by Jeulia Hesse
Jeremy had been making serious plans. And she wondered how involved Ada had been in those decisions.
His surprised reaction to her request for the financial records added to her unease. She decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. He had inadvertently upset her at the dinner table when he’d mentioned the Bennington triangle, and maybe she had been harboring resentment toward him because he was helping Ada when she had not been around to do so.
Still, she knew she would need some back-up as she navigated the complexities of some of the decisions she faced. Her stepfather, Victor, was in London for the summer, so giving him an early morning call would work out nicely with the time difference. He would be able to assist her in uncovering any unsavory business plans that were afoot at her aunt’s inn. Lord knows he had experience in that area.
Chapter 8
Kevin was elated when Christina came back into the dining area. They were just wrapping up dessert. He had refrained from licking the plate – Maude’s pies were that good. Gina had taken note of this and was in deep discussion with Maude over her recipe. She was especially intrigued by how Maude had prepared the fruit before baking.
Kevin refrained from commenting on the fact that Gina and Maude were interacting as they had been lifelong friends. Maude even allowed Gina to help her with the dishes as they continued with the conversation. She was apparently pleased with the topic of discussion and was distracted. Kevin did not want to interrupt that balance.
Jim excused himself to go take another try at the stuck drawer in the reception desk while he waited for Maude to be done in the kitchen. The pair would go back to their caretaker cabin hand in hand.
Kevin’s thoughts drifted to Christina. She was more beautiful than she had been the last time he had seen her. He wanted to touch her, and hold her. He knew she had avoided coming back here because she carried a heavy burden of guilt about this place. She had shouldered it herself, but that didn’t make it any less real. And it had torn them apart as she’d fled away from here, and from him.
Yet here she was in front of him. He knew she reacted to him earlier in the kitchen. He had seen her eyes glaze over when he had stepped closer. It thrilled him to know that she still had an attraction to him. Even after all of the years that had passed between them.
He hadn’t exactly been without companionship in the years they had been apart. But he hadn’t had a serious relationship either – it had mostly been half-hearted dating. The half-hearted was on his part, not on his female companions. Several had been eager to go beyond friendly dates and sleep overs. But he hadn’t had any interest.
It was because of her.
Christina sat at the table, helping herself to pie before it was whisked away. After a few bites, she dropped her fork on the plate with a loud clatter. “Do you know much about Jeremy?” she asked.
Kevin became cautious at the edge of irritation in her voice. He remembered that tone well. He knew to be cautious as to where he stepped. It must have been a long day for her, driving up from the city and seeing her old summer home again. “We don’t hang out, if that’s what you are asking,” Kevin replied carefully.
She snatched up the fork again and began to forcefully eat her pie, rapidly shoving forkfuls into her mouth until the slice was gone. She sat back and shoved her chair away from the table. “It’s still a nice evening outside. Do you want to take a stroll or sit outside on the patio?” she asked.
He followed her outside as she crossed the patio to sit on the stone wall, facing the inn. He sat next to her, pleased to be alone with her. He hoped he didn’t screw this up. Clearly, she was irritated. “Why do you ask about Jeremy?” He asked carefully. “Isn’t he technically your cousin?”
She sighed, trailing her hands on the cracks between the stones. “No, he’s Annie’s cousin. Her father’s side. Jeremy’s not a blood relation, since her father adopted her when she was little, right after he married Ada.”
Kevin recalled that. It had not been a relevant factor in their lives. It was just a piece of information.
“He’s pushy and he has a lot of ideas about development. I guess he has been helping Ada out for a while.” She left out the fact that Ada had to rely on Jeremy, as her only other living blood relative was not around to help out.
Kevin realized where her mind was going. The guilt really burdened her, even still. “Ada was quite capable of getting things done on her own. She had a lot of friends and was able to access what she needed when she needed to get things done.” He stopped himself there. He could go on to say, you need to stop thinking of her as though she was a frail old woman. She was not, but he kept quiet.
Kevin was afraid of getting into the conversation about the very thing that had broken them apart on her first day back. Christina’s guilt. It was difficult to restrain himself, but deep down, he knew if he pushed her in any way, she would pull back. It had just been Jeremy’s experience with their exchange. He did not want to have the same fate again. He didn’t want to ruin any chance they may have.
“Gina seems nice,” Kevin said.
Christina looked up at him, a surprised expression on her face. Clearly, she sensed that he was turning the conversation in a neutral direction. The smile that broke out on her face melted the apprehension he felt.
She held his gaze for a moment. After a beat, she reached out and laid her hand over his on the cool stone wall. Her soft skin burned the rough skin of his trail-worn hands. He resisted the urge to change the position of their hands to hold hers in his.
She smiled widely at him, her eyes glistening. “I’ve missed you,” she said.
His heart soared. There was hope! It wasn’t a passionately whispered statement; it was more like a friend than a lover sentiment. But he would take it!
“You must be tired, after that long drive.” He smiled back at her. “I’ll let you have your evening.” He gave her hand a sociable squeeze, got up, and walked off the patio.
Kevin knew he had left her hanging. But he also knew he had her attention.
