A Last Resort

by Brenda Sinclair

  Shelley’s eyes filled with tears. “Really? We’re not going to Dubai?”

  “No way. This V.P. position holds more responsibility and at equal salary, benefits and opportunity for bonuses as the job in Dubai. Your dad is pretty excited about it. And best of all, it ensures his family is happy.”

  “I talked to your mom,” Rachael added. “She’s really happy about your dad’s decision, too, and she can’t wait to have you home again.”

  “Where’s this job?” Lyndon inquired, shifting forward in his chair.

  Mike glanced at him. “Victoria.”

  Shelley leapt off her chair. “Victoria? On Vancouver Island? Then I’ll still be moving away from my friends.”

  “No, no, no.” Rachael reached out and guided her back into her seat. “Walter told us he’d be working in Victoria two days a week and working from the Vancouver office or from home the rest of the time. You and your family are staying put in your house. You’ll be attending the same school. With your same friends. It’s all going to work out perfectly.”

  Shelley’s eyes filled with tears. “I can live at home. Go to my school and keep my friends?”

  “That’s the plan.” Rachael passed her niece a tissue. “Don’t cry, honey. Mike has to fly to Vancouver for work on Monday, and you’re coming with us. You’re going home. To stay.”

  Shelley leapt off her chair and hugged her aunt and then her uncle. “Thank you so much. This is the best news ever. I’ve got to email Beth. She’s never going to believe this.” She raced out of the dining room and down the hallway.

  “Wow. You made her one happy little girl,” Emma said, tearing up a bit herself after hearing the wonderful news.

  “This turned out great for all of us. Keeping family close is important.” Mike leaned back in his chair and folded his arms in front of him. “Walter and I had a long conversation by Skype the other night. I learned a lot.”

  “How do you mean?” Lyndon frowned. “I promised Shelley I’d talk to her dad myself and hopefully convince him to see reason. The guy made her so unhappy and desperate, I really feared she might run again.”

  “Walter told me he only accepted the job due to the big salary increase. He confessed he’d been jealous of my success for years now.” Mike shrugged. “I made a killing when I sold the tech company, and now I’m involved in a business equally lucrative. But I never considered life a competition with my brother. Apparently, he did.”

  “I talked to Diane and she shared a lot of things, too,” Rachael interjected.

  Mike continued, “I told Walter he was equally successful as me. Maybe even more so. He loves his work as much as I do, and we both have remarkable women for wives. Diane is great. But he has two beautiful daughters, a family who’d do anything for him. Well, almost. I told him you’ve got to gauge success in more ways than money. The man saw things in a whole new light by the time we signed off.”

  “And he’s looking forward to this other promotion?” Emma pushed the issue, amazed at Walter’s change of mind. Especially considering her opinion of the man without having ever met him.

  “Like a kid with a new toy.” Rachael laughed. “Diane is thrilled they’re staying in Vancouver. She was prepared at first to stand by her husband and respect his employment decisions, but she wasn’t happy about leaving her friends and her part-time job either.”

  “This is great. Being stand-in father to that kid was a challenge,” Lyndon confessed, laughing. “I don’t know how parents do this full time, for years and years.”

  “You’ll find out one of these years,” Rachael whispered, winking at Emma.

  She glared at Rachael. “Shh.”

  Mike looked from one of them to the other.

  “Emma was wonderful. She related with Shelley and won her trust right away. And my dog absolutely loves the kid.” Lyndon laughed. “I’m checking her bags before your plane lifts off on Monday. To make sure she doesn’t abscond with him.”

  Emma leaned closer to him and he slipped his arm around the back of her chair. “We’ll be packing up and heading out, too. But I’ve got to say, it’s been an adventure.”

  “You can say that again!”

  She met his eyes and smiled. “In more ways than I ever could have imagined.”

  He couldn’t argue with one word she’d said. And he prayed their adventure would continue for years to come.

