“We agreed not to overthink how we were feeling.”
I laughed. “I never dreamed you could possibly be feeling the same way I am.”
“Your grandparents think we’re going to be gone a few more days.”
“Our camps aren’t that far apart. They’ll see us.”
Ranger nodded. “Why did I think coming back was a good idea?”
“We aren’t there yet. Maybe just leaving Saratoga Springs was enough?”
“Are you asking?”
“What about our ‘company’?”
He chuckled. “They’ve been bored out of their minds. This is the most excitement they’ve had in a couple of weeks. I could make it really interesting by turning the car around and not telling them what we’re doing.”
“Will you get in trouble?”
“As Diesel keeps reminding me, I’m second-in-command.”
“Who’s first?”
“Onyx, and he’ll love that we’re being so spontaneous.” Ranger pulled over. “Should we resume our trip and head to Lake George?”
“Actually, there’s a place on Long Lake called the Love Lodge.” I rolled my eyes. “Hokey, I know, but it’s one of the most popular wedding venues in the park.”
Ranger’s eyebrows wiggled, and I giggled.
“Not for us. I mean, you and me. But after our conversation that first night, I agree it’s something the Canada Lake Hotel has to offer. Since we’re located almost three hours south, it’ll be easier for people throughout the state to travel to us.”
“From the research I’ve done, weddings pull in a significant amount of income.”
My eyes scrunched. “Research?”
He looked over at me with a sheepish grin. “I’ve been doing some.”
“On wedding venues?”
His cheeks actually turned pink. “Among other things.”
My heart warmed. It seemed as though Ranger was as into this economic redevelopment project as I was. Maybe it was because he was bored, but I was enjoying it so much more, having someone as enthusiastic as him to bounce ideas off. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Um, what for?”
“Everything. Being so…wonderful.”
He brought my hand to his lips and kissed my palm. “Okay, copilot. Let’s hurry up and get to the Love Lodge.”
I bit my lower lip. “I hope I can get a reservation.”
“Tuesday in January. I think we’ll be okay. It’s been years since I’ve been to the area. What else should we see while we’re there?”
While Ranger drove, I made a two-night reservation at the lodge along with dinner reservations for tonight, massage reservations for tomorrow—as a surprise to him this time—and a list of other things we should do and see while we were there.
I rested against the seat and closed my eyes. I’d never been happier at any other time in my life. The crap with Maxim was a blight, but one I could easily overlook. I promised myself that if he was at the meeting on Friday, I wouldn’t let him derail me. Especially with Ranger by my side.
When we pulled up, the first thing I noticed was the huge barn that sat as close to the lake as the lodge did. I hadn’t seen anything on their website about that. I pulled out my notepad and sketched out the Canada Lake Hotel’s footprint along with the amount of open space surrounding it. While there wouldn’t be room for something as large as this barn, we could definitely fit something half its size.
“Look,” said Ranger, pointing to a small chapel adjacent to it.
“They’ve got big, small, and everything in between covered.”
“It looks like it’s been here longer than the lodge. Let’s go check it out.”
Ranger pulled up on the far side of the parking lot, and we got out.
“Hello there! Welcome to Love Chapel,” said a man coming out the front door. He looked like Santa Claus wearing a minister’s collar.
Ranger and I introduced ourselves, and I explained where we were from and why we were there.
He raised a brow and winked. “Are you sure that’s the only reason you’re here?”
I shuffled my feet and rubbed my arms. It was cold right off the big lake. “Um, may we go inside?”
“By all means,” he said. “We’ll see you two later at the lodge. Enjoy!”
When Ranger opened the door and I walked inside, a feeling I couldn’t explain swept over me. I was curious on so many levels. How long had this chapel been here? Who had built it? Were the wooden pews, walls, and altar rails all hand carved like they looked? And most importantly, why did being here feel like coming home? I’d never been in a chapel like this one, yet I’d never felt so welcome or so at peace.
“Do you mind if we sit for a minute?” I asked Ranger.
“I was about to say the same thing.”
I sat in the third row from the front on the left side and looked at the painting above the altar. It was of Jesus’ ascension.
“I know it sounds crazy, but I feel like I’ve been here before,” said Ranger. “Only one of many crazy things I seem to be saying and doing today.”
“Maybe you have been.”
He shook his head. “I don’t remember anything else about this place. Not the lake nor the lodge or even the grounds.”
Odd that we both felt the same way. We sat in the chapel for quite a while, neither of us speaking. I didn’t feel the need to, and neither did Ranger.
“Ready to keep exploring?” he asked at the same time I was about to say something similar.
“I am.”
He held my hand as we walked outside and over to the lodge to check in. The same man who met us outside the chapel was behind the front desk in the lobby.
“Welcome to Love Lodge,” he said. “Did you enjoy visiting the chapel?”
“We both felt like we’ve been here before, but neither of us remembers it.”
He nodded. “I’ve heard this a time or two.”
I looked to the left and saw a closed door. Above it, a sign read, Long Lake Town Clerk. “What is that?” I asked.
“After the Great Fire of 1910, the lodge and chapel were the only buildings left standing on the property and in much of the town.” He motioned toward the door. “The clerk, the only town official then and now, moved in here. Never saw a reason to move out, I guess.”
“The website says you host a lot of weddings.”
There was a twinkle in the man’s eyes. “Some planned, some unplanned.”
“What does that mean?” Ranger asked.
“Town clerk right here on the premises. Plus, the magistrate lives next door. You’d be surprised how many elopements we host.”
I thought about it for a minute. “So people come and get their marriage license here at the town clerk’s office. Then the judge waives the waiting period?”
“You’re catching on.”
“Brilliant,” I said under my breath. It was the kind of thing we could do at the Canada Lake Hotel too since the town clerk and court were located virtually across the road.
“One room?”
“That’s right.” I was really far from a prude, but I felt my face flush when the minister asked the question.