The Hideaway Inn Read online

  Table of Contents

  Hideaway Inn

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  The Hideaway Inn

  A Hideaway Lake Novel

  by

  Terri Lorah

  Copyright © 2020 Terri Lorah. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book. This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and events are the product of the author's imagination or used fictitiously.

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  Acknowledgements

  Special thanks to Rich and Deb Snyder for their help answering the medical questions I threw at them out of the blue. As a First Responder & Nurse, thank you both for your dedication and service to your community and for sharing your knowledge with me.

  Thank you to my wonderful graphic cover artist Erin Cameron-Hill, owner of EDH Graphics, for taking an idea and delivering this absolutely gorgeous cover.

  Thanks to my writing partner and friend Christine Sterling, for all your support & saving me at the last minute with your exceptional formatting skills.

  Thanks to the following for your excellent BETA work: Cindy Edwards, Debbie Turner, Sandy Sorola,Tammy Wade Trauner, Amanda Forman Fraley, Charlene Burlinson and Marcia Montoya.

  Thanks to an author friend who put up with my endless questions and didn’t seem to mind at all. You were very gracious to me and I appreciate it.

  Thank you to my hubby for putting up with me while I crazily write all day and into the night. Thanks to Dave, Nikki, Steve & Alyssa for encouraging me to keep plugging away even when I don’t want to. Thank you, Miss Calliope Jane for your adorable smiles and special hugs.

  To Kira Rose, thank you for keeping the wolves at bay when I’m busy and on a deadline. To Hailey, thank you for always encouraging me as well.

  For all my readers, a huge thank you for reading these stories. Without you, there would be no stories to read.

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  The Hideaway Inn

  Book 1

  Laura Myers is having a bad day. She loses her mother-in-law, her husband wants a divorce and she finds out he was cheating on her after 30 years of marriage.

  Plus, it's her 50th birthday!

  Laura has two options; Accept the paltry offer her soon-to-be-ex makes or keep the promise she made to a dying woman. Starting the Hideaway Inn with the help of her three children seems to be the only solution since she never expected to start over again.

  Laura’s oldest, Olivia, contemplates giving up her job as a traveling chef to help her mother, while her son, Cole, gets fired from his position as a construction supervisor and brings home a secret and a large uncashed check he can’t talk about yet

  Bailey, the youngest adopted daughter, who is in nursing school, still has a year and a half to go until graduation. Then she hooks up with a guy who is bad news and trouble soon follows. After a life-changing event, she is forced to face the truth.

  The Hideaway Inn is the first book in a new series about the Myer's family and friends, and the community of this small lakeside town tucked into the lush hills and mountains of Central Pennsylvania. Follow Laura and her kids, friends, and others as secrets unfold, relationships develop and love finds its way to some in this feel-good Women's Fiction novel.

  The Hideaway Inn - Book 1

  The Hideaway Cafe - Book 2

  Christmas at Hideaway Lake - Book 3

  Chapter 1

  “Don’t let him ruin it all,” Rebecca May Myer’s frail voice came out of the blue in short, clear and distinct bursts.

  Laura had been gently holding her hand, but now she raised her eyes to the woman who had been like a mother to her these past thirty years. The inevitable was here, and Laura wanted to make sure Rebecca was not alone.

  She smiled at the elderly woman, trying desperately to stay strong. There would be no signs of weakness from Laura. Her mother-in-law would not approve. She almost smiled at that thought, knowing there was not a thing Rebecca May could do or say if she did fall apart.

  A slight shudder went through her. Laura would miss her terribly. She was such a strong woman that it wouldn’t be the same without her. Rebecca May had always been the steady person in her life that never let her down. Now, she was leaving and Laura would have to fight the world on her own. It wasn’t fair. She wanted to pump a fist in the air and demand God give back the healthy and stubborn woman she loved so much.

  Perhaps Laura loved Rebecca May even more than her own son did.

  Anger seeped in, but Laura tried to push it back. She didn’t want her mother-in-law to know her son was going to be late getting here while she lay on her deathbed.

  Kurt knew his mother was actively dying and instead of canceling his last meeting of the day, he went there first for business. Laura kept herself from complaining out loud. There was no sense of being angry. He’d be along when he was finished.

  Hopefully, it wasn’t too late. She would have to send her husband another text to hurry him along. She knew exactly how he always got caught up in the commercial part of his real estate business. Laura prayed Rebecca May would be able to say goodbye to her only son before she departed from this world.

  “Did you hear me, Laura?”

  Laura nodded and held her hand a little tighter. It was growing cool and turning a yellowish tint. “I heard you.” Laura thought maybe she was getting delirious now that she was in her last hours. The hospice nurse told Laura she might begin to talk to people and call them by name, but not to worry, that it happens a lot during this period. She also mentioned to Laura that Rebecca May would more than likely become unresponsive during the last few hours, but so far that hadn’t happened.

  Her mother-in-law was going to fight until the very end. She would die the way she had lived. Fiercely.

