The Summer Cottage: Includes a bonus story

by Annie Rains

  Jake looked forward again. The last thing he wanted was to lose control of his plane. “I’m guessing you didn’t know we were going to have liftoff, huh?” He patted the passenger seat where Bailey was. “Want to come up here so I don’t have to keep looking back? It’s safer if I look forward when operating this thing.”

  Jake heard the little boy shift around as he moved to the front of the plane. “That’s better, huh?” He glanced over at the boy’s wide-eyed expression. Jake didn’t think it was terror so much as excitement.

  “What’s your name?” Jake asked.

  “Petey. I don’t think my mom is going to like this,” the boy said shakily.

  Jake suspected that was true. That’s why he was circling around and heading straight back to the dock. He couldn’t get around telling Trisha that this had happened, but it wasn’t his fault. He never would have willingly given a ride to a minor without parental permission. Or without the parent coming along.

  “Don’t worry. We’re going back,” he told Petey. “You’ll be on land before she even knows you’re missing. But we still need to tell her. You can’t go hiding in strange places. That can get you into all kinds of trouble.”

  Petey leaned forward, watching the land below them. His breathing seemed to even out, and a small smile curled at the corners of his mouth. “This is so cool!” He petted Bailey’s head as they shared the passenger seat. “I’ve never been up in a plane before.”

  “Never? Well, this is a different kind of plane than you’re probably used to seeing. This is what’s called an amphibious seaplane. It can land on water or on the ground.”

  “Amphib-ous like a frog?”

  Jake glanced over and chuckled. “That’s right. Smart boy.”

  “You should just call this a frog plane,” Petey suggested. “That would be easier to say.”

  “That’s not a bad suggestion. I’ll think about it.” Jake glanced over at the awestruck expression on Petey’s face. The boy was loving this. It would only take a few minutes more to fly once around the lake. “Want a tour of Somerset Lake?”

  Petey’s mouth dropped open. “I thought you said we had to go straight back.”

  “And we are. We’re just taking the long way,” Jake told him.

  Wrong, wrong, definitely wrong.

  But the grin on the kid’s face was 100 percent right. Jake remembered being a kid flying with Gramps. It was the stuff that good memories were made of.

  “Awesome!” Petey exclaimed, placing a hand on the passenger window.

  Jake searched for something interesting below to show the boy. “Let’s see.” He pointed out the front window. “Those are the Somerset Cottages. Have you counted them yet?”

  “Twelve,” Petey supplied. “We live in the first one because Mom says that Vi’s house doesn’t count. Vi lives in a mansion.”

  “It is pretty big, especially next to the cottages.” From this distance, the cottages didn’t look old and run-down. They looked scenic against the ever-blue water, each one a different color. Jake was reminded of looking down at the cottages when his grandfather used to take him up in his plane. There’d always been pride evident in Gramps’s voice as he pointed and named each of them.

  Juniper Cottage. Peony. Laurel. Tea Rose. Ivy. Orange Blossom. They were all named after some sort of flower or plant, except for the last one. “That’s Bear Cottage, where Mr. Santorini lives.”

  “Mr. S,” Petey said.

  “That’s right. When I was around your age, there was a story of a black bear from the woods getting inside the cottage and making himself at home. It was kind of like ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears.’”

  “That’s why it’s called Bear Cottage instead of some sort of flower?” Petey asked.

  “Yep.” Jake wasn’t sure what the cottage was named before, but after that day, it became known as Bear Cottage.

  A wave of sentimentality crashed over him as they passed his family’s rental properties and skimmed over the small copse of hickory and sassafras trees beyond. He kept his altitude somewhere between twelve and fifteen thousand feet as they flew over other lakeside houses, acres of lake water, rivers, and small canals.

  Jake didn’t venture past the actual lake. The town of Somerset Lake was a sight to behold, but he didn’t want to upset Petey’s mom by keeping the boy MIA for too long.

  “There’s a pink house!” Petey pointed as they flew over the other side of the lake. The Village was a prestigious neighborhood in Somerset. “That’s Lucy’s house!”

  Jake glanced over. “You know Lucy?”

