Meet Me at the Lake

Fern Brookbanks, 32, is back at the lakeside resort where she grew up. Her mother has suddenly died and left the resort in Fern’s hands. Fern never wanted to run the resort, but she’s here to sort out her mother’s estate.

While Fern’s mother loved interacting with the resort guests, Fern is less social. Although Fern promised Jamie—the resort’s general manager and Fern’s ex-boyfriend—that she would visit the guests in the dining area that night, Fern doesn’t feel ready to take her mother’s place.

Jamie escorts Fern to the dining area. There is an awkwardness because Fern is suddenly Jamie’s boss, and Jamie loves the resort as much as Maggie did. Jamie worries Fern will shake things up. It’s been six weeks, and Fern hasn’t made any major decisions yet.

Fern chats with the Hannovers, who are long-time resort guests, in the dining room. Mrs. Hannover offers her sympathy about Maggie’s passing. The Hannovers recall fond memories of Maggie running around the resort. Fern feels it’s unfair that her mother left her the resort, but keeps this to herself. Fern has experienced grief and insomnia since returning.

On her way out of the dining room, Fern spots a tall man waiting at the vacant front desk.