Page 73 of Love's Cure

Crystal hugged her sister. “What would I do without you?”

“It’s about time I paid you back for all you did for me,” said Misty. “Go!”

Full of anticipation, Crystal got into her car. She was off to her summer adventure. One that she’d enjoyed for years. She played only small parts, but it was enough to give her pleasure and keep her creative juices flowing. By now she knew the management of the theater well and a few of the touring thespians who played summer stock performing plays away from larger venues.

Located on the southern coast of Maine, Ogunquit sat in Perkins Cove and was a beautiful example of what visitors described as a picture postcard scene of the Maine coastline. The four-square-mile town was known for its sandy beaches, active art and theater scene, and dining, shopping, and lodging.

As she drove into town, Crystal smiled with anticipation. For her, it was a place to revive her love of the theater. The small roles she undertook were a means of releasing her inner creativity. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. The ability to transform herself into another character was very satisfying. In this case, she would be playing a part in the ensemble of the play,Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.Not many people in town knew that she took voice lessons in the slower days of winter. She was content to do some ensemble work. That was enough to keep her going.

Crystal pulled up to the bungalow that her theater friends Jerry Sandler and Lance Matthews owned. It was a cute, white cape cod with black shutters within easy walking distance to Footbridge Beach.

A short, heavy-set man with blond hair streaked with pink said, “There you are,” as she emerged from the car. His blue eyes sparkled. “Lance and I were starting to get worried. You don’t have much time before you need to get over to the theater. But come inside and relax a bit.”

“Thanks,” said Crystal, hugging Jerry.

Lance appeared. Tall, with black hair graying at the temples and sporting a black goatee, Lance was the gentleman he portrayed. “Did you bring luggage?”

“I have just one bag, but it’s big enough to last the week while Misty runs the Café for me. If necessary, I’ll go back to Lilac Lake to take care of things.”

Jerry laughed. “I get it. The Café is your baby.”

Lance took the bag from her. “We’ll just put this in our guest room. Come inside.”

The ordinary exterior of the house contrasted with a unique, updated interior. Pale-lavender walls held an array of pictures and paintings, and the gray-stained wooden floors, and the comfy off-white furniture combined to give off cozy but interesting vibes. Thinking of Emmett’s renovation, Crystal took note of the details. The lime-green, orange, and lilac pillows on the couch popped with color.

The living area opened to an updated kitchen that was a dream for any chef. Jerry had insisted on it and rightly so. He was a wonderful cook. Though you couldn’t tell from Lance’s thin frame, he eagerly ate whatever Jerry prepared.

“I’ve put your bag in the guest room. We can either stay inside or go out to the back deck. Your call,” said Lance.

“I’d love to be outside and smell the salty air,” said Crystal. “As relaxing as the lake is, being here by the ocean is always a delight.”

“I’ll fix us something cold to drink. Lemonade alright?” Jerry asked her.

“That sounds delicious,” said Crystal. “Thanks.”

They waited and then each carried a glass of it outside to the wooden deck behind the house. An awning kept a portion of the long deck shaded. Running the width of the house, the deck was a perfect place to stretch out in one of the lounge chairs or to eat at the umbrella-topped table. Like everything inside, the cushions on the teak chairs were color-coordinated in shades of gray, green, and brown.

Crystal chose one of the table chairs where she could converse with her friends. Jerry and Lance found seats on either side of her.

“How are the two of you?” she asked. “You both look terrific.”

“I’m fine,” said Jerry. “Lance had a bit of a cold in the spring before we came here for the summer. But we keep on keeping on. I’ve been working on a cookbook. A friend suggested I do it.”

“If you have any recipes for me to use, I’d love it,” Crystal said.

He laughed. “I do have one for you. Orange Chocolate Chip Pancakes. Everyone loves them.”

“Sounds perfect. Thanks.” Crystal turned to Lance. “How about you? Still doing consulting work for start-ups?”

“Yes. It’s amazing how many people think they can simply say they’re in business without laying any of the foundations behind it. The underprivileged people I work with are sometimes able to get funding from government programs, but it takes a lot of organization to put it to the best use. And a lot of patience to deal with the government.” Lance had created and sold a computer program to a large company and was still getting royalties every year from it.

“Before you go back to New York, I hope to lure you to Lilac Lake.”

“The fall is a good time to visit with all the rest of the ‘leaf peepers’. Maybe then,” said Jerry. He leaned forward eagerly. “Any new man in your life?”

Crystal couldn’t stop a pink flush from entering her cheeks. “Maybe. Maybe not. But I have met someone who interests me.” She blinked rapidly. “I may be more interested than he. We had a spat, and I’m waiting to see what will happen.”

“Tell us about him,” said Lance sitting back and giving her a look of concern.

---