Jeremy rested his forehead on his arm. If they started arguing over favorites he’d never get off the ground tonight.
“Focus, people,” Duncan shouted. “Jeremy does need to leave soon. Let’s hear him out. What’s going on with the resort? The truth, little brother. You seem pretty deeply involved in this. Tell us what’s going on.”
“She’s about to lose it. That’s what’s going on.” He filled them all in on what had transpired over the past couple of weeks.
Duncan suggested, “So, invest in the resort.”
Jeremy started to shake his head.
Dunc slammed his fist on the table. “What’s wrong with you? Fine, I’ll invest. I’m not afraid.”
“It’s not that,” Jeremy tried to explain. “Mel will never take a handout from us. And I can’t use the firm’s funds to invest. That will give Mr. Hanson fuel to sink me if I don’t sink myself.” He went on to explain Evelina Ash’s wish to take over the resort. “She’s determined to have this deal. I’m not sure what will happen if I blow it, but I don’t think—”
Colton glared through the computer screen. “He wouldn’t dare try to take over Father’s firm.”
“He would,” Jeremy stated. “And he could. Unless I hand over Sky High. That’s why I’m returning. I’m being sent to convince Melody to sell. Unless I can find some other way out of this mess. Right now, I see no other option. One way or another Eveline Ash intends to add Sky High to her collection of resorts.”
A thought came to Jeremy. He wondered about Aunt Mad. The name had fit her. She was a little off and nothing like Melody’s somber, calm mother. “Anyone know where Aunt Maddy is these days?”
Duncan and Colton both shook their heads. Suzette tugged at her bottom lip, also lost in thought. Finally, she said, “Doesn’t matter. I get that Mel doesn’t want our handouts. But we can’t let our friend down, can we? And her family has always been good to us. Her parents were dear friends with our parents. Melody is such a sweet dear. We should be able to do something, don’t you boys think? I mean, admittedly we don’t get out and have as much fun as we could…”
Duncan interjected, “I plan to amend that. After living as a hermit for most of last year, I’m ready to live again.”
Elisa grabbed his hand and looked at him lovingly.
Jeremy tried to ignore the stab of jealously piercing his heart. When had he gotten to the point where he wanted someone to share his life with? He had been fine up until his stupid brother announced his engagement.
And Colton, he’d been so happy with his wife Ally before she passed away. Since then, he’d been running, or rather, sailing to avoid dealing with his broken heart.
That was the risk of love, wasn’t it?
Jeremy pushed those haunting thoughts aside and returned his attention to the discussion going on around the table. Colton mentioned something about building one of his hotels at the resort.
“There are not enough places for people to stay,” he mused. “We get our family cabin because our parents paid to have it built.” He shook his finger at the screen, something he always did when an idea struck. “Hey, what if each of us—”
“We have a family cabin, Colt dear.” Suzette waved her jeweled hand. “And I can’t imagine one of your monstrosities perched up on one of those cliffs. Can you?”
Colton’s eyes narrowed. “I’d not have a skyscraper built like what you and Jeremy are living in.”
“I moved out of your building, dear.” Suzette reminded him. “I got a better deal in the Crystal Towers and I’m closer to downtown.”
Jeremy pinched the bridge of his nose, then wondered if he was paying too much for his penthouse apartment. He dismissed the thought for now. “Melody has been working on an idea to build a spa. Like a therapy kind of spa. They found a mineral hot spring somewhere on her property. I’ve glanced over her ideas, but—”
Duncan leaned forward on his elbows. “Wait. You mean like the bathhouses down in Arkansas?”
“Well? I’m not sure about a bathhouse. As I said, I only glanced at her notes.” There were pages and pages of sketches and notes about the health benefits of mineral baths. The first three pages made his head buzz, so he’d set that idea aside. It wouldn’t save her. If anything, it would put her more in debt.
“Send me what you have.” Duncan glanced at his fiancée. “You talked me into visiting that spa when you were setting up that wedding in Hot Springs. What a difference it made. I still have lingering pain in my damaged leg. After some time in the pools and having a masseuse work on it, I’ve felt a definite improvement.”
