The Lake House

by Marci Nault

  The man was a child. Of course, in some ways she deserved said blame for that.

  She stared at the computer screen. Fear blocked every thought in her mind. Instead of writing, she read her e-mail. Steven had written. His correspondences were all the same: his producers loved the Solo Female Traveler show idea and he was meeting with top executives and would be in touch with her and Charlie soon. The first few e-mails had sent her into euphoric excitement as she dreamt about staying in luxury hotels and being able to eat dinner in fancy restaurants with her film crew. But after hearing what Charlie had said to George at their meeting at the Globe, she realized that it was a long shot at best.

  She scrubbed her face with her hands. Just type anything that comes to mind, even if it’s horrible. She looked out the window for inspiration. A rusted white truck with Woodward Architecture, Ltd. printed on the side pulled into the parking lot. Her stomach did a little flip as Tommy stepped from the vehicle. She hadn’t seen him since they’d stargazed, and though she hated to admit it, at night she sat on her deck hoping he would come to visit Thomas.

  He walked into the shop and went to the counter. A blond woman, Heather’s age, came from behind the register. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a quick kiss on the mouth. Heather couldn’t hear what they were saying, but a pang of jealousy crept through her body. Was the blonde his girlfriend?

  An older woman brought him a coffee to go. She kissed him on the cheek and held him close, inspecting him in a motherly way. He’s loved, Heather thought.

  As he made his way to the door, he noticed Heather. She smiled at him and gave a shy wave and he walked over.

  “Hiding from my grandfather?”

  “His Casanova ways are too much for me to resist. I had to escape before he carried me off,” she joked.

  He laughed and sat down. “I told you, be careful. No woman has outlived him.”

  “I might need to call on you for a rescue,” she said. “But really, he’s fine.” Heather looked at the young woman at the cash register, expecting her to be watching Heather’s interaction with Tommy, but she didn’t seem to care. Maybe she wasn’t his girlfriend after all. “So what brings you to town so early in the day? You usually only come at night and on weekends.”

  “Keeping track of me?” He smiled at her.

  She blushed and then said with as much cool as she could muster, “No, I could care less about your comings and goings, but I’m a writer so I notice things.”

  “I heard a rumor about your writing. I assume that’s why you went to Africa?”

  “Yeah. I travel solo and write a column for the Globe,” she said with a touch of pride.

  “Not a bad gig. So, if you don’t mind me asking, why the house in Nagog?”

  Heather sighed and shook her head. “Momentary fall into insanity.”

  “Okay?”

  “Actually, I spent the first years of my life living on a lake. When I saw the house it reminded me of a time when everything felt safe. It probably sounds stupid.”

  “No, it’s the same for me, but of course I grew up here. Whenever I drive in I’m transported back to when days were lazy and I could spend my afternoon fishing or playing in the woods,” he said.

  “That’s nice. Of course, I’ve ended up with men blowing cigar smoke into my house and Victoria and Molly asking me for sex tips.”

  “They didn’t?” He laughed.

  “Oh yeah, the girl talk has gotten a little personal.”

  “Just remember that around Sarah you’re still a virgin or she’ll try to bring you to church with her.”

  “She’s already trying.” Heather rolled her eyes. “What’s her story?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “She’s cold to Victoria. And she leaves me flyers about church but refuses to have a real conversation. The woman hates me even though she doesn’t know me.”

  “Sarah’s a good person. She’s been through tremendous heartache and her faith has helped her survive. I think if she’s trying to get you to church, it’s her odd way of being a neighbor. As for Victoria, they have things that go back to childhood that were never worked out.”

  The blonde came up and put her hand on Tommy’s shoulder and handed him a white bag. “A little gift for the drive home. They just came out of the oven.”

  Tommy opened the bag and the smell of warm chocolate chip cookies filled the air. “Thanks. Stacy, I’d like you to meet Heather. She owns Maryland’s house.”

