Chapter 13
Diana looked through the French doors and stared at the man standing with his back to her. She’d stood in the same spot many times, amazed at how beautiful Flathead Lake was at any time of the day.
Usually, the deep blue water calmed her mind and helped her focus on what was important. Did Derek need the same soothing view to focus his mind or was he unconcerned about seeing her again? Knowing Derek, this visit would be all about him.
If he thought he could walk all over her, he was in for a surprise. He’d left her reeling when she saw him at the party. This time, she was more prepared.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. “What are you doing here, Derek? I asked you not to see me again.”
He turned around. “I know you don’t want me here, but I need your help.”
Diana crossed her arms in front of her chest. “I told you I can’t help.”
“You’ve inherited a property that’s worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. You could take a loan against your share.”
“My grandparents’ home is still in their family trust’s name. I don’t have any control over the property. And, even if I did, I wouldn’t give you any money.”
“Don’t the years we were married mean anything?”
Diana took a step forward. He was doing it again—trying to manipulate her into feeling guilty for not giving him what he wanted.
For the first time in her life, she was angry with him. He’d deeply hurt her and now he thought it was his right to be here asking for more money. “You should have thought of our marriage before you slept with the other women. You used me, then took half of everything I owned. I can’t believe you think you have any right to talk to me, let alone ask for money.”
Derek’s jaw clenched. “If I don’t repay what I owe, the bank will foreclose on my business and house.”
“That’s your issue. You left our marriage with more than enough money to start again.”
“Like you did,” he sneered. “You hid in the apartment you bought and didn’t speak to anyone. Now look at you. Living in the lap of luxury in a house you never mentioned in our settlement. Gareth thinks I can take you to court to claim my share of this estate.”
Gareth Corrigan was Derek’s lawyer. Diana trusted him as much as she trusted her ex-husband. “Try it. You won’t stand a chance. Now, whether you want to or not, you need to leave.”
“I can’t believe you’re being so cold and—”
“You heard what Diana said,” a deep voice said. “Leave.”
Derek looked over his shoulder.
Relief rushed through her. It was so good to see Ethan.
“You again?” Derek growled. “Just who are you?”
“Diana’s boyfriend. I suggest you leave before I call the police.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Ethan’s mouth set in a firm line. Without saying anything, he took his cell phone out of his pocket.
Diana didn’t need a psychology degree to understand Derek’s reaction.
After throwing her a venomous look, he threw the box of candy he was holding on the table. “I bought this for you. You used to like fudge, but that’s probably changed, too.” Without waiting for a reply, he strode off the veranda and into the backyard.
With trembling legs, she collapsed into one of the outdoor chairs. “Thanks, Ethan. How did you know Derek was here?”
He sat in the chair beside hers and reached for her hand. “I saw him in Sweet Treats. I had a feeling the candy was for you.”
“I’m glad you decided to come here, but sorry you had to hear that.”
“Don’t be sorry. It’s not your fault. Do you think you should go to the police?”
Diana shook her head. “Not yet. If he keeps contacting me, I’ll do something about it.”
“Is there someone in his family you could tell? They might be able to get through to him that you don’t want anything to do with him.”
Diana looked into Ethan’s worried eyes. “His mom and dad won’t help. They’ve never liked me. The last time I saw them was about a month before Derek left me. I think they knew about his affairs, but didn’t say anything. I’m not sure if he’s kept in contact with any of his friends, but I could look for their phone numbers.”
“That might help.” Ethan brushed a strand of hair off her face. “How are you feeling now?”
“A little less shaky.”
Katie opened the back door. “Hi, Ethan. Where’s…?” she took one look at Diana’s face and hurried toward her. “Are you okay? You’re as white as a sheet.”
“Derek’s left.” The warmth of Ethan’s touch steadied Diana’s pounding heart and made her feel better. “He asked me to lend him some money. I said I wouldn’t give him any.”
“What a weasel. He already took a huge amount of your money when you divorced him. What do you want me to do if he comes back?”
Diana’s shoulders stiffened. “Tell him to go away. If he doesn’t, call the police.”
She hoped like crazy it didn’t come to that, but she’d never seen Derek so worried or angry. With so much debt, she didn’t know what he would do next.
Hopefully, he’d go home and find some other way to repay the bank. Otherwise, he’d have to face the consequences of a lot of bad choices.
The following evening, Ethan turned on his computer and started filling out his last patient’s file. It had been a long day at the clinic. Zac, his friend and the only physician in Sapphire Bay, had warned him that the summer months were busy, but he never anticipated anything like this.
Today, he’d seen six new patients as well as getting through a full day of appointments with people who were already registered with the clinic. Of the six new patients, five were former military personnel. Each of them had varying degrees of PTSD along with other issues that were making their lives unbearable.
He looked up when someone tapped lightly on his office door.
Zac had two cups of coffee in his hands. “I thought you might need a hot drink.”
“I’d love one.” Gratefully, he took a cup and leaned back in his chair.
