8
Candace woke up early to Jessica banging on her door with concern all over her face. She hadn’t found out until breakfast that morning that Candace had been injured. Candace thought Brent had told everyone, but apparently he had only updated his parents. Jessica and Travis hadn’t been around anyone once they had arrived on the mountain, so no one told them what had happened.
“Are you okay?” Jessica asked, coming into the room and then immediately resting a hand on Candace to see if she needed help back to her bed.
Candace crutched back to her bed and Jessica took the crutches from her, leaning them against the closest wall. Once Candace was settled back in her pile of pillows with her ankle propped, she smoothed her wild bed head down.
“I’m all right.”
“What happened?”
“Brent ran into me on that cat track where we were supposed to meet.” Guilt flashed across Jessica’s face. Candace waved her hand in the air. “It was an accident. But my ankle is sprained, with the possibility of some torn ligaments.”
The color drained from Jessica’s face. “This is all my fault.”
“No, it isn’t. You couldn’t have predicted it, and you didn’t force me to go skiing.”
Jessica tugged her lip between her teeth, the guilt still evident. “I’ll hang out with you all day today. To keep you company.”
Candace chuckled. “That’s not necessary. You just got married and should spend time with your hubby. Don’t let me hold you back.”
“You aren’t. I want to do this.”
“But I won’t allow it. Seriously, Jessica, go spend time with Travis. Have fun on the mountain for the both of us. We both know I’m not athletic and skiing isn’t something I care to do. I’m fine staying behind.”
Jessica stared at Candace, the war playing out on her face. Candace smirked.
“Please, just go. I know you want to, and we haven’t been able to spend time up here in a long time. I think it’ll be good for you. Go do one of Dad’s favorite runs.”
Jessica smiled. “Okay. I’ll go, but I expect you to call me if you need me at all. I’ll get off the mountain as fast as I can.”
“I’m good. Go!” Candace waved her hands in the air to shoo her away.
Jessica stood and held her hands in the air in surrender. “Okay. I’m going. I’m going.”
They said their goodbyes, and Jessica let herself out. Once she was gone, Candace looked around her room, wondering how she planned to occupy herself over the next few days.
She picked up the remote off the nightstand and clicked on the television. This was one way to do it.
Candace spentmost of the day in her room and ordered room service. She considered venturing out to the hotel restaurant, but dismissed the idea when crutching to the elevator had her winded and her foot throbbing. It wasn’t until Jessica and Travis got back off the mountain that they came by her room and convinced her to come to the bar to meet up with everyone.
Travis and Jessica helped Candace get down to the bar where Rick, Jan, and Brent were already seated. Everyone ordered drinks, Candace’s being the only one that was non-alcoholic.
As the conversation droned on around them, Candace’s eyes strayed across the table to where Brent was sitting, swirling ice around his glass and staring at her. She raised an eyebrow and took a sip of her own drink, staring at him straight on.
Apparently, all the friendly genes went to Travis. She had always thought Brent wouldn’t know how to treat someone properly if his life depended on it. Except him helping her on the mountain and at the urgent care weren’t things expected of him. Maybe she had it wrong this entire time.
Candace knew her deep-seated disgust for Brent was based on something that happened long ago, but there was no way he changed that much during the last several years. He was the same person. Wasn’t he?
Confusion swirled around in her belly. Deep down, she knew something was different, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint it.
It didn’t take long before Jessica and Travis excused themselves, feigning exhaustion. The looks they gave each other were a different indication of what would happen in their bedroom later. They asked Candace if she was okay to get to her room, and she nodded, assuring them she was fine.
Rick and Jan were the next to go, also excusing themselves because they were tired. Despite Jessica and Travis faking it, Rick and Jan weren’t.
Then sat two.
Candace looked around, considering faking exhaustion herself, but didn’t have the chance before Brent moved around the small table and sat in the chair once occupied by Jessica next to her.
