Page 101 of The Mistakes I've Made
I remembered her out on the boat just a week earlier, her happy laughter as I’d tried to teach her how to wield a fishing line.
Would she stay with me to the very end?
If I asked her to?
“So, this is what small-town Americana looks like, huh?” Lani said as we strolled down the now-closed Silver Lake Drive, which had been completely transformed for the annual fall festival.
“I’m not sure we’re the perfect example, considering we have more boats than kids and our population is mostly retired people, but sure, welcome to small-town life.” As I finished my sentence, a kid whizzed by on a bike, making her smile.
“Sure seems like there are a lot of kids here.”
I gave her a wink. “We bussed those in especially for you.”
She laughed, rolling her eyes.
“The fall festival has become a popular event. Lots of people ferry in for the day, and some even rent houses and stay for the weekend.”
“Really?” That piqued her interest. “That’s useful information.”
“Oh, yeah? Why?” I asked. “Planning something special for the hotel next year?”
Her mouth opened but shut immediately. “No,” she finally answered, her head downcast. “Just thought I could include it in my notes for the future staff.”
Right, because she wasn’t going to run the hotel. Just design it.
Soon, she’d hand it off to someone else, and just as swiftly as she’d arrived, she’d be gone, off to another place and another part of the world.
I swallowed hard and did what I always did in these moments when things got too real.
I ignored it and changed the subject.
“Oh, hey,” I said, motioning toward the other side of the street, “there’s Molly!”
Coward, a voice in my head shouted.
I ignored that, too.
Despite being the lead for today’s festivities, Molly seemed to be as cool and collected as ever, dressed as Cleopatra in a gold-and-black gown that made the bubbly blonde look mysterious and super glamorous.
“Oh my gosh, I love your costume!” Lani said, greeting Molly like the friend I knew they’d become to each other. I watched as the two women hugged, feeling extreme pride over the woman at my side. “You make a gorgeous Cleopatra!”
“Thank you!” Molly said, running her hands over the silky black wig. “I’m glad someone thinks so.”
I got the feeling thatsomeonehad a name.
“Jake in the dog house?” I guessed.
Her arms folded across her chest as her eyes picked him out of the crowd. I followed her gaze, seeing him walking toward us, and I immediately broke out in a grin.
I could see why she was so put out.
“Did you come here straight from work, Jake?” I asked the moment he stepped up to our small group.
He gave me a friendly pat on the back and said a quick hello to Lani, whom he’d apparently already met several times at the inn.
“No,” he said. “I’m in costume.”
We all gave him a blank stare.
