19. Chapter Nineteen
The early morning air carried a chill as Ethan pushed the canoe into the water and hopped in, but it wouldn’t stay that way for long. Though rain threatened this afternoon, no clouds marked the sky. There wasn’t even a breeze, leaving the lake before him still and peaceful, except for the ripples left behind by a loon as it ducked under the water. He breathed deeply, still holding onto the peace he’d found after the conversation with Dad last night. While his feelings for Katie wouldn’t disappear any time soon, he was prepared to cherish their friendship and support whatever relationship she chose to be in.
The first way to do that was to get the canoe to the cottage. He didn’t know how early Drew would show up, but he had a feeling it would be best to be gone when he did. If Drew was threatened, Ethan didn’t want to exacerbate the situation, especially if it made things difficult for Katie or strained their friendship.
He paddled around the point and approached the cottage, smiling at the peaceful sight. Would Drew’s visit make her think about returning to Elling? It would be hard to see the cottage empty again.
He brought the canoe up alongside the dock and pulled it ashore. After checking to make sure both life jackets were present, he turned to leave but found Katie approaching him wearing a navy blue and red flannel shirt with lace at the cuffs he hadn’t seen before. He fought not to dwell on how good she looked in it and focused on her smile. But that didn’t help much. Her face was soft, and her hair a little unruly, like she’d just woken up.
He cleared his throat. “Good morning.” By some miracle, his voice didn’t betray him.
She echoed him and gestured to the canoe. “Thanks for letting me borrow it and bringing it over. Drew has never been canoeing before.”
“No problem.”
She stared up at him for a long moment. “So…what did you think of him?”
That was a loaded question; one he wasn’t sure how to answer candidly without making things awkward. So, he opted for humor. “Drew is…tall.”
She breathed a light laugh. “He is, especially since I’m so short.”
“It’s funny how that happens.”
“I’m not into super tall guys, but that’s just how it turned out, I guess.”
He didn’t comment on that, though he supposed it was nice to know his height wasn’t a turn-off—not that it mattered. “What did he think of the cottage?”
Her smile faded, and he had to fight the instinct to expect the worst from Drew.
“It’s not his style, but I already knew that. And I didn’t realize he’s allergic to cats, so we didn’t spend all that much time inside.” She paused, looking back at the cottage before facing Ethan again. “We were talking about what I should do with it. Drew thinks it would make a nice Airbnb.”
Ethan’s stomach reacted like he’d been punched in the gut, though he fought to hide it. “Airbnb? Yeah, those are very popular right now.”
He couldn’t imagine Katie doing that. But then, if she went back to Elling, it would make sense. Why shouldn’t she try to make money with the cottage if she wasn’t living in it? However, the thought of strangers going in and out of such a special place made him sick.
Katie’s drawn expression revealed a similar feeling. “Honestly, I don’t like the idea.”
He worked to hide his immense relief. “Whatever you want to do with the place is your decision, but you don’t have to decide now. All of this was so sudden. You have all the time you need to let it sink in and settle before deciding anything.”
“Thanks. I appreciate you reminding me of that.”
“My pleasure.” Then, as badly as he wished he and Katie were taking the canoe out this morning, he gestured over his shoulder. “I better get back home. Have fun with Drew today.”
Katie’s smile left a bittersweet ache in his chest. “Thanks. I will.”
Drew arrived about forty-five minutes after Ethan dropped off the canoe and brought coffee he had picked up at one of the coffee shops in town. It was a glorious morning to be out on the lake, the water like glass.
After enjoying their coffee and the peaceful setting, they headed into town to check out the various shops before getting sandwiches for lunch at the deli. Clouds had rolled in, but according to Katie’s weather app, they had just enough time to head over to The Ice Shack for dessert before it started to rain. This time, she chose a cherry ice cream while Drew got chocolate. Cups in hand, they sat at one of the little tables along the sidewalk outside.
She took a bite, savoring the sweet flavor. “This is really good. What about yours?”
“It is good. I can see why you rave about the place.”
“We came here so much in the summer.” She grinned and pointed two tables down from theirs. “We were sitting over there once, and Ethan used his spoon to catapult some ice cream at Megan. I kid you not; it hit her right between the eyes and dripped down her nose.”
She laughed at the memory. Even Megan had thought it was funny.
Drew stared at her as if trying to figure something out. Growing self-conscious, she squirmed. “What?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you laugh and smile so much.”
