Chapter Eight – Cadie
Cadie
It had been a long time since I had had so much fun. It didn’t hurt that the guy giving me the tour of my new town was handsome as all get out, made me laugh and, most importantly, made me feel comfortable and safe. I couldn’t say that about the last guy I was with. At first, things were like that with Michael until I learned about his family from Lauryn. Kian would be different.
You’re not with Kian, Cadie!
We walked out of the Sweet Spot ice cream parlor and started down Main Street, me eating a chocolate ice cream, and Kian eating a vanilla chocolate swirl. When he suggested ice cream, I laughed. It was forty degrees outside and he wanted ice cream, but I was glad he talked me into it.
“I have to say, this has been a really fun day.”
Kian nodded. “It has been. The furniture shopping was probably more fun for you than for me.”
I chuckled. “I could see that.”
We walked by a little store. In the window was a picture of a moose that looked to be hand-drawn, and above it was the name Perry. It wasn’t the first time I had heard someone mention Perry the Moose .
“So, who is Perry?”
Kian looked confused for a second, then laughed. “Perry the Moose?”
“Yes! I’ve seen a few paintings and a mug with a moose named Perry. And a customer came into the bakery and said something about not seeing Perry again until Christmas Eve.”
Kian motioned across the street, and we walked down to a grassy area that I had yet to explore, even though I only worked a few blocks down. It overlooked the lake and had a stage at the very bottom. This must be The Green Kian mentioned earlier.
“You remember Anna from my story earlier? The one who said the lake looked like a moose antler?”
I nodded as I licked my cone. A breeze blew off the lake, and I shivered.
“Well, the legend of Perry the Moose started with Anna. She said that on Christmas Eve she saw a moose walking down Main Street while she was looking out her bedroom window. The house she lived in is now our town hall.”
“Oh, wow!”
“Yeah. But she also said she saw Santa riding on the back of the moose. The next year, she said she saw him again, and a few other residents claimed to see him as well, but with no Santa this time. The next year…”
“The moose again.”
He laughed. “You got it. Our little Anna is responsible for naming him Perry.”
“Well, Anna sure did have a lot of influence on this little town, didn’t she?”
“She sure did. She grew up and followed in her father’s footsteps; although, it took her a while to do what he did. ”
“What did she do?”
Kian looked at me, and the cutest smile spread across his face. “She was one of the first women lawyers in New York, not the first one, but the third woman.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “When she was thirty-five, she passed the New York bar exam.. She enrolled in law school in 1897 after Katherin Stoneman got into Albany Law School in 1896. She was almost fifty when she graduated. She was the third woman to receive a bachelor’s degree.”
“She was a true trailblazer.”
“That she was.”
Kian was smiling, and I knew I had to ask my next question. “You’re related to her, aren’t you?”
He laughed. “I am. She is my great, great grandmother on my father’s side. Anna’s father started the only law firm here in Moose Village. She worked for him for years in a position that we now call a paralegal.”
“And does your family still own the law firm?”
“Yes. My father’s brother, Uncle Trey, runs the branch here in Moose Village. My grandfather opened up another branch in New York City in the ’40s and it really took off. By the time my father graduated law school, he was working full time for the firm in New York City. They don’t have much to do with the Moose Village office, which I think Uncle Trey is perfectly fine with.”
“Macy said Opal is your mother’s sister. Does she have any other siblings?”
Kian frowned and seemed to get lost in thought for a moment. “No, just Opal.”
“Why the frown?”
He forced a smile. “Sorry, it’s just Opal shared something about my mother that I wish she hadn’t.”
“I’m sorry. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “Have you ever found out something about someone you loved and wished you would have never discovered that truth?”
I wanted to laugh. “Yes.”
“I didn’t have much of a relationship with my mother before, and now my whole perception of the woman has changed.”
“Was it something bad?”
“Not to me, but to Opal. They were young, and my mother…well…she slept with the man Opal was dating. Mom got pregnant, and the guy married my mother.”
My hand came up to my mouth. “Macy?”
