A hand thrust toward her. “Pleased to meet you, young lady. Welcome to Cherry Lake.” Warm eyes crinkled in pleasure as she met the vigorous handshake with as much effort as her hand would allow. His gray wispy hair sprouted from under a tweed cap. His face shone with glee as he shook her hand. A sense of warmth exuded from him and she immediately felt as though they’d get along well. He had that kind of face. Warm, inviting and friendly.
“It’s lovely to be here and very nice to meet you, Percy.”
“Percy owns the veterinary service just out of town. Big old building past the Grange surrounded by large trees down a cobbled driveway. Can’t miss it.”
That explained her immediate bonding to the elder man. “Oh that’s interesting to know. I have a little dog, Tiny.” Who was probably not happy with her right now.
“Heard that she’s a cute little thing. Make great companions, don’t they? If you ever need anything, feel free to call and see me.” He pulled a card from his jacket pocket and waved it in front of her. “After hours number is here too. Don’t be shy ringing after dark if you need me. Animals are like children, always get sick once the doctor goes home.”
“I’ll remember that, thank you.”
“Let me get you a drink, Dakota. What will you have?” Percy guided her toward the bar while his wife turned to talk to someone else who’d walked in. “So kind of you to want to get involved in the town. Young people these days don’t always want to waste their time, not that I blame them. Just the way it is. Too busy with their own lives.” He leaned on the bar.
“A white wine would be great, thanks. I decided when Mari convinced me to live here that I would do just that. In L.A. it’s rather hard to be a member of the community because it’s such a big city. I think the timing was right for my move.”
“And what do you do exactly?”
“I’m a jeweler. I have a workshop set up in the cottage and I’ll work from home as I’ve always done.”
“And such a pretty spot to do it too, overlooking Flathead Lake.” He passed her the glass of wine and lifted his own glass up. “Welcome to town.”
She tipped her glass at his. “Thank you so much. It’s a pleasure to be here.”
“Dakota. You made it.” Mari walked into the bar with a tray of clean glasses and slid them under the bar. “Have you seen Adam? We can’t really start without him. Thought he’d be here by now.”
“No. Sorry. Not since last night.”
Mari’s eyebrow rose in question.
She’d have to explain that one. “Let’s give him another half an hour and if he doesn’t show, we’ll start without him. We all know why we’re here.” Percy turned to speak to another person and left the girls alone. Dakota had to lean over the bar to hear her sister over the chatter of everyone talking at once.
“So, what did you think of the Grange?” Mari wiped the top of the bar with a damp cloth.
“I love it. So much history in that building. I agree it’d be a real shame to see it deteriorate any more than it has already. The thing is, how much will it cost to repair?”
“No idea. Adam’s father was supposed to get quotes I believe. Not sure if that happened before he had his heart attack or not. But regardless, we’re going to need a fair bit of money to throw at it to make it useable again. Did you come up with any ideas?”
Oh had she! As soon as Adam had driven up to the Grange, her brain had gone into overdrive with ideas to bring in the money they’d need for the renovations. When she’d gone home again, Dakota had drawn up sheets. One headed ‘immediate’ with things they could do now, one headed ‘future’ better for when they had weather and ideas they could do on site. The list on both sides was impressive, even to her.
Bake sales, gala stalls, picnics, cherry harvest activities and the one she liked the best was the event she wanted to pitch to the town tonight. The event to kick-start the money raising with a huge bang and everyone could get involved. Nerves rippled over her skin. Would they like her idea or would they think she didn’t know what she was talking about? She was a stranger to them so it wasn’t a given that they would listen.
But first she had to have Mari on side. “Can we go out the back? I want to run something past you before I put it to the meeting tonight because it involves a lot of organizing from you as well.”
“Sure.” A small frown wrinkled Mari’s brow but she lifted the end of the bar for Dakota to pass through and took her out the back to the office.
“Let me have it then.” Mari dropped down into a comfy leather chair and indicated her sister do the same in the one opposite her desk.
“Okay, this is what I want to do.”
Chapter Five
Dakota looked out over the crowd listening to every word she said. After getting Mari on her side, her idea sounded like the perfect way to raise money for the Grange’s renovations. Everyone would have a chance to be involved at some level. Now to see if they liked what she’d put together.
“I like the idea.” Arabella Ferris was the first to speak up when Dakota paused for a breath. “I like it a lot.”
“I second that.”
Dakota looked toward the back of the room and breathed a sigh of relief when Adam walked through the door, the way his smile lit up his face sent a flicker of desire through her body. Seriously Dakota?
“A Christmas tree auction and gala ball would be a good way to raise money and bring the town together.” He walked over and stopped next to her, his hand going to her arm, his touch burning through her sleeve. “Is your sister on board with holding this at the hotel? It’s a heck of a lot of work.”
“I am.” Mari stood up, faced the crowd. “Look, I know you don’t all know me that well. Some of you may remember me as a rebellious teenage that couldn’t wait to leave Cherry Lake. So, for your benefit, let me fill you in on what I’ve been doing since you last saw me and why I think I’m more than capable of hosting the ball and auction in the Lake Hotel.”
