Chapter 16
Dad’s swanky Green Hills townhome loomed in front of Cami. No wonder she didn’t want a townhome—Dad’s was always so unwelcoming. So un-homelike. Expensive but cold.
Cami parked her BMW in the driveway, drew a deep breath, and knocked on his front door—a solid black slab of wood. The sun was starting to dip below the horizon, and she welcomed the cool shade of the porch.
On the drive over, she’d realized this argument would be a continuation of the one they’d had in his office a few weeks ago.
Dad was still dressed in his work slacks and shirt, his collar open and a book in his hand. “Cami, what are you doing here?” He stepped aside for her to come in.
“You know why I’m here.” She crossed his threshold and stood in his unadorned entryway.
He’d moved here after Cami graduated from college and bought her own place.
He’d divided all the furniture and dishes they’d had growing up between Annalise and Cami.
As far as she knew, he’d taken nothing of their childhood home to this place.
“Geoffrey Swanson? Really? You didn’t even ask me. ”
“I don’t have to ask you. He’ll be a good second.”
“Then you keep him. He’ll be a good pain in my backside.” Cami moved from the foyer to the living room. The entire place looked like a Peeps chick had upchucked its marshmallow center.
White walls, white floors. The only adornment was the unlit foyer chandelier and the one over the dining table, which was a whitewashed oak.
Mama had loved color, and Dad seemed to have washed every ounce of it out of his life and soul.
“Let’s take this to my office.” Dad headed for the room on the left and settled in the black leather desk chair behind his large cherry desk. Okay, he had some color in this bland place. The wall on the right was a floor-to-ceiling bookcase, but the rest of the walls were bare.
Cami took the seat across from Dad.
“I guess I should’ve talked to you about Geoffrey, but—”
“Yes, you should have. You ship me off without talking to me, then you hire my second-in-command without even so much as a by-your-leave. Dad, if you want Indy to succeed, you have to let me do my job.” She stood, stretching as tall as she could above the desk.
“I’m the future head of Akron, and you need to back up and stop treating me like a first-year intern. ”
She wanted to growl—no, roar, Stop treating me like the fifteen-year-old who let Mama die!
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have hired Geoffrey without consulting you.”
“You shouldn’t have hired him at all. I will hire my own staff. In fact…” She paused to consider her next words. “Geoff is fired. I’ll hire my own second-in-command.”
Dad regarded her with his steely expression. “Don’t embarrass him. Keep it quiet. I’ll find something else for him.”
“Don’t embarrass him? But you didn’t mind embarrassing me by promoting him and sending the email.”
“I didn’t see it as embarrassing you, Cami.”
“Well, it was humiliating. Would you have done that to Eric or William? Promote someone in their department, then send a company-wide email without telling them?”
“You’ve made your point.” His tone set her back. Soft, contrite, almost repentant.
“Th-thank you.” Cami eased back down to her chair.
“But I have to ask, what’s with the environmental survey of the inn, Dad?
What are you up to? Ben was furious. He wants out of the deal.
He claims I knew you’d pull a stunt like this, and if I didn’t, I’m not strong enough to stop you.
Everyone in Hearts Bend is afraid you’d demo the whole town if you had the chance. ”
“That’s ridiculous. I blame Haley Danner. She painted me in a horrible light at the town council meeting even though Linus declared Akron was a friend to Hearts Bend.”
“Then prove it. Fix the inn. Let’s renovate. Were you really intending to tear it down? Were you going to talk to me about any of this? The inn is my acquisition, and I promised Ben I’d take care of it. Then you come rolling in with Dean’s crew and—”
“Standard procedure, Cami. You know we do surveys on all of our properties, even if we don’t pave the way for something new.”
Well, if that didn’t cool her jets a bit. “Right, well, still, I know you hate the inn.”
“Did Ben tell you I stopped by as he was ranting about me and Akron?”
“He might have, but he was too busy canceling the contract.”
“I don’t hate the inn.” Dad came around his desk and sat in the chair next to Cami.
“It just has so many memories for me. Your mama and I used to go down to the inn all the time before the business took off. We’d dream and plan, then you girls came along, and we thought the inn was the perfect home away from home.
