The peaceful backdrop of Flathead Lake, Montana only added to her initial fears. A bird skimmed over the water, a dog ran along the lake’s frozen shore with a huge stick in its mouth, dragging it through the icy sand. Where had all the bustle of traffic and people rushing past gone? This calm made her feel itchy and ready to implode. Had she really agreed to commit to this place for the next six months? Where was the sound of the city that soothed her? The constant rush of bodies around her that made her blood flow, made her feel alive?
“What possessed you to make such a ridiculous offer to your sister? Your big ego, that’s what! You can’t let a chance go by to prove how good you are, how well you can cope. Maybe this time, you’ve taken on more than you should have, Bella Moore. Serves you right if you don’t last the week.”
“Always talking to yourself like that?”
Bella jumped, spun around to the voice. The teen from last night sat on his bike outside her white picket fence, staring at her over the manicured lavender bushes. She gulped down a breath and tried to steady the sudden rush of fright. The place was far too quiet for her liking.
“You scared me half to death!”
He threw his bike down and grinned. “Sorry. Granddad asked me to come down and see if you needed anything. Make sure you found the coffee and the stuff he left for you in the refrigerator.”
“Oh, he did? That’s very sweet. Thank you.”
“Dad said you’re going to be running the restaurant now that Penny’s left.”
Bella frowned. She’d proffered her services, and now there was no getting out of it. After seeing the joyous look on Mari’s face when Bella made the offer, how could she back out now without causing her sister more stress? She’d had enough over the last couple of years losing her husband and making the move to try and reconnect with her foster family. Bella didn’t need to change her mind and let her down. “Yes, I did. At least for now anyway. Mari might decide to close it down and renovate before I head back to the city. Who knows?” A seaplane droned overhead and she watched as it turned around, skimmed over the still water and landed, sending ripples across the surface.
“Cool. Thank goodness for that. I was kinda worried there for a minute but looks like you’ve saved us. Sunday is our only night eating out and it’d be painful to miss out.”
“Saved you? Painful? I don’t understand.” She walked closer and leaned on the gate, watching the puff of icy breath each time he spoke, intrigued as the grin spread on his face.
His hair was a little long around the ears and hung in his eyes but he tossed it back with a practiced flick of his chin, the grin still firmly in place despite the chill in the air.
“Dad.” He rolled his eyes as if he was sharing a secret code for parenthood blunders, one he fully expected her to understand.
At least that was what she thought he was doing; she could well be wrong, considering her lack of teenage knowledge.
“He was at dinner last night when you came in. Tall guy, quiet, looks a bit like me but not as good-looking. See, Sunday night is our thing as a family ever since Mari bought the hotel. We eat there just so we get something different from steak. It’s all Dad knows how to cook, you know? Gets kinda boring after a while.”
“Really? At least he tries, I guess. Your mom doesn’t like to be in the kitchen, I gather?” This kid was cute and easy to talk to. Probably frightfully honest too by the sound of it.
“She died when I was eight. Dad and I moved in with Granddad so I wouldn’t be alone when Dad was at work. Like after school and stuff.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Nah, it’s alright. Not like we tell everyone we meet. Anyway, now that you’re taking over the restaurant, we won’t have to suffer steak on Sunday nights as well as every other night. Works for us. And Dad’s idea of dessert is a tub of ice cream with a couple of Oreo cookies. At least Penny tried different stuff like last night. That was the best dessert she’s ever made and I really liked it.” He tilted his head, gave her a squinty look. “You do desserts, right?”
“Of course.” Bella smiled. “Glad to be of service.” She held out her hand. “My name is Bella.”
The teen reached over, grabbed hers and gave it a quick shake.
“Cory Woods. My dad’s Jake and you already met Granddad.”
Jake. The guy with the brooding good looks from last night that hardly spoke a word when they were introduced. She remembered him more for his silence than anything else, mainly because his father was so outgoing. “Yes, Mari introduced us but we didn’t really get to talk.”
“Nobody does with Granddad around.”
“Well, tell your granddad thank you. I’ll have a coffee and then get to the hotel. See you around, Cory.”
“Bye.” He climbed on his bike and pedaled down the road and skidded into a driveway a few hundred yards down.
*
Jake climbed into his truck just as Cory came hurtling into the driveway. The boy’s cheeks were flushed with the cold and a huge grin spread across his mouth. “What’s happening?”
“Nothing. Granddad asked me to check on the new lady and see if she needed anything.”
“Good. I’m sure it won’t take her long to find out where things are in town. I’m off for my shift. Don’t forget to clean your room up before you go to school.” He
