Loving Reese (Tremont Lodge Series Book 2)

by Marcy Blesy

  “Son of a bitch.” He slams his hand down on the glass coffee table, and I’m surprised it doesn’t crack. “Sorry,” he says, responding to what must be my look of shock. “I called off the investigators about six months ago—trying to tie up loose ends if you will,” he says. “How in the world did he figure out you were here?”

  “I assume you can blame Lawson.”

  “Lawson?”

  “He says he found dad’s, John’s, information in your private…Anyway, he told him I was here.”

  “Reese, I am so sorry. I’ll take care of this. The investigator can be here in a couple of days, I’m sure. We’ll pay him, do whatever we have to do to ensure that he not contact you.”

  The words tumble out before I have time to process what I am saying. “I’m not sure that’s necessary. Maybe I should talk to him. He seems pretty intent on getting my attention.”

  “Reese, he’s a bum. He can’t keep a job—moves from town to town. I suppose that’s why he’s back, too—to get another pay-off.”

  I wonder if what Ted says is true, but I hope he’s wrong. “I need to check in with Luis and see if he needs me to do anything.” I walk toward the elevator. “He’s really the brains of that lobby operation, you know? And Jeremy has a pretty good pulse on the rec department.”

  “I trust your judgment. Thanks, Reese.” I wave goodbye and push the button to the elevator. “Reese!” I turn around before stepping onto the elevator. “Do what makes you happy.”

  I watch Ted disappearing behind the closing door as I descend back to the lobby with more unanswered questions swirling in my mind. And part of me can’t help but wish that Ted might have cared a little about my life, too, all those years he had a private investigator keeping tabs on John Prentice. Maybe Ted Oakley asked for updates, too.

  Chapter 15:

  The lobby has transformed from rustic summer fun décor to a virtual inside fall forest with fake, colored leaves wrapping around the large wooden support beams. Even the totem pole in the middle of the lobby has red and yellow and orange bows tied at every separation between spirit animals. The only thing that hasn’t caught up with this change in scenery is the real scenery outside which still screams summer with an unseasonably warm September on the record books, and I’m grateful for every day closer to winter that stays warm.

  Luis is doing paperwork in his office behind the front desk. His long black hair is tied nicely in a ponytail that hangs down the middle of his back, but in the suit jacket he is currently wearing he still looks professional and competent. What am I doing? I don’t belong in this role. I don’t want to run the front desk operations of a major resort. Sure, I could learn more if I stuck it out, but if I get no fulfillment, then why bother? And why take the job from someone that does love the job? “Hey, Luis,” I say.

  He jumps at the sound of my voice. “Reese, you’re back. I…I suppose you want to know about what’s been going on,” he says.

  “No, Luis. I really don’t, but thanks for the offer. And thanks for showing me the ropes. I am stepping down and promoting you back to sole supervisor of the lobby operations, effective immediately.”

  Luis taps his pen on the desk a few times before looking at me again. “Thanks, Reese. You don’t have to do this, you know?”

  “No, I do need to do this, and I’m sorry for the disruption to your life that I have caused. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go quit my other job.”

  On the lawn, the sunshine gives me the renewed strength I need to accept those things I cannot change and faith that the choices I am making are the right ones. How can one really know if a decision is the right one?

  Jeremy is outside the front of the rec department wrapping the handles of tennis rackets with new tape. “Perk of the job to work outside in the sunshine,” I say.

  “Hey, Reese. Nice to see you back. Your shift started three days ago.” He doesn’t smile, but I do.

  “Yeah, about that—sorry I bailed without an explanation, but I have no doubt you handled everything well.” He glances at me and goes back to taping the tennis racket. “Look, I just wanted to thank you for pointing out my flaws and to let you know that you are promoted back to sole supervisor of the rec department.”

  He sets the tape down and looks me square in the eyes. “On whose authority” he asks.

  “I guess mine.”

