Chapter Three – Emeline #2
Charlotte laughed. “Emeline’s making it sound like I do it alone. Nellie and Vivianne have the last say on the budget, and I have a staff of three who help me do all the other work.”
Glancing at me, Levi slowly shook his head. “My gosh, I never knew what a big operation this was—or is, I should say.”
“Most of the others only work the weeks we hold camp in the summer, and if we have any other events here, but Charlotte works year-round, making sure everything stays okay with the cabins and we have no issues. We also rent out the cabins to companies that want to host work retreats, among other things. That’s something we just started last year.
They have access to the whole camp, but it’s their responsibility to do all the cooking and cleaning.
The income goes toward the summer camps and the Christmas event. ”
“What a great idea.”
“That was Emeline’s idea,” Charlotte chimed in with a smile.
“Do you stay on the premises?” Levi asked her.
Charlotte shook her head. “No, no. I love it here, but after my long work hours, I enjoy heading home to my own little log cabin a few miles outside of River Falls. It’s not far from here, though.”
“Well, you do a great job of making the place look so good.”
She smiled. “Thank you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a ton of work to do.”
“See ya around, Charlotte.” Gesturing to Levi, I said, “Let me show you the cabins.”
We walked a short distance. Like the main building, they were all log cabins, and each could hold up to ten kids. I’d had a hand in designing them when I was younger, and to this day, they’re still one of the things I’m most proud of.
After we made our way through one of them, I turned to Levi. “If Rhett decides he’d like to join us, he’d stay in one of the four cabins over there.”
“So it’s co-ed then?”
“The camp, yes, but not the cabins. Boys stay with boys; girls stay with girls. We also hire a couple River Falls police officers to come and provide security at night. They watch to make sure we don’t have anyone coming in or going out.”
“Like, as in kids sneaking out?”
“Yes. We had a group of fourteen-year-old boys one year who decided it would be fun to meet down at the pier and do some night fishing. Unlucky for them, Caden found them. I don’t think I have to tell you how that turned out.”
His brows shot up. “I bet he scared the living shit out of them.”
“Let’s just say they won’t ever try that again.”
He chuckled and looked around. “Do you live on the ranch?”
I nodded. “I do. I live in my great-grandmother Lileth’s cabin. It’s back behind that row of trees. I kind of remember her, but only a few vague memories.”
“I don’t remember her, if I’m being honest.” He looked around and said, “I think Rhett would love this.”
I leaned against a tree. “And what does Levi think about volunteering to teach the kids all about the animals?”
He shook his head and stared off into the distance, a smile on his handsome face. “Well, when a pretty woman’s asking, it’s hard to say no.”
“I’ll be sure to let my mother know you said she was pretty.”
Levi let out a bark of laughter. “She is, but I was talking about you, Em.”
I felt my cheeks heat, and I pushed off the tree and started toward his truck. I turned and walked backward as I called out, “I hope that means you’re paying for lunch!”
The drive into town was filled with easy conversation. Levi asked about the ranch, my parents, my uncles, and inquired further about the camp, as well as how I’d been doing over the last few years. And, finally, whether I was dating anyone.
“I’ve dated off and on. A couple of relationships, but they didn’t last long.”
“Why not?”
I shrugged and didn’t say what I wanted to say. Oh, because they weren’t you, Levi. So I went with the second reason they never lasted.
“Apparently, I work too much. Both of the guys I dated long term said that the ranch and the camps consumed all my time, and that I never made time for them. First of all, they knew that going in, and nothing will ever take me away from the ranch. I love that place, and I love my job. The horses are…well…they’re everything to me.
“And the camp? Well, I can say they made me realize I was taking on too much. I’m the camp director now, but there are some tasks I should be delegating to others.
I’m slowly getting better at that. So, I guess I can thank those guys for opening my eyes a bit.
But no one is going to tell me how to live my life or spend my time. ”
He laughed. “You for sure have Wilde blood pumping through those veins.”
Smiling, I turned to look at his handsome profile. “Wilde as in my last name, or W. I. L. D. kind of wild?”
“Both.”
I grinned. “Fair enough.”
When the conversation about me had nowhere else to go, I took the opportunity to ask Levi the one question I’d been dying to ask, but wasn’t sure I should.
“So…you and Caroline?”
