Page 31 of Patio Lanterns

“She was a great cook,” Lark said.

“I didn’t get the chance to know Micki well, but people around here thought the world of her,” Rick said. “A few of us pitched in to help with the yard work or whatever else she needed.”

Robin’s eyes were glassy. “That was you? I wondered who’d mowed the lawn and planted the flowers. And our dock…” her voice faded until she mustered a quiet “thank you.”

“No need to thank me. I was glad to lend a hand. That’s just what lake neighbours do,” he said.

“See? That’s exactly why Mom and Dad loved coming up here,” Dove said. “They loved being part of this little community.”

“They weren’t the original owners of this cottage, were they?” Rick asked.

“Oh no,” Lark said. “Our great-grandfather, John Pelletier, built it in 1921 after winning the land in a poker game.”

“Are you serious?” Rick laughed. “Sounds like quite the story.”

“He worked as a labourer on the mining road camps,” she explained. “As the story goes, one night he was dealt into the crew’s nightly game of poker at a table with a couple of visiting American prospectors.”

“A lucky queen-high straight flush and he won the deed to a parcel of land in the wilderness,” Robin chimed in. “Cleared all one and a half acres of it by hand.”

“Then he built a small cottage in the style of the trappers’ cabins at work camps he’d stayed in,” Dove added. “After he got married, it got expanded to accommodate his growing family. The rest is history.”

“Wow, this place looks amazing for being over a hundred years old,” Rick said, looking up at the ceiling to admire the solid structure’s good bones. “If only these walls could talk.”

“Lots and lots of stories here,” Robin said, nodding.

“Lots of love too,” Dove echoed. “Especially during the thirty years that Mom and Dad owned it.”

The girls were understandably emotional talking about their parents. Robin sniffed, and Rick wanted so badly to reach out and wrap his arms around her. She fought back tears, blinking as she turned to Aidan, seated beside her. “So, what is it that you do now?”

“I’m a building contractor. Custom cottage renos, mostly. But I’m seriously thinking about expanding into real estate development.” He exchanged a glance with Rick. “Still have a few things to work out there, but if all goes according to plan, I may be involved in some very high-end projects for elite clients.”

“Celebrities?” Dove asked.

“As a matter of fact,” he said, nodding.

“Anyone we might know?”

“Maybe, maybe. I may have a lead on a major star who’s expressed interest in building not too far from here.”

Dove wiggled in her seat. “Oooh, that sounds exciting.”

“Aidan’s very ambitious,” Rick spoke up. “When he really puts his mind to something, he can accomplish just about anything.”

“I know someone who could use a little of that,” Lark said, nudging her chin in Robin’s direction.

“Don’t start, please,” Robin pleaded.

“What? All I’m saying is that Aidan would be a good influence. You might be inspired to do something with your life other than hocking t-shirts.”

“I do more than hock t-shirts,” Robin said defensively. “I’m a merchandise manager for a band with half a million monthly listeners on the most popular streaming service. I oversee the design, production, distribution, and sale of all their merchandise.”

“In other words, she hocks t-shirts,” Lark said smugly. “Can you believe she threw away a promising art career for that?”

“What band?” Aidan asked.

“The Bing Cherries,” Lark said.

“The Dawn Cherries,” Robin corrected her.

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