Page 24 of There I Find Love

“You’re a smart girl,” Lana said, patting her daughter’s arm and not bothering to disguise the pride in her voice.

Emotions were sometimes things which were very difficult to fight, and to have the foresight to know that a person had to go into a relationship with their eyes on the most important things was sometimes very difficult. Especially when a girl was Clara’s age and unmarried. Potential boyfriends were fewer and further between than ever.

“Good morning, Mr. Pianse,” Lana said as they got closer. “How are the fish biting this morning?”

“Terrible. I’ll probably starve before nightfall.” That was Mr. Pianse’s standard answer to her, even if he had a whole string full of fish on the line he had staked in the lake.

“That’s terrible. You be sure to come down to the bed-and-breakfast if you need something. I don’t want you expiring from hunger just minutes away from a buffet feast that I would happily share with you.”

“I might do that,” he said, again, his standard answer, although he never took her up on it.

“Shouldn’t you bring him some food?” Clara said as they turned around and started walking back down the beach.

“He doesn’t like people to know this, but he probably has a whole string of fish on the stake he’s got out in the lake.” Lana nodded her head at the small orange flight that marked the spot.

“You’re kidding.”

“No. It’s only our standard conversation that I insist he come eat at my place. I doubt he ever will. He catches plenty of fish anyway.”

“Oh, I see.”

“But he likes to pretend he doesn’t have anything. I’m not sure whether that’s because he doesn’t want anyone to take his fishing spot, or whether that’s just the way he talks all the time. Regardless, I come up here just to check on him, you know?”

“I see. So you never walk south, you always walk north?”

“Exactly. Neighbors have to watch out for each other after all,” Lana said with a smile, knowing that Mr. Pianse might seem a little crusty and difficult, but she knew without a shadow of a doubt that if he ever heard that she needed anything, at the very least, he’d bring her some fish.

Chapter 9

“Obviously you can seethat the owner spared no expense in the kitchen. Note the double oven, the stainless steel appliances, which all convey a modern style, and the tile floor.” The real estate agent’s voice droned on and on. Alex listened with half an ear. He didn’t typically go into investments without checking everything out, and he wanted to be sure he didn’t miss anything while looking at this home. But he was watching Clara.

She looked around and seemed interested, for sure, but she didn’t look like she loved it.

Not like she looked when she looked at Lake Michigan. When she talked about her friends and family, when she showed him her mom’s house and pointed at the tiny studio where she stayed.

He was looking for a hint on her face of any emotion, but it was almost as though she found the house cool and impersonal.