CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
A fter closing up the Café, Crystal hurried up to her apartment to shower and change for the barbeque. It seemed like a long time since she and her friends had hung out at the lake. She was anxious for Emmett to see how much fun it could be. While she was growing up, many summer days were spent at The Lilac Lake Inn with the Guilford girls and their circle of friends. Now that the women had taken over the cottage, it was even better.
Because it was a hot day, Crystal wore a pair of denim shorts, a yellow print halter top, and sandals. It felt great to be out of her workday attire of jeans and T-shirts with the Café logo.
Misty had gone ahead to the barbeque, so Crystal was alone when Emmett picked her up. His lingering gaze flashed his approval. “You look fantastic.”
“Thanks. You’re looking quite handsome yourself,” she replied, admiring the way his blue golf shirt showed off his muscles and brightened the color of his eyes.
He put his arms around her and lowered his lips to hers. “We could be late to the picnic,” he murmured rubbing her back.
Laughing, she pulled away. “No way. I’ve been looking forward to this all day. But after we leave there, we can go to your place ...”
“Okay,” he said, giving her a sexy grin as he squeezed her, “Then we won’t be rushed.”
“I know the way. Shall I drive?” she asked. “I won’t have anything alcoholic and will be the designated driver.”
“Perfect. I’d like a beer or two.”
Happy with their solution they headed to her car.
As they drove, Crystal filled him in on the history of the cottage. “Two years ago, Whitney, Dani, and Taylor’s grandmother, GG, gave the cottage to them with the understanding that the cottage would be renovated. That’s how Dani and Brad met. Dani designed the improvements to the cottage. But, in renovating the cottage, the three women had to resolve the story that the cottage was haunted. They were able to figure out who the ghost was, and she has since disappeared.”
“A ghost? Really? It sounds interesting,” said Emmett.
“Pretty scary, if you ask me,” Crystal retorted. “Anyway, the women own the cottage for as long as they live in it at least six months of the year. Otherwise, the owners of the Inn have the right to buy it.”
“That will keep everyone in the family connected to Lilac Lake. That’s a cool way of ensuring the family stays close.”
“Yes, I think GG had something like that in mind. Her family has owned the land on which the Inn sits for years. You now know Dani and Brad, Whitney and Nick. I don’t think you’ve had much of a chance to know Taylor or to meet her husband, Cooper, an editor with Pritchard Publishing in New York. You’ll like them. Taylor writes romances under the name Courtney Castle.”
“Seems like everyone in this small town is interesting,” said Emmett. “I’m glad more and more of your friends are opting to live here year-round. That makes it nice for everyone.”
“Yes, it was pretty lonely for a while when everyone was off to college and new jobs leaving just a few of us behind in town. I think that’s why Nick and I ended up together for a while. Now, he’s where he should be, with Whitney, and I’m free to be with you.”
Emmett glanced at her. “I hope so.”
“What do you mean?” Crystal asked, alarmed by his words.
“I just meant I hope you can be patient with my family. They’re pretty difficult.”
“Let’s just take it one day at a time. A dear friend suggested I simply wait to see how things unfold.”
He grinned. “Are you talking about me?”
“I needed some advice. That’s all,” she said. “I don’t want to make any mistakes.”
Emmett sobered. “Neither do I. Simply put, I don’t ever want to hurt you.”
Their conversation ended when she pulled into the driveway of the cottage and parked by other cars. Painted gray and attractively landscaped, the cottage that had seemed so forlorn now looked beautiful with its wide windows and open view of the lake.
Dani came to greet them.
Crystal got out of the car and handed a basket of cookies and cake to her. “It looks like a perfect evening for a barbeque picnic.”
“And with the slight breeze, the bugs aren’t a problem. Come on around to the front.”
Crystal and Emmett followed her to the sweeping lawn in front of the house. The grass met the shoreline. Sitting in the water was the mammoth rock where they’d sunbathed each summer. A group of ducks paddled about in the shallower water near the rock.
Inhaling the aroma of pine and the distinct smell of lake water, Crystal let out a contented sigh. She could already feel the tension of the day ease from her body. Being at the lake always did this for her.
A crowd was already standing around, drinking sodas and beer, and chatting in groups.
Crystal was pleased to see so many friends. She noticed Dirk. It wasn’t until he moved that she saw Diana. Before she could mention it to Emmett, Diana jogged toward them.
“Emmett, I’m glad you’re here. I know you were upset with your mother and me at the Inn last night, and I want to say I’m sorry. As your mother may have told you, I’ll be working with your father’s campaign and helping her. I already feel like part of the family.”
“I think you owe Crystal an apology too. It was supposed to be a dinner for my mother to get to know Crystal better.”
Diana bit her lip before turning to her. “I’m sorry, Crystal. Natalie asked me to accompany her. I didn’t understand.”