He was probably right about that. She shrugged. “Being here has been good for me. Except for my mom harassing me, I have a peace of mind here I haven’t had, ever.”
Drew fell silent again as he took another bite of ice cream, but she could tell he had something on his mind. Finally, he asked, “So when do you think you’ll come back home?”
She twisted her spoon in her ice cream, creating a little crater. Did she dare say she didn’t consider Elling home? That she never had? She’d avoided this topic yesterday but couldn’t put it off forever. Not with him leaving tomorrow. She braced herself for his reaction. “I think I might stay a while.”
He released a long breath that might have been a sigh, and she hurried to say, “With the lease on my apartment ending, why start a new one when I have an unoccupied lake cottage?”
“Well, I mean, maybe because it’s not anywhere near Madison?”
“I know, and I know it’s an issue, I just…I’m not ready to leave yet. The cottage brings back so many wonderful memories for me that I didn’t even let myself think about before. It helps me feel close to Grandma. I’m not ready to go back and face life there without her.”
He nodded in acceptance, though she could tell by his face he wasn’t entirely happy with the situation. She hesitated to bring up the thought in her mind, but she had to put it out there.
“Would you ever consider moving here?”
His brows shot upward. “To Two Lakes? Katie, it’s the middle of nowhere. Where would I work?”
She let her shoulders sag. “I don’t know.”
Of course, she knew it could never work for him to move here. He had to be near a large hospital to be a surgeon, and he wouldn’t be happy just anywhere. Still, the confirmation stung because it left her in a position where she had to choose between him and a life here. Both were important to her.
The silence fell again, and not a comfortable one. Katie finished her ice cream, though the last couple of bites went down hard.
Stomach pinching, she peeked at Drew. “Are you mad at me?”
Instead of a heated expression, he gave her a look that said he was disappointed, causing her heart to sink. “No. I’m just afraid the longer you stay, the less you will want to leave.”
It was a valid concern. “I know.” She drew a deep breath. “And I know I have to come back for this to work. I just need more time to come to terms with everything.”
Sometimes, relationships required sacrifice, and if maintaining her relationship with Drew required her to return to Madison, she would do that.
He seemed to accept the situation. “Take the time you need.”
Finally, she managed to smile. “Thank you.”
“And don’t forget, you can always come back here to visit whenever you want. It’s not going anywhere.”
Katie nodded. At least, when she left this time, she wouldn’t be thousands of miles away.
Katie picked out a pretty red dress she had modified and would have worn to church this morning if Drew hadn’t wanted to have brunch before he left. While not a ritzy place, the Lodge catered to a higher-end clientele. Her usual patched jeans didn’t quite cut it. Supper had been delicious, so she looked forward to breakfast, but the meals were more expensive than she would ever want to pay regularly.
Since it was still early, she sat on the couch reading her Bible while O’Malley chased one of his crinkle balls around, making her laugh. Keeping him had been one of her best decisions despite the discomfort it caused for Drew.
When it was time, she finished her makeup and headed to her car. The drive into town passed peacefully, though she kept thinking about her conversation with Drew yesterday. If only she had a better idea of what the future held. Her entire being rebelled every time she thought about returning to Elling, but she forced it out of her mind for now. She still had time to prepare herself and make that decision.
At the Lodge, a large set of automatic doors welcomed her inside. The spacious lobby had deer antler chandeliers hanging from the log beams of the vaulted ceiling and a taxidermy black bear standing beside the front desk. Off to one side rose a massive fireplace surrounded by plush chairs. Several guests crisscrossed the room and waited at the desk, suitcases in tow. A couple of kids dashed in front of her. No doubt everyone was getting ready to head back down south after a weekend vacation in the Northwoods.
Stepping around a pile of luggage, Katie met Drew in the sitting area. They greeted each other and entered the dining room. Breakfast consisted of omelets, hash browns, sausage, and fresh blueberry muffins. Though delicious, they were not quite on par with Evelyn’s, in Katie’s opinion.
“So,” Drew set aside his coffee mug, “what are you going to do about your apartment if you’re staying here?”
“I guess I’ll have to come get my stuff before the end of the month.” It didn’t leave her much time, especially since next week was Memorial Day. She should have figured this out sooner.
“How do you plan to do that?”
“I’ll figure something out.” She hesitated to mention the Harts. While Drew listened whenever she talked about her childhood with them, he never said much, especially when it involved Ethan.
