by Jackie Wang
“Where are Jesse and Caitlyn?” I asked. “Looks like I’m not the last one here after all.”
“They decided to stay in tonight,” Maggie explained. “Tina’s getting us a round of beers.”
I shrugged off my jacket and hung it up on a peg near the back wall. “Oh, I should’ve invited Daniel.”
“He’s probably jet-lagged,” Tina said, coming up behind me. “He looked like a zombie at the end of our training session this afternoon.”
“How did it go?”
“Okay, I guess. I don’t cook so I couldn’t tell ya.” Tina slipped Rhodes a beer, then sidled up to Maggie and popped open a Budweiser. Her fiery hair was scraped back in a flaming ponytail tonight, and she wore even heavier make-up than usual. All of which made her look like she was trying way too hard. Her fingers curled possessively around Rhodes’s bicep, and it wasn’t until just now that I realized they were together.
“How’s the food here?” I asked, rubbing my grumbling stomach. It’d been a while since I’d had a bite to eat.
“Atrocious,” Tina said. “You thought our food was bad…You should—”
“Oh, cut it out, Tina,” Rhodes chided, clucking his tongue. “Roman, the food and the drinks here are the best in town. Eat, drink and be merry.”
“I’ll remember this, Tina,” I teased. “Come tomorrow morning, I’ll be sure to give you extra work.”
“That’s not—” Tina began.
“Enough, boys and girls,” Maggie said. “What’ll you all have? I’m buying.”
I held up my hand. “I couldn’t possibly, Maggie. I should be paying for you.”
“I invited you here, I’m buying. What would you like, Roman?” Maggie said. See, determined. Stubborn ran in their family. But in her, it was a good thing.
I glanced at the menu. “Fish and chips then. And I’d like to try a local brew.”
Maggie nodded and took Rhodes and Tina’s orders as well.
I rubbed my palms together, trying to revive them. Sharp, stinging pain radiated from my wrist to fingertips. Damn. Should’ve worn gloves. Who knew west coast American winters could get this harsh?
While Maggie was gone, Tina said, “So, Maggie must really like you. Heard you met her sons, and even Grandma Rita the other day.”
I rolled my eyes. “News travels fast here.”
“Everyone knows everything here,” Rhodes said, leaning forward in his seat. “You need to be careful about everything you do. Walls have ears, so to speak.”
“I’m not doing anything bad. I’ve nothing to hide,” I said, rubbing my eyes and stifling a yawn. “People can gossip all they want. I honestly don’t give a damn.”
“It’s not about you,” Tina hissed. “It’s about Maggie…and her reputation.”
“We haven’t done anything,” I protested.
“She’s known to be a bit…loose, if you catch my drift,” Rhodes said. “Being seen with you…People are already gossiping about—”
“What are they gossiping about, Rhodes?” Maggie asked, coming up behind us.
Rhodes blushed. “Nothin’, Mags, I was just chattin’.”
“Telling Roman about my reputation as the village whore?” Maggie asked, smirking. She set down a platter of food, and all of us went silent.
“No one said anything about you being a whore,” Tina said. “That’s not what we—”
“I’m not mad,” Maggie said stiffly. “Rumors have been buzzing in my ear since Greg was born. It’s been eleven years. I’m used to it.”
The woman had thick skin, I had to give her that. She handled bullies like an ace. But beneath her tough shell, I’d seen her vulnerable too, especially when we were out on Vernon’s Bluff. She didn’t deserve these labels and senseless gossip. “Even more reason to leave,” I said, holding Maggie’s gaze. I ground my teeth. “Why subject yourself to such—”
“I have my reasons.”
I picked up my beer and took a pull. I was tired of her reasons and sick of watching everyone talk shit about her behind her back. “Let me guess, Adam?”
All eyes trained on me.
“You know about Adam?” Rhodes asked. He looked at Maggie, his lips quirking almost imperceptibly. He scratched his neck and shot Tina a worried glance.
“I didn’t say a word,” Maggie said.
“She said enough for me to know that the name is taboo around these parts,” I said, placing my beer on an I HEART PEN ISLAND coaster.
