Even though Chloe worked for the Smithsonian, Penny appreciated her advice. If the letter was authentic, it was far too precious to have its future decided by people who didn’t know the best way of looking after it.
Barbara looked at her sisters. “Does anyone have any more questions for Chloe?”
Diana nodded. “How long do you think it will take to do the full analysis of the letter?”
“At a rough guess, I’d say another three to four months. The letter isn’t the only one our team is analyzing. But it’s the most exciting document they’ve seen in a long time. There are many scientists and historians who are incredibly excited and humbled to see the letter.”
Goose bumps rose along Penny’s arm. “We were just as excited when we found it. Thanks for taking the time to speak to us today.”
“That’s more than okay. Remember to call me if you have any questions.”
After each of them said goodbye, Barbara ended the call. “Well,” she said. “That was interesting.”
“They think it’s authentic,” Kate said with barely concealed excitement. “Mom and Dad will be thrilled.”
Diana grinned. “I can’t believe we held the same letter Abraham Lincoln wrote. It gives me the chills just thinking about it.”
Penny checked her emails for the information Chloe was sending through. As if reading her mind, the message appeared in her inbox. “It’s wonderful to know the experts are excited. That has to be a good sign.”
“Especially when they would have seen their fair share of forgeries,” Barbara said as she closed her notebook. “If the letter is real, what do you want to do with it?”
“Photocopy it and put it on my wall,” Katie said wistfully. “The Gettysburg Address is one of the most important speeches ever delivered by a president. It’s a pity we can’t live by the same principles today.”
Diana leaned her elbows on the table. “Do you think Abraham Lincoln realized just how inspirational those words would become?”
Penny forwarded the email from Chloe to each of her sisters. “I hope so. And maybe that answers Barbara’s question, too. I think we should give the letter to the Smithsonian. That way, more people can enjoy the letter and what it represents.”
Diana nodded. “I agree, but I’d like a copy for my wall, too. And I know Mom and Dad would appreciate a copy.”
“What about Wyatt?” Katie asked. “Do we want to ask him what he’d like to do with the letter?”
Diana nodded. “That’s fair. If he hadn’t realized there was a hidden compartment in the dresser, we wouldn’t have found the letter.”
“If Wyatt hadn’t found the photo of our grandma and great-grandmother in Polson, I doubt we would have come this far.” Penny looked at her sisters. “He started this chain of events.”
Katie smiled. “It’s a pity he’s living in Berlin. He’s just earned himself a lifetime’s worth of home baking.”
Penny laughed. “He’d like that.”
“He likes you more,” Barbara told her in a stern voice. “And you like him. What are you going to do about it?”
Penny’s smile disappeared. “I don’t know.”
Diana patted her hand. “Yes, you do. You’re going to call him and tell him about the letter. Then you’ll keep talking to each other to see what you can do about your relationship.”
Penny looked at her sisters and sighed. If only it were that simple.
A week later, Penny looked at the curtains Richard was hanging. “I really appreciate you coming here this morning to help us.”
“It’s the least I can do,” Richard said as he connected the last few curtain hooks into the track. “You can’t have people looking at the honeymoon suite without curtains on the windows. Besides, I was going to call you, anyway. I forgot to get Wyatt’s phone number.”
“I’ll give it to you before you leave.”
“Thanks. Was his exhibition a success?”
“It was. All of his landscapes sold, including the ones he painted in Sapphire Bay. He starts the artist in residency program in a few days.”
Richard moved the curtains back and forth. “How does that look?”
Penny took a few steps away from the ladder. “They’re perfect.” The floral curtains were stunning. They couldn’t have chosen a prettier fabric for the honeymoon suite. It reminded her of her grandma’s rose garden and the blooms they replaced every few days in the house.
Carefully, Richard backed down the ladder. His new prosthetic leg looked incredible. Even the way he walked and moved was so much smoother than when she’d first met him.
The sound of someone hurrying up the wooden stairs made her turn around.
“Barbara wants to know if the curtains are hung yet?” Katie said breathlessly. “Just about everyone we invited to our official opening has arrived.”
Penny checked her watch. “I thought most people would be a little late. It’s just as well Richard’s here. Thanks to him, the curtains are all finished.”
Katie looked over Penny’s shoulder as Richard pulled open the heavy drapes. “They look fantastic. I love the rose fabric with the chandelier you chose. It looks elegant and inviting.”
Penny looked at the clipboard in her sister’s arms. “We only have fifteen minutes until Barbara is supposed to thank everyone for coming. Is there anything else we need to do?”
Katie ran her finger down the spreadsheet Barbara had given her. “I think everything’s done. The food and drinks are on the tables, the information desk is ready, Diana has blown up enough balloons for ten children’s birthday parties, and now the attic is beautiful. Everyone will be impressed with the transformation.”
