The Guestbook (25 page)

He started down the steps and turned back to her. “You’ll be the first to hear.”

From the porch, she watched him cross the field, dawn’s light setting his body aglow. Ten years of marriage and she had never known love before now.

The phone ringing in the distance brought her back from her dreams. Lily shot up in bed. Nine o’clock, how had she slept so long after Ian left? She seized the phone. “Hello.”

“He’s awake, Lily. Gramps is awake.”

She released a long breath. “Oh, Ian, I’m so happy to hear that.”

“He woke up twenty minutes ago, and his first words were, ‘I’m hungry.’”

Lily laughed. “Sounds like John. What did the doctor say?”

She could hear Ian catch his breath. “They’re perplexed why he was unconscious so long, but she said he appears normal in all areas. They’re going to keep him for observation for twenty-four hours and then he can come home.”

She could hear Jason in the background cheering yippee. Lily held the phone away, knowing her voice would crack through her tears of relief. She took a tissue and dabbed her eyes. “Is there anything I can do?”

“My mom’s got everything covered on this end for now.  The doctor suggested we wait to visit until the afternoon and let him rest. I’ll let you know when.”

“I’m here if you need anything.”

“I know, Lily, and I for you.”

She showered, dressed, and headed for the kitchen. She needed to do something, and baking usually helped. She pulled out the recipe card. Flour, sugar, butter, and chocolate chips were her companions.
This was the final recipe she would use for Grandma Maggie’s Cowgirl Cookies with coconut and pecans. John would love these when he got home.

On second thought, they would probably put him on a special diet after the heart attack. She would freeze a few of this batch and then experiment with a low fat version to have ready in hand. Lily put the cookies into the oven; she wanted to be sure she had plenty of John’s favorites.

While they baked, she wandered out to the porch
with a pencil and paper
.
The sunny morning hinted at a warm day ahead. She rocked on the porch swing, legs curled under her just like when she was a child. The breeze off the Sound brought memories of the past and the present. Merging for just a moment–the happiness of a young girl and a grown woman, swinging, smiling and waiting for the cookies to be done in the oven.

Most of the event plans were in progress, but she needed to get right back to work if everything would be ready on time. Her thoughts wandered back to last night, and her body trembled at the memory. She scribbled in the corners of the page, “Lily and Ian” and drew a heart. She felt like a young schoolgirl with a crush. For just a minute, she allowed the daydream to float pleasantly through her mind. Ian and Jason and her, together in a house, playing ball in the yard, sitting down to a family dinner, and even... She imagined herself pregnant, glowing, ecstatic.

Dreams were a scary thing sometimes. Wanting something so badly, yet fearing it just as much. All she’d ever wanted was here, right where it had always been, on Madrona Island. Bunnies played in the yard, running through the rock roses and fragrant alyssums.
She looked out over the Sound; the beauty astounded her. Blues and greens blended in the current, reflecting the golden sunlight and snowcapped mountains that towered majestically towards heaven. A lone bald eagle swept over the tree tops, taking his usual perch to observe the landscape.

The buzzer went off on the antique range, and Lily rushed inside to be sure the cookies did not over-bake. The smell was heavenly…roasted almonds with coconut dreamily enhanced by melting chocolate. Potholder in hand, she pulled out the cookie sheet and placed it on a rack to cool. Impatient, she slipped one cookie off with a spatula, broke it open, blew on it and tossed it from hand to hand to cool it quickly, before taking a large bite. She savored the texture and flavors…even with whole-wheat flour and much less fat and sugar, and cookie was delicious.

He was alive. John was fine, coming home. Truly he was like a grandfather and father and best friend all rolled into one. She could not have borne to lose him.

The grand opening loomed in just over a week, and there was still much to do. Lily raced around the kitchen, packaging up the cookies and checking her list. She wished the new labels were ready, but Ian promised he’d have the final sketch to her tomorrow if he could. Once the logo was complete, she could begin the mail order business in earnest and get the new brochure printed. She read over her to-do list: finish painting outside trim and Lavender Guestroom, sew seat covers for parlor couch, pick up the new duvet for the Honeymoon Suite, and order all the final groceries and champagne. And, she thought, find the darned brownie recipe. She needed more help and for more days like this without rain. It was June, not January.

Jude, she needed to call Jude.

“He’s fine, yes, I know, amazing. Home tomorrow.” She hung up the phone and headed back outside. The white paint and brushes were waiting for her to finish up the porch trim outside. The repetitive gliding of the brush across the window trim soothed her nerves. The place was looking beautiful, restored and ready for business.

