by Leanne Banks
“Truth,” Vivian said and lifted her hand.
Temple lifted hers and pressed it against Vivian’s. “Maybe it would be better if we didn’t keep so many secrets from each other. Yes?”
“Yes,” Vivian said and pulled her sister against her in a hug.
* * *
The following morning, Vivian and her sisters worked nonstop. Vivian still hadn’t heard from Corinne Whitman Jergenson and refused to concentrate on that. If that deal didn’t work out, another one would.
By the end of the day, she and her sisters ate cheeseburgers prepared by Jilly.
“Best burger in the world,” Vivian said.
“Same,” Temple said.
“You’re just starving,” Jilly said with a laugh.
“No, really,” Vivian said. “Grilled onions and cheese.”
“Mustard and steak sauce,” Temple added.
Jilly laughed again. “Well, I’m glad you enjoyed them. By the way, have either of you heard from Mother?”
Vivian nearly choked. “Mother?”
“Yes,” she said as she dipped her burger into a combined sauce of mustard and steak sauce. “I received a strange email. I’ve changed phones several times, so she can’t reach me that way. I was surprised to hear from her because she doesn’t contact me very often.”
“What kind of email?” Temple asked, wiping her mouth. “There’s a lot of spam out there.”
“This looked legit,” Jilly said. “She mentioned both of you. And Honeymoon Mountain.”
Vivian swore under her breath. “Delete it. Please.”
Vivian felt Jilly searching both her face and Temple’s. “Why?”
“She doesn’t like it that we’re trying to make Honeymoon Mountain work,” Vivian said. “Mom has talents and skills, but she can also be a negative influence. We don’t need that right now.”
“Hmm,” Jilly said. “Maybe she needs yoga.”
“Yeah,” Temple said. “Good luck with that. Yoga meets the devil.” She shook her head. “I didn’t just say that.”
“Of course you didn’t,” Vivian said, but she knew Jilly was watching and unfortunately hoping for a happily-ever-after with their mother. Vivian was determined to protect her little sister.
An hour later, Vivian holed herself in her room, working on the webpage for the resort. Although she was tired, she was determined to make headway. A knock sounded at her door. Vivian assumed it was one of her sisters. “Come on in,” she called.
“Hello,” a wonderfully familiar male voice said.
A delicious shiver raced down her spine, and she spun around to look at Benjamin. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m taking you away. You need to escape.”
Chapter Ten
“Escape?” Vivian echoed, feeling a flash of excitement. “What do you have in mind?”
“Just trust me,” he said. “Grab a cap and sunglasses.”
“It’s too dark for sunglasses,” she said.
“They’re only for emergency purposes,” he said. “When you need to pretend you’re a movie star in disguise.”
She couldn’t help giggling. “Movie star? Oh, this sounds fun.”
“Are you in?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Let me grab my cap and sunglasses.”
A moment later, she allowed him to lead her out the door, down the road of perdition. Sitting in his SUV, she turned to him. “Are we going to a strip club?”
Benjamin stared at her in shock. “What the—” He shook his head. “No. This is mostly good, clean fun.”
“Well, darn,” she said.
He shot her a quick glance. “Are you serious?”
She laughed. “No. I’m giddy over the adventure. I’ve been so focused.”
“Time to change your focus,” he said and turned up the radio.
“I feel a little guilty,” she said. “My sisters could use a change of focus, too.”
“Tomorrow or the next day,” he said. “Tonight is for you.”
She laughed again. “I can’t wait to see my escape.”
He reached over and placed his hand over hers. “I think you’ll like it.”
Twenty minutes later, he drove into a small town.
“Where are we?” she asked.
“Crackerville,” he said. “They hold a multicultural festival every year. Latin, Native American, Scottish, everything you can imagine. Put on your cap and you’ll fit right in.”
Vivian donned her cap and stepped out of his SUV to the competing sounds of Latin music and bagpipes. “What a combination,” she said.
He chuckled and took her hand. “Embrace your escape,” he said and led her into the crowd.
Latin dancers were teaching people their movements. “Go for it,” he said and pushed her into the crowd.
Vivian glanced back at him, then did her best to follow the dances. She laughed throughout the routine. “Oh, pooh,” she said as she stumbled repeatedly, but she made it through. She turned around to find Benjamin smiling as he watched her.
She ran toward him. “Happy now that I made a fool of myself?”
“You were no fool,” he said. “You had great rhythm.”
“You flatter me,” she said and put her arm around his waist. “Where to next?”
“Let’s eat something really bad,” he suggested.
“That sounds good to me,” she said.
After a round of shared brats and a funnel cake, Vivian grabbed her stomach. “I’m so full I can barely walk,” she said, then saw a row of arts and crafts vendors. “Oh, wait. Let’s go look at the crafts.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to sit down?” Benjamin asked.
She shook her head. “I need to walk off this full feeling. Might as well shop,” she said with a smile.
“If you say so,” he said, and they walked toward the vendors.