“No. She lost the baby, and they got divorced, but the most fucked-up thing about it was my mother was dating my father again while still married to this Jake guy. And she got pregnant with Macy this time.”
“Are you sure it’s your father’s child?”
“I asked the same thing. It was. She didn’t love Jake, only slept with him probably because she could. They got divorced, and she married my father, whom she had cheated on with Jake, then cheated on Jake with my father. It’s fucked up.”
“Holy crap.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
With a slight shake of my head, I asked, “Why did Opal tell you this? Now?”
“She saw the guy…Jake…here in Moose Village.”
“Is he from here? ”
“Close by. He lived in Lake Placid. Actually, he’s from there but lives in New York City now.”
“Did she junk punch him?” I asked, causing Kian to burst out laughing.
“Opal doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. I think seeing him just sparked the sadness in her, and she probably needed to talk to someone. I know Opal, and I’m positive the next day that she regretted confiding in me.”
“Have you told your sister or younger brother?”
“No, I don’t see the reason in telling them. Sometimes, I think the past belongs in the past and is best kept there for everyone’s sake, like you said earlier.”
I smiled softly.
We sat silently for a few seconds before Kian said, “This is The Green, where I mentioned that they have concerts and other events during the year.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“That pizza place right there,” he said, pointing to a restaurant next to The Green. “Best pizza you’ll ever eat in your life.”
“Really?” I asked, brows raised. “That’s a pretty bold statement.”
“It’s the truth. You’ll have to try it sometime.”
A part of me was disappointed that Kian hadn’t offered to take me there for dinner or lunch sometime. I shook off the disappointment and took in my surroundings. If I had to pick a place to hide, I did an excellent job picking Moose Village.
“It’s so beautiful up here. It might be my imagination, but the air feels cleaner here.”
“It is beautiful, and no, I agree with you. But I’m coming from New York City, and anything is cleaner than there. ”
I chuckled. “Did you like living in the city?”
He shrugged. “I did at first, but it got old pretty quickly. I’m sure my long hours added to the dislike of living there.”
It grew quiet, and I looked over to see Kian in deep thought. What I wouldn’t give to know what he was thinking about. At that moment, he turned and looked at me. His eyes grew darker, and my lower stomach tugged with something I didn’t want to recognize.
“I think as you get older,” he started, “you start thinking about other things. Like life and settling down somewhere with a wife, and maybe a kid or two. I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Maybe that’s what happens when you turn thirty-three. You think about how much time you wasted on things that didn’t matter…or people who didn’t matter. Instead, you want to experience moments that you will remember and cherish.”
“Like this moment.”
He turned and looked at me, a surprised expression on his face. “Yes, exactly like this moment.”
Turning my head, I looked out over the lake. I had an overwhelming sense to share my story with Kian. Could I trust him? Would I want to put him in danger was the question I should ask myself. Something told me I could trust him, but I’d only known him for a couple of weeks. My need to spill my guts wasn’t as crucial as keeping Kian in the dark about my past. At least my most recent past.
Kian’s phone dinged with an alert as he looked down at the screen. “It’s Opal asking me to give her a call.”
“Go ahead. I think I’m going to walk down to the water.”
He smiled and hit the Call button on his phone. Walking down toward the water, I took in how I was feeling. It had been the first time in months I had felt so carefree. I wasn’t looking over my shoulder; I didn’t freeze whenever I saw someone I thought I knew. Today had simply been a relaxing and fun day.
I wrapped my arms around myself and took in the serene scene before me. The lake was calm and reflected the trees and blue sky. I could see why it had been named Sky Lake. If you didn’t know any better, you would think there were two skies.
“Hey…umm, are you free for dinner?”
Turning, I smiled when I saw Kian standing there, a slight blush on his cheeks.
“Craving pizza?” I asked in a teasing voice.
He laughed. “Actually, Opal is making her famous clam chowder and invited me over. When she found out I was with you, she extended the invite to you as well.”
“Oh,” I said, looking everywhere but at him. “I don’t want to intrude.”
“Hey, Cadie, you’re definitely not intruding. Besides, what are you going to do? Go back to an empty cabin?”
“I still have my room at the inn.”
