Page 107 of Pity Parade

Money is a funny conversation to have with a woman you’re dating. You want her to know you’re comfortable, but at the same time you don’t want her to like you just because you’re rich. The good news is, I know to the depths of my soul that Trina is not a gold digger. That’s why I feel comfortable telling her. “I can afford it. I also have a penthouse in New York City, a beach house in Malibu, and a cabin in Vermont when I want to ski.”

She stands still for what feels like several minutes with her mouth hanging wide open. When she speaks, it’s to tell me, “That’s too much for one person. I think we might need to ramp up your charitable contributions.” Little does she know I already give away nearly half of what I make every year.

“So yes or no to keeping this place?” I ask.

“I don’t know. I need to think about it,” she says. “Can I see the rest of it?”

I give Trina a tour, and I kiss her in every room. By the time we’re done, I tell her, “I miss Elk Lake.”

She sighs like a leaky balloon. “Oh, thank goodness. I do, too.” She gestures around my condo and says, “This place is gorgeous, Heath, but it makes me kind of nervous.”

“Too high up?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “It’s just a lot. I’m way simpler than this.”

I don’t think I’ve gone out with anyone since Jess died who would have said such a thing. Trina is refreshing and special, and as odd as it sounds after only knowing each other for such a short time, I cannot imagine ever wanting to be without her.

“Come on,” I tell her. “Let’s go get your car and go home.”

Smiling sweetly, she says, “Elk Lake really does feel like home, doesn’t it?”

“It really does. But if I’m going to keep staying in the cabin I’m in, I’m going to have to buy some appliances from this century. My refrigerator is harvest gold.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “You can use my appliances. They’re plain white.”

“I like stainless steel,” I tell her.

“Snob,” she teases.

As we walk out of my place, I know that I’m going to sell it. If things progress to the point where Trina and I live together, I’ll want her to pick out where she wants to be. In fact, I might sell all my houses and start fresh everywhere.

I love this feeling of a new beginning. I’ve certainly honored my past, but I’m truly ready for a new life adventure. Trina is one I want to have that with.

Life has given me gifts beyond measure, and it has taken from me with equal force. But right now, I’m not going to focus on the losses. I’m going to dedicate myself to the present and live every day to the fullest, hopefully with Trina always at my side.

EPILOGUE

TRINA/FOURTEEN MONTHS LATER …

I smile at Heath across the lobby of the Elk Lake Lodge. This man has changed my life in so many ways. Not only are we madly in love, but we’ve recently become engaged. We’re also a week away from opening our first business venture together.

I overhear Heath talking to Ellie Strand from Windy Season magazine. He tells her, “We’re fully booked until after the New Year.”

The reporter asks, “How many of your rooms are going to the families with special needs children?”

Heath responds, “Right now, ten percent of our capacity will be donated to those families. My brother Tyler is heading up that division and he’ll be more than happy to give you the details.”

I really like Tyler and his family. As soon as they heard about what Heath and I wanted to do here, they came right up and started to offer their ideas. In addition to making sure thirty percent of our rooms are handicapped accessible, we’ve added wheelchair lifts to the pools and have more than doubled the needed number of ramps.

Not only is Heath’s brother going to head our charitable division, but he’s also going to oversee the glamping tents and the treehouses. His wife, Holly, is going to network with the special needs community. I’m glad I’m not in charge of that, because I’d probably turn the whole place over to charity.

Heath walks over to me and introduces me to the reporter. “Ellie, this is my fiancée, Trina,” he says. I never get tired of hearing him say that. “I’m going to leave you in her care while I go and see if our lunch is ready.”

As he walks away, Ellie says, “I was a huge fan of Midwestern Matchmaker. I’m sorry it was canceled.”

“Thank you,” I tell her. “But I think it ran its course. I’m happy to have moved on to other things.”

“Other things like getting engaged to Heath Fox?”

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