  “She came over to introduce herself this morning. She said my mom had the best view on the lake, but she was looking at you when she said it.”

  Jake glanced over. “Did she now?” He chuckled as he slowly started descending and prepared to land back on the lake. “Where did you live before Somerset Lake?” he asked, hoping to find out more about Petey and his mother.

  Petey hesitated for a moment. “In Sweetwater Springs. But you probably shouldn’t ask me any more questions.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you’re a stranger. Mom says I really shouldn’t talk with strangers.”

  “How else are we supposed to become friends if I can’t ask you questions?” Jake asked.

  Petey draped an arm around Bailey, giving her a gentle hug. “I don’t know, but my mom won’t like it if I air our dirty laundry.”

  Jake laughed unexpectedly. “Her exact words?”

  “Yep.” Petey continued to pet Bailey.

  “Well then, we’ll just talk about other things. Like fishing. Do you know how to fish?”

  “Not really.”

  Jake wondered where the boy’s father was. The fact that Petey didn’t know how to cast a line was evidence, in and of itself, that he didn’t have a father in his life. Jake’s father and grandfather had taken him fishing from the time he could walk.

  “Well, maybe I’ll teach you while I’m here.” Assuming Petey’s mom ever let Jake near the boy again once they landed.

  Chapter Three

  Where is Petey?

  Trisha had looked everywhere. She’d told him not to run off, and he was usually pretty good about listening. For the most part, Petey was an obedient child. He rarely misbehaved on purpose.

  The thing that usually got him in the most trouble was his inquisitive nature. Petey asked a lot of questions, and there were a dozen unasked questions in his little mind for every one he did ask.

  “He’s around here somewhere,” Vi said from where she was standing in front of the stove, stirring something. The aroma wafted in the air, but Trisha couldn’t begin to appreciate it because she was so worried. “Did you check with the neighbors?” Vi asked.

  “I did.” Only four of the Somerset Cottages were rented, and she’d checked with all the residents. “Petey wouldn’t have ventured beyond the Somerset Rentals. He knows that’s against the rules.”

  “You said he met Lucy from The Village this morning. It’s quite a ways down the lake, but possible. You’re sure he wouldn’t have gone to see her?”

  “I’m sure.” Trisha nervously fidgeted with the silver bracelet on her wrist. Her best friend had given it to her before Trisha had moved. The turtle charm signified home.

  “Turtles never leave home because they carry their homes with them wherever they go,” she’d told Trisha. “As long as you have Petey, and he has you, you’ll always be home.”

  Trisha didn’t have Petey right now though, and that was the problem. “What about beyond Bear Cottage? In the woods. Is there anything back there?”

  Vi glanced at her. “Well, there’s a path back there, but I don’t think Petey would have gone that way. The woods are a scary place when you’re alone.”

  Trisha suspected Vi was right. Petey never would have stepped into the woods without an adult. “What if he fell into the water?”

  “You said he was a good swimmer.” Vi stopped stirring and turned to face Trisha. Wh
y was she so calm right now? Petey was missing. He could be hurt. Someone could have kidnapped him.

  “He is a good swimmer. But he could’ve hit his head and fallen in.”

  Vi stepped away from the stove, moving slowly. Unevenly. When she reached Trisha, she put a hand on her shoulder. She had to lift her arm because Vi was a good five inches shorter. “You’re on lake time now, which means things move at a slower pace around here. The worst-case scenario is rarely the truth.” She lowered her hand and headed to the lakeside window. “Did you check with Jake?”

  Trisha shook her head as Vi turned to look at her. “He wasn’t at Peony Cottage when I knocked. But I can’t imagine Petey would be with him. He barely knows Jake, and he knows not to talk to strangers.”

  “Jake isn’t a stranger; he’s my grandson,” Vi said. “And he’s a lawyer. As such, he is one for details and facts. He makes it his business to know everyone and everything that goes on around him. Your son reminds me of him a lot in that regard.”

  Trisha folded her arms over her chest. “What responsible adult would take a kid from his home without asking a parent?”

  Vi frowned as she looked at her.

