The Lakeside Inn, Leeanna Morgan [rosie project TXT] 📗

“Just having you here is enough.” He took a deep breath. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

Penny wrapped her hands around her mug. Wyatt looked so sad she wanted to give him a hug. But something told her to wait, to give him time to sort through what was worrying him.

“I don’t usually talk about Anya because”—he took a deep breath—“I feel guilty about how she died. It was my fault.”

“I don’t understand.”

“She died in a car accident. I was driving and we were arguing. I took my eyes off the road for a few seconds and didn’t see a car crossing the center line. By the time I saw the vehicle, it was too late. Anya died two hours later in the hospital.”

Penny reached out and held Wyatt’s hand. “I’m sorry.”

“I killed her. If I’d paid more attention to the road, it might never have happened.”

“It was an accident.”

He took a deep breath. “On most days, that’s what I tell myself. But on days like today, I don’t believe it.”

Penny thought about her grandma. They were all struggling in different ways with her death and trying to carry on as best they could. “Grief is never easy. It hits us at different times in the most unexpected ways. For me, it’s a reminder of how much I loved someone, not a burden to carry.”

Wyatt looked at their linked hands. “Before Anya died, I was a different person. My paintings sold for enormous amounts of money and people treated me differently. It went to my head. I thought I was better than everyone else, that I had some God-given talent that made me special. After my wife died, I realized how wrong I was.”

“Is that why you came here? To start again?”

He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. “When Ethan suggested I stay for a few months, he sent me some photos of Sapphire Bay. Most of them were of the lake and Main Street. Then I saw the photos of this house and I knew I had to move. I thought coming here would give me a chance to think about my life and what I want to do.”

“And has it?”

“It’s made me appreciate who I am. I used to be self-centered and driven by how much money I made. I don’t want to be that person again.”

“Is that why you don’t talk about how much your paintings are worth?”

Wyatt nodded. “It’s also why I didn’t tell you my artist’s name. I wanted you to like me for who I am, not because I’m a well-known artist.”

“Well, you did that. I like you because you’re kind and honest and make great pasta sauce. And last but not least, you don’t mind Charlie’s doggy dribble.”

“If I’d known it would be that easy, I wouldn’t have stayed awake worrying about us.”

Penny squeezed his hands. “It means you care.”

“More than you probably realize,” Wyatt said gently. “Penny Marie Terry, would you do me the honor of being my girlfriend?”

Apart from being surprised by his question, she was impressed that he knew her full name. “How did you know my middle name?”

“Your mom told me just before she showed me your baby photos.”

Penny cringed. “Please don’t tell me she asked what your intentions are?”

Thankfully, he shook his head.

“But your dad did.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding?”

“Don’t worry. He was only doing what any dad would do.”

“Maybe when their daughter was sixteen or seventeen years old, but I’m well past that.”

“It doesn’t matter how old you are. You will always be your parents’ little girl.”

Penny sighed. “Talking about little girls, can I see the portrait of my grandma and great-grandmother?”

Leaning forward, he kissed her gently on the lips. “For you, anything. But before we see it, I’d like to know if you want to be my girlfriend.”

His smile made Penny grin. “I would be honored to be your girlfriend.”

Wyatt pulled her into his arms. “That’s the best thing that’s happened all day.”

“I thought that award would go to Mom’s apple pie.”

“It’s a close second, but don’t tell her.”

Penny whispered in his ear, “Your secret is safe with me.”

A few days later, Penny breathed a sigh of relief.

Diana looked up from the spreadsheet she was creating. “That sounds like it could be good news.”

“It is. The county has approved the building permit for the changes in the attic.”

“The plumbers will be thrilled.”

“I just hope they haven’t started another job while they’ve been waiting for us.” Getting the remodeling project this far had been hard work. Penny thought living in a small town would make the process quicker, but the opposite was true. The county was more relaxed than in a larger city, and no one seemed to worry if time frames had to be extended.

She pulled out her phone. “I’ll call the plumber now. Is there anything you need them to do while they’re here?”

“Hang on a minute. I’ll check the project plan.” Diana looked intently at her laptop screen. “Okay, let’s see. The plumbers have already finished in the kitchen and three of the bathrooms are ready to go. Apart from a leaky faucet in Katie’s bathroom and the work that needs to happen in the attic, we’re all right. When are the electricians arriving?”

Penny checked the time. “They should be here any minute. Have you talked to Katie about the draft menu you created?”

Diana nodded. “She liked my ideas, but wants to add a few more dishes. Don’t worry. It will all be within our budget and easy to prepare.”

“Thank goodness for that. It’s probably one of the few areas where we won’t have a budget overrun.”

“Do we have enough money to finish the attic?”

That had been on Penny’s mind for the last few days. The longer the county took to issue the building permit, the more unlikely they were to finish the attic to the level they wanted. “I think we’ll have enough money for most of the