The Best Part of Us by Sally Cole-Misch

Author:Sally Cole-Misch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: She Writes Press
Published: 2020-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Taid was waiting for them on the campground manager’s porch, the old men sharing stories over ale. He sauntered down when they’d finished loading their belongings into the boat.

“Ah, the rest of my lovely brood has arrived. Ready to head back to heaven, Llyndees?” Beth relaxed when she saw his broad smile and twinkling eyes and folded into his waiting arms. From her perch in the boat’s bow, the wind and lake’s spray washed away the winter’s worries. The faces on Llyndee’s Peak gleamed in the midafternoon sun, almost smiling in spite of their piercing stares.

Dylan was sitting on the porch when they idled to the dock. Beth jumped and waved in wild circles as he had the previous summer, and he nodded and came to meet them. He smiled but avoided everyone’s gaze.

“I trust you helped Taid around the cabin, rather than run off and paint all day,” Kate said as he helped her out of the boat.

“He’s done just fine,” Taid said. “Three perfect grandchildren, a joy to have around.”

Kate patted Dylan on the chest. “I brought all of your college applications.”

Dylan lifted her bag out of the boat and set it in front of her. “Nice to see you too, Mom.”

“Okay, let’s have at least one day of peace, shall we?” Evan said as he hugged Dylan. “Where’s Naina?”

Dylan nodded toward the cabin. “They’re inside, making dinner. Beth and I will get the bags. You guys go ahead.”

She watched the three adults walk up the steps before turning to her brother. “Who’s ‘they’?”

“Maegan. She’s been here since spring term let out in early May. I’m guessing Brian was with her until we arrived.”

“But she’s supposed to be at school for summer semester.”

“Yeah, no kidding. Taid and Naina told her they wouldn’t cover for her, but they didn’t make her go back.” Dylan climbed into the boat and lifted another bag onto the dock. “We’ve actually had a pretty good time together. Brian’s an okay guy, I guess; just drinks too much.”

Beth couldn’t believe what he was saying, about Maegan or Brian. No wonder no one had called to check in.

Dylan sat on the boat’s back bench. “I’m in no hurry to go up there, are you?”

She wanted to hear Maegan’s explanation but didn’t want to absorb the tension and anger that had to be bouncing off the cabin’s walls. She sat on the dock and turned toward the sun.

“Taid seems happy.”

“He’s okay as long as no one brings up the artifacts. The few times I’ve tried to talk with him about it, he just nods and walks away. He’s still adamant there’s nothing to talk about and won’t go to the Circle Barn or agree to meet with Lily’s dad.”

“What is the chief saying?”

“He’s telling the elders to be patient until he and Taid can talk again, but they’re pissed we didn’t tell them right away, when we found the stuff.”

“That’s what I feel the worst about, especially since it was Amik’s grandfather who remembered the place. Do they still welcome you at the bonfires?”

“For the most part.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.