by Len Webster
A nudge had Peyton groaning.
She hugged the blanket around her and said, “Callum, I don’t have your kind of stamina. I’m not an expert at lasting long when it comes to sex. Give me a couple of hours.”
He shook her this time, so she rolled on her back and opened her eyes.
“As much as I love the idea of sex right now, that’s not why I woke you up.”
Peyton sat up and rubbed her eyes. Before she could even ask him what was going on, Callum handed her the phone.
“It’s Jenny,” he said.
She looked at the clock on her bedside table to see that it was just after two a.m. She knew Jenny would never call her this late, especially with this week’s guests having already checked out. It had been four days since Callum had told her that their time was limited and four days since she had started operating the hotel to guests. The feedback that she’d received from her customers had been great, and it had given her the confidence boost that she’d needed. Now she could concentrate on Marissa’s wedding and the building of the lakeside dance floor.
Peyton scratched her head before she put the phone to her ear.
“Peyton!” Jenny cried out hysterically.
Peyton stilled. “Jenny, are you okay?” she asked desperately.
A million scenarios on Jenny’s safety ran through Peyton’s head. She couldn’t lose Jenny. She couldn’t lose anyone else.
“Jenny, please talk to me.”
There was a loud bang in the background, and Peyton looked at Callum. He was just as confused as she was.
“What’s going on?” Callum asked.
Peyton shook her head to tell him that she didn’t know.
“Peyton…”
“I’m right here, Jenny. Tell me that you’re okay. Do I need to come get you?” Peyton asked as she threw back her blanket and stood up from the bed. Then she walked to the hook near the door and grabbed her dressing gown, slipping it on over her silk nightdress.
Jenny let out a sob. “It’s the hotel, Peyton.”
Peyton froze. “The hotel?”
Callum was by her side instantly, holding her. His supporting touch couldn’t stop Peyton’s throbbing heart. Fear overtook every inch of her body. Flooding she could fix. A fallen tree on a cabin would dent her finances, but it wasn’t impossible. A broken window would be easy to replace.
“It’s on fire, Peyton. The hotel’s on fire.”
The phone slipped out of her hand and fell onto the floor. Numb. That’s what she felt. Her heart had stopped functioning and she was sure her lungs had, too. She was breathing, but her lungs weren’t inhaling the oxygen.
Callum let go of her and bent down to pick up her phone. Before he could even stand, she bolted out of her room and the house.
Shoes weren’t important. More clothes to protect her from the winter night weren’t a concern. She ran. Faster and harder. Stepping on sharp rocks as she desperately sprinted to the lake. She felt pain. In her chest, her lungs, the side of her body, and her feet. But she didn’t care. She heard her name being yelled out from behind her, but she kept her legs moving up the hill and to the lake. She didn’t stop to see if there was smoke or flames—she just kept running.
The moment she reached the path to the hotel, she slowed down, taking careful steps towards the hotel. Tears ran down her face as she painfully willed her body forward. Flames and smoke. That’s all she saw. Dark, black smoke filled the sky, providing the backdrop for the fire that engulfed the building.
She had never felt so helpless. In front of her, she watched everything she had ever loved and treasured die before her very eyes. Each memory of her parents, Jenny, the staff, and Callum. The flames were destroying the future she had carved for herself. It was symbolic. The hotel’s burning down was a reflection of her future—she didn’t have one.
When a part of the hotel collapsed, she fell to her knees, sobbing. And when she heard voices around her, all she could do was stare at The Spencer-Dayle sign as it burned before it fell to the ground.
She was voiceless. All that came out were sobs and strangled sounds she had never made. Her hopes and dreams were dying. The last four years of keeping the hotel alive were now a waste. A loud explosion blew out some windows and she heard people gasp the moment parts of the building started to collapse. The fire was relentless in its destruction of her hotel. Arms were around her, but she didn’t have to turn to know it was Callum.
“Don’t just stand there. Save it! Do something!” Jenny screamed.
