and held her close.

  Maggie got to her feet and pulled Scarlet up. Scarlet put her arm around Maggie’s shoulders as they walked to the kitchen. She needed to start fresh, like the lodge, to take the good things from the past and let everything else go. Time for joy again.

  She glanced over her shoulder and saw Luke watching her. Their gazes connected and he smiled. Maggie returned his smile with a tremulous one of her own. Time for joy again.

  Turning, she wrapped her arm around Scarlet’s waist. “Celeste made some sugar cookies this morning. Would you like some?”

  Scarlet hugged her shoulder. “Absolutely.”

  Luke turned up the heat in his truck and sipped the hot coffee he’d purchased at the airport, while the three women in the back seat laughed and talked amongst themselves. The good news was that Cam and Scarlet’s wedding day dawned bright and sunny with little wind. The bad news was that the temperature had dropped to minus twenty Fahrenheit overnight. Since he’d volunteered to drive to the airport in Minneapolis to pick up Scarlet’s friends from Chicago, he was grateful he didn’t have to contend with a snowstorm. But he could live without the cold.

  He glanced in the rear-view mirror and saw that one of the women – did she say her name was Jill? – was staring back at him. He’d seen that look often enough to know she was interested, and it made him uncomfortable. He really didn’t want to deal with any unwanted attention right now.

  “So, you said you work at Scarlet’s lodge?” she asked.

  “Yes, temporarily. I’m the hotel and restaurant manager. I’m helping to get the lodge established and launched into the market.”

  “Why only temporarily?”

  He hated talking about his mother’s imminent death. “I grew up with Scarlet and her sisters. My mother’s been ill so when the job at the lodge came up, I applied for it. Scarlet’s family was willing to hire me temporarily so I can be with her. I took a leave of absence from my job at a resort in the Napa Valley. I’ll go back there in a few months.” He didn’t add, ‘after she dies.’ It was too hard to say the words and besides, he didn’t want their pity.

  “You’re a good friend. And a good son.”

  He shifted in his seat, undeserving of the praise. As Maggie had reminded him, a good son wouldn’t have waited until his mother was dying before coming home. And a good friend wouldn’t take advantage of friendship to get a job. Maggie’s family was doing an enormous favor for him.

  And a good friend wouldn’t fantasize about sleeping with Maggie the way you’ve been doing for the past couple of weeks.

  To his relief, the women chatted amongst themselves the rest of the way to the lodge, though he sensed Jill’s gaze on him often. He’d employ the tact he’d used on other occasions to ward off the attention of female guests. Total professionalism and a firm but polite decline of any offered invitations. He pulled in front of the lodge and unloaded the luggage while Scarlet’s friends got out of the truck.

  Harper opened the front door. “Come on in! It’s too cold to be standing around outside for long!”

  She ushered them inside, and Luke closed the door behind them.

  “We’re so happy you could come for Scarlet’s wedding. She’ll be thrilled to see you.”

  “Scarlet’s a wonderful person. We really miss her, but we’re happy she’s happy.”

  “I’ll show you to your rooms and then you can meet us in the dining room for lunch.”

  Jill turned to Luke. “Thanks for picking us up and getting us here safely.”

  He gave a polite nod. “You’re very welcome. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

  The other two women followed Harper toward the new wing of guestrooms, but Jill hung back. Once the others were out of earshot, she touched his arm. “Will you be here at the inn this evening?”

  “Yes.”

  “We could meet later, in my room.”

  She was an attractive woman and at one time, he might have taken her up on her offer. But to his surprise, he found he wasn’t interested. He gently pulled back his arm.

  “I’m sorry. I can’t.” He stepped back. “Enjoy your stay.”

  He beat a path to the privacy of the office, expelling a relieved breath once he was safely inside with the door firmly closed. He leaned against the door and wondered what the hell he was doing. His relationship with Maggie, such as it was, wasn’t going anywhere, especially to the bedroom, so why say no to an attractive woman who was obviously interested.

  He didn’t have any answers, only the gut feeling he’d done the right thing.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Luke helped the temporary wait staff move the dining room tables to the edges of the room to create an open area in front of the fireplace where Scarlet and Cam would exchange their vows. Rows of chairs were then set up for the guests. Following the ceremony, the chairs would be cleared away to make room for dancing.

  Half an hour before the ceremony was to begin, Luke examined the room to make sure everything was in place. The Christmas tree was lit and sparkling with decorations, the scent of pine sweet in the air. A fire burned in the hearth, lending a soft, warm glow to the room. The tables were covered with white tablecloths, pots of red poinsettias serving as centerpieces. Dozens more red and white poinsettias decorated the dining room, giving a classic Christmas vibe to the place.

  Satisfied everything was ready, he went to the kitchen. Celeste bustled from station to station, directing the two line cooks they’d borrowed from Miller’s on what needed to be done. Though everyone was busy, there was no panic, only calm efficiency. It looked like Celeste had everything well in hand. Maggie had be
en totally right in putting her faith in her.

  “Anything I can help you with?” he asked.

  “I think we’ve got everything covered, thanks,” she said. “Everything’s nearly ready for the buffet.”

  “Good.” Their first major test of the kitchen with its new staff appeared to be going well. He spied Celeste’s daughter Hope lying on her stomach in a corner of the kitchen, coloring in a book in desultory fashion. She looked bored, and Luke decided she needed rescuing.

  “Hope, would you like to help me greet guests as they arrive?”

  She sat up and gave him a gap-toothed grin. “Yes!” She looked beseechingly at her mother. “Can I, Mama?”

  Celeste cocked her head at him. “You’re sure?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Okay, then. Pick up your crayons first and then you can go with Mr. Luke.”

  Hope stuffed the crayons back in the box. He held out his hand, and she jumped to her feet and grabbed it.

  “Be a good girl for Mr. Luke,” Celeste said as they left the kitchen. Hope turned to wave at her mother, then skipped along beside him. Luke smiled. She had sunny, cheerful disposition. Thankfully, Celeste had been able to shield her from the ugliness of the sexual harassment that had driven them from their home.

  When they reached the front entrance, he pointed to the small table he’d set up near the door. An open book, a pen and a wicker basket sat on the table. “This is the guest book, Hope. Cam and Scarlet would like all their guests to sign as they come in.”

  “Why do they have to sign it, Mr. Luke?”

  “I guess so that years from now, they can look at the book and remember who came to their wedding.”

  She seemed satisfied with the answer. “Okay.”

  “Can you sit here and ask everyone to sign the book?”

  “I can do that,” she said gravely.

  “Once you do that, you can hand everyone one of these leaflets. It tells people who’s in the wedding party. And if they have a card for the couple, you can tell them to put it in this basket. Gifts go on the table behind you.”