“We’ll take that as a compliment,” Constance replied. “And while you’re here, consider yourself a part of ours. We want our guests to feel right at home during their stay here.”
“Thus the lodge’s motto,” her husband said, pointing to a large wooden sign above the stone fireplace. Carved out of the plank and painted in a dark umber brown were the words, OUR FAMILY IS YOUR FAMILY.
“I’m so thankful your family had a vacant cabin I could stay in for the night.”
“Well, we’re happy to have you staying here with us,” Gage’s father replied with a smile, his arm curled lovingly around his wife’s waist. “I hope you’ll be joining us for dinner.”
“She is,” Gage’s mother told him. “And maybe we’ll even be able to coax her into staying and joining us for game night.”
“Game night?” Aurora replied, her interest piqued.
“It’s where any guest who wants to participate—and my family—spend time playing games. Sometimes by the fireplace. Sometimes right here at the table. Depending on what game we’re playing.”
“I’ll warn you right now,” Reed said, “everyone starts out playing with high hopes of winning only to have my big brother here crush those hopes to smithereens.”
“It’s true,” Julia agreed with a nod. “Gage rarely loses at any of the games he joins in.”
“I don’t always win,” Gage countered. “I just get really lucky.”
“Don’t let him fool you,” Jim said. “My son is good with anything that involves memory recall and numbers.”
“How about we try not to scare Aurora away from game night before she even accepts your invite to join in?” Gage suggested with a shake of his head.
“Oh, I’m not scared,” she told him. “I love to play games. My family and I used to have our own game night when Jade and I lived at home.”
“No one would blame you if you’re not feeling up to it,” he replied. “You’ve had a bit of a hectic day. It’s okay if you’d rather go back to your cabin and rest up after dinner.”
Aurora’s brows lifted. “Hmm ... sure sounds to me like someone is doing his best to get me to bow out of tonight’s competition.”
Gage appeared surprised by her accusation. “Who? Me?” he said, jabbing a finger in his broad chest.
“Sure sounded like it to me,” Reed egged on.
“I’m in,” Aurora announced.
“I thought you were hoping to get some pictures before the sun sets this evening.”
Reed chuckled. “Are you actually worried Aurora’s game-playing abilities will knock you off your winner pedestal?”
Gage frowned. “It has nothing to do with winning or losing. I don’t want her to miss taking the pictures she was hoping to get because she got hooked into playing games with us.”
“Easy fix,” Julia said. “We can play after she takes her pictures.” She looked at Aurora. “If you’re still up for it by then.”
Gage’s mother nodded. “Absolutely. There is no set time for game night. Do what you need to do. If you change your mind afterward, we’ll understand.”
“Maybe I could join you when you go out to get those pictures,” Julia said hopefully. “I’d love to see a professional photographer in action.”
Aurora smiled at his sister. “I would love the company.”
Aurora had taken pictures from the plane, but she’d mostly been turned away from him. Gage found himself wondering what she was like when she was free to move about, immersedin her element. Would she be focused and serious? Would she be smiling? Happy to be doing what she loved?
Gage fought a troubled frown. None of those things should matter to him. Aurora would be gone as quickly as she’d arrived, and he’d be back to life as usual. Besides, everyone knew what happened to the curious cat. But there was also the saying, live and learn. “I’ll go too,” he announced, his decision made.
Reed chuckled. “Since when are you interested in photography?”
Since their pretty little guest blew into the café in an oversized duck poncho.“Someone needs to be there to keep an eye out for Little John.”
“Little John?” Aurora asked, her head tipped inquiringly to one side.
