Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Chloe wiped her hands on her apron and stepped out from behind the counter of The Lakeview Café. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of sizzling bacon and eggs. It was a typical morning at the café, and Chloe was in her element.

Working here was more than just a job; it was a step toward her independence and building a new life. Even though she wasn’t creating exhibitions that drew thousands of people to Washington, D.C., she enjoyed serving customers and working alongside her friend Kathleen, the café’s new owner.

“Table five’s ready!” Kathleen called from the kitchen, her cheerful voice cutting through the clatter of pots and pans.

“Thanks,” Chloe replied, as she picked up the plates and took them across to the couple who were busy on their cell phones.

After she’d placed their meals on the table, she refilled their coffee cups and made her way to another table.

“Good morning,” she said to an elderly couple who were studying their menus. “What can I get for you today?”

After taking their order and delivering it to the kitchen, Chloe moved efficiently between tables, refilling more coffee cups and chatting with their regular customers. She loved the sense of community in Sapphire Bay, where everyone knew each other and everyone was friendly.

Around noon, the bell above the door jingled, and she looked up to see Liam walk in.

He scanned the café, smiling at her as he walked across the room. “Hi, Chloe. I’ve tied Trixie to a lamppost. Would you mind if I sit at an outside table?”

“Of course not. There should be a spare table you can use,” she replied, her smile warm. “I’ll be right with you.”

Liam chose a table by the window. Chloe brought him a menu and a bowl of water for Trixie. “There you go. Can I get you something to drink?”

“I’ll have a glass of orange juice, thanks,” Liam said, stroking Trixie on the head. “The café has a great atmosphere.”

Chloe nodded. It was one of the reasons she enjoyed coming into work each day. “We have a lot of repeat customers. I think their enthusiasm rubs off on everyone. I haven’t seen you around town.”

“I arrived a couple of weeks ago. I’m surprised at how many people are here.”

Chloe smiled as another couple walked into the café. “In the summer, tourists stop for something to eat and drink on their way around the lake. In the winter months, it’s mostly skiers. Sapphire Bay is a great town.”

Liam looked through the window at the people inside the café, then back at her. “I’m glad I came here.”

The warmth in his gaze made Chloe sigh. There was something about him that made her heart race, and she didn’t know what it was. He seemed like a nice person, but then so were a lot of people. With deep blue eyes, short brown hair, and a tall, lean body, he was handsome in an understated, down-to-earth kind of way. She didn’t know why he was staying in Sapphire Bay, and it didn’t matter. She didn’t have time to be interested in anyone, let alone a man who’d only arrived in town a short time ago.

“I should get back to the other customers. I’ll be back with your juice in a few minutes.”

She headed inside, took four lunch orders, and poured Liam a drink. With the glass of orange juice in one hand and the coffeepot in the other, she made her way across the café.

By the time she returned to Liam’s table, she had her heart firmly under control. “A local orchard supplies the orange juice. I hope you like it.”

Liam took the glass and smiled. “I’m sure I will. How’s your son?”

“Oscar’s doing great. He said you’re writing a book. Do you mind if I ask what it’s about?”

“Not at all,” Liam replied, leaning back in his chair. “I’m writing about the unique stories of small towns across America. Sapphire Bay is my last stop.”

“How did you choose where to go?”

Liam smiled. “Quirky historical facts have always fascinated me. While I was a reporter in Buffalo, I went through lots of old news stories and picked the ones I thought people would enjoy reading about. As well as those stories, I found at least a dozen more in each town I visited. Over the last six months, I’ve met some incredible people.”

Chloe grinned. She had more in common with Liam than he knew. “I love history, too. My dad used to say that every artifact has a story, and it’s up to us to tell it.” Bringing people’s stories to life had made each day she’d worked at the Smithsonian special. Especially when family members brought treasured heirlooms to them for safekeeping.

She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one needed her. “How far through the book are you?”

