by Blesy, Marcy
“Show? What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Reese, it’s no secret. Everyone can see the sparks between you and him. I just wish you’d admit it. It would be a hell of a lot easier to accept myself if you just came out with the real way you feel about him. I suppose that explains why you haven’t looked into getting a job on the boat. You don’t even intend to leave with me in the spring, do you?”
I watch the people pass on either side of us in the hall. “Come with me,” I say. I reach for his hand, but he doesn’t let me take it, though he follows. I know the library will be teeming with people knocking out the chill from the slopes, so I pull him down the hall into the empty ballroom. Even Marge is out of the office for the day. The next scheduled special event isn’t for two more weeks, a fiftieth wedding anniversary party. I can’ imagine being married to someone for that long, though I am not opposed to the thought of it. I click on the lights and close the door behind us.
“Reese, what are you doing?” Finn asks, running his fingers through his hair.
“Why did you put cologne on to go work out?” I ask.
“How did you know I…were you in my room?” He takes a step back.
“I came to find you.”
“I didn’t put cologne on. Maybe I’m just not as neat as you. Damn. If I needed an interrogation I’d go find the police who are still snooping around here.”
“And that girl just happened to be there—working out?” I ask.
“You make me so mad sometimes, Reese. No, I planned a date with her even though I never knew her name before she introduced herself to you. All I knew is that her husband was laid up in his room with food poisoning.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. So get over it. I distinctly remember someone recently saying that Jealousy is not an attractive quality.”
“I know. I’m sorry. You’re right. Finn, I don’t have feelings for Lawson, not the way you think anyway. He drives me crazy, but he’s also there for me if I need something. He’s like an older brother. And, yes, I’ve been dragging my heels about leaving Tremont Lodge. Lawson and Ted are like the family I never had. I know our relationship seems dysfunctional, but I know that they’ve got my back no matter what, and I’ve never had that with family before. Sure, Blake is my world, but he’s always going to be just a kid to me, and he isn’t damaged goods the way I am. Plus, he’ll be leaving for college soon. Lawson—and Ted—we’re all damaged goods, and we’re good for each other.”
“Reese, are you telling me that you don’t need me? Is this what it’s all about?” Finn takes another step toward the door.
“No, no, you don’t understand. You’re my savior. I realized it when you left the mountain a little while ago. I realized that I can have it both ways—I can have my family of sorts—that they’re not going anywhere if I physically leave, but that if I’m not with you, then everything in my life is meaningless. I love you, Finn. You make me whole, not the lodge. It defines who I am as so much of my history is because of what’s happened at the lodge, but you fill all those empty places. I love you…and I want to be with you forever.” I throw my arms around him, tangling my fingers in his hair and pulling my ear to his beating chest. He’s stiff, but I don’t care. I hold him tighter and cry into his chest. “I love you,” I say again, and I will go anywhere anytime with you.” I look up into his eyes. “Please say that you love me back.”
Finn steps back and drops his arms which had hung loosely around my waist. “Reese, you completely ruined my plans for this day.”
“I’m sorry,” I say, blinking back tears.
Then he grabs my hands and massages them in his. “I needed to know what you just said—that you’d follow me no matter where life takes us—that your life isn’t complete without me in it. Reese, I needed to hear that because I feel the same way about you.” I can feel the tears falling down my cheeks, but I can’t wipe them away. “I don’t have fancy fireworks or a cake.” He laughs. “All I have is my heart and the feelings it’s full of—for you.” My head is spinning with possibilities. Finn drops to one knee and reaches into his back pocket. He pulls out a small red velvety box and opens it, displaying a sparkling solitaire diamond. The tears drop off my face. “Reese Prentice, you are complicated and at times exasperating, but you have a good heart, and I can’t imagine living the rest of my life without anyone else because I don’t think it’s possible to love anyone more than I love you. Will you marry me?”