✦✦✦✦

Lily paced the front porch, waiting to see Ian’s Volvo turn into the drive across the field.  John’s tests were all clear, and the family had gone to pick him up from the hospital. She couldn’t wait to see him and give him a big hug. The silver-blue Volvo made the curve and slowed. Down the steps running, she raced across the field to greet them.

Ian waved when he saw her approach. “Got the old man with us,” he said, winking at his grandfather.

John emerged looking a bit tired, but good. “Who’s calling me old? I can still fish you under the wharf.”

Celeste took his arm and guided him toward the house. “I’m sure you can, Dad, but the doctor said you need to rest for a while.”

John waved her over. “Lily, come give me a hug.”

He did not have to ask twice. “I am so glad to see you home,” she said.

“I’m not going anywhere,” John said.

Ian opened the door and guided everyone inside. “On to the couch, Gramps. We’ll be waiting on you for a while.”

John settled onto the couch. “Sounds good to me. When’s lunch?”

Lily stepped forward. “I talked to Jude, and she said to let you know she’ll be
bringing by a few days’ of heart-healthy meals this afternoon.”

John frowned. “No fish and chips?”

“That’s really nice,” Celeste said. She sat down on the couch and put her arm around John. “Ok, everyone, he’s home, he’s well, and I’m staying awhile to help out.”

“Yippee,” Jason said.

She looked up at Ian. “And that means you can go back home for Jason’s last week of school, and you, Lily, can get back to work.” She turned to her father. “And you can watch.”

John sighed and leaned back into the sofa. “Anything’s better than lying around in the hospital.”

“I don’t want to go back to school. I want to stay here with Gramps.” Jason glared at his dad, and when he got no response, he threw himself down in a chair.

Ian walked over and rumpled his son’s hair. “Ok, I’ll give the school a call, see if I can pick up your work and bring it here.”

Jason jumped back up and hugged Ian. “You’re the best, Dad!”

Ian’s eyes met Lily’s. “And this way I can help Lily out too with all her last-minute plans.”

“Good idea,” John said. “Now, let’s get to the important stuff: Where’s lunch?”

Lily collapsed into the kitchen chair and put the list on the table, wondering if she’d ever finish in time. She laid a new paintbrush on the table and closed her eyes.

She heard footsteps at the back door. “Knock, knock. It’s Ian and dog.”

“Come in, it’s open. I’m here in the kitchen,” she yelled out. She tried to straighten up her hair but gave up quickly.  She was glad he was staying on the island.

Ian entered, followed by Gretel. He had a stern look on his face and something behind his back. “Sitting down on the job, I see.”

Lily put her hands on her hips. “I’ll have you know I’ve been working since six AM. baking cookies, answering phones, fixing another leaky faucet and—”

“Whoa, just kidding. You look a little down in the dumps is all. I’m trying to cheer you up.” He leaned over, kissed the top of her head, and handed her a bouquet of delicate blue forget-me-nots.

“They’re so pretty, I love these little flowers.”

He began to rub her shoulders and neck. His hands felt like sunshine on ice, melting away every drop of tension until she felt like a pool of still water.

She leaned her head against Ian’s chest and moaned, “Please, never stop.”

Ian laughed. “We could take a quick run to the bedroom for a full body massage.” His hands moved down her back while he trailed kisses down the side of her neck.

“There’s just too much to do. I need to paint trim in the suite and…”

He covered her mouth with his to muffle her protests and whispered, “We’ll have to remedy this dilemma. I know an excellent painter who works cheap…for cookies and kisses.”

“Ian, you’re already doing so much.”

Ian lifted her chin. “Look at me, Lily,” he said gently.  “Let me help you. It would make
me
happy.”

She stared at this man offering from his heart. How vulnerable it felt to let a man help her, but this was not Brad.  There were no hidden agendas. Sunlight filled the room. “The sun has come out,” Lily said. “Looks like it will be a good day to paint after all.”

“I’ll go get my brushes. We can finish the Rose Room in a flash.” He tousled her hair. “And I have a surprise for you.”

She frowned at him. “What kind?”

“A surprise kind,” he said with a grin. “It’s just outside. Close your eyes and I’ll be right back.”

What in the world, she wondered. She heard him enter and place something on the chair beside her.

“You can open your eyes now,” he said.

Propped on the chair in front of her was a framed canvas painted in Ian’s style. Her eyes widened as she took in the subject. It was her face, cheeks aglow, eyes closed, and her hair floating on a pillow of billowy clouds. Her body was covered by a blanket of wings–a blue heron in flight hovering above her sleeping form. Below her airy bed of
clouds, turquoise water bubbled and steamed, sending mist into the air. She looked up at him.