“After I’ve finished the chapter about Sapphire Bay, all I have to do is edit the manuscript and send it to my agent,” Liam told her. “One of the major publishing houses wants to see it.”

“They’d be crazy not to print it,” Chloe told him. “Without books like yours, we lose information about how previous generations lived and what was important to them.” She bit her bottom lip and sighed. Sometimes, she got carried away and forgot she’d left her old life behind.

Instead of taking up more of Liam’s time, she picked up the dishes on the table behind him. “Can I get you anything to eat?”

When she was ready, he handed her the menu. “I’ll have a turkey club sandwich and a slice of the apple pie, please.”

“Good choice.” The sound of a bell drew Chloe’s attention inside. “Enjoy the sunshine. I’ll be back as soon as your lunch is ready.”

After she’d served a few more customers, Chloe took Liam’s lunch to him and returned to the café. As the midday rush wound down, she checked on him again. “How was everything?”

“Delicious,” he replied, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Pastor John recommended the café. Usually, I grab something from the supermarket and eat between interviews.”

“I’m glad you liked your lunch,” Chloe told him as she picked up his dishes. “Trixie has been wonderful.”

Liam patted Trixie’s head. “She’s always been very patient.” As Liam paid his bill and stood to leave, Trixie wagged her tail happily from beside him. “Thanks for the great lunch, Chloe. It was good to see you again.”

“I enjoyed seeing you, too. Enjoy the rest of your day.” As she returned to the café, Chloe thought about Liam. Although she found him attractive, something about him made her cautious. She didn’t know what he’d do after he’d written his book, but moving from town to town must be unsettling. She’d experienced enough instability in her life and wasn’t sure she’d ever get close to someone who might pack up and leave.

Kathleen walked out of the kitchen holding two lunch dishes. “I’ll take those to the table for you,” Chloe said quickly.

“Don’t be silly. You need to pick up Oscar from school.”

Chloe’s eyes widened when she glanced at the clock. “I didn’t realize it was so late. Are you sure you’ll be all right on your own?”

“Of course I will. Have a great afternoon with Oscar.”

“Thanks, you too.” Chloe hurried into the kitchen and grabbed her bag. She’d promised Oscar they’d visit the library on their way home from school. And if they had a few dinosaur books he could borrow, he’d be the happiest six-year-old in town.

Liam parked his truck in front of The Lakeside Inn and rolled down the windows for Trixie. The boutique bed-and-breakfast was full of character and charm. Of all the homes he’d seen in Montana, this was by far the most interesting. With a wide wraparound veranda, a steep gabled roof, and large windows on both levels, the two-story home was the perfect place to enjoy the stunning view of Flathead Lake.

He glanced at Trixie. She was wagging her tail enthusiastically in the passenger seat. “Stay here, girl. I won’t be long,” he said, giving her a quick pat before stepping out of the truck.

As he walked up the cobblestone path to the entrance, the sweet scent of roses tickled his nose. But it wasn’t the house or the garden that had brought him here. It was the letter Penny and her sisters had discovered inside an old dresser.

Finding the last known copy of the Gettysburg Address in a letter Abraham Lincoln had sent to his son had caught the attention of historians and enthusiasts from around the world. It was the reason Liam had written his book, and the reason he’d put his career on hold.

The bell above the door chimed softly as he waited for Penny. He’d met her mom, Mabel, a few days after he’d arrived in town. Mabel was full of information about the history of Sapphire Bay, the people who lived here, and the stories he wanted to include in his book. It was thanks to her that he’d met her daughter and organized today’s meeting.

Penny, a woman in her thirties with deep brown hair and striking green eyes, greeted him with a smile. “It’s good to see you again, Liam.”

“It’s good to see you too, Penny. Thanks for taking the time to meet with me.”

“You’re welcome. I love sharing stories about the inn,” Penny said. “Why don’t we sit in the living room? It’s a bit more comfortable.”

