Chapter 9 #2
Henley wanted to roll her eyes and remind her daughter how many times she’d talked about the retreat for people who needed a break from the world, but she didn’t.
She was simply glad Jasna was having a good summer.
Losing Mrs. Singleton, and thus her childcare, had been a huge concern, but everything was working out extremely well so far.
“If I can have your attention!” Spike called out from across the room.
Everyone turned to him, and he continued.
“We just wanted to tell all of you how much we appreciate the work you do here. We couldn’t keep The Refuge up and running as well as it does without you.
We talked about it the other night, and we want you all to know you’re more than welcome to stay in the empty cabins, anytime there’s one available.
We try to have bonfires on one or two Saturday nights a month, which you can always attend, and of course you’re more than welcome to take advantage of the hiking trails.
We want you to feel as much pride in what you’re doing here as we do.
Just get with Alaska if you want to stay in a cabin, and she’ll let you know when there’s a cancelation or an opening.
Unfortunately, it’ll probably be a late-notice kind of thing, but we hope this might be a welcome perk for you all. ”
Everyone around them let out a cheer, and Henley smiled. She and Jasna had loved staying at The Refuge, and she knew the others would too.
“Now that that’s out of the way…feel free to hang out for as long as you’d like.
We’ll open the lodge to the guests in another half hour or so, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave.
Oh, and take as much of the leftover food home as you want.
Robert won’t be upset if it’s all gone by the time he serves what he calls a ‘real dinner’ tonight. ”
Everyone laughed, and Robert shrugged as if to say Spike wasn’t wrong.
“As always, if you need anything—anything at all—never be afraid to ask any one of us,” Spike went on.
“Brick, Tonka, Pipe, Owl, Stone, Tiny, and I want you all to be happy during your time here. You’re truly changing lives, even if you don’t think what you do is important.
The men and women who come to The Refuge need a place to relax while trying to heal from whatever they’re going through.
They want a stress-free vacation, and every single one of you helps provide that.
And now I’m done being sappy. Thank you all again! ”
Everyone clapped, and Jasna looked up at her with a serious expression on her face. “Mom?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“I don’t like to think about anything bad happening to Spike. Or Finn. Or any of the other guys.”
“I know. I don’t either,” Henley said softly.
“They were all in the military, right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“So they probably had to kill people? And people were trying to kill them?”
“I don’t know about that. Not everyone who’s in the military has to actually shoot anyone,” Henley said diplomatically.
The truth of the matter was that she didn’t know all the guys’ stories.
Even though she was The Refuge’s therapist, the owners didn’t sit down with her and tell her all their secrets.
Finn was proof of that. She was dating the man, and she still didn’t know what exactly had happened to make him want to invest in The Refuge.
“I know killing people is bad, but I don’t think anyone here would do that on purpose. And if they did…the person probably deserved it.”
It was fascinating to watch her daughter grow up in front of her eyes. To see her mature intellectually. “I agree,” she said after a moment.
“And if anyone tried to hurt me, or you, I think they’d do whatever they could to help us.”
Henley frowned. “Has someone said or done something to worry you, Jasna?”
“No,” she said with a shrug. “I just feel safe here. And before you say it, I know bad things happen anywhere, but when I’m around Finn and the others…I just know no one can hurt me.”
And with that bombshell, Jasna hugged her mom, then pulled out of her hold and bounced over to visit Savannah, the woman who did The Refuge’s taxes and accounting.
“You okay?” Finn asked as he took Jasna’s place against Henley.
She gave him her weight as she kept her gaze on her daughter. “I don’t know,” she said honestly.
“What’s wrong? Talk to me, Hen.”
Taking a deep breath, she looked up at the man at her side. “It’s just that Jasna said some stuff that worries me.”
“Like what?”
“About how she knows she’s safe here at The Refuge. That even though you and your friends might’ve killed people, she was all right with that because they were probably bad.”
Finn didn’t say anything for a moment, then finally he nodded. “She’s not wrong. On both counts.”
“Should I be worried that she brought it up? I mean, maybe she doesn’t feel safe in our apartment?”
Finn turned her and put a finger under her chin, tilting her face up.
“I think she’s a twelve-year-old girl who’s experiencing her first bit of freedom this summer.
She has the run of this place and loves every second of it.
I think she’s just trying to express her happiness, and let you know that she trusts us. ”
Henley nodded. “Of course she trusts you and your friends. Why wouldn’t she?”
He studied her for a moment. “You’re so amazing.”
She frowned up at him. “Finn, we’re talking about Jasna and her trust in you guys,” Henley protested, even though she loved getting compliments from the man.
“And you said she trusts us without a second of hesitation. I know you’re aware that most people would think twice about letting their daughter hang out with a bunch of former military guys who are suffering from PTSD. Not to mention all the guests who have the same issues,” Finn told her.
“I’m not scared of you or your friends. Even the guests.
That they’re here at all means they’re trying to figure out how to live with what happened to them.
I worry more about the people out in the world who are driving drunk.
The entitled people who think they have the right to berate hardworking employees in service jobs.
People who don’t care if they go to work or school when they’re sick, with no regard for others.
I’d rather Jasna hang out here with you and your friends than have her mind rotted by watching so-called reality TV or hanging out with mean girls from school.
” Henley stared intently at Finn, hoping he understood what she was trying to say.
“One week,” Finn said as he stared back.
Henley’s lips twitched. “One week,” she echoed.
They shared an intimate look, and Henley swore she could feel his heart beating against her hand where it rested on his chest.
“Mom!” Jasna shouted from across the room.
The mood between her and Finn was broken with her daughter’s summons, but his fingers against her back as she turned still sent goose bumps down her arms.
“They’re gonna build a library here at the lodge! And Spike said I could help pick books!” Jasna said excitedly.
“That’s great. But we’re all standing right here. You don’t have to yell as if I’m on the other side of the property.”
“Sorry,” Jasna said with a small grin. “I’m just excited.”
The rest of the afternoon went by quickly, and the more Henley thought about her daughter’s words about being safe, the better she felt about them. It was simply Jasna’s way of trying to tell her mom not to worry. That she was happy.
Everything Henley had done in the last twelve years had been with Jasna in mind.
The jobs she’d taken, the food she bought, the movies they watched on TV.
The most important person in her life was her daughter.
Knowing she loved The Refuge as much as Henley did felt really good.
And she wasn’t wrong. The men who owned the retreat were special.
Yes, they probably had killed in the past, but that in no way made them unworthy—or untrustworthy.
She’d trust her life to them. More importantly, she’d trust Jasna’s life, if it came down to it.
Tonight, Finn had invited her and Jasna to walk out to Table Rock before it got dark and view the sunset.
She’d been there before, and the hike out to the picturesque spot wasn’t too difficult.
It pretty much didn’t matter what she and Finn did together, he could ask if she wanted to sit in an empty room and stare at the wall with him and she’d be more than happy to agree.
Just being around the man made her happy.
One week, she reminded herself silently. Piece of cake.