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  Doug was able to get signed up for his course. It didn't start until next week which was a disappointment. Doug did not like to wait for anything. The next thing he wanted to do this day was visit a stone mason. He wanted to hire him to make an entrance sign for his villa. Doug wanted the world to know it was The Villa Castlebury. Of course, Castlebury was not really Doug's name. But it was a name that had great significance to Doug. It was the name that was now on his passport, driver's license, and credit cards. It was the name that Doug would use for his new life in Mexico. The significance of the name was that it had belonged to his mother's employer. Doug's mother had cleaned for the wealthy Castlebury family. Visiting the Castlebury home as a child had created in Doug a strong feeling of envy and desire for all that the family had and that he did not. Doug especially coveted the library in the Castlebury house. Now Doug had his own library and a house even grander than the Castlebury home where his mother had worked.

  He also had a safe in which he stored his precious find that would enable him to live this life of luxury he so coveted.

  Chapter Seven

  NEW YORK

  Catherine looked at the business card before her and dialed Mr. Harrodson's number.

  "This is Max, how may I help you?"

  "Mr. Harrodson, this is Catherine Wellin. You stopped by to see me and left a card asking my secretary to have me call you."

  "Oh, yes, Ms. Wellin, thank you for returning my call. I wanted to see you on more of a personal nature rather than business. That is why I did not leave a message with your secretary. I believe you are married to Doug Wellin, is that right?"

  "Well . . . yes, I was." Catherine replied. Her stomach started to feel nervous wondering why this stranger was asking about Doug.

  "I was wondering how I might reach him."

  "Well, that's not possible, Mr. Harrodson, you see, my husband passed away about a month ago."

  There was a long pause at the other end of the line. It was as though this mysterious stranger was shocked and did not know how to react to what he had just heard. He finally responded, "I'm sorry to hear that, Ms. Wellin, I had no idea."

  "May I ask why you wanted to speak with Doug? Were you a friend of Doug's?"

  "No, not a friend. But there was a matter I needed to discuss with him. I wonder if I might schedule an appointment and come by your office so that we might talk further."

  "May I ask what the nature of the discussion is that you wanted to have with Doug and now with me?"

  "Well, it's relating to the Corvette that your husband bought recently from a dealership here in the city. But I would prefer to discuss it with you personally rather than on the phone."

  The mention of Doug's Corvette sent chills up Catherine's spine. Why was this complete stranger calling to schedule an appointment to discuss the Corvette? What was so urgent about it that it was still necessary now that Doug was dead? Catherine began to feel uncomfortable speaking with this stranger. Just the mention of the Corvette brought all the horror of Doug's death back to mind. She was not sure how to respond to his request to see her. She wanted to stop thinking about Doug's death. But the need to know the answer to her questions won out over her trepidation and caused her to agree to meet with him, albeit reluctantly.

  "Alright, Mr. Harrodson, I have a relatively clear schedule tomorrow morning. Does 11:00 AM work for you?"

  "That works for me. I look forward to meeting with you, Ms. Wellin. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me."

  . . .

  Catherine spent her first day back at work going through the correspondence that had accumulated. She spent a good deal of time returning phone calls that had come in while she had been in Chicago. But she could not get the Harrodson call out of her mind. No matter what she was working on, the conversation with him was in the back of her mind. It was gnawing at her making her feel uneasy and apprehensive.

  The sound of the intercom brought Catherine out of her thoughts.

  "Catherine, Jack is here to see you. May he come in?" Jill asked.

  Jack was Catherine's boss and president of Raynott. He was also a good friend. He had shown a great deal of confidence in Catherine when he appointed her vice president at the age of thirty-two. She was the youngest VP in the company's history.

  "It's good to have you back, Catherine, I hope everything went well in Chicago. I know it must have been rough for you. You've been in our thoughts. I'm sorry we couldn't be there to support you."