  “Oh, you’re the one.” She smiled with a touch of a fun laugh. “I’ve been dying to see what you look like. I’m a little disappointed. I thought there’d be horns sprouting from your head, from the way Sarah and Carl talk about you.” She rubbed a circle on Tommy’s back. “I wish I could stay and chat but I have to get back, the line is getting long. See you later, Tommy.”

  Heather looked at him, waiting for an explanation, but none came. “Okay, you’re going to make me ask. Who was that?”

  “You don’t know?”

  Heather shook her head.

  “Molly’s daughter owns this cafe. Stacy’s Molly’s granddaughter. I stopped in thinking that the gang would be here.”

  “So with all the cafés in town, of course I picked my neighbors’ local haunt.” Heather rolled her eyes. She couldn’t escape. He laughed at her, and she responded by gently kicking his calf. “Shut up.”

  He smiled and for a moment they looked at one another in playful teasing. “Speaking of the devils,” Tom said. Bill, Molly, Joseph, and Victoria walked through the door. Molly ran up to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “How’s my handsome man?”

  “Better now,” he said. He stood and folded Molly’s soft body into his large form. He greeted Bill and Joseph but paused when he came to Victoria. She pushed back the hair near his eyes and then pulled him close.

  “I’m sorry I can’t stay. I’m already late getting back to work,” Tom said as they pulled away.

  Victoria touched his face. “It’s okay. We’ll visit soon.”

  Tom looked at Heather. “Thanks for the company. Sorry if I disrupted your brilliant writing.”

  “Yeah, sure, show up, throw me off my deadline, and then leave me with these women who I’m sure will stuff me full of dessert.” She shook her head in mock frustration. “You are definitely a pain in the you-know-what.”

  “I guess I owe you another root beer float night.” He winked and then waved good-bye.

  Bill and Joseph went to the counter to order as Molly and Victoria commandeered the table next to Heather. “What did he say about a root beer float night?” Molly asked.

  “It’s nothing,” Heather said as she watched the truck pull away. But she realized her cheeks hurt from smiling. She turned to Victoria expecting a comment, but Victoria stared out the window, looking forlorn. Heather wanted to reach out to her, but Molly placed her hand on Victoria’s shoulder and the moment passed.

  “Well, that looked like a nice visit with Tommy,” Victoria said. “I didn’t realize the two of you had become friends.”

  “I don’t know about friends. He stopped over the other night when he was visiting his grandfather and we bumped into each other today. It wasn’t a date or anything.”

  “No one said it was, dear.” Victoria raised her eyebrows and smiled.

  Joseph returned and handed Victoria a cup of coffee and a scone. He sat down next to her and Heather saw a flush of red on Victoria’s cheeks when she looked at the man. Heather noticed that Victoria was in a pair of designer jeans today with a red silk short-sleeve blouse and had taken extra care with her hair.

  “So, Joseph, have you caught any fish? I see you out on the dock almost every morning,” Heather said.

  “They haven’t been biting much.”

  “I guess Victoria’s swimming keeps them at a distance.” Heather knew her comment would make Victoria uncomfortable, but if she was going to tease her about Tommy, then Joseph was fair game.

  “Well, it�
��s going to be interrupted again this week,” Molly said. “The Red Hat Society from church is going to be coming three days a week to do aerobics on the beach. Heather, you should join us. Victoria is going to lead the class.”

  “What time?”

  “Six in the morning,” Molly said.

  Heather’s eyes widened. They would be right outside Heather’s bedroom window early in the morning. Maybe cigar smoke was the least of her worries.

  CHAPTER 17

  Victoria could hear children running and playing on the beach through the community center’s open window. Roger and Evelyn’s kids and grandkids had come for a barbecue, and the smell of roasting meat and charcoal floated on the air. There was something special about the sound of young children playing that made the world feel right.

  She placed three kings in front of her while she looked around the table: Molly and Bill, Sarah and Carl, Agatha, Daniel, Thomas, and Joseph. It had taken time, but they were all together, playing a game of Five Hundred rummy. Molly and Bill had sassed each other all afternoon in playful competition just as they’d done when they were teenagers. At this moment, Victoria wanted for nothing. A warm breeze came through the windows and carried music from Heather’s living room. Victoria had invited the girl, but she declined, stating that she had too much work to do.