  Chapter 25

  Sunday night, Emma reluctantly packed up her clothes and personal belongings. Everything had been folded and packed away clean; she and Shelley finished their laundry on Friday morning. Only tomorrow’s travelling outfit and her toiletries remained out, and the last of it could easily be packed before breakfast tomorrow.

  Alone in her guest room, she glanced around the lovely space, gazing for a moment into the flames in the electric fireplace. Her stay in this spacious and inviting room had been pleasant as usual, but doubly so with the shared company these past weeks. Meeting Lyndon had been the most unexpected part of her visit, but a treasured outcome she wouldn’t trade for the world.

  A soft knock on the doorjamb caught her attention.

  “How’s the packing going?” Rachael inquired, poking her head around the corner.

  “Just finished. But I don’t want to leave,” Emma lamented, flopping onto the edge of the bed.

  Rachael chuckled as she entered. “Funny… I hear that from all our guests.”

  “You spoil us too much with these magnificent rooms and mouth-watering meals, exceptional company, and always pleasant memories to pack up along with our belongings.” Emma smiled. “This has been the best time ever, even with all the fretting over that book deadline.”

  “I couldn’t put it down. You and Shelley were right. It’s one of your best.” Rachael settled onto the upholstered easy chair. “Why don’t you come with us to Vancouver? Get a room at the same hotel we’re staying in. We can shop and sightsee while Mike’s attending meetings all day. You can meet Shelley’s family.”

  Emma heaved a sigh. “I wish I could, but I should finish the last of the autumn work at home. About the only thing I managed before leaving was getting my winter tires installed on my SUV, knowing I’d be here well into November. Calgary got snow while I was away and I haven’t brought in my deck furniture yet or cleaned out the flower pots and beds. I need to get my Christmas lights up and I’m usually done my shopping by now. I feel desperately behind on everything except finishing this book.”

  “All right. We’ll keep in touch and I’ll email you the revisions when I complete my second reading. I rushed through it wanting to learn what happened in the end since you piqued my interest with all those excerpts you sent.” Rachael laughed. “Not often an author surprises me anymore, but you managed it.”

  Emma fisted the air. “Yes! My work here is done.”

  Rachael hopped off the bed and pulled Emma into a tight hug. “Thank you so much for caring for our niece. You did a outstanding job of watching over her and disciplining her, as well. Her parents will be very happy to see her again and to learn she’s been so lucky you guys were here to keep her company on her rebellious adventure.”

  “Actually, we loved it. She’s a really nice kid.” Emma walked with Rachael out to the kitchen.

  “How about a glass of wine before dinner?”

  “Twist my arm.”

  “As if.” Rachael dug two crystal wine glasses out of the dining room cabinet and poured them each a glass.

  “Something smells great. I wonder what Shelley is making for dinner?” Emma sipped her Chardonnay while she settled into a dining room chair across from Rachael.

  “All I know, there’s salmon involved. We brought a dozen filets with us and she almost cried when I told her ‘do something wonderful with them’. Goodness only knows what she’s making.” Rachael smiled. “As long as I get a break from cooking, I don’t care.”

  Emma saluted her with her glass. “Hear, hear. Knowing that kid, it will taste out-of-this-world good, so no wor
ries.”

  “I’ve been running a couple suggestions through my mind while reading the book, but don’t expect too many revisions.”

  Emma shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. You know I value your opinion and I’m always delighted to complete as many changes as necessary to improve the book and ensure it’s the best it can be.”

  “You should be proud of it.”

  “Thank you. I am. While plotting it, I knew it would be good. But the hero drove me crazy at first and then the middle seemed to sag until I fixed it.”

  “Good job Lyndon was here. There’s a lot of him you’ve worked into the book’s hero. I recognized your inspiration right off.” Rachael rose from the chair and headed for the door. “And Lyndon Reynolds does exude all sorts of inspiration, doesn’t he?” She bobbed her eyebrows and strode out of the room, not waiting for a response.