“Thank you,” Crystal said, unsure what to say next.
Diana smiled at Emmett, lifted herself onto her toes, and kissed Emmett on the cheek. “There. I don’t want anything to ruin our relationship.”
Emmett patted Diana awkwardly on the back before stepping away from her. “Okay, now that that’s out of the way, let me enjoy myself with Crystal.”
As they walked away, Crystal looked back and noticed how intensely Diana was studying them. An uneasy feeling entered her. Diana was interested in Emmett as more than a family member. And if Crystal wasn’t mistaken, she was being encouraged by Emmett’s mother.
She was jarred back to the moment when Taylor approached. “Crystal, I’m happy you came.” She turned to Emmett. “And you too, of course. I’m glad to see you here with Crystal.”
Certain Taylor was going to gush more about their being together, Crystal said, “Where’s Cooper?”
Taylor took her elbow. “Follow me.”
She led them to the far edge of the lawn where two men were in deep discussion.
“Cooper and Aaron are talking about a possible project, but we can interrupt them,” said Taylor.
Aaron turned as they approached. Tall, with black, straight hair, brown eyes, and tan skin, he had classic features. He smiled at her, and Crystal easily gave him a quick hug hello.
“I haven’t seen you in forever,” she said. “Where have you been hiding?”
“At The Meadows. While work is being done on Emmett’s house, I’ve taken over running most of the development.” He shook hands with Emmett.
“Cooper, darling,” said Taylor. “You’ve met the new doctor in town, Emmett Chambers. And you know Crystal.”
“Of course. Nice to see you again, Crystal.” He held out his hand to Emmett, and the two men shook. “I understand how happy Lilac Lake is to have you here. Are you enjoying the area?”
Emmett glanced at her and back to him. “Yes, I am. Everyone seems friendly, and I can practice medicine on a personal level I like.”
“I heard you’re the son of Senator Chamberlain. How is that working in a conservative state?” Cooper asked. Crystal realized that he wasn’t being rude, but was simply interested.
“I’ve maintained my independence for some time, so it isn’t an issue, especially with the name change. I’m sure you’ve experienced some of that same need working in the family publishing company.”
Behind his horn-rimmed glasses, Cooper’s blue eyes sparkled. “Touché. I like you, Emmett. I hope we can spend some time together. Do you enjoy fishing?”
“I haven’t tried it, but I’m sure I’ll like it. Just being on the water is soothing.” Emmett turned to Aaron. “How about you? Do you ever get a chance to relax?”
“Evenings often find me on the lake in my canoe. That’s when nature quiets for the night. A perfect time.”
Emmett grinned. “With my house on the river, I guess I need to get a canoe.”
“You’re welcome to use mine until you do,” said Aaron. “Are you interested in doing anything with maple sugaring? I’ll need help in the spring.”
“I haven’t done it, but it sounds like something I’d like to try,” said Emmett.
Pleased, Crystal listened to the exchange. As Emmett had mentioned, everyone in town was welcoming, and it felt so wonderful to be part of it.
Dani walked over to them. “We need some badminton players. C’mon, join us.”
“I will in a little bit. Right now, Emmett and I need something cool to drink.”
Taylor took her arm. “Let’s get some sodas and beers for our ... dates.”
Crystal laughed. “I wondered when that would come up.”
“Emmett’s adorable, and you two look perfect together,” Taylor said.
“Well, Diana is very interested in Emmett, and I believe his mother is encouraging her. So, we’ll have to see how it all plays out. Right now, Emmett and I are enjoying one another. But where it goes from here is unknown. Funny, I wanted a family for so long, and now, I find myself having to deal with one I don’t necessarily like.”
“Life is like that, isn’t it? It sometimes takes a sense of humor to understand all of it,” said Taylor. “It’s those kinds of quirks that I like to place in my books.”
“How is your next novel coming along?”
Taylor laughed. “Speaking of needing a sense of humor ...”
“I know you’ll make this time at the lake working on your novel succeed. You always do.”
“I hope so,” said Taylor as they approached Brad who was refilling a wheelbarrow with ice and canned drinks.
“Hey, Crystal, I didn’t see you arrive. What’ll you have?” asked Brad.
“A coke and a beer for Emmett.”
“Here you go,” he said, handing them to her. “What about you, Taylor?”
“I’ll just have a coke,” she said. “But I’d better take a beer for Cooper.”
Crystal and Taylor carried their drinks back to the three men talking together. Crystal handed a beer to Emmett and then asked Aaron if he wanted her drink.
“No thanks,” he said. “I need to talk to David about some landscaping at The Meadows.”
Crystal waited until the men appeared to be finished talking, then she nudged Emmett. “Come talk to David Graham. He and his father own Graham Landscaping, and he’s a nice guy.”
