15 Days Before I Left Him novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: The Dock

The lodge walkthrough was on Sunday at two, and the whole family came.

Hollis Lake Lodge sat on the north shore of the big lake, a long timber building with a lawn that ran down to a private dock.

The ceremony was set for the end of that lawn, twenty feet from the water.

Roscoe had chosen the spot.

"It's where they hold Rescue Day every year," he'd said, back when I still thought we were going to be married. "It felt right."

I have never gone near open water on purpose.

I don't swim, and I don't wade, and Roscoe had always explained it to people as caution.

He thought I was the kind of child who stayed back from the edge.

The lodge manager led us across the grass with a clipboard.

"Chairs here, in twelve rows. The aisle comes down between the maples." She pointed. "The bride arrives from the terrace. You'll be facing the lake, Ms. Lehman."

I looked at the water.

It was flat and grey, and a little wind pushed small waves against the dock posts.

"Lovely," I said.

Judith walked beside me in her good coat with her hand under my elbow.

Behind us came Roscoe, supporting Faye, who had a blanket around her shoulders and was moving slowly.

"Faye wanted to see where she'd sit," Roscoe told the manager. "She'll be at the head table, and she'll walk down to the dock afterward for the photos."

"For the photos," I repeated.

"Faye is part of Rescue Day," Judith said, in the voice she used for settled things. "It's tradition. The town expects her."

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