We didn’t have an ole family homestead, with both grandparents living out of state.
Vern, Jean, and the inn provided that for us. ”
The tenderness in his voice raised her tears. For the first time in years, she was talking to her father. Her daddy. “Then I ruined everything. She died on my watch. And you hated me for it.”
Dad angled forward and covered his face with his hands.
“I hate myself for it, Cami. I got so busy with the business, putting my success above everything. When Mama died so suddenly, so young, I was angry and hurt. Angry at God. Your mama was a kind, loving, praying woman. Why did He take her? Why had I put her and you girls in second place? All I cared about was myself and my achievements. If I’d known—”
“But you said I let Mama die because I tried CPR before calling nine-one-one. If I’d called them first, she might have lived. You looked right at me and said it, Dad. ‘You let your mother die.’ Then you said you hoped Annalise was around if anything ever happened to you.”
The great and powerful Brant Jackson dropped to his knees, sobbing softly, his hand on Cami’s knee. “Forgive me, Cami, please.” His shoulders shook as the sobs took over.
“Oh, Dad—” She slid out of the chair and knelt next to him. He held her as they wept, washing away the last fifteen years. “I forgive you, I forgive you.”
As quickly as the tearful repentance had begun, it ended. Dad rose up and stepped away, dealing with the residue of his tears.
Cami yanked several tissues from the box on the bookshelf.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you for years,” Dad said.
“But you were so angry at me when you were a teen, and I thought bringing it up would only make you angrier. Plus, every speech I rehearsed in my head just sounded like I was defending myself. Annalise assured me you knew I’d only lashed out from grief.
That I didn’t mean it. But, Cami, I should’ve manned up and asked your forgiveness.
” Dad returned to the chair by Cami. “I’m sorry. Truly.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled at him. “I came over here to bawl you out and, look, I get repentance and healing. Who knew?”
“Your mother would say the Lord knew.”
Cami laughed and reached for another tissue. “Yes, she would. She’d be upset we stopped going to church and exercising our faith.”
“I’ve started going back.” Dad looked so cute, like a little boy admitting his parents were right.
“Doug Reynolds reached out, asked me to a men’s meeting, and the moment I walked in, I sensed God’s presence.
I figure if He could make Himself known to me after all my years in the wilderness, I should give Him a second chance. ”
Cami answered with a soft, sweet sob. “Mama would be so happy. I’ve been giving God a second thought as well.”
“So you and I are good?” Dad said.
She nodded, then leaned on her father’s shoulder. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Cami-girl. Let’s do better going forward.”
“Absolutely.” She sat back, brushing away more tears. “We’re going to be the best papa and auntie for Annalise’s baby.”
“Yes, we are.” Dad gave Cami a fist bump. “When she told me she was pregnant, I knew I had to humble up and make things right between us. I don’t want offense and judgment in our family. I want us to love one another, be there for each other.”
“Does this mean you’ll finally let me decorate this place? Dad, come on, nothing but white with a touch of black? How can you stand it?”
Dad laughed. “Okay, okay, fine, you can decorate, but I have a picture I’d like you to use.”
He walked to the front closet and opened the door, pulling out a familiar painting: her red camellia.
“H-how did you get this?”
“Ben was kind enough to let me have it. And if you’re going to decorate, I’d like this front and center. Just keep things simple and tasteful.”
“Those words are my middle names.” Cami touched his hand. “Do you want the painting Mama hung in the inn lobby too? She painted it for you.”
“No, my girl, she painted it for you.”
Ben picked up the contract from Frank Hardy and flipped through it one more time. He’d upped the offer to five hundred thousand. Probably because Mr. Graham guilted him into it, but the property was worth so much more.
Keith had called with some prospective buyers, but so far, no progress. Ben had reached out to the Grangers in Georgia, but they’d just purchased a similar project in Johnson City and decided to pass. They wished Ben luck, but what he needed was a miracle.
Tomorrow was August fifteenth, and he had to get back to Sydney.
He felt a twinge of regret that he’d miss the wedding.
On the surface, the inn looked good—though there was still work to be done.
But the cottages had been painted and furnished, and the grounds had been trimmed and manicured to perfection.
