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  Catherine was looking forward to getting back to her Kindle and Jane Austen. But for a few minutes, she just wanted to take in the scenery around her while she drank her tea and sampled the pastries. It was evident that each season at the lodge held its own beauty. The reflection of the colorful autumn leaves on the water in the cove was beautiful. The cove was calm with just an occasional ripple making its way onto the shoreline from a boat somewhere out on the lake. The autumn sky before her was an intense blue. The white clouds were mesmerizing to watch as they continually changed shape. Catherine felt as though she could sit at this same spot and never grow tired of what she was seeing and feeling. Even the scent in the air was intoxicating.

  Catherine eventually turned on her Kindle and began to read.

  "Excuse me, miss," the older woman seated next to her said, "is that one of those new electronic book readers?"

  "Yes, ma'am, it is what they call a Kindle."

  "Yes, that's it. That's what my granddaughter was telling me about. She said I ought to get one."

  "I think you would enjoy it. They are especially nice to use on vacation."

  "My name is Lucy. . . Lucy Roth. I'm here with my husband. He's out fishing right now. He spends most of the time fishing while we are here, so I just sit and read or go for a walk. It's so beautiful here. Have you been here before?"

  "I've been here just a few times. It is a wonderful place."

  "Too bad about Mr. Badeau, isn't it?

  "Yes, I was sorry to hear of his passing."

  "But the new owner seems nice enough. I met him at breakfast. He eats his meals in the dining room with the guests. You might get to meet him."

  "Yes, perhaps. It was a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Roth. I hope you enjoy your visit."

  Catherine was glad her little chat with the other guest didn't last long. She was anxious to get to her book.

  Catherine got so engrossed in Pride and Prejudice that she hadn't realized it was nearly five o'clock. It was time to get back to her room to shower and dress for dinner.

  . . .

  It did not take Catherine long to get herself ready and down to the dining room for dinner. She was one of the first ones to arrive in the dining room. There was no problem getting her corner table that overlooked the Osprey nest. She was disappointed that she did not see Rose. Her waitress told her that it was Rose's day off and that she would be back tomorrow. Catherine was glad to hear that Rose had stayed on with the change of management. There was already enough change with Mr. Badeau being gone.

  Catherine ordered the fried fish platter. It was delicious, as it always was, but not as good as the fish that Alex had caught. Yes, her thoughts did drift to Alex as she sat at the table they had shared on her visits to the lodge. She wondered if he had married by now. The thought also entered her mind that if she decided to leave Raynott and go back to Chicago to live and work at Gregstone, she might never see Alex again.

  The dining room did fill in with a few more guests. But it was not as full or as lively as it was in the summer months. Mrs. Roth and her husband sat across the room; she smiled and waved to Catherine when they arrived.

  Catherine glanced at her watch when she finished her meal. It was still early -- only 6:00 PM. She decided to walk down to the lake. She had noticed there were benches overlooking the lake. She thought she would sit there while there was still some light and enjoy the view or read.

  When she stepped out onto the porch to head down to the lake, she realized the temperature had dropped. She decided that she needed a sweater, so she headed back inside and up the stairs.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  THE OSPREY COVE LODGE

  Alex had settled into the living quarters on the third floor of the lodge. He had brought some of his personal belongings over the day before. He spent the entire day today in the office of his new place going through some of the records. He wanted to get as familiar as he could as quickly as possible with the financial and day-to-day operations of the lodge. Mr. Badeau had kept the books himself for many years. While they were adequate, Alex could see the need to hire a bookkeeper and make some improvements. The books needed to be put on the computer for a start.

  The clock in the office began to chime. When Alex looked up from the books, he found it hard to believe it was 6:00 PM already. He decided it was time to stop for the day and have dinner. He hadn't even realized until now that he hadn't eaten since breakfast. He put a marker in the journal he was reviewing, got up from the desk, switched off the light, and headed down the private stairs that led to the second floor. After locking the door to the apartment, he walked down the hallway to the staircase leading to the first floor. When he got to the first floor, he was surprised to see James still at the check-in desk.