  "Thanks for your concern, Jack. We had just a small graveside ceremony with just a few friends and family present followed by a luncheon at the family home. It was difficult. But it's behind me now. Now comes the hard part. I need to try to move on and rebuild my life."

  "Well, that's the spirit, Catherine. I know it won't be easy. But all of us will be here to help you work through this horrible tragedy. Please be assured of that. The reason why I'm here is that I wanted to discuss filling the management position that Doug held. I know I had asked you to put filling the position on hold when Doug abruptly resigned. At the time, we were considering a manpower cutback. I didn't want to rush and fill the position until a final decision was made about the reduction. The board has since approved filling the position, so I would like you to proceed with that."

  "I understand. I'll start the process immediately. It has been somewhat difficult operating the department with one less manager. I'm glad the decision has been made to hire someone."

  "Okay good. If you want to discuss any of the applicants with me, don't hesitate to do so. It is good to have you back, Catherine."

  "Thank you, Jack. It's good to be back. I appreciate you as a boss and a friend."

  After Jack had left her office, Catherine instructed Jill to start the process to look for a new manager. Catherine reflected on how things had come full circle. Slightly more than two years ago, she had interviewed Doug for this very position. She had been pleased to secure him from a competitive marketing firm. Doug was a very capable manager. He did good work and quickly gained the respect of his clients.

  But Catherine thought about the tension that had existed between her and Doug immediately after he started. And she thought about how quickly the tension had lifted. After their business trip to Colorado where they had shared their life stories with each other, Doug's attitude had changed. She remembered how aggressively he had pursued her. Before long they had become engaged and married. Now, here she was filling the position again. Doug was dead. She was pregnant. And some stranger was asking to speak with her about the car in which Doug had died. It was difficult for Catherine to wrap her head around the abrupt and dramatic changes that had occurred in her life in such a short time.

  Catherine put in a long day at the office trying to get caught up. She hadn't even gone out for lunch. Jill had brought her in some food. She was tired when she left the office, but she forced herself to stop by the market and get items to make herself a healthy salad for dinner. She needed to start thinking more about having a healthy baby. She had already begun her pregnancy appointments. The doctor had shown concern for the stress she was dealing with and encouraged her to eat well and avoid as much stress as possible. Catherine smiled to herself as she recalled those words. How was she possibly going to be able to avoid stress? She had major life decisions to make. Should I quit my job and move to Chicago? Do I want to work at the family firm, Gregstone International? Should I take time off and just focus on raising my child? All these thoughts were a bit overwhelming right now. She gave herself a pep talk and decided to try to take one day at a time. She had put in a good day at the office; now it was time to focus on making herself a nice meal and trying to relax and unwind. She would take a relaxing bath and then read a book. When Catherine wanted to relax, she often escaped to the world of Jane Austen. That sounded like a good plan for this evening.

  Tomorrow would have its own anxieties. Tomorrow she needed to meet with Mr. Harrodson.

  Chapter Eight

  OTTAWA
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br />   It was Friday morning. Alex and his parents sat at the breakfast table. Alex had not had a restful night. Perhaps it was due to the lifestyle change on which he was about to embark. This would be his last weekend home and his last workday in the office. Monday he would begin working in the field for a few months. Alex felt like he had made a good decision in accepting his father's suggestion to go out in the field for a while, but it would be a change. Whenever Alex needed to relax and unwind, he would spend time on the family boat, The Lady Droxell. She was a lovely old wooden cabin cruiser. She was large enough and had all the amenities for one to overnight or spend several days on comfortably. She was docked in a marina next to The Osprey Cove Lodge. Alex often spent the weekend on the boat and got his meals at the lodge. Alex had a special relationship with the boat. It had been in his family for many years. The boat and The Osprey Cove Lodge were the two places he sought out when he wanted solitude. He always felt he could block out the world at both of these places. They were an escape from whatever life was dishing out at the time.

