She owns the lodge, but he owns the land...

Mississippi Hearts seek happy endings

When single mom Carly Hughes inherits the Longleaf Lodge, she gains a heap of trouble—her teenage crush, Deputy Mackenzie Bridges. Her father left Mack the land around the lodge. While Carly wants to sell for her daughter’s sake, Mack wants to stay for his niece’s. And if they can’t work together, they’ll both lose everything...including the renewed spark between them.

LORRAINE BEATTY was raised in Columbus, Ohio, but now calls Mississippi home. She and her husband, Joe, have two sons and five grandchildren. Lorraine started writing in junior high and is a member of RWA and ACFW, and a charter member and past president of Magnolia State Romance Writers. In her spare time she likes to work in her garden, travel and spend time with her family.

Also By Lorraine Beatty

Mississippi Hearts

Her Fresh Start Family

Their Family Legacy

Their Family Blessing

Home to Dover

Protecting the Widow’s Heart

His Small-Town Family

Bachelor to the Rescue

Her Christmas Hero

The Nanny’s Secret Child

A Mom for Christmas

The Lawman’s Secret Son

Her Handyman Hero

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Their Family Blessing

Lorraine Beatty

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09479-5

THEIR FAMILY BLESSING

© 2019 Lorraine Beatty

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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www.millsandboon.co.uk

“I’m glad you’re back.”

Carly’s admission left Mack off balance. He wanted to believe the sincerity and affection he saw in her eyes, but he didn’t want to read too much into it, either. “You’re just glad I’m here to help finish the repairs.” He’d meant it as a jest but Carly paled and stepped back.

“You’re right. That’s all that matters.”

She held his gaze a long moment, and he realized he’d hurt her feelings. But he was afraid to believe that her words were more than normal concern for a friend. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have been flippant. I’m tired. Thank you for caring. I mean it.”

She nodded but didn’t move. He sensed she wanted to say more, but Lucy came up and took his hand. “Will you come play with me?”

How could he refuse such a request? He smiled at Carly. “I’ve been summoned.” He walked off, but he could feel Carly’s gaze on his back. What did she want to say to him?

Dear Reader,

Welcome back to Hastings, Mississippi, and the ladies of the widow’s walk group. I hope you’re enjoying reading about the widows learning to love again after loss. I have a lot of admiration for the women who are courageous and carry on. Carly is one such woman. Life has given her many challenges and she’s strived to rise to the cause. But many of her issues are things she needs to confront.

The words of one of my favorite hymns kept repeating in my mind as I wrote this book. “Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”

Have you ever taken something at face value because you didn’t want to know the truth? Had you sided with someone because you were loyal, never asking what actually happened or because you were unwilling to accept that the person you cared about would shift the facts?

Mack and Carly learned the hard way how much jumping to conclusions can distort a relationship far into the future.

Sometimes we have to stop and face the truth, ask the hard questions and stop accepting the standard explanation. It was only when Carly and Mack let go of the old notions and half-truths, and allowed the Lord to shine a light on the truth, that they were they able to put the past behind them and embrace the future they were supposed to have.

I hope you’ll enjoy their journey as they travel the winding road to their happily-ever-after.

I love to hear from my readers. Contact me on my website or through Love Inspired books or directly at Lorrainebeatty@comcast.net.

Blessings,

Lorraine

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.

—Luke 6:37

To my precious daughters-in-law, Robin and Cindy, who have made my sons happy all these years. You are a blessing to all of us.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Dear Reader

Bible Verse

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Extract

About the Publisher

Chapter One

The office was exactly what widow Carly Porter Hughes had expected from a small-town attorney. Wood paneling, thick carpets, massive desk and walls lined with legal books. It had been designed to instill trust and confidence in those who entered, none of which she was feeling at the moment. Nathan Holt came around his desk, greeting her with a smile and a firm handshake before smiling down at her six-year-old daughter, Ella.

Carly hugged Ella close to her side. “I hope you don’t mind me bringing her along. I had no one to leave her with.”

“Certainly not. In fact, I have some books over here she can look at while we talk business.”

With Ella settled in, Carly took a seat in front of the desk, smoothed the front of her gray skirt, then clasped her hands tightly in her lap. The reading of the will. The whole situation seemed surreal. She never expected to be back in Hastings, Mississippi, and she certainly hadn’t expected to inherit anything from her father. They hadn’t spoken in years. Mostly she resented the demand for her presence at the reading.

Carly swallowed past the tightness in her throat. All she wanted to do was get through this ordeal and head back to Atlanta, where she belonged. “Can we get started, Mr. Holt? I’m anxious to get back home.”

Holt nodded slowly. “I understand, but we’re waiting for the other beneficiary to arrive. He should be here any moment.”

“Other beneficiary?” Who in the world could he be talking about? She had no siblings, and only a very distant cousin she’d never even met. She started to ask who it was when the door opened behind her and Holt stood, a welcoming smile on his round face.

“Ah, there you are. Have a seat, Mr. Bridges, and we’ll get started.”

Carly’s heart skipped a beat. No. It couldn’t be. She turned her head to the side and her gaze traveled up the long length of the man who had entered. Her gaze collided with his and her mind hiccupped. Mackenzie Bridges. The last person on earth she wanted to see.

He held her gaze, a hint of amusement lifting one side of his mouth. “Hello, Carly.” He took the seat beside her and crossed his long legs.

It took her longer than it should have to find her voice. Mack had changed. He’d be thirty-four now, two years older than her, and the years had been very kind to him. The tall slender boy she remembered had grown into a very handsome man. His six-foot frame had developed a pair of broad shoulders that spoke of his strength. His dark brown hair, once so long and careless, was now trimmed neatly, wavy enough so it invited a woman to run her fingers through it. His sky blue eyes still held a perpetual sparkle, and his crooked smile was still very much in evidence and hadn’t lost any of its charm. “You’re the other beneficiary?”

“It appears so.”

She should have known. Her father had always loved Mack, his surrogate son, more than her.

Holt opened the file and Mack leaned forward, looking over at Ella. “Yours?”

“Yes.” Carly tried to not look at him, but he was still very hard to ignore. Dressed in dark slacks and a pale blue shirt, he looked professional. Not like the jeans-and-T-shirt-wearing boy she remembered. Pushing her hair behind her ear, she refocused. She wanted to get through the reading and go home. Holt began explaining about the unusual nature of the will, which sent a small frisson of concern along her nerves.

“To my daughter, Carly Porter Hughes, I leave the Longleaf Lodge and all its contents.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. This was the first light at the end of the dark financial tunnel she’d been in for the last few years. Things had been hard enough after her husband had died, but the addition of Ella’s surgery had only made things worse.

“To my dear friend, Mackenzie Scott Bridges, I leave all the land on which Longleaf Lodge sits, including the cabins, canoe livery, pool and campgrounds.”

Mack rubbed his forehead. “This doesn’t make any sense. Why not divide it up equally between us?”

Holt peered over his glasses. “There’s more.”

He read a long passage of legalese that left Carly more confused than ever. “I’m sorry, but could you just spell it out for me.”

The attorney sighed, removed his glasses and then leaned back in his chair. “Basically it comes down to this. Neither of you can sell your portion of the estate unless both agree. You are required to live at the lodge for the next two months, reopen the business and run it for the duration of this agreement. At the end of that time if you haven’t agreed to either keep the estate and continue to run it jointly or mutually agreed to sell, then the estate will be put up for auction and the proceeds given to charity.”

Carly’s mind was reeling. “Can he do this? We either follow his dictates or we get nothing?”

“I’m afraid so. I understand this is an unusual situation, but I assure you it’s all legal. Of course, if you both agree to sell, we can start that process right now.”

“Yes. I want to sell.”

