Chapter 4 opens with Maggie suggesting a twelve-thirty arrival for lunch, but we didn’t reach New Hampshire until closer to eleven, which meant we had to rush to make up for lost time. As we drove through the picturesque lakes region on Interstate 93, the two-lane highway stretched ahead of us, passing small towns with their charming gas stations, roadside produce stands, and sports bars. The quaintness of the towns was further highlighted by the sight of residents selling firewood on the honor system, a testament to the close-knit community where trust and simplicity still thrive. Despite the peaceful surroundings, a nervous knot tightened in my stomach as I realized we were still forty-five minutes from Osprey Cove. The closer we got, the more I thought about meeting Errol and Catherine, who, along with their extensive network of friends, seemed like an intimidating force in this small town.

Tammy noticed the anxiety creeping over me and gently pointed out that I had been biting my nails. I admitted that I felt uneasy, largely due to a news report I had seen earlier that day about a woman who had lost everything in a devastating fire. The report had struck me deeply, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was an omen for the day ahead. Tammy, ever the calming presence, reassured me that pre-wedding nerves were normal, and she too was feeling somewhat out of place since she had never been to a summer camp before. As much as I appreciated her comforting words, my main concern was not embarrassing Maggie. This weekend was crucial for both of us, and I didn’t want to ruin our chance for reconciliation or spoil what should have been a joyous occasion for her.

Our journey continued, and as we crested a hill, the magnificent White Mountains came into view, their vibrant blue lake dotted with sailboats, creating a picturesque scene that momentarily distracted me from my worries. We passed through Hopps Ferry, a village that exuded faded charm, and it was there that Tammy urgently requested a bathroom break. We stopped at a quaint roadside restaurant called Mom and Dad’s, where Tammy and Abigail quickly headed inside. I, however, remained outside, too preoccupied with my mounting anxiety to engage with strangers. My attention was drawn to a bulletin board filled with local flyers, and one in particular caught my eye. It was about a missing woman named Dawn Taggart, who had been missing since November 3rd. As I stood there reading the flyer, a man approached me—Brody Taggart, who claimed to be Dawn’s uncle.

Brody immediately launched into a passionate account of how his niece had disappeared after reaching out to Aidan Gardner for help. His warning about the Gardners immediately raised red flags, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. As Brody spoke, his concerns became more intense, and he warned me about the dark history he believed the Gardner family was hiding. This tense conversation only escalated when a police officer arrived and intervened, attempting to de-escalate the situation. The officer dismissed Brody’s claims, suggesting that he was the town’s known troublemaker, and went on to praise the Gardners for their long-standing contributions to the community. Tammy and I exchanged a look, both of us skeptical about Brody’s credibility, but also slightly relieved by the officer’s reassurances.

Still, as we processed the encounter, the strange events weighed heavily on our minds. Tammy reassured Abigail, brushing off Brody’s outburst as nothing more than a product of the town’s eccentricities. Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. Brody’s impassioned warnings about the Gardners lingered, and the more I thought about it, the more the gathering at Osprey Cove began to feel like a complicated web of family secrets and unresolved tensions. It was becoming evident that the dynamics surrounding the Gardners were far from straightforward, and our upcoming family gathering at Osprey Cove promised to be more than just a simple reunion. Everyone in the town seemed to have their own narrative about the Gardners, and I was left questioning who to trust as we continued on our journey into this complicated situation.