Chapter 25
ADAM
It’s been a grueling week of meetings and late-night brainstorming sessions with Craig.
We worked through the environmental concerns yesterday.
It hasn't been too hard to assure the permitting agencies that my design will put nature first. I can’t control the construction process, but as long as the crew Craig hires follows my guidelines, everything will be fine.
We’re still at least a year, maybe longer, before we even reach that point.
My designs are still concepts, not construction drawings.
But at least everyone seems satisfied that my final designs will be environmentally friendly.
It’ll cost Craig and the Kingslands a bit more money up front, but once it's done, they’ll have a resort unlike any other.
And nature fanatics from around the world will flock to it.
“You look exhausted.” Craig chuckles from the doorway. “Was I too hard on you this week?”
“Nah.” I smile and roll up the concepts we spent hours and hours marking up. “Tired, yes. But I’m excited for this project. Thanks again for choosing me.”
Craig waves me off like it's nothing, but I know it's a really big deal. Competition for design jobs like this is fierce. The fact that he chose me is a huge compliment to my skills and talents. “I know I’ve jerked you around this past year, but I’m being honest when I say I can’t imagine anyone else designing this. ”
“Thanks. That means a lot to me.” I finish rolling up the drawings and slide them into the protective tube that will make the trip home with me. “I can start revising these as soon as I get home. Probably have something new for you in about a month.”
“That sounds great. Once the concepts are finalized, how long before you have complete construction drawings?”
“Let’s see, once the concepts are approved, then we’ll commission the concept model. As long as the team is happy with that, I’d say six to nine months. Assuming the surveyors get up the mountain ASAP and get me all the numbers I need.”
“I’ll get on that first thing on Monday.” Craig studies me carefully, and I can tell there’s more he wants to say.
“Go ahead and spit it out. I can tell something’s on your mind.”
“Just being foolish.” He lets out a slow exhale. “You ever wonder where your career would be if you never left Chicago?”
I snort. “All the time. But then I remember how much I hate the city and all those thoughts melt away. Those mountains are my home—a part of my soul. I love my family and that land more than anything. Nothing is worth giving that up. Not even this career.”
Craig’s smile returns and he nods. “That’s why I chose you, you know.
Your connection and love for those mountains is in these drawings.
I hate that you left, but I’m glad you stuck with this.
I know it hasn’t been easy to get jobs like this from such a remote location.
I hope you’re ready for that to change. This project will put you in a different playing field. ”
A genuine smile spreads across my face for the first time all week. “I’m counting on it.”
“Good. Because I’ve got a colleague in Washington that’s watching this project closely. If he likes what he sees, you might have another job lined up once you're done with this one. No pressure, though.”
“Yeah, no pressure.” We both laugh. This job is nothing but pressure. But that’s partly what I love about it. It keeps me fresh and on my toes. “I better get going. My flight leaves in a couple hours.”
We say our goodbyes, and I head down to catch a cab to the airport. It’s a quick ride, and in no time, I’m sitting at my gate waiting for boarding to start.
I take my phone out of my pocket and pull up Camille’s contact.
I missed a couple calls from her before I left.
She even texted me on Sunday asking to talk.
But I’d left my phone in my truck on Sunday since I wouldn’t have service anyway.
I didn’t check it until the next day. By then I was already in Chicago.
I wanted to call her as soon as I saw her name.
I still do, but I don’t know what to say at this point.
And I'm terrified she’s going to end this.
Tomorrow will be a week since I left her crying alone in her bed.
I’ve struggled with that decision from the moment I made it.
I was only trying to do what was best for her. For all I know, I made matters worse.
As soon as I darken my screen, my phone vibrates. Lizzy’s name pops up. Confusion is the first emotion to wash over me, but that quickly turns to panic. I can’t imagine why Lizzy would call me unless something is wrong.
“Hello,” I say a little too quickly.
“Adam, it’s Lizzy.”
“Hey, Lizzy.” She sounds nervous but not upset. I hope that means everything is fine. “You doing, okay?”