“I sketched it while you slept that morning at the hot springs.”

“It’s beautiful, Ian.”

She stood and reached out to him. They fell into each other’s arms. “I love you, Lily.”

It felt so right. “I love you too, Ian.”

Gretel barked startling them. “What is it, girl?” Ian said. “Do you want some love too?”

The dog bounded between them, covering them with kisses. “Ok, ok,” Lily said, petting Gretel’s sleek back. “It’s time to get back to work.”

“At your service, ma’am. What colors did you plan in the suite again?”

“Rose pink, accented with white trim and forest green accessories.”

Ian smirked. “No browns? Blues? Plaids?”

Lily scooted him out the door. “Get out of here and get your brushes before we lose our natural light.”

Ian smiled, ran his fingertips over her cheek, and brushed his lips across hers. For a moment the room spun and her knees buckled.
“After we finish, we could curl up in the bed and be the first guests in the new Lavender Room!

Lily threw her brush at him. “Back to work! Fun later.”

✦✦✦✦

Tomorrow was the grand reopening of the bed and breakfast, and the one thing still missing were Grandma Maggie’s Heavenly Brownies. Lily’s heart sank; it just wouldn’t be a tribute to her grandmother without the brownies. Why didn’t she leave me the recipe, she left me everything else?

Jude pulled up the driveway and started unloading boxes of mini-quiches. “Hey, Lily, come give me hand with this stuff.”

Lily walked out on the porch and stared in amusement. “Do you think you brought enough, Jude?”

Jude’s face dropped, “You don’t think it’s enough?

Lily tried to hold a serious face but burst out laughing.  She threw her arms around Jude and hugged tight. “What would I do without you, my dear friend?”

“We can always freeze all the leftovers.” Jude hugged Lily. “Girlfriend, we’re almost there.”

“I can’t believe we pulled this off and the place is truly mine now.”

“You did this, Lily, some of us helped.” Jude looked over to Ian’s house. “Some of us helped more than others though!”

“He is a good man…I can’t believe I’m saying that either!”

“Well, I guess you might just have to smile more often now, Miss Bed and Breakfast owner.”

The two women began carrying the boxes into the kitchen and unloading the contents into the refrigerator. Lily began rearranging the trays and bowls. “Pretty crowded in here, but I think I can make a bit more room.”

“So, is there anything else I can help with, Lily, anything?”

“Jude, the one thing I need help with is finding the darn brownie recipe.” Lily pulled out some tall glasses and filled them with fresh ice-cold raspberry lemonade.

“You got me there, Lily, that’s a hard one. Have you looked through every cupboard and drawer?”

“I’ve literally torn the place apart. She didn’t even leave me a clue. I’ve found recipes for every dish from scones to cheesecake, but no brownie recipe,” Lily sighed.

“Do you want me to help you look for it again?” Jude offered.

“That’s okay, Jude. You go ahead back into town, you still have your lunch rush to deal with. Thanks again for everything!”

“No problem, any time,” Jude said with a wink.

Lily sat in the porch swing and watched Jude drive away.  She rocked softly, remembering all the times she’d played on the porch with her grandmother. A cool breeze, sweet with Jasmine, blew in from the Sound. In the distance a ferry horn blasted. And she could almost hear Grandma Maggie calling, “Time for supper, my little pony, whoa now.” She had loved running around the yard, her long pale hair loose in the wind. Lily closed her eyes and remembered the sweet smell of fresh chocolate chip cookies and spiced apple cider that her grandmother would serve her while she played dolls in the afternoon. They’d had their games and secrets between them. When Lily couldn’t fall asleep at night, Grandma would tell her the never-ending stories about a little girl named Kayla who ran away to the forest because she was so sad at home. Lily would listen intently. There was always a kind old woman, or a guardian angel or friendly fairy, who would lead Kayla back home and tell her wonderful things about herself.

A smile spread across her face. She no longer wanted to run away, she had found home. She remembered her favorite game—find the hiding place. And when she’d found the hiding place, her grandmother always left a treasure to uncover as well. Lily abruptly stopped rocking. Her mind snapped back to the secret place they had left messages for each other. My pony…THE PONY, the white ceramic horse they always hid secret messages in. Of course, sitting in plain sight in the china cabinet, the beautifully sculpted, silky smooth porcelain horse that had been her mother’s as a little girl. That was it! Hopes building, she tore into the house and threw open the glass door of the mahogany china cabinet. On the bottom shelf, where it had been kept since her grandmother was a little girl, stood the shiny white horse with the hole in the bottom of its platform.

