Chapter 3

Ellie admitted to herself that River Glades far exceeded the glossy photos in the magazines and the hype surrounding it since Axel Lakeside had become famous. The airport – if it could be called that, was small, but highly functional and it seemed as if everyone seemed to know who she was and why she was there.

She was greeted with friendly smiles and made to feel welcome. People waved and called out to her, which felt extremely weird to her.

She came from a place where people would more than likely mow you down and forget pleasantries or even a polite greeting. No one looked you in the eye and that was fine with her. But this small-town friendliness felt … nice. She had to smile as she wondered what her friends would say regarding her frame of mind.

A car was waiting for her and as soon as the young man handed her the key fob, she was on her way. The place was easy to navigate, and she had been given instructions to the cottage where she would be staying.

The speed limits posted kept her from driving too fast, something she did not mind one bit. She had arrived in the afternoon, after taking a large commercial flight that had landed in New York and then a smaller plane to continue the rest of the journey.

Darkness had not quite fallen, allowing her to take in the quaintness of the town. There was a water fountain in the middle of the square and signs of renovations going on. Lights twinkled in store front shops, and she even glimpsed a Starbuck as well as a Walmart.

As far as she could tell, there wasn't a mall, just tidy looking stores, with unique designs. First thing as soon as she had settled and got some of that much-needed sleep, was to explore the place. She was going to need a backdrop for her story anyway and getting to know the place and the people would be of paramount importance.

Turning off the road, she took a narrow pathway that led to the cottage. Coming to a stop, she gazed at the structure in front of her. Icing on a wedding cake.

That was what sprang to mind. She attended a wedding just two weeks ago – a colleague of hers had been married in a lavish ceremony at a country club and the cake had been a delicate pink and white frosting. The cottage reminded her of the frostings decorating the cake.

Opening her door, she stepped out and breathed in the sharp air. She had been warned of the unpredictable weather and had dressed for it, but her light jacket proved to be ineffectual.

The wind stirring the trees found its way through the denim jacket and made her shiver. She supposed the verdant foliage, the clump of towering trees added to the heightened temperature, but the place had a certain appeal that was fascinating.

Slamming the car door shut, she went to get her suitcase and made her way up the cobbled path that led to the front porch. She could have stayed at one of the few hotels but had opted for the cottage to give her some privacy.

Being that Axel Lakeside was such a household name in the small town, she had no doubt that she would be bombarded by his fans. The cottage and its isolated location were perfect. She had also been assured that crime was a novelty at River Glades. "They pride themselves on being practically crime free," her editor had imparted.

It certainly seemed that way, but being a big city girl, she had no intention of leaving her door open. Inserting the key, she unlocked the door and stepped into the past.

The interior was charming and rustic. The outside was made up of weathered bricks, but inside was solid wood and a ceiling that was planks of wood with a unique design.

The floors had the dull patina and the scent of something flowery, something she could not define. A fireplace – an actual fireplace was in the living room along with sofas that were faded but looked comfortable and inviting.

Setting her bag down, she switched on the light, bathing the place with a mellow glow. It was a single-story building. As soon as she stepped out of the living room, she turned to the right and was inside a lovely sunshine yellow kitchen with an old-fashioned range, she was certain she would never know how to operate.

There was no island in the center to clutter the room, but a small dining table was tucked under the eaves of the large bay window that overlooked a small river and some flowers growing wild. The view was spectacular!

With a cry of delight, Ellie pulled out a chair and just sat there, gazing out at nature in all its glory.

Propping her chin on her palm, she let her gaze sweep over the shadowy forest and the solitude that seems to encompass everything in its path.

The wind was still blowing the leaves, and the peace was unbroken, not even by the squirrels that were scampering up and down the thick trunks of what she identified as solid rosewood and oak trees. Stirring herself from her surprisingly fanciful thoughts, she rose and went to explore the rest of the place.