“Yeah, well …” She lets out an exaggerated sigh. “Has everything been okay with Mom? You know, between you two?”
Now it was my turn to sigh. “Honestly, no. I haven’t spoken to her since Friday morning. She was pretty upset about something and wouldn’t talk to me.”
She’s silent for a few beats too long. I can hear her breathing so I know she’s still there, but she must be processing, and I don’t know what to say. Eventually, she says, “I’m afraid that’s my fault.”
“Why is it your fault?”
“Mom … didn’t tell you?” The hesitation in her voice worries me.
“Is everything okay, Lizzy?”
“No,” she whispers.
She’s silent again and it's causing my mind to wander down too many wrong paths. I sense she’s nervous, but I need her to tell me what’s wrong. “Lizzy, please. Just tell me.”
She sniffs, causing my shoulders to sag.
Is she crying? “Before I tell you what happened, I need you to understand my state of mind this past week.” She pauses and the way her voice cracks confirms her tears.
I hate it. “Friday was Daddy’s birthday.
It hit me hard, and I called Mom upset. When she said you were there, I freaked out on her.
I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean what I said.
I think you’re great, and I know Mom does, too.
It’s just, well. I still struggle with losing Daddy and—”
“Lizzy.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You don’t have to explain.”
“But I do. Please, let me finish.”
I lean back and drop my head on the back of the chair. “All right, go ahead.”
She lets out a long breath and clears her throat.
“I was in a bad state when I called. I didn’t sleep well the night before.
When I woke up, all I wanted was Mom. But she’s not here anymore.
All I could do was call her. When she told me you spent the night, I lost it.
I started saying stupid things about how she’d already forgotten about Daddy and how hurtful that was.
I told her I didn’t want her seeing you because I wasn’t ready.
That’s why she was upset. She ended the call with me, and I haven’t talked to her since.
She’s called me a few times, but I haven’t answered. ”
I think I stop breathing. I know my heart skipped a beat or two with that admission, but my lungs stopped taking in air. I stare at the ceiling, completely clueless on how to respond to that. Those are all perfectly valid feelings, even if they do hurt a little bit. Or a lot.
“Adam? Are you there?”
“Yeah.” I rub my eyes and pull myself together. “I’m here. Listen, it’s understandable that you’d feel this way. I hope you know I’m not trying to replace your dad.”
“I know. It had nothing to do with you. I hope you can forgive me. I really am sorry.”
The sincerity in her voice breaks my heart. “There’s nothing to apologize for. Loss like you’ve experienced is hard. I think you’re a great kid, and I hope to see more of you in the future.”
“Really?” Her tone perks up for the first time since she called. “You’re not mad I messed things up with my mom?”
“Don’t worry about that. Your mom and I will figure this out.”
“I hope so. I like seeing Mom happy. And you definitely make her happy.” Her voice is laced with relief, and it makes me smile.
“Thanks. If you’re right about that, then everything will be fine.”
“I am. Well, I should let you go. I just needed to clear the air between us.”
“You take care. And I’ll see you over the holidays.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” I can hear the smile on her face, and a sense of relief washes over me.
This is going to be fine.
I stare at my phone long after we hang up. I’m even more anxious to get home now than I was before Lizzy called.
Camille wasn’t crying because she didn’t love me. It’s all one huge misunderstanding. One I have every intention of resolving the second I make it back to Watercress Falls.
I don’t bother going home first. I head straight to Camille’s house instead. If there’s a chance I can fix this tonight, I will.
My heart drops when I pull up outside her house and it's dark. I don’t see a single light on. I hop out and knock anyway, and there’s no answer. It’s not even eight o’clock. Maybe she went out with Rachel. They’ve become close friends these past few months.
I pull my phone out to shoot Rachel a quick text when I remember Camille was planning a trip out of town. “Fuck.”
If I recall correctly, she’ll be gone until next Tuesday.
Instead, I text Matt.
Me: You home? Can I come over?
Matt: Yep. My door is always open.
Me: Be there in ten.
