Her summer refuge, p.2
Her Summer Refuge, page 2
She looked at her tea again, wondering how weird it would be to stay in the same house as him. The house that was full of so many memories.
But he interrupted her thoughts. “I’ll stay in the boathouse. It isn’t fancy, but it’s dry and clean. I’m in the process of remodeling it for another cabin.”
“I can’t kick you out of your own house.”
“I made a promise to your dad, Jessa. I won’t turn you away—especially with—” He motioned to her midsection.
“The baby,” she said as she rested her free hand on her swollen stomach.
He looked away from her toward the fire, clearly uncomfortable. “When is it due?”
“The beginning of September.” Just two short months away.
Will stood and moved some of the logs, causing a cascade of sparks to fly up the chimney.
The electricity was still out, and the storm was blowing, though the thunder and lightning had passed. The sky was starting to lighten up, as well, offering a little more light.
A bucket nearby was catching another leak and Jessa took the opportunity to look around.
Will noticed.
“I spent the first few months remodeling the guest cabins,” he said. “I plan to get to this place this winter—if I’m still here.”
“Still here?” She looked at him sharply. “What does that mean?”
He stared into the flames and shook his head. “I don’t want to worry you about it now.”
“What’s going on, Will?”
He sighed. “I bought this resort from your dad on kind of a whim. I was burnt out at my job, a long-term relationship had just ended and my mom was sick.”
His mom? Jessa sat up a little straighter. Sandy Madden had been one of her mentors at church and a mother-like figure in her life. Her pulse thrummed. “Is she okay?”
“Mom?” he asked. “Yeah. She recovered. But your dad was sick, too, and he was afraid that the resort would be parceled off for single-property cabins if I didn’t buy it. He hated to see the property divided up—so, I agreed to purchase it. But I knew it couldn’t sustain itself on the five cabins—so I purchased the adjoining land, hoping to create a summer theme park with a mini-golf course and waterslides.”
“I think that’s an amazing idea.”
“Well—” he shrugged “—I did, too. But the mayor doesn’t seem to think so. I need a variance for the amusement park because it’s in city limits. He’s being difficult, making me jump through a lot of hoops, with no guarantee that they’ll approve the variance. I have a lot of money invested in my waterfront property and if I can’t get the variance, I’ll have no way of paying for it. I’ve already eaten up most of my savings.”
“I’m sorry, Will.”
She knew what it felt like to have a dream and see it crumble around her feet. Her dream was a little different, but no less difficult.
He glanced at her, his gaze heavy, and she wanted to apologize for so much more. But it felt strange to bring up the past. Maybe they could ignore it.
“I don’t want to be a burden to you,” she said. “In the morning, I’ll start looking for another place to stay. I’ll need to find a job, too. Hopefully there’s something available.”
“You look really tired, Jessa,” he said. “With all that traveling, I’m sure you haven’t slept well in a couple of days. Feel free to go to bed and get a good night’s sleep. You don’t need to worry about where you’re going to stay for now. You’re welcome here as long as you need.”
It was the second time he’d made that offer, but she knew better.
The sooner she could get out of his house, the better. For both of them.
Chapter Two
The sky was filled with several shades of pink from the early morning sunrise as Will sat on his back deck the next day, looking out at the Mississippi River. The six resort cabins were in a row along the banks of the river, each with a sidewalk leading down to six docks. The docks were rented, along with the cabins, and guests brought their boats and water toys to use while staying at the resort. Will’s cabin sat in the middle of them, set back from the water a little farther, closer to the road so people would come there first when they checked in.
This early in the morning, Will was usually the only one awake. He loved rising a few minutes before the sun and taking a cup of coffee to sit on the deck to think and pray.
He had a lot to talk to God about this morning. Namely, Jessa Brooks and what he was going to do about her arrival.
The sliding door opened, and Jessa appeared, a cup of coffee in hand.
“I hope you don’t mind that I helped myself,” she said as she lifted the coffee mug to show him.
Will sat up straighter, not prepared for company. He was still in his pajama bottoms and a T-shirt, he hadn’t shaved and he was wearing his glasses. Not exactly how he wanted to present himself to Jessa.
She, on the other hand, looked beautiful with her messy bun, slippered feet and robe. She had it tied above her rounded stomach and there was something charming and sweet about seeing her pregnant. “I found some of my things in the closet,” she said as she indicated her pink robe. “I didn’t take all of it to college with me. Nice surprise.”
“Good,” he said, finding his voice. “I want you to make yourself feel at home. I hope I didn’t wake you up when I came in to make coffee.”
She took a seat next to him on the other rocking chair and shook her head. “I’ve been awake for a couple of hours. Still on Paris time. I spent it trying to figure out what I’m going to do with myself.”
Will eased back into his chair and looked out at the river. “I’ve been thinking about the same thing.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, Will.”