There were two bedrooms, the master painted in lime green and white, with green and white cotton curtains at the two double windows. The bed was a queen, the colorful quilt echoing the dominant colors in the room.

A matching rug was at the side of the bed and there was also a small functional fireplace, piled with wood chips. It wasn't very cold, but there was a chill in the air. She had been told that fireplaces were used as early as September, and she decided to take advantage of that.

She would light the fire and curl up on the easy chair that had been placed in front of the fireplace. First a quick shower to get rid of the grime of traveling and then the decadence and novelty of relaxing in front of a real fire.

"Get a grip, Ellie," she muttered as she made her way into the adjoining bathroom and stopped dead just inside the doorway.

A claw footed bath was smack dab in the middle of the green and white glossy tiles – complete with a cushion for her head and a lip wide enough to hold a glass or two of wine. The owner had also conscientiously set out several different body gels and scented soap for her to choose from.

She had been all over the world while she was a model, and nothing had ever come close to what she was seeing here. The place gave charm a whole new meaning.

Taking a deep breath, she hurried back into the kitchen to pour a glass of wine and brought it back with her.

First a long soak in the absolutely lovely old bath and then an hour or two curled up in front of the fire. Things were looking up after all.

*****

"I don't think it's a good idea."

"It is the neighborly thing to do. I made too much of this stew and I am certain our guest would love a home-cooked meal."

"She is not a country girl mom and after traveling the entire day, I am certain that all she needs is just to settle in and get some sleep."

"Nonsense!" Caitlin resumed packing a picnic basket. First, she included the container with the delicious stew and then added several slices of her famous blueberry pie. After looking around, she also put in some fruit and a casserole she had prepared for yesterday's dinner.

"This young woman is going to be writing an article about my son and I want to make a good impression."

"It doesn't work that way." Cathy shook her head in fond exasperation. Realizing that her mother was determined to have her own way.

She had spent the entire day in classes and afterwards sitting in on a parent/teacher conference and she was exhausted. She had planned to take a long soak in her oversized tub and relax with a glass of wine. But that was slowly slipping away.

"You don't have to come."

"Right." Shaking her head, she slipped out of her heeled boots and into the comfortable tennis shoes inside the outdoors shoes closet. "We might as well get this over and done with."

Caitlin looked at her daughter anxiously. "Really darling, you don't have to accompany me. I know you have been at work the entire day and must be tired."

"Too late now." Pecking her mother on the cheek, she hefted the wicker picnic basket and headed towards the front doors. "If Axel hears of this…"

"He will be upset."

"He will be. I am driving."

*****

She felt like a prune and realized that she had spent too much time in the bath. Wrapped up in a short terry robe, she made her way towards the fireplace and was about to pour another glass of wine when she heard the doorbell chiming.

"Who on earth could that be at…?" A glance at the owl shaped clock on the wall showed that it was not that late after all.

She had landed at five p.m. and the drive through town had not taken that long. It was only a little past seven. With a resigned sigh, she made her way towards the front door and unlocked it to see two women standing there, one of them holding a large picnic basket.

There was no mistaking who they were. Caitlin Lakeside had passed on her exceptional good looks, thick coffee brown hair and amber eyes to her two children. The only difference was the woman was barely five foot one. Her daughter was a few inches taller and looked a little sheepish as if she was apologizing for the imposition.

"We thought we would stop by and welcome you to River Glades." Caitlin's smile was so disarming and friendly that Ellie found herself returning the smile and stepping back to allow them entry.

"I hope we didn't interrupt your settling down for the night. I am Cathy and this is my mother…"

"I know who you are," Ellie pointed them towards the living room. "Your resemblance to Axel Lakeside is quite remarkable. I was just about to enjoy a glass of wine…" Belatedly realizing that she was still wearing her robe, she told them to have a seat while she got dressed.

"Oh please!" Caitlin shook her head. "We are not going to be here that long. I just wanted to bring you something to welcome you to our town." Taking the basket from her daughter, she handed it to Ellie.

