Page 35 of Summer Showdown
I secured the final section of the a, stepping back to evaluate our work. The repaired structure stood solid once again, adorned with fresh flowers Rory had sent down from the inn's garden to replace the damaged ones.
"It looks better than before," Tyler observed, wiping sweat from his brow.
I nodded, brushing sawdust from my hands. "I need to find her."
"About time," Tyler said, clapping my shoulder. "Go. I'll clean up here."
The walk to the Evergreen Inn felt both too long and too short. What would I say to her? How could I explain that I understood now—that I wanted to support her through whatever she was facing, even if that meant waiting while she dealt with her career issues in Chicago?
When I reached the inn, I hesitated only briefly before climbing the porch steps. Through the window, I caught aglimpse of Bailey leaving, her expression suggesting her meeting with Lark had been significant.
Inside, Rory looked up from the reception desk, her expression softening when she saw me.
“She’s upstairs. The Larkspur Suite.”
I took the steps two at a time, my heart pounding against my ribs. Outside the Larkspur Suite, I paused, taking a deep breath before knocking.
When Lark opened the door, the sight of her stopped me cold. Her eyes were red-rimmed, tear tracks visible on her cheeks. Behind her, I could see an open suitcase on the bed, clothes partially packed.
"Wade," she said, surprise evident in her voice. "I didn't expect..."
"Can I come in?" I asked quietly.
She stepped aside, wiping quickly at her eyes. "Bailey just left."
I entered, noticing the scattered personal items around the room—evidence of her hasty packing interrupted.
"She told me she'd discovered something," I said carefully.
Lark sank onto the edge of the bed, fresh tears welling in her eyes. "It was Sloane and Andrew, my colleagues at Keller & Benson," she said, her voice breaking. "Bailey found evidence they've been having an affair for months. They conspired to frame me for the information leak."
I sat beside her, leaving enough space between us to respect her boundaries. "Tell me everything. Please."
The story poured out of her then—the accusations of misconduct against her, how she'd been placed on administrative leave, embarrassed and afraid. How she'd cometo Wintervale to escape while the firm investigated, never intending to tell anyone the truth about her situation.
"My career—it's everything I've worked for all my life," she said, twisting her grandmother's ring. "It's all I have."
"But why frame you?" I asked, trying to understand.
"Andrew wanted the partnership position that was opening up. I was his main competition," she explained. "And Sloane—she was supposed to be my friend. I trusted her." Lark shook her head, disbelief evident in her expression. "I can't believe they were having an affair all along, using my login credentials to access confidential documents. Bailey found the digital trail."
Her shoulders shook with suppressed sobs. I wanted desperately to hold her but held back, unsure if she'd welcome my touch after our argument.
"I'm so sorry," I said, the words inadequate for what she was going through. "I had no idea what you were dealing with."
"How could you?" she asked, looking up at me with tear-filled eyes. "I never told you. I was too embarrassed, too afraid of appearing weak. Perfect Lark Hayes, suddenly facing professional ruin."
I took a chance then, gently taking her hand. When she didn't pull away, I felt a glimmer of hope.
"I pushed you away," I admitted, "because I was afraid you'd leave anyway. I've been down that road before, and I didn't think I could survive watching another woman choose a different life over me."
Lark's fingers tightened around mine. "I've been hiding behind perfection my whole life," she whispered. "But there is no such thing, is there?" She wiped a tear with her free hand. "My grandmother did her best to protect my mother and me fromwhat she went through—the pain of loss, betrayal—but despite all the walls I've built, it managed to find me anyway."
She looked up, her eyes searching mine. "The question is, was I too busy trying to keep people out that I didn't let the right ones in? My parents are in a loveless marriage, at least from what I can tell. It's more a business deal than anything else, any love they had faded years ago."
A fresh tear slid down her cheek. "I don't want to live like that. Being here in Wintervale—with you—I've seen a different way to live. Real connections, people who are trustworthy, a community who's got your back. It's beautiful."
Her vulnerability broke something open inside me. I'd been so focused on my own fears that I hadn't recognized hers—the terror of letting someone past those carefully constructed defenses.
