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“None of us realized how hard you would take the sale,” Theo adds.
“I kind of thought Granddad must’ve known you didn’t want it…that’s what I get for assuming,” Sutton says. “Point is, it’s on us that we didn’t ask whatyouwanted.”
I look around the table incredulously, surprised I’ve never looked at it this way. Why haven’t I been mad at them? I fall back in my chair, appetite completely gone and a sick feeling taking over my stomach.
“You’re right,” I say softly. “I thought everyone knew how much I wanted to run the resort, but Granddad might’ve been the only one who knew how deep my love for this place went. You guys have been busy establishing your own careers and I’ve almost been grateful for that because I thought it was the only thing that paved the way formeto have it. Deep down I always felt like Granddad discounted what I did around here.” I take a deep breath and hope my voice isn’t shaky when I add, “Maybe I didn’t want to risk experiencing the same reactions from all of you if you knew just how much I wanted this.”
Six sets of sad eyes stare back at me.
“I really wish we’d known. Wish I hadn’t been so caught up in my own shit,” Theo says.
“Same,” Callum says.
“Language,” Grinny says, motioning toward Owen, who is reaching out to take my hand.
“I don’t like it when you’re sad, Auntie,” he says.
I lean over and hug him. “I don’t like it when you’re sad either, but we all get sad sometimes, don’t we?”
He nods solemnly.
I push back from the table and give Grinny an apologetic smile. “You know I live for the times we’re all together, but I think I need to go too,” I tell her.
She nods and when I stand, she gets up and meets me, hugging me. “We all let you down, angel. Can you forgive us?”
I sigh, my eyes filling with tears. “There’s nothing to forgive.”
When I step back, I wipe my eyes and put my hands on my hips, rolling my eyes as I try to laugh.
“I’m not ready to make it so easy for the rest of you,” I say, getting a relieved laugh from my brothers. “But the truth is, even though it stings that Granddad didn’t include me in the will, even if hehadgiven me full rein, I don’t think I could’ve saved the place either, not with all that needs to be done.”
“I think you could’ve—if Jamison already wants you to be his general manager, I think you could’ve,” Wyatt says.
The rest of them nod and start to pipe up.
I hold my hand up and they pause.
“No, really. I haven’t been able to admit it to myself, but it’s true. I’m seeing things through a new lens now that we have new eyes on the place, and we need alotof updates. I’m still not fully sure what Jamison is capable of, but he already has the charter helicopter schedule filling back up.”
“No kidding,” Sutton says in shock.
“Yeah, George has flown maybe once in the past four months, but we had two flights today and at least a dozen new bookings. I’m surprised Jamison was even able to get our other two pilots back. So that’s something that I wouldn’t have been able to do…at least not in the foreseeable future.”
I help Grinny back to her seat.
“Who knows,” I say. “Maybe Jamison will be able to take this place to the next level, the place Granddad always envisioned it being.”
I pat Grinny’s back and get out of there. I’ve already said way more than I ever have about my feelings about the lodge. Maybe I should’ve done that a long time ago.
My phone and keys are in my sweater pocket, so I rush through the house and out the front door. I’d normally walk over here since it’s a mile and a half between Grinny’s door and mine, but I drove tonight so I could hurry home to the dogs once I was ready to leave.
When I pull up to my condo and walk inside, Delgado and Lucia are cuddling together on the couch. Delgado’s tucked back against Lucia’s chest, and their heads pop up when I walk inside. They jump down and come over to say hello, Lucia weaving through my legs and Delgado doing these cute little twirls that I haven’t seen him do yet.
“Did you guys miss me?” I ask, feeling lighter already.
I take a shaky breath and dab the corner of my eyes with my sweater.
“You sure know how to make a girl feel good,” I whisper, nuzzling both their faces.