  “Life is good,” she said as she picked up her glass of iced tea and sipped.

  “It’d be better if we could get rid of that girl,” Sarah said as she chose a card from the deck.

  “Sarah, I don’t understand why you have a problem with Heather,” Victoria said.

  “Of course you don’t. You like having a new playmate. Well, personally, I have to listen to her music all day long.”

  Molly put her hand on Sarah’s arm. “I have some great news. The Red Hat Society from church is going to come to Nagog three days a week to teach aerobics here. Isn’t that wonderful? We’ll all get in shape this summer.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” Sarah said. “I’ll look forward to it.”

  “And Victoria is going to lead,” Molly said.

  Agatha huffed and Sarah’s face pinched.

  “Be careful, Sarah,” Thomas said, “your face is starting to freeze in that position. You don’t want to walk around looking like you’re sucking on a lemon drop. And I think I might join you ladies in the morning.”

  “Thomas, I think that’s a wonderful idea. How about the rest of you men?” Victoria asked.

  “Thomas just wants to watch all those ladies shake their cabooses,” Bill said. “I’ve got my woman at home every night.” He tickled Molly’s side and she smacked at his hand.

  “You know, Bill, it would do you some good to get some exercise,” Victoria said.

  “Yes, because you know what’s best for everyone,” Sarah said. “Of course, once it’s cold again I’m certain you’ll be jetting off to the Riviera or back to California. Isn’t that where you’d planned to retire with Devon?”

  Agatha piped in, “The only reason you’re here is because you have no one left.”

  “Agatha, Sarah, stop!” Joseph said.

  Victoria put her hand on Joseph’s arm. “No, if they have something to say, why don’t we get it out in the open? I’m tired of tiptoeing around and dealing with snide comments. I’m here to stay. So let’s deal with this,” she challenged Sarah.

  Sarah’s lips pinched as she dug her nails into her palms. “You left. You cared about no one but yourself. You were supposed to be my maid of honor, but you didn’t have the decency to tell me that you wouldn’t be there. I miscarried three times, and where was my friend when I needed her? You were gallivanting around the world having a grand time. You didn’t even call. You waltzed in when you needed comfort or used this place like a summer home.”

  “I didn’t know you miscarried,” Victoria said in a softer voice.

  “Of course not. And that’s not your fault. Just like Joseph and Barbara’s divorce. You broke up my friend’s marriage. I don’t see her anymore. She can’t bear to be around anyone in Nagog because it reminds her of you.”

  The room went silent as the two women glared at one another. Tears filled Sarah’s eyes. “You waltzed in wearing fancy clothes, displaying your movie star husband, so you could dazzle everyone. You didn’t care what was going on in our lives. Did you ever think it was all a lie? You were nothing more than a supporting actress and model, but you acted like you were this big star—a life Annabelle killed herself trying to obtain.” Sarah glowered, her body shaking. “And now I see you with Heather. You care more about playing with her than making amends with any of us.”

  “You hate me so much you insist on continuing to bring up my worst pain?” Victoria stood and pointed to the cross around Sarah’s neck. “How Christian of you.”

  Sarah stood so suddenly the table rocked. “Don’t you dare preach to me about being a good Christian.”

  They stood in silence, their eyes piercing one another.

  “Selfish is what you are,” Agatha said.

  Bill hit his fist against the table. “That’s enough.”

  Agatha glared at him. “You and Molly are just as much to blame. If it wasn’t for you bowing down every time she came around—”

  “I said it’s over,” Bill boomed.

  Molly stood and placed her hand on Victoria’s back.

  Agatha’s breath came like a bull ready to fight. She scowled, picked up her cane, and guided Sarah to the door.

  “Agatha,” Victoria said.

  She turned.