Jeremy opened his briefcase and pulled out the fat file. “Here’s what she gave me. That’s all copies, she has the originals. Good luck making sense of it. But if you think of something, call me.” He shoved the folder across the table.
Duncan and Elisa leaned in toward each other as he began flipping through the papers. While they were whispering to each other, Jeremy turned to Colton and Suzette. “Any suggestions on how to handle this? She isn’t going to want to sell, I already know that. Even if Mrs. Ash is offering a very good deal. Melody would be set up for a long while with what she’d make from the sale.”
Suzette wrapped his hand in hers. A huge diamond ring shimmered in the overhead lights. “Oh baby, there’s more important things to some people than having a fat bank account. Our Melody happens to be one of those people.”
Colton rested his chin on his knuckles. “Always said she was an odd duck.”
“Right, but we love her anyway,” Suzette nodded. “And we’ll figure out something. Maybe you can talk her into selling, but don’t get upset if she refuses. I’d hate to see her lose her land. She loves that mountain. It’s a part of who she is. Don’t you think?”
He did. It was one of the things he admired about Melody Carson. She stood firm about what was important to her. She was steady and strong like the cliffs she loved skiing or climbing—depending on the season. He wished he could stand as firm behind his own convictions.
Chapter Eight
Jeremy had booked a single room at the lodge. Their usual cabin was occupied and he didn’t need all the extra space, anyway. When he headed for the reception desk, he was sure Melody had been there speaking to the receptionist. But when he looked again, she was gone.
The lodge’s gathering room was packed with people heading to the slopes. Colton might be right about this place needing a larger hotel. When the resort was booked, that meant people had to find places to stay in town. Which also meant they were faced with at least a half-hour drive up the mountain to reach the slopes.
Jeremy decided that he’d mention the idea to Melody. If he ever had a chance to speak to her. By that evening, after nearly running into her three more times, only to have her disappear before he could catch her attention, he began to have a feeling she was avoiding him.
Did he blame her?
When he returned to his room that evening, he received a call from Uncle Thomas wanting to know what progress he’d made.
“Miss Carson has been busy all day,” he explained. “I’m hoping to catch her tomorrow and set up a time we can meet.” She still wasn’t even responding to his text or calls.
She hadn’t answered once since the meeting with Mrs. Ash.
“I didn’t send you up there for a vacation, Grimwood. I’ll expect some kind of report by tomorrow evening. Mrs. Ash has been breathing down my back and wants a response to her offer.”
“Yes, sir.” Jeremy conceded. It was pointless to argue or try to defend himself. Uncle expected results and Jeremy had always been quick to provide them.
After ending the call, he sat on the edge of the bed and buried his face in his hands.
This was what he got for allowing himself to do business with someone he was emotionally attached to. Mixing business and friendship was never a good practice. Father had drilled that into him. Even if the old man had often helped friends out of predicaments. Jeremy was sure it was because of
Mother’s prodding. She was the one who had the generous heart of gold. Father’s heart was made of stone, except when his wife was involved.
Father changed so much after Mother passed away. They’d stopped celebrating the holidays. Marcus Grimwood kept too busy to show up for birthdays or any other celebrations. Colton was grown and had moved out of the family home not long after Mother’s funeral. Duncan stayed for a while, but he also moved away when he entered college, leaving Jeremy and Suzette to take care of each other.
Suzette refused to give up on her father. She tried desperately and was able to maintain some kind of relationship with him. Jeremy had gone into banking with the sole purpose of being able to work with the aloof old man. It was the only time his father seemed to see him.
Jeremy refused to allow his heart to harden the way Marcus Grimwood’s had. Jeremy worked hard for the bank, but with each passing year, his heart was less and less into his job. He dreaded getting up in the mornings and dragging himself into the office. But, if he gave up now, he’d lose too much. He’d be an outcast to his family and no longer a stakeholder in the Grimwood Corporation.
