Chapter 5 #2
“Hi, honey! Yes, I’m just trying to figure out the nine-letter word for a social media platform. Then we can head over to the restaurant.” She doesn’t look up from the paper, intense concentration plastered across her face.
“Instagram. The resort has a profile. Old news, Ma, what year is that paper from?” I laugh.
She uses the paper to playfully swat my arm. “Don’t make fun of your mother; I’m getting old.”
“I thought we were eating here tonight? I was looking forward to seeing your newest masterpiece.” I hate going to the restaurant on my night off. I’m there enough as it is.
“I know, but Steven has a new dish he wants us all to try. He’s hoping to add it to the menu next week.
” She gathers her book and paper. “I have some blueberry pie in the house we can have for dessert, and I’ll show you the new sculpture I’ve been working on when we get back.
” I love that my mom still finds time for her art.
For such a tiny woman, it’s impressive how she can carve statues out of huge pieces of wood with a chainsaw.
Her sculptures are well-known up here. She’s been commissioned over the years by some very high-profile clients who spend summers on the lake.
Two years ago, her income was pretty much what kept us all eating.
“Only if you have vanilla ice cream,” I reply in a childlike manner.
“Of course I do.” She smiles as we head down the path to the restaurant, my parents walking hand in hand behind me. “Did you have a good day off?”
My mother makes pleasant chit-chat with me about my day on the lake, a conversation we’ve had a million and one times, not much else to do on a day off up here.
Like my dad, she knows not to pry much on the subject of Ashlee.
She thinks Ashlee is a sweetheart, but she’s a true romantic, and I know she’s holding out for me to meet the love of my life.
Mom would like nothing more than for me to find someone who loves it here and is willing to take on this business like she was all those years ago.
Mom was a summer guest here once upon a time.
She gave up any other life to start one here with my dad, and I know she’s never regretted it, not for one second.
They are a team, and I think she and Silsby were always a good fit.
But it’s not for me.
I have seen firsthand how fulfilling love can be, case in point, my parents, but I have also seen the sacrifices and the heartbreak it brings. It’s a risk I am not willing to take. Not here, not with this resentment and these ghosts.
We walk through the dining room, my father stopping to shake various hands, and make our way to a table in the back that is a little more private.
Water glasses and warm bread are already set out for us.
As soon as we are settled in our seats, Alex pops her head around the massive stone chimney that separates us from most of the guests.
“Well, aren’t I just the luckiest gal, serving the wonderful Anderson family this evening.” A cheesy smile on her face.
“Suck up.” I grunt.
“Hux J. Anderson! Where are your manners?” My mother swats me for the second time this evening.
“Don’t worry, Diane, I’m used to it by now. Having worked with Huxy for over a week, I have been reacquainted with his cheerful and uplifting personality,” she jokes.
“Steven is finishing preparing your meal. You guys are in for a treat; he is serving fennel-rubbed lamb roast with a citrus blend salsa. He has asked to bring it out himself, but I’ll be back in a bit to check on drinks.” Alex leaves to tend to her other tables.
My dad and I discuss some of the work that needs to be done on various cabins while we wait for dinner.
Over the last few years, barely any maintenance has been done, meaning I have my work cut out for me.
We currently have three cabins that aren’t rentable, which we need to have ready by snowmobile season in a few short months.
The resort has no vacancies, which is excellent for revenue but also increases the pressure to make sure this season goes smoothly. Now that all our summer staff has arrived, I feel a little more confident that we can manage, but it still leaves very little downtime for the three of us.
Once Steven brings out his newest creation, my mother banishes all work talk, and we silently devour the meal, which is unsurprisingly exceptional.
“Alex seems like she’s doing a good job,” my father comments after she finishes clearing our plates.
“Yeah. She’s great, but don’t tell her I said that.” I sarcastically laugh while staring him down.
“Her best friend seems very nice too. Rhonda even likes her, which is terrifying. I don’t think she has liked an employee since the late eighties.” He laughs.
Why is everyone so damn interested in this Everly chick? Kenny, this afternoon, and now my father? For fuck’s sake, she is your average female college student, nothing to get so worked up about. I sip my water and look out the window as the sun sets behind the mountains.
“Oh, honey, I meant to ask you. My friend Karen is doing a charity event down at the church and was looking for some items to donate. A lot of Storm’s things are still in the garage, just collecting dust, and I know you’ve been planning to clean out his cab?—”
“I’ve got a lot on my plate right now, Mom,” I cut her off, knowing exactly where this conversation is headed.
I stand from the table. “Tomorrow is going to be hectic here, seeing the weather has finally decided to show up. I think it’s time I head back to my cabin.
” My mother stares at me with slightly wet eyes.
I can’t do this right now. Frankly, I don’t know when I’ll be able to do this.
Sadness, anger, it’s all too much for me.
I kiss her on the cheek but don’t make eye contact. I pat my dad on the back and tell him I’ll check in with him in the morning. “Have a good night, son,” is all he says as I walk out of the dining room. We all choose to forget about the blueberry pie back at their house.
I don’t go home though. Instead, I sneak over to the bar, which is just out of sight from the dining room, and slide onto one of the stools, grabbing a prefilled bowl of popcorn that we leave out for the patrons.
