Page 26 of Call it Fate

I used to envy her spirit, her independence, and her ability to get away. But the older I got, the more I realized I wasn’t cut out for such an adventurous life. I was content, more than I’d ever thought I’d be, to run The Dogtrot B&B and to raise my son in this small town.

“You know Iain is going to want Chase to take him out on the four-wheeler,” my mom warned.

“Chase mentioned it, too. I trust him. I wasn’t able to go sledding with Iain today, so this will help make up for it.”

Mama nodded, then the lines around her mouth pulled tight. “What about telling Iain about his father?”

That was the million-dollar question. “I guess I’ll have to see what Zach wants first. I can’t keep Iain from him. It was never my intention in the beginning.” Iain only brought up questions about his dad once in a while. All he knew was his dad wasn’t able to be here for either of us, but if he could, he would. I’d believed that once. I hoped it was true now.

The rest of the day I spent on edge. I checked out a couple of guests, then helped Shannon clean the rooms upstairs. By noon, Mama, knowing I was uneasy about leaving Iain in case Zach reappeared while I was at the inn, insisted I spend the rest of the day at home while she and Shannon managed The Dogtrot.

I spent the afternoon playing games and watching a movie with Iain while getting a few chores done. By three o’clock, Zach still hadn’t returned, and I breathed a sigh of relief as Iain and Mama got ready to leave.

Mama frowned as she pulled on her coat. “Maybe there’s more than meets the eye here. I don’t have a bad feeling. Mind you, I don’t have a good one, either, but maybe time is waiting to see how this plays out on its own.”

She always got “feelings” about people. I didn’t quite understand them, but she was often right. They were usually little things, like about the weather or when someone was going to get engaged, all things anyone who paid attention might predict.

But other times, it made me wonder if she really did have a clairvoyant gift. She’d even had a “bad feeling” the day my dad was scheduled to inspect a coal mine. He had teased her about it, kissed her goodbye…and never come home. Along with five other men, he had been killed when the mine collapsed hours after he left.

I eyed her cane leaning against the counter. She’d even called me the afternoon before everything changed for both of us, saying she had a “funny feeling.” I laughed it off, believing I knew exactly what the change would be—Zach and I would spend the night together for the first time.

If only I’d listened. If only I’d gone home that weekend like I was supposed to, maybe everything would be different.

Only then, I wouldn’t have Iain, and no matter how much that period of time had hurt, I wouldn’t trade him for anything, even an easier life.

“I hope you’re right.” I’d never wanted to believe in her feelings as much as I did now. “Are you sure you don’t mind taking him to the farm?”

“Of course not, if this is what you want. You know I’ll stay if you need me.”

“Mom! I’m ready!” My bundle of energy rushed into the room. Despite everything, I had to laugh. He was so excited to go with his grandma to the farm.

“Come here, you,” I called. He rolled his eyes but came. I wrapped him in a hug, holding on extra-long. “I love you, tiger.”

“Love you, too, Mama.” He gave me a kiss on the cheek, then yelled, “Let’s go, Gramma!”

My mom laughed and grabbed her cane, following him to the door as he ran ahead to the car without a care in the world.

My eyes followed him, wishing I could keep it that way.

* * *

It was once again quiet.Shannon had left a short while ago, and even the guests seemed to have found somewhere else to be. Earlier, I’d almost asked Shannon to clean Zach’s room, but at the last minute, I stopped. I was curious. For what, I wasn’t sure. Maybe there was something that would give me a clue about the man he was now versus the one I knew before. Did he have a girlfriend? Was he married? I hadn’t noticed a ring on his finger, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t engaged. I grimaced. I had no right to the feelings of jealousy that crept into my thoughts. I thought I was long past those feelings, but seeing Zach again had caused all those feelings to resurface.

Whatever I’d hoped to learn, I only found his closed suitcase on the floor and a razor left out on the bathroom counter. I made his bed, trying to pretend he was just another customer, but it was impossible not to recall the last time we’d shared a bed. Memories I’d fought to push aside came flooding back.

Between dealing with my mom’s injuries, becoming a single parent, and taking over the running of the B&B, I didn’t have time to date. Zach had been my one and only experience with sex, but I didn’t believe I needed to be more experienced to know it had been incredible. It seemed as though he could read me like a map, knowing exactly where to place his hands and lips to bring me pleasure and what words to use to make me feel treasured.

How then, had everything changed in a matter of hours? Was he that good of an actor? Was I really just so naïve?

Left to myself, my nervous energy pushed me to work on the extra chores that usually took me a week to accomplish. A couple of hours later, the floors gleamed, every ceiling fan and windowsill was wiped, every lampshade dusted, and every mirror was streak free.

I started to go over my inventory for the guest amenities. A financial specialist had once advised me I shouldn’t provide the small soaps, lotions, shampoos, and pillow chocolates to my guests. And he’d had an even bigger fit over the luxurious robes and slippers that were prettily packaged for their use or purchase if wanted. There were days when I wondered if he hadn’t been right.

But I’d worked hard to restore the old house to more than its original glory. I took pride in knowing I was one of many Dawson women to run this B&B, and I was determined to make it one of the best inns in the area, with a luxury many didn’t anticipate in a small town. I had a vision and a plan to accomplish it, and so far, I was on target.

Mama supported the changes I wanted to make, and Cameron helped me with design ideas. I did a lot of the work myself, but Chase, Cameron, and sometimes Reid helped when their busy schedules allowed. Working had been therapeutic in a way. It helped to take my mind off of Zach, at least temporarily. Slowly, our reputation was growing. It had taken a few years to get this far, but I was proud of the results.

The bell at the front door made its pretty jingle, and I peeked out from behind the tall cabinet in the entranceway. Familiar green eyes immediately found me. We both froze for a few seconds before he gave me a quick nod. In response to his silent peace offering, I gave him a tentative smile, then closed and relocked the cabinet. Smoothing my hands down my jeans, I walked toward him, keeping the small counter and desk combination between us.

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