Stuck With the Grumpy Single Dad

5. Chapter Four Mabel

Chapter Four: Mabel

M arch 1, 2011

Dear Maple Leaf,

I know it’s been a while since I’ve written to you, and I wanted to apologize for that. I’ve been meaning to reply to your last letter since August, but life has been crazy.

I have some news. As you know, Lindsay and I got back together, and things have been going really good for the past year. She just finished her first semester of graduate school in December. It really blows my mind how college can be so fun and easy for some people. She’s doing really great. That’s not the news, though.

Actually, I don’t even really know how to say this. It’s been a couple months and we still haven’t really wrapped our minds around it.

Lindsay is pregnant.

It’s crazy. My girlfriend has a baby growing in her womb. TWO babies.

Did you hear that, Maple?

WE’RE HAVING TWINS.

I think I’m on the verge of full-blown insanity. One baby is daunting enough, but two? We’re so young. I mean, I know plenty of people start having kids at twenty-one. Some people become parents even younger than that. My parents had me when they were twenty. It’s just that we really didn’t plan for this. Not that I’m going to refer to these babies as accidents. Let’s just call them “surprise blessings.”

I’m going to do right by Lindsay, too. I’m going to marry her. I’ve already picked out the ring I’m going to propose with, and I’m going to take her for a drive to Mount Kineo and pop the question right at sunset. I don’t really know how to be super romantic, but that sounds like a decent plan to me.

She’ll probably want to do a simple little courthouse wedding. Lindsay doesn’t like attention or crowds. That’s cool with me.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that your devoted pen pal is now going to be responsible for two tiny, fragile lives. No big deal.

I hope you’re doing well, Maple.

Sincerely,

Cal

P.S. Congratulations to your mom on officially starting her catering company! She doesn’t know me, but I’m cheering her on.

***

March 19, 2011

PAPA CAL,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I hope you don’t mind that this is less of a letter and more of a care package. I wanted to be the first one to gift you something for the babies AND the first one to give you a wedding present .

The little baby booties and matching hats are from a local lady who runs a bunny farm. She harvests their fur, weaves it into yarn, and knits all kinds of amazing things out of it.

I hope you like the wedding present. I googled the fanciest hotel in your general area, and that certificate is good for two nights, so I hope you and Lindsay have a great time. They have a spa! (Also, I know Lindsay doesn’t know about me, but you can just tell her this gift is from a random cousin of yours. I feel like that’s less weird than explaining a random stranger you’ve never met has given it to you.)

Best of luck, Cal. Really. You’re going to be a great father. I’m sure you’ll be a fantastic husband, too. I’m so happy for you.

Yours,

ML

P.S. I’m doing just fine—thanks for asking. Same old, same old.

***

“One cup of sugar? That’s it?”

I frown down at my mom’s handwritten recipe. Truthfully, I know better than to question Gigi Lee’s baking expertise, but I also have a habit of being heavy-handed with certain ingredients. Life is better when it’s sweet.

Except, this is a recipe for my mom’s famous sour cherry pie, not sweet cherry pie. I thought it was more fitting for the task at hand.

It’s been two days since I met that stranger at the Siren she can smell soulmates from miles away.

I pull into the driveway and grin when I spot the silver-haired lady already pushing open the door of her screened porch. As usual, she’s draped in about twenty layers of gauzy fabric and is adorned with so much shiny, silver jewelry that it’s a wonder a seagull hasn’t plucked her off the ground and carried her away.

“Miss Maisie! I’ve got a pie to pawn off and a question to ask!”

Her laughter echoes across the front lawn as I make my way toward her. If I can’t track down Matt today, I can at least make sure this pie goes to someone deserving.

“Oh, I know about the pie. And I already know what you’re going to ask, Mabel Lee.”

I pause at the foot of the steps, staring up at the old, shrewd-eyed woman.

“Did the wind tell you?”

“No, I ran into your mother about an hour ago.”

I sigh in defeat. “And people wonder where I get my gossipy nature from.”

Miss Maisie chuckles, her jewelry tinkling quietly. “I’m afraid I can’t help you, dear. Even I haven’t quite untangled this new mystery yet.”

That gives me pause. If Miss Maisie, with all her otherworldly wisdom, has no idea how to track down Matt yet, then it really is a lost cause. For now, at least.

“It’ll take some time,” she continues. “It’s a difficult puzzle. Many details are obscured. I think some lies have been told, and then maintained for many years. Or perhaps not lies, but half-truths. I don’t know. I do enjoy the challenge, though.”

I stare at Miss Maisie for a moment. I’ve known her my whole life and I’m used to the impossibilities of all she’s capable of, but she still catches me off guard sometimes.

“I see,” I respond. “Well… that’s a bummer.”

She laughs again. “Come inside, dear. I’ve been meaning to track you down anyway. I’d like to pull some oracle cards for you. ”

“Alright, but only if you agree to accept this pie as a token of my gratitude. It’s best when it’s fresh.”

“It’s a deal.”

She ushers me inside and, a little dejected about this turn of events, I follow her into the kaleidoscopic porch filled with cushions and about thirty different sets of wind chimes.

Something about Miss Maisie’s presence always calms me, but this time, it’s not working the usual magic.

After all, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Miss Maisie not being able to get a read on someone in Mermaid Shores. She’s the heart and soul of this town. If Matt is off her radar, what could that possibly mean?