Page 14 of Serial Love

Changing directions, she walked over, meeting him at the bottom of the steps leading to the front door. He looked the same as always—pale skin and light grey eyes that darted around. His hair was thin on top, and his glasses slid down his nose. He always stayed in his cabin when visiting, never participating in any of the activities. She had visions of him as a vampire only coming out at night. Stifling a grin, she greeted him.

“Mr. Malinski, good to see you again.”

He nodded nervously, bobbing his head. “Ms. Bridwell.” He followed her up the steps and over to the counter. She checked him in, then printed off the rental agreement. He did not read it, having been there many times.

“I’ve got you in cabin nine, same as you had last time if that’s okay,” she commented.

“Yes ma’am,” he agreed. “I like things to be the same.”

“I know you prefer to not be too close to the other cabins and a group just checked into cabin two.”

He smiled, nervously fiddling with the papers she handed him before reaching out to take the key from her hand.

“Sally has already been there, so the clean linens will be on the bed and in the bathroom. You know the drill so let me know if you need anything.”

Bobbing his head once again, he turned and headed back to his car. She followed him as far as the front porch and watched him drive down the gravel road toward the cabins on the farther side of the small lake.What does he do?The vampire thought flashed through her mind again, this time allowing the giggle to erupt.He must sleep all day and then fly around at night.

Jerking herself out of her musings, she stepped off the porch and headed to the right toward the shed at the back of the lodge to get the saw.

Using the sharp tool, she managed to get the tree limbs down but with some difficulty. She grasped them in her gloved hands and dragged them to the edge of the woods. By the time she finished, she was sweating, and her arms ached from the strenuous activity. Spying her depleted pile of winter wood, she decided she would chop some of it after lunch.

Since Gram was with Sally, she fixed a sandwich upstairs in their apartment over the lodge. Eating quickly, she gulped some water before heading back out. Retracing her earlier steps to the shed, she retrieved the axe. As she locked the door, she turned, running into a body.

“Oh, my goodness, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Mr. Taylor exclaimed, grabbing her arms as she stumbled.

“No, it’s my fault,” she said, smiling at the friendly guest. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Well, with a weapon like that,” he said nodding to the axe, “you’d better be careful.”

Laughing, she agreed. Looking down the path, she sighted his wife and two sons walking to the dock.

He followed her line of vision and said, “We’re heading out on the paddle boats, but I saw you down on the dock earlier so I told my wife that we’d better check with you first.”

“Oh, yes, you can use them. I was just making sure they were tied up. You can keep them out as long as you like since I haven’t had anyone else asking for them today. The rules are posted and remember, it’s at your own risk.”

He smiled but made no effort to follow his wife right away. His gaze came back to the young woman running the small resort. “You’re doing a good job here, you know. Running this place can’t be easy but the help you’re giving your grandmother…well, anyway I just wanted to say that I think you’re doing a wonderful thing.”

She returned his smile and shrugged. “I love living here and helping with Gram until…” her voice trailed off, sadness filling her expression.

He placed his hand on her shoulder, giving a little squeeze. “I understand. Well, I’d better join the family, or they’ll think I got lost along the way.” With a nod, he moved toward the dock leaving Bethany standing outside the shed. Forcing the depressing thoughts from her mind, she swung the axe onto her shoulder andmade her way to the woodpile at the edge of the woods.

Jack sat in his truck for ten minutes trying to decide what he was going to do. Earlier it had seemed So, easy.Saturday morning and I’ll go over to the cabins next door to check on Bethany and Ann.Simple. Easy. A neighborly act.Why the hell am I still sitting in my truck in my driveway?The answer was staring him in the face, but he did not want to have to admit it.Because I felt something when I was in her presence.

I don’t have time for this,he chastised himself. Running his hand over his beard, he thought of all the reasons why he should not be considering seeing Bethany again.Too complicated. My work. My privacy. Don’t have the time that it takes for a woman to decide what she wants.Then her face came into his mind—her blonde hair blowing about her face as she fought to protect her grandmother.

Forcing that line of thinking from his mind, he backed out of the driveway.Nope, she and Ann were hurt on my property, even though they were trespassing, and I’m just going to go check on them.

Driving the short distance to the turn by the old wooden sign to Mountville, he controlled his thoughts. Barely. But by the time he made his way to the lodge, he knew;Fuck that. I want to see her.

Climbing down from his truck, he started toward the front steps when he heard voices coming from theside. A middle-aged woman with a pleasant smile was walking toward him with Ann in tow. He stopped, carefully observing that Ann seemed to be recovered from her ordeal, her facial scratches barely visible.

“Hi, I’m Sally. May I help you?”

“Morning ma’am,” he replied. His eyes cut over to Ann, who was staring at him. “I was looking for Ms. Bridwell.”

“I remember you,” Ann pronounced, her face breaking into a wide smile. “You’re courtin’ my granddaughter.”

Sally jerked her gaze to her friend then back again to Jack’s. He saw her confusion and quickly said, “I own the property next door and was checking on?—”

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