Chapter 6
When Linney landed in Toronto a week before Easter there was still snow on the ground. Her brother Jake picked her up at the airport with his children in tow. “You’ve gotten so tall!” she exclaimed, hugging all three of them tightly.
“Welcome home, Auntie Linney,” they chorused fighting to take one of her bags.
They found Jake’s SUV in the parking garage and the kids hopped in the back seat. “Rachael didn’t come.” It was more of a statement than a question, but Linney was surprised not to see her. She’d been looking forward to chatting with Jake’s wife.
“Things are a little tense at home,” he said tersely. She looked at him with concern but he didn’t explain and his tweens soon filled the space with chatter.
On her second night there, she was surprised to find Rachael had taken the kids out to the movies to give the siblings some time alone. Linney looked at her brother over the kitchen island. “Okay, Jake, this is weird. What’s going on?”
“I just want to make sure you know what to expect when you get up to Silver Lake.” Linney’s brow furrowed. “Gran’s getting older is all. You must have noticed when you were home last year.”
“Yes, but she was fine.”
“Things are different now,” Jake continued. “I brought Gran’s computer down to the dining room a few months ago, and there’s been a big change since Christmas. You should know, she can’t handle the stairs any longer. We’re lucky she hasn’t fallen.”
Linney looked shocked. That office space upstairs was special. She still remembered the day Gran had taken a large ornate brass key off the shelf—a key she’d had been told never to touch—and unlocked a door Linney had never seen open. The door was unlike all the others in the house. It was narrow, and arched, with a circle of glass in the top. And it was painted bright blue like a clear summer sky. Gran beckoned her granddaughter to come.
Eyes wide, a young Linney tentatively climbed up a circular staircase that led to a room at the top. “This is my special room,” Gran said in a secretive voice. “I don’t share it with other people. But today, I want to share it with you. It’s where I come when I need to be alone, or when I want to paint, or make up stories. I thought maybe you’d like to do the same. All that I ask is that you let me open the door when you want to come up here.”
“I’ve arranged for someone to come in to clean for her now, and to cook twice a week,” Jake continued, jolting Linney back to the present. “I don’t know how much longer she’ll be able to stay in the house.
“I … I didn’t know,” she said sadly.
Jake reached out his hands to squeeze Linney’s before continuing gently, “You’re just too far away to know the day-to-day things. I’m telling you now, so you’re not surprised.”
Linney had been sure her brother was exaggerating, but she saw the changes immediately. Gran moved slowly and more cautiously now than she had the previous autumn. She seemed frail and was unsteady on her feet. Her slippers shuffled across the floor between the kitchen and the living room. She gripped the railing tightly when she took the steps one at a time from the porch to the driveway. But while repeating herself more than she used to, she could still be relied upon to recount family stories.
“Tell me about them, Gran,” Linney asked one evening after dinner as they settled in front of the fireplace. She had just returned from the kitchen with mugs of piping hot chocolate. “Tell me a story about my parents.”
“I remember when they found out they were pregnant with you.” Linney smiled and settled back into her chair to hear the familiar story. “Your mother was in shock. Jake was a teenager already—almost ready to go to university—and she thought she was far too old to have another baby. But your dad? He was over the moon. He was so excited that another McDonnell was coming into the world. He calmed your mother right down and convinced her that everything was going to be alright. He always had that way about him. Your mother had terrible cravings with you and I remember him telling me he had to drive across Toronto to a specific bakery to get almond croissants for her. And when they named you after me? It was such an honour.
“He was a good father to you both. Your dad was the one who first noticed you squinting and sitting so close to the television. And he made sure nobody bullied you at preschool when you first got your glasses. He treasured you.” Linnea’s voice caught. “I miss him, Linney, even now, all these years later. I wish you’d had a chance to really know him.”
Linney got up and put her arm around her grandmother. She hadn’t meant to upset her. “It’s okay, Gran. I know him—both of them—through you, and through the stories you tell me.” They sat in silence, watching the fire flicker until they finished their hot chocolate.
