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Agreat photograph makes you think you know the subject, even if you’ve never met. A great photo reaches out and pulls you inside the moment, so you can feel, smell, and taste it. And this, by all accounts, is a great photo.
A change of scene. Fresh air. Endless skies. Glittering water. A second trip to the lake. Our return to Barry’s Bay.
“Alice.” Charlie interrupts me yet again. I inhale, annoyance growing. “Yes?” “Take a breath. I can feel your anxiety all the way in Barry’s Bay.”
A low chuckle fills my ear. “Don’t worry. I’m quite happy to assist. John gave me a heads-up about your grandma’s surgery. I’ll take care of everything. Text me that list of yours, and I’ll ensure everything is suitable.” I blink. “Are you making fun of me?” “Wouldn’t dream of it,” he says, but I can hear him smiling. No, not smiling. Smirking. “Just get yourself up here, Alice. Something tells me you need some time at the lake more than I do.” The hammering resumes in the background, and Charlie curses. “See you soon, City Girl.”
Charlie: Everything’s ready for you, City Girl. Keys are in the outhouse.
Me: Thank you. Me: But for the record, my name is Alice Everly. Charlie: Noted. I look forward to meeting you, Alice Everly.
I pull my phone from my pocket and call Charlie. He answers on the first ring. “Hello, Alice Everly,” he says, drawing my name out slowly, roughing up the r in Everly. It sends a pleasant zing down my spine. “Charlie, hi. We just got to the cottage, but I can’t seem to find the outhouse.”
“I’m good, Alice. How are you?” “Magnificent,” I say flatly. What’s with this guy? “And you?” “Better now that I’ve heard from you.” I roll my eyes. “Where are you right now?” he asks. “Beside the woodpile.” “And what are you wearing?” My cheeks flash hot with anger. “Are you serious?” He chuckles. “Not usually. Though in this case, I’m asking about your footwear. The trail to the outhouse is pretty overgrown.” I glance down at my sandals. “I’ll be fine.”
“You could have picked an easier spot for the key,” I say. “There have been a couple of break-ins around the lake—kids looking for booze, probably. I didn’t want to leave the key under the mat. But if you need assistance, I can be there in five.” “That won’t be necessary,” I say. “Your call. See you soon, Alice Everly.”
Effing Charlie Florek.
I’ve been dreaming of spending a quiet summer on the water. I’ve pictured long walks and sunrises, midafternoon swims and cozy nights with a book. I’ve imagined peace and rest and catching up on work. But I didn’t anticipate Charlie Florek.
I know you appreciate a list, so here’s what I’ve taken care of to ensure the cottage is suitable:
All area rugs and runners have been removed, except for the big one in the living room. I’ve taped it down and it shouldn’t give your grandma any trouble. I’ve also shifted the furniture, so she has clear paths to the kitchen, porch, bathroom, and bedroom. I’ve taken out the trunk that John uses as a coffee table so there’s more space for her walker. You can find the games, puzzles, and a deck of cards on the shelf in the closet of the second bedroom. I’ll bring you a couple of small end tables soon. I’ve added grab bars to the bathroom and anti-slip strips to the shower stall. Did you bring a
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This place gets hot as balls. There’s a fan in your grandma’s room but let me know if you need one. I have a spare. Boat is in. Gas tank is full. There’s a Tupperware container of cheese and potato pierogi in the freezer in case you need an easy dinner tonight. (How...
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John asked me to take care of you and your grandma, and I promised I would. Lucky you: We’ll be seeing a lot of each other this summer.
We do have the pierogi for dinner. They’re homemade, and they’re obnoxiously delicious.
Do something stupid. Do something selfish.”
“Sweet dreams, Alice,” she says. “And remember…” I smile. Because until this moment, I’d forgotten how every day ended the summer I was seventeen. “Good things happen at the lake,” I finish. She nods once. “Good things happen at the lake.”
The younger of the boys is cute, gangly in the way of quick-growing adolescents. He wears a T-shirt and is staring at the girl like no one else in the world exists. I spent enough time watching them to know the older boy is his brother. He’s gorgeous and tan and is looking at his sibling with a happy, satisfied smirk. I liked to imagine having a boyfriend like him.
I called it One Golden Summer.
