by Jackie Wang
“You owe me, Finnegan,” Rhea said. “I’ve been up thirty-six hours now. No amount of Red Bull and coffee is going to keep me up much longer.”
“Complimentary stays at any of my hotels for the next year, how’s that, Rhea?”
Rhea smirked. “That’s more like it.” She turned to Mercy. “Lady, if you change your mind one more time, you’ll have to hire your own people to do your bidding.”
Mercy nodded so much it looked like she was trying to give herself whiplash. “I’ve made up my mind. Won’t be changing it.”
After Rhea and her team had gone, I asked, “So, Mercy, what changed your mind?”
“Well, Maggie gave us a sensible talk and…and just now, when I saw how Bella’s face lit up entering the lodge…I want all our guests to feel that way when they come in.”
“And they will. Trust me, Mercy. I’m on your side. I’ve got over a decade of experience. I know what makes a hotel tick and how to fix it. I know what guests want.”
“I believe you.” Mercy nodded emphatically, eyes wide and unblinking. “I trust you, Roman.”
“You should’ve believed me from day one. I’d never steer you wrong. After all, my reputation is on the line just as much as yours.”
Mercy kept nodding. Then she crooked her finger and begged me to come closer.
I leaned in.
“Listen, have your team uh…put up some cameras or something? You know to track—”
“Yes. Rest assured, I will catch the culprit before I leave. Justice will be served, as long as we all agree to cooperate.”
“Perfect. That’s great. Thank you, Roman.” Mercy’s dry lips cracked into a grin. “You’re the hero we don’t deserve. Thank you for staying with us.”
Later, I saw Langston having a smoke outside with Jesse. They were leaning against their Dodge Ram and staring out at the pale horizon. The two paused mid-conversation, and looked up at me, caution mingled with exhaustion on their faces. They seemed calmer now, especially Langston, whose stricken face looked more ashamed than anything.
“Did Mercy—” Langston began, staring at his boots, and kicking up snow.
“Yes, she did.”
“And?”
“And, I wanted to talk to you,” I said. “In private.”
I glanced at Jesse, who nodded and started shuffling back to the lodge. “See you later, Pops.”
Once Jesse was out of earshot, Langston unlocked his truck and gestured for me to hop in.
“I could use a break. How about you?” Langston asked, rubbing his eyes. He stubbed out his cigarette and tossed it into a bin.
I nodded, mouth in a firm line. “I haven’t eaten all day.”
“How about I buy you a beer and some lunch at the Bearclaw?”
I nodded. “Sounds good.” Both of us were calmer now, and I hoped to have a rational conversation about the lodge’s future. And perhaps try to understand him better as a man, too.
As Langston pulled out of the parking lot, I jumped straight to the point. “Mercy wants me to stay.”
“Yes. We had a talk. We both want you to stay,” Langston said, focused on the road.
My brows pinched together. “Sure didn’t seem that way earlier.”
“I was angry. I—I have quite a temper, as you’ve probably realized by now,” Langston said. “I don’t think before I speak. I’m a straight shooter. Always have been.”
“You know I’m here to help, not harm your business,” I pointed out.
Langston nodded. “And we’ve been ungrateful.”
“From what I understand, things began going south five years ago,” I began cautiously.
If I could get this stubborn old man to open up to me about his painful past, perhaps I’d get through to him, and help him change.
“Adam,” Langston said. He let out a dry cough.
“Maggie told me everything,” I said.
“She did?”
“You sound surprised.”
“She doesn’t usually talk about him to anyone, especially not a stranger.”
“Do you think that Adam’s death led to unforeseeable repercussions for this family and this business?” I had to choose my words carefully now. After all, I was prodding at an old, deep-rooted splinter. This conversation would either push the splinter deeper or pull it out.
“It wasn’t Maggie’s fault. I never blamed her. Neither did Jesse. But Mercy…she took it hard,” Langston began, his cheeks wobbling. “Mercy’s never been quite the same since. She has her good days, but…a lot of bad ones too. My boy…what happened to him…it broke this family. We’ve been struggling ever since.”
