The Charm Bracelet by Viola Shipman Read Free Book Online Page A

car.
    She had forgotten how stunning Lost Land Lake was: The sandy-bottomed lake, loons floating, swallows swooping, birch trees bending in the soft wind, like a Midwestern version of On Golden Pond .
    Arden eased the car over the many potholes that pocked the old dirt road, around an ancient pine trunk, past an old birch stump, and across a swinging bridge that sat over a creek winding its way to the lake. And, finally, they drove alongside seven old log cabins with lake stone fireplaces, stoops filled with fishing poles, wet swimming suits and inner tubes, and screened porches that faced Lost Land Lake.
    Home.
    Lucky #7.
    The last log cabin on the lake.
    Arden parked in a little area outlined by a fence of stacked logs. Before she could even stop the car, Lauren bounded out.
    â€œI forgot how cute it is! It’s so Walden Pond!” Lauren exclaimed, with more enthusiasm for the setting and little log cabin than Arden could muster. “I used to think Grandma’s house was made of Lincoln Logs, remember?”
    Arden smiled, yanking their suitcases from the trunk.
    â€œLauren, I need some help,” Arden said. “Can you grab the groceries and wine?”
    Too late. Her daughter had already kicked off her shoes and raced down the warped wood dock that jutted over the sandy shore, reeds, and blue-green water of Lost Land Lake.
    â€œThanks! Appreciate it!” Arden laughed.
    Arden watched her daughter take a seat on the dock, whooping in delight as she stuck her feet into the water.
    Arden relaxed for a second before she clamped her eyes shut, took a deep breath, and then willed herself to find her cell and make the call she didn’t want to make.
    â€œArden?” her ex said. “What’s going on? I’m about to go into a meeting.”
    Nice to talk to you, too, she thought.
    â€œI’m sorry to bother you, but…” Arden hesitated, instantly feeling like a failure as a wife, mother, and daughter.
    â€œYes? What is it?”
    â€œI took a couple of weeks off to visit my mom in Scoops. Lauren and I haven’t seen her in years, and I was worried about her. She’s missing work. She’s just aged so much, Tom.”
    â€œGet to the point, Arden. I’m in a hurry.”
    You haven’t changed a bit, she smirked to herself.
    â€œWell, since I’m missing work, we’re spending a little extra on vacation, and Lauren’s tuition payment is coming up, I just thought…”
    â€œAre you telling me you’re not managing your finances? You received this month’s deposit, didn’t you?”
    â€œYes, it’s just that…”
    â€œI’m sure you’ll be just fine. You’ve always been a hard worker. Why don’t you ask your mom to help out?”
    Arden could feel her anger rising.
    â€œTom, that’s not nice! I can’t believe you would suggest that.”
    â€œTell Lauren hello for me. Hope she can visit this holiday season. I’m taking the family to Aspen. She’d love it.”
    â€œAlways a pleasure, Tom. Have a nice Memorial Day.”
    Arden hung up and sighed, watching her daughter splash her feet in the lake.
    Arden yanked the suitcases along the mossy steppingstones that hopscotched to the front screened porch and thought, I’m glad Lauren doesn’t know about any of this .
    After nearly every thunderstorm, polished lake rocks—in a myriad of muted hues—would wash ashore, and Arden had helped her mom gather the flat stones to finish a walkway. The stones were always mossy in May, before the summer sun had a chance to dry and warm the rocks.
    Arden stopped and inhaled deeply. It was a habit every time she came home.
    Green.
    If Arden could describe the scent of Michigan in spring and summer, it wouldn’t be a particular smell—blooming wildflowers or boat exhaust from the lake—it would be a color: Green.
    Everything—after a long winter’s