Peyton cranked her neck to see her manager pointing at the burning building. Timmy, the firefighter Peyton had gone to school with, looked conflicted as he held the hose. When his eyes met Peyton’s, there was an apology in them.
“I’m so sorry, Peyton,” Callum whispered as he put his hand on the side of her head and brought her to his chest.
“It’s gone,” she managed out.
The tears continued to fall—the only form of water near the hotel. Peyton focused on the firefighters to see them standing there watching the fire consume The Spencer-Dayle.
“Why aren’t you trying to save it? It’s your job!” Jenny cried.
Timmy flinched and his eyes averted hers. Peyton followed his stare to see him looking at Jay as if he were asking if it was okay to put out the fire.
“They’re just standing there, staring at Jay,” Peyton cried unbelievably.
After what seemed like for the first time, she blinked, hoping it was just a dream. But it wasn’t. The fire still burned and the smoke entered her nostrils.
She watched Jay shake his head at Timmy. She knew Callum had seen it too when his arms loosened around her. Timmy’s older brother, Thomas, had been Jay’s best friend in high school. And growing up, Timmy had idolised his brother and Jay, doing anything to received their approval.
“Stay here,” Callum instructed.
Before she could stop him, Callum stood up and marched over to Jay. Callum didn’t say anything as he punched Jay in the jaw. Jay stumbled back, holding the side of his face.
“Right now, Timmy. Put out that fire!” Callum yelled.
When Timmy didn’t move, Callum shook his head, walked to the firefighter, and pulled the hose out of his hand. Then he pointed the water to the building, but it did nothing to extinguish the flames. The hotel was far too gone to be saved.
Peyton walked over to Callum. His eyes met hers and she could see the refusal in them. He didn’t want to give up on trying to save it. And for that, she fell in love with him all over again. She blinked away the tears as she stepped next to him. Giving the hotel one last look, she mentally said goodbye to it and her parents. She wrapped her hands around the hose and pulled it away from him.
“No, Peyton! I can save it. I can save it!” he cried.
She shook her head. “It’s gone, Callum.”
Tears filled his eyes. “You don’t deserve this.”
She dropped the hose and wrapped her arms around his waist. “It’s not about if I deserve it or not. It’s happening.”
Callum wrapped his arms around her and apologised numerous times. That’s when Peyton closed her eyes, knowing that everything she would love would leave her. The last thing that remained was the man in her arms. Soon, she’d say goodbye to him, too. She held him tighter because in this moment he was the only tangible thing she could hold onto.
“I love you,” she said into his chest, knowing it could be one of the last times she’d say it out loud.
“I love you, too, Peyton.” He kissed her head before he said, “Come on. Let’s get you to safe distance.” Then he unwrapped his arms from around her and took her hand.
This was their moment of defiance against the town. They could take away her hotel but they couldn’t take away what they had. In the near future, it would be Peyton and Callum who’d destroy what they had. Not the town.
A ute pulled up near them, and Graham and Madilynne got out of the car. If Peyton weren’t so broken, she’d smile at the sight of them tog
ether. The moment Graham raced towards them, Callum let her hand go in time for Graham to wrap his arms around her. She couldn’t cry in his embrace. It was like she was dry inside.
“Why the fuck are they just standing there?” Graham growled in her ear.
Peyton tensed. Graham was never one to cuss. Suddenly, he pushed past her. Peyton pivoted to see him storm off towards the firefighters.
Timmy was saying something, but she was too far.
Graham picked up the hose and slammed it into Timmy’s chest. “Do your job! You listen to Jay again and I will make sure you lot see a commission!”
The firefighters all nodded and went to their engine, pulling out the equipment. But she knew it was too late. With a heavy sigh, she walked towards them and looked at the men who would rather see her hotel die than save it. She would be the bigger person, no matter how much they had scarred her. It wasn’t because they deserved to be pardoned but because her aunt and uncle had taught her forgiveness. And Callum taught her that sometimes, it’s better to just let go.