Liam followed her into a room filled with vintage furniture, an enormous fireplace, and beautiful paintings hanging on the walls.

Penny gestured for him to sit on a floral-patterned sofa while she took a seat in an armchair across from him.

“Your timing couldn’t have been better. Our guests are all sightseeing, so we’ve got the house to ourselves.”

Liam took out his notebook. “How many guests can stay here at a time?”

“About eight. That gives everyone enough room to enjoy the house without feeling overwhelmed by people. When we first opened, my sisters and I looked after everyone, but we have other staff who help now.”

“It’s a beautiful home.”

Penny grinned. “Thank you. We did a lot of remodeling after we moved here to make it somewhere our guests would enjoy. What would you like to know about the letter we found?”

“Before we begin, I should tell you I saw the exhibition at the Smithsonian. It was incredible.”

“I thought so, too,” Penny said. “Seeing everything restored and in one place was amazing. If you want to know what happened behind the scenes to get the letter and furniture ready, speak to Chloe Anders. She organized the exhibition and was our contact person during the restoration process. She moved to Sapphire Bay last year.”

Liam frowned. Penny couldn’t mean the woman he’d met at The Welcome Center and at the café. “I’ve only met one person called Chloe since I’ve been here. She has a son named Oscar and works at a café.”

“That’s her,” Penny said. “Chloe worked with the Smithsonian museums for about eight years before moving here. She has a Master’s Degree in Museum Studies and all kinds of certificates in conservation and cultural heritage.”

Liam’s mind raced as he tried to reconcile the warm, down-to-earth woman he’d met with the person Penny was describing. “I thought she’d always lived here. When I told her about my book, she didn’t say anything about her career.”

Penny didn’t seem surprised. “Chloe doesn’t tell many people, but I’m sure she’d talk to you about the exhibition. Without her help, we wouldn’t have been able to trace how the letter found its way to Montana.”

Liam picked up his pen, tapping it thoughtfully against his notebook. He remembered their conversations—the ease of her laughter, the way she lit up when talking about Oscar, and her passion for baking classes at The Welcome Center. But she’d never mentioned having such an amazing career.

Scribbling down a note to himself, he looked back at Penny. “I’ll definitely talk to Chloe. Can you tell me in your own words how you found the letter?”

Penny nodded. “When our grandmother died, she left my sisters and me a key, but we didn’t know what it unlocked. We eventually found some of my grandparents’ furniture in the old steamboat museum. The key unlocked the drawers on a dresser, and one of them had a hidden compartment. That’s where we found the letter. It wasn’t until the Smithsonian authenticated the letter that we realized it really was written by Abraham Lincoln.”

Liam turned to the next page in his notebook. “Finding the letter created an enormous interest in anything to do with Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War. Your mom said you have a replica dresser and letter in the inn.”

“We do,” Penny replied with a smile. “My brother-in-law, Ethan, made the dresser, and the Smithsonian gave us a copy of the letter. I’ll show you them.” She stood up and led Liam into another part of the living room where the dresser was displayed for guests to admire.

Penny handed him a photo. “That’s the real dresser.”

Liam compared the image in the photo with the dresser in front of them. The deep mahogany wood gleamed under the pendant lights. The drawers, complete with brass hinges and handles, looked so much like the original dresser that he couldn’t believe it wasn’t the same one.

Penny unlocked the drawers with a small key. “We didn’t expect to find anything inside the dresser. If it weren’t for my husband, we wouldn’t have found the hidden compartment.” Kneeling on the floor, she carefully pulled open the third drawer and removed a thin layer of wood. Sandwiched in the narrow gap between the bottom of the drawer and the false bottom was a simple piece of paper.

“And this is a copy of the letter,” Penny said.

Liam looked at the dresser, then took the letter she handed him. Even as a replica, the letter still carried the weight of history. As he read the neatly written words, he felt a deep connection to the past.

“Would it be possible for me to have a copy of the letter for my book?”