  "You're still here, James?"

  "Yes, Mr. Droxell, our last check-in called about an hour ago and said their plane had arrived late. They said that they would be here no later than 6:30 PM."

  "Have you had dinner yet?

  "No, sir."

  "Well, go on in and have your dinner. I'll wait for the guests and check them in. I wanted to take a look at the check-in book anyway."

  "Are you sure, sir?"

  "I'm sure, James, go ahead."

  "Thank you, Mr. Droxell."

  As soon as James left, the late guests arrived, and Alex checked them in and directed them up to their room.

  He then began looking through the check-in book. His mind was still occupied with business thoughts -- should he consider a computer for the front desk? He would have to think about that. He noticed that there had only been four new check-ins today. I need to do more advertising. The lodge should be full this time of year, he thought.

  Alex looked up from the desk as he heard a guest coming down the stairs. It was then that their eyes met.

  "Catherine?"

  "Alex?"

  Both of them started to speak at once.

  "What are you . . . ?" Catherine asked.

  "I . . . When did you arrive?" Alex said.

  They both stopped in mid-sentence and smiled at each other. Their questions suddenly became unimportant. Neither of them could believe they were looking at the other.

  Alex came around from the desk and extended his hand in greeting, "It's good to see you again Catherine. I didn't realize you were a guest."

  "I just checked in today," Catherine replied. Noticing that Alex had been behind the desk, she asked, "Were you looking to check in? There is a young man, James, here at the desk. He must have stepped away for a minute."

  Alex just smiled. "Are you here with your husband?"

  Catherine lowered her eyes slightly, "No, I'm here alone."

  "Well, have you had dinner yet?"

  "Yes, I just finished. I was on my way down to the lake, but when I stepped outside, I realized how cool it was. I came back in to get a sweater."

  "I see. Well, I was just heading into the dining room now to have my dinner. Would you like to join me? Perhaps you could have some coffee? There might even be some cherry-filled pastries left!" he said with a smile.

  Catherine smiled and said, "Well, how can I say no to cherry-filled pastries!"

  They walked over to the dining room entrance, and one of the waitresses greeted them.

  "Good evening, Mr. Droxell, your table has just opened, please follow me."

  As Alex followed Catherine over to the table, he thought there seemed to be something different about her, but he wasn't sure what. He quickly dismissed the thought. It didn't matter what it was; he was happy to see her again. He was puzzled why she was here alone. He knew she wasn't expected in Ottawa for a meeting at Droxell.

  "We just need one menu, Ginny, Ms. Wellin has already eaten."

  Ginny looked at Catherine, "I just served you at this table, didn't I?"

  "You sure did." Catherine smiled.

  "Here's your menu, Mr. Droxell, I'll be back shortly to take your order."

  "Well, I guess my timing was a littl
e off tonight," Alex said smiling. "But I'm glad we didn't miss each other completely. It's really good to see you again, Catherine. What brings you to The Osprey?"

  "I had some vacation time, and I just thought it would be a beautiful time of year to be here. I haven't been disappointed. It is beautiful this time of year. How about you -- are you on The Lady Droxell this weekend?"

  Alex wondered if this was the time to tell her that he now owned the lodge. He was more interested in hearing how she was. So he decided not to elaborate on why he was at the lodge. He was wondering why she had planned a trip here alone.

  "No, I'm not on The Lady Droxell. I'm staying here at the lodge."

  Ginny approached the table to take the order.

  "I'll have the special -- roast beef," Alex said looking at the menu, "and I'll have the mashed potatoes and green beans. And bring us two coffees, please."

  "Yes, sir. I'll bring the coffee right out."

  Catherine was also wondering why Alex was at the lodge. She glanced at his ring finger and saw there was no wedding band. It appeared he hadn't gotten married yet.

