Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
He laughed. “Name it. It’s done.”
“It involves getting Lexi to the top of the mountain at sunset this evening. Do you think you can do it?”
“Hmmm. I could tell her there’s an issue with the arrival station up there. We’re open for business tomorrow, so she’d want to look at it right away.”
“Perfect. Just one more thing.”
“What’s up?”
Closing my eyes, I took a breath. “I need you to run me up there first.”
TWENTY-FIVE
lexi
On Friday, I didn’t even feel like getting out of bed.
I lay around in my pajamas in my old room, staring out the window, trying not to cry, and wondering where I was going to go from here. Around ten, my phone buzzed, and my heart started to pound. But when I grabbed it and checked the screen, it wasn’t Devlin.
“Hey, Winnie,” I said miserably.
“Hey.” Her voice was soft. “Just checking on you. Are you okay?”
“Yes and no.”
“How was Thanksgiving?”
“Fine, I guess. Lonely.”
“Oh, Lex. I’m sorry. I wish I knew what to say.”
“Say it’s my fault for falling for the wrong guy. For confusing what was pretend with something real. That’s how desperate I am to be loved.”
“It’s not your fault,” she said firmly. “And you are loved.” Then she sighed. “But I know what you mean. You want to be loved like that.”
“I want to be loved like that,” I echoed. “I want someone who can’t live without me. No, you know what? I want someone who could live without me but doesn’t want to. I want him to choose a life with me, because I make him happy.”
“You’ll find him, honey.”
“Maybe someday,” I said, although the thought of being with anyone but Devlin made my stomach hurt. “But first I have to get divorced.”
“I bet it will be quick. You weren’t married that long. Doesn’t that make it easier?”
“I have no idea. But nothing about this is easy.” I lifted my left hand and stared at the band I couldn’t bring myself to take off. “Nothing.”
At lunchtime, Gran poked her head in and tried to coax me downstairs for a turkey sandwich.
“I’m not hungry, Gran.”
“I don’t care. I’m your grandmother, and I need to feed you. You’ll make me feel bad if you don’t come down and eat.” She paused. “Besides, I want to talk to you.”
Sighing, I hauled myself out of bed and followed her downstairs. At the table were two sandwiches and two cups of tea. Ignoring the food, I picked up the tea and took a sip.
Gran sat across from me. “Alexandra, I’ve been thinking.”
“About what?”
“About the will.”
“What about it?”
“Maybe it’s outdated.”
“It’s one hundred percent outdated, Gran.” I set my cup down. “But you and Grandpa were right. I can’t run this place on my own. It’s too much.”
“You once mentioned a partner,” she said. “Now that you’ve got your business loan and your blueprints and your renovation going, maybe you could find someone.”
“Maybe.” But I just wanted Devlin. It was our business loan and our blueprints and our renovation. I wanted to share it with him.
“Would you prefer to sell?”
My head came up sharply. “What? No! No.” I frowned. “Sorry, Gran. I’m out of it today. I would love the opportunity to find a business partner and continue with the remodel and reopening if you’re up for letting me try it without a husband.”
“I think you’ve earned a shot to make your parents proud,” Gran said with a smile. “I’ll do anything I can to help you.”
“Thank you, Gran.” My eyes teared up, and I blinked them away. “I appreciate that. But what about Tabitha? She wants money. She’s going to fuss.”
Gran waved a hand in the air. “You leave Tabitha to me. I’ll give her the pearls early. Between you and me, they’re imitation anyway. Fool girl can’t even tell the difference.”
Despite my broken heart, I laughed.
Mustering some energy, I took a shower, got dressed, braided my hair, and went over to the lodge. Letting myself into my grandfather’s old office, I sat at his desk, opened my laptop, and started researching the process for hiring a business partner.
A couple hours had gone by when my phone rang, and I saw that it was Luke DeVries, the chief lift operations manager.
“Hey Luke.”
“Hey Lexi, sorry to bother you, but we’re having an issue with the arrival station of the Northland lift. Got a minute to go up there?”
“Sure. Is the lift running now?”
“Yeah. No issues at the point of departure. I’ll meet you there.”
“Sounds good. I’ll be there in five.”
I bundled up in my coat and hat, tugging on my mittens as I walked over to the lift station at the base of the mountain. It was one of the older ones, so it didn’t surprise me that there might be an issue with it, but hopefully we could get it sorted out by the time we opened tomorrow morning. Thanksgiving weekend was popular for hikers.