  “Thank you for coming to your senses,” he says in complete seriousness before breaking into a huge smile. “No offense, but you kind of sucked.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’ll see you around, Jeremy.” I wave goodbye before turning back one more time. Jeremy is still watching me. “But be good to Bree or I’ll serve your ass on a platter.”

  “Okay—deal,” he says, waving. “I’ll treat on the next double date.”

  That makes me think of Finn and how much I want to see him right now. I stop in the landscaping office, but it’s empty. Everyone is on the job. I don’t hear any mowers, so the agenda for the day could be infinite. I pull out my phone. The urgency to see Finn is overwhelming, and I punch in his number on my phone. He picks up on the second ring. “Reese?”

  “It is so good to hear your voice.”

  “Where are you?” he asks.

  “On the lawn. Where are you?”

  “In my room. I stepped in a bucket of paint when I was finishing the last of the fence work for the year—ruined a perfectly good pair of work boots.”

  “Don’t leave your room. I’m coming up.”

  “I have to finish the job, Reese. There’s white paint all over the grass.”

  “It can wait…please give me ten minutes.”

  “Okay.”

  I sprint across the lawn and over the cobblestone roads that run between the now quiet lodge shops and into the dormitory courtyard. The pool guys are skimming leaves and bugs out of the pool and don’t look up as I rush up the stairs to Finn’s room.

  He opens the door before I can knock. “Hi,” he says, no emotion sitting on his face but irritation.

  I fling my arms around his neck and bury my head in his chest. It feels so good to make a decision that comes from the heart instead of doing what everyone else wants me to do. And the only decision I want to make right now is to be with Finn. Forget the lodge. Forget Samantha. Forget John Prentice. Forget Ted Oakley. Forget my grandparents. The only person that makes me feel whole and happy is Finn, and if he doesn’t feel the same way, then it’s time to leave. My need to be here is no longer pressing. The answers I have are enough.

  “Damn, Reese, you’re going to knock me over. What has gotten into you?” He pushes me away from his chest so that he is looking at me. “When did you get back?”

  “A couple of hours ago,” I say.

  “And you’re just now getting around to saying hey. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. You kind of do whatever the hell you want anyway.”

  “No…no, you’re wrong. I’ve been doing what I thought everyone else wanted me to do—everything at the lodge—I did it all because I thought I had to. I thought I had something to prove, but now I know the truth.”

  “What’s that?” he asks, holding me back by crossing his arms across his chest.

  “The truth is that I only have to make me happy, and whatever happened with my parents or whatever is happening now with Ted—none of it really makes me happy. I mean, it’s okay, but nothing at the lodge ties me here anymore but for one thing.” He raises his eyebrows as if to encourage me to continue. “The only reason I want to stay is because you’re here, and if you want to leave and go on that cruise ship next spring, then I’m going with you—if you want me to.”

  “Reese…” My name hangs on his lips, and he pulls me close to his chest again, cradling his arms around my back. I feel the tears coming, but this time I don’t try to stop them. Finn holds me and lets me cry. “We still have some stuff to talk about,” he says.

  “I know,” I whisper. “I just need to know if you love me.”

  Our eyes hold
for a moment before he speaks again. “I love you, Reese Prentice, and I can’t imagine going anywhere on this earth without you by my side.” His lips find mine in a fury, intertwining with the want and passion of two lovers kept apart by too many distractions and the possibility of a future full of promise. “I want you so bad right now,” he whispers into my neck, “but I have to go back to work. I don’t want to rush, either. I need to enjoy you—to enjoy us.”

  I kiss him back, for a moment more, before pulling away. “We have forever,” I say.

  “Forever,” he repeats. “Tonight, let’s take a ride up the mountain.”

  “But I didn’t think there were any more parties,” I say.

  “A party for two is all we need.”

  I inhale deeply and nod my head in agreement before backing away. “I like the sound of that. Have fun painting.”

  One more kiss goodbye and I practically skip back to my room. The answer I needed was given. Now whatever happens at the lodge is of no consequence to me.

