JOSHUA
“Do you think you’d be able to get a couple of days off work?” I ask Caitlyn.
We’re having lunch together at the kennels as she waits for the final buyer for the pug puppies to arrive.
It’s been weeks since we spent some quality time together as Caitlyn had been overly busy meeting prospective buyers for the pug puppies and meeting the other breeder who has the male chow-chow for stud.
“Yes, now that the last of the puppies is about to go to its new home, my schedule is open. Bella won’t be ready to mate with Bruno for a few more weeks yet.”
“Perfect. And do you think Amber will be willing to look after Bella for the weekend?
Caitlyn raises a brow. “Why? What do you have in mind?”
“Well, after how hard you’ve been working recently, and after everything you went through with David, I thought it would be nice if we got away for a while. I’ve been looking at some spas in Southampton.”
Caitlyn bites her bottom lip. “I don’t think I can afford a weekend away right now. Not with all the expenses for the kennels.”
Caitlyn and the other chow-chow owner, Amy, have come to an agreement that Caitlyn will pay $500 to stud Bruno, and then make up the rest of the $1000 fee from the eventual sale of the resulting puppies.
The money Caitlyn earned from selling the pugs has gone back into the kennels, paying for the building’s mortgage and other expenses, Mama pug’s upkeep, as well as the renovation to extend the kennels, and of course, paying Caitlyn and Amber’s wages.
“Let me pay then. My treat.”
“I don’t know Josh. I don’t want to become dependent on you for anything,” Caitlyn says, sounding uncertain.
“Don’t worry, it won’t be like that. This is a gift. You won’t be obligated to repay me or anything like that.”
“Well, getting away for the weekend would be amazing.” A grin covers Caitlyn’s face, and I smile.
“Okay, great. Wanna take a look at the hotels I’ve shortlisted?”
I pass my phone to Caitlyn who scrolls through my bookmarks. After a few minutes of browsing the results, Caitlyn says, “I really like this one.”
She hands the phone back to me, and my web browser is open to the listing for a 12-bedroom, neoclassical mansion built in 1850, which is situated on 1.
25 Acres of land. The owners of the mansion have converted it into a spa, with indoor and outdoor pool, plenty of amenities like massages and sauna, as well as an around the clock chef.
“Yes, that was my favorite too,” I say, glad to know Caitlyn and I have similar tastes when it comes to get-away. “Call Amber, and ask her about looking after Bella this weekend, and then I will make the reservations.”
Caitlyn’s call to her best-friend-slash-business partner is quick, yet profitable, with Amber more than happy to be reunited with Bella, even if it’s only for a few days.
While they’re chatting, Amber also informs Caitlyn that if the breeding of Bella and Bruno is successful, she’d like to buy one of the puppies with the money she’s been saving.
Once Caitlyn is finished speaking to Amber, I call the spa to make reservations for that weekend.
“We’re all set. Check-in is one p.m. on Friday, and checkout is eleven a.m. Sunday.”
“Perfect. I can’t wait to spend the weekend with you.” Caitlyn leans in and presses her lips to mine, in a slow and sweet kiss that has my heart-racing.
Sadly, I have a client due at the gym soon, and the final buyer of the pug puppy is scheduled to arrive at any moment, so Caitlyn and I can’t linger in our embrace.
Using all my willpower, I pull myself away from her, and stand from the couch. “I’ll call you this evening.”
“You better,” Caitlyn practically purrs in reply.
I don’t know how I manage to drag myself away from her, but I do, and soon I’m back at the gym, waiting for my afternoon client.
Jason Maines is a local athlete who is training to register for the Olympics, and he’s hired me to get him into shape.
Jason’s main focus is running, and he can already complete 100 meters in 11.
15 seconds, but to qualify it needs to be 10.
05 seconds or less. We spend every other day working on Jason’s cardio and endurance.
I’m warming up when Jason enters the gym and crosses the room to me.
“Hey, how’s it going?” I greet, as Jason drops his gym bag nearby.
He’s already changed into workout gear, so starts warming up too. “Good thanks. How are things with you, Josh?”
I smile. “Good thanks. I’m planning a weekend away with my girlfriend.” I keep the details vague, as Caitlyn and I haven’t gone public with our relationship, so that there’s less chance of David finding out.
Caitlyn hasn’t heard from her ex since he came to the kennels, so we’re taking that as a sign he’s finally gotten the hint she’s done with him. But we don’t want to tempt fate, so we’re still keeping things on the down-low for a while longer.
“Sounds fun. Where are you headed?”
“To a spa in Southampton,” I reply, as we begin stretching out our limbs.
“Oh, I’d love a weekend away in Southampton. Too bad I don’t have a gorgeous woman to take with me...”
We laugh, and then get to work.
Currently, Jason is training on the treadmill, doing a ten-minute session, followed by a small break, and then back to ten minutes on the treadmill. We rinse and repeat until he’s completed an hour total on the treadmill.
I write his times and distances down in a document with all of Jason’s records in and point out to my client that he’s improved by 1.10 seconds since last week. Meaning if he maintains the speed, he will qualify.
“It’s all thanks to my great trainer,” Jason says, as we finish the session, and he heads to the shower.
“I appreciate the compliment, but you’re doing all the hard work, man.”
After Jason leaves, I help an older woman who is trying to get back into shape after years of inactivity.
