A Summer of Secrets Read online

  She frowned. But why wasn’t he answering his phone? He got fine reception up there. She tried him again. No answer.

  Jason had said Zach had a pounding headache. Was he okay? She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel.

  She sat there for thirty minutes, calling him every five minutes or so. No answer. Her cell phone battery taunted her as it crept near zero percent. She dug through the glove box of the car, hoping she’d put in the charger for the phone, but no such luck.

  Then the phone was dead.

  A red cardinal came and landed on a tree right beside her car. He stared at her, cocking his head to the side. She’d swear it was the same one that had stared at her at the lake. But of course, it couldn’t be…

  He sang his song and hopped along the branch. He gave her one more long stare, then swooped off through the meadow and disappeared up the pathway.

  Her pulse began to race as she looked across the meadow at the trail disappearing between the pines. She got out of her car and looked both directions as if expecting help to come. She could hike up the road… but how would she get around the rockslide? Zach had said the terrain was steep near the slide.

  She slammed the car door without thinking about how frightened she was. Without thinking about the trail. All she could think about was Zach.

  She headed off at a brisk pace along the gentle incline of the trail through the meadow and threaded her way through the trees. She stood at the bottom of the steep part of the path and looked back behind her at the gentle trail leading back to safety.

  She sucked in a deep breath and put one foot on the trail ahead of her. Then another. She kept her eyes on the path as she crept along, refusing to look at the edge, refusing to do anything but concentrate on one step after the next.

  Step, breathe, step, breathe. She concentrated on the rhythm of the words. Step, breathe, step, breathe. Her foot slipped, and she caught herself by grasping a rock on the inside edge of the trail. Her heart pounded, and she closed her eyes, frozen in place, too scared to move forward.

  Then she thought about Zach. Not answering his phone. Jason had said Zach wasn’t feeling well. The stubborn guy had done way too much since the accident.

  She slowly opened her eyes, still staring at her feet, and willed them to move.

  Step, breathe, step, breathe.

  Then she looked down, darting her eyes to the edge of the trail, and realized the path had widened and she was heading through the trees at the top of the trail. She quickened her pace and rounded the top of the trail and climbed on the road by Zach’s cabin.

  She rushed over to the cabin and knocked on the door.

  No answer.

  She hurried around the deck of the house and stopped short when she got to the back deck overlooking the mountains. Zach sat on a chair, staring at the view, lost in thought. The panic she’d felt began to abate. Some.

  “Zach.”

  He looked up, his eyes wide with surprise. “Cece?” He jumped up and crossed the distance between them. “What are you doing here?” His forehead creased. “How did you get here?”

  “Up the trail, of course.” She said it like it was the most logical answer in the world.

  “But—you don’t do trails.”

  “I do when you won’t answer your phone and I’m worried sick about you being up here and hurt.”

  He frowned and reached into his pocket. “Must have left the phone inside in my bedroom.”

  She wasn’t sure if she wanted to smack him, hug him, or….

  She threw her arms around him. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Oh, sorry. Your arm.” She stepped back.

  He stood there with a puzzled expression.

  “And another thing. I don’t want you to leave. Please don’t go to Denver. Stay here. Stay with me.”

  “What?” The puzzled expression turned to straight bewilderment.

  “Zach, please stay. Let’s start again. I’m willing to try if you are.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”

  He took a step forward and took her hand in his. The heat of his hand sent a spike of warmth surging through her. He searched her face. “What made you change your mind?”

  “Part Bree, part Madeline, and part… well, a cardinal.”

  “A cardinal?”

  “It’s a long story.” She grinned at him.

  “Well, we’ve got time for the story, but first I need to do something.” His eyes still searched her face.

  “What’s that? Are you in pain? Here, let’s go inside.”

  “I’m not in pain.” He lifted his hand and brushed his knuckles across her cheek, then gently swept a lock of her hair away from her eyes. “I’ve never felt better in my whole life.”

  Her heart soared, just like the cardinal, swooping off into the heavens.

  “And another thing.” His words were a gentle touch to her soul.

  “What’s that?” She could barely find her words.

  “I think it’s about time I told you something.” He looked directly into her eyes, and she felt the deepest connection to a human being that she’d ever felt in her life. He continued, “I’ve fallen in love with you. Probably since the first time I saw you standing there at the chalet with the basket of food. Just took me a while to realize it.”