He screwed up his face. “No way you’re staying there another night.”
I was positive my eyes went as wide as saucers. “What do you mean?”
“The Moose Village Inn is decent, but you need a nice bed until you get your furniture. You can stay at my folks’ house.”
“With you?” I nearly shouted. “I’m afraid people would get the wrong impression.”
Kian leaned in and with a smirk said, “What’s wrong with me? ”
Confused, I asked, “What do you mean?”
“Is it so bad to have people think we’re…you know?”
I took a step back. “I’m not interested in…you know.”
He held up his hands. “Whoa, neither am I, but come on, I’m not that bad of a guy to be rumored to be…you know.”
I looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “Kian, the one thing I have found out about this adorable town is there is a gossip mill that would put any other small-town gossip mill to shame.”
“Yeah,” he mumbled as he rubbed at the back of his neck. “I know. The good news is, I’m not staying at the house. I’m staying at the guest house, remember? You’d be up there alone. Well, not alone, Sally lives there. She would love the company.”
“Sally?” I asked. That was the second time he had mentioned her, and I heard Macy mention that name to Opal as well.
“Yes. She’s like my second mother. Pretty much raised us kids.”
My heart tugged a little. The idea of not sleeping on that god-awful mattress at the inn was appealing. And knowing I wouldn’t get the furniture in for at least three weeks and having to stay at the inn wasn’t appealing.
“Sally would love for you to come and stay. Think about it, another almost what was it…three weeks? That’s when your furniture will be delivered, right?”
I sighed. “Yes, three weeks. I can just get a blow-up mattress or something.”
“You’re not getting a blow-up mattress, Cadie. No one will be in that big house, so you might as well use it. There are five guest bedrooms.”
“Five!” I cried out. “Five bedrooms that are just for guests?”
He laughed. “Let’s talk about it on the way to Opal’s. She said dinner will be ready in about an hour. By then, my ice cream will have worn off.”
“I don’t know, Kian.”
“If you’re uncomfortable staying there, we can get you a blow-up mattress. How does that sound?”
Smiling, I replied, “Okay. Fair enough.”
As we walked up the hill, I turned back and looked at the lake. I scanned the other side and noticed large homes tucked back into the trees. I couldn’t help but wonder which one was Kian’s family home.
The screen door creaked open, and I turned to see Opal coming out with two cups. Kian had said he needed to make a few phone calls for a case back in New York. His friend who had taken over his clients needed answers to a few pressing questions.
“I wasn’t sure if you liked tea or hot chocolate, so I went with the hot chocolate.”
Taking the warm cup, I breathed through my nose and moaned softly. “I haven’t had hot chocolate in years.”
“That’s a crime, Cadie! Why not?”
I shrugged. “Just never think about making it. I like hot tea, though, and make that a lot.”
“I’m a fan of hot tea, but you know that from how much I make it at the bakery.”
A small chuckle slipped free before I sipped the hot chocolate. “Oh, Opal, this is the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had. ”
A wide grin appeared on her face. “Thank you, sweetheart. I make it myself.”
“The hot chocolate?”
She nodded. “It’s so easy. Just confectioners’ sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, cardamon, cinnamon, and a hint of…”
She waited to see if I could taste it. I grinned. “Nutmeg.”
Pointing to me, she said, “Yes!”
“Do you use whole milk?”
“I use some powdered milk and add half and half in it.”
“No wonder it’s so good! Do you know what else would make it good? A bit of peppermint, like around Christmas time.”
Opal’s eyes lit with happiness. “I love that idea, Cadie. You are good with flavors. We should think about this during Christmas at the bakery.”
Holding both hands around the warm mug, I smiled. I hated that I wasn’t being honest with Opal. A part of me felt like I was lying to my mother. Opal had hired me nearly on the spot. The only thing she had asked me to do was go into the kitchen and make her something. Anything, but it had to show her I could bake. So I made my grandmother’s banana nut bread, and an oatmeal cinnamon cookie with butterscotch chips and pecans. Opal took one bite of the bread, turned to me, and asked, “Can you start right now?”
