by Lori Ryan
Her face was ashen, eyes wide. “Mom,” she panted, “why aren’t you answering your phone?”
“It’s in the kitchen. What’s wrong?”
Maggie dug in her coat pocket and pulled out her own phone. Three missed calls from Valerie. Maggie’s body stiffened, a numbing wave washing over her, the same paralyzing fear she felt any time she received a call about her father.
“What is it?” Maggie whispered. “What’s happened?”
Lily’s eyes darted back and forth from Sally to Maggie before finally settling on her mother. “It’s Uncle John. We need to get to the hospital.”
Chapter Two
“It’s good to be you, right?” Ben Sumner slapped his business partner on the shoulder as he joined him at the window.
The view from the 75th floor of Columbia Tower offered an incredible view of the city he’d called home for over a decade. The downtown lights of Seattle dotted the landscape as twilight faded into evening. The colors were stunning as the sun dropped low behind Elliot Bay. It was like looking out on top of the world.
Patrick Fairplay turned to take the amber tumbler Ben offered him and grinned. “Yeah, it is, my friend.”
After nearly fifteen years, not much about Patrick had changed, except his exterior. Ratty T-shirts and worn-out jeans had been replaced with tailor-made business suits. Patrick’s once unruly hair was now styled to perfection, thanks to his fiancé, Daphne Wellington, heiress to one of Texas’ wealthiest families.
“What do you think of the place?” Patrick took a small sip of his Scotch as he studied the large banquet room behind them.
Ben turned and followed his gaze, taking in the elegant decor and the mass of people. “Better you than me.” He lifted his glass in silent salute.
Patrick laughed, touching his tumbler to Ben’s before taking another swig of alcohol. He stared blankly at the mass of people, releasing a deep sigh. “This is the second of four engagement parties Daphne’s parents have planned. The other two are in Texas.”
Ben laughed. “I always knew Daphne came from money but that’s a little extravagant, even for the Wellingtons.”
“Yah think?” Patrick rolled his eyes.
Better you than me had been putting it mildly.
Ben squeezed his shoulder. “Well, at least you know your future father-in-law can bail you out of jail should you ever find yourself on the wrong side of the law.”
“I was kind of counting on you for that honor.”
“Anytime, my friend.” Ben chuckled, knowing neither of them needed Daphne’s money. They had enough of their own.
Almost fifteen years ago Ben and Patrick had dropped out of college and moved to the Pacific Northwest to start their small computer software company. Seattle had been a tech magnet at the time and Ben knew their fledgling company could thrive in the big city.
Now, staring out over the Pacific Ocean and one of the most impressive skylines of the world, Ben had to admit, leaving college had been the best, and most lucrative decision he’d ever made—even if his father didn’t agree at the time.
Ben shook his head. Focusing on old memories wasn’t something he had the time for. He and his father had had the biggest fight of Ben’s life when he’d told him of his plans to leave college. Despite Ben’s success, their contact since then had been limited, and strained at best. Ben knew he should reach out to his father, try to fix things between them, but he never seemed to be able to make the phone call.
Ben looked at Patrick. “You sure about this?”
His friend’s brows went up. “Hell yeah. Aside from what you and I have done with the business, being married to Daphne is all I’ve ever wanted since the day I met her.” Patrick was so in love with his fiancée it was laughable, at least to Ben. He didn’t understand that kind of devotion.
Ben moved closer to the window. “We really did it, huh?” he said, as if barely able to believe himself.
“Yeah, we did.” Patrick shot Ben a look that reminded him of the ones his brothers used to give him when they’d gotten away with something they never in a million years dreamed they could.
Of course, there’d been a price to achieve their dreams. Instead of writing computer code, Ben ended up sitting in meetings and looking at financial data most days. That was the only downside to the whole dream they’d been living.
Patrick tipped his head. “And just think, in another year, we could be even richer.”
