Lesley Livingston gently pulled back the faded black curtains, and gazed out of the dusty windowpane. Her eyes landed on the glimmering lake beyond, where rippling waves danced like liquid silver beneath the glow of the afternoon sun.

Shifting her head, her eyes locked on a flock of bluebirds flitting through the nearby trees.

"Awe!" Lesley exclaimed, extending her finger as she pointed at the breathtaking sight. Gazing around, she spotted a family of ducks waddling in and out of the lake. Her heart swelled with joy.

"It's truly beautiful and rejuvenating, Nick. Don't you agree?" Lesley bit her lower lip, desperate to move into the lake house already. Excitement rushed through her veins like sparks of electricity.

Before Nick could muster up a reply, the Livingston's realtor, Jackie, interjected in her calming yet professional voice, "This charming lake house was built in 1952 but was renovated in 2016. It still has such an incredibly nostalgic and peaceful feel, yet it's also modernly captivating." She clasped her hands together in front of her knee-length black skirt and smiled.

Jackie continued to venture through the house, gracefully following Nick's lead.

Lesley distanced herself from both of them, strolling out to the back and onto the patio. She slid open the glass door and stepped outside. A gentle breeze from the lake greeted her as she reveled in the breathtaking views of the lake. The forest masquerading as a panoramic backdrop felt surreal.

Lesley was a girl who grew up with an unstable mother and a father who disappeared long before her birth. Her mother dragged poor Lesley from one apartment to another.

Ultimately, she despised her hectic and chaotic childhood, promising herself that she would ensure her stability with a decent place to call home when she got older. However, she never imagined she would one day be looking into a property that was way beyond what she ever imagined possible in childhood.

Gazing out at the lake, the waters gleamed with the sun's reflection, and the Blue Jays chirped in the nearby trees. Lesley fell in love, drawn in by the captivating allure of the property. There was no way she wasn't going to get the house - she knew it was hers, and she could feel it in her bones.

The property was a far cry from their current residence in New York City. A condo situated within a skyscraper in the middle of downtown. The constant chaos that erupted in the streets grew tiresome. Lesley couldn't enjoy the summer's cool breeze when opening up her window at night, during the summer months, due to the police and ambulance sirens that were booming throughout the night and becoming an everyday occurrence.

Homeless individuals lounged outside the building, peddling and begging for money, people being attacked during daylight and robbed of their precious jewelry, credit cards, or cash. Lesley had enough. She reminisced about the days she grew up in upstate New York with her grandparents on a piece of large farmland. Those times sent a sliver of joy through her, and a smile formed on her face. Now, at that point in their lives, that's all she wanted for herself and Nick- to move away to a quiet and peaceful location where they could enjoy life and the beauty of nature.

Lesley's eyes glared at the rippling waters as a small wave protruded from the lake's surface. She stepped toward the edge of the patio, where she witnessed the wave getting higher. Surprised, she quickly stepped back, but it was too late. The water splashed right in her face.

She shook her head and wiped the droplets off her face with her forearm.

Curiosity struck her—How did the waters manage to spray her in the face? It was reminiscent of an act that a seal or sea lion would perform.

Shrugging it off, she returned to the house where Nick and Jackie were both standing in front of the large brick fireplace in the contemporary-styled living room.

"Does this thing work?" Nick asked while inspecting the fireplace as if it could speak back to him.

"Yes, everything in this house works perfectly fine." Jackie stood in front of Nick, wishing he had made up his mind already.

Lesley turned away from the window and glanced at her husband with her light brown puppy dog eyes.

"I want it! It's perfect, Nick." She pleaded, clasping her hands together in sheer anticipation.

Lesley knew how to persuade him, and if she begged hard enough, Nick would budge sooner or later. But in this case, she'd rather it be sooner than later.

A smile adorned Jackie's face. She was pleasantly surprised by Lesley's sudden zest for the house.

"The serenity of this environment is unparalleled!" Jackie raised her hands in the air, emphasizing her statement, "And with no neighbors for miles, I can guarantee you'll absolutely soak in the tranquility of this beautiful house."

Jackie's words plunged into Lesley's head. She wanted nothing more at that moment than for her and Nick to become the new owners of 5560 Gillian Place.

"Yeah, Nick, remember we discussed how we couldn't wait to move out of the city and into a peaceful rural location?" Lesley reminded him, her voice tinged with a hint of desperation, "This is it, Nick! This is our perfect location."

Nick nodded, "Yeah, I remember. But we shouldn't rush into this, Les." Nick grew frustrated," This is a huge financial commitment. We need to think this through seriously."