“No—but I can’t seem to stop.” Even though she had broken his heart, he couldn’t deny that he still cared a lot for Jessa. She had been his first love and he would never forget that. He’d always known she wouldn’t stay in Minnesota. Even when they had started dating, he had known their relationship was doomed. He had no desire to leave—and she had no desire to stay—so they were at an impasse.
He just didn’t realize she’d break up with him through a letter in the mail.
“I’m sure there is someone in town who remembers me,” she said. “Maybe I can get a job at a restaurant—or the movie theater. I just need something to pay for rent.”
“You’re not going to make enough money at the movie theater to pay for a place that’s decent, and restaurant hours aren’t great for single moms with a baby.”
She shrugged. “I have to do something.”
He took a deep breath, knowing that his proposition was filled with danger for both of them. But he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t make it—and he had felt the prompting during his prayer time that this was the right thing to do.
“I have a job for you.”
She turned, her brown eyes studying his face. “What do you mean?”
“Here, at the resort,” he said. “I’m pretty much a one-man show. For a while, I’ve needed to look for help, but I haven’t had the time.”
“What kind of job?” she asked, skeptically.
“I need someone to help clean the cabins between reservations. I also need someone to keep up with the paperwork, answer phone calls, send out confirmations, check emails and manage social media. I have been doing an abysmal job. I’d rather work on the maintenance of the cabins and the property, but I’m not doing that well, either, since I’m so often tied to the computer.” He knew that if she stayed, it would be difficult to see her every day. To be reminded of all that they had experienced. There was a part of him that had struggled to trust anyone he dated after Jessa had broken his heart—and it was something he still dealt with. “In exchange for your help, I can offer you free room and board. I know it’s not much—but it’s what I have, for now. And maybe it’ll be enough to help you get back on your feet. If anything, it’ll give you a little breathing room to make some decisions.”
Jessa pressed her lips together and shook her head, emotion filling her gaze. “You don’t owe me or my father anything, Will. I know how hard this probably is for you.”
“You’re right. I don’t owe you anything,” he agreed, “but I don’t think I could live with myself if I didn’t help an old friend in need.”
“We were friends, weren’t we?” she asked.
He frowned. “Of course we were, Jessa.”
It was her turn to take a deep breath as she looked out at the water.
The sky was starting to fill with color and a guest in the next cabin stepped out onto their deck. The buildings were spaced far enough away for privacy, and there were bushes between them, but Will could hear the sliding door open and the boards on the deck creak.
“It’s kind of weird to think about being back here,” she said, quietly. “I worked and lived at this resort until I was eighteen. I have a lot of good memories here—but I was never content.”
“You wanted to see the world,” he said, looking down at his half-finished coffee. “Did you like what you saw?”
“At first,” she said. “Everything was so new and exciting—but then, it got scary, and I was homesick. And the longing I felt to return to Timber Falls was much stronger than the longing I had to leave it. More than anything, I want to know peace again.”
“And have you found it?” He had been discontented for a long time and hoped she had an answer for him.
“Honestly?” She shook her head. “No. But that’s part of why I’m back. I needed to return to where I was the truest version of myself and see where I lost it along the way. Maybe, once I know, I can be content wherever God plants me.”
“I hope you find it,” he said, happy to hear that she was still trusting in God. They had grown up in Sunday school together and had gone on to youth group. His faith, though tested from time to time, was an integral part of his life. He’d been praying the same for her.
“Me, too,” she said.
“Does that mean you’ll accept my job offer?”
Jessa smiled. It was the first time he had seen her smile in ten years, and it warmed his heart like nothing else. “Yes. Thank you. Like you said, it’ll give me a little space to make some decisions. And I hope I can be helpful to you. I don’t want to be a burden.”
Will felt both relief and apprehension. He knew it was the right thing to do, but he also knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
“You won’t be a burden,” he assured her, though she might be a distraction or another mistake, if he wasn’t careful to guard his heart. It had been one thing to get over Jessa Brooks when he didn’t have to see her every day—but now? It might not be so easy to forget about his old feelings.
They both sipped their coffee as they looked out at the river. It was running high and fast from last night’s storm, but it was still peaceful and calm.
Will took a few deep breaths, praying that he and Jessa wouldn’t regret this decision.
She yawned and he noted, again, that she was thin and pale.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asked.
“Just tired. It’s been tough since Dad died, but the past month, since Philippe left, has been some of the hardest weeks of my life.”
“If you want to sleep today—or if you need to rest at any time—feel free. I don’t want you overdoing it.”
Jessa’s full lips lifted into another smile, but this one was filled with warmth. “Thank you. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt cared for.”
Her words went straight to his heart, and he felt protective of her in a way that surprised him.
How could anyone leave their wife, pregnant, with nothing and nowhere to go? And Jessa, of all people? If she was his wife, he would cherish her like the gift she was and not let her go.
