The Stroke of Winter(20)

“Now that you’ve seen the space, what are you thinking?” Wyatt asked.

Tess hadn’t thought that far ahead, but his question set her imagination whirring. It was one big room, with an added smaller room that Tess thought might be a bathroom. She hoped it was, because then the plumbing would already be there. The pipes may need to be replaced, but it would not have to be plumbed from scratch. That was a big plus. Maybe there would be room to add a deep claw-foot tub or a jacuzzi.

In her mind, she saw a sort of studio apartment for herself, with a sleeping area in one corner (near the fireplace?) and a living area in the other, with an overstuffed sofa and a chair-and-a-half with an ottoman. Bookshelves could line the one wall without windows. A television, somewhere. Maybe a small fridge and a hutch for a few dishes.

She searched her mind, thinking back to what she had seen in the room—had there been a closet? If not, she’d have to build one. Wouldn’t be too difficult, she figured.

What of the floors? Tess hadn’t really noticed them but assumed they’d be the same hardwood as the rest of the house. They might need refinishing, which was also easy enough to do.

In her mind, she saw colors. Indigo and amethyst, accented with gray, for Sebastian Bell’s children and grandchild. The colors could be in the rugs and on the walls, in accent pillows and the bedspread.

It came together so easily. In an instant.

She smiled up at Wyatt. “I think I know exactly what I want to do in there,” she said. “But a closer look will tell us more.”

Grant finished his beer and placed the bottle on the table with finality. He pushed his chair back from the table and got to his feet. “I hate to break up the party, but Susan is expecting me,” he said. “We’re having dinner with the kids on Zoom.” He rolled his eyes as he elongated the word.

Tess glanced at the clock. Nearly five. She hadn’t realized it was so late, but as she looked out the window, she saw the twilight illuminating the snow. Her favorite time of day.

“I’d better run, too,” Hunter said, taking a last sip. “Don’t want to make that drive back to Salmon Bay in the dark.”

Tess nodded. She knew that road well.

“So, listen,” Wyatt began. “I’ll huddle with Tess to talk about next steps. Then I’ll get back with you two—”

Tess held up a hand to stop him. “We haven’t talked about money yet. We should get that straight before—”

Wyatt shook his head. “Of course. We’ll get all that worked out, but don’t expect this to cost anything close to a fortune.”

“We’re cheap labor!” Hunter piped up. “Especially for a neighbor who’s opening a business in the area. We pitch in to help our own around here.”

“Yes, indeed,” Grant said. “It’ll keep me off the streets.”

Tess looked around the room and smiled. This was one of the treasures of Wharton, the community spirit of neighbor-helping-neighbor that most everyone seemed to embody. But she had no intention of letting them do the work for subpar rates, or worse, for free. As they said, all of them had to cobble together a living during the winter months. She’d definitely pay them.

“I’ll keep the fridge stocked with beer and feed you, too,” Tess said.

Wyatt raised his eyebrows. “I’ve been told you’re quite the chef,” he said. “Jim hasn’t stopped talking about the dinner you served last night.”

Tess smiled. “It was fun to cook for people. I haven’t done that in a long time.”

After a round of goodbyes and seeing Hunter and Grant off, Tess said, “It’s about time for me to walk Storm.”

“I could join you on the walk?” Wyatt asked. “I love this time of day in the winter.”

What a wonderful idea, Tess thought, and the two of them pulled on coats, boots, and hats, and hitched up Storm, who was already wiggling with excitement. The three of them stepped out into the cold as Tess closed the door behind them.

Winter twilight in Wharton was a magical time. The sunset cast purple and pink hues across the sky, illuminating the snow with a bluish cast. The lake, with its deep, dark coldness, looked black in comparison, but it was still as glass against the frozen shoreline. Snow decorated the pines. It looked like a scene from an enchanted fairy tale.

They walked through town on the way down to the lake. Many of the houses were dark—homes of summer people, no doubt—but others were brightly lit. Tess could see families inside through their windows. Some were preparing for dinner, others were lounging in front of the television or reading. Many of the businesses in town were already closed for the night, but the lights of the Flamingo were on. It was one of the only restaurants open in the winter, along with the Frittata, which specialized in breakfast and lunch but also served dinner in the winters to locals.

LuAnn’s boarding house and diner were closed up tight, as it always was during LuAnn’s Hawaiian winter getaways, but up the hill, the lights in Harrison’s House were blazing. As they passed Just Read It, the town’s bookstore, its owner, Beth St. John, caught sight of them through the window and waved. Tess saw the coffee shop was still open, too.

As they reached the lakeshore, Tess marveled at the fact that it had frozen solid. The lake had so many forms, so many moods, so many colors. On the famous beach on Ile de Colette, the water was crystal clear. Some days, when storms were on the horizon, it was an ominous gray green. Other days, with the sun glinting on the water like diamonds, it was a deep blue.