He glanced at me and shrugged before focusing back on the road. We were about to drive into town, so it was probably a question I should have saved for the drive back to the ranch. Or maybe he didn’t want to talk about it. I was pretty sure it had everything to do with Brooke and the accident.
“Things between us hadn’t been great for the last few years.
Hell, our whole marriage, if I’m truly being honest. We fought a lot.
Basically, if she wasn’t sleeping, she was picking a fight with me.
On the day of the accident, I told her I thought we should separate.
She freaked out on me and said she’d never give me the kids.
She went on about some other crazy things, then grabbed Brooke and said she was leaving. ”
He closed his eyes and drew in a slow breath.
“Brooke was crying; she didn’t want to go with Caroline. I should have demanded that Caroline leave her with me. I don’t know why I didn’t.”
I reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. “There was no way you could have known what would happen, Levi.”
He nodded. “I know. There are nights I wake up in a cold sweat, hearing Brooke cry out for me. Anyway, the accident wasn’t Caroline’s fault.
A truck ran a red light. Brooke passed on impact, and for that, I guess I’m thankful.
Caroline immediately blamed me for making her leave.
She completely ignored Rhett for weeks, and when she finally managed to get out of bed, she started drinking.
That’s something I don’t share with many people.
“I finally realized that my being there wasn’t making things better.
Rhett would overhear us fighting, hear Caroline blaming me.
He unleashed on her one night, and told her that she was the reason Brooke died.
That’s when I realized I needed to get us both out of Denver.
I asked for full custody, and she didn’t argue, and had given written permission for me to move back to River Falls with Rhett.
I served Caroline with divorce papers three weeks ago.
I’m waiting on her to sign the papers so I can move on. ”
Stunned, I asked, “She gave up custody of Rhett, just like that?”
“Yeah. Pretty sad, isn’t it? And Rhett, he lost his sister and best friend, and his mother. It’s been tough on him.”
“Where is she? Back in Denver?”
He drew in a breath and then quickly released it.
“As far as I know. She moved out of our house and into an apartment right after the night Rhett unleashed on her. I told her about my plans to return to River Falls, and that if she ever wanted to share custody of Rhett, she’d have to move back.
She just stared at me with a blank expression.
The last thing I said to her was that she needed therapy…
and I hope she gets it for Rhett’s sake.
“Caroline’s never going to win Mother of the Year, but she had a rare moment or two when she was a good mom. We had some good times, but it was pretty clear we weren’t meant to be together. Brooke hadn’t been planned. She was a happy surprise, but we hadn’t planned on having any other kids.”
Closing my eyes, I shook my head. “I’m so sorry, Levi. I’m sorry about Brooke, Rhett, and your marriage. It seems like a lot to lose in such a short amount of time.”
“Thank you, Emeline. I appreciate it.”
He pulled into a parking spot in front of Anna’s Café. I stared at the building, then at Levi. “This is where you want to eat lunch?”
“Would you rather have pizza, or something else?”
Granted, River Falls was small, but over the last few years, we’d gotten more restaurants. The locals, however, still seemed to eat at the older places, like Anna’s Café.
Nodding toward the door, I said, “It’s just…Anna is Janet’s sister. And Janet writes The Daily Dirt column.”
He grinned. “Are you afraid we’ll end up in the next edition?”
“Yes, I am. She doesn’t have anything to write about. She actually wrote about Ms. Betty’s chickens getting out, Levi.”
“All of her chickens got out?”
I nodded.
“Did someone let them out?”
“Levi!”
“Sorry, you got me curious now about her chickens. I know how much she loves those birds, or at least she used to.”
Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “All I’m saying is, don’t be surprised if people talk when they see us together.”
“About us eating together? Em, it’s just lunch.
Your brother is my best friend. I have a son whom I want to enroll in your summer camp, and I’m pretty sure I was volunteered to help at each session this summer, not just the one Rhett’s attending.
It’s not like we don’t have a reason to have lunch together. ”
“You’re right. It’s just a business lunch.” I knew I sounded a bit childish, so I attempted to play it off. “You know how small-town gossip is. I just didn’t want you to have to deal with it right off the bat, considering everything else you have going on in your life.”
“Truth be told, Em, I don’t give a shit what anyone says about me.”
A small laugh slipped free. “Well, okay then. Let’s go get some lunch.”