“It’s long past saving. Please make sure it doesn’t travel too far back and burn the rest of the town. People’s lives and homes are at stake,” she said.
It was like common sense had clicked in their eyes, and they all nodded and mumbled their apologies to her.
Graham wrapped his arm around her back and led her towards Callum and Madilynne. “We’ll rebuild it, Peyton. We’ll make it better,” he promised.
“I know, Graham,” she replied quietly as they passed by Jay and some of the firefighters.
When Peyton locked eyes with Jay, he was emotionless. Graham stopped and let Peyton go.
“I can’t believe you told them not to save the hotel. Fine. Be angry at her for being with Callum. Taking away the hotel’s partnerships was one thing but letting it burn to the ground? You’re a son of a bitch, Jay.”
She wanted to yell and scream at Jay. She wanted to hurt him, but she just wasn’t that person. In all honesty, she was far too tired inside. And what good would hurting Jay do? She had all but lost The Spencer-Dayle. She had spent so many years trying to keep it afloat, but it had all been for nothing.
Peyton stepped away from Graham and stood in front of Jay. As she stared at him, she saw no remorse in his eyes. There was no salvaging a friendship with him.
“I would never wish this on you or the pub, Jay. I would never wish it on any of the town’s businesses. Whatever you wanted to achieve out of this, I hope you got it. Hate me all you like, but I have always been in love with Callum. I’m sorry you can’t find a way past that and be my friend.”
She could never trust Jay again. She’d believed in him. Believed he was a good person. Tonight revealed that he wasn’t. He was a selfish man full of pride. Realising that they’d never be friends again, she walked into Callum’s waiting arms and let his heartbeat distract her from her own stalling ones.
“Peyton.”
Jenny’s voice had her pulling away from Callum. She noticed Jenny covered in ash, and in her hand, she was holding something.
“It’s the only thing I could save. I couldn’t get farther. The flames and the smoke were too overwhelming. I’m sorry I couldn’t save some of your parents’ things.”
Peyton saw that it was the picture Callum had taken of the lake. And that’s when she burst into tears and hugged Jenny tight. “I would rather the hotel and everything in it burn to ash than lose you, Jenny. You shouldn’t have risked your life for the picture.”
Out of anything that could have been saved, Peyton was glad that Callum’s picture was it. The moment he had taken it, she’d known she was madly in love with him. It was a picture she’d always want, no matter how much pain he had caused her with his leaving.
Callum took the framed picture and said, “Thank you for saving this, Jenny. I appreciate it more than you could possibly know. I’m going to take Peyton home now. You go home to your husband. We’ll survey what’s left in the morning.”
Peyton let go of Jenny and wiped at her cheeks.
“There was no one inside during the fire. I’ll call those with bookings tomorrow morning and explain the situation. I’ll handle everything, Peyton. I’ll deal with the Reynolds’ wedding, too,” Jenny said, trying to reassure her.
“That’s okay, Jenny. I’ll speak to Oliver in the morning. Come on, Pey. I’ll get you home.” Callum’s hands entwined with hers, his thumb caressing hers. “Graham, you mind dropping us off at Peyton’s?”
“Yeah, I’ll take you both. Madilynne, do you want me to drop you off at home?” Graham asked, leading them to the ute.
Callum opened the car door for Peyton, and she got in the backseat. Then he clicked her seatbelt in place before he got into the backseat with the picture sitting in his lap.
Madilynne got in the front seat and said, “No. I’ll stay at yours for the rest of the night. I don’t want to hear what my dad says about tonight.”
Peyton watched Graham nod and adjust the rearview mirror so that his reflection met her eyes.
“You ‘right there, Peyton?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
Lie.
The only thing she could feel was Callum’s hand in hers.
“Okay,” he replied, no doubt seeing through her lie, and started up the car.
Peyton didn’t look back as the car reversed away from the burning hotel and towards her house.
I am helpless.
I am hopeless.
I am a failure.
I have nothing,
I am fading.
I am dying.