“John called me a few minutes ago. He’s found beds for the new patients you saw today. They can stay at The Welcome Center until they find somewhere else to live.”
“That’s great. The last thing they need is to be sleeping in their trucks or camping on the side of the road. Will he take them through the orientation program?”
“He’s scheduled it for first thing tomorrow morning.”
At least that would give everyone some breathing room, Ethan thought. Over the last couple of months, they’d streamlined a simple welcome program for new arrivals who needed extra care. Between Zac, John, and Ethan, they hoped to cushion the stress of arriving in a new town when their clients already had issues to deal with.
Zac sat in the chair opposite Ethan’s. “John’s PTSD support group is meeting on Friday morning. Are you able to be there?”
He checked his appointment calendar and studied the multicolored squares, looking for anything he could move to free up some time. “I’ll make a couple of calls tomorrow morning, but it should be okay. Can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead. My brain feels like mush, but I might be able to help.”
“Diana’s ex-husband is in Sapphire Bay. He needs money and thinks she’ll help. She told him to go away, but he’s not listening.”
Zac took a sip of his coffee. “Is he staying permanently in Sapphire Bay?”
Ethan hoped not. “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him in town today, but I’ve been inside the clinic for most of the time.”
“It’s days like this that I miss Mabel. If she wasn’t on vacation, she’d know if he was here.”
“I’m not sure even Mabel would know. Derek doesn’t seem the type of person to broadcast what he’s doing.”
“Let’s assume Diana’s ex-husband is only visiting. The police won’t do anything unless he breaks the law or if Di
ana’s life is in danger. Do you think either of those scenarios are a possibility?”
Ethan thought about the short conversations he’d had with Derek. “He was angry and annoyed when Diana told him to leave. From what she said, he isn’t the type of person to hurt anyone. Having said that, she could be wrong. With the right incentive, some people will do whatever they can to make their lives easier.”
“Diana could always take out an order of protection.”
“She doesn’t want to do that at the moment.”
“In that case, I don’t think there’s much you can do. The next best thing would be to make sure Diana’s family knows what’s happening. At least that way they can keep an eye on her.” Zac studied Ethan’s face. “Do you want another piece of advice?”
“Go for it.”
“Don’t be in a hurry to rush to her aid. I have a feeling her independence is worth more than a little aggravation from her ex-husband. She needs to be able to stand on her own two feet without worrying about what you’re doing.”
“That’s easier said than done.”
“It always is. You can’t change what’s happened in her life, just like she can’t change what’s happened in yours. The only thing you can do is be there for each other.”
Ethan sighed. “You’re right, although it doesn’t make me feel any better about her ex-husband being here.”
Zac sent him an understanding smile. “No one goes through life without carrying a certain amount of baggage with them. It’s unfortunate that Diana’s baggage has come to Sapphire Bay.”
He could say that again. “As long as her baggage leaves as quickly as he arrived, everyone will be happy.”
“I’ll second that.” Zac pulled himself out of the chair. “I’ve still got a couple of hours of work to get through. If you leave before me, let me know.”
“I will.” Ethan looked at the folders he’d placed on one side of his desk. Hopefully, it would only take an hour to do what he kept putting off. After that, he’d drive to the inn and see if Diana’s ex-husband had contacted her today.
Diana closed the kitchen door and looked at her sisters. Each Monday night they had a meeting to plan for the following week. With their hectic schedules, it was one of the few times they were all sitting around a table together.
Katie looked as though she belonged on a Parisian street instead of living in a small Montana town. With a yellow beret balanced on her red hair and a bright purple sweater tied around her shoulders, she could have stepped out of one of the books she loved to write.
Penny was here with a pile of folders. She was talking to Barbara, probably planning the next step in her property development empire.
Diana sat at the table and smiled at her siblings. It felt good to be together, to share the excitement of managing the inn before they went their separate ways.
When Penny finished talking, Diana tapped her pen on the side of her glass. “Okay, everyone. We’d better start our meeting while it’s quiet. Three of our couples are already in their rooms and the others are in town enjoying meals at The Loaded Hog.”
“I hope they leave room for dessert,” Barbara said with a yawn. “Laurel makes the best ice cream sundaes I’ve ever tasted.”
Katie filled a glass with water. “It’s the toasted nuts and homemade chocolate sauce that makes them extra yummy.”
Barbara handed each of them a spreadsheet. “I could do with one of them now.”
Diana looked closely at her sister. Working from Sapphire Bay had its advantages, but it was also giving Barbara plenty of sleepless nights. “Have you finished the proposal you were working on last week?”
“Thankfully, yes. The company is reviewing my suggestions, so I just have to wait for its decision. And talking about decisions, we have to organize our marketing plan for the inn.”
Katie studied the piece of paper Barbara had given her. “How do you make your spreadsheets look so amazing?”
“Practice. Some days it feels like my whole life revolves around carefully organized rows and columns.”
Diana’s frown deepened. She’d been so focused on their guests that she hadn’t paid too much attention to Barbara. “You sound tired. Do you need a few days away from the inn?”