Ben glanced over at his friend. For almost a year Patrick had been trying to talk Ben into going public with their software company. Ben wasn’t convinced it was the right move, not just for the company, but for him personally. He was already pulling seventy to eighty-hour work weeks. Going public would sink him even further into the bowels of corporate hell.
Ben had pushed himself to the breaking point to make his company a success, trying to prove to himself—and his father—that he could be successful without a college degree. He’d become what he loathed about his own father, a workaholic. Patrick was right about one thing, they could make even more money with this move. But Ben wasn’t sure more money was what he wanted anymore. Some days he yearned for the simple life but he’d never admit that to Patrick.
Ben looked over his shoulder to the celebration, then back to Patrick. “Are you sure that’s what you want? You’re about to marry Daphne? Don’t you think you’d like to relax and enjoy your wife for a while instead of adding to our work week?”
“Patrick.” Daphne’s sweet, southern drawl had both men turning to face her. “You promised no work tonight.”
Ben studied his friend’s fiancée. Long blonde hair tumbled down Daphne’s bare shoulders, accentuating her model-worthy figure. Her bright blue eyes shone with adoration as she stared up at Patrick. A pang of jealousy for what the two had found together hit Ben in the chest.
Where the hell had that come from? He prided himself on his bachelor ways.
Daphne stepped next to her fiancé, sliding her arm inside Patrick’s coat and wrapping it around his waist. “Daddy’s complaining. There are people he wants you to meet.”
“Daph,” Patrick slid his free arm around Daphne’s shoulders and bent to press a kiss against her temple, “I’ve met a hundred people tonight. I’m hiding over here for a reason.”
She laughed and stood on her toes, pressing a kiss against his lips.
“It’s a nice party, Daphne,” Ben said. “Your parents went all out for this gig.”
She stepped back and surveyed the room, a huge smile spreading across her face. “I know, isn’t it gorgeous? I can’t believe we got the Columbia Tower on such short notice.”
“Is your father a member of the club here?” Ben asked.
Daphne and Patrick shared a knowing look and laughed.
“What?”
“Daddy isn’t,” she said, her eyes never leaving her fiancé’s, “but Patrick is.”
“What?” Ben’s head cocked back in surprise. “Since when?” He knew he and Patrick were considered successful in the business world, but he never believed either of them the private club types.
“It was Daddy’s wedding gift to Patrick.” Daphne laughed. “It’s ridiculous but we couldn’t say no.”
Ben glanced at Patrick, who looked like he’d swallowed a bug, then turned to Daphne and chuckled. “You know your father’s gift was wasted on a simpleton like Patrick, right? Not many socialites come from Twin Falls, Iowa.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Sumner?” Patrick asked with mock anger. “Your podunk town of Canyon Creek, Colorado, is smaller than the head of a match stick. One sneeze and you could miss the whole damn town.”
Patrick wasn’t exaggerating. With a population of less than three thousand, Ben’s hometown in Colorado was the epitome of small-town living. Some would call Canyon Creek quaint but Ben thought it suffocating. He had no plans to return in the near future.
Ben’s cell phone buzzed in his coat pocket. He pulled it out and noticed his brother Emmet
t’s number flash on the screen. Ben ignored the call and slid the phone back into his jacket. He’d return the call later when he might have a chance of hearing what his brother was saying.
“Was that your hot date, saying she’d be late?” Daphne asked.
“Nope,” Ben said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. “I’m solo tonight.”
“What?” Daphne clasped her chest in mock horror as she searched the room. “No friends-with-benefits bimbo for the evening?”
“Maybe later.” Ben smiled, lifting the tumbler to his lips and taking a long swig of Scotch. Now that Daphne had mentioned it, Ben realized it had been awhile since he’d shared his bed with the soft curves of a woman. He mentally flipped through his contact list of women who shared his idea of a relationship. He didn’t date, he was too busy, but it didn’t mean he was celibate. His relationships were based on physical need, and happened between the sheets, nothing more.