Chapter 9
She had woken up early, with the sun’s first rays streaming into her bedroom. Her sleep had been fitful. She had been restless from the unfamiliar bed and the irritating conversation with Jeremy the night before. Maude had made coffee already and was baking something in the ovens that wafted a delicious, sweet scent through the inn. Christina grabbed a mug of coffee and quickly exited the kitchen to the covered porch. The dog followed closely on her heels.
The sun was burning off the early morning mist. She settled into one of the deep rockers to watch the sun rise over the valley below. It was peaceful in the quiet morning as she sipped her coffee, patting the dog’s head as he sat close by at her feet. The headache from the night before was a distant thought.
The dog’s ears perked up and he turned his head to the back path from the gardener’s cabins. A tall figure appeared on the path. As he walked toward her, she immediately knew it was him, and wondered how, after all this time, she was so in tune to his presence. He had changed from a beautiful specimen of youth to a handsome man. His dark hair and eyes, chiseled chin and muscular athletic build would have won him any magazine cover, but instead, he had chosen the solitude of the woods and the beauty of nature over fleeting fame.
As she admired his approach, a disconcerting thought crossed her mind. Was he married or in a relationship? He hadn’t mentioned anyone over dinner last night, but they had been out of communication for years. She had assumed that he was single, but what if he had someone else? The thought was disturbing. Even though she knew she was not planning to stay, the idea of someone else having him was surprisingly upsetting.
The dog leapt up to greet him, sniffing his feet and wagging his tail. His hair was tousled and wet, and his beard a thick scruff. Recognizing that he must have just showered, she wondered where he’d done it. The fire tower was miles away, through the woods, and without plumbing. His house or rather, his father’s house, was miles away down the mountain. “Did yo
u stay here? At Jim and Maude’s?” she asked, puzzled.
He smiled up at her as he rubbed the dog’s ears. “No,” he said with a perplexed expression. “I slept in one of the guest cabins....”
She looked at him, still not comprehending.
“Oh, that’s right. You wouldn’t know.... Jeremy redid all the cabins. They’re pretty swanky really, with granite baths and such. I stay in one of the smaller ones all season, or at least, I go between there, my father’s, and the trail. Works out well for me.”
This roused Christina’s interest as the coffee stimulated her mind, prodding her synapses into function. There were several cabins in disrepair, if she recalled correctly, scattered all around the property. It would have taken considerable investment to bring them up to a habitable state, never mind turning them into something ‘swanky.’
Kevin entered the porch, standing close by her feet as he continued petting the dog’s head. He always seemed to stand too close to her or perhaps, she was simply sensitive to his presence. Sensing her reaction to his proximity, he smiled at her in a slow deliberate grin. He reached over her thighs to take the coffee mug from her hand. She was mesmerized by his closeness and did not immediately respond to the liberation of her cup.
“I hope you won’t be uncomfortable with me being here,” he said, sipping leisurely from her coffee. “You know, so close by. You’re apt to see me quite a bit.”
She snapped out of the trance that he was putting her under and grabbed back her mug. “Hey, get your own,” she snapped. “I just didn’t realize Ada had taken on tenants. I’ll have to consider that in my calculations when I sell.”
The smile left his face abruptly. “You’re selling?”
She stood and the dog bolted to his feet beside her, ready to follow. “Nothing for sure yet, but there’s the possibility. I have to get into the books and see what’s what before I can make any kind of a decision.”
“That’s right, you’re an expert.” He took a step toward her, so they were now standing toe to toe. They were so close that she could feel his breath on her face as he spoke. “It’d be a shame if you sold. Ada worked her whole life to preserve this place in order to hand it down. She wanted you to have it, you know. She trusted you.”
He stepped even closer, wrapping a muscled arm around her waist. Every inch of her body instantly responded to his touch, tingling with anticipation. She relaxed against his muscled chest, allowing him to pull her closer. His breath was warm in her hair.
Abruptly, she pulled back, she couldn’t fall into these old patterns. She wasn’t staying, no matter if she sold or not. He dropped his hands, stepping back from her. His expression was stony. “Still trying to leave,” he stated, finishing off the remainder of her coffee.
The physical contact left her aroused. She was surprised her body had responded so easily to his touch. It was like the years hadn’t passed and she was still a teenager. He affected her now, just as he had all those years ago, and he knew it. He had intended to do so.
She couldn’t let herself get distracted when there was work to be done. She would get it settled and then she could head back to her career in the city. Back to her life and away from here, where the world seemed to be standing still, waiting for Annie to return.
A noise on the far porch startled them both. Sheriff Shawn stood on the steps, clearing his throat. “Mornin.’ I didn’t want to interrupt, but...” He shuffled his feet, gesturing toward the dog. “I came up to see if you heard anything about the owner.”
The pair of them looked down at the dog, who approached Shawn. He immediately started to lick his hands and wag his tail as if he had met a long-lost friend. As the Sheriff rubbed his ears, the dog jumped up on his hind legs, placing his paws on the man’s shoulders and enthusiastically licking his face.
