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ChapterNine
GEMMA
Iforgot it was a long drive up to the cabin, but as I got closer, I got excited about my vacation. Was I annoyed that my sister sided with my boss? Yes. But maybe Declan and Avery were right that I needed a break.
I might not be working at the brewery this week, but I already scheduled a bunch of posts for our socials because I didn’t trust Declan to know what he was doing. He might ask April to do it again, but she didn’t even use hashtags. Avery said I should log out of the accounts or delete the apps from my phone so I wasn’t tempted to do work, but I was afraid no one else would post stuff correctly.
Shit.
No wonder Declan wanted me to be his marketing director. I was already acting like it, and we both knew it. I just didn’t want the pressure of it. Anxiety swelled in my chest at the idea of letting Declan down if I took the job and failed spectacularly.
I tried hard not to think about work as I drove my car up the driveway. I looked up at the log cabin and sighed a breath of relief. I loved our little secluded cabin in the woods.
I spent many summers here with Dad after Mom died. After Avery went to college, she never had any interest in spending her summers off at the cabin. So it was just me and Dad. He taught me to fish, and I spent my summers kayaking and swimming in the lake. And kissing a lot of boys and girls. It took me a while to figure out I was bisexual. I told Dad during a fishing trip while we were on the boat. I was afraid of his reaction, especially since men his age didn’t ‘get’ bisexuality. Dad had laughed and said, “I know.” Good ole dad!
I was gonna take advantage of a week away from Drakesville. I planned to hike, fish, and be one with nature. I brought my jewelry making kit too, so I could make new items to put in my online shop. I didn’t make any real money off my crystal jewelry; I did it for fun. I had a couple of repeat customers, but mostly it was my friends and family.
I cut the engine and got out of my car. I got the important stuff out first—my beer. I had a half case of 611 Ale and another of Area 267, two of my favorite beers the brewery made. I loved the artwork Felix did for both of them. They were very Pennsylvanian and screamed Drakesville.
Ugh, Felix!
I didn’t want to think about him right now. I should have a fling this week and get him off my mind. I’d have to meet someone in person because the internet was spotty here. Not like I was having much luck on the apps lately, anyway.
I got out of my car and carried my beer into the cabin. When I opened the fridge, I was surprised to find a lot of MacGregor Brothers beer already in there. That was odd. Normally, I’d assume it was leftover from Dad and Uncle Bill’s last fishing trip, but there was an entire case in the fridge. I set my beer down on the table and noticed some of the beer was Mac Daddy. I didn’t know if Mac Daddy was available in stores yet. We just released it at the brewery. A suspicious tingle went down my spine.
I checked the shared family calendar on my phone, just in case Avery was mistaken about no one using the cabin this week, but I was the only one on the list. Unless Dad made an impromptu trip, but he hadn’t said anything when I went to get my fishing poles from his house this morning. Maybe my cousin Mason came up and forgot to clear it with Dad? That was okay. There was room for both of us. Although, Mason’s taste in beer leaned toward IPAs like mine, and he hated the Radler. He said it tasted like a hard lemonade.
Odd. Maybe he brought a new girlfriend with him.
I brought the rest of my stuff in and tried to forget about the mystery beer. I put my things into the smaller bedroom I usually stayed in. If Mason was here, he probably took the primary bedroom. I put my stuff away and started to plan my vacation. If I wanted to fish today, I had to go buy bait. But I was in the mood for a hike at the nature preserve instead. I could go fishing tomorrow. I’d get breakfast in town at the coffee shop and grab bait at the tackle shop next door.
“Okay, hike today, and then maybe dinner at The Lakeside Bar. Tomorrow I can do my fishing and kayaking,” I said out loud to myself.
I left the cabin and drove over to the nature preserve. I breathed in the fresh air as I got out of my car and started my hike. With the sun kissing my skin as I walked, I knew it would be a good week. The universe was putting out good vibes today, and I knew I’d figure out my career after this week. Mother nature would help me.
Hiking alone wasn’t the smartest idea, but I knew these woods like the back of my hand. After trekking through the forest, I was wiped and needed a drink.
I definitely didn’t feel like cooking tonight after hiking and the long drive up, so I drove over to The Lakeside Bar on the resort side of the lake. The resort had several inn-style houses with guest rooms, rental cottages, and a couple of big houses for temporary stays. It was nice, but I preferred my dad’s cabin in the woods. The bar was on the main dock with an amazing view of the expansive lake.
I parked it at the bar and took off my hat. I ran my fingers through my hair and put my hat back on. I could use a shower, but I needed to eat first. I peered over at the draft taps and was disappointed I didn’t see any MacGregor Brothers beer. I’d talk to Declan about branching out sales in this part of the state.
And…I was thinking about work again.
Goddamnit.
Declan had a point about the marketing director thing. I was supposed to be on vacation, but all my thoughts were consumed by marketing ideas and sales pitches for the brewery. But the fear of failure was too great for me to consider his offer.
“Gemma!” a familiar voice called to me cheerily.
At the other end of the bar, a portly, grey-haired man stood behind the register. Ron had been managing The Lakeside Bar my entire life.
“Hey, Ron!” I said.
“I’ll be right with ya!”
I waved him off and perused the menu. I didn’t need to look because I already knew the menu by heart. One of the beers on tap was local, so I wanted to try that. I liked trying different beers and reporting back to Nolan. It felt like I was a spy. A beer spy.
Ron walked over to me and gave me a big smile. “Gemma, how are you?”
