“Yeah, they said as much.” Clay has owned his own contracting business for some time, and he’ll be the one doing the reno on the restaurant if they accept our offer. “Honestly, I’m so excited to get started on this job. I feel like we’ve all been talking about it for so long.”
“You just need another excuse to get out of the house now that Autumn is pregnant with your third,” I laugh.
“Dude, you have no idea.”
I laugh again, but he’s right. I wouldn’t have any idea, because the one time I thought my ex-wife was pregnant with my child . . . it wasn’t even my child. It was my best friend’s, with whom she’d been having an affair.
Clay continues, “When she was pregnant with Logan, I felt like we were so preoccupied with getting the bed and breakfast done and dealing with her crazy ex-husband that she didn’t have time to be moody, but goddamn . . . maybe it’s because we’re having a girl this time around. I feel like I can’t do shit right by her.” He lets out a long, exasperated sigh and I want to laugh again, but the poor man sounds defeated.
“You know, last night she actually chewed me out for the way I breathe. The way I BREATHE, dude!” He enunciates the last part. “She said I was purposely trying to piss her off by breathing too loudly.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, man, other than that it’s temporary. She’s got what? Another few months?” I take another sip of my beer.
“Nine weeks. So we need to get cracking on this job or I might not be around anymore, because she’s going to murder me.”
“You Slade brothers are about to have enough kids running around to start your own professional sports team.” I glance at the framed picture of them up on the mantle. “Reminds me, I’ll need an updated picture soon.”
I’ve known the Slade brothers since we were preteens. My dad actually worked at the Slade Brewery for most of his life. Their father always took great care of my dad. Even when the locals hated the Slade family and treated them like pariahs because of the land their brewery was on, my dad stuck by their side. I was always closest to Drake and Colton, the two oldest, but in recent years, I’ve also grown close to Clay, Wyatt, and their youngest brother, Hudson.
All five brothers are married now with families of their own. I didn’t think I’d ever see Drake settle down after his ex ripped his heart out. I know that pain all too well. And hell, watching Colton bury his first wife—leaving him a single dad—was something I never thought he’d get over. But now, he’s happily married to the nanny he’d hired, of all people, and they’re about to have baby number three.
“So I went over to the restaurant this morning with Drake, and we drew up some plans. I’d love to run them by you when you get a chance.”
“Yeah, anytime, man. I’ve actually got nothing going on this afternoon if you’re free?” I’m hoping he’s available so I can get out of this cabin and get my mind and dick off Quinn.
“Sure. I need to go check in on Autumn and the boys, but I can meet you in Loveland in a few hours.”
We hang up the phone and I grab my beer and slide open the balcony door. I need some fresh air to clear my head. I take a seat and prop up my feet. I love this place, even though I bought it so Justine and I could make our home and fill it with kids. Not even the memory of her can taint it that much, though. I prefer the serenity of the mountains and trees to the hustle and bustle of city life. Even in downtown Grand Lake, there’s too much going on for my taste.
I’m lost in thought when I hear the sliding glass door on the lower deck open as the girls step out onto the balcony, laughing about something.
“So what was going on when we pulled up? Because it looked like we were interrupting something . . . if you know what I mean,” I hear Pearl say as Jade starts laughing. Shit, just what I need: the town gossiping about Quinn and me.
“Oh, no, it wasn’t anything like that,” I hear Quinn say. “I fell in the water like an idiot when we were fishing, and he was just making sure I was okay because I fell funny on my arm. That’s why I was wearing his sweatpants. My jeans were soaked—well, everything was soaked—and that water is freezing!”
Nice cover, I think to myself.
“Listen, it’s none of our business, but if you ever do hook up with Sawyer Archer, you’ve got to fill us in! We’ve all wondered about his . . . ahem, you-know-what.”
Jesus fucking Christ, you’ve got to be kidding me. I know I shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but this is my home and I was out here first.
“Jade, you’re so bad!” I hear Pearl giggle. “But she’s not wrong. And yes, we’re both happily married women, but I’m telling you, every woman in town is curious.”
I laugh a little to myself and wonder if there’s any truth to that statement. I’m shocked that Justine never ran her mouth around town about my bedroom proclivities or the size of my manhood. Wouldn’t surprise me if she did.
My sex life with Justine wasn’t typical. We were good at it—too good at it. Our relationship started out as purely physical. The sex was hot and she couldn’t get enough of it. As time went on, it turned into something more, but even then, what we did wasn’t making love. She liked to fuck rough.
“So, what brought you to Grand Lake?” I hear Jade ask. I was standing up, about to tiptoe back inside, but the question stops me. I feel bad listening in on their conversation, but I’m curious about Quinn’s answer. I sit back down slowly as I wait to hear it.
“My mom died.”
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry, Quinn. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“No, it’s okay, thank you. She had been sick for about six years. Cancer.” I hear Pearl and Jade gasp. “She fought really hard for a long time, and they even thought she was going to beat it at one point. But, as cancer often does, it came back twice as bad. She was diagnosed as terminal about eight months before she died.”
“Oh, sweetie, I can’t imagine,” I hear Pearl say.
“So yeah, I’ve always dreamt of writing a novel and thought this is my chance. I wanted to come to a place I’ve never been that inspires me, and well, I think I’ve found it.”
“That is . . . wow, you’re so strong.”
It’s silent for a moment before I hear Quinn speak, “Well, it’s getting a little cold out here. What do you ladies say we go inside and open that wine?” The other two reply with excitement and all three head back inside.
I sit in the stillness, my heart breaking for Quinn. I had no idea. I’d assumed she was running away from a breakup or a bad relationship, but I didn’t realize she and I had something so sad and difficult in common.
My mom passed away unexpectedly when I was only 14. She had an undiagnosed aneurysm and died in her sleep. I thought it was going to kill my dad, but he stayed strong and raised me by himself.
I’m an only child. My parents struggled for 10 years to conceive me and they called me their “miracle baby” when my mom finally got pregnant at 40. I know what it’s like to grieve the loss of a parent, and I also know what it’s like to watch your parent slowly suffer and die . . . and it hurts even more when there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.