"Thank you," Ellie took the basket and placed it on the center table in front of the red sofa. "Please sit." Waiting until they were seated, she continued. "This is unexpected. Where I come from, neighbors usually mind their own business. As a matter of fact, I hardly ever see my closest neighbor."

"Well, River Glades is a small town, and we know practically everyone here." Cathy was studying the woman's flawless complexion without making it seem too obvious.

She had seen glossy photos of Ellie Logan when she went searching on the internet and admired the dazzling smile and the provocative poses. But seeing her up close and personal, she realized that the photos had not been airbrushed.

The woman's complexion was flawless. She was obviously not wearing makeup, but her skin was dewy and her face pore less. Her short hair was slightly tousled, making her look like a teenager. The robe was sensible, but on the former model, it looked sexy and alluring.

"That must be very nice or very restricting, depending on how one looks at it." Folding the ends of the robe over her knees, she focused her gaze on Cathy. "I understand you are a teacher."

"At one of the local high schools. I teach junior high."

"And you are an avid gardener." Ellie slanted her gaze to look at the woman who was sitting primly, with her legs tucked closely together, her hands clasped on her lap. "Your roses are the talk of the town."

"I love flowers."

"She is being modest. She is also responsible for the vegetable and organic herb gardens at our house." Cathy said with a laugh. "I have to ask – you were a model?"

"What's the question?"

"Why did you give up what most people would think of as an exciting career?"

Ellie had been asked that question too many times to count and the answer was always delivered in a flippant tone. But now she took the time to respond.

She did not make friends easily and despite her engaging and sociable personality, she chose her friends carefully. Marcia and Jackie had been her best friends since high school and even during her travels, she had not accumulated any new ones. To her surprise, she felt an immediate affinity to the two women seated in front of her.

"I was getting too old and too tired to be traipsing all over the world. Modeling is an arduous and time-consuming career, and I was getting sick of living out of my suitcase.

Besides, I wanted to eat what I damn well pleased, without thinking about adding several extra pounds." Her dark brown eyes twinkled as she stared at both women. "And I am very upfront and direct. I hope you don't mind the bluntness."

"Absolutely not." Caitlin assured her with a smile. "My son is the same way; he speaks his mind. You are due to meet with him tomorrow?"

"Not until the afternoon. I am going to take the opportunity to explore the town. Get a feel of what people are saying about the renovations going on. From what I read, your son is a local hero, but there are some people who are resistant to the changes going on."

She saw when Cathy's mouth tightened and mentally made a note of it.

"Those are in the very minority. Most of the residents of River Glades are grateful for what my brother is bringing to the town."

"I am sure.'

"You will be meeting with us as well?"

Ellie smiled at Caitlin. "Whenever is convenient to you."

"The afternoon is better for us because my daughter has to go to work. We will have dinner as soon as you decide when you need us. Well…," Slapping her hands on her thighs, she rose. "Ms. Logan…"

"Oh, please call me Ellie."

"And we are Caitlin and Cathy."

Ellie walked them to the front door and closed the door behind them before walking back into the living room to peek into the basket. What she saw there had her laughing and reaching for her phone to call her friends.

*****

"She seems nice." Cathy drove out of the driveway and made her way towards the main road that would take them home.

"She is exceptionally beautiful." Caitlin murmured thoughtfully. Adjusting her seatbelt, she stretched her legs out.

"And her skin is to die for," Cathy sighed softly, "she looks like a teenager, when in fact, her bio puts her at twenty-eight."

"I think she will be very fair to Axel."

Caitlin glanced at her mother quickly, before making the turn that would take them to the private road leading to the house. "You had doubts?"

Her mother shrugged. "Some people think he is ruthless and intimidating."

Cathy laughed as she drove into the driveway. "He is ruthless and intimidating. It is what makes him so successful. He had to be in order to be where he is today mom."

"We know a different side of him," she insisted as she opened her door.

