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Back The Summer Cottage
Chapters (75)
  1. Cover
  2. Back Cover Text
  3. Praise
  4. Booklist
  5. About the Author
  6. Dedication
  7. Quote
  8. Prologue
  9. Part One
  10. ONE
  11. TWO
  12. THREE
  13. Part Two
  14. FOUR
  15. FIVE
  16. SIX
  17. Part Three
  18. SEVEN
  19. EIGHT
  20. NINE
  21. TEN
  22. Part Four
  23. ELEVEN
  24. TWELVE
  25. THIRTEEN
  26. Part Five
  27. FOURTEEN
  28. FIFTEEN
  29. SIXTEEN
  30. SEVENTEEN
  31. Part Six
  32. EIGHTEEN
  33. NINETEEN
  34. TWENTY
  35. TWENTY-ONE
  36. Part Seven
  37. TWENTY-TWO
  38. TWENTY-THREE
  39. TWENTY-FOUR
  40. TWENTY-FIVE
  41. Part Eight
  42. TWENTY-SIX
  43. TWENTY-SEVEN
  44. TWENTY-EIGHT
  45. TWENTY-NINE
  46. Part Nine
  47. THIRTY
  48. THIRTY-ONE
  49. THIRTY-TWO
  50. THIRTY-THREE
  51. THIRTY-FOUR
  52. Part Ten
  53. THIRTY-FIVE
  54. THIRTY-SIX
  55. THIRTY-SEVEN
  56. THIRTY-EIGHT
  57. Part Eleven
  58. THIRTY-NINE
  59. FORTY
  60. FORTY-ONE
  61. Part Twelve
  62. FORTY-TWO
  63. FORTY-THREE
  64. FORTY-FOUR
  65. Part Thirteen
  66. FORTY-FIVE
  67. FORTY-SIX
  68. FORTY-SEVEN
  69. EPILOGUE
  70. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  71. AUTHOR NOTE
  72. Reader’s Guide
  73. Questions for Discussion
  74. The Heirloom Garden
  75. Abby

She laughs again. “Oh, no,” she says, her white apron already flecked with a rainbow of colors. “I think the locals secretly microchipped me years ago. First sunny day over fifty-five degrees, and there’s a line forming before noon.” She stops. “Actually, I open and close the shop based as much on the weather in Florida as Michigan. If it’s gonna turn nasty here earlier in the fall, I head to Florida. But if it’s going to be a glorious October, I stick around. On the other hand, if it turns rainy in Florida, I like to head back to Michigan to watch everything come back to life. Like today.” She smiles and looks around, even though we’re the only two in the store. Then she lowers her voice and leans over the glass counter, whispering to me conspiratorially. “Wanna know the real truth? When my six months are up in Florida, I have to head back. It’s really not a mystery. IRS is the one who really has me microchipped.”

I roar, my laughter echoing off the walls of the little shop.

“You look familiar,” the owner says. She removes the plastic glove she’s wearing and extends her hand over the counter. “I’m Teresa.”

“Adie Lou Kruger,” I say, finally getting my name right. “I’ve been coming here since I was a little girl with my mom and dad. Bet you hear that all the time, right?”

“Oh, my goodness,” Teresa says. “You’re Jon and Jo’s daughter, right? I sure do miss them. They were characters.”

Characters. I smile.

“They sure were,” I say. “And I miss them, too.” I hesitate. “Actually, I’m starting a new business in town. Turning my family’s summer cottage into a B and B.”

“You say that as if you’re on trial,” Teresa says. “I heard about your endeavor already. Word gets around town fast.”

I nod.

Teresa continues. “You know what they say about resort towns, don’t you? ‘The nice part about living in one is that when you don’t know what you’re doing, someone else does.’”

I nod again. “So true,” I say. “Actually, do you mind if I pick your brain for a second? I know you’re busy, but...”

“Don’t apologize,” Teresa says. “Of course. I may not have all the answers, but I’ll sure act like I will.” She winks. “Hit me.”

“What’s your secret to a successful small business?” I ask.

“Staying sober during business hours,” she says in a deadpan.

I laugh. “It’s just that you’ve been around forever,” I say. “And I’ve never heard a bad word about you or your business.”