Mack gave her an incredulous look. “No. Wade loved that lodge. He wouldn’t want us to sell out.”

Holt nodded. “Then until you are in agreement, you’ll be required to follow your father’s requirements.”

Carly’s pulse raced and heat crawled up her neck. “This is absurd. Isn’t there anything you can do?” The pleading in her voice was embarrassing.

“Nothing. It’s in your hands now. However, I’ll be here to help in any way with advice, and there’s an account set up for you to use to make any repairs and small upgrades to the estate.”

Her concern slid into fear. “Repairs? What kind of condition is the lodge in?”

Holt stood, signaling the meeting was over. “The lodge has been closed for the last two months. Your father was too sick to manage the place, and the Thompsons, who have managed the business for thirty years, couldn’t run it alone. But it was your father’s greatest desire to see the lodge up and running again.”

Of course it was. It was the only thing Wade Porter ever cared about, certainly not his wife and daughter. Carly stood and held out her hand to Ella. “Let’s go, sweetie. I’m all done.”

She was keenly aware of Mack following her out into the reception area. The scent of his spicy aftershave made him hard to ignore.

“Uncle Mack. Are you rich?”

A little blond-haired girl about Ella’s age jumped up and hurried toward Mack.

Carly spun and looked at Mack. He returned the child’s hug with a wide smile. The look of affection in his blue eyes made one thing clear. He loved the little girl.

“It’s not polite to speak about money, but no, I’m not. I told you this wasn’t about money.”

What did he mean by that? Was he making a not-too-subtle dig at her request to sell the estate? It probably had sounded mercenary, but she had a good reason. What did he hope to get out of this bequest?

He met her gaze, and one corner of his mouth arched as if amused. “This is my niece. Lucy, this is an old—This is Mr. Wade’s daughter, Miss Carly, and her daughter, Ella.”

Despite her roiling emotions, she couldn’t resist the sweet smile on Lucy’s face. “Hello, Lucy. Is she Valerie’s child?”

“Yes.” His expression turned serious. “We need to talk. Why don’t we meet at the lodge in an hour, get settled in and see what we can work out?”

“I’m not staying at the lodge.”

Mack lowered his voice and pinned her with his steely blue gaze. “I believe Mr. Holt stated that staying at the lodge was one of the conditions of the will. Would you like to double-check with him? Or are you ready to let your dad’s estate go up for auction tomorrow?”

She hated being forced to do things. How like her dad to die and leave a complicated mess behind. She wanted no part of it. But if she had any chance of inheriting even a small sum, she had to go along. Her only hope was to convince Mack to sell his portion, then they would both be free. Surely he had no desire to run the business.

“Fine. I’ll see you there.” She took Ella’s hand and walked out of the office. Her heart filled with old resentments and new frustrations. There had to be a way around this ridiculous will. Why would her father do this to her? He knew how she and her mother hated the lodge. It was the reason her parents had divorced.

But Mack was right. She couldn’t allow the estate to go to auction. She needed the money she could get from selling. There was no hope of paying off Ella’s hospital bills otherwise. Her father owed her that much. At least then the lodge would finally justify its existence.

Somehow she had to convince Mack that it was in everyone’s best interest to cut their losses and sell. There were too many memories here, too much pain and sadness. Adding Mack into the mix was only making it worse and stirring up another collection of painful incidents.

There was nothing at all at Longleaf Lodge and Campgrounds that she wanted. Except out from under it and hopefully enough money to be free of debt.

Mack watched Carly stride stiff-backed through the office door, pulling her daughter along with her as if she couldn’t get away fast enough. He’d hoped that coming back to Hastings after all this time would have softened her attitude. Given her response to the conditions of the will, she hadn’t changed at all. Emotionally, that is. Physically, she was very different. The last time he’d seen her was when she was seventeen and she’d made her last visit to the lodge after her parents split. She’d been every inch a tomboy. That skinny kid was now an incredibly lovely woman, with soft curves and an inner strength that showed in her fawn-colored eyes.

Her warm brown hair was no longer pulled back into a sassy ponytail, but fell in soft sections around her pretty face, calling attention to her big brown eyes. Unfortunately, her old resentment toward her father—and to him—was still in evidence. Her parents’ divorce had changed everything and he didn’t fully understand why.

He’d hoped they could finally move beyond the tensions of the past and become friends again. He’d never understood why Carly ran so hot and cold toward him. They’d even shared a kiss on her last visit to the lodge. One that he still regretted, though he’d never been able to forget it. She’d been younger than him, and the boss’s daughter. A combination nearly impossible to overcome. The same way his feelings for Carly had never been overcome. And after seeing her again today he knew he hadn’t gotten over her. She still held a part of his heart.

A short while later, Mack pulled to a stop in front of the Longleaf Lodge. Lucy hopped out as soon as he turned off the engine. The parking spots were empty. Carly hadn’t arrived yet. He wasn’t sure she would. Her feelings toward her father ran deep, and he feared they were strong enough that she would stand by and let the lodge be put up for auction. The last thing he wanted to see.

He loved this place. It had been his second home since he was fourteen, and Wade Porter the father he’d never had. He stepped into the lodge, the sense of peace and welcome settling on his shoulders the way it always did.

Dwayne and Thelma Thompson looked up from behind the registration desk. The couple had worked for Carly’s father as long as Mack could remember. Dwayne was general manager and Thelma kept the books and ran the lodge. They were as much a part of the lodge as Wade.

Dwayne came toward him. “How did it go?”

Mack shook his head. “Wade threw everyone a curveball.” He filled them in, watching the surprise on the couple’s faces. “Did you have any idea he was going to do this?”

Dwayne shook his head. “I knew he was trying to get Carly to come home. He hoped she’d change her mind and keep the lodge, but I had no idea about those conditions.”

Thelma met his gaze. “Did you see Carly?”

“I did. She looks great.” He couldn’t hold back a smile. “Her little girl looks just like her.”

“I wish her daddy could have seen her. Is she coming to stay here?”

“She doesn’t have a choice. It’s a condition of the will.”

“Oh, then I’d better get the apartment ready.”

After his wife left the room, Dwayne leaned closer. “Tell me the truth. Do you think Carly will go along with this arrangement? Do you think she’ll keep the lodge?”

Mack hated to kill the hope he saw in the older man’s eyes. “I wouldn’t count on it. The first thing she asked the attorney was how soon she could put the place on the market. She wants no part of this place. If it wasn’t for me being listed as an heir, she’d have a real estate agent out here pounding a for-sale sign into the ground.”

Dwayne shook his head. “Maybe when she’s been here a few days, she’ll remember the good times. There were a lot of them before the divorce.”

“I don’t understand why she doesn’t.”

“That last year was hard on everyone. Wade and Sonia were at each other’s throats every day, and Carly was caught in the middle. She probably felt she needed to stand by her mom, who was being mistreated.”

“Wade never mistreated anyone.”

“That was Sonia’s side of the story. I always told Wade he should have fought for joint custody, but he thought Carly would be better off with her mom.”

Lucy came in from the backyard. “Uncle Mack, is that little girl and her mom coming here to live? It would be nice to have a friend to play with.”

“I’m not sure, kiddo. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Car doors slamming drew everyone’s attention. The lodge door opened, and Carly and Ella entered, stopping inside the entrance. Carly slowly surveyed the large main room, and from the expression on her face, Mack’s hopes began to deflate.

Having Carly in his life again was going to be more awkward than he’d expected. He had wondered if seeing her once more would have any effect on him, and it had. The old attraction was stirring to life again. She was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, though much of the sparkle she used to exude was missing now. One thing he couldn’t deny was that seeing her back in the lodge felt right.

“Welcome home.”