“I’ll be okay. Once I’ve finished my next project, my workload will be more manageable.”
Penny rubbed her sister’s arm. “If there’s anything I can do, let me know. Living here for the rest of the year will only work if we look after each other.”
“That’s really sweet, but I’ll be okay.”
Diana glanced at Katie. She was worried about their sister, too.
Barbara turned to the second page she’d given them. “I’ve designed some mock-ups of images we can use in our Facebook ads. I’d like you to select four photos and I’ll add some text. Once they’re ready, I’ll upload them and do some split-testing.”
Katie pointed to the last two images of the inn. “I like these two and the ones of the honeymoon suite.”
Penny leaned forward and studied the page. “I think they’ll attract people’s attention, too. What about you, Diana?”
“I’m happy with those images.”
Barbara ticked off a line in her notebook. “That was easy. Next is reviewing our other marketing options.”
With her head bent over the spreadsheet, Diana listened as Barbara told them which methods were working better than others and their impact on their bookings. For someone who’d never thought too much about marketing, she was astounded by her sister’s knowledge.
“Did you learn all of this at college?” she asked Barbara.
Her sister smiled. “I only use about twenty percent of what I learned at college. Everything else I picked up at the different jobs I’ve worked in and through trial and error. By the end of the year, you’ll know a lot more about marketing than you do now.”
Katie twisted a lock of hair around her finger. “Would this work for my books?”
Barbara nodded. “It’s the same principle, but a different audience. The tricky part is finding your potential readers and targeting them, especially on Facebook.”
Diana could see Katie’s mind working overtime. “Have you heard anything from the person you met in Los Angeles?”
Katie bit her bottom lip.
Barbara frowned. “What did she say?”
“Thanks, but no thanks,” Katie muttered. “She said my series had great promise and they wished they had the time to work with me, but their publishing schedule won’t allow it. I have no idea what that means, apart from not wanting to publish my books.”
“That’s crazy,” Penny said indignantly. “You’re an incredible writer.”
Tears welled in Katie’s eyes. “What will I tell Mom and Dad? They were so sure I’d be given a publishing contract.”
Barbara hugged Katie. “Tell them the truth. They know how amazing your stories are. If another publishing company doesn’t buy them, they’re all bonkers.”
Diana smiled. “Bonkers?”
“The art of being an idiot,” Barbara clarified.
Katie sent her sisters a watery smile. “Have I told you all how much I love you?”
Barbara tightened her arm around Katie’s shoulders. “Not recently, but it’s good to know. We love you, too. And, to take your mind off the people who are bonkers, you can help organize Penny and Wyatt’s engagement party.”
Penny shook her head. “We don’t have the time to organize one and, even if we did, Wyatt and I don’t want a party.”
Diana held her hand up to her ear. “Did you say you don’t want a party?”
“I know I love parties, but not this time. We have too much work to do.”
Barbara opened another spreadsheet and studied the columns. “What if we had it on Sunday? It’s our last day without guests for the next two months.”
Diana looked at Penny. “If we all did something, we could organize it in next to no time. Mom and Dad will be home by then and it gives
Wyatt’s family time to get here.”
“I’ll have to check with Wyatt.”
Barbara handed Penny her phone. “There’s no time like the present.”
Penny sighed. “Do you guys ever stop?”
Katie wiped her eyes. “It’s all part of our charm. Do you think Laurel at The Loaded Hog will tell us her secret chocolate sauce recipe? I could make ice cream sundaes for everyone.”
“I don’t know”—Barbara opened her laptop—“but I can feel another spreadsheet coming on.”
Penny waved the phone in front of her sister’s nose. “I haven’t asked Wyatt yet.”
“Well, you’d better hurry. Once I’ve named the file, it has to happen.”
Diana smiled as her sister quickly called her fiancé. And, luckily for them, Wyatt enjoyed parties, too.
Chapter 14
Ethan locked The Welcome Center’s van and followed a group of teenagers toward The Lakeside Inn. Diana had called him yesterday. She needed people to work at Penny and Wyatt’s engagement party and she wondered if anyone in his art therapy program would be interested.
They would be helping with all of the preparation; setting the tables, hanging decorations, and doing whatever else was necessary. Surprisingly, four of the students already had hospitality experience. They were keen to be involved and, once the rest of the class discovered they would be paid, another four decided to help.
He wasn’t sure if hiring eight teenagers was asking for trouble, but Diana was thrilled. So, this afternoon, the students had met him at The Welcome Center and they’d driven across town for the first part of their job.
Diana’s sisters wanted to make a small gift for each guest. They’d bought special heart-shaped candy from Sweet Treats and Barbara found some small bags. He presumed the students would be filling the bags and trying not to eat too much candy.
Cassidy was the first up the front steps.
When Ethan saw Diana, his heart pounded. He wondered if it would always be like this. If the simple act of seeing her would make him regret the time they spent apart.
Summer At Lakeside Page 12