Read Online The Lake Season by Hannah McKinnon - Free Book Online Page B

tingled on her lips, but it was a relief to finally air them. And one more thing. “We’re in different chapters, Leah.” She held her breath, awaiting the response, and then a small noise escaped Leah.
    Iris reached out. “Please don’t cry . . .”
    And then she realized Leah wasn’t crying at all. No, her sister was in fact bent over, her hand covering her mouth in a fit of laughter.
    â€œThis is funny?” Iris sputtered.
    â€œJust sit down,” Leah said, wiping her eyes. She looked at Iris. “Chapters? Seriously?”
    Iris was too offended. “Forget I said anything.”
    â€œNo, you’re right.” Leah leaned in closer. “We both dropped the ball in the communication department. Maybe we have been in different chapters . But now I’m about to be joining yours.”
    â€œJoining mine?” Iris couldn’t keep the sarcasm from her voice.
    â€œYou know, marriage. The old ball and chain.”
    But Iris didn’t laugh.
    â€œLook, I’ve made some mistakes,” Leah said softly, “but so have you.” She grabbed Iris’s hand and squeezed it in her own. “ I’m getting married . And I need my big sister.” Her voice trembled a little when she said it, and Iris felt herself bending.
    â€œFine,” Iris said reluctantly. “You’ve lured me up here after all.”
    â€œGood! Then, let’s catch up. Ask me anything,” Leah said, eyes flashing. “Anything at all.”
    Iris stared back at Leah’s childish optimism. And just like that the pendulum swung back, reminding Iris of the globe-spinning game they used to play in Bill’s den. Where in the world are you going to live? But she went along with it. “Fine. Where’d you two meet?”
    â€œHere, at the farm. Didn’t you know?”
    Iris withdrew her hands and wrapped her towel more tightly across her waist, piqued again. “Nope. No one tells me anything.”
    â€œIt happened last summer. He’d come up with some friends from New York. They rented the Thayer place.”
    The Thayer place was a formidable summerhouse, one of the oldest and handsomest in Hampstead. The Thayer family spent most of the season residing in it themselves, but on occasion they loaned it to close friends from the city.
    â€œStephen knows the Thayers?”
    â€œHis parents do. Anyway, he came by the stand one day when I was working. He bought a pound of strawberries. Then he came back the next day, and the day after that. By the end of the week, I told him that I didn’t have a strawberry left on the farm. And he laughed and asked me out.” Leah’s eyes sparkled as she related the story. “It was funny. There I was, in a crumpled sun hat, covered in dirt and sweat. And he just kept coming back. Said he’d never seen anything like me.”
    Coming from anybody else, the comment would sound smug. But Leah was simply relating a fact, still as perplexed by her charm as she’d been since they were kids. “Amazing, huh?”
    â€œAmazing.” Iris hoped she sounded sincere. She was, mostly.
    â€œSo what does he do?” From the Breitling on his wrist to the Brooks Brothers shirt he’d worn at dinner, Iris knew Stephen was successful. But she was more interested in what he did.
    â€œHe’s a CPA. Used to work for a firm in New York.”
    Iris contemplated this; Stephen seemed a far cry from the outdoorsy, ponytailed national parks guys Leah used to hang out with.
    â€œBut he left all that recently to manage his family’s foundation. His grandmother started it thirty years ago, for the Special Olympics.”
    This seemed more in line with the Leah Iris knew. “So, what do you do out in Seattle?”
    Leah frowned. “Do? Well, I’ve been decorating our new apartment. It’s right by the Needle, you must come visit! And I handle the schedule. That sort of