“Not taboo. Just…ancient history,” Maggie clarified.
“Five years ago. Not that ancient,” I pointed out.
Rhodes arched his brow, his thumb gesturing at me, but gaze trained on Maggie. “How much does this guy know?”
“I know about Vernon Bluff,” I said, bluffing. My unwavering confidence startled my companions.
“You told him? He’s a stranger!” Rhodes said, face twisted with hurt? Anger? “Why would you—”
“You took him to Vernon Bluff?” Tina chimed in. “I’ve never even been there before!”
Maggie’s face looked like a squashed pumpkin as she assailed me with her tiny fists. “Roman Finnegan, that—you weren’t supposed to just tell people about—”
“What happened to Adam at Vernon Bluff? Who is Adam?” I demanded, gripping my drink hard. I was sick of playing games. Questions were gnawing holes inside my gut, and I needed answers. If she’d just told me everything about Adam, then there wouldn’t be this awkwardness between us. Perhaps I could even help her move on.
Maggie was already reaching for her coat. I tried to grab her, but she slipped through my fingers like a fish. Before I knew it, she’d left.
“You really fucked that up,” Rhodes said, shaking his head. “Better go and apologize.”
“What exactly should I be apologizing for? Why won’t anyone tell me who Adam was?”
“Go. Get her while you still can,” Tina said. “Stop being nosy, and just keep your mouth shut. If she wants to tell you, she’ll tell you.”
I grabbed my coat and ran after Maggie. My boots crunched against the snow, squeaking every once in a while. I looked up and down the dark street, until I saw her figure shuffling toward the parking lot.
“Maggie, wait. I’m sorry!” I cried, my breath fogging up the thin air. I stumbled into a puddle and cursed when the backsplash soaked me up to the knees.
“Just go back to the pub, Roman. I’m fine,” Maggie said, fumbling for her keys. She waved me away without even turning to face me. She was about fifteen feet away.
“I went too far, I know that now. Please, Maggie, don’t let one blunder ruin the evening,” I cried, the chilly air stabbing at my throat.
“I’m tired, Roman. Gonna call it an early night. I’ll see you after the renovations are done.”
I finally caught up to Maggie and took her gloved hands into my numb, naked ones. “Maggie, stop. Please, can we have a civilized conversation about this? I didn’t mean—”
“You know how this town loves to talk. But you blabbed anyway about how I took you to Vernon’s Bluff. You mentioned Adam’s name.”
“I wasn’t thinking—”
“Clearly.”
“Please, Maggie. I’m here for ten more days. Don’t make the next ten days awkward or difficult for either of us. I promise, I won’t mention Adam again.”
“Mention whatever the hell you want, Roman. Not like saying his name will bring him back from the dead. Good night.”
With that, Maggie shook me off and disappeared into the darkness. A bitter taste flooded the back of my throat and guilt coiled in my belly. Rhodes was right, I really cocked up my relationship with Maggie. All because I wanted to know too much too soon. Kicking a mound of snow by the side of the road, I let out a string of expletives before shuffling back to the lodge.
Chapter 16
Ten Days Left
“Give me twenty-four hours and the keys to the lodge,” I announced the next morning. “When you come back, I’ve got a surprise planned.”
I had had just over five hours of sleep last night and felt groggy, to say the least. I looked over at Mercy, who looked half-asleep herself.
Mercy fiddled with her keyring. It had a dirty rabbit’s foot attached to a set of about twenty brass keys. “I don’t like surprises, Roman. Not one bit.” She looked like I’d asked her for her left kidney.
“What exactly do you intend on doing to this place?” Langston asked.
My eyes were raw from sleep deprivation, and my patience a thin membrane about to snap. “Just trust me,” I said, holding out my hand. “Take a day off, and we’ll reconvene Wednesday at noon.”
Mercy reluctantly gave me her master set of keys. They were heavier and colder than they looked. In a hushed voice, she added, “Does this have anything to do with catching the thief?”
I nodded and said in a lowered voice, “A part of it, yes.”
She gave me a wink. “Good man, then. Thank you, dear.”