Lily carefully lifted out the horse. Of course, where else would her Grandmother leave her the most important message of all? She turned the horse upside down and reached in carefully, her fingers a bit larger than when she was eight years old. Deep inside she could feel a stiff piece of paper, just out of her reach. She tried again, this time using her little and ring finger, and was just able to grasp it. Slowly, she slid the paper down through the small hole. Sure enough, rolled up into a tiny scroll and inserted in the hiding place was a message just for her.

Her heart skipped a beat. Memories flooded. She could smell Grandma Maggie’s familiar gardenia scent, hear her sparkling laugh. “You finally found it, dear.”

Time and place blended together…she was a child anticipating the treasure, she was a granddaughter cherishing a last message, she was a woman hoping for the last secret to be revealed. She unrolled the scroll. Her grandmother’s curvy scrawl covered the page.

My dear Lily,

I know in my heart you will find this message meant only for you. Never have you left my heart, not a day has gone by that I did not dream of you and wonder what kind of
incredible woman you had grown up to be. Know, my granddaughter, that I am still with you and pray that you will find the love I have on Madrona Island and recapture the pure joy we found here together when you were a child. Everything I hold dear is yours, from the beautiful inn to the magical people who will fill it once you have touched it with your grace and love.

My last legacy to leave you is your favorite, and many others as well, the Grandma Maggie’s Heavenly Brownie recipe.  May it bring you blessings in all forms.

For eternity,

Your Grandma Maggie

Lily stared at the recipe, trying to read it between her tears. The ingredients registered on her palette. She lowered herself into the velvet rocker and held the recipe to her heart.

Grandma Maggie’s Heavenly Brownies. “YES!” Lily yelled. “Thank you, Grandma.”

Her eyes scanned the recipe, making a mental note of each ingredient and checking off if the needed item was already stocked in her kitchen. Then she smiled smugly; tomorrow there would be a big treat for everyone who attended: The richest, chewiest, fudgiest brownies in the world would be at the Madrona Island Bed and Breakfast Grand Reopening Celebration.

Lily hurried to the computer to type in the recipe and save it in a section only she knew the password for. The possibilities of selling these brownies online were unlimited; she’d be the Mrs. Fields of the Internet. Grandma Maggie’s Heavenly Brownies, what a great brand name. She would need newly designed labels and, of course, a new variety of gourmet flavors. Hmm, how about Lavender Chardonnay, or spicy cayenne bites? She would use Valrhona chocolate, she would swear that brand had magical properties. A brownie test baking was in order, and she was sure she would have plenty of tasters volunteering.

The parlor clock struck 7:00. The sun was just beginning to set. Tomorrow was the grand opening; she would have to stay up pretty late to get a few batches baked, but it would be worth it. For now, she would stick with the standard recipe that everyone adored and bake as many as her stock of ingredients and her waning energy would allow.

She pulled out the dry ingredients and then a dozen eggs and mounds of butter. Probably enough for two large batches, she assessed. The chocolate melted over a low flame in the double boiler while she beat the eggs and measured the flour. A flash of fur flew by as Gretel came blundering into the kitchen, nails tapping on the wooden floor. She landed head on into Lily’s arms.

“Hey, girl, how’d you get in here?

Gretel licked away at Lily’s buttery hands.

“Oh, I see, you must have smelled the brownie prepping all the way across the field.”

Ian leaned against the kitchen entry, holding back a guilty smile. He looked like a little boy caught stealing cookies. “I confess, we saw your kitchen light still on and knew something good had to be going on in here.”

“
We
saw?” she chided.

He moved toward her and brushed a wisp of flour from her nose. “Well, I saw, Gretel smelled, and we decided to explore.”

Lily kissed his lips, holding her flour-stained body at a distance. He pulled her close, running his hands up her back. The kitchen timer went off, and Lily broke the kiss and
rushed to the stove to check the chocolate. “Ah, not burned. Thank you to the kitchen gods.”

Ian leaned over to eye the glistening chocolate mixture. “So, what’s up? I thought you were going to bed early, not diving into a container of Valrhona.”

Lily flashed the neatly typed recipe before his eyes. “I found it,” she said, waving in the air. “The brownie recipe!”

Ian eyed the recipe that quickly disappeared behind Lily’s back.

Her eyes narrowed. “It’s a secret family recipe. Even from you…for now.”

A grin lit her face. “This could be a very valuable commodity soon.”