Page 28 of Patio Lanterns (The Blue Canoe Cottage #1)

Robin

A pinky-peach sunrise shimmered across the calm lake in pastel ripples, making for a dreamy, tranquil start to the day.

Robin hiked back up the hill to the Blue Canoe with Mutt hop-limping beside her, this time on his leash to make sure he didn’t detour back to the dead fish or whatever other putrid junk he’d find to roll around in.

She was still amazed how Rick managed to turn things around.

He was handed a last-minute disaster and somehow made it into a date night to remember.

He really was sweet, that was the only word for it.

The way he pitched in with Mutt, the way he made sure that they were both fed, cozy, and taken care of.

In every way. Truth be told, she was glad he invited them to stay the night, even though it had been much harder leaving his bed than it had been the time before.

She waited as Mutt took care of his business, making a mental note of where she had to scoop the poop later, then stealthily ascended the front steps one by one. “Shhh… be quiet, everyone’s still asleep.”

Slyly, she slid the spare key into the lock. Opening and closing the squeaky front door as quietly as possible, Robin tiptoed inside, treading lightly so as to not make a single creak or crack as she crept across the wood floor.

“Where the hell have you been?”

“Oh, motherfucking fuck!” Robin jumped, her heart in her throat. She spun around to find Miss Scarlet, in the kitchen, with the candlestick—or, looking almost as likely to commit homicide—Lark, arms folded tightly, with a scowl that could kill.

“Well?” Lark asked.

“Well, what?” Robin snapped.

Lark shook her head. “Robin Jane Pelletier. It’s twenty after six in the morning. Are you seriously just getting in?”

“I took Mutt out for a walk, okay?”

“Uh-huh. You expect me to believe that you woke up at the crack of dawn to walk your dog. The same dog that mysteriously went missing last night?”

“Yeah, that’s right,” Robin sniffed.

“Well then, maybe you could explain why your freaking shirt’s on inside out.”

Robin looked down. Shit. Serves me right for getting dressed while still cum-dumb at dawn. “I just threw it on, went out, and now I’m back. End of story.”

“Where were you really?” Lark huffed. “You came back last night, then raced out again with a change of clothes but no explanation. Were you at a party? Did you hook up with some rando? Are you on drugs? Are you high right now?”

“Fucking wish I was,” Robin grumbled under her breath. She pulled a mug down from the cupboard and poured herself a coffee. “Can we please save the interrogation until after I’ve had my coffee and Cheerios?”

“It must be nice to live life without a care in the world. No rules. No responsibilities. No fucks given.”

“Oh my God, Lark, get off my back already. Is your perfect life so dull that you have nothing better to do than pick apart mine?”

“My life is not perfect, believe me,” Lark said. “And stop trying to change the subject. Where were you last night?”

“None of your damn business.” Robin slurped the high-octane black coffee. It tasted godawful bitter, but Lark was blocking the fridge, and she didn’t want to have to ask her to pass the half and half. “Who died and made you Mom, anyway?”

Instantly, she regretted saying it, as if she’d taken their mother’s memory in vain.

Her face aghast, Lark straightened her back as she pulled out a dining room chair. “Take a seat, little sister. It’s time for you to hear some hard truths.”

Robin plunked down and set her phone on the table as Lark took a seat beside her.

“She was worried about you, you know.”

“Who? Mom?”

Lark nodded. “She was worried what would happen if you didn’t start making better choices, and frankly, Robin, so am I.”

“You may find this hard to believe, but I can take care of myself just fine.”

“Can’t you see that I’m trying here? I’m really trying.” Lark desperately clasped her hands together. “So, please, Robin, just help me. Help me to help you.”

Robin grimaced. “I don’t want your help.”

“Well, whether you like it or not, you’re getting it for your own good.”

“By acting like my guardian? By keeping my inheritance from me and treating me as if I’m under a conservatorship like Britney Freaking Spears?” Robin argued. “Don’t I have the right to make decisions about my own life?”

“Shhh, keep your voice down,” Lark shushed her. “I only want what’s best for you, you know. Like Aidan. Weren’t you glad to see him again? Because it looked like you were really glad to see him.”

“Maybe that was just a banana in my pocket,” Robin quipped.

“Aidan is ambitious, hard-working, and stable,” Lark said. “He has a good head on his shoulders, and he’s really very…”

“…sweet,” Robin finished.

“Sweet.” Lark repeated, “Yes he is. There is nothing wrong with being with someone sweet who will treat you well.”

“Stop trying so hard to make me and Aidan happen. The only thing I’ll ever be in his eyes is your baby sister, and that’s fine because I’m over it,” Robin told her. “Now quit playing matchmaker, will ya? It is seriously giving me the ick.”

