You Can Go Home Again
The only thing Cole Merrick wants to do with the Mirror Lake property he inherited is sell it. And the sooner the better. The handsome pilot has no attachment to the place where he and Grace Eversea fell in love years ago. He never meant to break his promisesâor her heartâwhen he left town without a word. Now, just in time for Mirror Lakeâs 125th birthday celebration, he comes face-to-face with all he left behind, including Grace. And he wonders if he ought to give this town a second chance. If only he can convince Grace to do the same for him....
Mirror Lake: A small town where dreams of finding home come true
âNow you better get on over
to the Redstonesâ place before Grace thinks you stood her up.â
âStood her up?â
âYou won her basket at the box socialâyouâre her date.â
âFor the square dance?â
âFor everything.â Before Cole had a chance to ask Candy to clarify that cryptic response, she marched to the door, grumbling. âThe last thing a woman needs is a guy who wonât step up to the plate and do the right thing.â
The words had continued to cycle through Coleâs mind on his way to the parking lot.
He had done the right thing.
It was the reason heâd left Mirror Lake.
And Grace.
Chapter One
âThe dress is adorable, Grace! I knew that shade of yellow would look perfect on you.â
Grace Eversea summoned a smile, trying to match Kate Nicholsâs enthusiasm while she maneuvered her ankle-length skirtâand six inches of petticoatâthrough the narrow gap between the sofa and the coffee table.
Add a bonnet and a pair of button-up shoes, and people just might think sheâd stepped down from one of the sepia-toned portraits hanging on the wall of the historical museum.
But then again, Grace acknowledged ruefully, that was kind of the point.
It had been Kateâs idea that everyone who volunteered to help with Mirror Lakeâs 125th birthday celebration should dress for the part in clothing authentic to that time period.
Something Grace hadnât found out until after sheâd agreed to act as the official tour guide for the event, transporting people to unique historical landmarks and other points of interest scattered throughout the area. In a horse-drawn wagon.
Which posed a problem that apparently only Grace could see.
âIâm still not sure how Iâm supposed to sit down while Iâm wearing this...bustle.â And breathe in this corset. âI think every article of clothing they wore in 1887 was designed to pinch, itch or constrict.â
At the same time.
âThat could explain why none of the women in those old photographs we found were smiling.â Kate chuckled as she reached for the garment bag draped over the back of a rocking chair. âI better get back to the café. Mayor Dodd wants to go over some last-minute details before the opening ceremony tomorrow. Youâre welcome to join us.â
âThanks, but I think Iâllââ change clothes! ââtake B.C. for a dry run. Iâm not sure how long it will take to complete the whole circle. We have to make five stopsââ
âSix,â her friend interrupted cheerfully.
Grace blinked. âSix?â
âThatâs the other reason I stopped by.â Kateâs clover-green eyes sparkled with excitement. âI sent the letter over a month ago but didnât mention it because I didnât want to get your hopes up. But then he called yesterday, out of the blue, and gave us permission to add the property to the tour....â
âYou lost me.â Grace jumped in when her friend paused to take a breath. âWho called? What are we adding to the tour?â
âSloan Merrickâs place.â
Graceâs breath snagged in her lungs, and this time she couldnât blame it on the corset. âI didnât think that property was still in the family.â
âI wasnât sure, either. Thatâs why I went to the courthouse and did a little investigating.â Kate grinned. âApparently Sloan left the house and land to his oldest grandson when he died.â