Insurance would cover the kitchen upgrade, but Ben had paid the deposit to get things going. Walt, along with the contractor, had gutted it yesterday. Annalise had found a caterer who was willing to work without access to the kitchen.
With his experience and contacts in the industry, Ben had gotten a great deal on an industrial oven, dishwasher, and fridge. Frank was getting more than his money’s worth.
But was it all for nothing? What if Frank leveled the place the minute Ben left town? He’d indicated to Mr. Graham he wanted to keep the inn as a town landmark, but something about this deal felt off to Ben.
Maybe he should humble up and call Cami. The idea made him cringe. He’d leveled her on the phone, hadn’t listened to a word she’d said. Just blamed and accused her. By the twist in his spirit, he knew he needed to apologize no matter what happened with the inn.
Ben glanced around the old office, which was starting to feel so comfortable. He’d prayed two weeks straight sitting at this desk. While he wasn’t a holy roller, declaring the Gospel from the rooftop, he was confident he’d spend the rest of his life pursuing the God of love.
His gaze fell on the picture of Granny and Granddaddy he’d knocked off two months ago. He felt their happiness, their joy and hope for all life had in store for them.
“Y’all are face-to-face with Jesus. Tell Him I need a clear answer here. Do I sign Frank’s contract or hold out for an eleventh hour surprise?”
He closed his eyes and breathed in, trying to be still and listen. Then with a wash of peace, he grabbed a pen and put it on the signature line.
“Here goes.” He was just about to sign when—
“Hey, Ben!” Myrtle May hollered from the front desk.
“On my way.” Ben dropped the pen and headed for the lobby, where he found Myrtle May holding one of the old doorknobs.
“Closet knob from Room Ten,” she said. “Just when we have a big fancy wedding on our heels.”
Ben reached for the antique piece. “I don’t think we have any more like this. We’ll have to try to find something online that looks similar.”
“Ask Ray. He’ll know.”
“I know from the last doorknob that fell off. The one I found was the last in the box.”
Myrtle May just stared. The one that said Look again.
Out in the barn, Ben had begun searching for the knob box when he heard Ray call out. “Ben? Back here.”
“Myrtle May sent me out to look for doorknobs.”
“I just set the knob can on the workbench.”
“How convenient.” Ben walked around the shelves to the workbench. Sure enough, the can was on the bench next to a blueprint tube.
“Ray, what’s in the tube?” Ben glanced in the can to find a single doorknob. “Are you kidding me with these doorknobs? Is this the can of endless doorknobs?”
“Got me. I think the Good Lord is saying He’s the one that opens and closes doors.”
“I wish He’d make it clear which doors I’m to open and close.”
Ben opened the canister and rolled out the blueprints to see an expansion plan for the inn. More cottages, a bigger pool, even a lazy river, and a small café area to expand into a full-service restaurant. He hadn’t known his grandparents had had this much ambition about the place.
But plans like this would bring the inn into the modern era and make it extremely competitive. Keeping it quaint and homey, the place would be a destination for weddings, receptions, parties, and reunions.
Except expansion took cash. Which he did not have. And he was probably selling. Stan from the bank had suggested Ben look for an investor, but that took a ton of time and work. Which made the two lost weeks he hadn’t known Cami wasn’t buying the inn all the more critical.
Ben held up the knob and grinned. One knob. Because one knob was all he needed. Was this a sign?
If he stayed at the inn, God would meet his needs.
It might not be the prestigious career of working for VJR. He’d not make near the same money, but he’d be contributing to the community, one where practically everyone knew his name.
He’d be the one to make a place of rest and refuge for those in need.
He’d touch hearts in a way he could never do managing a corporate resort.
Without even thinking, he began composing a letter to Jim.
…regret to inform you…official resignation. Jordan…as my replacement…knows as much as I do.
He, Ben Carter, was coming home. All the way home. To Hearts Bend Inn.
“Ta-da!”
Ben jerked at the sound of Ray’s voice. If he didn’t know better, he’d believe the man was reading his mind.
“Ray? What’s up?”
The gardener appeared from between a second bank of shelves with a big smile and the old wrought iron and wood bench.