“You should remarry. You’re young. It would be such a waste if you didn’t. But she must be just slightly less wonderful than me. Can we agree on that?”

He kissed her temple. “There will never be anyone as wonderful as you.”

“I know, but if you make an effort, you might get close.” She kissed his chin. “John, I’m sorry. You were the best reason to live. I let you down.”

“No, Meg. No.”

“I’ve learned that dying well can be a lifetime job.” She sighed. “It’s harder than it looks.”

“I’ll do whatever I can,” he said. “I’m very proud of you. I admire you, Meg. You’re the strongest person I know.”

“I hope you’re ready,” she said. “I did everything I could think of to help you get ready. I’d rather it be any other way.”

“I know,” he said. “Me, too.”

“Have I told you how desperately I love you?” she asked.

“God, yes. If there’s one thing we’ve always had, it was the greatest love. I’ll carry it in my heart forever.”

She patted his cheek. “Good. Then do your physician’s magic and make all the little children feel better.”

“I wish I could make you feel better,” he said.

“I’ll be feeling better soon...”

Chapter Twenty

October 2016

Meg passed away very quietly at the lake house the first week in September. She was right, Krista thought—the leaves around the lake were breathtaking. Krista believed Meg probably had a very good view of them now. If ever there was a person who was going to achieve lofty heights after passing, it was Meg, the most beautiful person in their family.

She passed in the arms of her husband, with her mother holding her hand, her sister close by and her beloved cousin telling her a story. It was painful and beautiful. And so fitting.

Krista was so relieved that Meg didn’t linger in pain for terribly long because some very important things happened before she died. Beverly and her family came to the lake when they learned Meg was dying. Meg was able to meet Beverly’s husband, her two children and two of her foster kids. Krista was able to renew the relationship with her sister and they promised to stay in touch.

Andrea and her family came primarily to meet Jake, but as luck would have it, Eric had come to the lake so Charley’s whole family was able to spend a little time together. Andrea’s small children were positively adorable, but also typical little ones—wild and crazy. They didn’t spend too much time at the lake house—Jake had a cabin at the lodge for them. Krista was able to leave the lake house for a little while to spend time with them; Krista was Andrea’s aunt and, Jake said hopefully, would also be her stepmother.

Josephine brought Hope to the lake house for one afternoon for a very pleasant and very brief visit. Hope was amazingly calm and seemed remarkably sane. “Isn’t medication the best invention?” Meg said.

After Meg’s passing, Jo and Lou were able to find and move into identical condos in the same development. It was more upscale than anything Jo had had in the past and she was very proud of it. As for Louise, she happily welcomed the smaller and less cluttered living arrangements, so both were fulfilled.

Other matters were being worked out. Frank Griffin was monitoring the sale of Hope’s house and that, along with alimony, would be her income. Jo held a power of attorney so that Hope wouldn’t run through her windfall irresponsibly. Hope was living in the same condo complex as Jo and was in therapy. Her goal was to get a job and support herself, which there was every reason to believe she could do.

Before Meg passed, Jake was able to bring the news that the mystery man Lou had whacked with an oar had not really had amnesia, though he had had a concussion. His name was Clyde Bannon, about as far from being Russian as he could be. The Winslett police department had found him and began an investigation that uncovered a series of scams and frauds and he went to jail. Whether he actually stood trial or went to prison, Jake didn’t know. He knew what he did because an old uncle of his was a police officer in Winslett thirty years ago and they considered Clyde a big catch.

So the notorious Berkey sisters, while at times dangerous, were not murderesses, after all.

Krista was waiting tables at the lodge and living in a very fine home—the lake house. Her boyfriend often spent the night and she had a feeling of peace and tranquility she hadn’t expected to enjoy in her lifetime. Jake had talked with the owners of the lodge and expressed an interest in staying on in a permanent capacity as the manager; the answer wasn’t in, but they seemed interested. There was a very good chance they would stay and build that house on the lot with the swing. She still enjoyed reading and writing but no longer felt a compelling need to tell the story of the Berkey family.

Today, on this late October day when the leaves were bright with color, the fall colors Meg had so wanted to see, many of them were coming back. Jo and Lou, certainly, though out of kindness they left Grandma Berkey behind. Hope was there, practicing empathy. John, of course, along with a few friends of Meg’s from the city. Beverly came without her husband this time; he was still deep in the harvest. Charley, flying solo—she’d left her husband and son hard at work at the University of Cambridge in England and would be returning to them right away. They’d gotten married the moment Charley arrived in Cambridge.

Together they would sprinkle Meg’s ashes on the still waters of Lake Waseka, where they’d had so many joyous years growing up. Jake would provide a brief service. They would all hold hands, bow their heads, give thanks for all the summers that were.

And for Meg, who brought them together again.