  It’s when I am in my room that I remember that Lawson is expecting me to return for his report on the lodge operations while I was gone. Though I quit two jobs today, I’m not sure what my walking away from all responsibility at the lodge would do to Ted. And no matter his delinquent role in my life, I don’t wish him harm.

  Georgia is not at her desk when I walk off the elevator onto the third floor of the lodge. No matter. She hates me anyway. I knock once and open Ted’s office door, expecting to see Lawson pretending to be busy doing managerial things. That is not what I find.

  “Dammit, Reese! I thought you forgot about coming back!” Lawson yells, pushing Georgia off his lap and haphazardly putting his shirt back on and zipping up his pants. She’s doing the same dance in the corner of the room as she turns her back to me to hook her bra and pull a sweater over her head.

  “I didn’t forget,” I say quietly, not realizing how much I am enjoying this show. “Should I come back in ten minutes? Or do you need more time?” I can’t help but giggle.

  “Shut up,” says Georgia, walking past me toward the door, all of the sweet, innocent I’m so concerned for Mr. Oakley crap flying out of the room with her.

  Lawson clears his throat, and I look back at him. “It’s not what you think,” he says.

  I stare at him like he’s a complete idiot.

  “I mean—that is what it looks like—but Georgia and I are in love.”

  I start coughing on an ice cube from the glass of water I just poured and for a second think I’m going to need the Heimlich. “In love?”

  “She’s the only one from the lodge that visited me when I was in rehab. She really cares, and I really care about her, too.”

  “That’s really none of my business, Lawson, but don’t you think Ted is going to be a little pissed? It’s no secret they have a little something-something on the side.”

  “They don’t…anymore.”

  “But she’s wearing a giant rock on her hand that would rival any Hollywood starlet’s engagement ring.”

  “I know,” he says quietly.

  “Wow. Sounds like you have yourself a little problem.”

  “Look, I understand if your first reaction is to go running to your daddy.”

  “Don’t call Ted my daddy,” I say, glaring at Lawson.

  “Fine, whatever. But all you’d do is hurt him. Is that what you want?”

  “I think I can ask you the same question.”

  Lawson pours himself a glass of water before answering. “No, it’s not what I want. Ted is the only father figure I have ever had. But you can’t help who you love, Reese.”

  “No, you can’t,” I say, thinking not only of Finn, but also of my mother and Ted and my father and Lawson’s mother. Sometimes things happen that seem out of your control. “Look, I didn’t come here to cause trouble, either, Lawson. All of this has been just as unexpected to me as it has been to you.”

  “I know,” he says. “I want you to know that I sent an email to your dad and told him to leave you alone or he’d be arrested.”

  “What?”

  “Isn’t that what you wanted?” he asked, surprised by my reaction.

  “I don’t want him arrested.”

  “It’s an empty threat. I wanted him to leave you alone, though. I told you I’d fix it.”

  “Did he respond?” I ask, afraid of the answer.

  “He did.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He said he’d leave the lodge tonight and stop contacting you.”

  “Tonight?”

  “Reese, don’t be weirded out. Just hang with Bree or Finn. Stay in a group. I really don’t think he’ll hurt you. He should be gone any time.”

  “I have to go! Thanks!” I grab my purse and run for the door.

  “Wait! Don’t you want that report you came for?” he yells as I’m running down the hall.

  “Forget it!”

  I wave at Georgia who continues glaring and take the stairs two at a time to the main floor.

  Chapter 16:

  I glance at the clock as I re-enter my room. It’s 5:00. Tonight could mean anything. It could mean now, or it could mean 10:00. I don’t know how much time I have, but I know what I want. I want to see the man I called Dad. It’s time to squash the questions and just know.

  I pull out my phone and text back to the once unfamiliar phone number.

  Me: Meet me at 6:30 in the lodge library.