The room quietened as Mari gave a quick history of her wedding business in L.A. and her plans for her new home. When she was finished, she sat to a round of applause.
“I think you’ll do a wonderful job, Mari. I vote that we go with Dakota’s idea. Those that agree, give me a show of hands.” Every person in the room raised their hand and Adam smiled. “Guess that’s it then. You have a big job ahead of you, ladies.”
“We can do it.” Dakota breathed in to steady the sudden rush of nerves. “I’ll do up a proposal so everyone can see what is happening and when, give you a timeline we can all work with. There will be lots for everyone to do from deciding who gets the trees to decorate to who decides the menu for the night and the price of the tickets. Is it okay if we meet back here in a week to finalize the plan? We don’t have a lot of time on our side.”
A round of cheers went up.
“Looks like you’re a hit.” Adam smiled at her but Dakota could see shadows in the back of his eyes.
“Certainly does. Can I buy you a drink, Adam?”
He shook his head. “Thanks but no. I need to go and catch up with my mother. We have things to discuss regarding my father and the family business but I’ll see you around town, okay?” He touched her elbow, then left.
“What’s wrong with him? He’s usually so outgoing and happy.” Mari was behind her and they both watched Adam push his way out the front door, refusing to be waylaid by willing customers.
“I wish I knew. He seems like a different person to the one I had dinner with last night.”
*
“Why didn’t you tell me, Mom?”
She sat with her head down, not looking at him. “I didn’t know what to say. I thought it would be better coming from Dr. Hope. He could at least answer all of your questions, make arrangements for you to be tested. I’m still shocked by it all and how close your father came to dying.”
“Have you called Ross? He needs to know too and get tested.” Adam slunk lower in the chair beside her. It wasn’t his mo
ther’s fault and he could see her reasoning. Still it would have been nice for her to say something. He didn’t like being blindsided by the doctor.
“The doctor’s the one who delivered the news to both of you. He’s arranging tests for Ross as well but he thought since you have team doctors that take care of everything else, you’d probably want to go back to Seattle and get it done there.” She put a hand on his shoulder and then pulled him close for a hug. “Adam, your father is so sorry he’s done this to his sons. I think that’s what’s making him so depressed. Not only his own illness, but the fact he may have passed it on to you boys.”
“Luck of the draw. I understand that. It’s not anyone’s fault. Last thing I want is for Dad to blame himself.” It looked as though the option to withdraw from soccer before he was forced to may be taken from him. Dying for the sake of the game wasn’t an option. “I’m going to go to Seattle to have the tests done. It makes sense. Our doctors have the best equipment with specialists on standby too if we need them.” His mind churned with scenarios of what may or may not happen when he got the results. “I think it would be best as team headquarters is there. If there’s any possibility of me having to give up my career, I need to speak to management, work out my future. They have to know what I’m up against. It’s only fair.”
“You’re right. When will you go?”
“Dr. Hope is emailing the team doctor tomorrow morning. I’ll do a follow up call and make arrangements.”
“I wish I could wave my magic wand and wish it all away for you. These last few weeks have been the worst in my life. I don’t want that kind of anguish for you boys.”
“I know, Mom. There’s nothing you can do so please stop worrying. What will be will be and we’ll get through it, I promise.”
“This is not the way I wanted you to retire, Adam. Your dad and I wanted you to go out on top though, not because of a career ending injury or illness.” She reached for his hand, squeezed it in hers. “It will be nice to have you at the house more often though.”
“Don’t get too excited yet, Mom. I don’t know if I’m going to retire if I don’t have to. And I love living in Seattle.”
She looked at the ornament hanging in the kitchen window, its copper wires flickering with shots of gold under the lights. “Have you stopped to think of what might happen if you were here long enough to meet the right person?”
Adam watched the lights trace rainbows over the kitchen ceiling, the image of Dakota in his arms dancing to the music in their heads, wavering through his mind. He smiled, unable to ignore the tug of yearning in his chest.
Adam heard from the team doctor the following day. “Adam, I’m so sorry. When can you get here? We can test you straight away.”
“I have a few things to deal with. Can I call you back?”
“Of course. Don’t leave it too long. I don’t think we have anything to worry about as the health checks you guys get are pretty intensive but it won’t hurt to double-check everything. Give us both peace of mind.”
Chapter Six
Every day he thought about calling the doctor back and making the appointment, Adam found an excuse not to pick up the phone. Showing houses and businesses for sale, wondering if it would be better to convince his father to sell the real estate office seemed to take more of his time than it should have. The idea of losing his father was too much to deal with. So was the thought of having the same disease. It would change everything. He didn’t want to face it.
There were days where he wanted to open his heart to Dakota but was scared to in case she gave him the sympathy he couldn’t stand. His life was on hold and he hated every single minute but felt paralyzed to deal with it. Easier to spend time with her pretending there was nothing lurking in the background than finding out the horrible truth.