“Ohh, down boy,” he responded, pushing the dog back down to be on all fours. He continued to pet his head. “I’ll be damned. Annie used to have a dog like this when we were kids. Used to jump on me the same way. He’d single me out, and never did it to anyone else.”
Kevin laughed and nodded his head. “Oh yeah! That dog loved you!” he replied, looking down at the dog. He joined his friend in patting the furry head. “You know, he kind of looks like Annie’s dog. You remember, Christina? He used to follow her everywhere.”
Christina didn’t respond, and she didn’t need to, since the men were oblivious to her response. They were completely lost in the details of their memories.
“I swear, it looks just like that dog,” Shawn said. “There’s got to be a picture somewhere – I think in Ada’s office maybe. Anyway, we don’t have any leads on anyone missing a dog. I came up to see what you wanted to do if the dog had stuck around. I can take him to the shelter if you want.”
At that, the dog broke from the men and went to Christina. He sat on her feet, looking soulfully up at her. The chestnut brown puppy-dog eyes seemed to plead with her. She laughed patting his head. “Actually, he’s been no trouble so far. If it’s all right, he can stay with me. I am planning to stay here for a couple of weeks, so I can keep him at least until then.”
Shawn shrugged. “That’d be better than the shelter, anyway. It’s the time of the year where they get crowded with stray puppies and kittens. I’ll take his picture and put it on the town website and Facebook page, so if his owner is looking for him, they might be able to find him.”
They all laughed together, making jokes as they posed the dog for the photo. The dog seemed to like the attention. Kevin joined her on his knees, petting the dog’s head as Shawn snapped a photo of the trio. After he was done, he made his way to leave. “I’ll send these to you when I get down the mountain. Better let me have your number.”
They exchanged phone numbers as Jim joined them on the porch, carrying a broken plastic box in his hands.
The small group greeted him, and then Christina said, “Oh, I was going to ask you if you had a key to Ada’s office? The door is locked and I need to get in there.”
“Gee honey, I don’t think I ever had a key to that. Jeremy might. He locked it up a while back,” Jim replied.
“Whatcha got there?” Shawn asked the older man, taking the box from his hands. “What happened to your camera?”
“Damned if I know,” Jim replied.
The Sheriff inspected the broken game camera with a serious expression as he looked over the damage.
“This is the second broken security camera I’ve come across. I can’t figure out why they keep falling off the trees. It’s a real shame, because this one is the last one, I have. Never had this kind of trouble during deer season.”
“You looking to jack a deer or something? It’s out of season for deer,” the Sheriff questioned the older man, smiling.
Jim guffawed. “Not doing much of that these days. I was trying to see what was digging in the back garden. It’s ruining my roses, and you know they have gone crazy these past few years over by the stone walls.”
The Sheriff continued to inspect the damage as Jim talked, turning the box over in his hands and running his fingers over the damaged sections. “Jim, you mind if I look at the footage? Maybe we can see what happened.”
“Sure,” Jim agreed. “Let’s get the office door open for Crissy, and then we can have a look.”
All three men worked on the lock to the office. Shawn surprised them all with his lock-picking skills, a carry-over from his less than stellar days as the wayward youth of their group of friends. Christina was surprised by the state of the office once they gained access. It looked like it hadn’t been touched in years; it was dusty with scattered ledgers, receipts and statements. They were all strewn across the small desk. The filing cabinet was stuffed with overflowing file folders. It was chaos, and her heart sank as she realized the challenge she faced. She would have to piece the financial records together to be able to make any kind of informed decision. By the looks of the office, she’d be spending quite a bit of her vacation time weeding through its
contents.
The men left her to her own devices. Jim and Shawn went off to review the contents of the game camera and Kevin headed toward the trail. At least he would be gone for a few days before she had to interact with him again. She was off kilter with him around and she wasn’t sure she could handle that kind of distraction. She needed to stay focused on her reasons for being there.
With the dog laying at her feet, she sat alone in the office, shuffling through dusty papers. After her initial perusal, she dialed her stepfather in London. He would be up, and she needed to talk to someone with his business acumen and no emotional connection to this place. He would know the best course of action for her to take, and where to start in all the mess.
Chapter 10
Victor took her call immediately; it was early afternoon in London, and he was in between meetings. He was always eager to help her out in business matters. It was here that he found his footing with their relationship. He had been a loving support to her after her mother died, as well as with Aunt Ada’s illness and death. It had been a challenge for him to meet the emotional needs of a young teenage girl when he joined her life as a life-long bachelor who was British to boot. Instead, he exceled at providing her with an exceptional education at boarding school and college and gave her solid career guidance. It worked; he’d given her the structure and education she needed, and the summers with Ada and Annie further fulfilled her emotional needs.
They had bonded over her career goals in business, and he became a valued and trusted advisor as she entered the work force. It was he who she called when things got rough at work or if she needed guidance on advancement opportunities. From the looks of Ada’s filing systems, she needed help to figure out where to start to piece together the financial state of the inn.
“See if you can locate the name of her bank and her banker. Email me when you find it. I will set my team on it,” Victor directed. “And who is this Jeremy guy?”
