Page 6 of The Summer I Stayed (Midlife Meet Cute #5)

Maggie

Drawing in a deep breath, I let my fingertips hover over the keyboard for a moment before they start flying across my laptop. It’s been years since I last posted anything on Cozy Charm by Maggie, and somehow, the raccoon incident feels like the perfect reintroduction, just like Alison said.

I detail every absurd moment that happened, each word feeling like a small victory.

Like I’m reclaiming a part of myself that’s lain dormant for far too long.

But it’s also part of the new me, the me after Steven.

The one who’s been through grief, single parenting, and navigating life after losing the one man you’ve ever loved.

My heart thumps wildly in my chest as I hit “post.” Almost immediately, my laptop dings, echoing through the quiet room. One after another, comments come in from old followers who get notified when a new post is live on my website.

People who used to follow me for home decor and organization tips are just as invested in the raccoon saga. But they’re in for a treat if I keep this up through the lake house renovation. They love to watch the transformation, but I want to document this journey for me.

It’s now almost ten in the morning, and I’m supposed to meet Jake for Reno Day 1. It’s a promise of chaos and excitement. I was excited to fix this place up and get it back to its original look, but now, with my subscribers cheering me on, it’s fueled me even more.

I grab my phone and type out a message as I walk out of the inn.

Me

Blog post is up!

Alison

Yayyy! I’m so proud of you, Mom!

Lila

I just read it! That raccoon story is hilarious. Can’t wait to see more of the house!

Caroline

What an entrance! Can’t wait to see more! Shine on!

I’m hoping the handyman will make an appearance *winky face*

I laugh and shake my head at her nonsense.

She’s single herself and ready to find a man who’ll sweep her off her feet.

Me? I’m not so sure if that’s in my future.

Can I be open to loving another man after such a great love with Steven?

Is there some kind of quota on the amount of love you get in one lifetime?

Maybe I’ve already got my fill, and I’ll be the old spinster lady, living her days alone in a lake house.

That is, if I even stay here or keep the house. I’m not sure what I want right now.

As I reach the house, Jake is pulling out a ladder from the back of his truck. Maverick jumps out of the cab and comes bounding over to greet me. He nudges his body into me, almost knocking me over.

“Whoa, Maverick.” I pat him on the head. “You gotta remember you’re bigger than you think.”

Jake looks over with a neutral expression, better than the scowl he had last night at the town meeting. “He’s never been good at personal space.”

“I see that.” I can’t bear to stop petting Maverick.

Jake grunts as he shifts the ladder and props it against the side of the house. He turns to me, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

“Alright, what’s first?” I ask. “Put me to work. I want to help with every part of the renovation.”

“Well, I’ll be working on the roof. You can, uh,” he looks around, “clean up inside, I guess.”

I glance up, following his eyes to the tattered shingles. “Do you have anyone to help you? Or are you a one-man crew?”

He shrugs. “Had a guy, but he sprained his ankle yesterday playing soccer with his kid.”

“That’s unfortunate, but surely a one-man crew for a roof reshingling is a bit…ambitious?” I ask, looking up at the daunting structure.

Jake shrugs again. Does this man do anything besides shrug and grunt? “I’ve done it before.”

“Well, if you need an extra pair of hands to help, I’m here.”

He glances at me, and for a brief moment, a flash of surprise hits his eyes. It swiftly disappears, replaced by his usual impassive exterior. “I’ll manage.”

I roll up my sleeves, ready to get my hands dirty. “In that case, I’ll be inside.”

A wave of irritation comes over me, taking me by surprise.

I’m normally so levelheaded, but this man is so stubborn.

It’s my house, and if I want to help fix my roof, then I’ll fix my roof whether he likes it or not.

Which, I would happily stomp back, climb that ladder, and tell him so…

if I weren’t deathly afraid of heights. I don’t even know why I offered in the first place.

Just thinking about getting up there makes me queasy.