  “You love me? Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.” He grinned at her.

  She looked up at him. “Remember that wish I made on that star? That night by the lake? When we were sitting on dad’s swing?”

  “Mm-hmm.” He brushed a thumb across her cheek before letting her continue.

  “I wished for this.”

  “This?”

  “I wished for someone to love me and look at me the way you’re looking at me right this very minute.”

  “Ah, Cece. I do love you.”

  He leaned forward, and she closed her eyes as his lips settled on her once more. Right where they should be.

  Chapter 25

  “You really should pick a wedding date.” Cece sat at the table leafing through bridal magazines while Bree looked through a cooking magazine.

  “So should you.” Bree eyed her over her glasses.

  “I’m thinking you should pick October tenth.”

  “Mom and Dad’s anniversary.” Bree smiled.

  “Right.”

  “That’s such a great idea.”

  “So great that you want to use the same date?” Bree cocked her head to the side.

  “Next year?”

  “Nope, this year. Wanna have a double wedding? We’d be inviting the same people. I know of a great caterer and wedding planner.” Bree grinned.

  Cece grinned back. “I guess we should confer with the guys.”

  “Ha, Jason would marry me tomorrow if I said that’s when the wedding was. He’s been dying for me to set a date.”

  “Zach said he wasn’t in for a long engagement either.” She glanced down at the sparkling solitaire on her finger.

  Bree flipped open her computer and went to the calendar for events at the chalet. “It must be meant to be. That weekend is open. Want me to put in our names?”

  A wide smile broke across Cece’s face. She couldn’t think of a better wedding plan than sharing it with her sister. “Put in our names.”

  Zach sat across from Jason in his office. Jason looked up from his computer and grinned at him. “Hey, buddy, guess what?”

  “What?”

  “It looks like we’re getting married.”

  “You and Bree?”

  Jason laughed. “Bree and I and you and Cece. October tenth.” He swiveled the computer around for Zach to see. “Check out the chalet event calendar.”

  “No kidding?” Zach stared at the online calendar.

  Bree Stuart and Jason Cassidy.

  Cece Stuart and Zach Berry.

  �
��It’s about time those Stuart sisters set a date.” He grinned at Jason.

  Jason stood, came over, and clapped him on the back. “Looks like we’ve got a wedding to go to.”

  “Sure does.” Happiness flooded through Zach along with a feeling of excitement. He was going to marry the woman of his dreams. And soon. “Let’s go find them.”

  Chapter 26

  Bree and Cece stood just outside the doorway leading to the main part of the chalet. It was a perfect fall day. Sunny. The leaves were changing in brilliant shades of autumn splendor. All their friends and family were gathered. Abby had made it in from California, and Madeline and Gil had come back and were staying at the lodge. It seemed like at least half the town had turned out for the wedding.

  “I’m just going to peek outside to see if it looks like all the people have gotten inside.” Cece turned to open the outside door.

  Bree laughed. “Once a wedding planner, always a wedding planner. Even for your own wedding.”

  Cece grinned. “Hazard of the trade.” She opened the door and glanced outside. A bright red cardinal sat on the railing directly in front of her. She stared at it for a moment, and he sang her his song, bobbed his head once, stared at her, then took off in flight, swooping out toward the lake.

  It couldn’t be the same one…

  But she thanked him anyway. For giving her the courage to forgive herself and move on. “Thank you.” She whispered the words.

  She watched until he disappeared and closed the door softly.

  She walked back to her sister and clasped Bree’s hand. “Are you ready?”

  Bree nodded. “I am.”

  They turned as Nora walked up to them. “I’m ready, too. Ready to give you both away. An honor that I don’t take lightly.”

  “We couldn’t think of anyone we’d rather have do this.” Cece smiled at her.

  “I’m sure you girls miss your parents, but, I love both of you like daughters.” Nora positioned herself between and them took their elbows. The doors swung open wide.

  Cece caught her breath at the sight of the flower-lined aisle and Zach and Jason waiting for them by the arbor.

  “You did good, Miss Wedding Planner,” Bree whispered.

  “We did good. With the wedding and these men,” Cece whispered back.

