Her parents had insisted on installing a fence in the backyard so the girls could play outside.Although Sarah wanted them to feel free, she understood the danger of the nearby river.
Sarah had talked to her counselor about this very issue.She had to be wise and practical, but she knew she couldn’t become overly protective of the girls because she hadn’t been able to help her husband deal with the depression he’d struggled with for so long.
The doorbell rang, and Sarah hurried to answer it.Living in the same group of cabins as two of her friends gave her easy opportunities to spend time with them.
She opened the door to find Misty Owens standing next to Hazel Belmont.They both taught at the local elementary school.Though she’d known Misty for years, Hazel was new to her.Originally from a town outside New Orleans, her soft, southern accent was charming.
“Come on in.I’ve put the kettle on for tea, unless you'd like something stronger.I have a nice rosé, which my mother discovered a couple of months ago.”
“Wine sounds perfect,” said Misty.
“Yeah, it’s been a tough day,” Hazel said.“I thought I’d love teaching, but it’s much harder than I’d thought.”
“It’s exhausting, but I love it,” said Misty.Whereas Crystal was a pretty, pale blonde, her sister, Misty, had dark hair and olive skin.Crystal had watched over Misty from a young age when their own addicted mother couldn’t.Misty had left town and then returned after an abusive relationship.Now, she was happily in love with David Graham, who owned Graham Landscaping in town with his father.
Hazel was athletic and active, but she couldn’t shake the southern belle impression with her slow, sugary speech, long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, and her pants and frilly blouse molding to her long-legged, model’s body.
The girls rushed over to greet them.
Tired or not, both women greeted them warmly, asking questions about their day.
Once the three adults were sitting in the kitchen, they relaxed with a glass of wine.
“Are you going to the party on Saturday?”Misty asked Sarah.
“Yes.My mother is taking the girls for me, so I can come and go as I wish.”
“It’s nice to start the fall off with a get-together,” said Hazel.
“There’s no better place to do that than at the Lilac Lake Cottage.It used to be in terrible shape, but the three Gilford sisters have turned it into a stunning place,” said Misty.
“I remember the Gilford girls when they were little.They spent every summer here so they could be here with their grandmother,” said Sarah.
“Their grandmother owned the Lilac Lake Inn for years and recently sold it to an investment group, including Ross Roberts,” Misty explained to Hazel.“The three Gilford women inherited the cottage with the agreement to fix it up and to occupy it for at least six months of the year.That’s why Taylor stays there for as long as she can.Not a bad rule to have to follow,”
“I heard Taylor will be staying a few weeks while she’s working on a new book,” said Sarah.“Her husband, Cooper, will come from New York City as often as possible.But it gives us women a better chance of getting together with her if she’s here alone.”
“It’s so cool to think we have an author in our midst,” Hazel said.
“We have an interesting group of people our age in town,” Misty added.
“By the way, I saw Aaron Collister this morning from across the street,” said Sarah.
“The last time we were all at Jake’s together, I tried to get him interested in me,” admitted Hazel.“He’s such a sweet man.”
“But?’asked Sarah.
“He was very polite but not interested,” said Hazel.“I hope some new people come to town because most of the decent single men are taken.”
“I thought you and Mike Dawson were interested in one another,” said Misty.Mike Dawson was a respected tennis player who’d opened the new Sports Center in town with Ross Roberts, the well-known former professional baseball player, who was also part-owner of the Lilac Lake Inn.
Hazel shook her head.“He’s got someone in Florida who works at his tennis camp.”
“Something will work out,” said Sarah.She’d never admit it to anyone, but she was glad Aaron didn’t fall for Hazel.Though nothing would come of it, she still liked how close she felt to him.But maybe that was being selfish on her part.And, heaven knew, he deserved someone much better.
After sitting and chatting for a while, Hazel said, “Anybody going to Jake’s for supper?I want to see if Gabe is working.He’s someone I could go for.”
“I’m not going,” said Misty.“I have to correct some test papers for my students.But, Sarah, if you want to go, I can correct the papers here and watch the girls for you.Now that my precious Sugar has died, I don’t have to get home to take care of a dog anymore.”Her eyes filled.
