The River House

She drove out the river road past the mill toward the village, turning onto another country road and following it until it ended at quiet, pretty Carriage Hill Road. She turned left, rolling down her window and taking in the slightly cooler air. The road eventually dead-ended at a Quabbin gate, one of more than forty gates that marked entrances to the reservoir and its surrounding protected watershed. She wouldn’t go that far, but she knew the spot well. She and Gabe had obtained fishing licenses and gone out on the reservoir in his dad’s rickety boat a couple of times, but neither of them had developed the fishing bug. She’d enjoyed being on the pristine water, envisioning life in the valley before the reservoir. She’d noticed signs of the lost valley towns. Old roads that now led into the reservoir, the occasional remnant of buildings long demolished. Gabe hadn’t paid much attention. He’d focused on catching fish.

Felicity blinked back unexpected tears and cleared her throat. She had work to do before Saturday. “Best get to it,” she said, and continued down the quiet road.

* * *

Felicity parked at the contemporary “barn” Olivia and Dylan McCaffrey had built on property he’d inherited from his father. It served as the base for Dylan’s fledgling adventure travel business and entrepreneurial boot camps and was just up the road from the pristine antique house Olivia had turned into a destination inn—a coincidence that had led to their meeting on an icy March day over a year ago. They’d also built a house up a stone walk from the barn, finally moving in earlier in the summer. Mark Flanagan had designed both the house and barn to meld into the rolling rural New England landscape. Felicity didn’t know if Gabe had ever seen them. Probably not.

Olivia greeted her at the front entrance. She was dressed in yoga pants and a long tank top, her dark hair pulled back. She was visibly pregnant, due in late autumn. “I had an urge for hot chocolate,” she said, smiling as she held up a steaming mug. “I know. You’d think I’d have an urge for lemonade on a hot summer day. Come in, won’t you?”

Felicity followed her into the barn. She’d checked out the space several times in the lead-up to Saturday’s boot camp. The interior included a large, flexible open area with a sectional sofa and comfy chairs in front of a huge fieldstone fireplace, a kitchen, a study and, up spiral stairs, a loft with offices and storage space.

Olivia led Felicity to a long, dark wood table in front of tall windows that looked out across wildflower-dotted fields to Carriage Hill itself. “Dylan’s thrilled you were able to handle Gabe’s add-on party on such short notice,” Olivia said, sitting with her back to the view, still holding on to her hot chocolate. “I’m happy to help in any way we can.”

Felicity sat across from her. “Thank you. I just want to be sure I have the logistics worked out. We’re having lunch here, then another panel in the main room—I don’t want to cause any distractions while setting up for the party.”

“What if we have the party at the inn? The weather looks great for Saturday. Everyone will probably appreciate a walk and fresh air after a day of speakers.”

“That’s a great idea,” Felicity said without hesitation.

“You can run it past Gabe and Dylan if you want, but they won’t care if it’s okay with me.”

“I should take a look at the space, but I can’t imagine any problems.”

Felicity had arranged for one of the speakers—a diverse group—to stay in the area, but the rest, and all of the attendees, were commuting for the day. Dylan had deliberately kept the one-day event simple. Olivia was having work done at the Farm at Carriage Hill, but it only affected its handful of guest rooms. Felicity could help Gabe find lodging if need be, but he had family and friends in town. She doubted he’d have any trouble finding a place to stay. He hadn’t asked for her help, and she assumed he had sleeping quarters handled.

“Maggie’s catered a number of events at the inn,” Olivia said. “She thinks it’ll work out well, if that helps.”

“It absolutely does. Maggie’s a whiz.”

Olivia smiled. “She’s bringing dinner. Why don’t you join us? Maggie always brings enough for days of leftovers.”

Brandon Sloan, Maggie’s husband, was in the White Mountains, leading the first group of Dylan’s adventure travelers on a multi-day hike. He and Maggie had been together since high school and had two sons in elementary school. Brandon, the third of six siblings, had a day job as a carpenter with Sloan & Sons, his family’s construction business. Gabe was friends with all the Sloans. Maybe he’d be staying with them.

Felicity frowned. Why was she obsessing about where Gabe stayed?

“I’d love to join you and Maggie for dinner,” she said.

“Wonderful,” Olivia said, obviously pleased. “Can I get you anything in the meantime? Water, iced tea—there’s more hot chocolate if that appeals to you on a hot day.”

“I think I’ll walk down to Carriage Hill first.”

“The back door’s open. I’d go with you, but I’ve been a bit wobbly today. I’m sure it’s the heat. Dylan will be back soon. Gabe picked him and Russ Colton up from the airport. I can’t remember the last time he was in town. Mark and Jess’s wedding, I think.”