"We do." Deciding to leave the vehicle in the middle of the driveway, Cathy hopped out, pulling the jacket closer to her as the wind whipped through the trees.

"I worry about him," Cathy admitted.

Linking her hand through her mother's arm, she slowed to accommodate her shorter legs. "Why?"

"He is lonely."

To her surprise, Cathy did not disagree. Stopping just in front of the wide double doors, Cathy turned to look at her. "He would not agree with you."

"I happen to know my son. That woman broke his heart."

"He is getting over it." Cathy pushed the doors open and waited for her mother to precede her.

"Is he?" Shrugging out of the jacket, Caitlin hung it on the coat tree neatly, brushing at the fine cashmere material. "How about some tea?"

"Sounds lovely. I am just going to run upstairs and get out of these clothes, and I will be right back."

Caitlin watched her daughter hurry out of the foyer before turning towards the kitchen. A smile touched her lips as she took in the immaculate room that was mostly her domain.

The appliances were the latest technology because her son had insisted on her having the best. Everything was at the touch of a button. She had insisted on the color being a mellow yellow and the designer had balked at the idea, but she would not budge. So, her request had been honored.

The woman had gone to Axel to complain that his mother was meddling in matters she had no business meddling in. The woman had underestimated Axel's devotion to his family and overestimated her importance. Axel had told her curtly that his mother was the one who was going to be living here and whatever she said -goes.

So, Caitlin had gotten her desire and the large kitchen, which was three times the tiny house they had lived in was homey despite the elegance. Putting the kettle on, she went to the rows of cupboards to select a box of tea.

*****

Tucking her legs beneath her, Ellie polished off the rest of the rather delicious casserole and leaned back in the chair. Balancing the glass on the edge of the sofa, she cradled the phone between her shoulder blades. "You sound enthused."

"I am," she admitted to her friend. "It is a charming little town and the little I have seen on my way in, impressed me. There are lots of colors everywhere. It seems like fall comes early here. The leaves are starting to change, and I am sitting in the bedroom and can see outside, and everything is fresh and glorious.

Get this, Axel Lakeside's mother and sister came bearing gifts as a welcome to River Glades. An actual picnic basket with food so delicious, I swear to you that I have never tasted better. They brought enough to last me several days. You know how terrible I am in the kitchen."

"You don't have to remind me." Marcia's dry tone had her laughing. "I still cannot get the fact that you insisted on making rosemary chicken for Thanksgiving two years ago."

"It wasn't that bad," she protested.

"Honey, it tasted like burnt rubber and we had to get rid of it and order in."

"That right there taught me that my talent does not lie in the kitchen."

"How were the relatives and have you met the man of the hour yet?"

"No. I am supposed to meet with him tomorrow afternoon. His assistant is going to call with the time. I have not spoken directly to him. The man is as elusive as old gold."

"Not to mention the fact that he was reluctant to agree to the interview."

"There is that. I expect to meet up with some resistance. But the mother and sister seem nice." Picking up her glass, she took a thoughtful sip. "I have been invited to dinner."

"You said yes of course."

"I did." She gazed into the crackling fire that had thrown the room into shadows and made it even more cozy. "I am going to take pictures and send them to you." She paused and drank some more wine. "What's going on with Jackie?"

"She is having problems with Paul as usual," Marcia hesitated briefly, "I did not want to say anything to her, but I have been hearing rumors."

"What kind?"

"He is cheating on her." Marcia sighed. "They are both unhappy and it's obvious. Paul spends his days with the children and that sort of inactivity and mindset is bound to get him wanting more."

"I think they should apply for help with the children, and he should find something to do. I am sorry Marcia, but a man staying home, does not sit well with me."

"You are a chauvinist." Marcia teased.

"And I make no apologies for my opinion. Paul is a jerk with a roving eye. Anyway, I am crashing as we speak and really need to get some sleep. Call you tomorrow."

Hanging up, she finished the wine and sat there for a few minutes before turning in.