Page 87 of The Lake House

What an amazing week. Roger and Rachel’s wedding was absolutely beautiful, and every moment that I got to spend with Declan has been absolutely incredible. It’s as if every day is a brand new adventure with him and I fall more and more in love with this man.

Right now, we’re sitting around the table at his mother’s house after finishing Sunday dinner. His sister and mother seem really great, and so far, it’s been a very relaxing evening.

“Sweetie, why don’t you finish up that chicken cutlet and then you can go play?” Rochelle, Declan’s mother, says to Lily.

Lily frowns at her grandmother. “I’m too full, Nana. Can I just go play outside now?”

Cheryl nudges her arm. “Go ahead, princess.”

“Yay!” Lily shouts and jumps from her seat faster than the speed of light.

Declan gives his sister a look. “She should have finished that… there were like two bites left.”

Cheryl dismisses him. “She’s fine. She ate all her pasta.”

Declan stands from his seat next to me and calls out to Lily before she can reach the backdoor. “Be careful out there and stay where I can see you.”

“I know, Daddy, I will.”

The door slams shut once she’s outside, and then Declan takes his seat next to me.

“So, Giuliana. What is it you do? Declan mentioned something about you working for the Abners in town,” Rochelle asks.

I nod. “Yes, I’ve been helping at the store ever since I’ve been back in town.”

Cheryl leans in. “How are you liking it down here? Is it different from where you were from?”

“Oh yes,” I answer. “I love it here. It is really different from where I used to live. It was more city life up there.”

“I love the city, but I could never imagine leaving Silver,” Rochelle responds.

I sit back in my seat. “Yeah. I used to come down here every summer to visit my grandparents, but then life happened and I hadn’t been back for so long.”

Rochelle rises and grabs some mugs from the cupboard, while Cheryl places a few dishes in the sink.

Declan squeezes my thigh, and then I place my hand on his. He leans into my ear and whispers, “I’m so glad you came back…”

I turn my face to look at him and smile. “Me too,” I murmur.

He lightly pecks me on my lips, and Rochelle’s voice brings us out of our daze. “Dec, since you’re here, can you please take a look at the upstairs bathroom? The faucet seems to leak when you turn it off.”

Declan turns to face her. “Sure, Mom.” He faces me then and says, “I’ll be right back.”

“Here, let me show you,” Rochelle says to him. Then she quickly faces me, asking, “Do you drink coffee, dear?”

I nod. “Yes, coffee sounds great, actually.”

She smiles. “Good. Cher, please start some coffee.”

“No problem,” Cheryl answers, already adding some grounds to the pot.

Once Rochelle and Declan have left the kitchen, Cheryl places the pot on the stove and then takes a seat next to me.

I feel her eyes on me, and as my stomach forms knots, I take a sip of my water.

“So, I’m sure you know by now what Declan and Lily have been through,” she says.

I nod. “Yeah, he’s been open about everything. I was very sad to hear about it.”

---