He grinned at his usual argument, his smile fading when he remembered how annoyed Madeline had gotten over such things. She’d constantly been on him to act more mature, stop being an overgrown frat boy—which was ironic considering she’d always complained to him how distant and focused on their careers her other boyfriends had been. He supposed it was good their relationship had fizzled out, because looking back, it seemed that she wouldn’t have been happy no matter how he acted.
“Well, now I’m a town mayor,” he said, toasting no one with his pizza. “Doesn’t get any more mature than that.”
Mayor of a town that desperately needed him to stop reminiscing and get down to work. He brought his food and coffee to the small kitchen table where he’d left his laptop and lifted the lid. He’d made major progress in downloading the town’s layout to his drafting software; with the exception of some of the outlying homes, the buildings were more or less present. Now he just had to pull the details into the street view so that they’d look somewhat real on the animation.
The next time he looked up, the sun was glaring through the windows and into his eyes. He glanced at his watch and almost spilled his coffee on his laptop when he jumped out of his chair. Shoot. It was already after eight. He needed to get to the office if he was going to get anything done before he met Kendall.
Twenty minutes later, showered and dressed with his wet hair still dripping onto his collar—something he regretted the minute he stepped out into the cold—he was in his truck and on his way to his office. He raised a hand in greeting at the single car he passed on the way—Mrs. Marshall and her son—but otherwise the town was as deserted as ever.
Would it be so terrible to see some life and excitement around here? his conscience needled him.
No, it wouldn’t, but he would far prefer to see the life and excitement that came from a vibrant full-time community rather than the transient flatlanders who arrived along with their expensive Range Rovers and treated the full-time citizens of Jasper Lake like ignorant backwater townies. He might think he was being a little harsh but for the fact that the change was already underway in places like Idaho Springs and Steamboat Springs, and fully realized in Breckenridge and Keystone. Yes, they had vibrant economies and year-round crowds, but they were becoming clones of Vail and Aspen, their former character lost. He was not going to let that happen to Jasper Lake.
He parked in front of his office building, a renewed sense of purpose in his chest, and fumbled his laptop and travel coffee mug while he climbed out of his truck.
“Morning, Gabe.”
Gabe twisted to see Bruce McKay, owner of the snowmobile and boat rental, behind him and raised his coffee cup in salute. “Morning, Bruce. You still good to help with the bonfire this weekend?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. I’ve got my propane torch ready.”
“Maybe we leave the torch behind this time, eh? We can’t afford to burn down the park.” Gabe grinned at him, gave another friendly wave, and proceeded into the town hall building.
Linda was already at her desk when he entered, where she no doubt had been since 7 a.m., her earbuds in while she typed once again. She looked up when he entered and gave him a mischievous smile. “Late night?”
He looked at her quizzically.
“Someone saw you with Kendall Green coming back from the other side of the lake. Decided to show her Make-Out Point, did you?”
Geez. “It’s called Lookout Point, but yes. I thought she’d like to see the town from above. I’m supposed to be convincing her not to sell her property, remember?”
“Ooh, look who’s defensive.”
Gabe rolled his eyes. “Of course I’m defensive when you call it Make-Out Point.” Though knowing his motives for helping Kendall were neither 100 percent pure nor 100 percent related to the town’s well-being, he couldn’t protest too much. “I’m going to try to get a few things done and then I’m headed out for the afternoon.”
“Kendall?” Linda grinned.
“Yes, Kendall. I offered to help her go through her grandmother’s house. She’s finding it a little . . . difficult.”
Linda sobered. “Can you imagine being in her shoes? Finding out you had family the whole time you were in foster care? That’s terrible. She has to feel doubly abandoned.”
“I’m sure she does.” He paused. “You don’t know about any of this, do you? I mean, I knew Connie Green better than a lot of people, but she never let on what happened to her daughter or granddaughter, at least not to me.”
Linda shook her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know any more than you. I didn’t even hear any gossip about it.”
“Which is weird, right? Here, there’s gossip about everything. I can’t even eat sandwiches with Kendall without you asking me about it.”
“Maybe it was too painful for Connie to talk about? If there’s no information, there’s no gossip. Right?”
“I suppose so.” He shook his head. It wasn’t relevant to his task, but he still wished that he could offer some explanation to Kendall. Part of the small-town package was everyone knowing everyone else’s business, and it was unusual for there to be a huge blank surrounding one of their own. “Anyway, I’ll have my cell phone and laptop with me, so feel free to put through any important calls today. Hopefully this won’t take more than the rest of the week, and I’ll be back to my regular schedule on Monday.”
Gabe went to his office and set up his laptop, but he was too distracted to concentrate. It was weird that they didn’t have any more information on Carrie or Kendall; it was as if they had just dropped off the face of the planet. But the fact that Connie had left her home to Kendall meant she hadn’t dismissed her, even if she had merely been holding on to her last shred of hope.
Maybe they would get lucky and uncover something at the house that would give them some hints about what had actually happened . . . and why Kendall was the Jasper Lake daughter the town had forgotten.
