Chapter 2
I grunted, hitting my head as I navigated the way out from underneath the vanity in the half bath. I really had to squeeze myself into the small space, and would be feeling that in the morning, but a smile brightened my face as I tested out the new faucet.
“Perfect.”
I shook my head with a soft laugh at the reminder of my grandma sitting at her table this afternoon with the parts strewn all over the place, trying to make sense of what should go where.
She was stubborn as all hell, and probably a big reason why I became so independent, too.
Being the oldest sibling was a job itself, but after losing my dad to a heart attack when I was seventeen—and then my grandfather shortly after—there was nothing I wouldn’t do for my family.
“Here, Grandma, I told you I’d get those.”
I grabbed the two suitcases from her as she hauled them in the front door.
Grandma Trixie may be eighty-six but if you asked her, she’d tell you she was just getting started.
Age was just a number to her—a completely irrelevant one at that—and she didn’t let anything slow her down.
Even if the family sometimes wished she would.
“I didn’t realize you had guests staying tonight.”
“Thanks, Cal, sweetie. Just one guest. There’s a few more bags out there by her car.” She motioned behind her. A knowing smile hit her features that I always recognized. “I wasn’t expecting anyone either, but I have a feeling the universe knew just what that girl needed.”
“Yes, of course, we know all about your woo-woo, Grandma.” I couldn’t help but chuckle and roll my eyes at her response.
That was her to a tee. She was all about divine plans and the universe conspiring with us to give us everything we could ever imagine.
Both my siblings and I took turns at being the target of her predictions.
She was a romantic at heart but was so in tune with other’s emotions that she could tell you what you needed before you even realized yourself.
Ignoring my playful sarcasm completely, she continued with her thoughts. “And she’s absolutely gorgeous to boot. Obviously working through something, but if you go easy on her, I bet she—”
“Grandma,” I cut her off with a tone she had to know well at this point.
I knew she always had the best intentions in trying to set me up with someone.
She wanted me to have what her and Grandpa had, a love that would outlive everything, but I just didn’t see it in the cards for myself.
Not with the weight I carried on my shoulders.
It was hard enough to keep things afloat on the farm as it was, there was no way I could work a relationship into the mix and still provide for my family.
Although it was a conversation we’d had time and time again, the sparkle didn’t dim from her eyes. She just smiled at me and turned away toward the kitchen. “She’s in the Sweetheart Suite, but be quiet. She looked exhausted.”
I nodded and turned away to head outside to grab the bags.
It looked like the guest had unloaded her car, but didn’t bother to bring anything inside before she knew she could check-in.
It was just like Grandma to stop anyone from lifting a finger when they arrived here.
It had been awhile, but in its heyday Whispers of Love was a hot spot.
We had always been fully booked months in advance, newlyweds finding a fairy tale type of magic in a place called Love.
A popular destination wedding location for those who wanted the small-town atmosphere.
Unfortunately, the build of some bigger corporations and the switch from lumber to farming in the area had been tough on my family and our businesses, but I refused to let my father’s and grandfather’s legacy fade out.
The Utah license plates on the car caught my attention.
This guest was a long way from home, and it had been a while since we’d had someone from out of province—let alone the country.
I felt something like hope spark in my chest. Maybe the tides were turning again—maybe we could get word out and business would start to pick up.
That hope was extinguished when I saw the bags left to take in.
These weren’t suitcases like the first couple my grandma hauled in.
These were big reusable grocery bags with what looked to be household items haphazardly tossed in.
A picture frame stuck out of the top of one bag, I could see a couple candleholders and books, and was that a cast iron pan?
She wouldn’t be needing that while she was here, Grandma would make sure of it.
I grabbed the bags and headed inside. Gram opened the door for me, and I bent down so she could kiss me on the cheek as she closed it behind me.
“Thanks for bringing those in, Cal, sweetie. There are some morning glory muffins on the counter. Take some with you when you head out.”
“Of course, thank you,” I replied as I kissed her on top of her head. “I’ll let myself out and lock up behind me. Good night, Gram. See you tomorrow.”
I made my way upstairs with the bags and set them down to quietly knock on the door. I waited, but just as I was about to lift my hand to knock again, I heard the light sound of snoring. She must’ve really been exhausted to have crashed out that quickly.
I only planned to open the door slightly to place her bags inside, but when I saw her sleeping on top of the covers with the lights on, my breath caught in my chest. Grandma wasn’t wrong, she was gorgeous.
Her dark hair flowed like a waterfall over the pillow, her pale skin almost blended in with the cream of the pillowcases, and her small frame was practically being swallowed by the huge bed.
But it wasn’t her dark lashes, her soft lips, or any part of her breathtaking appearance that I noticed first. It was how she clutched that blanket and trembled while she whimpered in her sleep.
It wasn’t snoring I heard beyond the door, but the sounds of her laboured breaths.
The stains of her tears tracked lines down her cheeks.
The feeling hit me like a splash of ice water.
I suddenly knew I was in the wrong and I shouldn’t be in here.
She could wake up at any moment and I’d only make matters worse, terrifying the poor woman when she obviously needed solace.
She couldn’t have come to a better place if that’s what she needed.
But I also couldn’t leave her shaking like that.
I grabbed one of the quilts Gram made off the reading chair in the corner, and quietly walked back over to the bed, carefully laying the thick blanket on top of her and flicking off the light as I left.
Whoever she was, whatever she was running away from, I hoped she could catch her breath here.