She met his gaze, her brown eyes hard and determined. “My home is in Atlanta.”

His last thread of hope vanished. He’d envisioned a new beginning for them, and a return to the old friendship they’d shared. Getting Carly to remember how happy she’d been at Longleaf Lodge might be a bigger task than he’d anticipated.

From the look on her face, she had no warm memories of the lodge, and if that was true then his hopes of keeping the place and providing a real home for his niece were slim. For the first time in sixty years, the Longleaf Lodge might not be in the Porter family.

And that broke his heart.

* * *

Carly was keenly aware of the intense stare Mack was sending in her direction, and she tried to ignore her fluttering pulse. His blue gaze had always had an unsettling effect on her, and she wasn’t pleased to find that it still had the power to elevate her heart rate. Her gaze traveled around the large open room that was the heart of the lodge. The place hadn’t changed at all. Three large leather sofas were positioned in front of the tall stone fireplace. A wagon wheel light fixture hung overhead. Floor-to-ceiling windows at the far end of the room looked out onto the beauty of Lake Hope with comfy furniture arranged to take in the view.

For a brief moment she remembered her days as a child when she had found so much joy and comfort within the large log lodge. But that was long ago, before her world had fractured.

Dwayne stepped forward, arms outstretched. “Welcome back, Cupcake.”

Her heart warmed at the old nickname, because that was her favorite dessert, and his wife, Thelma, made the best ones. She accepted his hug willingly. The Thompsons were the only bright light in this trip back to Hastings.

“It’s so good to see you again. Ella, this is Mr. Dwayne, a very old friend.”

Ella smiled up at him. “Why do you call her Cupcake?”

Thelma hurried across the room from the direction of the west wing, where the owner’s apartment was located. “Because she couldn’t get enough cupcakes as a little girl.” Thelma hugged her and placed her hands on Carly’s cheeks, her eyes moist as she looked at her. “It’s so good to have you back. We’ve missed you.” She transferred her attention to Ella. “And look at this sweet thing. You look just like your mama did when she was little.”

“Can I have a nickname, too?”

“Of course. What’s your favorite snack?”

“Cookies.”

“Then that’ll be your pet name. Cookie.”

Ella nodded and smiled. “We’re Cupcake and Cookie, that’s cool.”

Lucy entered the room and hurried toward the new arrivals. “Hi. I’m Lucy. You wanna come play with me on the swing set?”

Ella glanced up at her with a hopeful face. How could she refuse? Besides, she needed to run off some energy after the long drive to Mississippi.

“Go ahead, sweetie. But don’t wander off. Stay close by.”

The girls dashed toward the back door as Thelma slipped her arm in Carly’s and led her toward the hall off the registration desk. “I have the apartment all ready for you and Ella. All your daddy’s things have been packed up and stored for when you’re ready to go through them.”

Carly stopped in her tracks. There was no way she was going to stay in her father’s home—the section of the lodge that had been designed for her family. Too many bad memories. “No. We’ll just stay in one of the guest rooms. We won’t be here that long.” She slanted a glance at Mack, who had been standing at the desk silently, studying her with his piercing blue eyes filled with confusion and a bit of disgust, no doubt. Her only goal now was to convince Mack to sell the property as quickly as possible. Surely he had a life elsewhere?

Thelma exchanged looks with her husband. “Well, of course, dear. Right this way.” Thelma led her to the other side of the lodge, settling her in the corner room with the best view. No memories here.

“Well, I’ll let you get settled. You know where everything is, but if you need anything you let me know.”

She gave the woman another hug. Dwayne and Thelma had been the two constants in her life. The dear aunt and uncle she’d never had. Her dad was always busy running the campgrounds and keeping the place in order. Her mom used to manage the lodge but stopped when things became strained between her and Carly’s father. Dwayne and Thelma, however, had never changed.

“I was sorry to hear about your husband.”

“Thank you. I miss him.” No more than at this moment. Troy always knew the right thing to do.

It took her only a few moments to unpack the few belongings she’d brought. If they were going to stay here for any length of time she’d have to go shopping soon. Her gaze drifted to the large window that looked out over the lake and the long sloping lawn. Age-old oaks, sweetgums and longleaf pines, for which the lodge took its name, swayed in the late-spring breeze. Farther along the back, tucked in a pine grove, was a small worship center.

A yard swing hanging from the branch of a massive live oak at the edge of the water was still there. Swings were a symbol of the lodge. Her dad had them everywhere. They were on each porch around the main lodge; each campground had a swing, and picnic tables and swings were scattered around the pool area. There was a private one on their apartment porch. But the one by the water had always been her favorite. Her dad said swings were the perfect place to think, reflect and relax.

And now two little girls were enjoying the swing set her father had built for her closer to the lodge. Lucy, with her curly blond hair and blue eyes, and Ella, her brown-eyed, brown-haired treasure. It was nice to see her daughter with a friend. She’d been without any for a long while.

Stepping into the hall, she glanced up to see Mack at the top of the stairs. She braced for a barrage of questions about her not staying in her dad’s rooms. He wouldn’t understand her feelings. He had always been her dad’s ally.

“Your daughter is adorable.”

His comment caught her off guard. “Thank you. She’s my whole life.”

“I understand that now more than ever.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m Lucy’s guardian. She came to live with me six months ago. I’ve had a steep learning curve on fatherhood.”

Mack, a dad? She hadn’t expected that. She’d assumed he was watching his niece, not raising her, though she remembered he’d always been good with the kids who came to the lodge and campgrounds. “Where’s Valerie?”

He took a long moment to respond, and she could tell by the shadows in his eyes something was wrong.

“She got into some trouble. She’s in prison for the next decade.”

Her heart clenched. “Oh, Mack.” She reached out and touched his arm. “I’m so sorry to hear that.” Valerie had always been troubled, even back when Carly first met Mack. She’d run away from home, and Mack and his mom had been sick with worry. His dad had walked out on the family when Mack was a toddler.

Mack laid his hand on top of hers, sending a strange current along her nerves, leaving her with a conflicted desire to pull away and remain at the same time.

“She tried to turn her life around, even got a good job on the coast and moved Mom down there to help with Lucy, but after Mom passed away, she fell back into her old ways. Thankfully, she arranged for me to have Lucy.”

“So you live on the coast now?”

“Gulfport for the time being.”

She pulled her hand from beneath his, rubbing it slightly to dispel the lingering sensation of his broad palm. “You’re moving?” A wry smile moved his lips.

“I’d like to raise Lucy here at the lodge. She needs a family, and between me and the Thompsons she could have a good life.”

A long-forgotten memory flashed into her mind of a childhood spent outdoors, hiking, canoeing, climbing trees and sitting around campfires. It was quickly overshadowed by other memories of shouting and anger and betrayal. She squared her shoulders. “If you’re trying to play on my sympathies, it won’t work.” She stepped past him and started down the stairs.

“I’m only telling you what I want for my niece. She deserves a real home, and I can only give her an apartment and part-time father.”

Carly stopped. She was in a similar position, raising her daughter alone without a father. She understood his concerns. Looking over her shoulder, she met his gaze. “Lucy is very fortunate to have you, Mack.”

“I’m the fortunate one. She’s changed my life.”

A thread of empathy fluttered along her nerves. “Children can do that.” Her mind bloomed with a bouquet of sweet memories from childhood until the last one scrolled by, shading all the others in a dark cloud. She moved away toward the stairs.

“Carly, I was sorry to hear about your husband.”

She spun around. “How did you know about that?”

“Your dad told me.”

“How did he know? I never told him.”

A deep frown creased Mack’s forehead. “Why wouldn’t you tell your father that your husband died?”

“A better question might be why would he care?”

