Page 31 of You Met Me There

I tell them about my photography business and how I realized I loved photography from the moment I held my first camera. Juliet suggests I get some photos of the scenery while I’m in Maple Lake, and I agree that it would be amazing to see the views from the mountaintops while I’m here. I want to ask her to go with me, but I chicken out, afraid she’ll say no.

“So where have you been living, Natalie?” my mom asks. She slides a baby carrot around in ranch dressing, and I can see she wants to know everything but is trying not to overburden me with too many questions on my first visit.

“I’ve been in Florida, actually. Ever since I … met Luke.” Nerves fill me, taking up space in my belly. No longer able to eat the second half of my burger, I lean away from my plate to rest my back against the cushioned chair.

“And where is Luke?” Dad’s never met Luke. Of course he’s curious about the guy who would take his daughter away without a word to her parents.

“He’s back in Florida right now. He’s been really busy with work,” I lie.

“What does he do for work?” Juliet asks.

I watch the eyes around me as they gobble up every answer I give them. They’re hungry for information, and I’ve starved them for a very long time.

I clear my throat. “He’s a property investor. He buys houses and then rents them out after upgrading or remodeling them.”

Everyone responds positively with oohs and raised eyebrows.

“He could help you out, Cam,” says Dad. “Maybe get that cabin off your hands.”

I look to Cam, who tilts his head back and forth. “That’s not a bad idea.” He turns to me. “I have a cabin on the mountain that I’ve been renting out to tourists in the peak seasons. Just for short stays. A few weeks at most. But I’ve been debating whether I want to keep or sell it. It’s making decent money I suppose, but it’s a lot to take care of.”

“And,” Juliet adds, “it doesn’t get any renters in the offseasons. It does best in the summer and into fall, but nobody wants to be stuck on a mountain in the winter. We got a few bad reviews because of the snow, and ever since then nobody wants to risk missing out on their winter vacation because they’re snowed in at the cabin.”

Cam shakes his head, resting his elbows on the armrests of his metal chair. “Nobody’s been snowed in for more than a day, but it was a day the renter had tickets for the ski lodge, so of course they were upset about it. The town is great about plowing, and I even get up to the cabin and shovel the driveway. There just doesn’t seem to be much I can do about the winter bookings. People would rather rent a house farther away and drive an hour back here to ski, just so they don’t have to sleep on the mountain.”

I almost forgot about the winters here—the snow and the cold. I’ve gotten used to sunny Florida. Thinking about it now makes me miss the beach—the calming waves, hot sand between my toes.

I look around at everyone’s expectant faces and nod. “I’m sure I can ask him about giving you some pointers. He’s great at advertising.” I sip my water, allowing the cold liquid to cool me from the inside.

“So …” Mom places her hand over Dad’s on the table. “When do we get to meet this man who stole our daughter away?” The table grows deathly silent, my mother’s comment falling too heavily over our heads. “Oh”—she looks around at all of us—“I mean …”

I shake my head, my brows heavy over my eyes. “No. It’s okay, Mom. It’s true; he did kind of steal me away.” I tilt my head, struggling to meet anyone’s eyes.

But then Archie sits up abruptly and yells, “Stealing is bad!”

Everyone chuckles, and Jules rolls her eyes, a smile pulling at her lips.

I lean forward, emboldened by the little boy who’s too shy for attention until he has something important to say. Something to stand up for. Something to shout about.

“You’re right, Archie,” I say in a stage whisper. “Stealing is bad. But when someone steals your heart away, it means they love you and you love them.”

His eyes grow, and he turns his whole body toward his dad. “Daddy, did you steal Mommy’s heart?” Everyone snickers.

Cam fidgets with the hat on his head, eyeing each person at the table bashfully before answering his son. “Yup, I sure did.”

“You should give it back,” says Archie with his arms crossed, just as Levi mumbles, “Ewww, taking a heart is gross!”

“Okay, you two. Time for bed.” Cam takes the plates from the kids and stands. “It’s getting late.” He kisses Jules on the head. “I’ll get them ready for bed. I’ll tell you when they’re ready to say goodnight.”

She smiles up at him. “Thanks.” She grabs his fingers lightly as he starts to turn away, pulling him back. “Let me know if you need help with them.”

He rolls his eyes good-naturedly. “We’ll be fine.”

The boys run inside and Cam follows. A second later, the sound of the doorbell chimes through the house.

Jules frowns. “That’s weird. We’re not expecting anyone this late.”

I notice the large round wooden clock on the wall inside the doorway; it’s almost nine. I hadn’t realized how dark it was until now—both the conversation and my anxiety kept me company as the light disappeared and the sun sank behind the lake.