Page 21 of #Resort Romance
Nodding, she continued to work. “All the time. Toward the end, she couldn’t even hold a book on her own or an e-reader, so I used to read to her. We were going through a series where it was a family saga, but each book focused on an individual couple. It was eleven books, and we finished that last one the week before she passed.” Tears stung her eyes, and she was thankful for the sunglasses. “I have that complete series now on a bookshelf in my apartment and it makes me smile whenever I see it.”
They were all quiet for a moment before Lori put down the book that she was reading and looked at her again. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course!”
“You can tell me to mind my own business…”
“Pfft, like you’ll listen,” Eleanor mumbled.
Lori shot her mother a hard glare before returning her attention to Kelsey. “I was just curious if you were planning on staying in Rochester. With your parents both being gone, I wasn’t sure if you were looking to maybe move and start fresh someplace new.” She paused. “Like I said, you can tell me it’s none of my business and I won’t be offended.”
“You’re fine, Mrs. Nash. Really. So many people have asked me that exact question and, to be honest, I really like the idea of a fresh start, but I also feel guilty about it.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s like I’m abandoning my whole life…the places I grew up, all the memories my family made…it feels weird to think about just leaving it all behind.” She quickly swiped away some stray tears and prayed no one noticed.
“My parents were born and raised in Ireland,” Eleanor said as she continued to crochet the blanket she was working on. “They moved to America the week after they got married. My grandparents didn’t want them to go, but my parents felt like it was something they desperately wanted to do. So, they left. It was hard and a lot of work and my mother cried all the time in that first year, but eventually, they settled in. Made a home. Started a family.” Putting her crocheting needles down, she looked over at Kelsey. “Your memories are always with you, Kelsey. You might not be able to walk to the park you used to play in or go to the restaurant your mother or father loved, but they’re only a car ride or plane ride away.” She shrugged. “You know they wouldn’t want you to stay there just because of the memories.”
She nodded, but couldn’t bring herself to look away from her sad and crooked little scarf.
“Amazing things can happen when you take a risk. A leap of faith,” Eleanor went on. “If my parents hadn’t moved, I never would have met my husband. We never would have had Lori. She never would have met Paul. They wouldn’t have had Jayce…” Pausing, she smiled. “You see all the things that never would have happened if two people didn’t take that leap of faith and decide to start fresh someplace new?”
Another nod. “I do. I really do, but…I’m not even sure where I’d want to go. The possibilities are endless, it seems. Although…I picked a few places that interest me, but…I don’t know.”
“What about your friends?” Lori asked. “Have any of them moved away to a place you’d be interested in? It’s always nice if there’s a familiar face waiting when you make a move. Or maybe I should say it makes things a little easier.”
“Nonsense! My parents didn’t know anyone!”
“And you said Grandma cried every day!” Lori reminded her. “Why not encourage Kelsey to start where there might be something familiar?”
“I understand that, but she should follow her heart and go where that leads her!”
At that moment, she looked over at Jayce.
That’s where my heart is leading me…
It was a random thought, and she knew it was because they made love last night. It was everything she had dreamed it would be and more. He was so damn sexy and attentive, and he had thoroughly worn her out.
Only to wake up and do it all over again.
So while it was a nice thought, she knew it was only because they were in the middle of this vacation fling. Once it was flung and they went back to their regular lives, she was fairly certain Jayce wouldn’t want her following him across the country and moving into his neighborhood. God, how awkward would that be?
Very, she told herself.
Very, very awkward.
Wouldn’t it?
Chapter Six
After coming back from fishing, they trekked up to the lodge and enjoyed ice cream sundaes at the afternoon social hour. Dinner was going to be back up at the lodge and the theme of the night was a Texas barbecue. Jayce had missed the memo about wearing cowboy hats and boots—thank God—and found it amusing when his family stepped out of their cabin looking like something out of a rodeo catalog.
“Oh, Jayce!” his mother said with a frown. “Why didn’t you dress up?”
“Honestly, I don’t remember you giving me the costume itinerary.”
“Then you ignored my emails, because I know I sent you a list of all the themed nights.” She sighed. “Now you’re just going to look silly being the only one not dressed up for the barbecue.”
