Chapter Eleven
THE VERY NEXT MORNING, Bailey got an SOS text from Landon as she was walking Foxy Brown as part of her daily routine.
Have pity on us! Things have blown up
with Hattie. She’s waging war with all
of us and threatening to go to Vegas solo.
Can you come over?
Yikes. She wondered what had happened. Landon had seemed to believe that they had a little bit of time on their hands to have a family meeting with Hattie.
Clearly something had shifted overnight.
Although she knew Hattie was a tough customer, she’d never seen her the way Landon was describing her friend.
Maybe everything had crashed down around her regarding her illness and Hattie was lashing out.
I’ll be over as soon as I shower
and get dressed. See you soon.
Within twenty-five minutes, Bailey was parking outside of Hattie’s home.
She noticed several other cars in the driveway.
She imagined Hattie’s whole family was inside, trying to placate her.
As soon as she reached the top step, the door swung open.
Landon was standing there with a fatigued expression, dressed in an oatmeal-colored Irish sweater and sweats.
He looked handsome and even more rugged than usual.
She just wanted to stop and stare for a moment in silent appreciation.
“Thank God you’re here! We need reinforcements,” he said, panting as if he’d just run a marathon. “Come on in from the cold.” He waved her inside, where it was toasty and warm.
Stepping into the house, she immediately smelled the intoxicating aroma of chocolate chip cookies. Bailey would know that smell anywhere. They happened to be her favorite, something she indulged in a few times a week.
“Let me take your coat,” Landon said, standing behind her and helping her pull it off.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “Your message sounded frantic.” She studied Landon’s expression. His face was creased with strain as he hung her coat up in the closet.
He turned back to face her. “That pretty much describes the situation,” Landon told her, wincing. “Hattie is on a rampage. That’s the crux of it.”
“Jacques only called everyone over here after he and Hattie got into it. I could hear the racket all morning. She demanded to know the plans for going to Vegas, and he admitted that he didn’t think it was a good idea.
” Landon rolled his eyes. “Then all hell broke loose. I tried to calm her down. My dad came over and tried to talk to her. Then Xavier and Caleb, along with Sophia and True. She just spiraled and started accusing everyone of trying to derail her bucket list.”
Bailey’s heart was breaking a little for Hattie. Although it probably appeared as if she was being difficult, Bailey thought she was really rebelling against the idea of not being able to leave her life on her own terms.
“I think it’s important that everyone understands that this isn’t really about Vegas. It’s about her having control over her life and feeling it slipping away from her.”
“I think you’re right,” Landon said. “You’re really good at reading people, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know about that, but I relate to her on some level.
And I’ve known Hattie for a very long time.
I don’t think I’ve ever known someone who’s fiercer and more independent than she is.
This may very well be the first time in her life that she’s ever been frightened of anything, even if she doesn’t admit it. ”
“Now I feel bad,” he said, looking down. “She’s such a force of nature that I believed her when she said she’d accepted that time was running out.” He scoffed. “How could anyone ever truly accept that?”
She reached out and touched his arm. “Don’t feel that way.
Your love for your grandmother is so epic and wonderful.
You’re just trying to take care of her. On some level, I’m sure she understands that.
” She leaned in and gave him a hug. Bailey could tell that he needed one right now.
Human comfort and contact were soothing.
Who was she kidding? She needed it too. Being in Landon’s arms and feeling his rock-solid chest against her was a safe haven.
More and more she found herself leaning on him, not just for companionship, but for comfort from the storms of life.
He was making everything better, especially this difficult time of year.
Because of him she wanted to get past her dislike of Christmas, because she knew now that it really didn’t have anything to do with the holiday.
It was about loss and her family and missing her dad.
“Landon,” she said, a little bit breathless. Adrenaline was coursing through her veins. “I came up with an idea, something that I think will pacify and maybe even delight Hattie.”
“What did you come up with? Because we’re on the ropes here, and it’s not looking good.”
“Okay, it’s a partial plan. I don’t have any idea as to how to make her want to stay in Moose Falls as opposed to going to Vegas, but what if we bring Vegas to her?” She saw a look of confusion on Landon’s face.
