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AfterIstoppedbythe diner, picked up one of their famously large burgers, and brought Maggie back to the lodge instead of my parents’ house, I devoured the tasty meal and two bottles of beer while I scrutinized my original construction plans, searching for corners to cut. Once I finally set the papers down, I closed my eyes and dozed off.
I woke up the next morning to the sound of Maggie barking beside my ear. Then her warm, wet kisses smeared the side of my face. With one eye still pinched shut, I smiled and rose from the couch. “Okay, Mags. I’m up. I’m up, girl.”
Indulging in a lazy stretch, I stood and gazed straight ahead at the large glass panels Leo had installed at the back of the lodge. Joined together, all nine of them spanned three rooms, serving as both a wall and a window.
From this vantage point in the lodge, you could see the seasons change. It was the perfect place to take in the first glimmer of a new morning peaking over the horizon, or the last breath of sunlight as the night consumed the day.
Besides the breathtaking views, the location where Leo built the family house had sentimental value. When we were kids, a group of us would ride our bikes to a nearby overlook. We’d sit there for hours, gazing down at Covington Falls nestled in the valley below.
Always the adventurer among us, Leo discovered this rise. It was his idea to buy the land around it and one day build something on it we could call ours. A place where the Valentines could always come together.
The lodge rarely gets used—unless it’s Christmas. Our parents won’t move in because it’s too big. Leo’s never getting married, and I’m working all the time. The lodge was a monument to our success. Like a museum we visit once in a while.
“Hey, girl, you hungry?” I said.
When Maggie barked back at me, I took it as a yes. Grabbing my phone, I shuffled across the room to the kitchen. The lodge had been prepped for the entire family to stay here through New Year’s Day. Longer if needed. There was a twelve-foot Christmas tree in the Great Room positioned next to the wall of windows. Decorations dotted every corner, and the kitchen was stocked. The food catered to each of our tastes, from me, to Leo, to our parents, and even Maggie.
I pulled a bag of one of the specialty dog foods Dr. Marshall recommended in Maggie’s new diet plan. “Do you like this one, girl?” She tilted her head and her ears perked up in response. “Another yes. I’ll accept that answer.” I poured her a bowl. Maggie shoved her snout into the fishy smelling kibble. “Of course you love it. Doctor Zoey chose it just for you and she’s such a good doctor, right? Way better than Dr. Anderson. Isn’t that right, girl?”
I fluffed her coat and watched as she ate. Then I noticed Maggie was mostly nuzzling the food around her bowl, only occasionally gobbling up some of the breakfast. Sighing, I reached for my phone and called my brother.
“Do you realize what time it is?” Leo said on the fourth ring.
“I checked my watch before I called. I figured you were just crawling into bed.”
He laughed.
“You still enjoying Vegas?”
“You are the one person in the world who doesn’t enjoy Vegas, Lucas.”
We chuckled, and then we both said, “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“You go first,” Leo added.
Wishing I was having this conversation with him face to face, I told him about our subcontractor woes, about the vandals defacing the building, and the details of our new arrangement with Mayor Briggs. “I know convincing the board won’t be easy for you. Those tax breaks were a key factor in the decision to expand here instead. Giving a portion of them up to help the town’s budget might cause the board to think we don’t know what the hell we’re doing.”
Leo smacked his teeth. “It won’t be easy, but I’ll figure something out.”
Over the years, having my brother by my side while creating V-Sparks from nothing and later as we shared in its success, I appreciated Leo’s optimism. I think it was a byproduct of his ego, but it came in handy when my enthusiasm was drained and right now when everything felt hectic.
“There’s something else I need to tell you. It’s not about work.” I glanced at Maggie. She was resting on the floor by her bowl. She had eaten much of her food. “It’s Maggie. I took her to see the new veterinarian yesterday and she says she’s getting old. That she’s dying.”
“Oh, shit,” Leo said. “How are mom and dad taking the news?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Well, I didn’t find out until pretty late last night. I brought Maggie up to the lodge with me instead of taking her home. I haven’t told them yet.”
Leo sighed on the other end of the line. “Lucas, I know why you sided with them on this the last time the subject came up, but mom and dad need to move into the lodge. They can’t be by themselves anymore.”
“They hate it here. The lodge doesn’t feel like home.”
“They’ll adapt. Plus, we can hire the staff full-time to help them do absolutely nothing for the rest of their lives. We didn’t work this hard and make sacrifices just to get rich. We did it for them, so they wouldn’t need to worry about anything anymore.”
“I know, Leo.” I felt the same way my brother did, but I didn’t want to force this life-altering change onto my parents. But with Maggie dying, I don’t think I have much of a choice anymore. I shook my head and leaned onto the counter, resting my elbows on the hard surface. “They are going to hate this idea.”
“Well, they can hate it frominsidethe lodge with the three-person staff to look after them.”
“We could get them another dog.”