I’m not sure what’s come over me or why Jake’s refusal has gotten under my skin. I always find moving helps me get out of my feelings, so I make a move to start cleaning inside.

The house isn’t as bad as it could have been, but definitely more work than I initially anticipated.

Dust-covered furniture fills the rooms, a musky smell lingers in the air, and the porch creaks when I walk on it.

But every inch reminds me of why Steven chose this one.

I remember the day he gifted it to me. I was flipping through the photos, and he pointed out everything he loved about it.

The French doors that lead to the backyard, which flows straight to the lake.

A mix of vintage touches with modern amenities.

It didn’t need a whole lot of renovation when he bought it, no big fixer-upper project.

Just a few minor details to make it our own.

A sigh escapes me, and I snap some pictures of the inside before I start cleaning up the house.

The previous owners left it fully furnished, although some of the furniture looks damaged from the rain coming through the windows.

I begin to wipe surfaces clean and throw anything out that’s trash.

I move through the entire living room and kitchen before I hear a loud crash outside.

Startled, I drop the rag in my hands and rush outside. The ladder lies ominously on the ground, but my eyes immediately seek Jake. There he is, standing near the edge of the roof. He looks down at his fallen ladder, a scowl etched onto his face.

I press my hand to my chest, relief washing over me. “Jake! Are you okay?” I call out, squinting against the bright sun to see him better.

“Yeah,” he calls back, his tone casual despite what’s happening. “Just, uh, slipped a bit.”

I cross my arms, giving him a pointed look. “Now, who could use an extra pair of hands?” I ask, trying to keep my tone light even though I feel a mix of concern and irritation with this headstrong man.

“I’ll manage,” he says again, with a hint of amusement in his voice. “But if you insist, you could put the ladder back up.”

I stride over to the fallen ladder and, with a bit of effort, manage to prop it back against the house. Thank you barre classes for keeping me in shape all these years.

The metal clinks as Jake steps down onto each rung of the ladder. As he plants both feet firmly on the ground, I let go of the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. I take a step back, only to feel a furry body pressing against my legs. Maverick, of course.

“Hey, boy,” I say, scratching the top of his head as I watch Jake dust his hands off his jeans. He gives me a curt nod of thanks.

“You’re welcome,” I reply, meeting his gaze. It’s then that I notice the slight softening around his eyes, a smile growing at the corners of his mouth. For the first time since I met him, Jake looks…approachable.

Jake clears his throat. “Shingles…Got to get the…” He turns and walks toward his truck.

I chuckle as Maverick nuzzles into my hand. “You’re a better judge of character than I. Guess he’s not all rough edges. Is he, boy?”

I decide to stand by the ladder, whether he wants me to or not, while he finishes working on the roof. Luckily, it was only minor damage. A few shingles were ripped up by the wind, but he didn’t find any leaks.

As I watch him work, I can’t help but be taken by the contrast of Jake’s practicality and Maverick’s playful demeanor. There’s something about their partnership that’s incredibly endearing and brings an unexpected warmth to my heart.

I don’t think Jake Hollis is as gruff as they say he is. He must be caring and loving to have a dog, especially one as carefree as Maverick.

Deciding to make the most of my time, I take a few pictures of the outside of the house. Maverick bounds around, his playful energy brings a smile to my face.

“Jake!” I call out, prompting him to look up from where he’s placing a new shingle. He squints against the sun, wiping off sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “Smile!”

He freezes for a moment, looking like he’s about to refuse. But he doesn’t. His lips curl up into something that could pass for an actual smile.

I snap the picture quickly before he goes back to hammering away.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” I tease him as he climbs down from the roof.

He grunts and rolls his eyes at me.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” I say with a laugh, glancing down at Maverick, who’s wagging his tail. “You know what, Mav?” I bend down to scratch behind his ears. “There may be hope for this summer in Blue Alder Cove yet.”