Chapter 28
CHAPTER 28
ARLAND
I was having an awesome time at the dinner so far. My only gripe was that I didn’t have Mariam by my side, but I would soon. I’d arranged for my family and hers to be seated at the same table. To an outsider, it might look like coincidence, but I’d made some last minute changes to the seating charts to allow for us all to eat together.
After I’d done the rounds greeting everyone, the DJ announced that dinner would be served soon and I grinned, making small talk with guests on my way to our table. When I reached it, Mariam was just sitting down at her place card right next to mine, and she looked up at me with a spark of amusement and surprise in her gaze.
“Interesting,” she murmured as I sat down. “I don’t remember us being next to each other on the original seating chart.”
“Weird.” I smiled and sat down, quickly finding the unfamiliar faces at our table and focusing on them. “You must be the Walkers. I’m Arland Stone. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
I reached across the table to shake their father’s hand, but he didn’t seem particularly interested in me. Barely even making eye contact, he shut his fingers around mine for half a beat before he turned back to his wife.
“Daddy,” Mariam said, drawing his attention to her. “Arland is Brian’s business partner. He’s also my boss and the co-owner of the Chalet.”
“Right.” Her dad glanced at me. “This is a lovely resort, son. I’m sure it’s going to be a successful venture.”
Son? Wow. It’s been a long time since anyone has called me that.
I refused to let the polite smile melt from my lips, though. “Thank you, sir. We’re very proud of the place and it’s been wonderful having your daughter here as well. She’s really helped us get it ship-shape for the weekend.”
Mariam’s mom turned to face me, her gaze searching my face as if she was looking for something specific. I just had no clue what it might be. “Are you local to the area? It’s terribly cold here. I hope there’s sufficient heating in the rooms.”
“The best of the best,” I replied immediately. “I am local, so I understand the weather around here quite well. We spared no expense with the temperature controls throughout the lodge and the bedding is cozy and warm.”
Their dad took a pointed look out the window at the snow that had started falling outside. “We’re hoping that Brian’s next endeavor will be an ocean-front resort.”
Jeez. It’s no wonder both Brian and Mariam have such a hard time with these people. I let their complaints roll off me, though. I’d decided to enjoy every minute of this night and the Walkers weren’t going to ruin it for me.
“You guys loved it here when you came back when we were kids,” Mariam said with a slight frown on her forehead. “It was winter then, too. I remember the snow-capped mountains on pictures.”
Her mom sniffed but then gave their dad a dreamy smile. “We didn’t spend much time outside on that trip and we were much younger.”
“Age makes the cold a lot more uncomfortable,” their dad added, sliding his arm around his wife’s shoulders and pulling her closer. As he looked back at me, he suddenly sent me a strange, half-smile. “I’m sure you’d agree, Arland. The older you get, the colder it feels.”
Mariam bristled beside me, but I moved my thigh over an inch to press it to hers for just a moment. “I can’t say I’ve noticed that just yet, but I’m sure it’s also easier for me because I’m more used to the cold.”
“Will we have to go outside to get to our room?” their mom asked, stiffening like she couldn’t imagine anything worse.
I gave them both an apologetic smile. “All our walkways are covered, but yes. Unfortunately, not all of them are enclosed.”
“Perhaps that’s something you can work on.” Mr Walker sighed. “Where’s Brian? You’d think that after the effort we made to be here tonight, he’d spend some time with us.”
“I’m sure he’ll be here soon.” Mariam inclined her chin at the open spot beside her parents. “I saw him talking to some people over near the door when we were told to take our seats.”
“Was one of them a woman?” her mom inquired, sitting up a little straighter and looking around as if searching for him. “It’s about time that boy finds a nice girl and settles down.”
“That’s his business, Mom.” Mariam gave her a look that told me this wasn’t the first time she had addressed this issue with her.
Mercifully, the tense moment was interrupted when waiters came out with our appetizers. Drinks glasses were refilled and speeches were made, which offered us a brief reprieve from the stiff conversation around the table.
The only thing that might’ve made it worse was if Smith and Lisa had been here, but as it was, only Mom, Lillian, and Charlie had been able to make it tonight, and they were chatting quietly among themselves at the other end of the table.
Gregory was seated with us as well, but his wife was at home with a cold. He hadn’t said a word so far. What he’d observed prior to the appetizer course must’ve been pretty painful for him, though, considering that as soon as the speeches were done, he did his best to lighten the conversation around the table.
“How long have you two been married?” he asked the Walkers as our plates were cleared, a pleasant smile on his face. “You’re a beautiful couple.”
“Just over three decades this year,” Mr. Walker replied, glancing at the ring on Greg’s finger. “What about you?”
“Almost twenty years,” he said easily. “We’ll be empty nesters within the next few years, though. I’ve heard that’s a difficult phase when it first begins, but right now, I’m quite looking forward to it.”
Neither of the Walkers laughed at his joke. Instead, Mariam’s mother turned back to me. “What about you, Arland? Is your wife here this evening?”
“I haven’t been married for years,” I responded firmly, letting them know this wasn’t a topic that was open to discussion right now. “We got divorced when we were twenty-five and I’ve never looked back.”
Tension stretched taut in the air around our table and I could sense the disapproval radiating from the Walkers. I did my best to ignore it, and poor Greg tried to diffuse the tension, but his attempts failed.
When our entrees arrived, the steaks were perfectly cooked and the roast vegetables and puree that came with it were divine, but the conversation around our table remained strained. Brian still hadn’t joined us, the Walkers spoke to Greg but only to respond to his questions, and I tried to engage with them, but it was all super tense.
Eventually, Mariam pushed her chair out and glanced down at me, frustration shimmering from those gorgeous blue eyes. “Mr. Stone, we need to check on the reception staff as well the progress with the arrangements for tomorrow. I told them we’d be there before dessert.”
“Of course.” I kept my voice even and mild, as if I’d known we had things to do this evening. “Please excuse us.”
“We just need to step away for a few moments,” Mariam told her parents. “Duty calls. I’m sure you understand. If I see Brian, I’ll send him your way.”
Rising from my chair, I followed after her but kept a respectable distance until we were out of the main lodge, stepping into the snowy night outside. Once the door was shut behind us and we were shielded behind a stone-clad wall leading to the spa, I took her hand and pulled her to me.
“Are you okay?”
“I wasn’t up there but I am now.” She groaned and wrapped her arms around my neck, tilting her head to look into my eyes. “They’re so judgmental and it’s not like they’re perfect. I just don’t understand why they have to be this way. I’m sorry for bringing you out here into the freezing cold . I just wanted a moment away from the noise with you.”
I held her tighter and smiled. “I can handle the freezing cold . Besides, I’d rather be out here with you too. I know having them here isn’t easy.”
“At least they’re not staying long.” She inhaled deeply before releasing me and reaching up to fluff and fiddle with her hair. “When we get back up there, I’m forcing my brother to come sit with us. Enough is enough and we need backup.”
I chuckled. “We’ll survive, Mimi. I promise, we will be okay. Especially if, for the rest of the party, you keep in mind that I have a surprise for you later.”
“You do?”
I lowered my chin in a nod. “I reserved my favorite room in the whole Chalet for us tonight. The Sunflower Suite. So when all of this is said and done, it’ll only be the two of us for the night and everyone else is in rooms far enough away that they’ll never know.”
She smiled. “How is it that you knew that would be exactly what I needed after a day like today?”
I tugged her back to me and lowered my lips to hers, speaking against them before I kissed her. “I am always going to do my best to anticipate your needs, my love, but I knew it in this case because I knew that you would be exactly what I needed after a crazy day like today.”