“Is that why everyone is so averse to change?”
“Perhaps.” Langston sighed. “Our lives stopped the day they found my son’s body. We haven’t been really living since.” He pulled into the Bearclaw Pub’s parking lot and cut the engine. For the first time, I noticed tears welling in Langston’s eyes. I’d never seen him so vulnerable. All of a sudden, he wasn’t the stubborn bull of a man I’d first met. He was just an old man who’d lost his son too soon. Parents should never have to bury their child.
“I’ve had to stay strong. For Mercy’s sake. For Maggie and Jesse’s sakes. I couldn’t show too much grief because I needed to be there to comfort my wife, my family. My marriage has been rocky at best for the past five years. Some days, it gets unbearable, Roman. Last night, Mercy had this nightmare again. The one she always gets. Where she pushes Adam off the cliff and kills him. When she’s not blaming Maggie, she’s blaming herself for Adam’s death. No one can get through to her.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” I whispered, resting a hand on Langston’s shoulders. “But now is the perfect time to turn over a new leaf, so to speak.”
Langston nodded, his hands shaking. Then, his entire body began shaking. He ran both hands through his hair. “I’ve never told anyone any of this before. Ridiculous, but true. I’ve been bottling it up inside for five whole fucking years.”
“I think what this family needs is to have a proper chat,” I said. “Communicate. Share. Heal. There are too many unspoken words, too many misunderstandings. Maggie still blames herself. Thinks she can’t heal or move on because no one else has. It’s time to talk, Langston.”
“You’re right, Roman. I-I think…I’ll have a chat with Mercy tonight. We’ll all have a long chat.”
“That’s a fantastic idea.” I squeezed Langston’s shoulder. “You’ve gone through something no father should ever go through. I don’t pretend to understand your grief or your loss. But I do know that this family needs to be united now, more than ever.”
Langston blew his nose into a crumpled napkin. “Thank you, Roman. You’re a good man. I appreciate this. I’m so sorry I had a fit this morning. It wasn’t right. I wasn’t thinking straight. I was stressed out.”
“It’s alright, Langston. Now that I understand the situation a bit more, I can better see where you are coming from. I think we’ve taken a very important, crucial step today.” I opened the passenger side door. “How about that beer now?”
Langston flashed me a weak smile. “First round’s on me.”
Chapter 24
Once Langston and I got back from lunch, I slipped into the back office to check on the renovations there. Rhea had installed a hidden micro-cam on one of the bookshelves. It was disguised as part of a bookend. I ran my fingers along the new décor, satisfied that they came back clean. And I had no doubt we’d catch the pesky thief soon enough too. My plan was falling into place, and as long as the owners could see that I was on their side, we’d fix this place in no time. Hopefully, the Summers family would have a heart-to-heart soon, to heal old wounds, and help them move on with their lives. Once they finally finished grieving, I had no doubt their business would improve too.
I spent the rest of the day overseeing the remainder of the renovations. The addition of new curtains, bedspreads, pillows and furniture elevated the lodge to new heights. Each suite
was now complete with deluxe 1000-thread count sheets and covers. The ugly wallpaper had been removed and replaced with a neutral and sophisticated pattern. All the carpets had been professionally steam-cleaned. The mold was removed, and rotten window ledges replaced. Taxidermy heads, spooky paintings, and strange knick-knacks had been replaced by elegant, modern abstract prints and blown glass statuettes. I’d even emptied out an old storage room to install an industrial washer and dryer, so they didn’t need to hand wash anything anymore. The changes were night and day, really. I’d personally contributed ten-thousand dollars to the cause. Not a huge sum, in my opinion, but certainly a generous one to this small-town family. Hopefully, all my efforts wouldn’t get flushed down the shitter as soon as I returned to the UK.