  “I mean it, Laura. Don’t let him take away my property. He wants to sell it. Promise me there will never be another woman in that house except for you.” Her breaths were ragged, but she tried to lift her head off the feather pillow, to no avail. “I heard him on the phone, talking to that -” She ran out of breath and closed her eyes, needing a moment to recover. Laura glanced at the oxygen concentrator to make sure it was at a high enough level. Maybe they needed to turn it up. Comfort was all Laura cared about at this point. She didn’t want her mother-in-law to suffer.

  Laura patted her hand, speaking softly to Rebecca May. She was starting to believe the nurse was right about becoming delirious near the end. Hospice had dealt with this so much in the past and Laura was glad she had been forewarned. “It’s okay, Rebecca May. You don’t have to worry ever again. Everything will be all right.”

  The old woman shook her head. Her eyes popped back open and she stared eerily into Laura’s blue eyes. “I can’t go until you promise me. I need to hear it from you, right now.”

  Laura thought it was a strange request but agreed. “I promise, Rebecca May. Besides, the kids would be so angry if Kurt got rid of your house, which he won’t do. The memories we all have of holidays and dinners there are so precious to each one of my children. And me.”

  Rebecca May gave her a weak smile. “Do you promise me?”

  “Yes, I promise you, Rebecca May. We will take good care of your house at Hideaway Lake.”

  Laura stroked the old woman’s cheek, trying to reassure her.

  “I will hold you to that, my dear. You know that.”

  Laura smiled. Even on her deathbed, she was ordering Laura around. “I know, Rebecca May.”

  “There they are, my babies. Richard is holding Maggie and Mitzi.” The old woman whispered their names, then smiled, her eyes no longer staring at Laura. She was looking away, over her bed. Laura swiveled to see what she was looking at, but there was nothing there. Rebecca May’s husband, Richard, had died over ten years ago. The dogs, a few years later.

  Laura heard of these things, how loved ones came to help a dying person pass over, but never experienced it herself. Not even when her parents had passed on a few years ago. They had both been through hospice, right here in this facility, which had been a lifesaver for everyone. At least here it was more like home instead of a hospital bed in a facility.

  She looked back at her mother-in-law to find the woman’s eyes wide open, a slight smile on her face. Laura was about to smile back when she realized Rebecca May was gone.

  A tear slid down her cheek and the lump in her throat felt like a huge boulder that kept her from taking a breath. She realized the hand she had been gently holding was lying lifeless and it was cold.

  A soft touch to her shoulder brought Laura back to reality. She didn’t know how long she’d sat there just staring at her mother-in-law. “I’m going to have to examine her to make sure she’s gone and call the time of death,” the nurse told her.

  Laura no longer wanted to be in the room. “I’ll wait outside,” she told Nurse Debbie and made her way to the small sitting room down the hall. She stood at the window looking outside, feeling like this enormous burden had la
nded on her shoulders and Laura wasn’t even sure why. The sky was gloomy outside, a chance of rain in the air. Kind of like her heart was feeling at the moment.

  Rebecca May had made all her funeral arrangements ahead of time. There wouldn’t be much to do. The older woman had her place of burial set up when her husband, Richard, had died suddenly of a stroke. The funeral director had his instructions. All Laura had to do was call the children home.

  A ding interrupted her dreadful thoughts. She dished her phone from her handbag to see Kurt’s name on the screen. Be there in less than five minutes.

  He was texting and driving again.

  She pushed a few buttons. Please don’t text and drive. Call me.

  A minute went by before her phone rang. Kurt’s voice was loud and clear. “Do you have to reprimand me even through a text?” he began, not even asking after his mother first.

  She sighed, ignoring his comment. “It’s too late. Rebecca May is gone.”

  There was silence at the end of the line.

  “Kurt? Did you hear me?”

  He spoke after a long sigh. “Well then, it’s done. Can you wrap things up there? I have something to do. I’m going to turn around and head home.”

  Laura closed her eyes, no longer interested in watching the gray skies outside the window. She turned and leaned her back and head against the glass. “Don’t you want to come to say goodbye?” Her voice was a whisper.

  He sighed again, not in a deep regretful way, but as if her question annoyed him. “Laura, I knew this day was coming. I made my peace with this weeks ago. It’s done and over with. Mother had all the arrangements in place. I don’t think we need to do anything more. You need to come home. We have to talk.”

  She hit the end button, not saying goodbye. He should be here. With her. With his mother. Instead, he probably wanted her to hurry home to talk about his next deal. How many commercial buildings did a man need?

  Kurt started out selling residential real estate until he sold his first commercial building. Being an only child, his parents had spoiled him quite a bit, handing him money for his first deal. Laura smiled, remembering fondly how Rebecca May admitted he was a spoiled brat. But, she loved her son more than anything.

