Page 88 of Against All Odds

“Tonight, I want to talk aboutusas a community and what that means,” I continued.

I spoke to large crowds all the time and wasn’t the type who had any kind of anxiety—but this time, I was getting a little warm around the collar. A hundred pairs of eyes were on me, including Sable’s.

“As many of you know, I’ve been in Aspen for nearly a year and a half now. And in that time, I’ve seen a lot of things I admire about this town. But I’ve also seen things that troubled me.”

I glanced around the room, taking a power pause to collect myself.

“Too often, I’ve seen some people treated like outsiders. Like they don’t belong here, and not because they don’t contribute to this community—it’s because of where they come from or how they started.”

I took a breath and then looked directly at Sable. She was holding a glass of wine. I’d made sure we’d served a Malbec from Mendoza with the main course.

“Now, I know that we’re a small town, and everyone knows everyone’s business. It comes with some amazing benefits. People help each other. They are there for each other. But when you screw up, everyone is also watching. Yeah?”

There was a smattering of laughter.

“There has been a lot of talk about the Wildflower Tavern lately. Ben Greyfeather, as you know, ran that local meeting place for decades.”

People clapped, and Ben rose and took a bow. We’d planned this.

“There has been a lot of gossip about the new owner.”

There was a ripple of whispers through the room, and I saw Sable stiffen, her eyes widening.

“As you know, Sable Nees owns the Wildflower Tavern.” I took the leap. “She continues to maintain it as a place that celebrates this town—a place that brings people together. She’s kicked it up a notch, didn’t she?”

People were nodding, some clapping, some looking at Alexa, who was smiling. I was fucking proud of her. This was costing my ex-wife big time, but she wasn’t backing down. I’d told her that she was welcome not to come because I’d be making a speech, spilling my guts about Sable. She’d told me she would support me no matter what. I’d told Juno that. She’d been surprised, but I could see that she was getting ready to forgive her mother.

“My kid and her friends won tickets to the freaking rodeo on Trivia Night. My fifteen-year-old is as excited as if she won Taylor Swift concert tickets,” I joked.

People laughed.

Sable stared at me.

“Jazz Nights.”

People clapped now, hard. Alexa did as well. She smiled tentatively at me and nodded. I was grateful.

“I know that most of you heard about what I said to Sable and how I treated her at the farmer’s market.”

Daniel Vikar was almost up from his seat then, buthis daughter yanked him down. At Sable’s table, Casey held her hand, kept her seated, and whispered something in her ear.

“Sable didn’t deserve what I said to her,” I admitted. “She hasn’t deserved to be treated like she isn’t a contributing member of our community.”

I turned to face Sable directly, meeting her eyes. “Sable, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for what I said, for what I did, and for not standing by you when I should have. You didn’t deserve that, and I’ll spend as long as it takes to make it up to you.”

Her face softened, but she remained still, like a statue.

I turned back to the room. “But this isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us. We’re a community. And that means lifting each other up, not tearing each other down. We should measure our success based on who we include, not who we exclude.”

The room was silent for a moment. Then, slowly, the applause started. At first, it was a few people—Natasha, Ben, Alexa, Wyatt, Fred—and then everyone followed.

CHAPTER 30

sable

Icouldn’t move. I also couldn’t look away from Heath.

The clapping started in pockets around the room, hesitant at first but growing louder and more insistent. I looked around the ballroom.

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