Page 47 of Lakehouse Promises

He snorted. “I woudn’t take that to the bank. I still say Bernice ripped you off.”

“Actually she gave me the plants for free and I paid for the pumpkins.” She shrugged.

“She must like you if she gave you something free.”

“Trust me she doesn’t like me. She reminded me this morning when I arrived about paying for her cat’s vet bill.”

Thomas let out a laugh. “That’s Bernice alright. Never lets anything go.” He carried two pumpkins to the front door and set them down. Phoenix appeared from the back of the house and went over to sniff the pumpkins.

“Hey Phoenix. Has he been here all day?”

“This is the first time I’ve seen him. I looked when I drove into the neighborhood but didn’t spot him at anyone’s house. I’m afraid he’s yours for life.”

As if sensing they were talking about him, Phoenix lifted his head and looked at them both.

She set down her mums and scratched him between the ears. “That’s okay. I’ll keep him.”

“He seems smart enough. He’ll be good protection for you at night.”

“I hope I won’t need to have any protection. I mean it’s pretty safe out here, right?”

Thomas pulled a hankerchief out of the back of his pocket and wiped his hands. “There was a break-in about a year ago but they found out it was someone passing through. But it is usually quiet out here.”

After unloading everything, Thomas went into the bathroom to wash up while she set out the sandwiches.

“That looks good. I forgot how hungry I was.” He rested his hand on his stomach.

“Good, eat up.” She handed him a paper plate with a club sandwich and some chopped apple. She grabbed the pitcher out of the refrigerator and poured them both some tea.

“Want to sit outside?” She asked. “I know it’s chilly but I hate not enjoying the outdoors while I can. Winter will be here soon enough.”

He held the back door open while she walked outside. They sat around the small table on the deck.

“Your’s is one of the few houses with a boat launch. But I don’t see the boat.”

Carolina sighed. “Apparently Chris sold it. I didn’t find out about it until the divorce.”

“Sounds like you didn’t communicate well.”

“You would be right. You’re lucky that you had a good marriage. I had always thought that I didn’t deserve the kind of life I found myself in.”

“What do you mean?” He gave her a quizzical look.

“I mean, Chris came from a wealthy family, he was handsome, smart, made friends easily. He became a doctor and did well for himself.” She shrugged and picked at the lettuce. “I always was kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop. For God to realize that I didn’t deserve that kind of lifestyle.”

“Didn’t deserve?”

“Yeah. We are total opposites. My family didn’t have much money. I mean I was happy and had a safe home, my parents loved me. We might not have had vacations every summer but we always had picnics at my grandparent’s farm under a large oak tree.” She nodded at the tree in the back yard. “Just like that one. I’d love to have a large wooden table underneath those limbs for dinners and picnics.”

He studied her intently. “Did you realize your marriage was in trouble? Did you see it coming?”

She sighed. “When I look back on everything, I do. But when I was in the middle of it, I didn’t. Chris started coming home later and later. We didn’t talk much when he did. I always figured he was tired. I didn’t realize he was tired because he had a twenty-two year-old girlfriend.” She took a drink. “The shocking part was none of my friends told me what was going on. Now I can see they all knew. I think that’s what hurt the most.”

“Doesn’t sound like they were real friends.”

“Maybe they just didn’t want to get involved.” She took a bite and looked out over the lake.

“That’s what real friends do. They get involved. Even if it’s messy, but they damn sure don’t leave you.”

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