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He really had saved me, in more ways than one.
Chapter Eighteen
James
When that kid fell, the health department got up my ass about ensuring there was no way that the resort could be held responsible for the accident. After the issue at Kevin’s place, every one of us had been dreading more things like that happening. Of course, it was me it happened to.
I walked the ridge at dawn with a flashlight, trying to get some sense of how I could increase safety and security for my patrons. Unfortunately, there was not a damn fence in the world that could block out stupidity. The kid had been reckless and oblivious. That had absolutely nothing to do with my resort.
It was peaceful in the cold morning air, and I had time to reflect on all the stuff happening in my life. It was times like this that I missed Jane most. She was like some portal of infinite wisdom who always knew just what to say to inspire me to takeaction, but also how to convince me that not everything had to be attacked head on.
I dropped down onto the fresh powdery white, my snow pants making a wheezing noise as I did, and watched the sun rise. This view alone was worth owning the lodge. That and the fact that it was always our dream, Jane and me.
My mind wandered to Haley, and the decision that I knew was weighing on me like a ton of bricks. I needed to either make a move or pull back and let the girl be. I was definitely too old for her, but maybe age didn’t matter as much as I thought it did. I would have absolutely taken Haley in an age “appropriate” body as well. It was her spirit that had captured me in a chokehold. The looks were just a shiny packaging.
I lay back, feeling the frosty wetness in my hair and stared up into the pine trees that dotted the mountainside like landmarks. The branches slowly dripped clumps of melting snow to the ground, like the trees were shaking off old realities too.
The sun was coming out and it was time to change.
***
At noon I met with the health inspector to go over the bogus ideas I’d come up with to reinforce safety guidelines. While I couldn’t block out stupid or impulsive, I could restrict who had access to which slopes. Additionally, I would make parents sign a waiver that said any and all mistakes on their child’s part were their responsibility and that they were signing away the right to sue the resort for damages if the child chose not to follow the rules of the lodge.
“Look, James,” she said. “I don’t personally think there was a damn thing you could have done to prevent t that kid making an idiot of himself. The parents are one hundred percent to blame. But your coverage is a little weak when it comes toliability. These additional restrictions should set you up to be bulletproof.”
“Thanks, Trish,” I said, patting her on the shoulder and shaking her hand as I led her to the door. She was a nice woman but I was almost never happy to see her. “I appreciate your patience and understanding.”
“Anytime, Boss,” she replied. “Anytime.”
I had my lunch after she departed, and spent the thirty minutes in utter silence with my head in my hand. Being a business owner was stressful, dealing with things that broke my routine, even more so.
After lunch, I headed back out into the sunny chill to check on a lift that was due for a wiring inspection. I’d likely be seeing Trish again before the week was out.
Everywhere around me were happy families enjoying their vacations, and I was this semi-grumpy lodge owner stomping through the snow. It made me realize it had been before Katie was born that we’d taken our last vacation. Come to think of it, that might have been the last time I took more than a day off consecutively. Maybe I was a workaholic like Zane always said. It certainly kept me from thinking about the potential inevitability that I would never again find someone who likes me for me and not my money and end up dying alone.
I shuddered at the thought I worked so hard to keep out, my brain jumping back to that nightmare date I had with the girl who was desperate to get pregnant by a billionaire. Those were the kind of women who were my prospects. It made sense why so many wealthy men went for women who at least could be trophy wives if they were going to rob them blind anyway.
I was halfway to the furthest lift when I noticed something odd.
A woman was standing at the top of a beginning level run, and while she was dressed like a professional, and held her gear like a professional, she looked like she was trembling with fear.
Then I realized it was Haley.
Thirty seconds later I watched as a kid zipped by her, startling Haley. She visibly panicked and started to slide. Rather than tucking in, she flailed wildly and was clearly headed for a fall.
As fast as I could, I ran toward her, and not a moment too soon.
I hit the ground as I caught up with her, sliding a little myself with the impact. Thank God for my snow pants or there would be some very intense pain going to body parts that weren’t built for impact.
Her eyes went wide, presumably realizing it was me, and almost immediately, Haley started to bawl. She curled up her trembling body into mine and I held her.
People skied past, staring, but right now with her in my arms, it felt like we were the only two people in the world. I could feel each heaving breath she took, and the heartbeat in her neck where I brushed back some hair.
“Let’s get you out of here,” I said, leaning in to whisper in her ear.
She nodded and I got to my feet, hoisting her into my arms.
“Hey,” I said shouting to one of my ski guards. “Can you grab those skis and send them to the front desk? They’re worth too much to possibly get stolen.”
