Alaska Reunion

by Jennifer Snow

  “Hi, Claire. I’m Ellie, the store manager... We met earlier.”

  Claire smiled up at her as she kicked off her heels and tucked her legs under her on the comfy leather chair. “Yes, hi... Thanks again for putting the event together so quickly. The early release to get ahead of the upcoming competitor title made it almost impossible to organize live events, and they are so important to Darla and her readers,” she said gratefully.

  Just how grateful was she?

  Ellie never bothered the authors and editors who visited the store, simply acted as a support system for a successful event. But this time she thought going out on a limb was worth it. The opportunity had presented itself, and she’d kick herself if she just let it go.

  She’d learned a lot in the last few weeks—life was short and she needed to go after what she wanted, even if she sometimes fell flat on her face. She hoped this wouldn’t be one of those lately too-frequent incidents.

  “It was really no problem.” She hesitated. “Um, I was wondering—if an author wanted to submit to you, would they need an agent?”

  Claire nodded, her short, whip-straight blond hair falling into her face. “Yes, unfortunately we get so many submissions every year that we’d never be able to respond to them all, so we only take vetted, agented work at the publishing house at this time.”

  Shoot. Ellie knew if Claire could read Callum’s manuscript pages, she’d be impressed, but there were rules for acquisition for a reason, and as much as she wanted to, Ellie couldn’t overstep or expect special treatment. But when would Callum get a chance to finish his book now, let alone start the querying process? She’d been hoping maybe Claire could help expedite that if she enjoyed his work. “I understand.” At least she’d tried.

  Claire studied her. “But I mean, I am here right now, and I might be able to fit in a few pages if there was a manuscript lying around.”

  Ellie’s heart soared. “Really? That would be so incredible.”

  “Absolutely. I think I can make an exception for you since you did help us out, and I guess I’m not technically on company time since I’m on break,” she said with a wink.

  “Well, the manuscript is actually not mine, but believe me these opening chapters are brilliant—I read a lot of books,” she said.

  Claire laughed. “I imagine you do. Let me take a look.”

  Two minutes later, Ellie returned with Callum’s manuscript pages and a fresh cup of coffee and a tray of cookies for Claire. She set the treats on the table beside her and then reluctantly handed over Callum’s work in progress.

  Stormy followed her and curled up on the back of Claire’s chair.

  “Okay, I’ll let you know what I think,” Claire said, settling in to read.

  Ellie nodded, still standing there. Waiting.

  Claire didn’t glance up from the pages. “The fox can stay, but you have to go,” she said as she shooed her away.

  “Oh right. Enjoy,” Ellie said, rushing off, a twisting in her gut at having kinda betrayed Callum’s trust by allowing someone else to read the pages. But if Claire liked them, this could be the start of his career. One he actually wanted. One he deserved.

  Callum, please don’t kill me.

  * * *

  CALLUM TOOK A DEEP breath as he walked through the resort lobby, seeing it differently for the first time. It wasn’t just his father’s hotel anymore. It would now be his own future. His gut tightened.

  Could there be a more depressing thought?

  Maybe only that Ellie would be so disappointed that he was letting go of his own plans and goals he’d had for himself and giving in to Father. But right now, it seemed like the only future he could control. His brother needed him, and he’d focus on that to keep heart when the tie around his neck started to threaten his existence.

  He steeled himself as he entered the Chugach Ballroom for the monthly meeting with the board and the faces around the table turned to look at him. His father’s gaze met his, the one question he wanted answered reflecting in his own hard gaze.

  Callum nodded once, sealing his fate with the nonverbal agreement to his father’s offer.

  His father’s expression changed as he gestured to the empty seat next to him at the front of the room. For so long, Callum had longed to see that acceptance on his father’s face. But for something he was proud of, as well. Earning it now just because his father had perceivably won the battle, broken his resolve, just made Callum feel like even more of a failure.

  He sat in the empty chair next to his father, the one his brother usually occupied, and the weight of expectation hit him like a brick wall as the meeting resumed. For the first time, he actually had to pay attention.

  Curious eyes of the board members studied him, questioning, judging. Why was he there? Why the sudden interest in the family resort? Could he live up to expectations or would the resort’s success falter under his leadership?

  He wished he could confidently say it wouldn’t, but this wasn’t his passion. He’d give it his all, work his hardest and do his best even if his heart wasn’t in it.

  Everyone had to know about Sean by now, and that was tough. They all loved and respected his brother, but Callum knew Sean would have a hard time coming back and facing everyone. He’d feel as though he’d failed somehow or that the staff may not have the same respect for him.

  Callum would be there now to help, to restore confidence that the resort was being left in good hands. He would give that perception, anyway. Sean was the one everyone could trust to make sure the resort thrived long into future generations, but unfortunately Callum’s presence would inspire that belief.

  Tuning out the voices in his mind that screamed he was making the wrong decision, Callum actively participated in the meeting. His preparedness surprised and impressed everyone, including his father.