Will stopped his thoughts and forced his mind to shift to something less complicated and dangerous to consider.
Like how he needed to fix the toilet in cabin three and deal with his leaking roof.
* * *
In the light of day, with a good night’s sleep, Jessa felt reenergized—as much as she could being seven months pregnant.
Will’s offer relieved more stress than he could imagine, though it brought with it a whole new set of concerns. Ones she wouldn’t think about for now.
She sat at the desk in the small lobby at the front of the main cabin and opened the laptop. Will had given her the password after breakfast and told her how to get into the resort’s email. He had also shown her the Facebook and Instagram accounts, which he had started in February when he’d purchased the resort—but he’d only posted three times in five months.
Jessa smiled to herself, wondering what her dad and grandparents would think about social media. Her dad had barely caught on to emailing, though once she moved to France, he had gotten a little better. But social media? He’d been clueless.
Kind of like Will.
Opening the email, Jessa saw that there were almost a dozen unread messages. Some of them were reservation requests and others were questions from guests who were scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks. But the one that caught Jessa’s eye was from the Timber Falls Riverfest committee.
Frowning, Jessa read through the email and then left the computer to find Will.
She stepped outside, since he said he would be working in cabin three before guests would arrive tomorrow morning. He told her there were a few maintenance issues he’d address, and, if she felt up to it, the place would need to be cleaned after she dealt with the emails.
It was promising to be a hot and humid day—possibly bringing more violent storms like the one last night. But, for now, people were out enjoying the morning.
They were just two days away from the Fourth of July and the activity on the river was picking up. Boaters, water skiers, kayakers and paddleboarders dotted the river. One of the families renting cabin one was swimming off their dock.
Jessa walked up to the front door of cabin three and let herself in.
It was strange to be back here—but stranger still to see all the improvements Will had made to the guest cabin.
The work was beautiful.
She paused as she admired the newly refinished hardwood floors, the new windows, the fresh coat of paint and the remodeled kitchenette. He’d been the handyman at the resort in high school and it appeared he still had the knack.
Will was a smart man—had been in the top of their class. He was also a great singer, had been a basketball star and been voted most likely to succeed. He had mentioned a job in Minneapolis. It was probably a high-paying corporate job.
But he had purchased this place on a whim.
Interesting.
There was a lot she didn’t know about him—but would he be willing to open up to her, if she asked?
Did she want to know?
“Hey, Will?” she asked.
“I’m working on the toilet in the bathroom,” he called back. “Hold on a minute. I’ll come to you.”
She waited, noting that some of the furniture had also been replaced, though it had a flavor reminiscent of the older stuff.
Will appeared with a large wrench in hand. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” She tried not to notice how muscular his biceps were under his T-shirt sleeves. “There’s an email here that you should probably read. It was sent to you last week and you didn’t open it—but they need an answer.”
Frowning, Will joined her.
She was wearing a pair of maternity shorts and a simple blouse with flip-flops. Nothing fancy or special. Did he think she looked as frumpy as she felt?
Will took the computer from her and read through the email.
He started to make a face.
“What?” she asked.
“I can’t be the chairman of the Riverfest committee board. It’s three weeks away! And, even if it wasn’t, I still couldn’t do it.”
“Why not?” she asked. “It sounds like most of the pieces are in place. They just need someone to fill the position since the last board chair dropped out. And since you’re the new owner of the resort, it should be you.”
“Why? Because your dad used to be the chairman?”
“Kind of—but it was my grandparents who started Riverfest to celebrate the community of Timber Falls. Before my dad was the chairman, my grandma and grandpa took turns at it.”
“Then you should do it,” he said, his face lighting up with the idea. “If they knew you were back in town, I’m sure they’d ask you.”
“Me?” Jessa frowned. “I just returned to town after being gone for ten years. I’m sure a lot has changed since then.”
“I haven’t been to the festival in the past ten years, either,” he said.
“That’s different.”
“Why?”
Jessa couldn’t think of a good reason.
“You should do it,” Will said. “It’s only right to carry on the Brooks family tradition.”
She reread the email again. It sounded like they were desperate for someone to fill the role, and no one had stepped up. If it wasn’t filled, the festival might be canceled.
Jessa couldn’t let that happen—not after it had been going on for almost sixty-five years.
“What if I mess up?” she asked, her heart heavy with all the regret she held. She’d made a lot of mistakes over the years—the biggest of which was staring at her right now. It hadn’t taken her long to realize she had messed up by breaking it off with Will. But, it had been too late—and then she had been swept off her feet by the dashing and handsome Frenchman, Philippe LeDoux.
“We all make mistakes,” Will said. “It’s part of being human. But you can’t possibly mess up this festival. It’s been run like a well-oiled machine for decades. They just need someone to sign checks and make executive decisions.”