  “I made a mistake when I was a teenager. I said horrible things that hurt your feelings and for that I’m sorry. But I was a young girl. If after sixty years you can’t find it in your heart to forgive, then that’s your problem.”

  “Well, I never,” Agatha said.

  “Oh, you have so,” Victoria said, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at Agatha and then at Sarah. “Bringing up Annabelle that day at Molly’s . . . blaming me again today for what happened . . . that’s more hurtful than anything I ever said to you.”

  Sarah turned. “The difference, Victoria, is that she speaks the truth. You were just cruel.” They turned and left.

  Molly grabbed Victoria’s hand. “I’m sorry. I pushed too hard for everyone to get along.”

  Victoria felt her breath catch in her chest. “I need some air. I’m okay.” She patted Molly’s arm and walked across the community center dance floor toward the back door.

  “Well, that’s the closest thing to a boxing match I think they’re going to have,” Carl said as Victoria opened the door and walked through. “Maybe now they can move on.”

  The sun was beginning to set and Evelyn and Roger’s kids were rounding up their children, trying to get them into the car. Hugs and kisses were given and Evelyn smiled, even though Victoria knew she was confused by the activity.

  The beach felt too exposed, so she walked along the grass next to Joseph’s home. Near the water she stood in a circle of birch trees; the white bark marked with black lines had always reminded Annabelle of zebras. The tears came hot on her cheeks and she gasped for breath.

  “Victoria,” Joseph said behind her, “Sarah and Agatha were wrong to say those things.”

  Victoria wiped the tears and tried to regain her composure. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at the water. The breeze blew her long yellow skirt and it fluttered against her legs. “Everything she said was true. I left. I didn’t call or check in. I waltzed back in years later to brag about my life. I hurt you and everyone else.”

  “We both know that your life wasn’t here in Nagog. You did nothing wrong. Following your dreams wasn’t a sin. Nor was doing what was right for you.”

  He put his hands on her bare upper arms and turned her toward him. He looked down with his beautiful blue eyes. With one hand he swept her hair away from her face. “You’ve suffered so deeply and lived fuller than anyone I know. Not one of us ever left the safety of this place. When someone live
s as brightly as you, it’s hard for all of us in the shadows, because it reminds us of the dreams and chances we didn’t take. That’s where the real anger lies.”

  “Stop it,” she said. “For once will you tell me what you really feel? Why does Sarah keep saying that I broke up your marriage?”

  “Victoria, it doesn’t matter.”

  “Yes it does.” She stared at him willing him to answer.

  Joseph stepped away. “I don’t know where to start, Victoria.”

  “The beginning is always good. I rejected you and I left without saying goodbye the night you returned from the war. The letters I sent while you were a sailor never gave you any indication that I wanted a different life than the one you could provide—”

  In a quiet voice he interrupted, “And you didn’t stay long enough to know that the war had changed me too . . . that I wanted something different as well. I could’ve gone with you. I wanted to travel, to be a photographer. I didn’t want to stay in Nagog.”

  “What?” She shook her head in confusion.

  “I went after you to tell you, but you were already gone.”

  Victoria stared at him unable to speak.

  “You didn’t have to run away, but I understood that you didn’t love me the way I loved you.”

  Victoria shook her head. “No, that’s not true.”

  “You didn’t call or write, and I gave up hope that you’d return. I moved on, and I was fine the years that you stayed away. I loved Barbara, and we had a good life with our children, but every time you came home the old feelings would return.”

  “That’s why you kept your distance. I believed you hated me for what I’d done.”

  “Victoria, I only wished I could’ve hated you. Then I wouldn’t have hurt Barbara the way I did.”

  Memories returned from five years earlier: the brief interlude she’d shared with Joseph on the beach after he’d taken Annabelle’s photograph on Memorial Day; his arms around her after the funeral. Grief from her loss had caused deep depression and Victoria barely remembered the weeks after Annabelle’s death. When she was hospitalized, she lived under the sedation of heavy antidepressants, but now the blurry memories became clear. Barbara had seen them holding hands.