How impressed are you right now? Text me a picture of your face. I feel like I’ve been thrown into a game I don’t know the rules to. Is he flirting via to-do list?
Maybe it’s because I’m still energized from filing the photos to Willa that I take out my phone and do something I never do. I lift my chin to the light, stick out my tongue, and snap a selfie. I send it to Charlie. A minute later, I swear I hear a deep laugh drifting across the lake on a warm breeze.
Charlie: I assume you found the keys. Me: And a family of raccoons.
Charlie: I was expecting a thank you for my hard work and kindness. Me: Thank you. Charlie: Say it like you mean it. Me: Are you always this infuriating? Charlie: No. Charlie: Usually I’m worse.
I push my hat off my face and find a familiar yellow speedboat floating a few feet away. In it is a man with celery-green eyes. “It’s you,” he says, mouth arching. His dimples wink. “Whoa.”
“That’s okay, Red,” he says. “I was checking you out, too.” I hate when people call me Red, though I never say anything about it. But there’s something about the way he’s looking at me, so smug and amused, that has me snapping back. “Do. Not. Call. Me. That.” I push and push with every muscle in my body. Nothing.
He claps slowly. “Well done, Red.” “Are you serious?” I glare at him from beneath the brim of my hat. “Not usually.” Not usually. I’ve heard those words before. I blink at him. “Charlie?” Dimples firing, he taps his temple with two fingers. “At your service, Alice Everly.”
“You’re having quite the day,” he says. “Destroying produce displays and crashing boats. Do you always wreak such havoc?” “Hardly.” “I don’t know,” he says, his smile teasing. “You seem like trouble. I think I’ll have to be careful when I’m around you.” “Don’t worry,” I tell him. “There’s no need to be around me at all.”
“You’ll need to wait about twenty minutes before you can give it another go,” Charlie informs me with a highly satisfied smile. “You don’t have to look so happy about this.” “Why not? Now I can give you a ride home.” He winks. “It’s not every day I get to stage a rescue.”
“So you’re here with your grandmother for the summer. Will you have any guests joining you?” I look at him from the corner of my eye. “Boyfriend? Girlfriend? Husband? Wife? Partner?” “Subtle,” I tell him. “Not my forte.” When I don’t respond, he asks, “Maybe a distant cousin on your mother’s side?” “The wedding’s next Saturday,” I say, deadpan. Charlie looks at me strangely. His dimples are in place, but something shifts in his eyes. “You’re funny.” “I’m not really.” I don’t think anyone has accused me of being funny before. “I disagree.”
“So we’ve established that you’re funny,” he says. I shrug. “And single?” Charlie winks. “Single. No boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, partner, or questionable relationship with a distant cousin on my mother’s side.”
I hum, not fully agreeing. “She’s family. I did what anyone would.” “I doubt that.” His eyes find mine, piercing as lasers, as if he can see deep inside. It’s unsettling. “I bet you’re not like anyone else, Alice Everly.”
Charlie tilts toward me with a wolfish grin. “Are you blushing?” “It’s sunburn.” I let go of his hand and step back. A delighted bellow bursts from his chest. “You tell yourself that, Red.” And there it is. Red. The reality check is impeccably timed. I let out a growl, growing an even deeper shade of crimson. “I told you not to call me that,” I snap. “You’re cute when you’re mad.” Charlie reaches out, flicking the brim of my hat. I stare at him, stunned. “What’s wrong with you?” “Far too many things to list.” He’s smiling—impervious to my irritation or simply enjoying it.
“You’re handsome, obviously. You know that. The shade of your eyes: It’s rare. You know that, too.”
Charlie holds it out, and I lunge so quickly I almost fall into the water. He steadies me by the arm, smiling. “Not a word.” He lifts his hands. “I didn’t say a thing.” Charlie steps onto the dock just as I hear Nan’s voice. “Alice, are you going to introduce me to your friend?” I stare at the deck, where she stands with her walker. “He’s not my friend,” I call back. “Rude,” Charlie says. “Bring him up for tea.” Charlie turns to me, grinning. “Bring me up for tea, Alice.”
“Are you collecting handsome men today?” Nan asks when Charlie and I arrive at the top of the stairs. “Just the one,” I tell her. “Nan, this is Charlie Florek. He’s looking after the property for John.” “Our spirited letter writer and handyman?”