He laid back on the bed and stared up at the wood beamed ceiling. If he didn’t talk Melody into selling, he might risk his position at the firm, anyway. Uncle Thomas still held the ropes to the firm. Until Jeremy met the conditions of the trust….
Did it really matter?
That was the question plaguing Jeremy all during his trip back to the Sky High Resort. His siblings wanted to find a way to help her. They weren’t at risk of losing their portion of the trust, now were they? They had nothing at stake as he did.
Except, that wasn’t necessarily true. Duncan was hanging on by a thread. Suzette refused to talk much about her own inheritance.
Colton… Jeremy wasn’t even sure what the eldest Grimwood was thinking. Colt enjoyed traveling, being untethered, and lavishing his girls with all his attention. He still hadn’t bothered to check on the family’s island. Would he let that go? Did he have some other plan up his sleeve that would keep him from losing his inheritance?
Jeremy wished he could ask, but his oldest brother was too tight-lipped about his personal life.
Taking his phone from his pocket, Jeremy tapped Duncan’s number. He simply wanted to hear a friendly voice. Ol’ Dunc had changed dramatically since meeting his fiancée, Elisa. She was a sweetie and made Jeremy think twice about where his own life was going.
He always hated being alone. That’s why he’d buddied up with Mike Malone, who was driven to making deals and money. It’s why he’d gone into finances in the first place, wanting to be closer to Father, even if it was like sitting beside an iceberg. At least he’d not be alone out in the cold.
Even still, Jeremy was left feeling as if he had a huge hole in his life.
“Jere, what’s going on, my brother?” The sound of people talking came through the line. Jeremy feared he’d probably caught Duncan at a bad time.
“Hey, I was…” Jeremy wasn’t sure what to say. Why had he called in the first place? “Are you busy? I don’t want to interrupt anything. I have no real reason for calling, to be honest.”
Jeremy thought he heard a car door close and the noise grew louder on Duncan’s end. “I was heading into church, but I have time. Hang on.” His brother’s voice grew muffled, but he was sure Duncan was telling someone to save him a seat and he’d be in shortly.
Soon he was back on the line. “What’s going on, Jere?”
“Nothing really.” He needed to come up with a solid reason for calling. What had he been thinking of calling his brother? Dunc would know something was wrong if he was only calling to chat. Jeremy never did that. “Did you say you were actually heading into a…church? You’re joshing, right?”
“No, not at all.” Duncan must have found a quiet spot for them to talk. All the background sounds suddenly ceased. “I’ve started attending the one Elisa’s family are members of. When I’m visiting them, Elisa and I attend pre-marriage courses given by the Reverend who will perform our ceremony.” He grew quiet for a moment, then said, “I need to get in contact with Melody and see about setting up a firm date for our wedding. Have you spoken to her?”
“No, not yet.” Jeremy’s eyes widened. Dunc was attending church and going to classes on…marriage? Who was this guy and where was his real brother?
On second thought, Jeremy liked this new guy much more. He hoped the old, reclusive and harsh Duncan never surfaced again.
“Well, calling her is on my list of wedding tasks.” He chuckled. “You sound kind of down, brother. What’s going on? I thought you’d be at the resort by now.”
“I am. Arrived early this morning. Haven’t been able to speak to Mel, yet.” Something in his chest tightened. “I think she’s avoiding me. And honestly, I can’t blame her.”
Duncan paused for a long moment before he asked, “Are you determined to try talking her into selling the resort? Is that really your plan?”
“No. It’s Uncle Thomas’ plan. But if I don’t…then…. Duncan, he really wants to keep control of Father’s firm. I’m…” Jeremy didn’t want to say he was afraid, because he wasn’t. Not of Uncle Thomas. The only thing he was afraid of was letting his family down. “I honestly don’t know. Father put his whole heart he had into that firm.”
“Right. Everything, leaving nothing for the rest of us.” Duncan’s tone took on a tinge of bitterness, but then he let out a long breath and said, “Sometimes I understand. Other times I don’t. Still, I’m working on forgiving him for those last years. Deep down, he was a good man. I think, losing Mother really broke him. He didn’t share Mother’s deep beliefs and had nothing to draw solace from when grieving. So, he lost himself in his work.”
