The Sometimes Sisters(17)

“Honeymoonin’ here?” She frowned. “Are they crazy?”

“I hope I’m not crazy, but the jury is still out.” A guy who looked vaguely familiar stepped inside the cabin.

Something tickled the outer edges of her memories. She’d swear on a stack of Bibles that she’d heard his voice before. She frowned as she checked the books for a name. Wyatt Simpson. The name rang a bell, but she couldn’t place him.

Then it clicked. He’d been at the lake resort that last summer that the sisters were all there together. He and Harper went to the lake every evening, and Tawny had seen them kissing. The image faded and was replaced by Harper sneaking through the back door at almost daybreak one morning. Was it Wyatt she’d sneaked out of the house to see that night?

“What?” She frowned.

“Didn’t you ask if I was crazy?” He smiled.

“Sorry, I was woolgathering. And I wasn’t talking to you. I was thinkin’ out loud about a couple who are plannin’ to honeymoon here. I said, ‘Are they crazy?’ not ‘Are you,’” she answered.

“Then no, they are not crazy. I can’t think of a better place to honeymoon than right here on the lake. It’s downright romantic. I’m Wyatt Simpson, and you’ve put me in number two with a set of twin beds. I should be in number three with a queen-size bed.”

“I have you down for three rooms, but you didn’t specify which ones you wanted on the reservations.”

“Didn’t have to when Annie was here. She knew what cabin I liked.”

“Well, until I get to know the customers, it would be nice if you’d tell me when you make the reservations.”

He nodded. “I’m a fishin’ guide. I have four guys who’ll be here in half an hour. They’ll need the two cabins that have twin beds,” he explained. “I can pick up the keys for them now, and I’ll put my things in the cabin with the bigger bed.”

“Sure thing,” Tawny said as she adjusted the room numbers on the computer and handed him the keys from the rack inside the door. “You been here recently?”

“Lots of times. Came for years with my grandfather, who was a fishin’ guide. When he died, I took over the business. You’d be one of Annie’s granddaughters, right?”

“Yes, sir. I’m the youngest, Tawny.”

“I’m sorry to hear about her passing, but I’m real glad that you are keepin’ the place open,” he said.

“Thank you. Anything else?” What did Harper see in him, anyway? Maybe it was because he was the only boy around that summer. Light-brown hair, hazel eyes, tall and sinewy with muscular arms but nothing outstanding about him—at least not in Tawny’s eyes.

“Are you the only granddaughter that came back to this place?” Wyatt asked.

“No.” She shook her head. “My sisters, Harper and Dana, are here also.”

Wyatt lingered at the open door. “Harper was fifteen and Dana had a little girl with her. Maybe about three or four years old. My grandpa thought she was the cutest thing he’d ever seen.”

Tawny looked up into his eyes. “That’s right. That little girl is fourteen now.”

“Wow, time does fly, doesn’t it? I was only sixteen that year, and it was my last visit here for a long time. But after college I decided that sitting behind a desk wasn’t for me, so I picked up where my grandpa left off,” Wyatt said. “I should be going. Nice visitin’ with you.”

“See you at supper?” she asked.

“Wouldn’t miss one of Zed’s burgers for anything. Just sorry I missed the blue-plate special at noon.” Wyatt shut the door behind himself.

She left the cabin and headed for the store. If she approached it right and didn’t make Dana angry, she might find out what her older sister remembered from that summer. The store was hopping busy with fishermen wanting bait and young kids whining for ice cream bars while their parents bought picnic supplies, so she grabbed a bag of pork rinds and a root beer and held them up. Dana nodded and Tawny left without getting any answers.

Her mouth was full of pork rinds when the phone rang. “Lake Side Resort,” she answered. She’d always heard the resort referred to as Annie’s Place, so the official name sounded strange in her ears.

“You are talking with food in your mouth. I can hear it,” her mother said bluntly.

“Sorry about that. Not bad manners, just good pork rinds.”

“Good God almighty!” Retha gasped. “I hated for you girls to go to that place in the summer. Pork rinds?”

“Are amazing. Especially the barbecued ones. You should try them,” Tawny giggled.

“I can’t believe you are actually living in that backwoods place.” Retha’s voice turned icy cold.

“What does it matter where I go? You disowned me, remember?” The sharp edge in Tawny’s tone could have shredded steel.

“It was to teach you a lesson. I know what’s best for you,” Retha said.

“I suppose you’re going to tell me that’s why you tied up my and Harper’s inheritance from Daddy—to show us what is best for us?”

“I blame it all on that damned lake. Annie didn’t watch over you like she should have.”