Polite conversation followed, mostly led by Dana’s description of their cross-country trip ahead. Shelby tuned out and let the delicious taste of the buttery cookie calm her nerves. The white shiplap ceiling brightened the room and set off the brick fireplace that Grandma’s recliner nestled near. Grandpa’s old books still filled the shelves, and Alice’s blue-and-white-patterned dishes the china cabinet. It looked just like it had before Grandpa died, but somehow it still felt sad. She wondered if Dana missed her father at all, since she’d never spoken of him after they’d left the funeral. And he was one of the kindliest men Shelby had ever met.
“Shelby,” her mother said. “Are you listening to me?”
For a moment Shelby was disoriented.
“Did you get everything out of the car? We have to go now.”
“Yes, everything,” Shelby answered.
Before they rose to leave, Alice asked, “About when do you plan to return to pick up Shelby? I’d love to have her here all summer.”
Dana shrugged. “Sometime before the summer ends.” She looked over at Gus and smiled sweetly. “Speaking of returning, we’d better get going. We have a lot more driving to do today.”
Gus stood and pushed in his chair. “Right,” he said. “We don’t want to be driving those mountain roads in the dark.”
“Of course not,” Alice said as she rose to walk him to the door. “It was nice to meet you.”
“Same here, ma’am,” he said.
Shelby followed them to the door, hoping the goodbye would be fast.
Her mother’s hand was already on the doorknob when Gus stopped her and turned to Shelby. “I hope you’ll have a wonderful summer here with your grandmother.”
Shelby looked him right in the eyes and saw nothing but sincerity. “Thanks. You have a good trip, too.”
Dana took his arm and opened the door. “You two enjoy your summer at the lake. We’ll call and check in.”
Before Shelby could respond, the couple were out the door. Alice and Shelby walked out on the porch and waved goodbye as the camper truck drove off.
Alice started down the front steps toward where Shelby had left her suitcase on the grass. “Let’s get you settled in your room.”
Shelby hurried over to pick it up. She didn’t want her grandmother having to do anything extra for her. “Same room in the front of the house?” she asked as they walked in.
Alice nodded. “It’s all ready for you. Why don’t you go get settled in?”
Shelby yawned. “Do I have time for a quick nap?”
“Of course. Take all the time you need. Dinner isn’t for a few hours. I’m making one of your favorites, honey-baked chicken.”
The thought of a home-cooked meal that didn’t come out of a box or can was comforting. Shelby took her things to her room down the hall. Scarlett followed at her heels and jumped on the bed. Pale blue walls with white trim gave the room a beachy vacation feel. The large window facing the front yard caught morning sun and had a peek-a-boo view of the lake. Before that huge modern home across the street had been built, the room had had an unobstructed view. But the town of Moonwater Lake had changed over the years. Been discovered, her grandpa had said.
Shelby placed her suitcase on the wingback chair and slipped off her shoes to feel the cool wood floor. There was plenty of time to unpack later. She took a few steps to the window and pushed the sheer curtain aside. Out in the cul-de-sac, two boys were tossing basketballs in a hoop. At least there were some young people around, and not just tourists.
The older teenage boy had his shirt off, displaying his toned, suntanned back as he moved with ease around the street. Golden-brown, sunlit hair tousled across his face. He darted onto her grandmother’s lawn to retrieve the ball and caught her watching from the window. She was rewarded with a dazzling smile that shot through her body like lightning.
Tossing back the curtain, she hurried away from the window. Perhaps summer at Moonwater Lake wouldn’t be so bad after all!
Chapter 3
The room was so neat and tidy that Shelby decided to unpack the few things she had brought and put her suitcase away. It didn’t take long. She hung up a couple shirts and put the rest in the white dresser with the antique handles. She placed her framed painting of a rainbow on the nightstand facing the bed. There was a small desk in the corner