  "I've decided to spend this weekend on The Lady. I'd like to get one more weekend on her before I leave. The weather is supposed to be good this weekend," Alex informed his parents.

  "That sounds lovely, Alex." His mother replied. "The fall foliage should be beautiful. This is such a wonderful time to be on the lake. I'm hoping your father and I can spend a few days on her in the next week or two also. Will you be getting your meals at the lodge?"

  "Yes, I won't be home until Sunday evening, so don't plan on me being here for any meals over the weekend."

  "Alright, dear, I hope you enjoy yourself. I can never understand how you can enjoy being on that boat by yourself. But I'm glad that you can."

  Alex's father added, "I understand it quite well. When I retire next year, I plan to spend more time on The Lady Droxell myself. Are you ready to leave on Monday?"

  "I think so. It'll be a change. I've gotten used to my cushy office up there on the sixteenth floor with you! I hope you can keep the company going while I'm gone!" Alex said laughing.

  "No problem, Son. Lynn will keep your office running smoothly while you're gone. You know our secretaries do most of the work anyway, don't you!"

  "I know she will. I'm not sure what I'd do without Lynn. She has made my job so much easier."

  "Well, she and Susan have been with me a long time. When you take over next year, they will both be available to you."

  "Enough talk about work," Julia chimed in, "do you have Libby's school schedule with you so that you can plan your schedule to be home during her breaks?"

  "I do; I'm missing her already," Alex replied.

  "Well, don't be too hard on yourself, Alex," Julia replied. "I know that you hate to see her away at boarding school. But Libby does enjoy it. She has told me that many times. She loves being around all the other children. She misses her friends when she is home."

  "I know that is true. But I still feel like I am missing out on being a part of her life. She's growing up so fast."

  "Your trip to Africa with her last summer was a good thing," Alex's father added. "You spent a lot of quality time with her. Few fathers have done that. Don't ever think that you are not a good father, Alex; you are. I know it bothers you that she does not have a mother. But we can't change that. She has her grandmother. Eventually, you will find the right person, and she will have a mother."

  "You're right. Thanks for the encouragement. I don't tell you both often enough how grateful I am to have parents like you. I do appreciate all that you have done to help with Libby. I'm not sure how I would have managed without you after Sarah's death."

  "We're glad to be here for you, Son," his father responded.

  "Well, I better get into the office." Alex got up to kiss his mother goodbye. "I will head straight to The Lady Droxell from work tonight. So I won't see you until Sunday night, Mother."

  "Okay, Alex, enjoy your weekend," Julia replied.

  . . .

  After work, Alex headed straight for The Lady Droxell. He decided that he would drop his overnight bag off at the boat and head right over to The Osprey Cove Lodge for dinner. He was looking forward to the fried fish platter. And he was hoping they would have some of his favorite cherry-filled pastries. As soon as he pulled up to the lodge, he noticed that there were far fewer cars here than normal for a Friday night. And then his eyes saw it. He could hardly believe what he saw. In front of the beautifully lettered and hand-painted sign, The Osprey Cove Lodge, Est 1912, there was a FOR SALE sign. How could this be? Mr. Badeau would never sell the lodge. He loved it as much as his loyal guests who had come year after year. Alex thought. Mr. Badeau had owned the lodge ever since Alex had started coming here as a young child. Alex hurriedly got out of the car, flew up the porch steps and headed for the check-in desk to see what was going on.

  Instead of the familiar sight of Mr. Badeau behind the unpretentious check-in desk, there was a younger man.

  "Good evening, sir. How may I help you tonight?" asked the person behind the desk.

  "Good evening, I'm just here for dinner." Alex extended his hand, "My name is Alex Droxell."

  "Pleased to meet you, sir, please go right into the dining room. The waitress will be pleased to seat you. We are not too busy this evening."

  "I was surprised to see the FOR SALE sign out front. Is Mr. Badeau here? I would like to speak with him."