  Emma’s face heated, her fear realized. With Rachael living within a few miles of the Reynolds family and their resort, Emma should have known her editor would recognize the muse eliciting the change in the hero’s persona. Well, she certainly couldn’t deny Lyndon had proven a major reason she’d completed the book on time. And no wonder she loved the book’s hero now, since he reminded her so much of his inspiration. She’d fallen head over heels in love with her muse. If Lyndon remained in her life, writing heroes might be the easiest part of being an author.

  A big ‘if’ there.

  The man hadn’t suggested any meetings or phone calls, not even a word about emails or texts once they left. She would have sworn he intended to remain in her life, permanently, after the tantalizing kisses, the warm embraces, and the exceptional time they’d shared together. But now, she wasn’t so certain. He’d mentioned being skittish after divorcing his first wife. Perhaps after dealing with her drama over the book deadline and with Shelley’s arrival and shenanigans, Lyndon had sworn off the idea of his own family for good.

  Unless he’d intended to wait for her to suggest some arrangement.

  Probably not.

  Emma resigned herself to returning home to her lonely, empty house in Calgary. Not much choice since she hadn’t been offered a more pleasant option that involved a certain handsome carpenter. Besides, she needed to wind up a few things, including preparations for the holidays.

  The holidays.

  Another thing she wasn’t particularly looking forward to. There’d be all the usual parties to attend with friends and several get-togethers with fellow authors. But Christmas Day would be spent alone at home. Ordering in food. As usual.

  “Dinner’s almost ready,” Shelley called, drawing Emma out of her musings. “Can you set the table, Emma?”

  “Sure.”

  “I’ll help,” Rachael added, returning from the kitchen. “We’ll use the china tonight. That meal looks absolutely outstanding”

  Emma opened the china cabinet and removed five rose-patterned plates. By this time tomorrow, she’d be back in Calgary. Back to her own home and old routine, like her remarkable time at this mountain getaway had never happened.

  * * *

  Lyndon closed the last of his suitcases and set it by the bedroom door. His travel kit and pajama bottoms would fit in the sports bag on the storage chest at the foot of the bed before he headed out first thing in the morning. Only tomorrow’s outfit hung in the closet. He brushed his teeth and crawled into bed, lying with his hands clasped behind his head.

  All those weeks ago, if anyone would have foretold all that would happen during his time here, he would have called 9-1-1 figuring the person’s mental faculties were in dire need of medical attention. But he loved how well his carpentry project had turned out. Sharing the cabin with a beautiful woman and a devastated teenager couldn’t have been further from his plan, but he wouldn’t trade one minute of his time with either of them. And Jake’s stay had been improved tenfold, especially with the attention Shelley bestowed on the dog. Giving him a much-needed bath, hugging the daylights out of him during the storm, and teaching him new tricks. Jake might find life with Lyndon plain boring now. He’d better up his game or the dog would not be happy.

  Tomorrow, he’d check on the painters who’d been sprucing up his parents’ house while he waited for the moving van. Next day after that, the installers were coming to lay down the vinyl tile throughout the entire house. His former secretary handled all the paperwork and arranged for a cleaning company at his old apartment on his behalf. He hadn’t even been required to return to Victoria. Everything was handled by email or Skype. He couldn’t wait to get settled into his parents’ house on the resort property. Correction, his house.

  All of his parents’ belongings had been stored in a rental unit in town before they headed off to Arizona for the winter, planning to deal with all of it when they returned in spring. He chuckled to himself, recalling all the furniture and appliances and dishes his mom ‘left behind’ for him. And coming from a one-bedroom apartment, he could certainly use most of the furniture and other things his parents had given him. They’d still managed to fill to bursting a large storage unit with a lifetime of belongings. Knowing his mom, she’d prepare a dozen lists throughout the winter months: things to keep, things to toss, things to donate, things to give to him or to special friends. She’d drive his father crazy with a hundred questions during the decision-making until their return in late March.

  Too bad Lyndon would be moving into the house alone, with Jake his sole source of companionship. Lyndon hated parting ways with Emma, but she hadn’t mentioned her plans or a single word of what she hoped lay ahead for them. For their future. Together.