Peyton shivered at the cold air that touched her skin. She hugged the blanket tighter and reached out for Callum’s warm body. When she felt the cool mattress, Peyton sat up and rubbed her eyes, searching the room for him. She noticed the door open and his muffled voice trailing in from the lounge. Pulling the blanket aside, she swung her legs over the bed and stood up. Then she made her way out of her room and walked down the hall, but she stopped when she heard him speak.
“What do I do now, Oliver? How do I do this to her?”
The worried tone in Callum’s voice had Peyton pressing her hand on the wall to keep herself on her feet.
“I don’t want to say goodbye. I don’t want to leave her. It was hard the first time, but now… How do I do it now?”
Breathing failed her as her heart burned within her chest. He was discussing their ending. Hearing that he didn’t want to say goodbye broke her heart. She found the concept as difficult as he did.
“I love her, Oliver. I can’t do it to her. I can’t tell her the truth—not after tonight. I can’t do it,” Callum cried.
Peyton closed her eyes and let the tears roll down her face, hitting the nightdress she was wearing. She counted each slow beat of her heart. Time was catching up to them. Time would separate them. Time would end them.
But the truth was that Peyton didn’t want to hear the truth. Not when it meant that the ending had reached them. She didn’t want it. For, as long as she could prolong the truth, she’d still have him. So she’d stopped asking for the truth. She hadn’t asked why.
“I shouldn’t have come back. I should have just let her be here and hate me. Right now, I hate me. I want her to hate me. It would be easier. Her life would be easier. She’s lost everything because of me. I should have stayed in the city. I should have never suggested Daylesford for your wedding. I should have just let her live her life.”
Peyton pushed off the wall and walked into the lounge. The moment her eyes landed on him, she saw Callum holding the phone in one hand and the other covered his face.
“Stop saying I should hate you, because I don’t. Not in the slightest,” she said.
Callum moved his hand from his face and looked up at her. The defeated expression on his face made her heart ache. Dropping to her knees in front of him, her hands rest on his thigh. Then he leant forward, allowing his forehead to touch hers.
“I need you to hate me, Peyton,” h
e begged.
She shook her head, their foreheads not breaking contact. “I can’t give you that.”
He squeezed his eyelids tight and said, “I know, Oliver. This is why I have to leave. I—”
Reaching up, Peyton took the phone out of his hand and held it to her ear. “Oliver, Callum will call you back in the morning. We need to talk about the fire and your wedding,” she said.
“Wait, Peyton.” Oliver stopped her from hanging up. “Why can’t you hate him?”
Callum sat straight and pulled away from her, as if he knew what Oliver had asked. He seemed afraid of what she would say next as a forgiving plea swept his face.
Peyton stared in his lost and conflicted eyes before she answered, “Because I want to feel loved by Callum Reid, even if it’s only for a little while. I want his love more than I want to live another day. I want to be with him for as long as I can, because for the last four and half years, I’ve been deprived of his love and his touch. I can’t hate him because he’s the love of my life.”
Oliver sighed. “He’s never stopped loving you, even when he moved to the city. You were the girl whose picture was by his bedside table. Whatever happens, just know he loves you and has always put you first.”
Peyton hung up the phone and placed it on the couch. Then she peered up through her lashes to see Callum staring down at her. He looked tormented, like he was in his own version of hell. When Peyton stood up, she held out her hand to him. Callum rubbed his palms over his face then let out a groan.
She stepped forward, rested her hands on the back of his head, and brought him to her stomach. She hoped that this one embrace could show him that she’d be okay. That she would rather see him free than stay here in Daylesford. His arms were around the back of her legs, holding her tight.
“I shouldn’t have left you, Peyton,” Callum said and gazed up at her. “I’m so sorry. If I could go back, I would. I’d change it all. I wouldn’t have left you here on your own.”
Peyton moved her hands from the back of his head to his cheeks. “Don’t do that to yourself, Callum.”
“God, why can’t you hate me?” he exclaimed, frustrated.
