Chapter 4 #2
“Oh!” Natalie beamed. “What about some sunset shag classes? With the music festival coming up, everyone’s looking for a chance to practice their dance moves. We could do an evening sunset paint and sip class. Sharon Trumble would jump on that in a heartbeat and bring loads of interest.”
“Local artist,” Roni murmured to Brayden. “Celebrity, really.”
He filed it away for further research at a better time. “What’s the goal?” he queried. “Is it about raising money or something else?”
Celeste tapped her coffee mug. “Money’s great, but as I said, financially we’re not in dire straits no matter what Indigo Reef gets up to.”
“Well good.” Roni seemed surprised by that news. “Then why not add a fundraiser aspect? Doubles the impact, we stay involved, and it keeps people at the Hideaway. Positive activity, scheduled during low construction hours could really work in our favor, right?”
“Safety in numbers.” Brayden smiled. “I like it.”
“It wouldn’t interfere with your efforts here?” Celeste asked him.
“No. Though it would be helpful to have reservations that included names and photos so we don’t accidentally chase off the wrong people.” The sisters chuckled, but he was dead serious.
Celeste pulled out her laptop and opened the calendar.
Brayden sat back and downed two slices of strudel, admiring the way the sisters worked together.
They set dates, brainstormed more ideas, and then divided up the calls each sister would make and who would spearhead each event.
The three of them were an excellent team.
“This will give us something positive to share with Holly,” Celeste said as they wrapped it up. “And that should lead to some good press for the Hideaway.”
“Great.” Roni smiled, the expression much closer to normal.
“One more thing before we go.” Celeste tapped a few keys and turned the computer around. “Can you please explain this email thread?”
Veronica froze. The color drained from her face. “I… um…”
Brayden eased closer to her. He was serious about protecting her. He was her best friend first and he had no problem standing with her against anyone, including her sisters. “What’s the problem?” he asked Celeste.
“This is a family issue,” Natalie said gently. “If you’ll excuse us, Brayden.”
“No.” He folded his arms. “I’m right where I need to be.”
“I’ll be fine,” Roni whispered.
“You will,” he agreed. He bent his head to her ear. “I’m staying.” Her tiny nod felt like a major win.
“Joined at the hip,” Celeste muttered. “Fine. Tell me why on earth you’ve been emailing our Hideaway business to Dad.”
Brayden struggled to lock down his reaction.
This was a biggie and a major shock. The sisters had been estranged from their father since their mom died.
Veronica explained it as everyone grieving differently, but the fact was he’d walked away.
His wife died, he’d attended the service, and then the man jetted off to Europe without another word.
Roni acted as if his absence wasn’t a big deal, but how could it be otherwise?
There were times when the man’s behavior pissed off Brayden.
The Hargrave family had been so close through the years.
Close enough that he’d confided in her dad more than once when his own parents were too self-absorbed to listen.
And now he was just a father in absentia, leaving them to cope on their own, effectively piling on even more sorrow.
Yeah, if Brayden dwelled on it, he got pretty riled up too.
Natalie and Celeste had sworn him off completely.
But Veronica... Well, Roni had always been the peacemaker.
He should’ve expected her to be carrying the hope and burden of a potential reconciliation.
“It’s not what you think,” Veronica said, her voice trembling. “He... he rarely ever responds. Maybe once every few months I get a short text message or a few sentences in an email.” Her chin came up. “He is our father. And he loves us.”
“From afar,” Natalie grumbled. “He’s never once returned a call or text from me.”
“Why is it okay for you to talk to him, but not me?”
“First off, he doesn’t talk to me. And second, I was trying to get him to come for Christmas,” Nat snarled.
“Whatever.” Roni rolled her eyes. “All of that,” she pointed to the computer, “is about the property. He bought this place. He knows where the plat maps are, the original surveys. I thought he could help us—”
“We don’t need his help!” Natalie snapped, tears bright in her eyes.
“He didn’t care about us after Mom died.
He won’t care about what we’re dealing with now.
I don’t want him knowing anything about the Hideaway or our business.
I don’t want you sharing our struggles, our victories, or anything else with him. He made his choice.”
“Natalie, please—”
“She’s right, Roni,” Celeste said softly, though her gaze was kinder than their little sister’s. “I have all of that property information as well. It was part of assuming ownership of the house through Mom’s will.”
“Oh.” Roni’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “Got it. You could’ve said something.”