“What? Carly, how can you—”

She hurried down the stairs and made her way quickly to the backyard. The fragrant spring air filled her lungs with the familiar scent of water and earth and pine. Giggles floating on the air from the swing set made her smile. It was so good to hear her daughter laugh again. She knew how hard and unfeeling her words sounded to others, but they didn’t understand. Her father was the one who’d destroyed everything. She swallowed the old hurt, and smiled at Ella and Lucy on the swing.

“Hello, girls. Are you having fun?”

Ella grinned and dragged her toes on the ground to slow the swing. “This is the best swing ever. It goes really high.”

“Mr. Wade built it a long time ago.” Lucy made the announcement with a very serious tone.

“I know. He built it for me when I was your age.”

“Who’s Mr. Wade?”

Ella’s question nearly brought Carly to her knees. In her animosity toward her father, she had totally forgotten that he was Ella’s grandpa, too. “Mr. Wade was my daddy.” She had some explaining to do. Coming back here was going to be much harder than she’d ever dreamed. “Ella, why don’t you come inside for a moment and I’ll show you which room we’re in. Then you can come back out and play with Lucy.”

“Okay.”

Lucy followed them inside.

“Mommy, can we stay here for a long time? I like it.”

Even her own daughter was falling under the spell of the lodge. Carly’s heart wrenched. “We’ll see, honey. I don’t know yet how long we’ll be here.”

“I hope it’s a whole week because I want to play more with Lucy.”

She’d never felt so outnumbered. Everyone but her wanted her to stay at Longleaf. Why couldn’t they understand that the memories were too painful, the betrayal too deep.

This place had torn her family apart.

She could never live here again.

Chapter Two

Mack had been patient long enough. He’d held his tongue during the delicious feast Thelma had prepared. As they sat around one of the large tables in the lodge dining room, Dwayne and Thelma tried their best to keep the conversation light by talking about amusing guests that had stayed at the lodge and reminiscing about happy times in the past. Carly had only nodded and made a few muffled responses, choosing to stare at her food most of the time. The girls had helped keep the meal from being awkward by sharing the fun they’d had during the day.

When Carly announced that she was putting Ella to bed, Mack had to speak up. Time was crucial, and he wasn’t about to let Longleaf Lodge go to auction and end up with an owner who didn’t understand or appreciate the history and significance of the place. He stopped her at the foot of the stairs.

“We need to talk, Carly. We can’t put this off any longer.” The look on her face told him that was exactly what she wanted to do. She glanced up at her daughter, who was hurrying up to her room, and her expression shifted to one of resignation. When she faced him again, her brown eyes were filled with determination.

“Fine. I’ll come back down after I put Ella to bed.”

Mack watched her as she took the steps, each graceful movement reminding him of his old attraction. His heart skipped a beat and he turned away. That was a long time ago and the will loomed between them now, making any kind of friendship difficult.

He stood by the stone fireplace staring into the empty firebox, his mind scrolling through old memories, all of them centering around Carly. He’d fallen for her the first time he’d seen her—not in a romantic way since she’d only been twelve, but she was cute and smart and her cheery personality had been adorable. As the years went on, she’d changed into a feisty teenager with a heart for the guests. When she’d turned sixteen, things had started to shift. Mack had admired her from afar. Her being the boss’s daughter and an underage teen were obstacles that prevented any action on his part. Time had always been their enemy. A perpetual wrong-place wrong-time scenario.

He turned when he sensed a presence behind him. Carly came slowly toward him as if fearful of getting too close. He couldn’t help but wonder why. “Is Ella okay?”

“All settled in. What about Lucy?”

“She’s watching a movie. I’ll check on her in a minute.”

She nodded, resting a hand on the mantel and glancing up at the top of the stone chimney. “I never understood why you’d put a fireplace in a Mississippi house. We rarely used this in the winter.”

“True, our weather stays pretty warm in the southern part of the state, but I think people like them not for the warmth of the fire, but for the ambience. A fireplace is comforting. It makes us feel safe, as if we’re protected from the forces beyond the flames.”

“That’s very poetic.”

He had to chuckle at that. “Yeah. I don’t know where that came from. I seem to have all kinds of new viewpoints since I became Lucy’s guardian.” He could see the questions forming in Carly’s eyes, and he didn’t want to be distracted by talking about his niece. They had more important things to sort out. He motioned to the leather chairs at the side of the fireplace.

Carly didn’t wait for him to start. She sat on the edge of the cushion, stiff-backed and serious. “I spoke with a real estate agent today and he gave me a rough estimate of the value of the land and the lodge. I think the simplest solution would be for you to buy me out. Then you can have Longleaf, and I can take my share of profits and go home.”

“Profits? Is that all the lodge means to you? Money?”

She swiped her hair behind her ear. “Yes.”

He knew that gesture. It meant she was hiding what she was really feeling. It didn’t make any sense. Unless he was misreading her. It had been a long time since they’d seen each other. Old hurts resurfaced without warning. “I never realized how much like your mother you were.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. Sorry. I was out of line.” He knew she wasn’t like her mother. “Carly, I can’t buy you out. I know what this place is worth, and there’s no way I can raise that kind of money.”

“That’s what loans are for.”

“I’m a cop, a sergeant with the sheriff’s department. I’ve been flipping houses on the side to make ends meet. Why don’t you buy me out? Then you can sell and have all the money you need for your big-city lifestyle.”

“I’m an administrative assistant for a friend’s clothing-design business. Not exactly a cash cow.”

“Then that leaves us with only one option. We have to follow the dictates of the will.”

Carly leaned back in the chair, her shoulders slumped. “I can’t stay here for two months. I have a life in Atlanta. Besides, what makes you think we can get the lodge open and running again?”

“I already spoke to Dwayne. He says the staff he let go when Wade got sick are all anxious to come back to work. He thinks we can reopen in a week, maybe two. With you and I taking up some of the slack, we can start hosting guests soon after that. He gets calls every day asking when they will reopen.”

Carly tapped her thumbnail against her teeth. “It sounds impossible.”

“I won’t lie to you, it’s not going to be easy. A large hotel chain built a resort-type facility across the lake, which has lured a lot of guests away. Wade was very discouraged.”

“Then what makes you think we can make a go of this place in only two months? What’s the point if we’re only going to sell out at the end?”

“I think there are still a lot of tourists who want a peaceful, calm outdoor experience. The hotel is pricey, their food is pricey and there’s always something going on. Longleaf offers a slower pace, an escape from that kind of environment. It appeals to an entirely different demographic.”

“I’m not convinced.” She crossed her arms. “Why do you want to keep the lodge?”

“I loved it here. I loved your dad. I’d like Lucy to grow up with this kind of home, free to run and play outdoors, and surrounded by a sense of permanence. This has been in your family since your grandfather built the lodge in the seventies. It has a history. Your dad loved this place.”

Carly’s mouth pinched into a tight line. “I know. He loved it more than anything or anyone.”

“What does that mean?”

She brushed off his comment.

Mack’s chest tightened. He was beginning to think Carly would never agree to any plan he suggested. She wanted no part of the lodge and he didn’t understand why unless, like her mother, she was more interested in a luxurious life in Atlanta. He found that hard to accept. He remembered how much Carly had loved the lodge growing up. There had to be a way to convince Carly to at least make an attempt to save the lodge. It’s what Wade had wanted. Maybe he could offer a compromise. It wasn’t exactly honest, but he had to do something to break this logjam they were facing. If he had to fudge a little, then so be it.

He sent up a prayer that Carly would agree to his next suggestion. “What if we work together to get the place up and running? We clean up the grounds and maybe update the interior of the lodge to make it more appealing. Then we would have a better chance of getting top dollar.”

“You would agree to that?”