  Again, it only made him feel sick that his father was seemingly gloating that this was the path he’d known Callum should take all along. And Callum’s behaving like the heir he was expected to be was simply validation for the years of pressure his father had applied.

  As the meeting wrapped up, Callum shook hands with the board executives, and with each welcome-on-board acceptance, he felt his own identity fading.

  But this was the right thing to do. Life wasn’t about getting what you wanted. Never had that been clearer than the last few weeks.

  Moments later, everyone dispersed, and alone in the ballroom, his father approached. “Wasn’t sure I’d see you here today.”

  He almost hadn’t. “Well, I’m here,” he said tightly. He didn’t like it. But he’d step up and do the best job he could. For no other reason than his brother.

  “Why the change of heart?” his father asked.

  “It’s more like a change of mind. This is the practical thing to do,” he said tightly.

  His father nodded as he extended a hand toward him. “I can live with that.”

  Callum stared at it. Maybe his father could, but could he?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CLAIRE RODET HAD left the store on Saturday without commenting on the manuscript pages, and Ellie’s disappointment was strong. Those pages were good. Claire and Lakeside Publishing weren’t the only publishing companies Callum could submit to, but Ellie had been hoping for some validation from Claire to pass along to Callum. Anything to reassure him that he wasn’t wasting his time, and that even if he did work at the resort, he might still keep his own dream alive.

  She knew how important that was now more than ever. Staring at the acceptance email from the online university, Ellie’s heart swelled with happiness and pride. She’d done it. She’d applied. She was registered, and that fall she’d be starting her teaching degree part-time.

  Damn, she wished she could share her excitement and this moment with Callum. She’d never understood what a big part of her life he actually was until h
e was no longer there to share things with. She kept staring at the front door, expecting him to waltz in late with that gorgeous smile that used to brighten her day without her even realizing it.

  The store felt colder and a lot less like home without him there.

  The bookstore phone rang, and she tucked her cell phone away as she reached for it. “Flippin’ Pages, how may I help you?”

  “Ellie? This is Claire Rodet.”

  Ellie quietly took a breath. “Hi, Claire.”

  “I wanted to apologize for not talking to you before I left the store on Saturday, but it was a little chaotic toward the end of the day,” she said.

  “That’s no problem.” She held her breath as she waited.

  “But I did want to tell you that you were right. Those pages were good. Really good. The author’s writing is raw and real and the voice is captivating. The use of humor to balance the tough subject matter is done extremely well.”

  Ellie had thought so too.

  “As I said, we usually don’t accept unagented submissions...but I’d love to see the full manuscript once the author is ready to submit.”

  Ellie’s mouth gaped and she shut her lips quickly and nodded.

  “Ellie?”

  “Oh, yes, sorry, I’m still here. Thank you so much, Claire. I know the author will be thrilled to hear it.” If he wasn’t majorly pissed that she’d shared his writing in the first place. She had to believe he wouldn’t be. That he’d see it for the act of love and belief in him that it was.

  “Great. Well, just be sure that they mention you and our connection in their query letter so I can be sure to connect the two,” she said.

  “I will let them know. Thanks again, Claire.”

  “Sure, I’m just kinda peeved that you’ve left me without more to read,” she said with a laugh.

  Ellie knew the feeling. “I’ll be sure to tell the author to hurry up.”

  “Take care, Ellie.”

  As she disconnected the call her heart soared, and despite the pain of Callum’s rejection, she felt happier and lighter and more hopeful than she had in days. He had amazing talent, and she hoped Claire’s validation would give him the confidence to go after his dream.

  But first she needed to stop him from making the biggest mistake of his life.

  * * *

  PAPERWORK ON TOP of paperwork. Callum had never seen so many legal documents in his entire life. His father’s transition to “retirement” and the changing of the guard looked like it could take months. And if he was forced to make sense of all of this dull, dry reading for too much longer today, his head might explode. But this was what his life looked like now. Stacks of paper without a creative word in the lot.

  He scanned the legal contracts his father had put in front of him. It was his official retirement contract that would secure the passing of the resort to Callum as the new acting owner. His father would still have his finger on things and would oversee operations from a distance...not far enough away for Callum’s liking. He tapped the pen against the boardroom table, every fiber of his being resisting signing on the dotted line. Once he did, there would be no turning back, no changing his mind.

  Could he really spend his entire life cooped up in rooms like this one, working on marketing and promotion campaigns, hiring and firing staff and walking these halls that had only ever caused his family pain?

  Essentially he was signing away a life of any kind of happiness.

  The ballroom door opened as his pen was poised above the signature line, and Sean entered, slightly out of breath. He looked a little thinner, but the color was back in his complexion and his eyes looked a lot clearer than they had the last time Callum had seen him in the hospital.

  His father looked more than a little annoyed at the interruption. “Did the hospital release you?”

  Sean nodded. “I signed the release papers this morning.”