To keep himself occupied, Adam decided to throw himself into the preparations for the upcoming gala and Christmas tree auction. Chances were he’d be home and able to attend, not that he would have chosen to miss it anyway. And every chance he got, he managed to see her. Casually running through town instead of sticking to the paths near his house because he knew she strolled every day by the lake and ended up in town. He even managed to take her out for a ‘casual dinner’ that week. Seeing the blush on her cheeks when he picked her up that night, he realized how much he was enjoying himself with her for company.
“This is getting to be a habit, Adam. Being friends with you is going to come back and bite me when you leave. I won’t know what to do with myself.”
“Let’s cross that bridge when we get to it. By then, if I leave, you’ll know just about everyone in town. Now, let me take you to this little restaurant overlooking the water. You’re going to get the best Flathead Lake trout you’ve ever tasted.” He tucked her arm under his and walked her out to the car, ignoring the plaintive look Tiny gave them through the window.
The following week, he attended the follow up at the Lake Hotel to see what Dakota had managed to organize. She handed out sheets of paper with her ideas written down for everyone to follow.
*
“Right, first off, let’s talk about the trees. I think we should cap it at six trees and have a ballot to see who gets them. That way I feel we’ll be able to auction them off for more money. I also propose a cost for each tree to begin with which will kick-start the fund. What do you think?”
“Great idea.” Adam stood up. “Any idea on how much we should charge?”
“I was hoping someone would have an idea. I’m open to suggestions.”
Dollar amounts were shouted out and it came down to a vote. Once that was sorted out, they talked through the planning of the tree decorations and where Mari wanted to put them, the timeframe each contestant would be allowed. They had to make a set of rules that would be fair to everyone and Dakota had researched what other organizations were doing and made a list.
“I was thinking of using the small ballroom for the trees. It’s not been renovated yet but for what you want, Dakota, that doesn’t matter. It has a high ceiling and plenty of space to section off for each tree so contestants can have privacy while they’re decorating. I want to use the great ballroom for the gala because I can open the doors in-between which will look fantastic at night. I think it will be quite spectacular when it’s all decorated and I want to make it as festive as we can. We can even put lights outside in the back courtyard if you think we need the room for dancing too. It’ll be cold out but that’s not a problem.”
“Sounds like you have it all under control, ladies.” Arabella gave them a winning smile. “When are you going to do the ballot for the trees, Dakota? I have a mind to put my name in for one myself.”
Percy groaned. “You already have enough on your plate, Arabella. Let the young ones do them and be content to watch. You can always bid on one when it’s done. Save us both a whole heck of trouble if you ask me.”
She pursed her lips and nodded her head. “I suppose you talk sense for an old man. I’d rather spend your money than have you climbing up a ladder helping me decorate anyways. Much more fun in my mind.”
Dakota laughed, glad everyone was keen. “Okay, I have entry forms printed. We can leave them here and at a couple of shops in town. Adam, can we leave some on your front desk?”
“Sure.”
“Great. I think cut off for submissions should be fourteen days from tomorrow. We don’t have a lot of time to play with. It’s going to be hectic getting everything organized but I know we can manage. Another thing while we have everyone’s attention. We need someone to do the auction and be MC on the night. Any ideas?”
“Clover White’s the mayor. Get her to do it. I’ll ask her if you like.”
“Good idea, Adam.” Percy nodded his approval.
Dakota made a note. “Fabulous. What do you say everyone, fourteen days for tree allocation forms to be in?”
“Sounds good to me.” Rachel Smyth who owned the gift shop, agreed. “Give me some too, Dakota. I’ll put som
e in my shop. I might even apply myself.”
“That’s great, thanks Rach and I promise I will get to you regarding putting my work in your shop.” She handed over a pile of printed forms.
“Sooner the better for me. I’m starting to unpack my new Christmas stock and I want to be able to give yours the space it deserves. Adam sung your praises before he brought you over to meet me yesterday and I know he has good taste. Looking forward to getting a look at your work.”
“That’s very sweet of you.”
“Maybe but for me it’s also about making wise business decisions. Don’t leave it too long, okay?”
Rachel sat back down and Dakota focused on the meeting. “Mari, did you want to go over what you’ve got planned for the gala night?”
Mari stood up, a folder in her hands and started talking. “We don’t have much time to pull this together as Dakota said but I can assure, I’m up to the task. I’ve organized huge weddings with much shorter notice so you don’t have to worry whether I have the ability to deliver. The bonus here for me is I only have to deal with you lovely people. No bridezilla in sight.” That comment brought a bout of chuckles as was her intention. She went on to present her vision of the gala night including an itemized menu and costings while Dakota took a seat close to Adam, leaning in toward him when he smiled at her. “You did well. I’m impressed with how much you’ve managed to put together in such a short time.”
“It’s been hectic but I love it.”
Chapter Seven
Dakota had her head bent over her workbench, a soldering iron in her hand when the knock at the front door startled her. She wasn’t expecting anyone and hadn’t heard a car drive up either, as focused as she was on the decoration on her heat mat. Tiny ran out into the lounge room and started barking excitedly. Adam stood at the door. Her heart pattered wildly in her chest. She’d been thinking about him and here he was. It made her giddy.
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