If anyone can help me understand what’s going on in Camille’s head, it's Matt. He’s the only person I know who’s experienced a similar loss as her.
Matt’s sitting on the front porch when I pull up to his house.
I still can’t believe he’s buying the Evans’s home.
Growing up next to the Evans made this feel like a second home.
There were times I spent just as much time with Mr. Evans and his horses as I did with my own dad.
We’re a close-knit community, everyone always looking out for our neighbors.
It hasn’t been the same since the Evans died in that car crash a few years ago.
Matt’s in their house, running a business out of their barn, and in negotiations to buy the house and surrounding land.
No one has seen either one of the Evans’s kids since the funeral.
From the way it sounds, neither of them have plans to ever come back.
I step up on the porch and Matt hands me a cold beer. “I’m guessing you need this?”
I take a swig before sitting down in the vacant chair next to him. “Might need more than one with the week I’ve had.”
“That good, huh?” Matt rolls his head in my direction and stares. “Chicago go bad?”
“No. Chicago actually went really well. The job is mine.”
Matt sits up straighter, his eyes wide. “Then why the frown? Isn’t that what you wanted? This is a big deal, Adam.”
“It's going to set my career on the path I’ve been working so hard for all these years. That’s not what’s got me all worked up.”
“Camille?” I give him a single nod. “Yeah, I heard you two had a tiff.”
“It wasn’t really a tiff.” I hate that everyone thinks we had a fight. “More like a misunderstanding that we haven’t had a chance to address. I need your advice.”
“Mine?” He raises his brows. “In case you hadn’t noticed bro, I haven’t exactly had the best luck with women.”
I chuckle. He’s right about that. I’ve always assumed he’s the reason the Evans’s daughter has never returned to Watercress Falls. “Maybe not. But you’ve experienced a similar loss to Cami, and I’m hoping you can give me some insight into what she’s thinking.”
“I see. You mean me losing Emily?”
“Yeah. It’s been what, four years? You’ve not dated since then. I’m curious as to why?”
Matt rubs the back of his neck before taking a long pull on his beer. “That’s a loaded question. And not one I have an easy answer for.”
I eye my brother carefully. We’ve never talked about his loss.
Not really. At least not in the sense of how he emotionally coped with losing his wife in childbirth.
We’ve been here to support him and help out with Emmie, but we’ve never talked about how the loss impacted him.
He picked himself up after her funeral and did what he had to do for his little girl.
He never once gave any indication he was in pain.
“If it's still too hard to talk about it, then don’t,” I say because I have no clue what else to say.
“It’s not that.” Matt leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees.
“I imagine it's different for me than it is for Camille.” He pauses and takes in a deep breath before continuing. “Don’t take this the wrong way. I loved Emily in my own way, but you know as well as anyone that she wasn’t the love of my life.
I screwed that all to hell. But what I can tell you is this: when you love someone—truly love them—you fight for them.
No matter what. Don’t be a chicken shit like me and let her walk away. ”
I sigh and pat Matt on the back. “It’s not too late for you, you know. You can still make this right.”
Matt shakes his head and rubs the back of his neck.
“Nah, I’ve exhausted all my chances. Plus, there’s no coming back from what happened.
But you and Camille—you two have something.
I saw it the night you brought her to The Wine Room.
Don’t let that go. If you’re worried about her husband, enough time has passed since he died.
She’s ready to love again. I can see it in the way she looks at you. ”
I nod and take a drink of my beer. “Are you free this weekend? I could really use your help. Joe’s too.”
Matt’s face turns into a full-on grin. “You’ve got a plan?”
“Yep.” I smile in return. “Something I’ve been working on for a while now. I can’t pull it off by myself. It might take all the Langdon men to get it done. You in?”
“Hell yes.” He lifts his beer to mine for a clank. Silence falls over us as we sit back in our seats and enjoy the rest of our beers. I have four days. It’s going to be tight, but I’ll figure it out and make it happen. Because I’ll do whatever it takes to make Camille mine.