“Hear me out. We get a venue and decorate it Vegas style, get some slot machines and some blackjack tables. We can really do it up, maybe even at the tavern if it’s okay with True. We could do something special and give her that feeling of being a high roller right here in Moose Falls.
“And maybe we could charge everyone admission to get in, and the proceeds could go to a medical center to help others with kidney disease or any other chronic condition. Maybe that’s the angle.
How she’s always been a philanthropist at heart, so knowing that we will be making a donation toward a great cause might help her with any disappointment she feels about Vegas. ”
As Bailey talked, she saw it all coming together in her head. She could really see Northern Exposure transformed into a Vegas casino for one night only. It would take them a lot of work to get it done, but she believed that they could do it and surprise Hattie.
Landon let out a surprised sound. “You’re a genius, Bailey. Seriously. This is a fantastic idea. It may not exactly be the Vegas she had in mind, but she’s going to love it all the same.”
Bailey wouldn’t have suggested the idea if she didn’t think that Hattie would end up loving it. “It’s very on brand for Hattie. The tavern. The Vegas bells and whistles. All the people she loves in attendance.”
Landon’s voice rose with excitement. “I think it can work. If we all put our heads together. It could also be a lot of fun for all of us.”
“Hey, what’s all the noise in here? You two sound as if you’re celebrating something,” Caleb said, looking at them curiously. He let out a chuckle. “Wait, don’t tell me you’re engaged. Are congratulations in order?”
Landon shook his head at him.
“No engagement over here,” Bailey said, looking a bit taken aback.
Just then Sophia entered the room. With long auburn hair and a curvy figure, Caleb’s fiancée was stunning.
At her side was a little girl, her daughter, standing beside Sophia.
With big brown eyes and curly dark hair, she was precious.
She almost looked like she could be Bailey’s own daughter.
The thought caused her heart to squeeze painfully in her chest. Now why had she thought something like that out of the blue?
More and more she was starting to dream of things she had never imagined before—babies, the whole white picket fence and a long-term partner or husband.
“Hi, Bailey,” Sophia said. “Nice to see you again.” She looked down at her daughter. “I’m not sure you’ve met my daughter, Lily. Lily, this is Bailey. Why don’t you say hello?”
Lily stuck out her hand and looked up at Bailey with a sweet look on her face. This little girl couldn’t be more adorable, Bailey thought.
“Nice to meet you. You’re pretty,” Lily said.
Everyone chuckled at the little girl’s openness.
“So are you,” Bailey said. “How old are you?”
“I’m four,” she said, holding up three fingers.
Caleb leaned over and put up another finger for her.
The way he was gazing at her with adoration shimmering in his eyes said so much about their close bond.
Clearly Moose Falls had done wonders for him.
Once known as a reality star heel, Caleb’s claim to fame was now being a loving fiancé and spokesman for Yukon Cider.
Likewise, Xavier had met True and fallen madly in love with the tavern owner after suffering painful romantic missteps in his past. It was almost as if Moose Falls had worked its magic on the both of them.
No wonder Landon felt the pressure to create a faux relationship. Just another piece in the puzzle. She was certain that everyone had been waiting for him to pair up with the love of his life. Humph. As if that could happen on command.
Xavier entered the room with True and her little brother, Jaylen.
“Hey, Jaylen,” Caleb greeted him. “How would you like to make twenty bucks?”
Jaylen’s eyes widened. “What do I have to do?”
“How about you watch Lily for an hour? Easiest job you’ll ever have. She’s in her Bluey phase!”
“Sign me up,” Jaylen said. “Lily is my little buddy.” He went over and patted her on the shoulder.
“There’s some Goldfish in the kitchen and her sippy cup,” Sophia told him. “She totally looks up to you, Jaylen, so you’re not going to have any problems with her.”
“And I’ll be twenty bucks richer,” he said, rubbing his hands together. Jaylen and Lily left the room holding hands. Bailey sensed that Xavier was trying to get rid of the kids so that they could talk freely about the Hattie situation.
“Now that the little listening ears are gone, I can tell you about what just went down upstairs. Hattie pulled out her suitcase and began tossing clothes in there like some sort of cyclone whirling around. She claimed she already ordered a private plane to take her to Vegas.”