“Oh, the whole family,” Lemon says nonchalantly. “My brothers and sister and, well, my brothers’ wives now. Two of them just got married this year. My parents, sometimes my grandparents, just whoever.”
“Wow, a big family.”
“Yeah, and everyone lives in Home,” she says, looking around. “Wow. You don't have any pictures or anything in here yet. It's just as we left it after I did the redecorating.”
“I just moved in four days ago,” I tell her, chuckling.
“I did this job three months ago. I didn’t even know the house was listed already. I remember talking with the realtor only a month ago. Was it on the market long?”
I lead Lemon to the table, pouring her another glass of white wine. “No, only twenty-four hours. I bought it sight unseen.”
“You must have really loved the photos. Our family lake house was built on land our family had for a hundred years. But this...” Her sentence ends out of politeness.
The lake house I bought was $3mil and we both know it—but she is tactful enough not to say as much.
I shrug. “I needed a change. Any waterfront property in the state has gone through the roof. It’s an investment.”
Bringing her over a plate of food, I set one in front of my chair as well. Her eyes widen. “Wow. This is gourmet! I’m impressed, Anchor. I feel like I should have dressed up more for this date,” she says, looking down at herself.
“I think you look incredible.”
“Well, thanks.” She laughs nervously. “I just don't go on many dates.”
“Really? I find that hard to believe.”
Lemon cringes.
“I feel like there's a story there,” I tell her.
“Do you go on many dates?” she asks, turning my question back to me.
Now it's my turn to backpedal. “I never go on dates.”
“I'm sure there's a story there as well.” She sips her wine.
“Do we want to get into stories right now?” I ask her.
She exhales, swirling her wine around, looking out the big bay window to the lake.
The sun has begun to set. It's a beautiful night. Pine trees everywhere. The mountain range behind us. The lake is still, so quiet.
“I don't wantto get into anything,” she says. “I came to the lake to relax.”
“You wanted to spend your birthday alone?”
She smiles. “If you knew how crazy my family was, you wouldn’t judge me wanting to be alone for a few days. What about you? You’re here alone too.”
“I came here to make a plan for the rest of my life,” I tell her honestly.
“Wow.” She smiles playfully. “You have a big week.”
I run a hand over the back of my head. “No pressure, right?”
“Do you have to have it all decided within one week's time?”
I shake my head. “No, not exactly. I just get restless without a plan. What about you? Do you have it all planned out? Your life?”
We begin to eat our food. She moans with pleasure with each bite, and I'm glad the steak was finished perfectly and that the potatoes are seasoned perfectly and the vegetable skewers aren't overcooked.