A Cottage By The Lake

Aaron and Becky Smith bought a simply cottage by a lake. They cleaned it up and stayed there for a week while doing so. A short time later, they arrive for their first official visit on a Friday night.

Aaron and Becky get out of their car. They are excited that they have their little piece of paradise in the outdoors.
Aaron: I can't believe we will be spending the weekend here. Let's unpack before it's dark.
Becky: I can't wait! I want to walk down to the lakeside.
Aaron: We can do that later. First things first.

They unpack their stuff and make up the bed. Then they both flop on it and start tickling each other.
Aaron: Enough frivolity. We need to get dinner ready.
Becky: Fine, fine! But only if you help me cook.
They both go to the kitchen and start preparing dinner together.
Aaron: How about some pasta?

After dinner, they decide to go for a walk by the lake. They take in the cool air, the higher altitude from where they live making all the difference. 

The next morning, they have breakfast and decide to walk up a nearby hill to get a view of the surroundings. It takes about forty five minutes to reach the summit. They stand at a perfect vantage point.

Becky leans her head against Aaron's shoulder, as she takes in the sprawling tapestry of emerald greens and deep, shimmering blues below them: Look at how small the cottage looks from here.

Aaron takes out his small pair of binoculars and looks down on the cottage: I can see two people walking around the cottage. Perhaps an older couple, although I can't be sure.
Becky: Hopefully, just passing by and mean no harm. We should go and check it out.

They walk back to the cottage with haste and it takes about half an hour to get back. They see the elderly couple are now standing by the lakeside, staring out over the water. Aaron and Becky walk over to them.
Aaron: Good day. I'm Aaron and this is my wife Becky.
The elderly couple swivel around quickly, a little surprised.
The man: Hello, Arthur and Mildred Soames are our names. They shake hands with each other.
Becky: We've recently bought the cottage and this is our first stay here.

The couple are surprisingly muted, almost melancholic.
Aaron tries to soften the atmosphere: Do you come here often?
They don't respond immediately, making Aaron and Becky feel confused and a tad awkward.
Mildred eventually: We come about once a year. We used to own the cottage, but that was some years back. We like to return and look around. We are sorry if we are intruding.
Aaron: Not at all. We are about to have a drink. Do you care to join us on the cottage verandah?
Arthur: We don't want to be any trouble.
Becky: You're not any trouble. Please come.

They all go to the cottage and sit on the veranda. Aaron brings them some orange juice.
Arthur looks at the house with a nostalgic glaze in his eyes: It's good to see it's being looked after.
Aaron: Thanks. So how long did you own the cottage?
Mildred: More than I care to remember. We had it built, you know. We came twice a year as a family...her voice trails off.
Arthur steps in: We have so many fond memories.
Aaron and Becky glance at each other and then back to the Soames.
Aaron: Do you mind me asking why you decided to sell it?
The couple are quiet again.
Becky: We're not prying. Just curious, but if you don't want to say..
Arthur cuts in: Our son drowned here..just fourteen he was. Mildred looks away, her eyes glassy. Arthur continues: We sold it shortly after, too painful to stay here again.

Aaron: We are so sorry.

 

Arthur: Then after a few years, we started coming back to visit. Just for a day, on the anniversary date. We needed closure and in a way the visits do that. The only thing is, there is no such thing as full closure, just sadness mixed with a reluctant acceptance.
Becky: I can't imagine how hard that must have been.
Mildred nods: You have both been very kind. We will go for a walk along the lake and then be on our way. Thank you so much.

They all hug and the Soames move on, with Aaron and Becky left in a reflective mood. They continue their day and at dinner that night, revisit the earlier conversation with the Soames.
Aaron: I keep thinking about the couple earlier. Such a lovely place this is, yet also so tragic.
Becky: Yes, but hopefully our extending a little friendship made their day a little better.
Aaron: We live in a world where people are too busy or self absorbed to reach out to others. Yet, when we do, we can make others feel cared about and valued. When we get back home, we need to keep on reaching out to people when it's appropriate.
Becky smiles, leaning her head on Aaron's shoulder as they watch the moonlight dance on the water: There is more happiness in giving than taking.
Aaron: True. Now let's go to bed.

Aaron and Becky Smith always made sure they returned to their cottage around that same time to see if they would meet the Soames again, but they never did. In due course, Aaron and Becky started a family and they would bring their tots along, starting with their little boy William.

Maybe by this time it is better not to meet them again. Seeing a family at the holiday location would bring back raw feelings. 

One thing Aaron and Becky are very keen on is water safety. They make sure that all activities near the lakeside are fully supervised.