Sometimes I wonder if he wouldn’t have ended up where he is if I’d been a better big sister. It’s not either of my brothers-my youngest brother, Bradley, is in prison, hence the care package I’m putting together. If we’re not moving out, it means that someone else is moving in. One of the movers hops out of the passenger side of the truck, and my dad approaches him. I need to open the garage door, and then we can have a chat.” He rushes off, and soon after, I hear the garage door whir open. The moment of relief is quickly replaced by confusion. I meant to talk to you about this before today.” “Oh! Oh no, Teagan.” He comes to stand next to me and gives my shoulder a squeeze. “Please tell me we don’t have to move again.” You tell me.” I motion outside, where the moving truck continues to beep as it backs up toward the garage. I abandon the care package I’m in the middle of putting together for my younger brother and am halfway across the room when my dad appears in the doorway, his expression reflecting his concern.

It took a family scandal for him to realize that he needed to make some very important changes in his life, which included putting an end to spending money he didn’t have. For nearly two decades my dad used excessive spending as a way to mourn the loss of my mother, God rest her beautiful soul. Less than a year ago we downsized from a seven-thousand-square-foot mansion we could not afford-unless we planned to sell most of our major organs-to a two-thousand-square-foot home. For a panicked moment I question what fresh hell this morning has brought with it.Ī moving truck is backing into our driveway.

“Uh, Dad, I think you need to come here!” I shout. But when Teagan is forced to face her own demons, her inability to accept the support of friends and family threatens the life she’s worked so hard to build.Ĭan Aaron love her, even when she can’t love herself?

Neither one of them is looking for love, but in a town this small, it’s hard not to let your heart get involved.Īs their romance heats up, Aaron’s elusive past comes to light, and Teagan is there for him, bringing them even closer together. He’s a mystery and has a playboy reputation-that is, until he meets Teagan. One of them is Aaron Saunders, who dropped out of college to work construction for Pearl Lake’s upper class. Her destination: Pearl Lake, a close-knit community with an entrepreneurial spirit and secrets of its own. But as her father finally begins to move on, it’s her turn to do the same. Teagan Firestone has always been the dutiful daughter, especially since her mom died. From USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting comes the second installment in the Lakeside series, where a gutsy heroine confronts family secrets and personal struggles in the town of Pearl Lake.

Helena hunting lakeside series