As they crossed the lawn, Crystal waved to Beth and Garth Beckman who’d brought their toddler daughter to the gathering. The mix of adults, children, and dogs was pleasing.
Mindy, Whitney’s black-and-tan dachshund, roamed the area nose to the ground, no doubt looking for snacks.
David was talking to Aaron and Diana. Crystal studied him. A tall, lanky man with sandy-colored hair and an easy smile on his handsome face, he’d always been on the quiet side. But he was someone you listened to when he spoke because he knew a lot about many things.
Crystal quietly told Emmett that David’s older sister had died in a boating accident when she was still in her teens. “David faithfully maintains a small memorial garden in town in her memory. He and Aaron, with their love of outdoors and growing things, have always been friends.”
“Interesting.” Emmett studied the group as they approached.
“Hi, David,” said Crystal. “It’s always nice to see you.”
“You might remember me. Emmett Chambers. I bought Dr. Johnson’s house,” said Emmett, shaking David’s hand. “It’s being renovated now. I’d like you to come and take a look at the landscaping. I think it’s due for some upgrading.”
“Be glad to do that,” said David. “And I need to make an appointment with you for a checkup for my insurance company. I’m increasing my life insurance.”
“That sounds very serious,” said Diana.
David’s facial expression changed ever so slightly as a flash of sadness filled it and disappeared. “I’ve learned that life can be unpredictable.”
“Yes,” said Diana. “But I always try to concentrate on the positive.” She glanced at Emmett.
He was turning to Aaron and didn’t notice, but Crystal did.
“A positive attitude is helpful,” said David, looking at Diana. “But it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”
Diana laughed. “You sound like a boy scout.”
He joined her laughter as Whitney came over to them, carrying Timothy. “Hey, how’s it going? Did everyone get something to drink? To eat?”
“I’m ready for something to eat,” Emmett said to Crystal.
“Let’s go.” They headed out together.
The picnic table set up on the front porch held an array of dishes. Bowls of macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, baked beans, assorted cold salads, chips, and fruit covered most of the red-and-white checkered tablecloth. Crystal’s cookies and assorted slices of cake sat with other desserts on another table with a coffee maker, paper cups, cream, and sugar.
“At these gatherings, nobody goes away hungry,” said Crystal, opting for a handful of chips before having dinner.
Garth Beckman was helping Nick at the grill cooking ribs, hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken wings, and bratwurst sausages.
Ross and his tennis pal, Mike Dawson, were climbing the rise of the lawn to the house with Misty. Dirk and Melissa called to them.
“Come with me,” Crystal said to Emmett. “I want to show you the rock where I spent many summer hours sunbathing after swimming in the lake.”
They walked down to the rock and climbed on top of it. The gray granite was smooth and warm from the sun. Crystal sat down and then stretched out on her back along its surface. She turned to Emmett. “This is how we play games with the clouds.”
He lay down beside her facing the sky. A willing participant, he looked up and said, “Okay, what do you see?”
She concentrated on a large white cloud floating by and squinted. Staring at the shape and a long narrow strip of cloud emerging from one end, she said, “That’s easy. I see an elephant.”
“No, it’s a dinosaur. See? It’s got a big body, a long neck, and a tiny head.”
“Over there. What do you see?” she asked, pointing to another cloud.
“A warrior,” he said. “A man with a hatchet.”
Crystal chuckled. “I was going to say a woman with a bonnet and watering can.”
As they laughed together, Crystal realized how different his world was from hers. But then there was the Venus and Mars thing. So, it wasn’t alarming.
Whitney approached. “Mind if I join you?”
Crystal sat up. “Not at all. We were playing the cloud game.”
Whitney laughed. “How many hours did we spend doing that each summer growing up?”
“Those days seem long ago,” said Crystal, unable to hide a hint of sadness.
“It’s a nice memory though,” Whitney said, staring out at the water. “I’m thankful GG gave my sisters and me this cottage. I want Timothy and all the little ones in our group to be able to have summers like we had. Life had taken us in different directions, and it’s wonderful to be back again.”
“I’m very glad you returned,” Crystal said, smiling at her best friend.
Pirate, Dani’s black lab, wandered over, looked at them, and then with a groan of pleasure, sprawled out on the rock next to them.
Crystal liked that everyone in the group was comfortable with one another, including Pirate and Mindy. She hoped to have a dog one day. A baby too. She gazed at Emmett still lying on the rock, his eyes closed. He was such a special friend, a generous lover.
Whitney caught her eye and winked.
Crystal winked back, happy to share the moment with her.
“Come and get it!” called Nick, waving his cooking spatula at them.
Whitney got to her feet. “C’mon. We can’t keep them waiting. They’ve been cooking for a long time.”