“Have you guys finally decided where you’re getting married?” Ben asked, trying to change the subject.
“Dude,” Patrick held up a hand, “can I just get through these damned engagement parties before we start walking down the aisle?”
“Patrick,” Daphne cried. “You sound like you don’t enjoy the parties.” Her bottom lip curled out with a pout. Daphne was a master at getting what she wanted. Especially from her future husband. If Ben didn’t actually like her, he’d find it annoying. Somehow, though, she managed to be both a pain in his ass and one of his favorite people all at the same time.
“What I enjoy is spending time with you.” Patrick pulled Daphne into an embrace and planted a searing kiss against her lips.
Oh, shit. Ben needed an escape. As much as he liked them both, he didn’t need to watch this public display of affection. Maybe he’d step out in the hallway and call his brother back. It was unusual for Emmett to call, especially on a Saturday night.
“Oh, Patrick,” Daphne moaned. Slowly they pulled away, Patrick staring down at his fiancé as if he wanted to eat her alive.
“And on that note…” Ben slapped his best friend on his back and leaned over to kiss Daphne on the cheek.
“Oh, don’t leave yet,” Daphne said. “My sister’s best friend is here. She was Miss Texas three years ago.”
“Holy hell, where is she?” Patrick teased, pushing Daphne to the side.
“Patrick,” she squealed.
One thing Ben had to admit, Patrick and Daphne were perfect for each other. Even though Daphne had originally made a play for Ben, as soon as her blue eyes had spotted Patrick, all other men faded away.
Ben felt his phone vibrate again and reached inside his jacket.
“No business,” Daphne scolded. “Come on Ben, let me introduce you.”
As with most people in her life, Ben had no choice but to follow Daphne as she wound them through the crowd of people. She stopped every few feet to say hello to people Ben had never met, and would probably never see again.
His phone vibrated again. Something in his chest tightened and he stilled.
“Ben, what is it?” Daphne asked, staring up at him.
“I don’t know.” He slipped his hand inside his pocket, taking out his phone, sensing in his gut that something was wrong. He glanced at the screen and saw two missed calls from his mother. “Fuck,” he whispered.
“Ben?” Daphne stepped closer, staring down at his phone.
“I need to make a call,” Ben said as he slipped from Daphne’s hold and walked toward the exit. His mother called every Sunday afternoon. It was Saturday night.
First Emmett, now his mother.
Ben stood next to the elevators in the foyer, trying to steady his heartbeat as he pushed the button to call his mother.
“Oh, Ben,” his mother answered with a cry.
Fuck.
“Mom, what is it?”
“It’s…it’s…”
“Mom?”
Someone tugged on his arm. He glanced down and saw Daphne staring up at him, Patrick flanked on the other side.
“Ben, it’s your father.” His mother’s voice cracked with emotion.
“What happened to Dad?” Ben’s eyes shot to Patrick and he felt Daphne squeeze him tighter.
“He, he,” she whimpered, “he died.”
Ben felt his world fall away. “He what?” Ben asked, unable to believe the words. The room spun and Ben locked his knees before they gave out. Patrick and Daphne led him to a chair against the wall.
“Yes,” his mother said quietly, unable to hide her muffled sobs.
Ben scrubbed a hand through his hair, unable to believe the words. He died. “How, Ma? What happened?”
“A heart attack,” she whispered.
“Are you all right? Is someone there with you?”
“Yes. Maggie’s here. And Sally.”
“Maggie Lawrence?” Something in his gut tightened at the mention of her name.
“C-, can, you come home, Ben?”
“Of course, Mom. I’ll leave tonight.”
“Thank you, sweetie. I’ll try to get someone to pick you up in Denver.”
“Ma, don’t worry about it, I’ll rent a car and drive myself. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Questions flew through Ben’s mind but he knew his mother was in no state to answer. Hell, he was in no state to comprehend.
“I’ll call you in a bit with my flight details.”
“Okay.” Her voice broke and she hiccupped another sob.
