Read Love and Rumors: A Summer Sisters Beach Reads Contemporary Romance (The Summer Sisters Book 1) for Free Online

how I promised not to sell the cottage?”
    Her mom straightened, her blue eyes flashing.
    “I didn’t sell it,” Hailey assured her quickly. “But it’s heading for a tax sale August 30 if I can’t find a way to cover the back taxes.”
    “How much?”
    “Trust me, Mom. None of us have that much.”
    Her mother sagged, her non-stroke affected hand dropping down to worry her chair’s brake lever. “I put you in a poor position, didn’t I? Passing it on with taxes owed.”
    “No, no, Mom. It was me. Taxes went up. There were warnings I ignored, thinking destiny would take care of us and the cottage. There were urgent repairs needed. Maya and Melanie were in school. My photography business hasn’t taken off as fast as I thought it would.” She gave a shrug, hoping her mother wouldn’t take on guilt that shouldn’t be hers. It was Hailey’s fault the tax bill had grown, not shrunk.
    “If it’s time for the cottage to move to a new family, then so be it. It owes us nothing and has given us so much. Let the municipality take it.” She gave her a wistful smile. “I was hoping you girls would get a chance to follow the tradition and fall in love on the island.”
    “I think we were, too.” Hailey paused. “I know I promised not to sell Nymph Island, but—”
    “Hailey, please . Let destiny take her course. If it’s not meant to be, let it go. It’s not ours to profit off of. It’s a gift. Always has been.”
    “But I need to sell it, Mom.” Her voice was tight with panic and held-back tears. “I’m going to lose everything if it’s seized. If we sell it, I can come away with something.”
    “What do you mean?” Her mother’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Hailey?”
    She bowed her head, feeling nothing but shame and failure. “I took some personal financial risks.”
    Her mom took a moment to recover her composure. Then, with her back straight and voice firm, she said, “Sell it, Hailey Rose. Sell it as fast as you can.”
    Hailey let out a tremendous sigh that made her ribs ache, and scrunched her eyes shut. If this was what she needed to do, and now had permission, why did it hurt so deeply?
    “Look at me,” Catherine said gently. Hailey tried to focus on the right side of her face which lacked the permanently sad expression due to the stroke. Today, both sides were sad. “Do what you need to do, Hailey, and know that I will always love you.”
    Tears in her eyes, the older woman pulled her close. Hailey inhaled her familiar scent, one she linked to home and safety. Her mother trembled in her embrace, needing the hug as much as she did. Hailey vowed she wouldn’t let her down. Nymph Island had to stay in the family, no matter what.

    * * *

    Hailey set up her phone’s hands-free system so she could make calls as she drove from her mom’s to where she’d last seen Finian. And slapped him. How on earth was she going to recover from that?
    She needed a plan. A big plan. And, heck, a big fabulous miracle, while she was at it.
    “Simone?” she said adjusting the gadget hanging off her ear. “Any chance you’d be open to me holding a small show in your boutique this month?”
    “A show?” her friend asked.
    “Yeah. Small photos of Muskoka and nature and things. The stuff that sells, you know? Like the Muskoka chair on a dock with mist all around. The wood boats from the antique show. We can split the proceeds.”
    “How much do you need?”
    Hailey did a quick calculation. Simone’s boutique was a two-story house in Port Carling that had been converted into a store. It was still divided into several small rooms, giving her plenty of wall space. Simone had good foot traffic through the summer months, and if Hailey could sell even half of what was hung, she’d be on her way to something. Not a full miracle, but it would at least be a step in the right direction. If she had ten such plans, maybe she could save the cottage. “Space for about fifty?”
    “No, I mean how much