  He’d admitted to falling for her and she’d fallen in love with him. Or so she’d claimed. Had she been mistaken or changed her mind? He couldn’t, for the life of him, determine what he’d erroneously done to initiate her about-face regarding a possible relationship with him. Especially now that he could admit to himself he’d fallen deeply in love with her.

  Or had she decided to return to her original conviction to never marry?

  To remain childless?

  Was the time spent dealing with Shelley enough to solidify her intentions to remain childless and single forever?

  Lyndon sighed and rolled over onto his side. He’d offer his goodbyes in the morning and sincerely wish her well. What more could he do? The empty rooms in his spacious four-bedroom house on the resort would echo with useless dreams and unfulfilled promises. He wasn’t looking forward to the lonely days and sleepless nights ahead of him.

  Suddenly, his plans for the future seemed much less exciting and considerably less bright.

  Chapter 26

  Christmas Eve

  Emma readily accepted Rachael and Mike’s invitation to their cabin for the holidays, and she’d flown to B.C. with them in their private Cessna on the morning of the twenty-first. Mike hired Joe, the maintenance man at the Maskosis Resort, to pick them up at the airstrip and drive them to the cabin. The rental SUV had been dropped off and parked outside the garage, and Mike discovered the keys hidden in the front driver’s side wheel well, as promised. At least, they wouldn’t be stranded without a vehicle all week.

  While Mike hung lights on the exterior and set up a Toyland-themed display in the yard, she and Rachael spent two days decorating inside the cabin. They trimmed a tree in the family room in blue and silver with white lights, and another one featuring green and red ornaments and colored lights in the far corner of the dining room where all the holiday meals would be enjoyed. Every fireplace mantle, every bookcase, every table and window was adorned with lights or candles and garland with a decorative Christmas Santa, angel, snowman or bear. The cabin couldn’t possibly look more festive. They’d had so much fun, shared so many laughs, and she hoped the guests would enjoy their efforts. Although, she needed to beware the mistletoe Rachael hung from several doorways.

  They’d made a trip to Maskosis and almost bought out the stores. They stopped at the chocolate shop and sampled holiday treats until they feared for
their waistlines, then purchased twice what they should have without a moment’s regret. They stocked up on food for the next week at the local grocery store and Rachael bought a dozen Santa hats at the dollar store. At the liquor mart, another case of Chardonnay and several bottles of champagne for New Year’s Eve found their way into the vehicle’s cargo area. All in all, it had been a very successful day, and Rachael maneuvered the rental SUV back up the mountain like her last name was Andretti. Emma smiled, knowing exactly the fellow she meant. After her discussion on NASCAR with Lyndon, she’d been reading up on the history of car racing. Perhaps her next hero would be a pro car racer on the world racing circuit.

  Best of all, Mike’s brother and his family had arrived this afternoon. Shelley burst into tears when she saw Emma, and she’d been close to tears herself. Shelley turned sixteen last week and proudly showed Emma her newly acquired learner’s permit. She was happy for the excited girl. As long as the teenager didn’t ask Emma to take her driving, especially not in winter on these mountain roads.

  But what a wonderful reunion they’d all had, and she’d enjoyed meeting Walter and Diane and Shelley’s sister, Carla. And, of course, Walter and Diane thanked Emma in person for everything she’d done for their daughter after discovering her hiding in the equipment shed. Walter loved his new job and Diane assured her the family had returned to their usual routine as if last autumn’s drama had never happened. Once everyone unloaded their belongings, the two Christmas trees overflowed with presents. The Lewis family even brought the gifts from Vancouver that she’d mailed to them. And they placed a large one for her under the tree, as well.

  Emma didn’t share the fact Shelley’s presence here contributed to Emma changing her mind about having a family one day. And she’d hoped after sharing this time together, Lyndon had reconsidered risking another relationship and perhaps realized the benefits of a second marriage. She’d made up her mind to contact him in the new year.