He watched her slide her fingers over scarves, and she even purchased one and asked for the artist’s card. Next she admired pottery but didn’t make a purchase. Then she arrived at a row of jewelers. At that moment, he felt an indescribable itch, as if this might not be the best idea. He glanced down the row, saw his sister showing her wares and decided they needed to leave. Immediately.
“Hey, does your stomach feel better? We should probably head back,” he said, pulling down his cap and adjusting his sunglasses.
“What do you mean? We’re just getting to the good stuff,” she said and moved to the next vendor.
Benjamin wasn’t sure if he should abandon her for a few moments or stick it out. He just didn’t want Vivian and his sister to meet. He didn’t welcome the questions that would follow from either of them.
Vivian viewed the jewelry from the first two vendors, then moved to his sister’s stall. “Oh, wow,” she said. “This is stunning, and you have so much to offer. I love the blue topaz, and the jade is gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” his sister said. “I’ve been busy. I’m always trying new ways—” She looked at Benjamin and broke off. “Hey, there,” she said. “Are you going to introduce me?”
Benjamin sighed. He was caught. “Eliza, this is Vivian,” he said. “Eliza is my sister,” he added.
Vivian’s eyes rounded. “Oh,” she said. “I’m so pleased to meet you.”
“Same for me,” Eliza said. “I thought you would be more prissy.”
Benjamin rolled his eyes. Thank goodness his expression was hidden by his sunglasses.
Vivian opened her mouth, then shut it, as if she was searching for a response. “Well, I’ve spent a lot of time painting the lodge,” she managed.
“Oh, it wasn’t a criticism,” Eliza said. “You’re just so naturally pretty. And nice.”
Vi
vian glanced at Benjamin. “I don’t know what you’ve heard about me, but I do try to be kind. Mean is ugly every language.”
Eliza laughed. “So true. I think you and I would get along just fine.”
“I love your work, but I’m finding it hard to choose,” Vivian said, clearly changing the subject.
“Blue topaz necklace,” Eliza said. “It will match your eyes. It’s on me.”
“Oh, no, you’re too generous,” Vivian said, pulling money from her pocket. “May I have your card?”
“Sure,” Eliza said. She reluctantly accepted Vivian’s money, then reached up to press her lips against Benjamin’s cheek. “She’s nicer than I expected.”
“Yeah, great,” Benjamin said and gently pulled Vivian away from his sister’s jewelry stall.
“She’s darling,” Vivian said. “A little outspoken,” she added.
“That’s putting it mildly,” he muttered.
“What do you mean?” she asked. “You almost act as if you didn’t want her to meet me.”
“How quickly we forget,” he said. “You didn’t want to out me to your sisters.”
“Well, that’s different. I have to lead. They need to believe that I’m level and unaffected by my hormones.”
“So I make you hormonal?” he asked.
She playfully slapped at him. “Times ten.”
“But I don’t involve your intellect?” he said.
“You involve everything. That’s why you’re so much trouble,” she said and reached up to kiss him.
Benjamin drove back to the lodge and stopped just before the door in case Vivian was trying to go incognito. She turned to him. “This was wonderful. You have no idea how much I needed it.” She lifted her head toward him, and his mouth immediately took hers.
Their kiss quickly turned passionate. Vivian squeezed his shoulders. He trailed his hands toward her breasts.
The windows fogged.
Vivian dropped her head to his chest. “I know this sounds strange, but I want us to go a little slower.”
Although he was aroused, he ground his teeth to settle down. “Good idea.”
“But hard,” she said.
“You have no idea,” he said.
She stroked his jaw, and that touch made him feel tender and loved. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he said. “I’ll take a cold shower.”
“I will, too,” she said and left his SUV.
Somehow, the fact that she would also be suffering gave him a little comfort.
* * *
Vivian didn’t sleep well that night. Her bladder and hormones seemed to bother her. She couldn’t get comfortable. Was she getting ready to start her period? It occurred to her when she rose the next morning that she might have rested much better if she and Benjamin had slept together. Such a forbidden thought, but heaven help her, she felt grumpy.
Pushing through her mood, she took a shower and pulled her hair back in a ponytail. She grabbed her laptop, walked to the kitchen, turned on the coffeemaker and strode to the porch, where Jilly was doing yoga.
“Namaste,” Vivian said in a low voice.
Jilly struck a difficult pose. “Yeah,” she said in a non-namaste voice.
“Are you okay?” Vivian asked.
Jillian took a deep breath. “I haven’t actually spoken to Mother, but I still feel freaked out.”
“Welcome to my world,” Vivian said.
Jillian made a face. “I don’t want to feel that way, so I think we should have a party.”
“Excuse me?” Vivian said.
Jillian settled into a cross-legged pose. “I think we should have a party. Invite vendors we may need and include the community.”
“It sounds like a lot of work,” Vivian said.
“It sounds like a lot of money,” Temple said as she walked into the screened-in porch. She shoved her hair out of her eyes and sighed as she sat down in a chair.
“It doesn’t have to be a lot of work or money,” Jillian said. “We could keep it easy with cakes and lemonade by Duane and Darcy. We could also limit the time, make it short and sweet. It would be good for our PR. You haven’t heard back from the uptight Atlanta socialite, have you?”