“Are you sure you’re okay for now?”
“Yes. Just…if you could come home.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can, Ma.”
“Thank you.”
Thank you? Jesus, did his mom really think she had to thank him for coming home. Probably. The thought filled Ben with regret and guilt.
“I love you, Ma. I’ll be home soon.”
“I, I love you too, sweetie. Please be careful.”
“I will. I’ll call you back soon.”
“Okay, bye.”
“Bye, Mom.”
Ben pulled the phone away and stared down at the blank screen. He shook his head, unable to believe that his father was gone. John Sumner was a giant of a man, stubborn, intelligent…invincible. Or so Ben had thought.
“Ben,” Daphne said quietly. “Did your father pass away?”
“Yeah,” he said, scrubbing a hand down his face, trying to rub away the fog that seemed to fill his head.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Daphne gripped his arm and rubbed a soothing hand on his back.
Patrick squeezed his shoulder. “I’ll get Stephanie to book our tickets and then we can swing by our houses to pack some clothes.”
Ben glanced up at his friend, barely comprehending what he was saying.
“What? I’m coming with you,” Patrick said.
Ben shook his head. “No, I’ll go. Stay here and take care of things.” Ben stood, his legs still wobbly. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Are you sure?”
“Ben, please let Patrick go with you,” Daphne pleaded. “You shouldn’t be alone.”
Alone was exactly what Ben needed right now. All he could think of was the fight he’d had with his father over a decade ago. Ben had always thought they’d have time to mend the fences he’d broken that day.
“No, I’ll be okay, Daph, and I’ll feel better knowing we’re not both away from the business.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek, not at all sure he would be. “Thank you, though. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“We’re here for you, Ben, for anything,” Patrick said.
“I know.”
Patrick stepped forward and hugged him tight. “For anything,” he whispered.
Ben released him and Daphne immediately took him in her arms. “I’m so sorry,” Daphne said quietly.
So am I, Ben thought. “I shouldn’t be gone long,” he said.
“Take your time.” Patrick clutched his shoulder. “Your family needs you right now. We’ll s
urvive here.”
He nodded absently.
“Send me the details of the funeral and we’ll fly out.”
Funeral. God, was this real? Had his father really died?
The elevator dinged and the doors opened.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay flying home alone?” Daphne asked again.
Ben wasn’t sure of anything right now but he knew one thing with certainty. He needed to do this alone. The last thing he wanted was anyone to see him break down. Returning home to Canyon Creek wouldn’t be easy but Ben would go. For his mom, for his brothers. But mostly for his dad.
Chapter Three
Ben glanced around the small conference table, happy to see his brothers after years apart but hating the reason they’d been called home. Too many miles had separated them for far too long and a pang of guilt hit him in the chest. He’d missed his brothers.
Five pair of expectant eyes stared back at him as his brothers waited for Ben to speak. The conference room within The Lodge at Canyon Creek where they all sat vibrated with tension. He hated to admit it but staring at them now, Ben realized he didn’t really know his own brothers any more. Hopefully that would change.
“So, what are you saying?” Aaron asked. Ben wasn’t surprised the second oldest of them wanted to get straight to the point. Aaron was a cardiologist at a large hospital in Chicago and had no time to waste on placating them.
His brothers and he shared so many physical resemblances. Thankfully, their professional lives were as different as night and day. Ben hoped their varied skill sets would help his mother save their family land and the lodge she’d built on it.
Ben drew in a deep breath and slowly exhaled, wondering how to make his brothers fully appreciate the dire situation their family was in. One he hadn’t even fully understood himself until early this morning.
“I studied the financial records for the lodge well into the night and looked through the terms of the loan this morning,” Ben said, raking his fingers through his dark hair. “Mom needs our help. She can’t run this place without dad. Hell, they had a hard time before dad’s death, but without him, there’s just no way to keep the lodge solvent and make good on the loan unless we all move back and help with the continued expansion.”