“How was dinner, sexy?” Alex playfully asks as she walks around the bar. I look up at her, and she can tell something is off but chooses to leave it alone. For that, I am grateful.
“Stephen made it, so you know it was fucking fantastic.” I look around for Elle. “Where is Elle? She was on the schedule tonight.”
“She left early. She was checking out some richie’s party with Ashlee and Kenny.
I told her I would wipe down the counters and tables and close up, and judging from the empty room that’s…
like now.” She grabs a rag from the sink.
“Elle is crushing on one of the new summer chicks,” she says with a sly smirk on her face.
“What? And she didn’t even tell me! I love checking out women with her. I’m like her wingman.”
“Ha, you a wingman. That’s a funny image. But then again, there is no denying Elle is much hotter than you.” She throws the dirty rag at me and steals my popcorn.
“How has it been living with your dad again?” I ask, trying to make sure the conversation stays off me but hoping I didn’t just open a heavier conversation than I’m in the mood for.
“Truthfully, it’s going great.” She comes around the bar and sits next to me.
“I think when I was younger, it was easy to get caught up in all the anger my mother feels toward him for leaving. As I get older, I’m realizing how complex relationships are.
They were two completely different people who wanted completely different things from the start.
I just didn’t see it before, or maybe I chose not to see it. ” She looks down at her hands.
“Family shit is complicated. But I can tell you one thing: your dad has missed the shit out of you, Alex. I have never seen him this happy.” She smiles at my comment.
“It’s been nice, and it doesn’t hurt that he works away from the house a lot.” Her smile turns into a mischievous grin. “If I can talk Everly into it, I’m thinking of a party at the Croft residence soon.”
I laugh. “And why wouldn’t your friend approve of a little get-together?”
“Ev is more of the movies and popcorn type. Parties make her anxious, and let’s remember, she’s never experienced a party up here.”
“And you have? You haven’t been up here since you were eleven.”
“You don’t think I followed you and Storm to a party or two?
Come on now, I am pretty sure back then I wanted to be an international spy when I grew up.
” As soon as she realizes she has said his name, her smile betrays a little sadness.
That’s the second mention in one night, and I think it’s time for me to make my exit.
“Well, you let me know when this little gathering is happening, and I’ll round up the crew.
” I lean over the counter, throwing my empty popcorn container onto the stack of dirty dishes.
“I better head home. It’s a long day tomorrow.
” Alex hesitates for a moment, like she wants to say something but doesn’t.
Instead, her friendly smile returns. “Birch is on the back deck waiting for you. See you tomorrow, boss.” Without waiting for a reply, she turns and starts stacking chairs on top of tables.
I head out the back screen door and am met with a rush of cold air that smacks me in the face. I feel Birch brush up against my leg and head down the porch steps.
I walk out onto the dock and stare up at the sky. The Milky Way is so bright tonight it’s almost blinding. I have always loved the night sky the most. Ever since I was a kid, I knew there was something different about it up here.
Finally, I take a deep breath, the first one all evening it feels like. I stand at the end of the dock for a few more minutes, just breathing, before returning to my cabin.
I look down at the rocky path, picking up a flat, smooth rock and tossing it in the air once before placing it in my pocket.
When my eyes adjust from the glow of the lodge, I stop short at the figure of a woman standing a few feet back from the back deck. She stands on her tiptoes, trying to peer up and through the large glass windows into the bar.
As if she’s checking for someone…
Or trying to avoid someone.
Someone like me.
I quietly approach, careful not to make a sound. “Long time no see.”
Jumping straight out of her skin, Everly whips around. “Holy shit!” she screeches as her eyes lock onto mine. I burst out laughing, releasing all the tension that had seeped into my bones over the last few hours.
“Are you freaking serious right now! Who sneaks up on a girl, all alone, in the dark, in the middle of the woods?” The anger pouring out of her only makes me laugh more.
“Let me guess, you were making sure I wasn’t still working before going in to meet Alex?” I cross my arms over my chest.
“No… I just… I just…” She throws her arms in the air. “Yes, Okay! Yes, I was hoping to not run into you if possible.”
“Am I really that scary?”
“Let’s see, the first time we met, I ended up breaking large amounts of expensive wine, and then there was the added bonus of walking in while you were having, well, you know. So, yes, I think it’s safe to say, ‘running into you’ isn’t always the most pleasurable experience, if I am being honest. ”
“Funny, the second time you ran into me, I remember experiencing a lot of pleasure.” I chuckle, and her face goes completely ghost-white.
“Ugh, gross. You know, starting a new job where you know absolutely no one is hard enough. I’m trying to do my best and make a good impression, and you’re not helping,” she says, her tone a little shaky as if she’s not sure how I will respond to her bold stance to the boss’s son.
“Oh, you’re making an impression, all right.”
She lets out another huff of discontent and starts to head up the stairs.
“Have a good night, Everly. It’s safe in there, no angry, sex-addicted monsters, I am headed home.
” She pauses at the sound of my voice and then continues to stomp up the porch steps.
I glance over my shoulder as I walk away and watch her long legs enter the building, her ponytail swaying furiously.
I don’t know what it is about her awkward yet feisty personality that has me enjoying bugging the shit out of her, but for whatever reason, I feel myself looking forward to the next run-in.