“Not yet,” Vivian said, and she was secretly losing hope.
“So, why not?” Jillian asked.
Temple sighed. “I can think of a million reasons why not, but maybe we should do it. Being static won’t move us forward.”
“Okay, let’s do it,” Vivian said. “I’ll start compiling a guest list.”
“And what’s the news about you and Benjamin?” Jillian asked.
“I don’t really want to talk about it,” she said. “But he’s pretty great.” She lifted her hand. “Don’t ask more.”
“Chicken,” Temple said.
“I could say something,” Vivian said, thinking about Temple’s vaping issue.
“Nothing, nothing, nothing,” Temple said.
“What don’t I know?” Jillian asked.
“Nothing, nothing, nothing,” Temple repeated.
“Sounds like a lie to me,” Jillian said.
“Namaste,” Vivian said. “Trust me.”
Jillian smiled. “Okay, namaste.”
That afternoon, Vivian began to put together a list. The more she thought about it, the more she agreed that a party was a good idea. They’d done a lot of rehab on the lodge and the cabins. After all this work, they needed to round up the community in hopes of getting support. They would need plumbers, electricians for continuing maintenance and bed-and-breakfasts for support. There may be times when they will have an overflow of guests. This will be a short-notice invite.
Vivian talked with Grayson. “We need to make a signature drink for this party,” she said.
“Rye whiskey and bourbon,” he suggested.
She shook her head. “No. It needs to appeal to both women and men. We need two drinks so that there are options. Suggestions?” she asked.
“Old-fashioned Honeymoon Mountain,” he said.
“Do I need to know what’s in it?” she asked.
“Not really,” he said. “Rye whiskey, Bourbon and a few other things.”
“Okay, option two?” she said.
“Honeymoon Mountain martini,” he said.
“What’s in it?”
“I don’t know. Vodka and sweet stuff.”
“Can you be a little more specific?”
“Peach? You want some peach. How about some sparkle?”
“That sounds fabulous,” she said. “Prepare it for me before you serve it.”
“I can do that,” he said and winked. “I’ll surprise you.”
They put the party together in record time, and invitees responded quickly. She barely had a chance to see Benjamin. He seemed to be just as busy in town as she was at the lodge. In fact, the last few nights he’d spent in town. She’d sent him a message inviting him to the party, and he’d sent a text apologizing that he was slammed and couldn’t make it. Maybe that was for the best.
She felt edgy and couldn’t quite explain why, but she was determined to remain focused. The day of the party, as she dressed, she realized she was late for her period. She wasn’t the most regular, but... Vivian couldn’t focus on that. She had a party to host.
Walking out in last year’s Lilly Pulitzer, she joined Temple and Jillian. Jillian was sparkling like a bright diamond.
Jilly rubbed her hands together. “This is going to be so much fun. I’ve planned the music,” she said.
“Music?” Vivian asked.
Rap sounded from speakers.
“Really?” Temple asked. “You couldn’t choose jazz?”
“This is just to get us revved
up,” Jilly said.
“Or on edge,” Temple muttered.
“Stop being a party pooper,” Jilly said and pulled Temple into an impromptu dance.
“This isn’t my thing,” Temple said, awkwardly moving around.
“Stretch yourself,” Jilly said. “It’ll be good for you.”
“Heaven help me,” Temple said, but continued to dance.
The doorbell rang, and Jillian clicked the remote. Frank Sinatra oozed through the speakers. “Showtime,” she said and pranced toward the front door.
“I want her to represent me at all times,” Temple said. “She’s so bubbly and friendly. I just want to hide.”
“You have your skills,” Vivian said. “Don’t diminish them.”
“If you say so,” Temple said. “How are you feeling? You seem a little quiet.”
“I’m just getting primed. I’m glad this will last only an afternoon. Getting my smile on,” she said.
“Me, too,” Temple said, lifting her lips in a grin that was clearly fake and looked more like a grimace.
“You need to work on that. Think of something funny,” Vivian said.
“Nothing’s funny at the moment,” Temple said.
“Then ask someone to tell you a joke,” Vivian said. “It’s go time.”
Despite feeling physically unsettled in a vague way, she marched toward the front door, planted a smile on her face and greeted guests. She chatted and collected business cards in a fishbowl.
Near the end of the open house, a blonde woman approached her. “Hey, I’m Eliza. I didn’t get an invitation, but I hope it’s okay that I came.”
It took a moment before Vivian recognized Benjamin’s sister. “Oh, it’s lovely to see you again. I’m glad you came. Have you had a bite of our lemon squares or one of our signature drinks?”
“I grabbed a bite of a lemon square. Delicious. I don’t drink, though,” Eliza said.
“No problem,” Vivian said. “We have other beverages.”
“I’m okay,” Eliza said. “I can see why Benjamin is fascinated by you. You’re beautiful, and you just seem to sparkle.”
“You’re very kind. Is there something I can do for you?”
“Well, now that you mention it, I have this idea of opening a jewelry and accessory stall at your resort. And I’d like to be a part of it,” Eliza said.