  "The marketing plan is still performing well. In fact, I had intended to pay you a visit at your office. I was supposed to work out in the field visiting some of our stores and outfitters for a few months, but I've postponed that trip for right now."

  "I'm glad you're still pleased with it and that it is working for you."

  Alex was the first to try to satisfy his curiosity about why Catherine was here.

  "So how long will you be here at the lodge?" Alex inquired.

  "I'm here all week."

  "Well, it seems I've contributed to getting a 'city girl' hooked on the outdoors by introducing you to The Osprey Cove Lodge," Alex said laughing.

  "I think that may be true," Catherine smiled. "I'm glad you introduced me to this place."

  Alex could understand why Catherine had fallen in love with the lodge, but it still seemed odd that she would plan a trip here alone.

  "I'm surprised to see you here alone -- your husband couldn't make it?"

  Catherine lowered her eyes. It was time for some explanation.

  "My husband was killed in a car accident, Alex. I planned the trip here because I felt I needed some time to think about where I go with my life from here."

  Alex was completely stunned by her words.

  "I am so sorry, Catherine. I had no idea. I wish I had known when it happened. How are you dealing with it?"

  Catherine suddenly felt a need to confide in Alex. She wanted to unload some of her pent up emotions.

  "I'm taking it day by day. Some days are better than others. You see, Alex, what made it more difficult is that Doug had disappeared for some time before the crash. It appears that when his car crashed in New Mexico, he was on his way to start a new life. I guess that's a nice way of saying, he was leaving me. So the circumstances of his death have made it even more difficult for me to know how to respond to it properly. It's hard to grieve for him, knowing he left. I guess I am grieving more for the situation he has put me in. I had a life, a husband, and a clear path ahead of me for the future. Now it's as though the road in front of me was blown up in a million pieces. I need to figure out a way to go forward."

  "I can certainly understand the concept of having a life and future one day and then having it instantly destroyed. I had similar feelings when Sarah died. I had no idea how to go forward with my life, especially with a child."

  The mention of a child caused a flare of emotion to well up in Catherine. This would have been a good time to share with Alex that Doug had left her pregnant. But somehow Catherine couldn't bring herself to reveal this last part of her dilemma -- not yet.

  "I'm hoping that this week here at the lodge will help me sort out some of the decisions I need to make."

  "Well, you couldn't have picked a better place. The Osprey Cove Lodge has a way of allowing one to block out the outside world, at least for a while. That is one of the things I have always loved about this place."

  "It's interesting that you expressed it that way. That is exactly how I feel when I am a guest here. I'm looking forward to my week here. Well, that's enough about me. How are things with you? Have you set a date yet for your wedding?"

  Alex realized that Catherine would have had no way of knowing that Rosalind had broken off the engagement. It was difficult for him to bring himself to discuss it with her. But she had been so open and revealing about her life; Alex felt compelled to reciprocate.

  "Well, actually, Catherine, Rosalind broke off the engagement. She realized taking on the responsibility of raising Libby was too much for her. It was difficult for me as you might imagine. For a brief time, I had a glimpse of a new life, a mother for Libby -- a happy future. I guess you might say, I'm more or less in a rebuilding state myself right now."

  "How sad. I can see that it is still painful for you to talk about. I know how important it is for you to find a good mother for Libby. How is she? Has she recovered fully from her fall?"

  "Oh, yes, she made an immediate and full recovery. She is well. She is back in boarding school right now. It was my hope that after Rosalind and I married, that Libby could live at home with us and attend a local school. Mother says Libby doesn't mind boarding school. In fact, she says she enjoys it. But it's hard for me to have her gone. At the moment, I don't have any choice."

  "Life is difficult. Things just don't always turn out the way we expect them to. People we care about the most sometimes let us down. But we have to keep going, Alex. There's a happy future out there waiting for both of us. We just need to find it," Catherine said smiling.