  Trisha shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m just worried about Petey.”

  Vi looked out the window again. “Hmm. Jake’s seaplane is missing from the dock.”

  “Seaplane?” Trisha followed her gaze. “I haven’t seen a seaplane.”

  “He brought it over early this morning. When he’s here, he usually brings the plane with him. I always said his head was in the clouds, and his heart was there too. He must be flying.”

  “Well then, Petey definitely isn’t with him,” Trisha said. “He’s never flown, and he would check with me before doing anything like that.”

  Vi glanced over her shoulder. “You’re probably right.”

  “Should I call the sheriff?” Trisha really didn’t want to get on any law enforcement’s radar in Somerset Lake. She wasn’t a criminal, but her ex-husband was probably known by most officials in North Carolina. If they ran any kind of check on Trisha, they’d see that she was formerly Trisha Lewis. And then they’d see Peter’s crimes. And if word got out to the locals here, Trisha might find herself defending her innocence again. And Petey would have to do the same.

  A loud buzzing sound grew louder outside. Trisha turned to watch a seaplane descending and preparing to land on the water. The plane was white with a thick purple stripe along the side. There was cursive writing on the door that Trisha couldn’t quite read.

  “Let’s go out there and check with Jake anyway.” Vi didn’t wait for Trisha to respond. The older woman headed to the door and stepped onto her porch, waving at the plane as it skimmed the water.

  Trisha stepped onto the porch beside Vi, her gaze roaming the beach for any sign of Petey. She returned her gaze to the seaplane. It took several minutes for the plane to dock. Then Jake stepped out with his long legs and lean body.

  An unwanted attraction whirred inside Trisha. This was not the time for that, but her body and her mind never seemed to be on the same page anymore. Her breath caught as a smaller figure stepped out behind Jake along with a dog. “Petey!” Trisha hurried down Vi’s porch steps and sprinted toward the dock. “Petey!”

  When her son looked up and saw her, he started running in her direction, plowing into her stomach and wrapping his little arms around her waist, his hands fisting in the fabric of her long T-shirt. He hadn’t fallen and hit his head. He hadn’t gotten lost in the woods or been attacked by a wild animal beyond Bear Cottage. No, Petey was in the very last place that Trisha ever would have looked—the sky.

  Trisha snapped her gaze up to meet Jake’s, fury funneling inside her chest. “Who do you think you are taking my son up in a plane without asking me first? My answer would have been no by the way.” Heat flared red-hot in her body. She could feel it climbing through her chest, neck, and face as she continued to hold tightly to Petey.

  Jake held up a hand. “Now, hold on just a minute. I didn’t ‘take’ your son anywhere. Not on purpose at least.”

  Trisha furrowed her brow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “He stowed away with me. I had no idea he was in my plane when I took off half an hour ago. He was there without my permission.” Jake gestured at Petey. “I didn’t see him until I was twelve thousand feet in the air.”

  Trisha suddenly felt nauseous. Her son was twelve thousand feet in the air?

  Petey peeled away from Trisha’s body, and she saw now that he was crying. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to go on a plane. I was just playing. Vi said I could go anywhere in her yard, and the dock is part of her yard.” He sucked in a shallow breath as he cried harder. “Please don’t be mad at Jake. It’s not his fault.”

  Trisha lifted her gaze to the man in front of her. He was wearing dark sunglasses. She wished she had something covering her eyes right now too. Some say the eyes are the window to the soul, and right now she guessed there was a television screen of emotions visible for him to watch.

  She lowered her gaze back down to Petey. “You were in his plane without his permission?”

  “I didn’t know he was going to take off. Then he got in, and I was worried I would get in trouble so I hid. Then the plane started moving. I didn’t know what to do.”

  “As soon as I realized your boy was on board, I redirected my path back home.” Jake grimaced slightly. “In full disclosure, I did take the long way back so he could see the lake. He’s new to town, and I thought he’d enjoy it. Sorry ’bout that.”

  Trisha felt frazzled and frayed. She wasn’t sure if she was supposed to be upset with Petey or Jake, or just be happy that he was safe.

  Vi reached them now. “Petey was on your plane?”