Crystal shook Emmett’s shoulder and stood. “Time for dinner.”
Emmett instantly sat up. “Whoa! I almost fell asleep. This lake air got to me.”
“It’s been a busy weekend for everyone,” said Crystal helping him up.
He stood and put an arm across her shoulder. “Thanks for inviting me to this barbeque. It’s a needed break for me.”
“I’m happy you’re meeting more of my friends. They’re an important part of my life.”
“I can see why.”
They followed Whitney up the incline.
He frowned as Diana came rushing toward them. “I’ve saved you seats on the lawn by me.” Though she spoke to both of them, her gaze remained on Emmett.
Hiding her irritation, Crystal hoped Emmett would make it clear to Diana that they were together.
###
L ater, as it grew dark , David got up from his seat on a blanket spread on the grass and faced the crowd with a grin. “I’ve got fireworks.”
Everyone cheered. For someone normally quiet, David loved fireworks and usually went a little wild at Fourth of July celebrations when he and a couple of firemen presented a show for the entire town.
“While you get those ready to go, I’m getting protective headphones for Timothy,” said Whitney. “Do you want to borrow one for your little girl, Beth? I’ve got an extra pair from the last Fourth of July.”
The two women got up and went into the cottage.
Crystal stood and said to Emmett, “I’ll be right back.”
As she walked into the cottage, she was struck again by the changes to the building. No longer drab or worn by years of use and disuse, the interior radiated new life, openness, and comfort. She knew Emmett was going for the same feel with his house.
After Crystal finished freshening up, she went outside to find Diana sitting in her place next to Emmett.
Diana looked up at her and, not moving, patted the space next to her. “Sit here.”
“No, Crystal, come over here on the other side of me,” said Emmett.
Crystal sat beside him on the grass but noticed he didn’t make any effort to move away from Diana.
All through the fun of watching the fireworks, Diana stayed right at Emmett’s side, even turning into him at a particularly loud blast.
Crystal waited for Emmett to do something, say something, but he remained unaware of her discomfort with Diana’s behavior.
After the fireworks ended and people started to pack up, Diana came over to Emmett and her. “I noticed you came with Crystal. I’m happy to take you home, Emmett.”
“No, thanks. As you said, I came with Crystal.”
“Oh, okay. I just thought now that I’m part of the family, so to speak ...”
Someone called Emmett, and he turned and walked away.
“You’ve made your intentions very clear,” Crystal said to her, fed up with Diana’s conduct.
Diana pulled her aside. “It’s never going to work between you and Emmett. I’ve known him for a long time. His family approves of me. Natalie even suggested that Emmett and I should be paired together.” She turned on her heel and flounced away, her white eyelet shirt a beacon of danger in the darkness.
###
O n the way back to Emmett’s house, Crystal was silent as she drove. Her mind was playing all kinds of games with her, reliving past demeaning episodes in her life, bringing out all her insecurities.
“You’re unusually quiet. What’s wrong?” asked Emmett.
“I’m trying to sort things out in my mind. I couldn’t help noticing Diana’s attention to you. She’s so obvious. She had no problem taking my place next to you on the blanket and you didn’t seem to mind.”
“As she said, she’s like part of the family because she’ll be working with my parents and others on my father’s campaign.”
“So, will you be going out with her like she wants?” Crystal hated herself for being this petty, but she couldn’t help herself.
“What? No. What’s gotten into you?”
Crystal pulled up to his house and parked the car. Facing him, she said, “I thought we had something special going. I may enjoy people, and have fun with them on a social level, but I’m not someone who fools around romantically. I’m careful not to put myself in a situation where I can be hurt. This relationship with you has every indication that this is where it’s headed. Your family doesn’t like or respect me. Otherwise, your mother wouldn’t encourage Diana’s romantic interest. I see a pattern emerging. You. Me. Diana. That’s one too many in a relationship. And I want no part of that.”
Emmett gave her a steady look. “Are you saying you want to end it between us?”
“Not really ...”
“What the hell does that mean?” said Emmett in a sharp tone indicating his anger.
“I don’t know. We’ve only committed to getting to know one another, but I’m afraid that I’m more invested in a future together than you are. I’m thinking maybe we should step back. Maybe this has all happened too quickly.” Crystal held her breath waiting for him to deny her words.
“If that’s what you want. Okay. I’ve tried to show you how I feel. If that’s not enough, this thing between us won’t work.”
Crystal lowered her head. All she’d wanted was a denial from him, something that would tell her he saw them together in the future as much as she did. Why had she forced the issue?
“Goodnight, Crystal,” said Emmett getting out of the car. “Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you around town.”
She lifted her face, but he’d already started walking into the house. Not knowing what else to do, she pulled out of the driveway and headed back to her apartment.