Penny hoped so. It had taken a marathon effort to complete the house before their opening day. To add more stress to the occasion, they’d had inquiries from people all over America wanting to come and see the town where a letter from Abraham Lincoln was found. They didn’t seem to care that the Smithsonian hadn’t said it was real, they simply wanted to be part of the excitement.
That excitement grew even more when people realized the dresser and her great-grandmother’s chest were still in their grandma’s house.
To keep her family sane, Penny spoke to Pastor John. They’d decided to offer tours of the house and the old steamboat museum for the three days before their first guests arrived. Within a few hours of opening registrations, all spaces were booked. After that, the only way people could see the dresser where the letter was found was to look on The Lakeside Inn’s website or stay with them.
Richard folded the ladder in half, and Penny moved out of the way as he carried it toward the stairs. Katie followed him, making sure he was staying for the opening celebrations.
Before she joined their guests, she took one last look around the attic. Her grandma would be so proud of what they’d done, of the changes that meant her granddaughters could stay in the house together. With a lot of hard work and a small budget, they’d transformed the house into a gorgeous Bed and Breakfast. Now all they had to do was get through today. After that, a new chapter in each of her sisters’ lives would begin.
“Are you coming downstairs?”
Penny froze. Her heart was pounding so hard she was sure it would jump out of her chest. It couldn’t be Wyatt. He was on the other side of the world getting ready for the residency program.
Slowly, she turned around.
His shy smile was her undoing. All the anticipation of the day, the grief of knowing she was here without her beautiful Grandma, the pain of losing him, rushed to the surface.
“Hey,” he said softly. “Why are you crying?”
She met him halfway across the attic, falling into his arms and holding him tight. “I’ve missed you, I miss Grandma, and everything is just too much.”
“It will be okay.”
Penny burrowed her head into his chest and let go of everything she’d tried so desperately to hide. Wyatt rubbed her back, holding her safely inside the shelter of his arms. When the
tide of emotion drifted into an easy ebb, she lifted her head and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about.” He handed her a tissue. “The house looks fantastic.”
She nodded and blew her nose. “We couldn’t have done it without a lot of help. The women who make the curtains for the tiny homes made the ones for the attic. Richard has been amazing. He spent last weekend here with Jack, tidying up all the little things we hadn’t finished.” Penny took a deep breath. “And now you’re here.”
His hands wrapped around hers. “I didn’t want to miss the opening of the Bed and Breakfast. You’ve worked hard and deserve every success it will bring.”
Penny dropped her chin to her chest. She wouldn’t read too much into Wyatt being here. He probably had other things he wanted to sort through, friends he wanted to see. “How long are you staying?”
Wyatt placed his hand under her chin, waiting until she was looking him in the eyes. “I’m staying here for as long as you want me to.”
“But the residency—”
“I’m not doing the residency program. I missed you too much.”
Her eyes widened. “But it’s everything you’ve ever wanted. You said it could take your career to the next level.”
“I lost track of what’s important. We’ve been given a gift, Penny. Finding someone you can share your life with, laugh and cry at things no one else would understand, that’s what’s important. I want to spend time with you. I want to know you as well as you know yourself and show you how special you are. And one day, when the time is right, I want to ask you to be my wife.”
More tears filled her eyes. “When you decide what you want, you don’t waste time.”
Wyatt frowned. “Is it what you want, too?”
She placed her hands on either side of his worried face. “I love you, Wyatt. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, too.”
Wyatt breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness. For a moment I thought—”
Penny stepped forward and kissed him, showing him just how much she loved him. How much joy he brought into her life by being the kind, caring, and humble man he was.
When they both needed to catch their breath, Wyatt held her against his chest. “I guess this means we’re officially dating again?”
Penny smiled. “I guess you’re right. If you need somewhere to stay, you can sleep here. We’ve kept a spare bedroom for our own guests, so there’s plenty of room.”
“I don’t need to. I’ve moved back into the house beside yours.”
“That’s wonderful. The realtor will be pleased she didn’t have to find another tenant.”
Wyatt’s grin deepened. “She’s even happier than that. I bought the house. You’re kissing your new neighbor.”
For the second time that morning, Penny was stunned. “Are you serious?”
“I signed the sale and purchase agreement three days ago.”
Penny wrapped her arms around Wyatt’s waist. “I can’t believe this is really happening.”
“And it’s only the beginning.”
As they stood locked in each other’s arms, Penny couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to celebrate the beginning of their new lives. Or the beginning of an exciting adventure with her sisters.
* * *
THE END
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Thank you for reading The Lakeside Inn I hope you enjoyed it! If you did…
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* * *
To discover what happens to Diana, Barbara, and Katie, keep reading to enjoy an excerpt from Summer at Lakeside, the second book in the Return to Sapphire Bay series!
Summer At Lakeside
Return to Sapphire Bay, Book 2
* * *
Fans of Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series will love this small town, feel-good romance!
