The Widower's Second Chance

“I know, honey. It’s just a shame what a waste it all turned out to be. Bryan really is a nice boy.”

She needed to change the subject. Talking about anything else was better than this. “So have you guys decided if you’re going to put the house on the market?”

“The for-sale sign is already in the yard.”

“So fast?”

“Yes. The first open house is this weekend.”

After hanging up, Paige shoved the conversation to the back of her mind. Bryan couldn’t ruin today. From time to time, men make mistakes.

Mistakes and choices were two very different things.

She pulled on jeans and a loose knit shirt. From the paperwork she’d received it looked like they’d be in and out of training for most of the day, but maybe she’d be able to stay late and start putting together her classroom. If so, that would be dusty work that included a lot of time organizing books on the floor. Jeans wouldn’t impress her coworkers, but they were the best option.

She’d walk to work as long as the weather stayed nice. Doing so didn’t leave her a lot of time for breakfast this morning, but it would help her save money to put into her dream-house account. Living with Maggie so far seemed fun, but Paige needed to prove to herself that she could make it without depending on anyone else.

The mouthwatering smell of baked cinnamon and frying bacon propelled her out of her bedroom. Grabbing her bag, Paige rushed out to the kitchen.

Flour and eggshells covered the large island in the center of the kitchen, and Maggie whirled around, grabbing muffins and restarting the coffee machine. She wore her curly hair clipped back.

An elderly woman teetered by the sink, loading dishes into the washer. Her nylons wrinkled around her ankles like elephant skin, and her flowered dress would make a queen bee envious. A silver waterfall of hair dived down her back.

Maggie noticed Paige and smiled. “Sorry about the mess. Breakfast is the busiest time around here. Every room is booked today with people trying to take in the last of the summer.”

“Right.” Paige laughed. “I forgot the whole breakfast part of a bed-and-breakfast.”

“I’ll see you after school.” Maggie backed through the set of doors that led to the hotel portion of the inn.

The old woman dried her shaky hands off on a kitchen towel. “You must be the pretty new schoolteacher that Magpie told me about. You’re going to be the one teaching Shakespeare and those sorts of books, right?”

“Yes, I’m Paige.” She extended her hand.

“Ida Ashby. I live right next door, and you’re welcome to pop by any old time.”

“Thanks. I better head out to the school. I don’t want to be late on my first day.” With the kitchen looking like a Tasmanian devil had spun through it on a tirade, skipping breakfast sounded like the best option.

“Wait one moment, dear, and I’ll walk halfway there with you.”

“Mrs. Ashby, there’s no need to—”

“And it’s just plain Ida, if you don’t mind.” Ida pulled her coat down from a peg by the back door, scooped up a bundle of flowers from the counter and motioned for Paige to leave with her.

Paige took a deep breath and followed after. The sound of Lake Michigan lapping against the shore worked the tightness from her muscles. She batted away the earlier conversation with her mother. Today she’d focus on new beginnings.

Ida looped her arm through Paige’s. The skin on her hands was thin and delicate like the finest tissue paper. “I like to come help Maggie sometimes in the morning when I’m feeling up to it. The poor dear is always taking on too much alone. I’m glad she has you for companionship, at least for a little spell.”

“Have you lived next door a long time?” Paige matched her longer strides with Ida’s shorter, slower pace.

Good thing she’d skipped eating at the inn. If Ida changed her mind and decided on walking the whole way to school, Paige might end up very late.

“Oh. Long enough. I came to Goose Harbor with my husband many years ago.” Ida unwound her arm from Paige’s and stopped as they approached a small bridge.

A metal railing bordered the sidewalk to protect people from falling off into the stream below. Water churned over rocks and surged down a path that led to a mill. The wheel of the mill slapped the water in a steady rhythm. Below the mill, the water pooled, creating a large pond where ducks squawked at each other and sunned themselves on the muddy shore.

Ida shuffled to the edge of the metal fencing. “Here’s the place. It’s kind of you to be company for me on my errand today.”

Errand?

Paige hooked her hand on the strap of her messenger bag and took a step backward. “Actually, I need to make sure I get to the school on time.”

“It’ll only take a moment.” Ida tugged a dead bouquet from the railing and handed it to Paige.

The dried buds crinkled in her hands. Paige peeked at her watch. Fifteen minutes until she needed to check in at the gymnasium.

Ida worked the fresh bouquet into the place where the decaying one had been. Her fingers shook, making her miss the metal rings a couple of times. “I leave new flowers here every week for my Henry.” Ida pressed her palms to her lips and kissed them. Then she fanned out her hands in a gesture that sent the kiss down the river. “He fell right here. We were on a morning walk and his heart failed him exactly where you’re standing.” Her voice grew softer with each word.

Paige cupped Ida’s hands. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Oh, it’s been years now.” Ida let out a long breath. “But I still miss Henry every single day. That’s how it is with true love, you know? It doesn’t go away just because the person does. Your heart just keeps right on waiting for them.”

If true love existed, maybe Ida was the only one to have found it. Because Paige sure hadn’t. And neither had her mother. Men like Henry no longer existed.

“I’m sure Henry was an amazing man.” Paige offered a reassuring squeeze.

“He served as mayor to this town for thirty-six years. A very good man. I know some people think I’m silly for leaving flowers here every week. Thank you for being kind to a crazy old lady.” Ida’s eyes filled with tears.

“No, thank you for letting me come along.” Paige bit her lip. She’d be late to work, but seeing Ida like this tore at the raw place in her heart where Paige stored her own hurt and pain. What would it be like to love someone like Ida loved her Henry? “Are you going to be all right? I feel bad leaving you here like this.”

Ida pulled a handkerchief from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. “Don’t worry about me. People see tears and get all flustered and want them to stop. But know what I say? It’s okay to mourn the life you thought you were going to have. You can’t heal if you don’t allow yourself that much.”

“As long as you’re sure you’re okay.”

Ida smiled, revealing a smudge of red lipstick on her front tooth. “Now, you better skedaddle on down to the school, and I’ll go on back and help Maggie clean up. If I made you late, just tell them you were humoring Ida and everyone will understand.”

Paige jogged into the parking lot with two minutes to spare. She joined the line of teachers near the end of the gymnasium.

A woman with spiked black hair, who looked about her age turned around and offered a smile. “I’m Bree. You must be the new English teacher.”

Maybe she looked as out of place as she felt.

Paige clutched the strap on her bag. “Am I the only new person this year?”

“Yes, and it’s been the talk among the teachers for the past week.”

They arrived at the temporary desk set up near the front of the large room. Portable tables and chairs arranged in four rows occupied most of the space in the gym. Paige and Bree each gathered a training manual and a teacher binder.

“Want to sit with me?” Bree snagged a table two rows back, near the edge.