Kendall’s half-formed plan to get out to the Lakeshore properties early the next day was thwarted by a late night and an exceptionally comfortable bed. When she awoke, sunlight was already streaming in through the crack between the curtains, the chirp of birds alerting her to the dawn of a new day. She threw the covers back, half-panicked, before she realized that she’d never texted Gabe her plans, so she technically wasn’t late for anything.
She took her time showering and doing her hair and getting dressed, not willing to admit that she took extra care with her appearance. She’d be lying to herself if she said last night hadn’t sparked a glimmer of personal interest in Gabe, but she’d also be lying if she said she had any idea what to do about it. All she knew was that the look he gave her, like he found her enchanting, was something she wouldn’t mind seeing again.
Not that it really mattered. She’d be done with this project in three days tops, and she already had the name and number of a moving company that was willing to come all the way to Jasper Lake to pack and ship the furniture she planned on removing from Connie Green’s home. There was no future for her here, and it would be best for them all if she managed to remember it.
Still, she fluffed her hair one last time before pulling her cap on, arranging the waves so they fell neatly over her shoulders, and checked her rear view in the full-length closet mirror to reassure herself that her butt did look as great in these jeans as the saleswoman had promised. She grinned at her own vanity. Before the day was done, she’d be covered in dust and dirt. The job didn’t exactly scream sexy.
Downstairs, she declined Mr. Brandt’s kind offer of breakfast but gladly accepted a pumpkin scone in a paper bag on her way out. Impulsively, she decided to leave her SUV at the B and B and instead walk the few blocks to town. By the time she stepped foot on the populated part of Main Street, her nose felt numb and her cheeks stung from the cold, but she couldn’t deny that she felt invigorated. When she pushed through the door of Main Street Mocha, the warmth of the interior was a delicious contrast to the chill outside
.
Delia looked up from the espresso machine at the ding of the front-door bell, and her face transformed into a smile. “Morning, Kendall!”
Wow. The coffee shop owner had remembered her name after one visit. Kendall returned the smile. “Good morning.”
“What are you having? Pumpkin pie latte again or do you want to try something new?”
Kendall scrutinized the board. “Mr. Brandt sent me with a pumpkin scone, so I’ll try something else. What do you recommend?”
“Cinnamon-vanilla chai,” Delia said confidently.
“I’ll take that then.”
“Great. If you give me your scone, I’ll warm it up for you.”
Kendall handed it over along with her credit card. Delia studied her curiously while she waited for the card to process. “I overheard your conversation with Burton yesterday.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Did you mean it? You’re not going to sell to him?”
Kendall didn’t remember saying anything of the sort, but the way information flew in this town, her conversation with Gabe could have easily gotten around. “I don’t know that I’ll have a choice, but it definitely wouldn’t be my first one. What’s the deal with him anyway?”
Delia grimaced as she returned Kendall’s credit card and twisted away to stick the scone in the oven. “Developer. Need I say more?”
“Not all development is bad,” Kendall said reflexively. “He’s from Denver?”
“Park City, Utah. And I know not all development is bad. It’s just that he wants to turn us into a clone of his other resorts to make a quick buck, even if it destroys what makes Jasper Lake unique.”
“So what does make it unique?”
Delia smoothly moved to the espresso machine and started steaming the milk for Kendall’s chai. “You going to be around this weekend for the Pumpkin Festival?”
“The what?”
“The Pumpkin Festival. Food, music, a big bonfire in the park. We do it every year, and it draws people from towns all around the area, even some people from Denver and Boulder.”
Now that she mentioned it, that was probably what had been on the banner Gabe was putting up when she arrived. She just hadn’t looked close enough to notice anything beyond the splash of orange. “I don’t know,” she said finally. “A lot depends on how the next couple of days go.”
Delia finished making the chai and handed it over in a doubled-up paper cup. The oven beeped at the same time, and she pulled out Mr. Brandt’s scone and returned it to its paper bag. “Well, if you can, stay. You’ll see what I mean.”
“I’ll try.” She raised her cup in a salute of thanks and twisted away from the counter.
“Hey, Kendall?”
Kendall twisted back around.
“If you don’t have anything to do tomorrow night, we’re having a little girls’ night out. You think you might like to join us?”
Kendall blinked, startled by the offer. She’d met Delia exactly twice and she was inviting her to hang out with her friends? “Um. Maybe?”
Delia smiled brightly, like she’d agreed. “Great.” She grabbed a business card from the counter and scrawled something on the back. “That’s my cell number. Just text me when you know for sure, and I’ll give you all the details.”
“Okay. Thanks.” Kendall tucked the card in her pocket and scurried out of the coffee shop while she contemplated what had just happened.
Delia was probably angling for another opportunity to convince her not to sell to Burton. She shouldn’t read too much into things. Then again, she’d seemed to genuinely want Kendall to join her, and she certainly seemed like an interesting person. What would it hurt?
