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“This was Great-Grandma Dori’s hideaway,” Lance says, taking the key back from Calista.
I turn in another circle, soaking up the space differently knowing it belonged to my great-grandma. I’ve always hated that Adley will never get to meet her. All of their eyes are on me.
I don’t understand.
Brinley and Lance look at Calista. Meanwhile, Jaden is jumping on the couch. Calista digs her phone out of her coat pocket and puts him in the chair. Once he’s settled, she returns to us.
“You weren’t here, but do you remember when my friend Aubrey was getting married?” Calista asks.
I shrug.
“Yeah, it was when you were off exploring the world.”
I roll my eyes.
“She was getting married, and Rylan returned to town to be Declan’s best man, and I was the maid of honor. I hadn’t seen him in so long?—”
“Get on with it. I have to get going.” Lance glances at his watch again.
“Anyway, Alice, Aubrey’s grandma, brought me here, then a lawyer Great-Grandma Dori hired showed up and said the cabin was mine. He handed me a letter from her and a key. Told me I could do what I want with it, so I chose to keep it a secret from the family. Although I’ll warn you, I think everyone’s parents know about it, but I’m pretty sure they don’t know which one of us is occupying it at any given time.”
Lance blows out a frustrated breath.
Calista gives him a beseeching look. “She doesn’t know any of this.”
“Give her the short version.” He sits in one of the kitchen chairs.
“When Brinley needed to get out of her apartment when Van first moved in, I gave the key to her. The lawyer guy left me the letters for each of our cousins, and so I gave her her letter.” She digs into her purse and holds out a white envelope with my name scrolled across it in our great-grandma Dori’s handwriting.
Air rushes from my lungs. I clutch the envelope hard and stare at it, unsure how to feel.
“Brinley gave the cabin to me when I returned to town with Kenzie, and she was supposed to marry that asshole,” Lance says.
“It’s supposed to be a place where you have some alone time. Peace away from everything else. A place to find yourself. Find the right path,” Brinley adds.
“When you said you couldn’t concentrate, we thought maybe you could try to write here. Away from Adley and Hudson.” Lance holds out the key.
“And when you’re finished with it, if you find another one of our cousins who needs it, pass it along.” Calista smiles, taking the phone away from Jaden and picking him up. “Now, I have to get back. Jaden is spending the day with Rylan’s parents. The week before we head out is always the hardest. Especially with this one’s due date being while we’re gone.”
I sign Thank you and hug her.
“You’re welcome. I do hope you find what you’re looking for here. And don’t forget to read the letter.”
“I will.” I kiss Jaden’s cheek, and he squirms to get away.
Brinley and Lance are quick to leave with smiles on their faces. After I back out of the driveway to let them get their cars out, and I return to the cottage, the door shuts, and I stand there in silence. I swear I can almost feel my great-grandma’s arms around me. I walk around and admire the pictures of her and my great-grandpa, who I never met. The love between them shines bright in each one.
There’s a small bedroom off the kitchen area and a bathroom, but that’s it. The cottage is quaint and cute, and I can’t believe my great-grandparents had a secret house. Well, actually, I can believe Great-Grandma Dori did. Maybe my great-grandpa was as secretive and spunky as her.
I sit on the couch, sinking so far down into the cushion that I fear I might not get up. Yeah, I could totally see myself writing here during the day, especially when Hudson has Adley. The more I imagine myself sitting at the small kitchen table or sitting on the couch or chair, I like the idea even more.
The envelope in my lap begs me to read it. The last words my great-grandma wrote to me are hidden away in that letter. The last advice from her I’ll ever get because I know she wouldn’t fill it with how proud she is of me. Guiding me to some end is more her style.
My finger runs along the top, and I pull out the paper perfectly folded in threes. Opening it, my heart swells when I see her writing fills the page. I read the first line.
My Dearest Palmer…
I drop the letter in my lap, not ready to read her last words. Quickly, I fold it back up and stuff it in the envelope, which I place on the coffee table. I’ll spend time in her world first, this cottage, the place where she found refuge when life was crazy—or probably when she wanted to screw my great-grandpa. I have to push that mental image from my mind.
