Page 5 of The Last Resort
“I really shouldn’t take up anymore of your time. My sister and I can sort out the rest of this mess. Thank you for saving me.”
“You’re welcome, take care.”
Her hero of the hour had just walked away, headed in the direction of the parking lot, when a blue station wagon pulled up in front. Kellie leapt out of her vehicle and rushed to herside. She took one look at Rachel’s bruised and bloodied state and exclaimed, “What on earth did you do?”
Rachel shook her head. “I bought cheap hiking boots in Atlanta, and they’ve got no grip on the ice. I don’t know how y’all survive living in Aspen. I barely made it out of the airport building before I almost died.” She glanced at her bloodstained hoodie. “And I’m bleeding all over my clothes.”
Kellie brushed a comforting kiss on her cheek. “But you made it, and that’s all that matters. You go on and get in the car—there’s a box of tissues in the glove compartment. I’ll put your things in the trunk. As soon as we get home, I’ll take a look at your injuries and get you all cleaned up. Dan has a weapons-grade first-aid kit in the kitchen. I’m sure there are a ton of butterfly closures in it.”
The mention of her soon-to-be ex-brother-in-law had Rachel forgetting her own problems. While their family’s dark drama had unfolded in Georgia, Kellie had been hundreds of miles away dealing with her own pressing problems. An affair and an impending divorce were one of the many reasons why Rachel had decided to venture all the way to Colorado.
“I’m supposed to be helping look after you, not the other way round,” grumbled Rachel.
Kellie wrestled with the broken suitcase. “What the heck have you got in here, bricks?” Huffing and puffing she stacked it back onto the luggage cart.
“I had to bring everything with me.” Her entire life was packed in those three cases. A woozy and nauseous Rachel kept a firm grip onto the other side of the handle, steadying herself. It was all she could do to stand upright, let alone help. Her steps were slow and painful as the two sisters negotiated the cart the short distance to Kellie’s car.
Rachel bloodied, bruised, and deeply embarrassed, glanced over at her sister. Her bodily wounds would heal, butKellie’s heart might take longer. Kellie needed her. And as much as she disliked the whole ice and snow thing, Rachel didn’t want to be anywhere else.
After all we’ve been through, I’m glad that something of our family still remains.
Once she got settled and had a few things unpacked, she’d take the time to reassess her priorities. Her stay in Aspen would eventually become just a pitstop on the long road back. Back to claiming a life that was hers to live and define.
With the suitcases finally on board, Kellie climbed into the driver’s seat of the wagon, a gave Rachel a hopeful smile. “I’m so glad you’ve finally made it here. I promise everything will get better from today.”
With her head resting against the back of the seat, Rachel closed her eyes and sighed.
“I’m going to hold you to that promise.”
CHAPTER TWO
Her sister’s mid-twentieth-century house was situated on West Francis Street, a short drive from the airport. As Kellie pulled the car into the driveway, Rachel’s gaze took in the front of the house. It had been a long and hard three years since the last time she’d been here. Things were very different now.
Everything has changed. And none of it for the better.
Kellie and Dan hadn’t been married all that long when they’d moved into the brick and pale timber house. As an architect, Rachel could appreciate the simple but rugged design. This was a home built to keep the warmth in and the harsh winter elements out.
And now her sister and brother-in-law were getting a divorce.
How long would Kellie remain in this house? Or was she getting it as part of the divorce settlement? The questions were clear in Rachel’s mind, but now didn’t seem the right moment to broach the subject of her sister’s shattered marriage.
From the little that Rachel knew of things, apparentlyDan’s family had Aspen-level money. Her mother Patricia had once explained that it meant they were loaded. So there was a good chance that the Brock family could stand to lose this house in the divorce and not bat an eyelid.
If Kellie can at least keep a roof over her head. It would be more than I have.
The thought of money had bile rising in her throat. Growing up, wealth and privilege had been the only world she’d ever known. Having to deal with this new life where she was afraid to go to the hospital was a strange, hard reality.
Kellie turned off the engine, but she didn’t open the car door.
“There is something you need to know before we go inside.”
Rachel’s whole body tensed, the movement involuntary. A learned pattern ingrained from the dramas of the past year. It took all of her will to force the air back into her lungs. A panic response threatened. If she didn’t get herself together, she was going to puke in her sister’s car.
“Yes?”
“Dan has moved back into the house. And I want you to be nice to him.”
Damn.She hadn’t seen that coming. So her sister wasn’t getting the house in the divorce.