She filed that thought away for later consideration as she rejoined the sidewalk and ambled slowly down the street. Either it was warmer today or she was adjusting to the weather, because between the hot drink in her hand and her cold-weather gear, she was beginning to enjoy the bite of cold on her skin. It had been a shock, truly—a quick check of the weather back home said Pasadena was going to hit ninety-five today—but she could see why so many people retreated to the mountains. A summer resort would certainly be popular for those who were stuck in the sweltering temperatures down below for much of the summer.
She was so lost in thought that she didn’t even notice she was walking past the town hall until a familiar voice called her name. She turned to see Gabe waving to her from across the street, next to his huge truck.
“Hey!” She looked both ways unnecessarily—there were no cars in sight—before crossing over to him. “Good morning.”
“When I didn’t hear from you, I thought you’d gone over to Lakeshore.”
“Sorry, I forgot.” Kendall held up her cup. “I got distracted by Delia’s chai.”
“She blends that herself, you know. She takes special pride in her chai.”
“As well she should.” Kendall wrapped her hands around the paper cup and took another sip.
“So I was just going to head over there. You want a ride?”
She hesitated. All day with Gabe with no way to leave on her own? Then she realized that was stupid, because he would probably need to leave before she did. “Yeah. Sure. Thanks.”
Gabe unlocked the truck with his key fob, and she jumped in the passenger seat before he could open the door for her. He climbed into the driver’s seat and started it up with a roar. “Sleep well last night?”
“Like a rock. I know I said it before, but that bed is something else.”
“Don’t I know it. I keep threatening to steal one for my own house.” He cast her a quick look as he backed out of the parking spot and started down the street. “Are you ready for this?”
“Honestly? Not really. But I have a plan. Feel like being my design assistant for the day?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“I’ll take photos, but it would be helpful if you could take notes for me. It will save a lot of time.”
“What are you going to do with the personal items?” Gabe asked.
Kendall sobered. She’d been trying not to think of that. It was one thing to figure out what to do with furniture, another to dispense with clothes and memorabilia. “I think I’ll take out the things I want to ship back, and then anything that’s left over can go in an estate sale.” She paused. “I was thinking that maybe it could benefit the town. I’m sure you have some charities or an emergency fund that could use the money.”
“We do. But, Kendall, that’s all rightfully yours. The proceeds—”
“I don’t want it,” she said quickly. “All those things are from her life here. It’s only right that the money go back to the town.” And she didn’t want to have to see all that evidence of how life had gone on without her, how quickly she’d been forgotten. If she’d had a missing daughter and granddaughter, she would have moved heaven and earth to get them back. Not just given up on them when they disappeared because of some stupid teenage decisions.
“Okay, whatever you want. But maybe let’s see what’s there before you decide. You may change your mind.”
“I won’t.” Kendall took a deep breath and made her heart hard and her nerves steady. She could do this. The quicker she finished, the quicker she could get back home and start on something that actually did require her attention: the Woolridge House.
When they finally arrived at the Lakeshore homes, Gabe parked at the curb in front of Connie’s place, and she hopped out immediately. This time, she knew exactly what key belonged to the front door and stepped into a blast of cold. These old houses were solidly built, but judging from the temperature drop, they were drafty.
“I’ll fire up the heater,” Gabe said, glimpsing the propane equipment near the front entry. “Where do you want to start?”
“The parlor,” she said, heading left. She pulled out her phone and a notebook while Gabe got the heater started, and then handed the writing materials over to him. “Are you ready?”
“You don’t waste any
time.” He flipped open the notebook and uncapped the pen, poised to begin.
She repressed a smile at his earnestness. Most guys would be insulted to be asked to play her assistant, but Gabe was taking her completely seriously. She started with the first item that caught her eye and raised her phone to take several photos of the front, side, and inside. “Numbers 0054 through 0059. Mission oak cabinet.” She ran her hands along the interior to assess that everything was solid wood, then pulled out the drawer to inspect for dovetail joining. In the bottom of the drawer was exactly what she was looking for. “Limbert. Between 1902 and 1905.”
Gabe scribbled down everything she said, then looked at her quizzically. “How do you know the dates?”
She pointed to the mark burned into the drawer. “You see here how it says Grand Rapids? After 1906, it would have also said Holland. So we know it has to be somewhere in that five-year period. I have some old Charles Limbert catalogs at home, so if this was an advertised case piece, I might be able to narrow it down even further.”
“Is it valuable?”
Kendall smiled. “Quite. And it’s well-preserved too.”
They proceeded through the rest of the room that way, recording chairs, tables, even lamps, but bypassing an antique grandfather clock that needed so much restoration work it wasn’t worth the investment.
“You really know your stuff,” Gabe said. “How did you learn all this? Did you go to school?”
“Kind of.” Kendall got down on her hands and knees to look beneath another piece, searching for a maker’s mark. “I had some design training and I did a certificate program at Sotheby’s in London. But the rest has just been lots and lots of firsthand experience. Collecting and studying old catalogs and books. Making some very expensive mistakes.”
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