“It’s not what I want, but I don’t want to stand by and let the place be auctioned off. It would break your father’s heart. We don’t have time to mull this over. We have to make a decision now. If we do nothing, then we both lose. Is that really what you want?”

The shadow of doubt in her eyes gave Mack a ray of hope. Maybe deep down she really did care. He just had to find a way to make her remember.

“I think I can do that. As long as we agree our goal is to make the lodge attractive to prospective buyers, and as long as you understand that I don’t want Longleaf.”

Mack shoved aside his twinge of guilt for misleading her. “I understand.”

“Good.” Carly stood, meeting his gaze and sending a strange longing through him. Seeing her here the way he’d always remembered was a bittersweet moment, and he wanted it to last.

“We should get started in the morning right after breakfast. We need to get an overview of the estate, see the condition of the grounds so we can prioritize the needs.”

Carly looked reluctant. “So soon?”

“We can’t waste any more time. I thought you were anxious to get back home.”

“Fine. I’ll see you in the morning.” She walked off and up the stairs, never looking back.

Mack watched her go, his heart sinking slowly. Dwayne strolled to his side, watching as Carly disappeared.

“How did it go?”

“I had to compromise on the truth a little.”

“How so?”

“I got her to agree to stay and fix the place with the intention of attracting a good buyer.”

“Did you both agree that you want to sell?”

“No. But I’m hoping that after she’s been here awhile she’ll remember how much she loved the place and she won’t want to let it go.”

“I wouldn’t hold your breath. From what I’ve seen so far, whatever chased her away from Longleaf hasn’t softened with time.”

“What was it, do you know?”

“Not really, but it had something to do with her mother, I can tell you that.”

Mack went upstairs to tuck Lucy in, mulling over Dwayne’s comment about Carly’s mom. He had no idea what had gone wrong, but it had changed everything in the blink of an eye. Wade had never been the same after his wife had left him. Carly had only returned once after that, a year later and left suddenly after they’d shared that one unbelievable kiss. He’d forgotten for a moment that she was the boss’s daughter. But he just couldn’t ignore how the moment had seemed so right, and the kiss, as brief as it had been, had shifted his world. So much so that he’d made a date with Natalie Reynolds, his old girlfriend just to forget the whole incident. He’d taken her to the lodge for a canoe ride. Carly had left the next day, leaving him confused and guilt ridden, and with pain he’d never experienced before. The memory could still send tiny pinpricks of hurt along his nerves.

As much as he hated to admit it, Carly was part of his life and always would be. No matter how much he wished he could stop caring. It would be easier to stop breathing.

Carly watched her sleeping daughter. She envied the ability to simply set aside the events of the day and drift off. Her thoughts were too stirred up to consider sleeping. She needed to move, to do something. Slipping from the room, she made her way quietly downstairs, relieved to find the lodge silent and empty.

Carly fingered the key in her hand, fighting the knots in her stomach. She wasn’t sure why she was doing this. She didn’t want to remember the past, but something inside her compelled her to visit the place where she’d grown up.

Inserting the key, she turned the lock and opened the door, stepping into the rooms that had been her childhood home. The west side of the lodge consisted of a two-bedroom apartment, so large and spacious it had never felt like an apartment. With open rooms, a second floor and wide private deck, it had provided a sanctuary for the family away from the constant flow of guests staying at the lodge.

Carly stepped into the rooms, bracing for a barrage of bad memories. What slammed into her, however, were the good ones from when she was small. The winter evenings spent in front of the fire, the Christmas tree sitting by the large windows looking out onto the lake.

She turned when she heard tapping on the doorframe. Dwayne stepped in, a small smile on his lined face.

“It’s good to see you in these rooms again, Carly. They’ve missed you.”

She set her jar. “I doubt that.” She noticed a collection of photographs on the mantel. She picked up one, shocked to see a picture of Ella when she was small. “What are these doing here? How did he get this?”

Dwayne tugged on his ear and grinned. “Your husband sent them. He felt it was the right thing to do. Wade wanted to see his grandchild.”

A hot flush washed through her. Of course her father would want to see Ella. Troy tried repeatedly to convince her to visit her father and bring Ella, but her anger and hurt had run too deep. She never wanted to feel that sense of betrayal again. Yet Troy had betrayed her, too, and gone behind her back.

“Your papa cherished those. It wasn’t all bad, you know. You were happy here. But after your mom came back and took you away, nothing was the same. Especially your father.”

“What do you mean, came back?”

“Don’t you remember? It was that summer you were sixteen. Your mom walked out real sudden-like. She was gone a week, then she showed back up, caused a scene and took you away. Your dad never told me what happened, but it nearly killed him. It took him years to fight through that.”

Carly shook her head. “No. That can’t be true. He caused her to leave. It was all his fault.”

Dwayne studied her a moment. “Maybe things aren’t quite the way you remember them. When we’re young, events don’t always make sense.”

She crossed her arms over her chest and set her jaw. “No. It made sense.” She knew exactly why her mother had left.

“Well, I’ll leave you be.”

Carly rubbed her forehead, struggling to understand what Dwayne had said. What had he meant about her mother leaving? She tried to remember but came up empty. Climbing the stairs, she went into her old room. It looked different yet still the same. A new solid blue bedspread replaced her flowered one, and most of her posters and decorations were gone. Apparently her dad hadn’t done the old make-my-child’s-room-a-shrine thing, which only proved that he hadn’t really cared for her the way she’d believed.

Her old desk was still there, and she sat down and scanned the items on top. Her old digital camera. It was the last gift her father had given her, and she’d carried it everywhere. She’d loved to capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments where the sun shone just right over the lake or the moon glistened through the pines leaving rays of white light on the trail. She’d decided she would become a professional photographer. Sadly, she’d lost sight of that dream along the way.

Sliding open the middle drawer where she kept all her special mementoes, she touched the assortment, little flashes of memories flaring, each one bringing a warmth to her chest. Her fingers picked up a small silver earring inlaid with a pearl and a diamond. A lance of pain and sadness sliced her heart in two. It wasn’t her mother’s. She had pierced ears. This was a clip-on and she’d found it on the floor of her dad’s car. Proof of what her mother had told her. The reason her family had been torn apart.

Her dad’s unfaithfulness.

She shoved the jewelry back in the drawer, slammed it shut. Tears welled up in her eyes as she hurried back to the main room of the lodge. She wanted to go home. She wanted out of this horrible arrangement, and she wanted away from all the memories.

Just then, her phone rang. She recognized the name of the company calling, and her throat closed as it always did when the bill collectors harassed her. They had no problem calling at all hours. There was no point in answering because there was nothing she could tell them. She still didn’t have the money to pay them. She shoved the phone back into her pocket, unwilling to even contemplate the consequences she might be facing soon. She prayed that a buyer could be found for the lodge quickly; otherwise, she and Ella might be homeless.

* * *

Carly took as much time at breakfast as she could, hoping to postpone the tour of Longleaf Lodge with Mack. Despite her issues with him, he still had a way of stirring up feelings she didn’t want stirred. Her relationship with him had always been conflicted. She’d been drawn to him since the moment they’d met, but his close relationship with her dad had always filled her with resentment. She envied the closeness they had shared and the time they’d spent together. So many years away from the lodge and Mack hadn’t changed anything. It was a realization she had no idea how to process.

Carly pushed back from the table in the large kitchen. “Thank you for the breakfast, Thelma. It was wonderful as usual.”

“I’m loving cooking for you again, Cupcake.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind watching Ella while we’re gone?”

“No indeed. I plan on making special pancakes for the girls when they get up, and Dwayne is bringing the dogs over from our place. They’ll enjoy playing with them.”

“Dogs? Is Bully still around?” Her dad’s black Lab had been as much a part of the family as she was.