Over the weekend, Daniel continued to train the kitchen staff, helping them not only prep for the regular, day-to-day menu but also the more elaborate wedding menu. We worked grueling, thirteen-hour days, and rarely took breaks. It was the hardest I’d ever worked on a charity project. But I didn’t mind, because I knew that by the end of all of this, Crescent Hill would never serve disgusting slop again in their restaurant. I knew, that by the end of this, Crescent Hill would thrive, and that thought made me unbelievably excited.
Bella and Wesley were planning to go all out for their wedding. No expenses spared. They wanted a five-star dining experience: the finest, freshest seafood; everything made from scratch. Something Michelin-star worthy. And I intended to give them what they wanted and more.
If the Summers family could pull this off without a hitch, the publicity alone should keep them afloat until late spring or summer. When I wasn’t training Ray, Bob, Oz and Rhodes, I was working with my PR team, and rallying interest from the island’s residents, inviting them to the grand re-opening party on Christmas Eve. I encouraged them to bring all their family and friends. I footed the entire bill for that as well. I’d begun investing more in this charity project than I’d planned, but that didn’t matter, as long as we were successful by the end.
I spent so much time buried in work that I’d hardly noticed time was running out for Maggie and me. The night before the wedding, I suddenly realized I was leaving in four days, and Maggie still hadn’t responded to my invitation. In fact, we’d been so busy we’d hardly seen each other during the past week. Apparently, the boys got the flu, so Maggie had to take time off work to look after them.
Perhaps all of that was her way of rejecting my offer. Perhaps she was being polite by not telling me outright. Maybe she was afraid of hurting my feelings. Not that I’d take grave offense if she really said no.
Still…I needed to make sure.
I had to know how she felt about me.
Chapter 25
3 Days Left
“So, what exactly did you say to your mother?” I asked Maggie, gently running my fingers against the back of her hand.
“Hmm?”
“Mercy. Her behavior has drastically improved,” I said. I looked up, and watched the wedding planner, Adele Morgan, and her staff bustle around, setting up the foyer.
Maggie shrugged. “Showed her some tough love, I guess. She needed somebody to give her a wake-up call.” Maggie turned to me, smiling. She gave my hand a squeeze, and even this tiny gesture made my heart skip a beat. The memory of those hands exploring my body made my breath shallow. “Thank you, for staying. I know how badly you wanted to leave,” she said.
I traced her knuckles with the pad of my thumb. “I was just angry. I wasn’t actually going to just abandon the entire project.” I sighed. “I’m not an irresponsible man.”
“You’re the opposite of every man I’ve ever been with,” Maggie said, beaming. I loved the way the corners of her eyes crinkled when she smiled. The way the sunlight flirted with her silky hair.
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Well, seeing as how my sons’ fathers both left me and abandoned their children, I’d say it’s a good thing.”
We both laughed. We were supposed to be working, but all I wanted to do was pull her up against me and kiss the hell out of her. Kiss her everywhere. I wanted to feather my lips against her eyelids, the tip of her nose, her earlobe, her inner wrist…Make her breathe and sing my name.
“Dad said you and him had a chat,” Maggie said.
“We did. He opened up about Adam’s death, and I think he really needed that. It was cathartic. Healing for him.”
“He’s been in a better mood ever since,” Maggie agreed. “We even had a family meeting last night. First time we’ve ever done that.”
“Oh? How did it go?”
“My parents, me, and Jesse, we each took turns talking. Expressing how we felt about Adam’s death. I don’t know what you said to my dad, but he’s different now. In a good way. I think, he’s finally ready to move on.”
“And Mercy?”
“Mom…She’s a bit harder to convince. She gets too emotional about everything. Everything overwhelms her. But she’s a work in progress. So am I, I guess. But we hugged it out before going to bed. I think she just needs more time than the rest of us.”
I reached for Maggie’s hand and squeezed it tight between both of mine. “I’m so glad to hear that, Maggie. This family has had its differences, but deep down inside, you all love each other, and I have no doubt you four can make this lodge shine again.” I planted a soft kiss on her forehead.