* * *
Diana Terry’s life has been turned upside down by a bitter divorce. When her beautiful, eccentric grandmother dies, she’s devastated. Taking nothing but a battered suitcase and her canine buddy, Charlie, she leaves her old life behind to comfort her family and find a new kind of normal.
* * *
Ethan Preston is a former Navy SEAL and a counsellor at the tiny home village in Sapphire Bay. For him, the best thing about living in the small Montana town is the way the community embraces people who come here seeking refuge, compassion, and support.
* * *
When he meets Diana, her quiet reserve centers him like nothing else has managed to do. The weight of what he has seen and done during his military career lifts from his shoulders and he begins to see a brighter future for both of them.
* * *
But when a treasured family heirloom disappears from The Lakeside Inn, the Terry sisters suspect someone from the tiny home village is responsible. Can Ethan convince them that they’re wrong or will Diana’s deep distrust of strangers hide the truth?
* * *
SUMMER AT LAKESIDE is the second book in a new series that will follow the Terry sisters as they return to a community with big hearts and warm smiles. Romance, adventure, and intrigue are waiting for you in Sapphire Bay!
* * *
Summer At Lakeside
Return to Sapphire Bay, Book 2
Pre-Order Your Copy Today!
Chapter 1
Diana peeked around the curtains of her grandma’s house and sighed. At least eighty people were waiting in the front yard, ready to celebrate the opening of the newest Bed and Breakfast in Sapphire Bay.
For the last few months, Diana and her three sisters had remodeled their grandparents’ home and turned it into The Lakeside Inn. Sitting on the shore of Flathead Lake and surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in Montana, it was the perfect destination for anyone wanting a stress-free vacation.
“You can’t stand there forever,” her younger sister, Katie told her. “Barbara gave us strict instructions to mix and mingle.”
“I’m not good with crowds.”
Katie rearranged the cushions on the sofa. “Just pretend everyone’s related to us. It’s not difficult—we know most of the people outside, anyway.”
It was easy for Katie. She’d moved to Los Angeles when she was barely out of high school. Dealing with large groups of people was an everyday occurrence for her, but not for Diana.
“Oh. For goodness’ sake,” Katie huffed. “Come with me.”
Grabbing hold of Diana’s hand, she pulled her toward the kitchen. “We’ll circle around the back and sneak in behind everyone else.”
“Did you see Charlie when you were outside?” Diana’s lovable, but slightly crazy Golden Labrador had abandoned her when their first guests walked onto their property. She had no idea what he’d be like when their paying customers arrived.
“The last time I saw him, he was eating a sandwich Jack had given him.”
As well as being a bouncy, cuddly dog, he was a sucker for anything resembling food. “I’d better find him before he eats more than a sandwich.” Thinking about Charlie made her feel less anxious, but it didn’t make her nerves completely disappear.
On their way through the kitchen, Diana smiled at her mom and dad.
“Thank goodness Katie found you,” Mabel said as she took a sheet of cookies out of the oven. “I thought you must have gotten lost. Has anyone seen Penny?”
Katie frowned. “She was in the attic when I last saw her. I thought she would be outside by now.”
Allan, their dad, took a cookie off the baking sheet. “She could be there for a while. Wyatt’s in the attic with her.”
Mabel’s mouth dropped open. “When did he arrive back from Berlin?”
“About an hour ago.” Allan blew on his cookie. �
��This is hot.”
His wife swatted his arm with a dishtowel. “That’s what you get for helping yourself. I’ll have to go and see Wyatt and ask him how long he’s staying.”
Allan turned her toward the back door. “No, you won’t. Penny and Wyatt have some talking to do, and we need to go outside.”
“But—”
“Whatever you need to say can wait. Come on. There are plenty of people who want to ask you about The Lakeside Inn.”
Diana was grateful her dad was here. Their mom had a generous heart and loved each of her daughters dearly. But she also liked to know exactly what was going on in their lives.
When their parents were halfway across the room, Katie tapped her on the shoulder. “You don’t seem surprised that Wyatt’s here,” she whispered. “Did you know he was coming back to Sapphire Bay?”
“He called me last week. He wanted to make sure we were still having the opening of the Bed and Breakfast today.”
“And you didn’t say anything?”
“He asked me not to.” Diana looked around the kitchen. Apart from the sheet of cookies, everything was clean and tidy. “I can’t wait to welcome our first guests.”
“They’ll be here soon enough. In the meantime, we have lots of excited people waiting for us to officially open The Lakeside Inn. Let’s go.”
With no other option, Diana straightened her shoulders and followed Katie.
Today was about new beginnings, new opportunities, and living a happy life.
Ethan looked at the crowd of people waiting outside The Lakeside Inn for its grand opening. Mabel had kept everyone up to date with the remodeling that was going on inside, but it was the discovery of a letter potentially written by Abraham Lincoln that had caused the most excitement.
The Lakeside Inn Page 19