  "Oh, I'm sorry, sir, you must not have heard. My father passed away last month. The family has decided not to keep the lodge."

  Alex felt a mix of emotions run through him. There was shock at the loss of Mr. Badeau whom Alex considered a dear friend after all these years. He was surprised that word of his death had not reached his parents. There was an overwhelming sadness that this place that he loved so much would be sold and might never be the same again. The lodge was as dear to Alex as The Lady Droxell. He simply could not imagine it being either gone or changed. Alex realized he had been standing there in front of Mr. Badeau's son for some time and had not responded to him.

  "I am sorry to hear of your father's death. He was a dear friend. He will be greatly missed by all of us. I'm sorry, too, to hear you are planning to sell the lodge. The lodge is so much a part of so many people's lives. My family is one of many who has been coming here for more than thirty years."

  "Well, I am the only son. My job and family is in British Columbia. There is no way I can think about running it myself or overseeing someone else running it. I have an uncle and a few cousins who initially expressed some interest in taking it over. But in the end, they have decided against it. I'm not happy about selling it either. I know how much my father put into this place. He would not be happy to know it will not stay in the family. But perhaps the new owner will keep it as it is now."

  "All we can do is hope that will be the case. Again, please accept my sincerest condolences."

  "Thank you, Mr. Droxell, please go right ahead into the dining room."

  Alex was no longer hungry. But he waited to be seated. He glanced over to the corner table that he had shared on several occasions with Catherine. Seated at the table was a group of fishermen in animated conversation over their day's activities. Even Rose was not there to greet him this evening. Instead, a young waitress directed him to a small table in the center of the room. Alex had the fish, but somehow it did not taste the same. When he asked if they had cherry-filled pastries for dessert, the waitress did not know what he was talking about.

  It appeared to Alex that nothing would ever be the same at The Osprey Cove Lodge.

  . . .

  Alex did not sleep well on The Lady Droxell that night. He started out with pleasant dreams of the lodge. He dreamed of sitting on the porch drinking lemonade with Catherine. He smiled even as he slept as he remembered both of them tasting all the pastries on the tiered tray on which they were served. He remembered the surprise on Catherine's face as he directed her attention to the Osprey nest for which the lodge was named. He recalle
d her excitement as they watched the bird fly to and from it. He dreamed about the huge platter of fish that Rose had brought to the table -- fish that he had caught earlier in the day. He saw Catherine's face light up as she helped herself to several pieces. He pictured them walking down to the lake after dinner. He could vividly see the expression on her face as she stared in awe at the beautiful night sky and he pointed out the various constellations. He smiled once more as he dreamed of her response to the first loon cry that she heard. Suddenly his beautiful dream turned into a nightmare. Alex saw business men directing construction workers who were operating large construction equipment to demolish the lodge and all the beautiful trees surrounding it.

  Alex woke. His heart was pounding. His body was filled with anxiety. His head hurt. It took him a few minutes to remember where he was. The dream had been so real -- so painful. He was grateful it had been just a dream. As he lay there in the darkness on The Lady Droxell, Alex suddenly felt alone and unhappy. He had felt enough loss in his life. During the rough times in his life, The Osprey Cove Lodge and The Lady Droxell had been places of refuge. They were constants in his life. He could not bear to think of losing one of them.

  Chapter Nine

  NEW YORK

  Max Harrodson straightened his expensive silk tie and combed through his dark, wavy hair. He then gave himself a once over in the mirror and decided he was ready for his meeting with Ms. Wellin. Jill's description of him as 'straight out of a James Bond movie' was an excellent portrayal. The stir he created among the ladies in the office was understandable. He not only had good looks, but he also had a commanding presence. His posh upper east side apartment complemented his striking appearance. So did his British Racing Green Metallic Jaguar which he reserved for trips outside the city. He had shared his upscale apartment and wealthy lifestyle with his wife, Eva, up until a few months ago.