Chapter 9 #2
He hoped she continued these texts after the sale. She was the sports commentator of the inn’s happenings.
Ray said he replaced some coils or something in the AC unit of Cottage Two. Do I need to be texting all this to Cami Jackson?
He’d left a list for Ray. Myrtle May’s play-by-plays let him know Ray was ticking through the list faster than Ben ever had. The man had more energy in his seventies than Ben at thirty.
He set his phone on the coffee table and tried to drift off again, but thoughts of Hearts Bend kept him awake. Here he was, in his dream city working his dream job, and he missed, even ached for, that old-fashioned inn and his zany aunt and grumpy cook.
He missed Cami, and the thought of not seeing her this weekend bugged him. He sat up. Where was this thought process going? He refused to abandon his life plan and goals for the passing affection of a beautiful woman. But was it passing?
Besides, he’d already signed the inn over to her. When he went back to Hearts Bend, he’d sign the final papers and be done.
She’d warned against falling in love, and look, that’s exactly what he’d done. Ben jumped up from the sofa. He was in love with Cami Jackson.
He grabbed his phone and started a text but then glanced at his watch. Half an hour until dinner, which didn’t leave enough time to text Cami an “I love you” message. Did he even want to text her something so personal and intimate?
On impulse, he called his father. He needed to talk to someone now.
“Ben, hello. This is a surprise.”
“Hey, Dad. I’m in Sydney, so I thought I’d say hi while we’re in the same time zone.” He returned to his chair and turned toward the view.
“You’re in Sydney already? I thought you were hanging out in Hearts Bend until September.”
“I needed to make a trip down to oversee some things, but I’m heading home in a few days.” Home. The word slipped from his lips easily. “Dad, I’m selling the inn to Cami Jackson, who I think I might be in love with.”
His dad’s whistle came through the phone. “That’s a lot in one sentence.”
“We have twenty-four minutes to solve my life problems.” He laughed. “I’m due at a dinner with the Hong Kong team.”
“Let’s start with the inn. You sold it?”
Ben listed all the issues, the bank loan, and his desire to keep his career on track. “If I didn’t sell, I’d have to deal with the debt and renovations.”
“Mom was never good with money, but whenever I asked if she needed help, she said she was fine. Said Stan at the bank was looking after her.”
“She said the same thing to me. She didn’t want us to worry.”
“Who did you sell to again? Cami Jackson, the little girl with dark curls? You always liked her.”
“That’s the one.”
“I remember her. Cute kid. Granny didn’t care for her dad too much. Brant. Said he would level Hearts Bend if he had his way.”
“She exaggerated, but yeah, he is pretty hard core. Cami works for him, but the inn is sort of her private project. Dad, she’s beautiful. I think I love her.”
Dad was quiet for a few beats. “I like hearing you’re in love, but it doesn’t sound simple.”
Ben explained how her career was taking her to Indianapolis but she wanted the inn as a memorial to her mother. “She died in Cottage Three.”
“I remember. Mom was really upset.”
“She started coming down to the inn and, well—”
“You tripped and fell in love.”
“Dad, what do I do? I can’t walk away from Viridian without huge consequences. I have no idea if she feels the same about me. She’s pretty ensconced in the family business.”
“I know you’re going to think this is a cliché answer but, Ben, if you want guidance, you should ask the One who made you.”
Ben smiled at Dad’s answer. Should’ve known that’s what he’d say. Ben found it comforting. “Mr. Graham said that too.”
“Larry Graham? He always did offer good advice.”
So did Dad. But would God really hear him? Was He really interested in his prayers? The Sunday school answer was yes. Ben knew that Dad believed it. But since the day they’d left him in Hearts Bend, Ben hadn’t been so sure God was listening.
“I’m not sure I’d know if He answered.”
Dad took his time responding. “Ben, talking to God, believing He hears us, simply requires faith. It’s something we need in our daily life.
Real faith kicks in when the going gets tough.
When we can’t see what’s next. Real faith is trusting in God when we can’t see a way through.
So maybe right now, when you don’t know which way to go and you’re looking for direction, exercise a bit of faith and to talk to Him. ”
As a missionary, Dad lived and breathed his faith. Ben didn’t have that claim. “God didn’t hear me when I asked for my parents to come back for me.”
He’d not planned to bring that up. But the words were out now.
“Son.” Dad’s voice deepened. “Leaving you in Hearts Bend was the hardest thing your mom and I have ever done. But I had to protect you. When you were six, the typhoon threat scared me, but then after you wandered off and went missing for a night, fear gripped our lives. I couldn’t stop thinking about the what-ifs.
What if we hadn’t found you? What if someone else found you?
What if you’d fallen? What if you were hurt?
I was sure I’d never find you. But the Lord came through and made it clear your future was in Hearts Bend. ”
“You’ve never told me any of this. You said you’d come back for me in the summer, but you didn’t.”
“We couldn’t leave. We both had malaria, remember?”
“Yeah, I think so.” He’d been six at the time, and the adults hadn’t shared a lot of details. Only that staying in Hearts Bend was the best for him.
“Turns out you have a knack for the hotel business and a gift to work with people. Look how your career has taken off. Being in Hearts Bend was God prepping you for your future.”
God had prepared him? When? During the afternoons with Granddaddy fixing the plumbing or rebuilding the gazebo? When Granny showed him how to make a bed and clean the stove? Maybe it was the Saturday mornings with Ray in the garden.
How did Cami fit into God’s planning? Everything pointed to the inn, so why was he sitting in Sydney?
A knock sounded on his door, and Ben looked up to see Jordan pointing at his watch. “Dad, just a sec. Jordan, I’ll be there in a few minutes. Tell them to get started without me.” He pointed to the phone. “Emergency.”
After telling Ben to talk to God, there wasn’t much more for Dad to say. He offered to pray for Ben as they ended the conversation, and to his surprise, Ben said, “That’d be nice.”
Making his way to the Emerald’s lavish dining hall, Ben whispered his own prayer. “Don’t know if I have enough faith for this, God, but if You have any ideas on why I suddenly want to be in Hearts Bend instead of Sydney, I’d appreciate the insight. Thanks and, well, amen.”