  Alex was looking directly into Catherine's eyes as she spoke these words. He had that feeling he had felt when he had been with her before. It was a feeling that there was something familiar about her. It was like he knew her better than he did. But along with that, there was something different about her this time. It was what he had sensed as he followed her into the dining room. Both these feelings were puzzling to him.

  Alex was sure of one thing. He knew that he felt good when he was around Catherine. He was glad she had checked into The Osprey Cove Lodge. It was going to be an enjoyable week.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  MEXICAN RIVIERA

  Doug was exhausted when he pulled the Corvette into The Villa Castlebury. His trip from Tucson to Puerto Vallarta had not been the exciting adventure he had hoped. It was long and tiring. And the mishap with the burro only added to making it such. But he had accomplished what he had set out to do. He had his new Torch Red Corvette. He would not have to drive that 'piece of junk' rental anymore. The trip to Tucson was worth it, he thought. He pulled his new car into one of the garage bays at the villa.

  All Doug could think about when he went inside the villa was heading for the bed. He had not had a good night's sleep since he left. He planned to do a lot of catching up on his sleep.

  Isabella was busy doing her daily activities when Doug got inside. She was mopping the kitchen floor. Doug was pleased with the excellent job she was doing keeping the villa clean and orderly. Doug was glad he had found her.

  "Welcome back, Mr. Castlebury. You had a good trip?"

  "Yes, I got my new car! Would you like to come out and see it?"

  "Sure." She set down the mop and followed Doug out to the garage.

  "Here it is. Isn't she a beauty?"

  Doug walked around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for her.

  "Have a seat, Isabella. Have you ever been in a Corvette before?

  "No, sir," Isabella said as she reluctantly climbed into the passenger seat.

  "Would you like to go for a ride?"

  "Well . . . I have a lot of work to do yet, sir," she responded.

  "The work can wait -- put your seat belt on. You're going to love this."

  Suddenly, all the exhaustion Doug had felt from his long trip vanished. He was in his element. He lived for moments like this. He could hardly wait
to pull out of the villa and get on the road. Isabella was going to love it, he thought.

  Doug took Isabella for an exhilarating ride -- at least it was for Doug. Isabella seems more scared than exhilarated. She was not used to driving in a car. The ride was a bit overwhelming for her. She was glad to return to the villa.

  "Wasn't that great? Can you believe how she handles those curves?"

  "It's a nice car, Mr. Castlebury. Thank you for the ride."

  Doug was a little disappointed in her lack of enthusiasm. Oh well, he would make other friends that would share his excitement over the Corvette.

  "Did anything happen here at the villa while I was gone, Isabella?"

  "No, everything is okay. There is someone who keeps calling on the phone. But whenever I answer, they hang up."

  "That's odd. Maybe it was a telemarketer. I guess you have telemarketers here in Puerto Vallarta, too. Well, the house looks great, Isabella, you are doing a good job."

  "Thank you, Mr. Castlebury, would you like some lunch?"

  "Well, I was planning to go right to bed, but I guess I should eat something. I'm going to grab a drink and go out to the terrace. Why don't you bring my lunch out there?"

  "Yes, sir."

  Doug got a cold beer out of the refrigerator. He then walked into the library and opened the safe. He wanted to be sure everything was still as he left it. After checking, it appeared everything was in order. Doug had been elated to find a house with such a secure safe. He was glad he could have his valuables close at hand. He took a minute and sat down in the leather chair at the desk in the library. Doug often did this. This room continued to have special meaning to him. Whenever he was in it, especially seated at the desk, he felt that he had achieved his goal. He was no longer the poor little boy. He had become Mr. Castlebury. He was wealthy and could pretty much have anything he wanted. Doug ran his hand over the smooth rosewood desk admiring its beauty. Doug had lots of beautiful things around him. The villa was even more than he had imagined. He took great satisfaction in knowing that the contents of the safe would allow him to maintain this lifestyle.