“Yes, indeed,” Grant said. “It’ll keep me off the streets.”
Tess looked around the room and smiled. This was one of the treasures of Wharton, the community spirit of neighbor-helping-neighbor that most everyone seemed to embody. But she had no intention of letting them do the work for subpar rates, or worse, for free. As they said, all of them had to cobble together a living during the winter months. She’d definitely pay them.
“I’ll keep the fridge stocked with beer and feed you, too,” Tess said.
Wyatt raised his eyebrows. “I’ve been told you’re quite the chef,” he said. “Jim hasn’t stopped talking about the dinner you served last night.”
Tess smiled. “It was fun to cook for people. I haven’t done that in a long time.”
After a round of goodbyes and seeing Hunter and Grant off, Tess said, “It’s about time for me to walk Storm.”
“I could join you on the walk?” Wyatt asked. “I love this time of day in the winter.”
What a wonderful idea, Tess thought, and the two of them pulled on coats, boots, and hats, and hitched up Storm, who was already wiggling with excitement. The three of them stepped out into the cold as Tess closed the door behind them.
Winter twilight in Wharton was a magical time. The sunset cast purple and pink hues across the sky, illuminating the snow with a bluish cast. The lake, with its deep, dark coldness, looked black in comparison, but it was still as glass against the frozen shoreline. Snow decorated the pines. It looked like a scene from an enchanted fairy tale.
They walked through town on the way down to the lake. Many of the houses were dark—homes of summer people, no doubt—but others were brightly lit. Tess could see families inside through their windows. Some were preparing for dinner, others were lounging in front of the television or reading. Many of the businesses in town were already closed for the night, but the lights of the Flamingo were on. It was one of the only restaurants open in the winter, along with the Frittata, which specialized in breakfast and lunch but also served dinner in the winters to locals.
LuAnn’s boarding house and diner were closed up tight, as it always was during LuAnn’s Hawaiian winter getaways, but up the hill, the lights in Harrison’s House were blazing. As they passed Just Read It, the town’s bookstore, its owner, Beth St. John, caught sight of them through the window and waved. Tess saw the coffee shop was still open, too.
As they reached the lakeshore, Tess marveled at the fact that it had frozen solid. The lake had so many forms, so many moods, so many colors. On the famous beach on Ile de Colette, the water was crystal clear. Some days, when storms were on the horizon, it was an ominous gray green. Other days, with the sun glinting on the water like diamonds, it was a deep blue.
With the northern lights sending shafts of greens and blues and purples into the sky on winter’s nights, the purple sunset on the horizon at twilight, and the different colors of the lake, no wonder her grandfather had been inspired by this place. It was an artist’s canvas.
“You grew up in the Twin Cities, right?” Wyatt said, breaking the silence.
Tess nodded. “I did. But I came to Wharton to visit my grandmother during the summers.”
“Serena Bell,” Wyatt said. “What a great lady.”
Tess raised her eyebrows. “You knew her?”
Wyatt nodded. “I grew up here in Wharton,” he said, looking out over the frozen lake. “My dad was a wilderness guide. He took people on kayaking trips throughout the Redemption Islands. I guess that’s how I caught the bug to do it myself.”
“Oh, that’s what you do for a living? A guide? When you’re not helping people turn on their heat?”
He chuckled at this. “In the summers, yes,” he said. “I usually take three or four trips every summer, leading people from island to island, just like my dad did.”
A wilderness guide. It seemed to suit him. But she had the feeling there was more to the story. With people in Wharton, it seemed there was always more to the story.
“So, how did you know my grandma?”
“I’d known of her around town, of course, but we really got to know each other when I was helping out on one of my dad’s trips,” he said, his eyes shining. “I was just out of high school at the time, so that’s how long ago it was. She organized it. A group of senior women.” He laughed, remembering. “We camped for four nights. It was a hoot. I would’ve pitied the bear who might have wandered into their campsite. Thank goodness the bears had the wisdom to stay away.”