Page 102 of The Cottage on Blueberry Bay

And it hit Meredith.

Gordon had been her constant. He had been there for her mother when she was pregnant. He had given them shelter when her mother had left an unfortunate situation. He had opened his heart to her daughter as his own. He had raised Meredith as a Johnson and had always put her and her sister first.

“I think you’ll love it up there,” she said, smiling, as she thought about how this would make her own decision so much easier. She placed two bowls on the table and handed him the scoop. “It’s a beautiful place.”

“I heard there’s a great golf course up around there, right on the water.” Gordon opened the pint, scooped out a perfect round bit of ice cream, and placed it into Meredith’s bowl. “I thought maybe we could scatter your mom’s ashes there as well. Maybe with Jacob’s so she doesn’t have to go on her last journey alone.”

Tears sprung to her eyes, and she could see Gordon’s eyes were watering as well.

“I think that’s a really beautiful idea,” she said, reaching out for his hand.

“I do, too.” Gordon grabbed a tissue and handed one to her before blowing his nose. “Just what you want is an old emotional man following you to Maine.”

“I would want nothing more,” she said.

He squeezed her hand. “Thanks, sugarplum.”

CHAPTER36

Meredith waited for Gordon to finish packing his winter clothes. Maine wasn’t like Massachusetts in the fall. Meredith had been told that it was cold. Really cold.

With her decision to sell the Andover house, she took Quinn’s advice and hired a lawyer in Massachusetts that specialized in family law, specifically divorce law.

As it turned out, Meredith had more leverage than she had thought, even though the house was in Philip’s name.

Phillip stopped calling her after that.

“Come on, Dad!” she called up the stairs.

Gordon decided to rent out his house for the time being. He would stay with the girls until he found his own perfect spot.

He wanted to be close to them but also somewhere in the village so he could walk to places.

Meredith’s house sold within minutes of listing it. She didn’t even have time to change her mind, it went so fast.

The couple who had bought it had three boys, saw the pool, and put down an offer higher than the asking price.

She got fifty percent of the sale of the house, which gave her enough to live comfortably in the cottage. She didn’t have the luxurious retirement she and Phillip had planned—a house in Florida while keeping the house in Massachusetts—but she didn’t know if she even wanted that anymore.

“I’m ready!” Gordon said, coming down the stairs, wearing a coat and holding a bag.

“Dad, it’s eighty degrees out,” she said. “It’s still August.”

“I know, but I couldn’t fit it in the bag.” Gordon walked by her to the car.

He’s adorable, she texted Remy with a picture of Gordon from behind.

Remy hearted her picture and sent,We’ll see you guys soon!

Remy and Greg had done everything to get ready for the auction while Meredith stayed in Massachusetts to sell her house.

The drive took longer than expected because they stopped for Gordon a few times to get out and walk around. They also stopped for lunch, and as dinner approached, they pulled into the little village of Blueberry Bay.

“My goodness, it looks exactly the same!” Gordon said, looking out at the town.

Meredith enjoyed seeing the clapboard shingled buildings again. “Want to go see the statue?”

Gordon nodded. “But maybe see Remy first.”

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