I drop to my knees, too, so that I am closer to Finn, so that the distance between the words he’s just spoken hang closer to my ears. Finn waits for me to speak, his tears matching mine. “Are you sure?” I ask through my tears.
“Reese, I am always sure about the decisions I make.”
“But I’m broken and dysfunctional and—”
“Shh…” He puts his finger on my lips. “I love the good and the screwed-up Reese. And I don’t want her to change. Now, just answer my question. I banged up my knee the last time I came down the slopes.” He smiles as he rubs his knee.
“Yes, Finn. Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you.” I push him over as I throw the weight of my body next to his. We lie in a tangled heap of our bodies on the cold dance floor of the empty ballroom. Finn’s lips caress my face, and I have never felt more relaxed than I do in this moment. I close my eyes and will it to never end.
But my phone dinging reminds me that life won’t stop for my happiness. I try to ignore it, but it dings again.
“Just answer it,” says Finn as he strokes my arm, sending chills throughout my body.
Lawson: Meet me in Ted’s office.
Lawson: It’s really important.
Lawson: It’s about Ted.
“It’s Lawson,” I say.
“Of course it is,” says Finn.
“He says to meet him in Ted’s office right away—something about Ted.”
“Isn’t he back in his suite now?”
“I’m not sure. Helen is picking him up sometime today, I think. I was going to go see him later.”
“But you have to go see Lawson, right?”
“I do. But come with me. Please.”
Finn sighs as we get up from the floor. “Just remember I’m doing this because I love you.”
“And remember that I love you, too, I say.” “But first put that beautiful ring on my finger.” Finn slides the diamond onto my ring finger, and I stare at it for a second, still too surreal to process. “You carried the ring in your pocket to the gym?” I ask.
“Reese, with you, there is never a perfect moment. A guy’s got to be prepared.”
I think about being offended, but Finn is right. And I love that he gets me. Finally, someone loves all of me—no matter what.
Chapter 15:
When we get to Ted’s office, Georgia is sitting next to Lawson in front of Ted’s empty desk.
“Uh, hello,” I say.
“Hi, Reese,” says Georgia. “And Finn.”
Lawson nods at us both. “What’s the matter?” I ask.
“Georgia and I have been talking,” says Lawson.
“I’m not sure that’s all you’ve been doing,” says Finn under his breath though everyone hears him. I shoot him an annoyed look. Georgia grabs Lawson’s hand in an act of solidarity against Finn’s spiteful words.
“So his desk is empty. What’s the point?” I ask.
“You know as well as I do how messy Ted’s office usually is. There’s not a lick of paper on his desk,” he says.
“Okay, so open a drawer. That doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out,” I say.
“You don’t understand,” Lawson says. “There’s not so much as a paperclip. Everything is gone.”
“Maybe he’s getting a new desk,” says Finn.
“This desk was his Grandfather’s,” says Georgia, her usually perfectly styled hair falling in mangled wisps out of the loose bun at her neck, making her look closer to Ted’s age than Lawson’s. “He loves this desk.”
She touches it like it’s a piece of prized artwork.
“And that’s not all,” says Lawson. He hands me a piece of paper.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“It’s Ted’s will.”
“Where did you get this?” I ask, taking the paper out of Lawson’s hand.
“Georgia found it.” I raise my eyes skeptically at Georgia, still judging her as the two-timing heartbreaker that’s tearing my new family apart.
“A few months ago Ted gave me the combination to his safe.”
“What safe?” I ask, looking around the room.
“It’s under the bottom drawer of his desk.”
“Do you mean to tell us that whoever cleaned out Ted’s desk had no idea there was a secret safe there?” says Finn.
“That’s exactly what we’re saying,” says Lawson. He puts his arm around Georgia who leans closer toward him.
I open the will and read it aloud.
This is the last will and testament of Ted Oakley made on the 24th of December 2014 in the county of Tremont in the state of Michigan. Being of sound mind and not acting under coercion of any other person, I publish this as my last will and testament.
