As she spoke Aaron studied the nearby pool in which several younger kids splashed noisily under the supervision of sunbathing parents, then turned in a circle to take in as much of the rest of the resort and lake as he could see from their vantage point. “That cabin on the water sounds good, if it’s available,” he said, proving he’d been listening while he looked. “I can go back into town for supplies after I unpack.”
She motioned toward the large, multiwindowed main building with its double-glass-door entrance. “We sell a few groceries, just the basics for easy meals. We also have a small grill inside, open until 7:00 p.m. We serve burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, salads and a soup of the day. Nothing fancy, but not bad. No need to drive back into town for food tonight unless you just want to.”
He nodded. “That sounds great, thanks for the tip.”
“Well, look who’s here!” Bryan Bell ambled up to join them, a gas-powered weed trimmer dangling from a harness strapped around him. A lean fifty-three, with kind blue eyes and thinning sandy hair under a green cap emblazoned with the name and logo of the resort, Bryan was red-faced and sweaty from working in the heat. His sweat-dampened green T-shirt also bore the resort logo—the words Bell Resort and Marina printed inside a stylized, bell-shaped outline. The legs of his faded jeans were covered with grass clippings and dirt. Though everyone fussed at him for attempting too much during the worst heat of the day, her uncle was somewhat obsessive when it came to keeping the grounds trimmed and tidy.
Bryan beamed at Aaron. “Good to see you, Andrew. We’ve all been hoping you’d take us up on our offer to come stay with us. Did you bring fishing gear? If not, I’ll fix you up. Take you out to my secret fishing hole in the morning.”
For the first of what she was sure would be many times, Shelby said, “This isn’t Andrew, Uncle Bryan. It’s his twin brother, Aaron Walker. Aaron, meet my uncle, Bryan Bell.”
Bryan blinked a couple of times, looking as startled as Shelby herself had been. “Twin brother? Huh. Folks say Shelby’s dad and I look alike, but we don’t hold a candle to you and Andrew. Spitting image.”
Aaron nodded patiently. “Identical twins.”
“Well, ain’t that something. So how is Andrew?”
“He’s doing well, thank you for asking.”
“Good to hear it. He going to be joining you?” Bryan asked hopefully.
Aaron shook his head. “I doubt it. He’s pretty busy at work. I’m taking a couple weeks’ vacation.”
“Oh. Sorry to hear that.” Apparently realizing what he’d just said, Bryan added hastily, “Not that we’re sorry you’re here. It’s real good to meet you, Aaron. Andrew’s family is as welcome here as he is. Nice of him to recommend us to you.”
Aaron cleared his throat. “I was just going to check in.”
“Don’t let me keep you. And that fishing invitation is still good, by the way. I’ll be down at the boat dock at around seven in the morning if you want to join me.” Bryan grinned crookedly. “You’ve just got to sign in blood that you won’t tell anyone about my hidey-hole—well, except maybe your brother. We owe him that much and more.”
“I’ll take you up on that,” Aaron agreed congenially. “It’s been too long since I’ve gone fishing.”
“Who’s that you’re talking to, Bryan?” Dixie Bell, the seventy-nine-year-old matron of the family, had just come out of the office door. Silver-haired and brightly dressed, as always, she peered at Aaron through her rhinestone-enhanced glasses, then clapped her hands together, her lined face lighting up. “Well, as I live and breathe, it’s Andrew. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes, young man. Come give Mimi a hug.”
Claiming that her given name had always been a trial for her, especially combined with her married surname, Dixie had adopted the name Mimi with the birth of her first grandchild, Hannah, twenty-eight years ago. She insisted everyone she particularly liked should call her that. Andrew had been one of the chosen.
“It isn’t Andrew, Mom.”
Speaking at the same time as her uncle, Shelby said, “This is Aaron, Mimi. Andrew’s twin brother.”
Her grandmother frowned and looked over the tops of her glasses, studying Aaron’s face intently. “Are you sure?”
Aaron made a sound that might have been a swallowed chuckle. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sure.”
Mimi still didn’t look entirely convinced. “Twin brother, you say? Andrew never mentioned he had a twin brother.”
Shelby thought Aaron looked less than surprised by that omission. Didn’t the brothers get along?
“I guess the subject never came up,” he said.
“He told you all about us, hmm?”
“Really nice place you have here, Mrs. Bell. I’d like to stay a few days if you have a vacancy.”
“Of course we have a vacancy for Andrew’s brother,” Mimi assured him, patting his arm. She didn’t even seem to notice that he had made no attempt to respond to her question, though Shelby had taken note. “Cabin Eight has just been renovated, a job that didn’t take as long as we expected, so we haven’t booked it for the next week. We’ll set you up in there. You stay as long as you want, no charge. It’s a one-bedroom, but if that twin of yours wants to join you, there’s a pullout sofa bed in the main room.”
“It sounds ideal, but I will be paying for my stay here,” Aaron said firmly. “Your arrangement with Andrew is between you and him, but I’ve come for a vacation and I’ll pay my way.”
Mimi frowned at him in a battle of wills that few people had the nerve to engage with her. Aaron held his own, gazing back at her with a pleasant but utterly determined expression. After a moment, the older woman harrumphed. “Shelby, take him inside and get him his key. Have Lori take his credit card information, if he insists, but give him the senior citizen discount.”
Aaron chuckled. “I’ll accept that.”
Shelby felt a warm shiver slide through her in response to his laugh. She didn’t remember hearing Andrew laugh quite that way. If he had, she certainly hadn’t responded as dramatically.
Having Aaron here was going to be interesting. And not just because he had agreed to keep an eye on the man in Cabin Seven.
She motioned for him to follow her into the office. “Let’s get that key.”
Shelby rode with Aaron in his car to show him his cabin, telling him she’d walk back to the office afterward. Cabin Eight was a pretty little A-frame nestled at the edge of the lake, the last in a row of five cabins of varying styles and sizes. Behind the cabins, a short slope led straight down to the water, with a narrow, graveled beach for walking or bank-fishing. A couple of good-sized trees shaded the cabin’s tiny side yard, where a charcoal grill and concrete picnic table invited casual cookouts. On the other side of a stand of trees was the first of the line of waterside camper sites. An enormous motor home with hydraulic extensions that expanded the interior space was just visible through the ruffling leaves of the trees.
Really roughing it, Aaron thought with a chuckle, looking away from the luxury RV. He’d always preferred camping with a tent and a backpack himself—though he had to admit the little A-frame cabin was appealing. Quaint, his mom would call it. He suspected his mother would already have her camera out, snapping shots of the cabin and the picturesque lake spreading beyond, where wake-trailing boats and rooster-tail-spouting personal watercraft crisscrossed the deeply blue water.
A pretty brunette in a green golf cart parked at the end of the cabin’s short driveway. “I see the dashing P.I. has returned,” she called out with a grin. “It’s good to see you