It was just as adorable as she had described it. The little campers were dropped off at the marina by boat. Then they waddled across the dock in their life jackets toward the camp. I made my way back to the inn to check out of our room. Mrs. Chatham was walking around the property with a landscape crew directing the cleanup of the debris from the storm the night before. When she saw me she waved and I waved back. She finished with the landscapers and came over to me to say hello. I told her again how much we had enjoyed our stay at the inn and that we would be in town for a few more weeks at a lake house. She patted me on my hand, and told me that if I needed anything I was welcome to ask her. Then she pulled out a wrapped box of locally made pralines and gave them to me. They were a small thank-you gift to me for the candle I had given her. My phone rang, so she excused herself and went into the inn. I answered. “Hello?” It was Elliott. “Morning.” His voice sounded gravelly, as if he’d just woken up, which I found very endearing.