“No. Bully went on to his reward. Your dad got a German shepherd from a friend and called him Riley. He’s a good watchdog. Then Dwayne and I rescued two little Lhasa–shih tzu mix pups. Poppy and Petunia. Sweet little things. They like to cuddle.”

“Ella will love them. She’s always wanted a dog. Thanks again, Thelma. I don’t think we’ll be long.”

Thelma patted her arm. “Cupcake, try and keep an open mind, okay? Make sure you see everything the way it is, not the way you remember.”

Carly wasn’t sure what Thelma was trying to convey but she promised. Thelma was a wise woman, and it wouldn’t hurt to take her words to heart.

Mack was standing by the golf cart wearing that crooked grin of his when she stepped onto the wide front porch.

“Good morning, Carly. Are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.” She tried to halt the wave of appreciation that spiraled up unexpectedly into her chest. Mack had always been too handsome for his own good. A large part of his appeal was that he had no idea what his boy-next-door good looks and athletic build did to women. She recalled, as a teen, many of her girlfriends sighing loudly when he smiled in their direction.

Mack set the cart in motion as soon as she was seated. She pulled her old camera from her pocket and held it in her lap.

“Whatcha got there?”

“My old camera I found when I was in the apartment.”

Mack shot a glance in her direction. “You were in the apartment?”

Carly didn’t want to talk about that. “Where are we going to start?”

“I thought we’d go by the pool area first.”

Carly tried to keep her eyes forward and avoid the stunning beauty of her father’s legacy. If she started to look beyond her resentment, who knew what she might find. It was one reason she’d picked up the camera. It was easier to view things through a lens than experience it outright. A camera allowed you to see without getting emotionally involved.

Mack steered the cart through the pine trees and made a left turn, bringing them to the pool house and snack bar at one end of the large rectangular swimming pool. He pulled to a stop and glanced around.

“It looks like it’s in good shape.” A large cover was stretched over the water to protect it from debris and accidents.

“It is. Wade upgraded it a couple years ago—added the pool cover and renovated the kitchen in the snack bar. Of course we’ll need to clean the place and treat the pool water.”

“So we can have this up and running quickly?”

“Sure. It’s warm enough.”

“It’s early May. The pool should have been open already.”

“It would be if the lodge were open.”

“Right.” Even with all that had happened during the last two days, Carly found it hard to remember that the lodge was closed. Her dad never closed. For any reason. It was one of the things her mother had hated. She’d wanted to take vacations to other places, to go on a cruise, but her father had refused to leave the lodge for any length of time. She pointed her small camera and took a few pictures.

“Trying to recapture memories?”

Carly shook her head, avoiding his gaze. “I want to post pictures online to show prospective buyers all the amenities. The pictures need to evoke an emotion.”

“Do they evoke emotions in you?”

She ignored his question. “Where to next?”

Mack headed out toward the perimeter of the land. As far as she knew there was nothing there but piney woods, but in a few minutes Mack turned into a camping area with five large concrete parking pads. “What’s this?”

“Wade added RV sites. They were very successful. He was hoping to add more.”

When she’d lived here, the only camping facilities were for tents and small campers. They made a swing through that section, then Mack drove toward the lake and stopped near a grove of live oaks near the bank. He stopped the cart and stared out onto the water.

Carly waited for him to speak, but he seemed lost in thought. “Why did we stop?”

“This is where we said goodbye to your dad.”

“What do you mean?”

“We scattered his ashes right out there on the lake that he loved.”

Carly’s throat closed up. Tears stung the backs of her eyes in a swirl of mixed emotions. “The only thing he loved.” Mack looked at her, a deep frown on his face.

“That’s not true. He loved you.”

She didn’t want to argue with him, so she changed the subject. “We should keep going. We’ve only seen a small part of the grounds. I need to get back to Ella.”

“Ella and Lucy are just fine.” Mack started the cart with more acceleration than necessary, forcing them both back against the seat. He sped through the trees, slowing when they reached the two hiking trails. They began at a central point, each with a sign bearing the name of the trail, the length, and a small map etched into the thick wooden sign. The Piney Woods Trail, and the Rocky Creek Trail. But there was a third sign now. The Carly’s Hill Trail. “I don’t understand. When did he add this trail?”

“Shortly after you left one summer you returned.” He steered the cart down the narrow trail. The ground slowly rose with each turn until they perched on a rise overlooking the water. She recognized it as her favorite spot to think or read or just look at the lake. Her thoughts were full of old memories, and she tried desperately to understand what she was seeing. Mack’s soft voice intruded into her thoughts.

“The old fallen tree had rotted away, so that’s why he built the bench.”

Her gaze searched the area. She hadn’t even noticed the bench. A nice sturdy one with a slatted back and curved arms, and a slice of tree trunk on the side situated perfectly as a side table. She’d always complained that she had to sit her bottle of water on the ground.

Carly struggled to find words. It didn’t make any sense. Why would he construct a trail just for her?

“Why didn’t you come to the funeral?” Mack asked.

Her defenses kicked in. “It wasn’t a funeral. Only a memorial service.”

“You should have been here.”

“And my dad should have—” She snapped her lips shut. “We should see the rest of the property.”

Mack stiffened but kept silent, and he drove back down the trail and headed toward the five cabins. “The cabins need work. Two of them are in good condition, but the other three need electrical and plumbing work, and one of them is in need of major repairs.”

He drove past the row of cabins situated near the lake edge.

“Stop,” she said. Mack brought the cart to a halt. “Why is this cabin boarded up?”

Mack inhaled a slow breath before answering. “It’s not usable right now.”

“Why not?”

He leaned his forearms on the steering wheel. “The cabin was rented to a group of college students who got drunk and trashed the place. They left holes in the wall, pulled the plumbing from the bathroom, destroyed kitchen appliances and broke the windows. Everything inside needs to be replaced.”

Carly’s hopes sank. “We’ve never had anything like this happen before. Our guests were always respectful of the property. Did Dad report this to the police?”

“He did, and they were fined and ordered to pay for the damage. They were supposed to work on it themselves, but your dad got sick so the money came in handy, but the repairs are now on us.”

“Is there any way we can get this cabin ready to rent?”

“No.”

Carly’s hopes took another nosedive. How many other areas would have to be left untouched in order to get the lodge open by the deadline? She looked away from the damaged cabin, frowning at the empty landscape ahead. “Where’s the canoe livery? It was always right near the cabins.”

“It’s moved farther down the bank. It’s its own destination now.”

Mack drove down a new gravel path she didn’t remember. Pulling into a small parking area with a neatly laid out path leading to the triangle-shaped canoe stand. But instead of the usual eight, there were only two, and beside it was another stand that held four colorful kayaks. Beyond that, resting on the grassy bank, were three johnboats.

“Where are the canoes?”

“Several of them are in need of repairs. Wade never got around to fixing them. The kayaks are a new addition. The younger guests prefer them to the canoes.”

Carly tapped in canoe repair to her phone list of things needing to be done before they could reopen. Mack turned the cart around and headed back to the lodge. “The Piney Woods Trail needs clearing. They had a high-wind storm a month or so ago and the path is littered with limbs and debris. That was right after Wade got sick and closed the lodge, so it never got taken care of.”

Carly added that to her list. The number of areas needing attention was long and time-consuming, and they hadn’t even made a survey of the main lodge and what might need doing there. “I don’t know how we can open in a week.”

“Then we’ll open in two.”

“No. I want this place on the market as soon as possible.”

“Why are you in such a hurry to unload the lodge? This is your heritage.”

“I don’t live here. I live in Atlanta, and I have no desire to run the campgrounds. So there’s no reason to hang around and waste time. The sooner we sell the better.”

