“Margot’s been great company,” I agree, which earns me another smile from her. “The house is quiet, and the lake is huge. Everything I wanted in a nice property.”
“Well, I really am embarrassed about the whole mix-up. When they put me in charge, I thought it would be better to have people there—families—rather than let the old place sit around going to ruin. Even if we barely had any takers before you arrived.”
“You were right,” Margot says warmly.
I nod. “The kids love it.”
“There’s alake!” Dan agrees, like nothing else matters.
“It’s awesome at night. Best stars ever!” Sophie chimes in.
Edith beams at them both.
“I’m so glad you like the place, sweetie.”
Margot throws a glance at me, like she can’t quite believe Edith Griffith is real.
No one’sthisnice. Except for the folks of Sully Bay.
Still, she must’ve been around for a while, especially if Leonidas trusted her with helping manage his property. She could know something more about the history around here.
“It’s a relaxing place, Mrs. Griffith. Hard to leave.” I plaster on a smile.
“Edith,” she reminds me, and beckons us back to her stall, where she’s selling what looks like handmade soaps. “You must call me Edith. And please take some on the house. I insist, my apology for the messy situation.”
Margot’s fingers brush mine as we both reach out to collect a handful of soaps that smell like strong lavender.
“Actually, it’s great that it worked out this way,” I continue. “The kids and I have good company who gives us pointers with the locals. Not sure we’d have gotten off the lake nearly as much without Margot around.”
They both smile until it feels like I’m bathed in sunlight.
“Plus, the blueberry farm next door’s great.” I give Margot a pointed look she finally picks up on. Her eyes widen. “The Babins deserve a medal for hospitality. How many muffins did you make, Margot?”
“Oh, yes, they came over right away to introduce themselves and gave us a year’s supply of fresh blueberries,” she says. “Such lovely neighbors. I’m kind of amazed Gramps never mentioned them.”
The second Edith’s face darkens, I know we’ve hit something.
Sophie and Dan both walk off to be with the horses.
Good. It helps that they aren’t around to feel the change in the air.
“Oh, my, the Babins…” The sweet old lady practically grinds their name with her teeth. “I’m surprised they showed their faces after the way they carried on when old Leo owned the place.”
Margot frowns and looks at me. Clearly this is news.
“What did they do?”
“Oh, some silly grudge over the land. Only, it stopped being so silly after—and this was years ago—after they started up with their demands. Old Joe’s father even sued Leonidas one winter on faulty claims.” She shakes her head slowly, still lost in the past. “But they were laughed out of court. Humiliated, in fact.”
“They sued PopPop?” Margot looks stunned.
“I’m afraid so, dear. Oh, and that’s not all… there was that fire the summer after, before you were born. Torched the old gazebo he’d built and your grams’ pretty garden. A real miracle it never reached the house.” She sucks in a sharp breath through her teeth. “No proof what happened, of course, but I always had a suspicion who was behind it.”
Shit.
My heart drums.
“Fire? Jesus, I never—” Margot clears her throat, rubbing her fingers idly over her collarbone like she’s soothing away a bee sting. “He never mentioned any of this.”