And other things neither of them cared to mention out loud.
Jeremy mused, “Remember how Mom was always dragging us to church? Colton enjoyed it. Isn’t that where he met Ally?”
Duncan chuckled. “I enjoyed it, too. Until I was sent to boarding school. Being away from home and all, I kind of drifted away from all that. Until recently. Going to church now feels like coming back home. I try to find someplace to go, no matter where in the world I am.” He chuckled, then his tone sobered, “You know, there’s a lovely little chapel in town. We stopped in when we stayed at the resort over Christmas. The people there are kind and welcoming. They’re used to visitors stopping in. You should check them out. They even have a mid-week service.”
“Well,” Jeremy started to come up with excuses why he couldn’t bother to take time for such things but stopped himself. Duncan had changed a lot in his beliefs over the past year. The difference was evident. “I’ll think about it. If I’m still here. Uncle Thomas wants me to move fast on this.”
Duncan cut him off. “Melody isn’t going to sell. She’ll stand firm until someone knocks her off her mountain. I hate to see that happen, but I’m still praying about how to offer help. Help that she’ll accept. And, like you, I’m still working on meeting Father’s demands. His heart was in the right place, wanting us to work for what we received, but his mind never considered what we were truly suited for. But I suppose it comes down to each of us deciding on what we really want for our lives.”
Jeremy stood from the bed and began pacing. Duncan had hit a sore spot in his heart. “I suppose you’ve got that all figured out?”
Duncan sighed again. “I’m working on it. The consolation offer isn’t such a bad deal. Still, I can do more good if I work through this and aim for what’s rightfully mine. To give it up would be handing it over to people who don’t care about anything more than stuffing their bank vaults. That’s a lot for one person to have to think about, don’t you think, Jere?”
He stopped next to the window. Now that the sun had gone down, the lights outside cast a yellow glow on the snowy lanes.
“Sure is,” he finally answered.
“Each of us has to figure out for ourselves what is most important. Then we have to go after
that with everything we have. That is the one legacy our parents left for us, Jere. To follow our hearts and not be complacent with what we’ve been blessed with. That is what I’m aiming to do. And whatever happens, happens. I’ve put my life in God’s hands and plan to leave it there.”
Jeremy wasn’t sure how to respond to that. Was his brother being foolish and simple-minded in thinking like that? Duncan was anything but simple. He wasn’t stupid, either.
“It’s been good talking to you, Dunc. Thanks for… you know.” Jeremy shrugged, despite knowing his brother wouldn’t see the gesture. “I should get to bed. Somehow, I need to get Mel to talk to me tomorrow.”
“Well, before you do, brother. Make a decision. Are you going to help her or yourself? I know you have a lot riding on this, whether you intended that to happen or not.”
“Right. I started out wanting to help her. Honest.” He still did.
“I’m not going to tell you what to do, Jere. But I wouldn’t blame you in the least if that’s what you still wish to do. Melody might have made some wrong decisions in the past, but haven’t we all? Like us, she is simply trying to hang on to what her parents left her.”
“Yeah, but is holding on to the past so tightly what we should really be doing, Dunc?”
“Ah,” His brother drew out the word for a long moment. Jeremy could almost see his brother’s smile as he contemplated how to answer. “That is the million-dollar question, isn’t it?”
“Or billion-dollar question. In our case. Good night, Duncan. Enjoy the service.”
“I will. I’m praying for you, Jeremy. Have been for some time.”
Why did that last statement strike him like an arrow to his heart? He bid his brother goodnight then dropped the phone on his nightstand. Jeremy didn’t even bother changing into his night clothes. He fell onto the bed, his mind spinning with all Duncan said. The room grew darker by the minute as the glow of lights from outside flickered off. The lodge closing down, he was sure. And the restaurant.
My Charming Billionaire (The Grimwood Legacy Series Book 2) Page 8
