Letters from Peaceful Lane (New Americana 3)

“Don’t underestimate me,” he said. “I know I gave you a hard time, but my mind was made up before you went stalking out the door. I’d have told you if you’d come into the den and found me. When you didn’t I just figured you needed time to cool down.”

“You’re impossible,” she said.

“I know.”

“And I wouldn’t have you any other way,” she said.

“I know that, too.” He kissed her with a tenderness that brought tears to her eyes.

CHAPTER 16

Two weeks later

The November day was diamond bright, the waters of Table Rock Lake so clear that Brianna, looking over the stern of the boat, could see all the way down to the rocky ledges that had given the lake its name. The trees along the bank stood bare, but their fallen leaves flashed autumn colors where they drifted on the subtle current.

In happy times past, it had been Brianna’s mother who sat in the stern and manned the tiller. Now that honor had fallen to Brianna. She ran the Evinrude E-TEC twenty-five horsepower outboard motor at trolling speed, inching along on a parallel course with the shore, while her father taught the first-timers, Liam and Allison, how to cast for largemouth bass.

“Bass like shelter,” Burke was saying. “See those rocks down there? That’s a place where they like to hang out and wait for food—worms, minnows, whatever comes their way. But we don’t need live bait. These soft plastic lures look enough like the real thing to fool them. Now let’s try casting.”

Liam went first. Last night at dinner, Brianna had held her breath when he and her father were introduced. But within a few minutes they were hitting it off like buddies, talking about the vintage cars they both prized.

Liam, who’d never fished before, was eager to learn. After a couple of tries, with coaching from Burke, he could cast the line smoothly and accurately. To Brianna, that was no surprise. Liam seemed to do everything well.

Their future was still unsettled. Brianna had been accepted by Missouri State University for the upcoming semester. Liam was applying for jobs in Springfield. He’d had several offers but was taking his time, looking for the right opportunity to build his own business.

Burke had taken a rare day off from supervising the renovation of the American Heartland. Once he’d turned the photos of the forged contract over to his lawyer, the threat of legal action had scared off the Edgeway Group. And Burke had agreed not to press charges against Garrett if his partner would sever all ties with the business and leave town. With Garrett gone and the bank loan in his hands, Burke had made his wife a full partner in the agency and his assistant in the still risky theater project.

“Now it’s your turn.” Burke handed the rod to Allison and stood behind her, guiding her hands. “Just like I showed Liam. Thumb on the release button and the action smooth, not jerky. That’s it . . . up and over . . .”

Allison looked nervous. Clearly she didn’t have Liam’s natural talent. The line went up and came down tangled, the lure plopping into the water near the boat.

“That’s all right,” Burke said. “Reel it in and try—”

His words ended in a gasp as the line went taut, arching the rod and almost pulling it out of Allison’s hands. “Hang on!” he yelled. “This one’s a real lunker. Careful, now, keep the line tight or you’ll lose him! Liam, get the net! Have it ready!”

His hands covered Allison’s to help her as the big bass cleared the water. Seconds later the fish was in the net. Burke used the club to give it a merciful end. “I’d guesstimate he’s about a nine-pounder. There’s supper, folks.”

Allison looked slightly dazed. “Are you all right?” Liam asked her.

“I think I need to sit down,” she said, sinking onto a seat.

Everyone laughed, including Brianna. Her mother would have loved this, she thought.

Brianna had never been sure about the afterlife, but something told her that if her mother’s spirit were here, she would be laughing along with them—her favorite people and the loved ones they’d found—all of them happy, as Kate would have wanted them to be.

EPILOGUE

Eighteen months later

“How about unzipping me?” Allison turned her back to her husband, who’d just tossed his tux jacket on a chair. They’d just come home from hosting a big charity event at the American Heartland.

The renovated theater was a true showplace now and had become the hottest ticket in Branson. Burke had called in favors and paid top dollar to get stars from places like Nashville and Las Vegas. His gamble was paying off. He’d already set enough aside to make the loan payments for the rest of the year.

A few months ago, the mayor had approached him about hosting an annual charity show and party at the American Heartland. The event tonight had been a grand success and raised an impressive sum of money for worthy causes. But for Allison, the evening had been exhausting. After three hours in high heels, she could no longer feel her feet.

“Heavens, I hope we don’t end up having to do this every year,” she said as the gown loosened around her and fell to the floor.

Burke nuzzled the back of her neck. “Especially not if you’re pregnant again.”