  The music started, and the Stuart sisters walked down the aisles and into the arms of the men they loved.

  Nora sat in the front row, unashamed of the tears rolling down her face as Jason kissed Bree. What a year it had been, but both her children were married now, and she couldn’t be more delighted.

  Annie leaned against her shoulder. “I’ve never seen Jason look happier.”

  “All four of them look happy, don’t they?”

  Annie nodded and smiled.

  Nora looked around the chalet, ecstatic that it was finished and her son could have such a wonderful venue to get married in. The chalet had turned out so nice, and they had it booked for so many weekends stretching out into the future. As usual, Jason had made a good business decision with suggesting they add the chalet as a wedding and meeting venue. She was so grateful that he’d joined her in running the lodge. And Bree and Cece’s business was doing well, too. Life was just pretty darn perfect right now.

  “You’re a very lucky Momma,” Annie whispered.

  “That I am.” Her heart swelled with happiness and contentment. Enough happiness and contentment to go around for everyone.

  Annie squeezed her hand as they watched Jason and Bree and Cece and Zach walk back down the aisle, married couples with radiant smiles on their faces.

  She wanted for nothing and had everything she’d ever dreamed of.

  Everything was just perfect in Sweet River Falls today. Everything.

  Dear Reader,

  I know, I know… you’re wanting Nora’s story, right? Don’t worry, it will be out in early Fall of 2019. Until then, did you miss THE LETTER in the Comfort Crossing series with Madeline and Gil’s story? You can get it here at your favorite retailer:

  The Letter - Book Three in the Comfort Crossing Series

  Or try out another one of my series:

  Book One in the Lighthouse Point series:

  Wish Upon a Shell

  Book One in the Comfort Crossing series:

  The Shop on Main

  As always, I appreciate each and every one of you. Happy reading!

  Kay

  Also by KAY Correll

  Thank you for reading my story. I hope you enjoyed it.

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  I love to hear from my readers. Feel free to contact me at [email protected]

  Comfort Crossing ~ The Series

  Did you miss the start of this series? Click here to get the first book for free now! The Shop on Main - Book One

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  See all my books at my website.

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  COMFORT CROSSING ~ THE SERIES

  The Shop on Main - Book One

  The Memory Box - Book Two

  The Christmas Cottage - A Holiday Novella (Book 2.5)

  The Letter - Book Three

  The Christmas Scarf - A Holiday Novella (Book 3.5)

  The Magnolia Cafe - Book Four

  The Unexpected Wedding - Book Five

  * * *

  The Wedding in the Grove (crossover short story between series - Josephine and Paul from The Letter.)

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  LIGHTHOUSE POINT ~ THE SERIES

  Wish Upon a Shell - Book One

  Wedding on the Beach - Book Two

  Love at the Lighthouse - Book Three

  Cottage near the Point - Book Four

  Return to the Island - Book Five

  Bungalow by the Bay - Book Six

  Click here to learn more about the series.

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  SWEET RIVER ~ THE SERIES

  A Dream to Believe In - Book One

  A Memory to Cherish - Book Two

  A Song to Remember - Book Three

  A Time to Forgive - Book Four

  A Summer of Secrets - Book Five

  * * *

  INDIGO BAY ~ a multi-author series of sweet romance

  Sweet Sunrise - Book Three

  Sweet Holiday Memories - A short holiday story

  Sweet Starlight - Book Nine

  About the Author

  Kay writes sweet, heartwarming stories that are a cross between women’s fiction and contemporary romance. She is known for her charming small towns, quirky townsfolk, and enduring strong friendships between the women in her books.

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  Kay lives in the Midwest of the U.S. and can often be found out and about with her camera, taking a myriad of photographs which she likes to incorporate into her book covers. When not lost in her writing or photography, she can be found spending time with her ever-supportive husband, knitting, or playing with her puppies—two cavaliers and one naughty but adorable Australian shepherd. Kay and her husband also love to travel. When it comes to vacation time, she is torn between a nice trip to the beach or the mountains—but the mountains only get considered in the summer—she swears she’s allergic to snow.

  Learn more about Kay and her books at kaycorrell.com

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  WHERE TO FIND ME:

  kaycorrell.com

  [email protected]

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  Kay Correll, A Summer of Secrets