  Jake gave a brief nod. “A stowaway.”

  Vi put her hands on her hips as she looked at Petey. “Well, did you see anything interesting up there in the clouds?”

  Petey blinked up at her, the tears on his cheeks drying quickly in the sun. “Yes,” he said almost shyly.

  Vi chuckled softly. “Wonderful. You can tell me all about it over lunch. I made farmer’s stew from my garden.”

  Trisha opened her mouth to protest. But Vi was her boss, and technically Petey was the one who’d done wrong. Trisha was wrong too. She looked at Jake, discomfort tightening her chest. “I’m sorry for yelling at you.”

  He lifted his sunglasses onto the crown of his head, revealing blue eyes the color of the lake behind him. There was no mistaking that he was a handsome man—and her mind and body agreed. “You can make it up to me by saying yes to my grandmother’s lunch. Farmer’s stew is my favorite, especially when she includes a side of cheese drop biscuits.”

  “They’re in the oven.” Vi turned back to the house as if the answer was already yes.

  Trisha guessed it was. She didn’t really see how she could possibly say no.

  * * *

  Grandma Vi’s farmer’s stew tasted like home.

  Jake’s spoon paused before reaching his mouth. He was surprised that he still thought of Somerset Lake as home. This was where he’d grown up, though, and these rental cottages along the lakeshore brought back memories—mostly good, but there were one or two weeds in the lot.

  Jake refocused on the bowl of colorful vegetables in front of him. He lifted his spoon to his lips and let the tangy taste of tomato, corn, beans, and spices hit his tongue. “So you moved here for the job?” he asked Trisha.

  Vi was the one who answered. “I placed an online ad, and Trisha interviewed for the position here. As soon as I met her, I just knew she was meant to work at the Somerset Cottages with me.”

  “I didn’t know you even knew how to turn on a computer, much less place an ad, Grandma.”

  Vi lifted her chin high, looking down her nose at him. “I should take offense to that. I’m old, but not too old to learn new tricks. Since your grandfather has been gone, I’ve taken up lots of new hobbies, including computers.
It keeps my mind young.” She reached for a cheese drop biscuit with her right arm. Her left side was still weak from last year’s stroke.

  “You didn’t want to hire someone locally?” Jake dipped his spoon into his stew. “No offense to you.” He looked at Trisha.

  The newcomer stiffened. “None taken,” she said, but he could tell by her posture that her defenses were up.

  Vi bit into her biscuit while catching the crumbs with a shaky hand. “Well, I interviewed Cristina Meadows,” she said after chewing and swallowing. “You remember her, right?”

  Jake nodded. He’d dated Cristina for about a month in high school when he’d been on a small break from his longtime girlfriend, Rachel. And Rachel had dated a guy named Miles Bruno during that brief time; Jake had never liked Miles again.

  “But when she toured the cottages, Cristina decided she wasn’t interested in the job after all,” Vi said. “I guess there’s a lot more work to be done than she’d expected.” Vi reached for her glass of sweet tea. Even though it was with her strong arm, her hand shook. Maybe it was just age.

  “So Trisha came to interview, and I couldn’t be happier that she did.” Vi beamed at her new employee.

  Jake tried to stay casual as he turned to Trisha. “So you just up and moved your entire life for this job?”

  Trisha shifted. If he wasn’t mistaken, her hands shook as well. “Um, well…We were looking for a change of scenery, and the town of Somerset Lake seemed like a wonderful place for a fresh start.”

  “Why would you need a fresh start?” Jake asked.

  “Jake,” Vi said sternly, “what are you doing?” She looked at Trisha. “I’m so sorry. As a lawyer, Jake thinks it’s his job to cross-examine everyone.”

  “I’m just asking a friendly question, Grandma. I’m trying to get to know my new neighbor.”

  Trisha looked at Petey for a moment. “Sweetwater Springs is our hometown,” she said. “I’m sure you understand the need to get away and experience a new place.”

  Jake grabbed the biscuit on his plate. “Perfectly. I left Somerset Lake when I was eighteen years old. I haven’t spent a summer here in over a decade.”