After Gran had gone to bed that night, Linney unlocked the blue door and climbed the stairs. Jake had moved Gran’s computer, but the well-worn leather chair was still there, and she could see the moon reflecting off the lake through the windows. She ran her fingers across the spines of so many favourite books from her childhood. She pulled one from the shelf and curled up on the chair, remembering all the times she’d done that with Gran, and realized for the first time, with a lump in her throat, that she wouldn’t always have Gran to come home to.
* * *
The next morning,Linney walked across the yard and knocked on the familiar door at the little yellow house next to hers
“Linney!” Mrs. Blake looked happy to see her. “Derek told me you were coming home. He’ll be up tomorrow with Olivia. You know, I always thought it would be you. But she’s lovely, and he seems so happy.”
Linney laughed. “Yes, they’re both in love and ecstatically happy. And I’m happy for them.”
“You sure?” Mrs. Blake looked carefully into Linney’s eyes.
“I’m sure. And I have Mac.”
Mrs. Blake knew when she was beaten. “Come in, my dear. Tell me all about your latest adventures. I love watching you on TV.”
Linney soon found herself in the Blake kitchen, with a mug of coffee in her hand and a plate of ginger cookies in front of her.
“How is Gran doing?” Linney broached the reason for her visit carefully after several minutes of chit-chat. “Jake’s worried. And I’m seeing changes too.” She paused to break off another piece of warm cookie and pop it in her mouth. “Mmm. So good. You’ve always been such a good neighbour and friend to her. I don’t want to put you in an awkward position, but I’m wondering if you think there’s anything we should be doing to help Gran stay in the house.”
Mrs. Blake thought carefully before answering. “Your grandmother is fine for now, dear. I know your brother worries. The time will come when you may have to consider something different for her, but right now, she’s fine. And after all she did for Derek and me, I’ll keep a close eye on her.”
“You’d let me know, wouldn’t you, if anything changed?”
“Of course, Linney dear. You can count on me.”
* * *
Linney and Grancooked up a storm for Easter. Well, mostly Linney cooked, with the help of Gran’s supervision and her old, stained Canadian Living cookbook. The house got louder when Jake arrived with his family. Jake and Rachel seemed to have patched things up, Linney noticed happily. Whatever it was couldn’t have been too serious.
Later in the day, with the Easter lamb in the oven, Linney closed the door on the noise for a few minutes, and with one of Gran’s knitted shawls loosely around her shoulders, walked through the last of the melting snow down to the lake. Lifting her face to the warmth of the bright afternoon sun, she suddenly realized she wasn’t alone. Turning, she saw Derek walking across the dock.
“Hey!” She greeted him with a smile.
“Hey, yourself. Escaping the chaos?”
Linney laughed. “It’s not as bad as it was when Jake’s kids were little, but yes, you caught me! What are you escaping?”
“Wedding plans! Olivia and Mum have been at it for hours. I needed a break.”
The two friends stood there, enjoying the quiet simplicity of the lake until the call of a migrating loon broke through their thoughts.
“I do miss hearing that sound. I don’t get home enough.”
“You do pretty well for someone who lives in London.”
“It’s still not enough. Gran’s getting older and I’m not sure how much longer—” She broke off, not wanting to finish the thought.
“Mum says she’s doing okay,” Derek said softly.
Linney shrugged. “I’m not sure for how much longer though.”
Derek put his arm around her shoulder and squeezed. They stood there for a few more minutes before she pushed her glasses up her nose. “Okay, back to the chaos. I’ll see you in the city before I leave. Happy Easter.” Linney left Derek on the dock. He stared out at the lake for another few minutes before squaring his shoulders and heading back into wedding madness.
* * *
On her finalnight at the lake, Linney had dinner with Anna and Kirsten. Glasses of wine in hand, the three women gathered in Kirsten’s cozy apartment above Page Turners. The store had recently changed hands when Kirsten’s parents retired.