“So it’s all about the money with you?”

“Not in the way you mean.”

“What other way is there?”

“I need to get back.” She was not about to discuss the sad state of her financial affairs with him.

The muscle in his jaw flexed as he accelerated. They were halfway to the lodge before he spoke again.

“How did your husband die? Wade never told me.”

Reliving that moment never got any easier. “Heart attack. We were having a cookout with friends and he went inside to get more burgers and never came out. A friend went in to check on him and found him.”

Mack reached over and took her hand. “I’m sorry, Carly. I shouldn’t have asked. It must have been hard for you and Ella.”

“She was only three at the time, so she only has faint memories of him. I keep a picture in her room so she won’t forget what he looked like.” He’d been a wonderful father and husband. The perfect mate.

Thankfully they had arrived at the lodge. Carly got out and strode toward the lodge. Mack called her name, but she waved him off. “I’m going to check with Thelma. She has a list of things needing to be done in the lodge. We’ll get together later and prioritize.”

She could feel his gaze burning into her back. But she refused to get caught up in pointless sentiment and old memories. The goal was to get the lodge ready for the market. She was already thinking of how to photograph the areas to best advantage and upgrade the website to be more user-friendly.

The sooner she could attract a buyer, the sooner they could all go back to the way things were.

Chapter Three

Dwayne was waiting in the golf cart shed when Mack pulled up. He came over and rested a hand on the cart’s roof. “Well, how did it go?”

Mack leaned back, resting his hands on his thighs. “I’m not sure.”

Dwayne chuckled. “That’s a nice clear answer.”

“I showed her everything, even the new trail Wade laid out for her. I guess I was expecting some sort of emotional reaction, but she was cool and detached the whole time.”

“That doesn’t sound like the girl I remember.”

Mack nodded in agreement. “I think she was surprised by the changes, but I can’t tell if she approved or not. She took some pictures.”

“Really? Why?”

“She said to use them on the website and in the real estate listings.”

“She’s that anxious to unload the place?”

Mack rubbed his forehead. “It’s like she can’t stand to even be at the lodge.”

“I’m not surprised. Her mama did a number on her. You know she refused to stay in Wade’s apartment.”

“Yeah. I noticed. How can she be so blind to what a wonderful man her father was?”

Dwayne adjusted his cap. “Maybe because someone else was standing between her and the truth.”

“Her mother. I get it. I don’t know what happened, but I remember the arguments. They were loud and hurtful.”

Dwayne shook his head. “That wasn’t the only thing going on, you know.”

“What else could there have been?”

The older man patted his shoulder. “You’ll have to work that out with Carly. And if I were you I’d let her know what you actually want out of this arrangement, because when she finds out you weren’t serious about selling and were only agreeing to buy time, she’ll explode. Carly has many of Wade’s good qualities, but she got some bad ones from her mother—an explosive temper and the ability to carry a grudge. Especially when it involves someone she cares about.”

Mack made his way back to the lodge trying to decipher the things Dwayne had said. He’d had the feeling his friend was trying to tell him something important without actually saying it, which was very uncharacteristic of him. He was usually a straight-talking kind of guy.

Whatever had happened between Wade and his wife had been enough to turn Carly against her dad. Which made no sense because she’d always worshipped him, following him around, helping with all the work around the lodge. Her pride in the lodge had been inspiring.

Mack walked up the steps to the front porch, Riley trotting happily beside him as his escort. A glance at his watch reminded him that it was nearly time for a call from his sister. Inside the lodge he looked for Lucy. Thelma glanced up from the registration desk and smiled.

“Lucy and Ella are on the swings out back. I think that’s their new favorite spot.”

The girls had hit it off and Mack was grateful. The last six months had been hard on his niece, losing her grandma, her mom, coming to live with him, then moving to Hastings and meeting more strangers. He wasn’t sure how beneficial a call from Val would be, but it was the only thing his sister insisted on.

Mack stopped at the deck railing and watched the girls pushing the swing to the limits as they sang a song. He had no idea what it was, but Lucy had sung it often. Before he could call to his niece, Carly stepped onto the deck. The sunlight brought out the highlights in her brown hair.

She smiled as she watched the girls. “Ella has really bonded with your niece. I’m glad she has a friend here. Longleaf is very different from what she’s used to.”

“She seems to be adapting okay.”

“I’m surprised. She’s usually so shy, but things are different now.”

“Things?”

Carly broke eye contact and called out to her daughter. Ella pouted. She was a cute kid.

“Lucy—” he held up his phone “—it’s about time.”

Lucy jumped off the swing and ran toward him. “We’ll play later, Ella.”

She hugged her uncle, and he turned and steered her into the house and found a quiet corner to wait for the phone call. Lucy held the cell like a lifeline, never taking her eyes from the screen.

Mack settled onto the couch, trying to quell the rising tension in his chest. These moments were always so difficult. Lucy would become excited to talk to her mom, only to fall into deep sadness when it was over, and he was left to comfort her. He always felt like a failure and out of his depth on how to help.

His ringtone sounded, and Lucy punched the button before it finished. She sank onto the floor and spoke softly into the phone, her face aglow. He’d always loved his niece, and being her guardian had increased that tenfold. He had embraced the feeling and the responsibility. Now he would be lost without her. She meant everything to him, and he wanted to give her the world and protect her from any unhappiness. More than anything he wanted her to have a home.

When the phone call was over, Lucy sat with the phone in her lap, her eyes glassy with tears and her lips quivering. He braced himself for what was to come. Without a word he opened his arms and said her name. She jumped up and threw herself into his lap. He held her close as she cried.

“I want Mommy to come home.”

“I know, sweetie, I know.” He kissed her head and prayed for peace for her little broken heart.

As if sensing the child’s mood, Petunia came to the couch and jumped up, thrusting her furry head under Lucy’s arm. The warm puppy momentarily stopped the tears.

Ella strolled into the room, then hurried out calling for her mom. Mack didn’t have time to deal with Carly right now. Lucy was crying again. One hand gripped his shirt and the other hugged the little dog.

By the time Carly did enter the room, Lucy was regaining her composure. She had downgraded to sniffles, and her death grip on his shirt had eased.

Carly met his gaze, her expression asking if there was anything she could do. He made a slight movement of his head.

Ella broke away from her mom and came toward them. She stopped in front of his niece. “Lucy. Do you want to go swing? It always makes me happy after I’ve been sad.”

To his surprise, Lucy nodded and sat up. Petunia jumped down and stood by Ella. Lucy took Ella’s hand and the two walked slowly toward the back door, leaving Mack with a profound tenderness in his heart. Thank You, Lord, for sending this little girl to be a friend to Lucy.

Carly took a seat beside him, and he sensed she was bursting with questions. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Val calls Lucy once a week. Lucy lives for those moments, but when they’re over, she’s crushed. I sometimes wish Val wouldn’t call.”

“Does Lucy ever visit her?”

“No. We both felt it wasn’t good for her to see her mom that way.”

“She’s blessed to have you. You were always good with kids. I remember that one summer when that big family stayed here, the one with the seven kids. You came up with all kinds of fun activities for them.”

Mack’s pulse skipped a beat at the affectionate expression on her face. That was the Carly he remembered. Happy, optimistic and always full of energy. Maybe she did remember the good times at the lodge. “That was a fun time. I think the family stayed an extra week.”

“They did, and I think they wanted to adopt you.” She giggled at the memory.

Mack couldn’t look away. At this moment, with her fawn-colored eyes lit with happiness and her sunny smile on display, that old dream he’d cherished about having Carly in his life was stirring again.

“I remember, but I already had a family right here with you and your dad.”