“Is it really so terrible that I want to see you end up with a good guy?” Lark asked. “What’s your issue? Is it that he’s too old for you?”

Robin laughed. If only you knew.

“Six years isn’t that big of a difference. Besides, age is only a number.”

“Oh really? Thank you, I’ve never heard that one before,” Robin snarked. “I assure you, age is not a dealbreaker for me.”

“Then what is it? Did you and Parker Whatsherface get back together?”

“Bite your goddamn tongue,” Robin spat.

Lark threw her hands in the air. “I thought being with Aidan was what you always had your heart set on.”

“Maybe when I was fourteen. I’m a totally different person now,” Robin said, wondering why her sister couldn’t grasp that concept. “And if Aidan is so great, why didn’t you jump his bones when you had the chance?”

“Aidan and I are friends, that’s all. That’s all we’ve ever been. You know that.”

Robin lifted her eyebrows. “Hmm. So you say. Maybe you’re pushing me into Aidan’s arms because you’re projecting. Maybe you’re the one who’s secretly in love with him.”

Lark’s jaw dropped. “That’s preposterous.”

“How do I know you’re not trying to live vicariously through my velveteen vagine?” Robin asked, spreading her thighs apart and smoothing her hand over her crotch.

“Gross!” Lark glared.

“No, you are,” Robin mocked, laughing. Just then, her phone lit up with a notification, vibrating on the tabletop. Before she could grab it, Lark snatched it up. Shit.

“Who the hell is brE71?” she asked, staring at the screen. “And why are they missing you already?”

Robin stole her phone back and tucked it into her pocket. “It’s my crack dealer, okay? Happy now?”

Footsteps padded down the stairs, and a moment later, Dove was standing in the kitchen in her PJs. Even with messy bedhead and bare feet, she glowed as if she should be surrounded by singing woodland creatures. “Do you two have any idea what time it is?”

“Sorry, Dove,” Robin said sheepishly. “We didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Not all of us were asleep. In fact, Robin here just got in.” Lark tapped her nail on the table.

Robin shrugged. “Apparently, I was at an all-night orgy with a Mexican drug cartel.”

Dove yawned as she poured herself a coffee. “I can’t believe you two are bickering this early in the morning.”

Robin got up and joined her in the kitchen. “I’m twenty-eight years old. Don’t you think I’m past the age of having to seek permission to do as I please?”

“Of course you are,” Dove answered.

Lark stood up too. “But don’t you think a twenty-eight-year-old should start acting their age, and have enough common sense not to stay out all night?”

“Of course I do,” Dove responded.

“Well?” Lark asked. “Which is it?”

Dove looked at them both, then took a sip of her coffee. “You’re both right.”

Robin rolled her eyes. “Way to pick a side, Dove.”

“I hate it when you two put me in the middle like this,” she said. “Either you want me to be the tiebreaker or the peacemaker, but only when I’m not your babysitter or dog walker. The rest of the time, I’m completely invisible to you both.”

Robin felt like shit. “You’re not invisible to us, sis. We see you.”

“Of course we do,” Lark said.

“It really sucks always being caught between you. My therapist says…”

“Wait,” Robin stopped her. “You’re seeing a therapist?”

“Oh, believe me, this family has given me plenty of issues to work through,” Dove continued. “My therapist says I need to better express my needs and set boundaries. So I’m staying out of your drama, and you two can work it out yourselves. I am now Switzerland.”

Robin and Lark stood stunned. Dove sat down at the dining room table next to the stack of mail that had already been sorted and reached for an unopened envelope.

“You went through all this last night?” Robin asked.

“Take a look at what we found,” Dove said, picking up a letter off the top of one stack to show Robin. Dated months before, it was addressed to Mrs. Michelle Pelletier from Polaris North Property Development Corp.

Robin’s eyes scanned the contents. They were offering to buy the Blue Canoe Cottage for “…eighteen and a half percent over current market value?”

“The exact same offer as the Koskies,” Dove affirmed.

“Don’t you think that’s weird?” Robin asked.

“We don’t think it’s a coincidence,” Lark said.

“What do you think is going on? Is this Polaris North trying to buy up the cottages around here?”

“Your guess is as good as ours.” Dove shrugged. “Think I’ll call them this morning.”

“You will? But why?” Robin panicked. “Shouldn’t the three of us at least talk it over before handing the Blue Canoe over to these guys?”

Lark turned to her. “Where is this coming from? Two days ago, you were the one who was so eager to sell.”

“Not like this.” Robin shook her head. “Not to some faceless, ruthless corporation.”

“Geez, relax. Dove is only going to call them to get more information.”