Bruce came back from his deliveries. It was perfect timing. She really needed to get away. “So, I’m going to take off, if that’s okay.”
“Sure, thanks for your help. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yes, I’ll be here.” She opened the door and left. Gwen had let her use one of their cars. She backed out and drove to the parking lot exit. Waiting for a couple cars to pass, she spotted MJ coming out of the grocery store with a bag in each arm. It wasn’t a far walk to the Blethen House, but still, she felt bad. He really was concerned about her after all and he had come all the way from England to talk to her. She pulled up beside him and beeped the horn. “Get in. I’ll drive you to the hotel.”
It was a short drive and didn’t take but five minutes. “Okay, you win. Take your groceries in and come back here. We’ll have the talk you came across the ocean to give me.” While he was in the hotel, a jeep pulled up beside her.
“Hi, Karen.” Elle looked at her funny then gestured to the hotel. “What are you doing here?” She frowned. “Oh, Karen. You’re not thinking of staying here.”
“No.”
“Good.” Elle tilted her head. “Then, why are you here?”
“I had a surprise visitor.”
Elle’s eyes widened. “Todd?”
Karen sighed. “No, a friend from England. Well, he’s not from England, but that’s where I met him.” Right then, MJ came up to the car. He thrust his hands in his pockets and waited. “Oh, sorry, Elle, this is MJ Moore. MJ, this is my best friend, Elle.”
MJ shifted his weight from one leg to the next. “Hey, Karen, we can talk later.”
Elle looked at him funny. “Oh, no, that’s okay. Uh, hey, why don’t you come out to the cabin? Grammie is making her famous stew, and we’d love to have you.”
He studied Karen’s surprised face. “No, that’s okay. Thanks, anyway.”
“No, it’s alright,” Karen said. “I’m on my way out there right now. Get in, and we’ll talk while I drive.”
“Great. I’ll see you guys out there.” Elle waved goodbye and drove off.
“Listen Karen, I didn’t come here to barge in on anyone. We can talk, and I’ll return to my room.”
She thought on that and couldn’t find any good reason why he shouldn’t come to dinner at the cabin. “No, I want you to meet Grammie Gwen and eat her delicious food. It’s better than whatever it is that you bought at the grocery store, I’m sure.”
He smirked. “Bologna, cheese, chips, and cookies.”
She laughed. “Right. Get in.” They pulled onto Main Street.
“This is a cute town.” MJ pointed at a church with a bell tower and large bell.
“Cute? By what standards?”
“I’m from LA, remember?” He grinned. “You are too, right?”
She nodded and then pointed to the stop sign in front of them. “Did you notice?” She turned to him and smirked.
“You mean the lack of traffic signals?”
“Yeah—what a rush, huh?”
“Especially compared to LA,” he said smugly. “It’s like going back in time here.”
“No kidding.” Cute did fit it. Cute, and small, and unimposing—a perfect New England town. “The lake is out this way. You’re going to love it.”
“Yeah, I’m sure I will.” They were silent for a few minutes, and then MJ spoke up. “Your friend seems nice.”
“Elle? Yep, she’s wicked nice.”
“Have you known her for a while?”
“Years . . . we’ve been best friends since third grade.”
“Oh?” he asked curiously.
“Elle’s family is from California, too. That’s where I met her. But her grandmother is from Maine—that’s the connection here.” She paused. “That, and her fiancé. He’s from here, too.”
“When are they getting married?”
“In late November.”
He glanced out the window. After a while, he spoke up. “I really like it here. It reminds me somewhat of England.”
“Are you going back to the UK?”
“Not right away. I’m going home to LA for a bit first.”
“Oh.” She pulled into the long driveway. “Maybe I’ll see you back there.”
“Really, why? I thought you were going to stay here.”
“I am, but Elle’s wedding is going to be in LA.” She pulled down the long driveway to the cabin. “Here we are. Come on in and meet the rest of the family.” Another vehicle pulled in behind them. “Oh, that’s Elle’s fiancé.”
He sat forward. “Sam.”
She looked at him curiously. “How did you know his name?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “You must have mentioned it before.”
“I guess.” She waved for Sam to come over. “Hey, I want you to meet a friend of mine.” Sam offered his hand, and MJ shook it. “This is MJ Moore. I know him from college.”
Sam seemed preoccupied. “Glad to meet you.” He glanced around them. “Where’s Elle?”
Karen shrugged. “Her jeep is here, so she must be inside.”
Sam held his finger to his lips. ““Shh! I have another surprise for her—a major surprise.” He walked over to his car, opened the door, and then hoisted Sally onto his hip. Sound asleep, she fell against his shoulder. “She’s a week early.”
It was the first time Karen had seen Sally in person, though she had seen lots of pictures. “Oh, my heck. She is adorable.” She forgot all about MJ and followed Sam up the steps. Turning, she gestured for MJ to follow, though he seemed quite at ease standing in the driveway studying the house. It was odd, but maybe he was just uncomfortable meeting strangers. Right, she thought with a smirk—library boy—uncomfortable meeting people. She gestured for him to follow her into the house.
Sam snuck into the living room and laid the little girl on the couch. Grammie Gwen almost blew it with her Grammie-exuberance, but Sam shook his head. “Shh. It’s a surprise.” Gesturing for them to follow, he went into the kitchen. “She is going to love it.”
“Love what?” Elle said, coming up behind them.
“Me,” Sam said, with a grin.
“Silly,” she said, kissing him. She glanced over and saw MJ who had just entered the cabin. “Oh,