“You’re welcome.”
Langston put a heavy hand on my shoulder. “We’re trusting you with our livelihood,” he reminded me. “Don’t go screwing it up now.”
As if that was even possible, I wanted to say. I gave them a few more nods. “Your baby is safe with me. Now go, I’ve got lots to do.”
My design team arrived half an hour after Mercy and Langston had gone. They pulled up in the company truck, and Rhea gave me a wave from the driver’s seat. I’d worked with her on two other occasions, and she was one of the most talented and easy-going individuals I’d ever met. She exited the vehicle wearing a poofy vest and knee-high boots. “Roman Finnegan. Haven’t seen you in about a year. How are you?”
“Well, thanks. How’s Teddy?” I asked, referring to her ancient dachshund. Rhea never married, and she didn’t have any children, so Teddy was her everything.
“He passed away last month,” Rhea said. “I was glad to see his suffering end.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Anyway, I didn’t fly half-way around the world to talk about my dog,” Rhea said, combing through her frizzy brown hair with her fingers. “I’ve got the plans.”
“Let’s have a look then.” I led Rhea inside and down the hall until we arrived at a small meeting room.
Rhea let out a low whistle as she surveyed the lodge. “The view’s incredible. Everything’s a bit dated, but it’s got great character.”
I nodded. “I want to preserve the rustic charm, but spruce up the décor a bit. Make it the perfect blend of historical and modern. Nothing’s been renovated or fixed really for thirty years.”
Rhea took out her laptop and pulled up some plans. “I stayed up most of the flight perfecting these,” she said, beaming. “You’re going to love it.”
I looked at the blueprint. Rhea had created a 3D rendering that looked exactly like the description I’d given her over the phone. “Brilliant,” I said. “There’s a reason you’re my go-to designer. I love this. Let’s get started, then.” I scribbled down my number in case Rhea had questions. Then I left her team to work their magic.
After I left Rhea, I met Sylvan and Maggie outside Daisy’s Café. Maggie was wearing the same clothes as last night. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. “Morning, Roman,” she said, without her characteristic smile.
“Sleep all right, Maggie?”
She shook her head. “It’s not important. I see your team has started renovations. What’s the plan, exactly?”
“You’ll see tomorrow,” I said. “When I give everyone a tour.”
“You have that much confidence in your plan, boy?” Sylvan asked, eyeing my work crew as they brought their equipment inside. “If Langston and Mercy hate it, they’ll crucify you.”
“How can they hate me for improving their lodge, for free?”
“What Sylvan means is, Mom and Dad are very…old-fashioned. And particular about…everything. About the way things are run around here. They don’t like change.”
I frowned. “But change is just what this place needs. It’s screaming for a makeover.”
“Try telling that to them,” Sylvan said. “God knows I’ve given up on that front.”
“They begged me to come here and fix their hotel. I’m going above and beyond their expectations,” I said. “They’ll be overwhelmed with gratitude.”
Maggie clucked, “A bit presumptuous, aren’t we, Mr. Finnegan?”
“Like I said, Mags, modesty never got anyone anywhere.”
“What about Mother Theresa?” Maggie retorted.
“Died poor,” I said. “Respected, but poor.”
“So it’s all about money, then?”
“No, but money helps,” I said. “Now, come with me. I’d like to introduce you to a very important couple.”
“The president and his wife?” Sylvan asked, smirking.
“Not quite,” I said. “Follow me.”
Near a private booth by the kitchen, I sat Sylvan and Maggie down and introduced them to Wesley Bates and Bella Whittaker. Both were in their late twenties. Wesley wore an oversized hoodie and half-moon specs that sat crookedly on a bulbous nose. His fiancée wore a white jumper dotted with little blue snowflakes. Her lipstick was slightly smudged, and some of it clung to her front teeth.
“Bella here is the mayor’s daughter, as I’m sure you know.”
Maggie nodded, her lips tense. “We’ve met.”
“Wesley and Bella are getting married next week,” I announced, hoping Maggie would connect the dots.