Mrs. Gilbert is a sweet woman in her sixties, and we do a relatively easy workout.
Or it’s easy compared to what I just went through with Jason.
I’ve designed the exercises to push Mrs. Gilbert, without being so strenuous that she’s in danger of injuring herself or fatigue.
I’ve only been working with her for a few weeks, but I’ve already seen improvements.
Once Mrs. Gilbert leaves, the rest of my afternoon is taken up by admin work and supervising as visitors to the resort use the gym. It’s nothing too taxing and allows my mind to wander to Caitlyn.
I can’t wait for our weekend away. It will be so good to spend some quality time together, without having to worry who might see us.
I understand why we need to keep things quiet for a bit longer -- the last thing I want to do is provoke the anger of David Morgan and his family.
Still, I’ll be happier when Caitlyn and I don’t have to hide our relationship any longer.
Maybe if this weekend goes well, I can suggest introducing her to my brothers.
-----
Thankfully, the week flies by as I train Jason, work with Mrs. Gilbert, and help the other clients visiting the gym.
Business at the resort is the best it’s ever been.
Having added a second restaurant, and with both myself and Sebastian (who owns the horse-riding ranch) offering more services, people from all over are looking to the Braddock Resort for their vacation.
We’re currently booked until the end of the year and are only taking on cancellations.
How well we’re thriving is a testament to mine and my brothers’ hard work, and an honor to the memory of our parents, who started the resort almost thirty-years ago.
As I pack my case for my weekend away with Caitlyn, I glance at the picture of my parents on the nightstand.
It’s been five years since we lost them to a traffic accident, and there isn’t a day that I don’t miss them.
I was only eighteen when they died and going through such trauma at a young age left its scars.
But I’m determined to make the most of my life and honor their memories.
My biggest regret is that they never got to meet Caitlyn. I know they would have loved her…
Love. The word hovers in my mind. I don’t want to say anything too soon, especially after everything Caitlyn went through with David, but, well, I think I’ve been in love with her practically since the moment we met, and now that we’re together, my feelings are only growing deeper.
Excited to see her, and spend the weekend together, I grab my case, and take it downstairs, where Tucker is lounging on the couch.
“No wild parties while I’m away, okay?”
My younger brother rolls his eyes. “Who do you think I am?”
I snort out a laugh. “I know exactly who you are, Tucker. I don’t want to come back to this place being trashed.”
“I promise, I won’t wreck anything, and if I do have a party, it will all be cleaned up by the time you’re back.”
“It better be, or I’m kicking you out. Then you’ll have to buy your own place.
My younger brother scowls at me, but it’s the best threat I have.
Tucker has put off getting his own place -- even though our parents left him a large inheritance, so he could support himself until he was settled in a career -- because he doesn’t want the responsibility of buying a house, paying bills, doing groceries and all the other things that come with being an adult.
Right now, I look after everything, and do most of the cooking, or we order takeout.
I’m not sure Tucker even knows how to operate the washing machine alone.
“I won’t trash the house,” Tucker says earnestly, and I know by the tone in his voice he means it.
Knowing my brother won’t go back on his word, I grab my case, and load it into the car, then leave him to it. I’m sure Tucker will throw a wild party while I’m away, but now he’s given his word, I also know when I return home, the house will be immaculate.
I drive across town to pick up Caitlyn, and then, we’re on the road to Southampton and our weekend at the spa.
“How was your week?” I ask, as we drive out of town.
“Busy,” Caitlyn says, sunglasses shading her sky-blue eyes. “I sold the last pug puppy, and then sent the Mama to a new breeder. The renovations on the kennels have started, and I’ve slowly been introducing Bella to Bruno so they’re familiar with each other, for when she’s ready to mate.”
“And she was okay staying with Amber for the weekend?” I ask about the chow-chow.
“Yeah, Bella and Amber love each other,” Caitlyn replies with a grin.
The journey to Southampton isn’t long, only about thirty-minutes to the south-west, and soon we’re pulling up outside the 1850 mansion.
Caitlyn gasps. “Oh my God, this place is even more beautiful than the pictures.”
“Isn’t it?” I agree, staring up at the huge, white-bricked building that’s covered in ivy.
The sky is a brilliant blue overhead, and the lush, green land stretches out behind the spa.
Caitlyn’s smile as she gets out of the car is breath-taking, and I feel my heart pound with joy as we cross the gravel parking lot -- cases in hand -- and enter the building.
“Hey,” I greet the young woman at the reception desk. “I have a King room booked for Braddock, please.”
The receptionist types some details into the computer in front of her, then turns to a pegboard holding a number of keys. She plucks down the key for room four, and hands it to me.
“There you are, Mr. Braddock. Enjoy your stay.”
Mine and Caitlyn’s room is on the second floor -- the first floor is reserved for the reception, kitchen and dining room -- and to the rear of the building, so we have a fantastic view of the magnificent grounds, where there’s a space for outdoor dining, a massive pool, a hot tub and even tennis courts.
“Josh, this place is amazing,” Caitlyn says, walking around our room in awe. “I’ve never been somewhere so nice.”
It doesn’t surprise me that David never took Caitlyn anywhere special, but I don’t say that. I don’t want to think about him now. Instead, I pull her into my arms.
“You deserve it,” I whisper huskily, before claiming her lips with mine.