I asked for an apron and that was that. I was hired. She asked for references, and I gave her the two fake references that were routed to the guy Randy, my lawyer back in Boston, had set me up with, and he gave me outstanding references. It sucked being deceitful, but I had no choice. It was either a lie to Opal and everyone around me, or a risk of them being in danger if Michael or his father ever found me. I’d take the lie every single time.
“You know, you can trust me, right?”
My heart felt like it dropped to my stomach, and I prayed I hadn’t made any kind of reaction to her statement. I focused on keeping my voice calm and steady. “Of course, I know that.”
She reached for my arm. “Were you in an abusive relationship? Is that why you don’t like to talk about your past?”
I wasn’t about to add a lie on top of a hundred other lies. I placed my hand over Opal’s. “No, I wasn’t. I will admit that the last guy I dated turned out to be someone else entirely, but I wasn’t in an abusive relationship.”
A look of relief washed over her face, and she closed her eyes. “Thank goodness. I hated the idea of someone being cruel to you.”
I told Opal the closest version of the truth that I could. “I came to Moose Village for a fresh start. To put my past behind me and hopefully build a new life. I don’t talk about it because…well…honestly, it doesn’t give me peace. I chose to focus on the future, and instead find that peace I’ve been searching for.”
The corner of her mouth tipped up. “You should come to sunrise yoga with me tomorrow!”
“Um,” I cleared my throat. “Sunrise yoga? In March? I wasn’t aware that you did yoga, and won’t we freeze?”
She chuckled. “It’s held in a little studio down by the lake. There are huge glass windows, so it feels like you’re outside. And I haven’t been in years. Not with the bakery and all. I’m always there before the sun comes up.”
“Who would get things going tomorrow if we’re both at yoga?” I asked .
Opal’s smile instantly faded. “That’s right. I think I should close the bakery one day a week. I’ve been working nearly seven days a week for too many years now.”
My bakery was closed on Tuesdays. I wasn’t sure why I had picked Tuesdays, but that was the day I decided I needed off. Not a Friday or a Saturday, a Tuesday. Lauryn had sworn up and down I had picked Tuesdays because I wanted to play bingo at the senior center on Monday night and would need to sleep in the next day. Part of that was true, but I hadn’t even known about bingo night when I had opened my bakery in Boston and decided if the Lord took a day of rest, I was too.
“You should do it. Being open seven days a week is stressful if you are the one working all seven.”
She waved her hand to brush me off. “Oh, I take time off here and there. You see that.”
I laughed. “What? Like the hour you took off to run to the bank? Or when you hung out with friends the other day? Or the time you left two hours earlier and returned anyway when it was closing time?”
It was dark, but I was positive she had a blush.
Opal heaved a breath, saying, “I worked so hard to get that bakery to where it is. I don’t want to ever take it for granted. I guess my fear is if I take time off, something could go wrong.”
Turning in my chair, I set the mug on the small table. “Do you want to know what I think?”
“Yes, I do.”
“I think the bakery is your identity. You’ve worked for years to make it what it is, and you’re afraid you’ll lose a part of yourself if you step back. ”
Opal took a drink, set her cup down beside mine, and looked at me. “Why do I get the feeling you’ve experienced this feeling before?”
“Because I have. Opal, I haven’t been completely honest with you.”
“No!” she said with a sarcastic laugh.
I tried to smile. “I owned my own bakery.”
“I knew it!” Opal said, standing and nearly knocking the small table over. “I knew it, I knew it, I knew it. The way you decorated that Tigger cake and your baking skills, I knew you didn’t learn all that from your grandmother or from working at a bakery here and there!”
I raised my brows.
“No offense to your grandmother.”
“She would take offense.”
Opal chuckled.
“The hardest thing I ever had to do was sell it. But I had to, for reasons I don’t want to share. But the fear of being without my bakery is something I still feel to this day. You have no idea how thankful I was when I saw your help-wanted sign. I was only driving through Moose Village. I did not intend to stay, but I am glad I saw that sign.”
Reaching for my hands, Opal pulled me up and into a hug. “Oh, Cadie, my darling, so am I. So. Am. I.”