How did you manage it?” “I wore the wrong shoes to dance class. My foot went right out from under me doing kicks to some silly old song.” “It was ‘Dancing Queen,’ ” I say, sharing a look with Charlie that says, We’re not allowed to laugh at this. “Apparently not,” Nan huffs. Charlie’s eyes widen. But it’s so funny, they say.
Nan sizes us up like we’re dessert. “Oh, this is too good. Charlie, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone ruffle Alice’s feathers the way you did with the letter. It was a riot.” “The pleasure’s all mine.” Nan hoots. Hoots.
“You don’t have to come,” I say to Charlie as I walk him down to the dock. “It’s just going to be a little party, but my siblings are a lot.”
“I like a lot.” “There’ll be feather boas and tiaras and glitter,” I say. I have a vision for the night, and Charlie doesn’t fit into it. “That’s good news,” he says, coming to a stop on the dock. “I look fantastic in a tiara.”
“I get the sense I haven’t made a good first impression, so let’s start over. I’m Charlie Florek.” I frown, and he beams back at me. “And you are…” he prompts. “I’m Alice Everly?” I say, putting my palm in his. Charlie squeezes it firmly, giving it a shake. His smile draws out his dimples. “And you are Alice Everly.” Alice Everly. Alice Everly. Alice Everly. I should pull my hand away, but for some reason, I don’t. I let him hold my small hand in his large one. “Rumor has it that you’re throwing a big party on Canada Day, Alice. The whole lake is talking about
“You should come,” I tell him. “I think I can put up with you for an evening.” Charlie smiles, and it’s so genuine I struggle not to do the same. “Don’t look too happy,” I tell him. “You’ll have to wear your own shirt.” “No guarantees.” He drops my hand, and mine feels so much colder. Charlie steps into the boat with grace, pulls the T-shirt over his head, and tosses it to me. “Wear it to bed, Alice. Picture me in your dreams.” I wrinkle my nose, but it only makes him laugh. “You’re…” I don’t even know what he is.
“Remarkable?” He throws me a grin, then unties the boat. He gets it started and then pulls away, his back to me, the sun caressing his skin.
I do a quick scroll of my notifications before I shut my phone off for the night, but there’s one from an hour ago that makes my heart skip. charlesflorek started following you
Harrison passes me the bag. “Charlie also wanted me to bring you these. He said you forgot them at the store yesterday.” I peek inside. The bag is full of English cucumbers.
“What do you need all these cucumbers for?” “I might whack Charlie over the head with one, for starters.” Harrison gives me a puzzled look. “I’m just kidding. He thinks he’s pretty funny, huh?” “He does.” He shrugs.
“Maybe I’ll see you around, then? I’m usually at the Tavern on Thursday nights.” “The Tavern?” “You don’t know it? I thought you and Charlie were friends or something.” I cackle at that. “We just met yesterday.” “Oh. The way he spoke…” Harrison frowns, and it’s adorable on him. “I figured you knew each other well. Anyway, the Tavern is Charlie’s family’s restaurant. Or, it used to be. Charlie and Sam sold it a couple years ago.” “Sam?” “Charlie’s younger brother.”
Charlie: Harry asked me to put in a good word, so this is me putting in a good word. Me: Noted. Me: Strange that he thought your word would have sway with me. Charlie: Strange that he didn’t listen when I told him you were a redhead with a big mouth. Me: A big mouth and a lifetime supply of cucumbers. Thank you for that. Charlie: A thank you? From Alice Everly? Whoa.
Charlie: No reply? It’s eleven at night. Surely you can make time for me. Me: Time for what exactly? Don’t you have someone else to bother? Charlie: Is this your roundabout way of asking whether I’m single? Charlie: You disappeared again. Me: Goodnight, Charlie. Charlie: Sweet dreams, Alice.
Iturn toward the voice and am unsurprised to find Charlie astride a yellow Jet Ski. “It’s a unicorn.” “Unicorns don’t have wings,” he says, eyeing me with a lazy smile. “Pegasuses don’t have horns.” He tilts his head in agreement, and then waves up at the deck. “Good afternoon, Nan.” “Nice to see you again, Charlie.” She might as well be licking her chops. He points to the binoculars. “Spying on me?” “I was bird-watching.”
