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When she daydreamed about running her own place, however, it was by the water somewhere—maybe the Gulf Coast—where the fun would be nonstop. Continuous streams of people would cycle through, making her resort a busy hub of activity and excitement. Activity and excitement weren’t words she’d associate with Maplehaven and she had to make sure she kept her goals in mind. Grandpa needed her right now and that was fine, but this was just a little side trip on the road to her own plans.
She would not let Maplehaven be her quicksand.
“How’s it going in here?” Grandpa leaned against the doorway, his skin pale.
Isabel had been surprised when she’d arrived and gotten her first look at her grandfather in over a year. He usually made the trip to Pennsylvania to be with her on Christmas every year. They only had each other, her parents having passed when she was ten and Grandpa stepping in to raise her. He hadn’t made it this past Christmas, however, and Isabel hadn’t been able to get away from her job as a hotel manager, holidays being a busy season. Seeing how much Grandpa had aged during their time apart made her regret not seeing him sooner.
But she was here now.
“I’ve almost filled this closet,” she said, hanging another summer dress.
Grandpa entered the room and sat on the edge of the queen-sized bed. Standing after having the heart attack taxed his energy, making Isabel’s throat tighten. She’d always considered her grandfather invincible. Hell, he’d rescued her on plenty of occasions.
“You always could fill a closet.” Grandpa let out a soft chuckle as he gestured to the summer dresses which hung at about the same length. “Those all look like the same dress.”
“Oh, but Grandpa,” Isabel began, “a girl needs different color and print options.”
He shook his head and picked up one of her sandals. He used it to motion to the other sandals lined up at the bottom of the open closet. “The same is true for these?”
Isabel took the sandal and its mate. “Yes. Don’t judge. I don’t smoke or drink or do drugs. My weakness is shoes and clothes. There are worse things.” She stuck her tongue out at him then added those sandals to the closet lineup.
When she neared the bed again, Grandpa held out his hand. “Come here, Belly.”
She lowered to sit beside him, smiling over his childhood nickname for her. “Are you hungry?” she asked. “Want me to make you a snack?” She was there to care for him as well as the cottages after all.
“No. I want you to listen to me.” He shifted slightly to face her. “I love that you came here to help me. You are such a sweet, sweet girl.” He sandwiched her hand between both of his. “I also know I’m a big ol’ monkey wrench in your plans.”
“Oh, Grandpa—” She snapped her mouth shut when he squeezed her hand.
“I said to listen.” He wiggled her hand. “I know you were planning to quit your job at the hotel back in Pennsylvania, but not to come babysit me and my cottages in Vermont. You have bigger dreams, Belly, and I want you to know you can leave at any time. I’ll manage.”
She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I know, but I want to be here right now. I want to help you.” She grinned. “I want you to tell me every secret about running a business like this so I can be over-the-top successful when I do get to my plans. I want the inside intel, Grandpa, and you can give it to me.”
“I’m happy to share all I know. The cottages aren’t exactly like running a resort,” he said. “Most of my customers—when I have them—rent for extended periods of time. I don’t have to offer poolside activities because there isn’t a pool. I probably should look into what else I can offer.” He scrubbed a hand down his face, looking weary. “Business has been... slow, but some basic principles of running a place like this could be helpful to your resort dream.”
“And I’m ready to scribble down those wise principles in my notebook.” She squeezed his hand now and stood, pulling him to his feet and giving him a hug. “Now I know you said you didn’t want a snack, but I do. I’m raiding the fridge and if you don’t want me to eat something, you’d better come supervise.”
Grandpa shuffled after her down the hallway to the kitchen. Fortunately the larger cottage her grandfather used as his residence on the Pine River Cottages property was one floor so he didn’t have to manage on a set of stairs. Still, walking from one end of his home to the other wore him out. It was tough to see her normally strong-as-a-bull grandfather so... diminished. That heart attack had done a number on him, hence her decision to abandon her life in Pennsylvania to be with him. He’d changed his life course to raise her when she needed him. She would most definitely do the same for him. Without each other, they’d be alone in this world and that left a pit in her stomach every time she thought about it.
Isabel opened the refrigerator, glanced at the shelves, then scanned the kitchen as Grandpa got himself a glass of water at the sink.
“Hey, where’s Blaze? Normally whenever a refrigerator opens, he’s doing his best impression of a starving dog and begging for something.” She let the refrigerator door shut and wandered into the small living room. “Blaze? Where are you, boy?”
When no dog came trotting to her, she backtracked into the kitchen. “Did you let him outside, Grandpa?”
“No, but maybe he slipped out when you were bringing stuff in. I haven’t seen him in a little while.”
With an uneasy feeling in her stomach, Isabel went to the front door and turned on the outside light. Rain fell at a steady clip out there so she grabbed her grandfather’s raincoat on the coat tree by the door.
“I’ll be right back.” She turned on her cell phone’s flashlight.
She stepped outside and swung her phone from left to right, but the beam didn’t travel far enough to see much.
“Blaze! Come here, boy!” It wasn’t like her faithful canine companion to wander too far from her. From the moment she’d gotten the Australian Kelpie, he’d been glued to her whenever possible, only straying when something interesting caught his attention. He’d proven to be the best friend she’d needed. Someone who chased away those alone feelings. Blaze was super smart, extremely active, and curious.
So curious that sometimes he got himself into trouble.
“Blaze!” Isabel whistled as rain pelted against her grandfather’s raincoat. “Come on, boy! It sucks outside! Get your furry butt back here.”