  I push send before I have a chance to change my mind. There is no reply, but I’m not going to miss the chance that he’ll come. I sit on my bed and stare at my closet, wondering what you are supposed to wear to formally meet the man called Dad after sixteen years. I pull out my phone and text Tinley.

  Me: Meeting someone important, but not that kind of important. What do I wear?

  Tinley: Not slutty couture kind of important?

  Me: Definitely not.

  Tinley: NOT your navy blue suit.

  Me: I know that!!!

  Tinley: Wear your lace green tank and black cropped cardigan with black capris.

  Me: Thanks.

  Tinley: And the black gladiator sandals I left in your closet.

  Me: You left your sandals?

  Tinley: I have too many shoes.

  Me: Wow! And I thought you’d be the one changing Murphy. Guess it’s the other way around.

  Tinley: Don’t fool yourself. Miss you!

  Me: Me, too. Thanks.

  I click off the phone and pull out the pieces Tinley suggested, marveling at her photo memory of my closet. In the back of the closet, nearest the wall, I find the black gladiator sandals. I brush out my hair, tie it into a loose ponytail at my neck, add a dab of light lip gloss, and declare myself presentable. Plus, Finn’s favorite color is green, the color of nature and money, he’d told me once before, so the outfit will be suitable for our date later tonight.

  Me: I’ll meet you by the chairlift at 8:00. Have a quick errand to run first. Looking forward to seeing you.

  Finn: Me, too. Don’t be late. Love you.

  Me: Love you, too.

  I walk across the lawn toward the lobby and think back to the beginning of the summer when I wasn’t even allowed to enter through the main lobby doors let alone plan a meeting in the library. So much has changed since my arrival at Tremont Lodge—all because of the decision of one man sixteen years ago—the man I’m about to meet, and it all seems so surreal.

  I push open the French doors that lead to the library, my favorite room in the entire lodge. The rustic yet ornate décor showers anyone who enters with a welcoming vibe that says Leave your troubles at the door. I can almost hear those words echoing off the enormous walls now. Breathe in. Breathe out.

  Someone is here. He doesn’t turn around when I walk down the main aisle of the library, but I know it’s him—the same dirty blonde hair from the pictures I’ve seen, the wide shoulders. He looks tall, even seated, which is what I remember, though that’s not saying much. I�
�m wondering if I should speak first when I hear his words which send a shiver of memory down my spine.

  “Hello, Reese’s Pieces. It’s good to finally see you up close and in person.”

  I freeze, legs the weight of a cinder block, not allowing me to propel forward. He stands up and turns to face me. The simple polo shirt and navy blue shorts make him look more like a golfer than a fugitive. But when he smiles, my legs start to shake, and I find myself moving toward him again. “Hello, John,” I say.

  His smile fades. “I understand, Reese. I understand.”

  “But I don’t,” I whisper, choking on the emotion caught in my throat.

  “I can imagine not,” he says.

  “Why are you here?” I ask, holding myself upright by leaning my arm on a nearby chair.

  “You asked me to come,” he says, wrinkling his eyebrows. As if sensing my trepidation he moves no closer.

  “I mean, why have you been following me—my whole life?” I inhale again. “You abandoned me for money. If you think I have more to give you, you’re wrong. Whatever Lawson told you about my having money is incorrect.”

  “That’s not really the truth, Reese,” he says.

  “It is. I don’t care if you don’t believe me, but I don’t have any money to give you to make you leave again.”

  “I don’t need money to make me leave. I’ve never taken money to leave.”

  Even after all these years, he still can’t come clean with the truth. “The hell you haven’t! At least tell the truth once in your life! You know damn well that you took $100,000 to leave Tremont Lodge sixteen years ago so that you wouldn’t be prosecuted for killing my mother!” Steady streams of tears fall down the cheeks of John Prentice at the mention of my mother. It makes me cry, too, which only pisses me off because I don’t want him to see how much he’s hurt me.

  He reaches into his back pocket, pulls out an envelope, and holds it out in an offering to me. “Take it,” he says.