If there are other said wills found dated prior to this will, consider them null and void. I am under the impression that someone may come forward to present another will, but I assure you that this will is the only will to be considered.
I hereby declare that my family consists of my only biological daughter, hereby known as Reese Prentice. Also considered as family is Lawson Oakley, a young man I raised as my son.
I hereby direct that any outstanding debt including, but not limited to funeral and burial expenses, be taken from the surplus fund for Tremont Lodge of which my attorneys at Parrett and Parrett Law firm are aware. They also have a copy of this final will and testament.
I hereby bequeath to Ms. Reese Prentice and Mr. Lawson Oakley an equal share of the holdings of Tremont Lodge in the amount of 34% each with the remaining 32% to be shared by the Tremont Lodge board. In the event that either Reese or Lawson should marry, the spouses are not given any power over Tremont Lodge, though any further heirs will each receive 5 percent of the board’s power in the order of birth. Should there be more than six heirs, then I should be so blessed, and Ms. Reese Prentice and Mr. Lawson Oakley should solve the problem.
I hereby bequeath Ms. Georgia Higgins the pictures of Tremont Lodge that line the hall outside my office as I know they are special to her, and at one time she was also special to me.
Under no circumstances is Helen Lee to receive any of my property, personal or that of the lodge. Her duties at the lodge are to be retired upon my death if they have not already been terminated. Old grudges are hard to bury.
Again, I hereby revoke any prior wills and declare this to be my last will and testament.
December 24, 2014 Mr. Ted Oakley
Witness: Mr. T. Parrett
My hands are shaking when I finish reading the will aloud. “I don’t understand. What does Helen have to do with this?”
“My guess is that she thought she’d inherit some of the lodge upon Ted’s death,” says Lawson.
“For all of her years of silence about what happened with the deaths of our parents,” I finish.
“But do you really think that something that happened so many years ago would come back to hurt the lodge?” asks Finn.
“Ted covered up a potential murder and paid off the coroner to declare my mother’s death an accident. I obviously don’t have contact with any of my mother’s family, but who’s to say there’s not someone out there who will make a claim against the lodge?” I say.
“Or someone from my past, too,” says Lawson. “Plus, in this economy, Tremont Lodge doesn’t need a reputation a story like this could bring.”
“But why would Helen even think she was in the will to begin with?”
“Why do you think she stayed all these years?” says Georgia. “She used to brag about all the changes she’d make when the lodge was hers.”
“I don’t believe that,” I say. “Helen’s been nothing but sweet. She’s been a confidante and a friend. It can’t be true. You have to be wrong.”
“Reese, do you remember the day we found Ted on the floor of his penthouse?” asks Lawson.
“Of course.”
“Didn’t you say that you came to see him at his office first?”
“Yes.”
“And who was sitting at Georgia’s desk?”
I feel the blood draining from my face. “Helen…but she said she was just monitoring things since Georgia left.”
“I was fired, Reese,” says Georgia.
“I know that. I told her that Ted fired you.”
“Ted didn’t fire me.”
“What?”
“Helen fired me. She said it was on Ted’s behalf, of course, that he was too sick to tell me himself, but when I got a text from him in the hospital wondering why I hadn’t visited him, I knew that it was Helen who’d fired me.”
“Do you think…?” I can barely form a complete sentence in my mind.
“When is Ted coming home from the hospital?” Lawson asks.
“Today,” I say. “He texted me a couple of hours ago.”
“Oh my God, no,” says Georgia. “We have to get to him first.”
“He’s not answering his phone,” I say. “Lawson, you and Gloria drive toward the hospital and see if you can flag them down. Finn and I are going up to the penthouse.”
“I’ll text Tinley to find that business card the police gave me and have them meet us at the penthouse. Unless you have the number,” I say.
“I don’t have it. I threw that blasted card away the minute they left my room.”
“Why would Ted cut Helen out of his will, yet let her bring him home from the hospital?” Georgia asks.
