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It’s your turn, Mom,Declan had said when he handed her the envelope right before the clock struck midnight.Such a romantic, her second youngest child.Maureen should have guessed that after she’d told Declan about her first love, he would find Adam for her.It was fitting, really…Declan reminded her so much of the young Adam she’d known—determined to save the world, even at the expense of themselves.Fortunately, Declan realized he didn’t have to choose one over the other and had allowed himself to love.
Had Adam ever made the same realization?
When Declan was a boy, the summer he’d broken his leg and was unable to keep up with the rest of the boys, he’d spent a lot of time with Maureen, sipping iced tea and eating ice cream on the deck looking out over the lake.She must have been feeling nostalgic that year when she’d told Declan all about Adam, the man she’d once known who’d left his home behind tosave the world.Years later, she’d see firsthand the impact those stories had made on Declan when he followed suit and created his own charitable foundation.
But what she hadn’t told him until very recently was that Adam had been her first love all those years ago, and after he left Cedar Springs, they’d never spoken again.
For almost forty years, Adam Lancaster had been nothing more than a fond memory and amight have been.
Until now.
Present
“Because we don’t tell our children everything,” Elise chimed in as Maureen took a break from the story to sip her drink.“Smart woman.”
“Well, I don’t know about that.”She set her mug down.“After all, I did finally tell him that Adam was my first love and it’s because of that, and my son’s huge heart and unlimited resources, that I’m here at all.Declan tracked him down and then, about a year ago, I got the letter.I guess that’s when all this started.”She waved her hand around vaguely before tucking it into her lap again.
“He does sound like a sweet boy.”
“The sweetest.”Maureen loved all her sons equally.They’d all grown into good men, and she was proud of each of them.But Declan was truly the kindest, most giving man she’d ever met.He’d dedicated his life to charity and helping others.“What about you…do you have children?”Maureen didn’t want to monopolize the conversation.Besides, talking about something else would serve as a good distraction.“You mentioned a niece.”
Elise nodded.“Susan.We’re not actually related by blood.My best friend’s girl.”Her eyes lit up when she talked about her niece.“She’s the closest thing I ever got to having children of my own, but she’s like a daughter to me.There’s something about being an auntie and not a mother that creates a special bond.”
Maureen wouldn’t know.Her older sister died in a car crash shortly after her twenty-first birthday before she ever had the chance to marry or have children of her own.Sue Ann ended up marrying, but she moved to the coast.Although they still kept in touch, Maureen didn’t know her children well.Still, she nodded, and Elise continued talking.
“We’ve always been close.Her own parents have been gone for years now, and her children are grown as well, so I guess I’m the perfect outlet for all of her worry.”
Despite her tone, Maureen could see how much Elise cared for her niece and valued that concern.“They only worry because they care.”
Elise looked up and shook her head slightly.“It makes you wonder, doesn’t it?When did the roles reverse exactly?”
Maureen chuckled and nodded in complete understanding.“You said earlier that you fell in love with the inn and…”
“There was a special someone.”Elise’s gaze took on a faraway look.“I was so young and naive, I didn’t even realize what I was feeling.It was my first time away from home, surrounded by new people.It was a heady feeling.”
“I can’t even imagine.It must have been very exciting.”
Elise leaned her head back against the chair, her soft, white curls pillowed around her face.She closed her eyes and a smile slid over her lips as she lost herself in the memory.After a moment, she opened her eyes again and nodded, as if remembering that Maureen was there.“It was very exciting indeed.The first time I met Alex, I was at a loss for words.I’m sure I stood there like a dullard, with my mouth just opening and closing.You see, Alex was the child of a very prominent businessman from town and ten years older.”
“Ohh…forbidden love?”
The older woman’s face clouded, and Maureen immediately felt bad for making her talk at all.They sat in silence for a moment before Elise once more changed the subject.
“You said your son found Adam about a year ago.But that wasn’t the start of the story, was it?”
Maureen tilted her head, confused by the sudden switch in topics.“What do you mean?”
Elise leaned forward, her crochet project once more in her hands.“When you got the letter,” she said again.“I don’t think that was the start of anything.”There was a sparkle in her eye that made Maureen chuckle.“I think it started long before that.”
She was a clever woman, and she wasn’t wrong.Maureen hadn’t spoken about Adam to anyone except Sue Ann and even then, that was a very long time ago.Yet, something about Elise made it easy to open up, and maybe it was past time to tell her story.
“I guess you’re right,” Maureen admitted.“The story did start a long, long time ago.It feels like a lifetime ago.It’s quite a long story, really.”
“That works out then.”The older woman licked her lips and grinned.“Because I have nothing but time on my hands.”
Thirty-Seven Years Ago…
Everyone was excited about the summer solstice festival.It was the biggest party of the summer, or at least, it was thefirstparty of the summer.Every summer since she’d been old enough to attend, Maureen had counted down the days until she and her girlfriends would put on their prettiest dresses, often bought new for the occasion, spend hours doing one another’s hair, and, arm and arm, would run down Main Street to the water’s edge, where rows of booths were set up.
