Page 1 of The Summer I Stayed
Chapter One
Maggie
“Mom, don’t you think it’s time?” my sweet daughter, Alison, asks.
I’ve been adultnapped in my own home by two of my closest girlfriends and my daughter. Just one day has passed since she celebrated her 18th birthday and she’s already diving headfirst into her newfound “I’m an adult” life skills.
The three of them are convincing me it’s time. Time to move on. Time to focus on my own needs. Time to rediscover the Maggie Alison Wilkes I was four years ago. Back when life was grand, happy, and full of love.
It’s not as though I’ve been merely existing since my dear husband, Steven, passed away. I’ve been living, in my own way, dedicating myself to my kids, excelling as a super single mom. I’ve supported my eldest through college and his pro golf dreams, chauffeured my youngest from one school activity to the next. I’ve kept in touch with all ourdearest friends, family, and community, maintaining those precious connections.
“Time for what, honey?” I respond, knowing very well what she’s going to say. The one thing I can’t bring myself to do since Steven’s passing.
“Time to party on!” Caroline exclaims, throwing her fist in the air.
Lila joins her in a playful shimmy, her laughter infectious. “Get your Maggie on.”
I chuckle and shake my head at their nonsense. Their boundless energy never fails to amuse me. They’ve been the life of the party ever since I met them in a Mommy and Me group when Matthew was a baby.
“You can’t avoid it forever. You and Dad loved Blue Alder Cove.”
I feel my heart clench at the mention of our lake house. Its existence is a painful reminder of the future Steven and I had planned to share. For a few summers, we stayed in the local inn until the last time we vacationed there, Steven surprised me with a lake house of our very own. One I’ve only seen in pictures.
“We know it’s hard,” Lila says gently. “But you can’t let grief hold you back forever. It’s time to find your joy again.”
“And who knows,” Caroline chimes in with a mischievous glint in her eyes, “maybe you’ll meet a hot firefighter or something.”
“Caroline!” I shout while Lila snorts.
“What? A girl can dream.” She shrugs, and I shake my head at her.
Alison places her hand gently on mine. “Blue Alder Cove is calling you.”
I exhale a heavy sigh. “Alison—”
“No, Mom, literally. They’re calling you.”
I glance down at my phone, which is buzzing insistently on the coffee table.
“One minute, ladies,” I say, attempting a calm facade.
I quickly hustle out of the living room, ensuring I’m out of their earshot. The walls seem to close in as I walk down the hallway to my bedroom.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Maggie, this is Gemma,” comes the familiar voice of our property manager. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news. There’s been a storm here, and your house has sustained some damage. I know you haven’t been here in quite some time, but you may want to make the trip sooner rather than later…”
She continues talking, but my heart is pounding so loudly it drowns out her voice. The world seems to fall away, leaving only silence.
“Thank you, Gemma. I’ll…figure it out,” I manage to reply, though my mind is still reeling. I hang up the phone, holding it against my chest. It’s been four years and I haven’t managed to visit yet. How can I face it now?
“Gemma?” Alison suddenly appears, peeking around the corner.
“First, you trick me into this intervention, and now, eavesdropping? You may be eighteen, but you still have another week under my roof, missy,” I say, feigning a stern tone as I glance at her.
Alison chuckles softly. “Mom, Matthew is off playing golf and I’m about to leave for my summer program—I just want to make sure you’re going to be okay.”
“Oh, honey,” I murmur, pulling her into a hug. “Of course, I’m going to be okay. That was Gemma, and there’s been some damage to the lake house. It’ll make you happy to know I’ll be going to Blue Alder Cove just like you suggested.”