  She supposed they’d accumulate even more now that Rebecca May was gone. Knowing Kurt, he didn’t care about his mother’s home or the rental properties she owned. Laura was sure the only thing he cared about was the commercial building at Hideaway Lake that housed their brokerage, a small café, and her best friend’s law offices. Rebecca May had invested in Hideaway Lake with her husband’s insurance money, buying up properties and the building Kurt asked for.

  Laura didn’t want to think about any of that right now. She stared at her phone, thinking about the kids, but then tucked it in her purse and slung the bag over her shoulder. She’d call them at home after she spoke with Kurt. Maybe he was hiding his feelings and couldn’t face seeing his mother in this place. Even though Laura found that hard to believe, she’d give him the benefit of the doubt.

  Nurse Debbie walked in and hugged her. “I’m sorry, Laura. How are you?”

  “I’ll be okay. Kurt went straight home. I think you can get her ready for the funeral home. Have you called them?”

  “Yes, they are on standby. I didn’t know how much time you’d need. However, if you are done, I’ll let them know we are ready for them.”

  She gave Debbie a return hug. “Thank you for all you’ve done for Rebecca May. She mentioned to me several times how everyone here was working hard to take good care of her. I speak for Kurt as well. We appreciate all of you so much.”

  As Laura left the facility, an emptiness tugged at her heart. She pulled the open ends of her periwinkle Bouclé coat closer. The wool against her skin felt nice and warm. It was cold and dreary this late in March even if the weather was warmer than the last few years. She remembered fondly how Rebecca May would be out shoveling the sidewalk, ignoring her son’s orders to hire someone for the job.

  Rebecca May did things her way. Laura was able to see her house from the window of the real estate office, so she knew when the older woman went outside. Laura would hurry across the street to help her shovel. Rebecca May would complain that her son should be there and not Laura, then invite her inside for a hot cup of coffee while taking longer than they should.

  Laura unlocked the door to her sedan, sliding across the leather interior with a sigh. She sat there for a few minutes while the car warmed up. Her husband always warned her not to let the engine idle too long, but she refused to budge from her beliefs. Her father had been a mechanical engineer. He had taught her to warm it up and she wasn’t going to argue with Kurt or anyone else about how she did things.

  A memory flashed through her mind about how Kurt was always trying to tell her what to do. But, Rebecca May was a strong-willed woman and taught Laura to be that way as well. The woman had accepted her as a shy, young girl of twenty and carved her into a fierce, strong-willed woman, much like herself. If anything, Laura was thankful for the older woman’s direction.

  It wasn’t long until she pulled into the driveway. Lakeview Heights was about ten minutes from Hideaway Lake where her mother-in-law lived and they had their business office. The area was tucked back into a corner of the mountains in the middle of central Pennsylvania.

  Laura’s house was a show-place. Kurt liked it that way, insisting on hiring the best interior designers and landscape companies. He often brought investors and clients here to talk business. Frankly, Laura had dreaded those dinners, but put up with them because that’s what a good wife does. At least that’s what Kurt always told her when she complained.

  Right now, she didn’t want to think of anything else except to fall into her husband’s arms. She needed a good hug.

  She didn’t have to use a key to open the front door since it stood ajar. When she stepped inside, three large suitcases were stacked at the edge of the foyer. Confusion kept her from racing up to her bedroom where it sounded like loud thumps from her bedroom. The open staircase to the right was empty. She peered up the steps. “Kurt?”

  “I’ll be right down!” His voice thundered from above. Relieved it was him, she took off her coat, hanging it on the heavy antique coat rack to the left of the front door. She reached in her bag, then slid her phone into her back pocket while waiting for her husband to come downstairs and explain why there was luggage sitting on their luxurious Quinn hand-tufted wool rug.

  She almost started up the stairs when he came hurrying down, another small piece of luggage at his side.

  “Are you going somewhere?” she asked, frowning. “Your mother’s services will be held in a few days. You can’t leave right now.” This past year he had gone on several odd business stay-overs. She’d have to put her foot down on this one. His mother was more important than an overnight meeting about some commercial property.

  He stopped in front of her, then placed the smaller bag with the rest. Kurt checked his watch, then gave her a long, hard look.

  His eyes, a dark brown, held no emotion. She thought maybe he’d be sad about his mother, but there was nothing there. No sadness. He was behaving as if he was ready to go into a serious business meeting. His back was rigid, his shoulders square and there was a determination on his face she knew well.

  Things did not feel right. “What is it?” she asked, knowing him too well. He was up to something.

  His phone rang. “I have to take this,” he told her, then turned his back to her. Laura crossed her arms over her stomach. For some reason, the way he turned away from her to speak on the phone gave her a horrible feeling in her gut. Would this day get any worse?

  He spoke quietly into the phone. “Not yet. It won’t take long.” He stuffed the cell in the pocket of his trench coat he hadn’t taken off yet, indicating he wasn’t sticking around and gave her his undivided attention. “We must talk. Let’s sit down.”

  She shook her head. This was not a good sign. What was he doing? “I’ll stand.”