1. Madison
1
MADISON
I step out of my rental car, the crisp mountain air hitting my face as I stare up at the rustic wooden sign: Heartwood Lakefront Resort. A sense of nostalgia washes over me. It's been years since I last visited Grandma's beloved retreat.
Glancing down at my outfit of a silk blouse, pencil skirt, and heeled boots, I realize just how out of place I must look. Well, there’s no turning back now. I grab my designer handbag and take a deep breath before heading towards the main lodge.
Two steps in, my heel sinks into a patch of thick mud. "Damn it," I mutter under my breath, yanking my foot up. The soggy earth clings to my expensive leather boot. This is definitely not how I wanted to make my grand entrance.
Gingerly picking my way across the dirt path, I finally reach the lodge's wide front porch. The weathered wooden boards creak beneath my feet as I push open the heavy oak door.
Inside, the lobby looks just as I remember —all honey-colored wood, a stone fireplace, and overstuffed furniture in warm, autumnal colors. A wave of childhood memories washes over me.
"Welcome back, Madison."
I jump at the sound of my name and spin around to see a matronly woman smiling at me from behind the front desk.
"Oh... thank you. It's good to be back," I say automatically, even though my mind is still reeling. I glance at her name tag, which looks like it was created in the 1970s: Ivy. I don’t remember an Ivy at all. How does she still remember me?
"Let me know if you need anything, dear. We're all so sorry about your grandmother."
Her kind eyes fill with sympathy, and I nod, a lump rising in my throat. "I appreciate that. I wish I’d been able to spend more time up here with her. She loved this place."
Eager not to prolong the conversation, I hurry out of the lobby and back into the brisk air. As I wander the grounds, I take in the charming, rustic cabins dotting the lakeshore, the large barn that hosted summer camp activities, the boat house, and the dock.
It's all so achingly familiar, like stepping back in time. Part of me assumed things would have changed more. That Grandma would have made some updates and renovations over the years. But it seems frozen in the past, locked in a simpler time.
Don't get me wrong—there’s a certain nostalgic charm to it all. But I can also see the peeling paint, the outdated decor, and the general wear and tear. As much as I hate to admit it, the resort could definitely use some modernizing to appeal to today's guests.
The question is - am I the right person to make that happen? Or would I be better off washing my hands of it completely and selling it to the highest bidder? Would that be sacrilege, or would Grandma have expected me to do that? I wish I knew why she’d left the resort to me in her will.
I stop at the end of the dock and stare out at the pristine, mirrored surface of the lake. In the city, life moves at a frantic pace. When I'm not rushing from meeting to meeting, I'm hunched over my desk, staring at spreadsheets late into the night. Here... here, I feel like I can finally breathe again.
But is a change of pace really what I need right now? Can I see myself living here full-time? Running a resort in the middle of nowhere?
I don't know. I just don't know. Chewing my bottom lip, I slowly make my way back towards the lodge, boots squelching in the mud.
As I approach the main lodge, I spot a few staff members milling about, going about their daily tasks. Taking a deep breath, I paste on a friendly smile and introduce myself.
"Hi there, I'm Madison, Eleanor's granddaughter. I guess I'm the new owner around here."
A middle-aged woman with kind eyes looks up from sweeping the porch. "Oh, Miss Madison! We've been expecting you. I'm so sorry for your loss; your grandmother was a wonderful woman."
"Thank you; that means a lot," I reply, feeling a lump form in my throat. "To be honest, I'm still trying to process it all."
An older man, perhaps in his sixties, steps forward and extends his hand. "Welcome back to Heartwood, Miss Madison. We're all here to help in any way we can. Just let us know what you need."
I shake his hand gratefully. "I appreciate that, thank you. I'm still getting my bearings, but I'll definitely keep that in-,”
My phone starts ringing insistently, cutting me off mid-sentence. I glance down at the screen and feel my stomach drop. It's him. Again.
Excusing myself with an apologetic smile, I step away and swipe to answer. "What do you want, Ashton?" I snap, not bothering to hide my annoyance.
"Mads, come on. You can't keep ignoring me like this. We need to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about," I say firmly. "We're done. I'm not coming back to the city, and I'm not changing my mind."
Ashton starts to argue, but I cut him off again. "I have to go. Don't call me again." I hang up abruptly and power down my phone for good measure.
Turning back to the staff members, I force another smile. "Sorry about that. You were saying?"
The woman gives me a sympathetic look. "No worries, dear. We understand. This must be a difficult time for you."
I nod, swallowing hard. "Yeah, it's... it's a lot to take in." My gaze drifts back towards the lake, my mind whirling with conflicting thoughts and emotions.
Lost in thought, I wander over to a nearby bench and sink down onto it, my impractical heels sinking into the soft earth. I came here looking for answers, but so far, all I've found are more questions.
Can I really see myself living in a place like this? Trading in my suits and stilettos for flannel and hiking boots? Leaving behind the fast-paced world of mergers and acquisitions for the slow, steady rhythm of small-town life?
It seems impossible. And yet...
There's a peace here, a sense of belonging that I haven't felt in a long time. Maybe ever. And as much as I hate to admit it, there's a tiny part of me, a part I've kept buried for far too long, that yearns for something more than the endless grind of corporate success.
But is that enough? Is it worth giving up everything I've worked so hard for?
I don't know.