Why couldn't Nick be as fervent as me? Lesley thought.

Nick wandered through the house, meticulously scrutinizing its features. The kitchen, the living room, and the master bedroom all underwent a thorough analysis. He hesitated to make a commitment until he was certain it was the best decision for both of them. Doubts lingered in his mind, and although they weren't stretching their budget to the limit, he wished there was more flexibility.

Lesley's carefree spending often clashed with Nick's frugal habits. He had grown up with parents who, despite his father's high-earning profession as a surgeon, never indulged in luxury. Their disciplined approach to money allowed them to retire early, and Nick had adopted these habits without question.

Nick often tried to steer Lesley towards a more frugal mindset. However, her background was vastly different. Raised by a mother who worked as a stripper and spent money as quickly as she earned it, Lesley had experienced eviction from multiple apartments. These contrasting financial perspectives made their decision-making process all the more complex.

"We have numerous interested buyers, " Jackie started. "Including interested buyers pouring in from overseas."

Jackie was desperate for the Livingstons to make an offer on the house. The real estate business was slowing down in Arcaden now that fall was officially approaching; all Jackie could think about was the overdue bill she received in the mail last week for her thirteen-year-old daughter's private school tuition. And being that her husband had retired, money was tight. She needed to close this deal like yesterday.

"I can tell you now  house won't be on the market for another week."

Frightened that she would miss out, Lesley blurted, "We want to make an offer!"

Nick's brown eyes opened wide as he turned toward Lesley. His gaze filled with a mixture of shock and frustration. "Lesley, what the hell?"

Nick threw his hands up in exasperation, emphasizing his discontent. "Lesley, neither you nor I can make this decision solely. We are buying the house together. As a couple." Nick rubbed his temples. "We're married, Les. Don't forget that."

Jackie turned to Lesley. "I would love to seal the deal today, but your husband doesn't seem as sure about this beautiful house as you are."

Lesley shrugged, "He's ruining the excitement." she whispered to Jackie.

Jackie turned her attention to Nick.

"So, Nick. I'm sure you're leaning one way or the other, which is it? You don't want your wife to be left in the dark here."

Jackie knew she couldn't rush her prospective buyers, but her patience was wearing thin. This was the Livingston's second time viewing the property, and Nick was still unsure if he wanted it or not.

Why, oh why, are they wasting my time? Jackie thought. She was at least grateful for Lesley's vocalization of her love for the house. If only Nick would follow her lead, they could close the deal now.

Nick gazed over at Jackie, "Look, Jackie. Lesley and I will discuss the house tonight and get back to you first thing tomorrow morning- around 9:00 AM. How does that sound?"

Jackie's smile quickly faded. She raised her eyebrows as the expression on her face transitioned into one of seriousness. She was now even less optimistic about securing a deal with the Livingstons.

"Please keep in mind, I have more showings tomorrow afternoon," Jackie's eyebrows remained raised, underscoring the importance of her message, "If you don't call me by 9:00 AM and put in an offer, you leave me no other choice but to accept another offer," Jackie explained.

Lesley shifted her head, and as she gazed into Jackie's eyes, she smiled. "Jackie, I promise you'll hear from us at 9:00 AM sharp or before."

Lesley rolled her eyes in annoyance at Nick. She pursed her lips tightly in frustration, not understanding why Nick was being so skittish in his decision-making. They could afford the house, but Lesley also knew how frugal Nick was. When they purchased their condo in a high-rise building, Nick opted for the unit that prospective residents didn't want due to the loud traffic noises and lingering food scents that ventured in through the windows of the unit. When Nick discovered the seller would knock $46k off the purchase price, there was no more negotiating- Nick agreed to buy it.

"I hope this house isn't gone by the morning." Lesley whined as she peered at Nick with playful yet hostile eyes, "If we lose out on this house, Nick." Lesley warned.

"Calm down, Lesley." Nick raised his hand, motioning for Lesley to stop, "We won't miss out. Jackie said we were good as long as we call her in the morning. Isn't that right, Jackie?" Nick's warm brown eyes met Jackie's.

Jackie nodded, "That is correct, Nick." She confirmed as she walked through the kitchen, her high heels clicking against the tiles.

"One more thing," Nick raised his finger, stopping Jackie in her tracks, "Why did the previous family move out of this house?"

Jackie's eyes widened, and she cleared her throat, "A horrible accident occurred." Jackie's eyes quickly darted down to her phone, scrolling with her thumb as if she was preoccupied with important news; seemingly, she didn't want to disclose any more information other than that a horrible accident occurred.