Like the flip of the switch, Carly’s good mood vanished. Her eyes darkened and the smile disappeared into a tight line. She stood. “We need to get together with the Thompsons and determine how quickly we can get these repairs done. If we’re going to have any hope of selling the lodge, we need to get it on the market ASAP.”

“What’s going on, Carly? What did I say?”

“Nothing. I told you. I don’t want this place or...anyone connected with it.”

Mack thought he saw a hint of tears in her eyes as she walked off, which made no sense. He ran a hand down the back of his neck, wondering if Lucy would be as hard a female to understand as Carly was.

Dwayne walked toward him and nodded to Carly as she hurried past him. He stared at Mack with a raised brow. “You have the look of a man with a dilemma.”

“That’s an understatement. I don’t even have a clue what the problem is so I can start fixing it.”

“You never did, kiddo.”

“What does that mean?”

Dwayne shrugged and grinned. “Wade left his life’s work to you and Carly. Think about it.”

Mack shook his head. He was in no mood to unravel riddles. Granted, Wade’s will was odd, to say the least, but Mack had always known his mentor would leave him something. Wade knew how much Mack loved the lodge, but he’d expected a sum of money or maybe a piece of the land to call his own. Dwayne’s comment suddenly loomed in his mind.

Why had Wade left the land to him and the lodge to his daughter? What was he hoping to accomplish? Mack had assumed it was his way of trying to remind Carly of her childhood here, the same way Mack was hoping to rekindle her love for Longleaf.

Could there be another reason? Nothing came to mind at the moment. Shoving the notion aside, he went in search of his niece to see if she’d recovered from the call from her mom. He found the two little girls on the yard swing under the giant live oak at the edge of the water. They had a book between them, oblivious to the world. He had a feeling Ella would be able to help Lucy more than he ever could.

It always helped to have a close friend who understood. Carly had been that friend for him after coming to work at the lodge. They’d enjoyed working together on the grounds and helping the guests in season.

All that mattered now was saving the estate. He had to get the Thompsons on board, and, God willing, the three of them could find a way to persuade Carly not to give up on the lodge.

* * *

Monday morning, Carly made an early escape from the lodge and headed out in her car. She needed to find some breathing space from all the memories and the pressure. Sunday had been filled with church and a nice dinner afterward. She’d managed to avoid everyone by taking Ella into Hastings for some mother-daughter mall shopping, then hiding in her room citing a need to catch up on work back home.

After putting on her blinker, she turned into the large parking lot of the Lake Hope Marina and parked her sedan. Situated five miles outside of Hastings, Lake Hope had become a thriving resort area. Along with the Longleaf Lodge and Campgrounds, there were rental cottages and fishing boats for hire. The Marina Village stores supplied not only the visitors but the local residents who lived and worked at the lake. Thelma had warned her the place had been completely redesigned and she hadn’t been joking. The rustic low-roofed building of old had been replaced with a charming multibuilding complex designed to resemble a small fishing village. Where the former structure had looked unsightly and unwelcoming, the new store invited everyone inside to explore and linger.

Carly started toward the main building, now named the Lake Hope Marina Store. She and Ella had been in Hastings four days now and if they were staying the two months required by the will she needed to do some shopping. She was hoping she could cut that time in half and get back to her life in Atlanta, though.

Mack had organized a meeting with the Thompsons last night, and they had started to lay out a plan for reopening the lodge. Dwayne and Mack would work on the outside, getting the livery up and running, and clearing the trails, while she and Thelma concentrated on preparing the lodge for guests. Carly was hoping to freshen up the decor, provided there was enough funds in the account her father had left. Thelma had already started contacting former employees and offering them their jobs back and calling vendors to get the kitchen restocked and operating.

A father and young daughter passed by as Carly neared the entrance of the store, reminding her of the moment yesterday when she had stepped into the main room of the lodge and seen Lucy sobbing in Mack’s lap. Ella had come to her, upset that her friend was crying. Her heart had ached for the child, but what had touched her most was Mack’s tenderness with the little girl. He obviously cared deeply for his niece. It was one of the things she’d always loved and admired about him. He had a huge heart for others and a gentleness that reminded her of her dad.

Maybe that was why Mack and her dad had become so close—because they were so much alike and held the same interests. Qualities she must have lacked. Why else would her father prefer Mack to her?

The store was brightly lit, and a quick glance around made it easy to find the different departments. A two-lane checkout positioned near the door made purchasing items simple, quick and easy.

Carly took a few minutes to wander the aisles before tackling her shopping list. Dry goods were on one side, food and fishing supplies on the other. Bait and tackle, formerly housed inside the marina store, were now sold in a separate little shop.

“Carly? Carly Porter? Is that you?”

She spun around and saw a somewhat familiar face. It took her a second to recognize her old school friend Ashley Jenkins. They both squealed in excitement and hugged each other. “I can’t believe you’re still here.”

“I can’t believe you’re back home.”

“Oh, it’s only temporary. I’ll be leaving as soon as I can sell my dad’s place.”

“I know. I heard about the quirky will he left. Weird, huh?”

Carly had forgotten how small towns operated, and while Lake Hope wasn’t exactly a town, it was a community, and news spread quickly among the residents. “I guess everyone knows then, huh?”

“Yep. How was it seeing Mack again? Any of the old sparks still there?”

“No. No sparks. There never was.”

“You’re kidding, right? There were plenty of sparks. Especially that last summer you were here.” Ashley fanned her hand in front of her face. “If you hadn’t run away, I was sure you two would have ended up engaged or something.”

“I didn’t run away. I had to leave suddenly.”

Ashley stared at her a deep frown creasing her forehead. “I’ve never known you to hide from the truth, Carly. What happened that summer? You definitely ran away. You didn’t even say goodbye to me.”

Carly’s stomach was churning and she wasn’t sure why. “I’m sorry. It was a difficult time.”

“Apparently.” Ashley smiled and squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stir up the past. I was sorry to hear about your husband. I know what you’re going through. My husband died around the same time. A boating accident. It’s been hard.”

“Oh, Ash, I didn’t know.”

Ashley waved off her concern. “You’ve been gone. But I’m doing all right. I belong to a widow’s therapy group. It’s actually more like a support group. It’s run by a psychologist, Nina Sinclair. She’s wonderful. The women are all like you and me.”

“I’ve already been through grief counseling.”

“This is different. This is for widows who are further along on their journey and struggling with life alone, or coping with children, and sometimes learning to let go and love again. Mainly it’s a place to go where we have others who really understand our situation. Here.” Ashley scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it to her. “I’ll tell Nina about you and if you feel you’d like to come, then give her a call.”

“I don’t know. I’m not going to be here long enough to get much out of it.”

“You might be surprised. Just think about it.”

They talked awhile longer, then Carly finished her shopping and left. However, the conversation kept replaying in her mind. Not only the mention of the widow’s group but the comments about her and Mack. There had never been anything romantic between them. Oh, when she was younger she’d idolized him, the older boy who helped around the lodge. They’d become friends; at times she’d shown him how to do many of the tasks around the campgrounds.

Later, when she was older, she’d had a crush on him, but she’d gotten over that. Hadn’t she? Carly slid behind the wheel of her car. Truthfully, her feelings for Mack had always been complicated. Her attraction and admiration had warred with her resentment and hurt. Her young heart had found him handsome and exciting, but when she’d realized her father seemed to prefer spending time with Mack rather than with her, her feelings turned sour even though she couldn’t completely evict him from her heart.

She’d come back that last summer, partly because she had to as a condition of the custody agreement, but she also wanted to see Mack again and sort out her feelings for him. He was the thread tugging her back, and she’d never be free of the lodge unless she could understand her feelings. But her visit had ended in more pain and confusion, and she’d hurried back to her mom and never looked back.

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