  “Do you think that was a good idea? I thought we’d decided that it might be best to stay in for a few weeks,” his father said, no concern just irritation in his voice, as though Sean was an intrusion he didn’t want to deal with at the moment. As though the man who’d been responsible for the day-to-day operations of the resort for years shouldn’t be a part of this, shouldn’t have a say in this transition.

  Callum was happy his brother was here. He hadn’t been sure when Sean would feel up to returning, but his timing was perfect in Callum’s opinion. He stood and walked toward him, grabbing him in a hug. “Great to see you doing better.”

  “I am. And the thing is, while I was lying there feeling hopeless and slightly lost, I came to a conclusion. I don’t need more time in a facility. I just need time away from this place,” Sean said.

  The strength in his voice was something Callum had never heard before, and an overwhelming sense of pride wrapped around him as he watched his brother confront their father.

  “Dad, I quit. You’ve won. You never wanted me to run the family business, you never believed in me or trusted me, so I’m out. I’m tired of killing myself—quite literally—trying to prove to you that I could handle all of this. Tired of the pressure and stress of never measuring up.”

  Yes! The resolve and confidence in his brother’s voice had Callum smiling from ear to ear. His brother was finally doing what was in his own best interests—cutting his losses and moving on.

  His father cleared his throat and nodded. “What do you plan to do instead?”

  The fact that the man cared was a bit of a surprise, but Callum was curious too.

  “I’ve accepted a position with Chateau Resorts.”

  Good for him. That was what he should have done years ago. Working for the competition might help heal years of damage caused by the tumultuous relationship with their father. The Wild River Resort would still thrive, but now Sean would have that chance, as well.

  “Fine. Resignation accepted,” their father said simply.

  Right. Why would he fight to keep the best person he could hand the resort keys to? Man, the guy was so shortsighted. But, of course, now that he had Callum on the ropes, he no longer needed Sean. He was getting exactly what he’d always wanted—from both of them.

  Sean turned to him. “Thank you. I couldn’t have made this decision if it weren’t for your threat of throwing your own life away to help me.”

  Callum frowned. A threat? “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, now you’re free too. You were only going to do this to protect me. To be here for me, take on this obligation out of a sense of brotherly duty. But this isn’t what you want. So, don’t do it,” he said.

  Callum stared at his brother. Could he actually be free of this obligation? He’d agreed to take on the role, but that was when he’d thought he couldn’t leave Sean at the mercy of their father any longer.

  Could they both finally walk away?

  Or was it time for Callum to put aside his dreams and face reality?

  * * *

  SHIT, SHE HOPED she wasn’t too late. If Callum had already signed his future away to the resort and the family business, Ellie’s heart would break even further. He was a man of his word, and if he signed his father’s agreement, he’d follow through.

  She pushed through the revolving doors of the Wild River Resort Hotel and headed toward the desk. “Hi, I’m looking for Callum McKendrick. I believe he had a meeting here today?”

  The desk clerk nodded, his eyes wide. “Yes, please tell me you’re here to talk him out of working here.”

  The staff at the resort had insider knowledge of the family dynamics? Maybe they just knew what a tyrant Mr. McKendrick could be. She nodded. “I’m hoping.”

  “The Chugach Ballroom,” the guy whispered. “Don’t say I told you.”

  “My lips are sealed.” Ellie hurried down the carpeted hall of the posh hotel, the spirally pattern combined with her n
erves making her slightly dizzy. She paused for a breath as she stopped in front of the ballroom doors.

  No backing out now. If Callum was upset with her for overstepping or for trying to stop him, she’d have to live with that, but right now she really had nothing to lose.

  She opened the doors, and her heart pounded as she saw Callum sitting at the large boardroom table with his father. A multipage contract sat on the table in front of him, and the conversation looked slightly heated.

  Please don’t let him have signed it yet.

  His gaze lifted to hers, and surprise registered on his handsome face as his scowl disappeared.

  So handsome. She’d always seen how gorgeous he was, but it had been surface-level attraction to a great-looking guy—now that she knew him better, he was by far the most beautiful man on earth.

  But he was also barely recognizable—clean-shaven, wearing an expensive tailored suit and tie that must be driving him batshit crazy, and with a new haircut that was professional and short... He’d already started the transition into becoming his dad, like it or not.

  “Ellie? What are you doing here?” he asked.

  “This is a private meeting...”

  Callum held up a hand to stop his dad as he stood. “She’s a...friend.”

  Damn, that hurt and yet simultaneously gave her hope. He hadn’t said “the woman I’m in love with,” but he hadn’t said “former coworker” either, so she was clinging to that.

  “Hi, Mr. McKendrick... Sorry to interrupt, but, Callum, could I talk to you for just a minute?”

  He frowned, looking uncertain.

  His father shook his head. “It’ll have to wait. We are in the middle of something.”

  Ellie swallowed hard. Callum was right—his father was cold and harsh. Even as an adult she felt intimidated by him. She couldn’t imagine what it must have been like growing up with the man. She straightened her shoulders and stood her ground. Callum needed all the facts before he made this huge decision.

  “Actually, it can’t wait,” she said.