Page 54 of Spring Showers

“I was doing my job.” As soon as she said those words, she wished she hadn’t. It sounded like the weakest excuse ever. “I don’t mean it like that.”

“Well, you did your job marvelously. I was having such a good time with you that I nearly forgot what I was even here for.”

“That’s right. When were you going to tell me that you worked for the investor and that you were here to spy on me?”

He paused.

“That long, huh? Did you think I wouldn’t find out?” she said, her anger turning to hurt in her cracking voice.

He looked up and dabbed his face below his eyes. “I trusted you, Thandie.”

“And I trusted you.” She paused. Walking away and then back to him again. “Were you ever going to tell me?”

“I thought you knew who I was. At the bonfire the other night. You said you knew, and that we were done pretending.”

“Pretending. I was talking about that I knew that you liked me. I knew that there was something wonderful growing between us, and that we were both healing our wounds. Together. I thought we had an understanding.”

“And I thought you knew I was the spy, as you call it.” Grant stood in front of the door. He palmed the knob and turned it. The door opened without the key he had said he needed. He grunted and went in.

“Where are you going?” Thandie followed him in. “You can’t leave. Not yet. We’re not done here.”

“I think Davis would disagree with you. I’m guessing he’s not done with you, and you’ve forgiven him anyway. You said it yourself.” Grant walked into the bathroom and took his toiletries in the hem of his shirt. He tossed them in his bag, and a couple of items fell to the floor.

Thandie bent down to help, and their hands fell on the same little bottle. “Grant, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I did forgive him, and I did have a job to do, but that has nothing to do with us.”

“Thandie, there is no us. You did your job well and—and I did mine.” He stood and clapped, making her feel small. “Up until Mr. Mothan showed up, you had me convinced about this place. Now I don’t know what to think.”

There was nothing she could say that would change his mind. He was hurt or maybe jealous. But her job was on the line, a job that she desperately needed if she ever wanted to have a fresh start. But she was hurt, too. He had hidden who he really was because it was part of his job. And she had hidden behind her pride.

“I was doing my job. You aren’t wrong about that,” she said. “And now I need you to do yours. Davis needs your full report as soon as possible. I hope that you won’t let this misunderstanding between us sway your assessment.”

“How could it not, Thandie? Since I came here, you have been by my side. You helped me see that there was life past the scars in my life. And I trusted you.”

“I really am sorry. About everything. Davis thinks he can invest in this place and win me back. Regardless of his reasons, you’ve made it very clear that you hold your job in high esteem. So, be the professional you believe you are, but don’t punish Leo on my account.”

“I need some time.”

Thandie knew there was plenty more work to do around the property and she was technically on the clock. “Please, convince Davis that this investment is worth it.” She walked out the cabin door, unsure where to go next.

CHAPTER25

Losing something often results in clarity, and this time was no different. Losing Davis had been devastating at the time. Though Thandie knew she didn’t mourn the loss of him. She grieved for the idea of a happy marriage that he had stolen from her when he left.

She had only known Grant for a few days, and he already held a piece of her heart. A piece that she didn’t know she had left to give to anybody. Now that she knew she was able to love again, she wasn’t ready to discard the idea so easily. She only hoped that Grant could put aside what he saw as a betrayal and give an honest account to Davis about the state of the retreat.

In the meantime, there was work to do. In the distance, she saw America making her way to the cabin beside the one where Grant had stayed. “Hey, America, wait up,” Thandie yelled across the open space outside.

America turned and waved Thandie over.

In no time at all, Thandie caught up to America. She didn’t care what America’s task was, she just needed to keep busy while Grant mulled over his report. There was nothing more she could do, and she hoped that the week’s experience was enough alone for him to convince Davis to invest. Whoever was investing the money, she just wanted the business to succeed. Keeping down a job long enough to save the money needed to get back home was a benefit too.

“Do you need help? I don’t even care what it is, I just need to get some of my energy out.”

“That’d be great. Thanks.”

“How are things going up there at the barn, anyway?” Thandie said as they made their way across the wet ground, stepping from dryer tufts of grass to others.

“I think they’re nearly finished with all the repairs. Pa’s fixing that window in the barn right now, the one that water was pouring through. I didn’t see it, but Leo told me it looked like a faucet was on,” America said. “Also, I have good news for you. It looks like next week’s retreat is still going to happen, as long as we get these cabins turned over.”

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