“It doesn’t seem as busy,” Linney mused. “I popped in earlier today, but there weren’t many customers. It was strange not seeing your mother at the till.”
“I’m afraid you’re right,” Kirsten agreed. “I’m not sure the new owners knew what they were getting into. But they have a couple more months to get it together before summer.” They all knew that the seasonal cottage crowd was a big source of income for Page Turners. “I am a bit worried though. They haven’t even rented out the other apartment yet.”
There were two identical well-proportioned apartments above the store, which had taken up most of the first floor of the heritage home for decades. Over the years, businesses had come and gone in the small section of the main floor that Pages didn’t take up and it was currently a paper shop in the summers. Kirsten had grown up in one of the apartments with her parents, and her grandmother had lived across the hall until her death almost seven years ago. When Kirsten finished nursing school, her parents redecorated it for her as a graduation gift. She’d lived there happily since then, spending a couple of evenings a week with her mum and dad. But since they sold the store—the deal included the provision that Kirsten could stay in her apartment as long as she wanted—and moved to Florida to enjoy the warm weather year-round, the other apartment had remained empty.
Linney changed the subject. “Do you ever see my Gran in town? How does she seem to you?”
“I don’t think she’s driving much anymore, but Mrs. Blake brings her to KnitWorks most weeks,” Anna offered, “and we’re watching out for her.” Envisioning the gossipy knitting group usually made Linney cringe, but today, the thought of community made her feel better.
Kirsten interrupted her thoughts. “I can stop by from time to time if you like and keep an eye on things for you.
“Me too,” Anna added.
“That’d be great. Thank you both. I’m not sure if I’ve appreciated how much everyone takes care of each other here. Now, Kirsten,” she said, changing the subject and looking pointedly at her friend, “tell me about who you’re seeing.”
Kirsten shook her head. “Sadly, nobody right now. It’s hard to find someone who will look beyond this.” She gestured to her chest, hidden behind a boxy sweater, “and see me for who I am. Besides, the hospital keeps me busy.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” Anna chastised her. “Don’t give up. The right guy is out there for you.”
“Easy for you to say. You found the love of your life the summer after high school!”
Anna blushed. She and Danny were still madly in love. “You know, Danny’s just hired a new electrician. He’s cute. Maybe we should set you up.”
Kirsten shook her head. “Not interested in another blind date.” She stood up. “Cupcakes?” She brought a plate from the kitchen.
“Not for me,” Linney said. “They look delicious, but I need to watch my weight.” Anna rolled her eyes as she took a chocolate cupcake. Even her fingers were long and delicate.
Linney put her hands on her stomach. “I wish I had your metabolism. I need to lose some weight for the camera.” She’d been careful, watching everything she ate since she’d been home. “Mac says ten pounds—or even better, twenty—would help me look better.”
“He’s crazy.” Kirsten sounded offended for Linney. “You’re gorgeous just the way you are.” She pulled the wrapper off a red velvet cupcake and licked the icing off her fingers.
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” Anna taunted her.
Linney sighed. She wanted one, but she knew she shouldn’t.
“How is it with Mac anyway?” Kirsten asked. She gave her friend an impish look. “Still hot and heavy?”
“When it’s good, it’s really, really good,” she admitted sheepishly. “I miss him.”
“And when it’s not good?” Anna asked perceptively.
Linney thought for a moment. “Mac just wants what’s best for me. So sometimes he’s a little harsh. It’s all part of the business. I don’t mind.” She drained the last of her wine and changed the subject. “Did I tell you? Gemma’s promised to let me spread my wings when I get back. A European story. It’s the first step towards a foreign assignment!” Linney was excited about this new development, but she was nervous. “I hope I’m ready.”
“Of course you are!” Anna exclaimed. “It’s what you’ve always wanted!”
“Not somewhere dangerous, right?” Kirsten asked.
“I can’t promise that,” Linney said, giving into temptation and reaching out for a lemon cupcake. “But wherever it is, I’ll be careful.” The icing was delicious. To heck with Mac’s suggestions.