“Well, keep me updated on when you think you’ll be coming back. I’ll keep an eye out for any job openings and apartments you might like.” A smile warmed his face. “And I’ll make sure they allow cats.”
A little of Katie’s uncertainty eased. He might not like the situation very much, but he did care. “Thank you. I know this is not ideal, and I’m sorry.”
“You have to do what you have to do. I just hope it won’t be long before you’re ready to come back.”
Once they finished eating, Drew retrieved his bags, and they walked out to his car. Stowing his luggage in the trunk, he turned to her.
“Thanks for showing me around yesterday. I can see why you like it here.”
“Thanks for indulging me. I know it’s not what you’re used to.” She did appreciate how he’d happily participated in everything she’d wanted to do with him, including canoeing. It was probably a lot for a city boy like him.
“It was fun.”
He bent down and gave her a quick kiss that barely touched her lips. She had boundaries, but was she wrong to wish, for once, he’d kiss her like he meant it? As always, she tamped down the disappointment. She knew better than to take it personally. His parents weren’t physically affectionate either. It was just the way he’d grown up. It probably didn’t even occur to him she might need more.
He opened the car door and got in. “I’ll call you when I get home.”
Katie nodded and backed away as he shut the door and started the engine. Rolling down the window, he smiled and said goodbye before driving away. She waved as he left the parking lot.
Then she looked around. While she preferred the privacy of the lake at home, the Lodge had created a beautiful area for its guests. In no rush, she walked down to the water. A few people strolled along the beach, but the dock remained empty. She walked out to the end of it and stood there for a while, thinking over Drew’s visit and the choices she had to make. She had much to consider, but for right now, she just wanted to take it a day at a time.
Finally, she returned to the cottage. By this time, church had been over for a while. Through the open window in the living room, she caught the faint sound of a vehicle pulling into the Harts’ driveway. A minute later, children’s upraised voices and laughter followed. She smiled and debated briefly before heading outside. Though they hadn’t explicitly invited her to Sunday dinner today, she knew she would be welcome.
Voices grew louder, drawing her along the path toward the house. Breaking through the trees, she counted everyone, including Megan and her husband, congregating around the picnic tables. Charlie spotted her first, shouting her name and racing to meet her. Katie grinned and paused when the little girl threw her arms around her, enjoying the enthusiastic welcome. Charlie then took her hand and tugged her toward the gathering. Everyone greeted her with equal enthusiasm, though she specifically noted how happy Ethan looked to see her. It would kill both of them when she had to leave.
Megan shot her a questioning look. “Is Drew gone?”
“Yeah, he headed out as soon as we finished breakfast.”
“Aw, that’s too bad. I would’ve liked to meet him.”
“Next time.” At least, she hoped he’d want to come back for a visit. She glanced at the picnic table laden with fried chicken and all the fixings someone had picked up from the deli. “You guys don’t have to worry about feeding me. I’m still pretty full from breakfast.”
Evelyn waved off the comment. “Nonsense. There’s plenty.”
Amidst scrambling and shuffling, everyone took their seats. Katie found herself in her usual spot next to Ethan. As everyone settled in, he leaned closer to her.
“I’m glad you could join us.”
Her smile came easily as it always did with him. “Me too.”
Everyone then quieted for Tom to pray before they passed the food around. While filling their plates, Katie considered her conversation with Drew about her apartment. She didn’t want to bring it up, but time was short.
“I hate to come over here looking for a favor…”
Ethan didn’t even hesitate. “What do you need? We’re happy to help.”
“Well, the lease on my apartment is up at the end of the month. I want to stay at the cottage for a while instead of looking for a new place immediately, which means I have to get all my stuff. Problem is, I don’t have a way to transport it.”
“That’s not a problem. We can take my truck and the trailer down there. Do you think it would all fit in the enclosed trailer by the shop?”
“I would think so. I don’t have much. My biggest item is my couch. I think everything else will fit around it.”
Becca reached to take the container of mashed potatoes from Katie. “I’m off Wednesday and Thursday. If it would work to go then, I can come along and help you pack up and move things.”
Ethan nodded. “Works for me. I’m sure I can get someone to cover youth group. And that would get us back before the holiday traffic.”
Katie smiled appreciatively at both of them. “Yeah, works for me too.”
Tom gestured toward the driveway. “Why don’t you three take our truck? There’s more room, and you can ride together.”
Katie thanked him, unsure how she’d even survived the last fifteen years without the support of this family.