Felicity managed to get control of herself. She didn’t swear out loud or even under her breath, but she was not prepared to see Gabe tonight—and she’d just accepted Olivia’s invitation to dinner. “It’ll be cooler on Saturday,” she said, getting to her feet. “I’ll scoot down to the inn.”

“Maggie and I can answer any questions once you’ve had a look.”

“Great. Thanks.”

Olivia abandoned her hot chocolate and rose, visibly stiff. A hand on her lower back, she walked with Felicity through the main room and out the front entrance. Buster, her German shepherd mix, had materialized on the stone walk, lazing in the shade. He wagged his tail but otherwise didn’t stir. “It was just Buster and me out here at first,” Olivia said. “I liked that idea. Then Dylan came along...” She smiled, her hazel eyes warm with emotion. “It’s not just Buster and me anymore.”

“I’m happy for you, Olivia.”

“Thank you.” She patted her middle. “Pretty soon Buster will have to get used to a baby on our dead-end road.”

She and Dylan also had kept his house on Coronado Island in San Diego. They might be starting new businesses and living relatively normal lives in Knights Bridge, but they were worth a considerable fortune. Felicity motioned vaguely down Carriage Hill Road. “Back in a few minutes.”

“Have you seen Gabe lately?” Olivia asked as Felicity descended the steps to the stone walk. “You two used to hang out together.”

“It’s been a few years.”

She debated saying more but instead continued past Buster. She heard Olivia gasp behind her and spun around. “Olivia—are you all right?”

Olivia swayed and reached out a hand, as if to balance herself, but there was nothing to grab hold of. Felicity launched herself up the steps, getting to Olivia just as she crumpled. She hooked an arm around her and eased her onto the landing. Felicity quickly checked for blood or amniotic fluid but didn’t see any. Had the heat gotten to her? They’d only been outside a few minutes, but Felicity didn’t know where Olivia had been that day or what she’d been doing.

She fumbled for her phone to call 911, but Olivia stirred and tried to sit up. “I’m okay,” she mumbled.

“You fainted,” Felicity said. “I’ll call for an ambulance.”

“What? Oh, damn. No. Really. I just...” She tried to sit up. “I didn’t pass out. It was close, but I just got wobbly and couldn’t... Don’t call an ambulance. I’m okay, I promise.”

“I can call your doctor.”

“I’ll call her. I just need a minute.”

“And Dylan?”

“He’s on his way. There’s no need to worry him. Can you get me a glass of water? I think that’s all I need. I’ll be fine here.” She smiled weakly, leaning against the doorjamb. “I have Buster.”

The big dog had roused himself from his spot in the shade and was lumbering to her. Olivia patted him. She was clearly feeling better, but Felicity still had misgivings about not calling for help. “I’ll fetch you some water, but if you feel at all faint, call 911.” She folded her phone into Olivia’s hand. “And if there’s even the slightest question when I get back, I’m calling.”

Felicity raced inside, leaving the door open. She filled a glass with water from the tap, moistened a dish towel and charged back out to Olivia with both. Olivia was sitting up, Buster sprawled at her side. Her color looked better, and she didn’t seem as unsteady. “Water or towel first?” Felicity asked her.

“Water.” Olivia smiled as Felicity handed her the water. She took a few tentative sips. “I let myself get dehydrated.”

“I can call your doctor. Really, I don’t mind.”

“I’ll call in a minute.” Olivia set the glass on the landing next to her and accepted the cool, wet towel from Felicity, placing it on the back of her neck. “That feels so good. You can go onto Carriage Hill. I’m fine.”

Felicity shook her head. “It’ll keep. I’ll stay with you until Maggie gets here.”

Olivia nodded and picked up her water glass again. The barn was air-conditioned, but she obviously needed to get her feet under her before she tried to stand up. She finished drinking her water. In a few more minutes, she started to get to her feet. Felicity eased next to her, but Olivia didn’t need her assistance. They headed inside. Olivia sank onto the sectional and ran both hands through her hair, exhaling. “That was no fun,” she said. “I have a bit of a headache, but all in all I feel fine.”

“But you’ll call your doctor while I’m getting you more water.”

She smiled. “I will call my doctor now.”

When Felicity returned with two fresh glasses of water—one for each of them—Olivia was more or less back to normal. She set her phone on a side table. “I spoke with my doctor’s office about my spell.” She stretched out her legs, settling in on the sectional. “All set. Plenty of fluids. Rest. Call if there’s a problem.”