“I don’t see why not,” Penny replied. “I’ll ask the Smithsonian if they can email you an electronic copy. If you want to know more about the authentication process or the exhibition, Chloe’s the best person to talk to.”

“Would you mind if I took some photos of the dresser and the inn?”

“Take as many as you like,” Penny told him. “After everyone heard about the letter, hundreds of people visited the inn. Luckily, most of our guests were here because of the letter and not for a quiet vacation.”

Liam took photos of the dresser’s hidden compartment, then moved around the room, taking photos of the living room.

Penny smiled when he took a photo of a replica steamboat. “Sapphire Bay is full of interesting stories. The cottages on Anchor Lane are a great example. They were built in the 1880s as vacation homes for the staff who worked on the steamboats. When we were renovating them, we found old newspapers, milk jugs, and all kinds of things left behind by previous generations of people. And there’s the building where they make the tiny homes. The old steamboat museum has been around for longer than the cottages. The storage rooms are filled with old furniture and lots of family heirlooms.”

“Pastor John showed me the rooms. I could spend a year in Sapphire Bay and still not scratch the surface of what’s stored in there. My priority before coming here was Abraham Lincoln’s letter. I didn’t realize there’d be a lot of other stories that could easily be part of my book.”

“I lived here until I was eighteen, but I didn’t know a lot about the history of the area. Now it seems as though everywhere I look there’s another interesting story waiting to be uncovered.”

Liam smiled as he put his camera away. “It’s the same in each town I’ve visited. One story leads to another and, before you know it, the entire town’s talking about the history of the area.”

Penny looked thoughtfully at him. “Have you seen the murals painted by Eleanor Whittaker? Her story would be great to include in your book.”

Liam frowned. “The only mural I’ve seen is on the back of the old schoolhouse. No one I asked knew anything about it.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. A lot of people don’t know about the history of the area.” Penny handed him a photo. “This is a picture of the mural Eleanor created on the outside of the last cottage I remodeled. Instead of painting over it, we carefully removed the boards and stored them in the old steamboat museum.”

The faded mural showed people enjoying the lake on a hot summer’s day. Looking at the swimming costumes, it must have been painted at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Penny pointed to a woman sitting on the edge of the mural. “We think that’s Eleanor. She was a talented artist who painted murals on several buildings in Sapphire Bay. In the 1920s, she vanished without a trace. Rumors spread around town about her. Some people said she’d eloped, while others thought she was kidnapped and murdered. I tried looking for more information about her, but I couldn’t find anything.”

Liam was surprised that no one had told him about Eleanor. “I’m talking to the chairperson of the Heritage Protection Society tomorrow. I’ll ask Percy about her.”

“If you discover anything, let me know.” Penny looked through one of the living room windows and smiled. “I’m hoping the gorgeous dog in your truck is yours and not a friendly stray?”

“That’s Trixie. She comes with me to most of my appointments.”

“She looks like Charlie, my sister’s dog,” Penny said warmly. “Would she like to run around in the backyard with him? We have a fenced-off area where they can play.”

“That’d be great,” Liam replied, grateful for the offer. “I always feel bad about leaving her in my truck while I’m talking to people.”

Penny stood up. “Why don’t you get Trixie? We’ll introduce her to Charlie.”

While Penny made her way to the backyard, Liam fetched Trixie from the truck. As soon as she saw the open space and Charlie, she dashed off to join her new friend.

“It looks like they’ll get along just fine,” Penny said with a laugh. “Would you like a cup of coffee and some of my sister’s home baking?”

“Only if you’ve got the time.”

Penny checked her watch. “I don’t have to be anywhere for another hour. Do you have more questions about Abraham Lincoln’s letter or anything else in Sapphire Bay?”

Liam had a few more things he’d like to ask her about the letter, and even more questions about Chloe. But he had a feeling she’d be less likely to talk about her friend—especially when he couldn’t understand why Chloe had left a great job to serve customers in a small café in Sapphire Bay.