Page 85 of Love's Home Run

“We haven’t decided. We want to elope, but I’m not sure that’s possible,” said Crystal. “We’re working on it.”

“It might be nice for us to be married here in Lilac Lake,” Nettie said to Jason.

“First things first,” said Jason, sliding his arm around Nettie’s shoulder.

They left the café and walked back to Melissa’s car. “How about a canoe ride on the lake?”

Nettie grinned and turned to Jason. “I’m game. Are you?”

“Sure. I haven’t had time to do something like that in a long while.”

“We brought our bathing suits as you asked,” said Nettie. “We’re taking your suggestion and staying until the end of the week. This can be a working vacation.”

“Perfect,” said Melissa. The longer they stayed in town, the more likely they’d choose to go forward with a deal. They just had to make the numbers work.

###

At the neighborhood dock, Melissa was relieved Ross wasn’t in sight. She needed time before discussing their relationship. She was on unfamiliar ground and knew it.

She asked Jason to help her move the canoe to the water’s edge. Nettie stood holding the life jackets and canvas bag containing water bottles and sunscreen.

Jason and Nettie got into the canoe, and Melissa pushed it off the shore and hopped in, rocking the boat enough to make Nettie gasp.

Sitting in the bow of the canoe, Jason helped keep it steady.

“Okay, let’s make our way down the lake. We may get as far as the Lilac Lake Cottage the three Gilford girls own. They’re my friends, and are the granddaughters of Mrs. Wittner, the woman who originally owned the Inn. I love that so many people our age have returned to town.”

“It makes it special because you already are friends,” said Nettie.

“Not to worry,” said Melissa. “You two won’t have any problem making friends here.”

They grew silent as they glided through the water, surprising ducks paddling on the surface and coming upon Great Blue Herons feeding at the edge of the lake where reeds grew.

Being close to nature like this, Melissa felt the tension leave her body.

They paddled as far as the cottage, saw no one was there, and headed back to the other end of the lake with Nettie paddling in the bow for the return trip.

When they reached the neighborhood dock and clubhouse, they were ready for a cool drink on Melissa’s back porch.

They quickly stored the canoe and the gear and walked back to Melissa’s house, where they stretched out on lounge chairs on the porch.

“This is the life,” murmured Jason, accepting a cold beer from Melissa.

Nettie smiled at Melissa.

Maybe this idea would work.

###

Later, they dressed and went to meet Crystal. This meeting would be about the nuts and bolts of a sales contract. There was room for negotiation, but the basics had to be agreed upon. For this initial phase, there would be no lawyer. It would be a different story later when Jason would also need one to sell his share of the restaurant in Boston.

Melissa dropped Nettie and Jason off at the café for their meeting and, on a whim, decided to go see Mrs. Genie Wittner. Grandmother to Whitney, Dani, and Taylor, she was a woman who was generous with financial help to people in town and was willing to share wisdom with those who asked.

Since renewing her friendship with her granddaughters, Melissa had grown closer to Mrs. Wittner, or GG, as everyone called her. She played the role of a sweet grandmother for some of the kids in town, including her, who didn’t have one. For others, she was often the source of unrequested financial help just when they needed it most, almost like a Genie granting people’s long-held wishes. Melissa had always thought the name Genie was appropriate.

Before she left town, Melissa stopped in Petals, the flower shop at the end of Main Street. She knew GG loved flowers and had a sweet tooth.

A short while later, Melissa pulled into the parking lot at The Woodlands, the assisted living facility where GG lived. She stared at the lovely, one-story wooden structure. It was the first big project Brad and Aaron Collister had undertaken and demonstrated how clever and hard-working the half-brothers were. The whole town applauded them for it.

---