It appeared to Lesley and Nick that Jackie wasn't as forthcoming as they thought she would be.

"What kind of accident?" Nick's eyebrows furrowed, and he folded his arms across his chest as his interest piqued.

Jackie lifted her eyes from her phone and glanced at Nick.

"Did it happen in this house?" Lesley's eyes widened. "On this property?" she asked anxiously, placing her fingers near her mouth. She almost reverted to her bad habit of nail-biting but consciously caught herself before she began nibbling.

Jackie's eyes traveled up toward the ceiling as she pondered how to answer the question without being insensitive to the traumatic event that once unfolded there. "You know, I'm trying to remember," She began tapping her short, red, manicured fingernails on the white quartz stone countertop.

Lesley and Nick were hoping Jackie could offer more insight into the home's history, especially since she was the realtor for the Livingstons and the previous family who lived there, the Meyers. At that point, they only wanted to know what kind of accident happened and whether it occurred within the confines of the property. But Jackie appeared to be tiptoeing around the answer.

"All I know is that the Meyers.." Jackie began to explain before Lesley interrupted.

"Is that the previous owner's last name?" Lesley asked, stepping closer to Jackie. "Meyers?"

Jackie nodded. "Yes, the Meyers. Their nineteen-year-old daughter drowned out in the lake back there."

"Oh, my God!" Lesley's jaw dropped as she placed her hand on her clavicle in shock. "That is terrible." Her lips curved into a frown.

"Yeah, that sounds horrific," Nick added while shaking his head in disbelief.

"The family couldn't live here any longer knowing their daughter drowned in that lake," Jackie gazed out at the lake from the kitchen window, "It was just too devastating for them."

"Why haven't I ever heard about this?" Lesley wondered, folding her arms across her chest, "Did it make it to the national news?"

Jackie shrugged, "I honestly don't know." She informed, "It seems it would've, though. The entire Acaden community was shaken up. They haven't had a murder in over twenty years."

Nick's eyes widened, and Lesley's mouth hung agape, "What?!" They both asked in unison.

"Jackie," Nick started, "You just told us she drowned. Now you're saying she was murdered?!" He questioned in disbelief.

Jackie's eyes wandered as she found herself at a loss for words, "Law enforcement initially labeled it a drowning. Then, after a year had passed, they believed she was likely murdered, but didn't have enough evidence, so they closed the case and determined it was a drowning."

"Where can we find more information about this case?" Lesley inquired, her eyes piercing into Jackie.

"Officer Todd. Down at the Arcaden Police Station." She informed Lesley, "He's a respectable and upstanding member of our community, and he was also the lead investigator on that case."

Lesley swiftly slipped her phone out of her pocket and jotted down Officer Todd's name on her memo pad app.

"Thanks, Jackie. I'll definitely be having a word with him."

Concerned, Nick turned to Lesley and, in a hushed tone, asked, "Do you still want to go through with this?" He questioned, "We can back out, you know. It's not too late." He reassured, his eyes mimicking that of a sad puppy dog.

Lesley nodded, "No, I don't want to back out. I love this house, Nick. But I have a question for Jackie,"

Jackie gazed into Lesley's eyes, "Yes, Lesley. What is it?"

"Is this community safe?"

"Absolutely," Jackie assured. "As I mentioned earlier, there hasn't been a murder in over twenty years. My family and I have lived here for over sixteen years." She explained, " Plus, the Meyers' daughter's drowning hasn't even been officially declared a murder. However, as I stated, law enforcement hasn't ruled it out as a possibility either."

A profound sense of sadness tugged at Lesley's heart for the young drowning victim. And she was determined to meet with Officer Todd to get more insight and background information on the case.

The thought of the young girl, Leah,   consumed her, and a deep sense of empathy streamed through her heart like rainwater trailing a path down the window pane.

Lesley knew the previous owners must've been tormented, having to wake up in the same home where their young daughter died day in and day out. It must've weighed so heavily on them.

Lesley was curious if it was indeed a murder, as Jackie said the officers once suspected.

Who would commit such a heinous crime? Lesley wondered.

Lesley was filled with compassion for the Meyers. But she couldn't deny the infectious love she had for the home. She refused to let the calamitous news deter her from moving forward. Deep within, she knew they could turn it into a loving home filled with beauty and adventure. It would be their nurturing sanctuary where they would spend the best years of their lives.

******Thanks for reading the first chapter of THE LAKE HOUSE!!😊PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT. I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts so far. And I truly hope you enjoyed it.***