“I don’t know. Maybe he thought he could handle this on his own. It’s not the first time he’s tried to avert trouble without anyone finding out. Nothing makes sense. We just need to go,” I say.
“Reese, Finn, careful,” says Lawson. “I mean it.”
I give Lawson a quick hug, and we go our separate ways.
Chapter 16:
“What do you expect we do when we reach Ted’s suite?” asks Finn.
“I don’t know, Finn! But if it’s true that Helen might be responsible for hurting Ted, then we have to do something!”
We run to the elevator that will take us to the penthouse suite and nearly send a family dressed for the pool sprawling on the lobby floor as we rush by. I punch the access code to the top floor and watch the door open as if in slow motion. At first we don’t make a sound, our ears on high alert. “I don’t think there’s anyone here,” whispers Finn.
“I’m going to check his bedroom. You stay here,” I say.
“Be careful.” Finn kisses me on the check while he mans the elevator.
Ted’s room looks exactly as it did the day we found him lying on the floor, near unconsciousness. The same books, the same coffee mug, the same mess of blankets. He clearly hasn’t been home since.
I hear the elevator ding. “What the hell are you doing here?” Helen. I run back down the hall. She is pushing Ted in a wheelchair.
“Reese?” asks Ted.
“Uh, hello. We were hoping to prepare a little welcome home party. It seems you caught us.”
“Oh, yes, yes, a party. How thoughtful of you,” says Helen, a little too sweetly. “But I think what Ted needs is rest. It’s thoughtful of you kids, but maybe come back tomorrow when Ted feels up to company. Don’t you think that’s a good idea?”
I’m not sure if the question is directed at Ted or me, but I answer. “Maybe you’re right, but a short visit will be fine, don’t you think? We can tidy up a bit.” I glance at my phone. Tinley’s message has been delivered.
“Now, Reese, don’t be selfish, honey,” says Helen.
“I really don’t mind if they stay a bit, Helen,” says Ted. “
It’s good to talk to people other than those wearing scrubs or lab coats.” He laughs.
“Ha, good point, Ted. Let me roll you to the windows. There’s some great snow out there for skiing today,” I say.
“Like you would know what constitutes good snow for skiing,” says Finn, laughing.
“Did you take Reese skiing yet?” Ted asks.
“I did. She had a rough start but got the hang of it.”
“He’s being too kind,” I say, trying to stall as much as I can. “Can I get you a blanket?” I ask.
“That would be nice,” Ted says.
“Now Mr. Oakley, don’t go giving my job away. No one takes better care of you than Helen.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true, Helen,” he says, smiling. “Helen, would you mind going into the bathroom and getting me a washcloth with warm water. It might help take away my chill.”
“That’s more like it,” says Helen, as she waddles down the hall and toward the bathroom.
When we hear the water, Ted grabs hold of my shirt and pulls me closer. “Open that drawer over there. Quickly. Hand me the leather bag.”
I don’t ask any questions and have the bag in Ted’s hands before we hear Helen returning. He slips it under the blanket as she places the warm washcloth on his forehead. “All better?” she asks.
“Oh, yes, much. Thank you, Helen.”
“Now kids, I think you best be going. Mr. Oakley is very tired.”
“Actually, I think that Finn and Reese need to stay,” says Ted. The smile leaves his face, and he throws the washcloth to the glass coffee table, soaking the Lake Michigan sailing book sitting on the table.
“Now, Mr. Oakley, you’re being a bit melodramatic. I think the medicine is messing with your mind a bit. It’s to be expected. Let’s get you to bed.”
“No!”
“Excuse me?” Helen says to Ted.
“You are not putting me to bed. You are not touching me. I know what you’ve been doing to me, and it’s going to stop.”
Helen’s face goes as white as a ghost, and I grab hold of Finn’s arm so I don’t fall over. “We know the truth, Helen,” I say, barely a whisper.