“Congratulations. What does that have to do with—”
“They want to host the wedding at Crescent Hill Lodge.”
Sylvan and Maggie both gasped. “No way!”
“It’s true.” Bella beamed, batting her eyelashes at Wesley.
“We will transform the foyer into a ceremony space, and the restaurant into the reception area. Their wedding planner, Adele Morgan, will discuss the details with your staff tomorrow when we unveil the new space.”
“This…is crazy,” Sylvan muttered. “It can’t be done.”
Maggie did the math in her head. “Next week…that’s around Christmas! We’ll be swamped.”
“It’ll happen on the twenty-first, day of the Winter Solstice,” I said. “We have a lot to do till then.”
“How many guests? What about the menu? Décor?” Sylvan stumbled over her own words. “It can’t be done. Six days isn’t enough time to pull this off!”
“You forget, I’ve got my team of twenty from London here to help. And my friend, Daniel Dumont, the executive chef. And me, of course. It can be done. I’ve pulled off more extravagant events in a shorter time frame.”
“It needs to be perfect,” Wesley said, his long, knobby fingers intertwined with Bella’s short, slender ones. “I want to give my fiancée the wedding of a lifetime.”
“No pressure, though,” Bella said, flashing her straight teeth. “I don’t have any over-the-top expectations or anything.”
“If your expectations are anything like senior prom night, then we’re in trouble,” Maggie muttered.
Bella straightened her back and wrinkled her nose. “Magnolia Summers, that was over ten years ago!”
Maggie bit her lip and sneered. “You made Carl buy you a thousand-dollar prom dress when he made six bucks an hour at the diner.”
Bella looked at her fiancé, and then looked at Maggie. She flipped her dark hair back and sighed. “He offered. I didn’t make him buy me anything.”
“How much is the wedding dress you’ll be wearing next week?”
Bella froze.
Clearly, there was some bad blood between them.
I held out my hand. “Enough, ladies.” I turned to Maggie and hissed, “Maggie, outside, now.”
Maggie grabbed her things and bolted out the door. Sylvan remained inside, flashing the engaged couple an awkward smile.
Once outside, I cried, “What the hell was that all about? They’re your customers, Maggie. Their wedding will boost—”
“Wh
y them? Why a wedding?” Maggie cried, clutching the sides of her head with shaky hands.
“Weddings are one of the largest industries in America,” I pointed out. “Whatever beef you have with that woman in there, let it go. Those two will help turn Crescent Hill around.”
“More like destroy it.”
“You mentioned Carl. I’m assuming she dated your ex-boyfriend? Greg’s father?”
Maggie looked away.
“Maggie, that was over ten years ago. Bella has a point. Things are different now. She’s found somebody. She’s getting married, and she wants to do it at your parent’s lodge. This is a blessing for your family. A rare opportunity.”
Maggie’s eyes watered. “What if…What if Carl shows up?”
I tilted Maggie’s chin up. “Is that what you’re worried about? That your son’s deadbeat father might show up for his high school fling’s wedding? C’mon, Maggie, you’re not thinking straight.”
“It’s possible,” she said. “I haven’t seen him in ten years. I couldn’t bear it if—”
“He won’t be there. And if, for some unknown reason, he does show up, so what? You need to show him you’re better without him. That you’re happy with your life.”
“He’s my Achille’s Heel, Roman. I wish I was stronger, but I’m not. Just the thought of Carl makes me panic. I’ll make a scene, I know it.”
I pulled Maggie into my arms and breathed in her heady scent. “Hey. Hey, you’ve got me. I’ll make sure he doesn’t come near you. Now c’mon, let’s head back inside and discuss the wedding.” I brushed my thumb across Maggie’s wet cheek. “Cheer up, love. Everything’s going to be okay.”
Maggie nodded and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I freaked out in there.”
“Just remember, I’m on your side, Maggie. I have your family’s best interest at heart.”
“Do we have a better attitude now that Mr. Finnegan has given you the talk?” Bella taunted, taking a sip of her coffee. Her lacquered nails drummed against the Formica tabletop.
“No need to be rude, Bells,” Wesley said.