“Thank you, Roman. It’s all thanks to you.”
“No, I’m just the facilitator. I only offer suggestions. It’s up to you and your family whether or not you want to implement these suggestions.”
We watched Adele’s staff bustling around the foyer, bringing in extravagant centerpieces. Maggie nodded to the heavy vases overflowing with cream and lavender hydrangeas. “You know, Bella’s really…outdone herself. I don’t even know where they got so many hydrangeas in the dead of winter. Shipping them to the island must’ve cost a small fortune.”
“Is Magnolia Summers feeling a bit jealous?” I teased, nudging her shoulder. “It’s okay if you are.”
Maggie let out an almost imperceptible sigh. “I suppose it can be a bit difficult, watching someone you went to high school with getting married. Especially since I’ve got two older boys already and I’ve never even been engaged before.”
“You’re still young, Maggie. Anything could happen. The world is just waiting for you to embrace it.”
Maggie stroked my stubbled cheek, her lips inches away from mine. “Roman, you’ve shown me more in the past eleven days than anyone else has in years. You’ve changed my family’s life, I thank you for that.”
I wove my fingers through hers and stole a brief kiss from her. One kiss turned into two, then three. “I’m still waiting for your answer, Mags. You haven’t—”
Maggie shook her head. “It’s already too late. I haven’t applied for a visa. The hotel will get busier now, no doubt, after this wedding publicity. My parents will need all the help they can get. I’m irreplaceable here.”
I clenched my jaw and stroked her chin with my thumb. “And what about us? Don’t we deserve a helping hand? I don’t want to give up on what we have here.”
“I was raised to be a no-nonsense kind of gal,” Maggie said. “I need to make realistic, rational decisions about my future. And the boys’ future.”
I wanted to retort, Your decision to cling onto the past and ruminate over Adam’s death wasn’t very rational. But I held back and said nothing.
She was trying to let me down easy. But somehow, her half-whispered words just didn’t want to register in my mind.
Each syllable that escaped her lips felt like a dagger scraping the pit of my stomach. She was lying. To herself, and to me. There was no way she didn’t want to be with me as much as I wanted to be with her. The way I felt whenever our lips touched…I knew she enjoyed every stolen kiss as much as I did.
“I guess…You’ve made your choice.”
“I like you, Roman, I really do. It was no
t an easy decision to make.” Maggie squeezed my hand. “You need to believe me. I lost sleep for days thinking about it. You’ve given me a magical gift this holiday: the gift of hope. You’ve made me believe in the impossible: that love and generosity and kindness still exist in this cold, hard world.”
I stood up straighter and squared my shoulders. “I’ve still got three days left to change your mind, right?”
Maggie wiped her hands on her apron. “I guess. But there’s no way I’m flying back to the UK with you. It’s impossible.”
I winked. “I’m not giving up yet.”
I couldn’t give up yet. Roman Finnegan was no quitter.
After I had left Maggie, I went to the restaurant to see how food prep was going. Daniel was spearheading the entire extravaganza, barking orders over hissing griddles and flaming pans. It was organized chaos in there, but he paused in the midst of it all and gave me a sweaty-browed wink and a thumbs up.
“Good work!” I shouted over the din. “Thank you, Daniel. Smells great in here.”
“It tastes even better,” he replied.
As I was heading out to see if Adele wanted help with anything, I saw Tina and Rhodes disappear into the Summers’ office. What the hell were they doing in there? I knew Langston and Mercy were both outside shoveling snow. Jesse and Caitlyn were spreading tablecloths and laying place settings in the dining room. Tina and Rhodes were supposed to be helping with the setup in the foyer.
Something was off.
I snuck up to the office and pressed my ear to the door. Tina and Rhodes spoke in barely audible voices. I squinted my eyes and crouched down, hoping to get a better listen. Could this be it? Were they the culprits we were after? Of course, I could check the security footage later, but it would be better if I could catch them red-handed right now.
“It’s not right…I…we shouldn’t…”
“They won’t know…We need to…”
