Page 18 of Heart of Stone
I didn’t dare look up, but I was sure my mom’s focus was on Natalia. And from the corner of my eye, I couldn’t miss the way my father tensed at the news.
“Sadly, I was.” The rustling I heard was an indication she’d slid her sleeve up her arm to show them what had happened. “I’d decided to do some decorating with Danielle, and we were working on the cabins on Friday. I hadn’t realized Reid was even staying in one, and it just happened to be the one I went to first. I tripped climbing the stairs and fell on my arm.”
It seemed my appetite was bigger than I had initially thought. That, or I was willing to do anything to avoid this discussion, because I’d plowed through half of the chicken and at least a third of the pasta.
“Oh, my gosh. Are you okay?”
“I am, Sylvia. Thanks to your son, the small cut was quickly cleaned up, and he offered me an ice pack to help with the swelling.”
My mom’s hand came to my shoulder. “That’s the man I raised.”
God, there was such pride in her voice. Like she thought there was some deeper meaning behind what I’d done.
“I’m proud of you for stepping up like that, Reid,” my father chimed in.
At that, I tore my attention from the food for the first time and countered, “It wasn’t exactly a big deal. I don’t think you would’ve preferred I do nothing and risk a lawsuit or something.”
His brows knit together. “You think Natalia would sue us because she tripped and fell?”
I shrugged. “I’m the one filling in for you right now, and it was a business decision that I made.”
He shook his head with disappointment and moved to sit in a chair as he muttered, “Why did I think you found some compassion?”
If it hadn’t been for his initial reaction to learning Natalia had been hurt, I might have believed that she’d already shared this with him. She’d said something eerily similar to me that day.
Ignoring the blood roaring in my veins, I thought it was best to return my attention to the plate of food in my hands. As I shoveled more pasta and chicken in, I didn’t dare to look directly across the room at Natalia. I might lose my cool completely if I did.
But it didn’t matter how much I tried to ignore her, because my ears were still fully functional.
“Regardless of what he says now, Barrett, I assure you that Reid was very kind to me when he tended to my wounds.”
“That’s a relief,” Dad muttered. “Are you okay?”
“I am. Though I’m a bit disappointed.”
“Why is that?” Mom asked.
I’d finished the chicken and pasta and had finally moved onto the salad. If I didn’t keep transferring the food from the plate to my mouth, I was bound to say something that’d havemy mother looking at me worse than she had when Natalia first entered the room.
Natalia sighed. “Well, like I said, the plan was to decorate the cabins. Sadly, Reid told me he didn’t want any decorations on his cabin. I was bummed about it, but I realized I had to respect his wishes, so I moved on to the next cabin. But truthfully, I guess I owe him an apology.”
“For what?” My head snapped up as my father seemed unable to hide his surprise at that question.
Natalia had glanced briefly at my father before returning her attention to me. She wore a truly apologetic expression as she placed her hand against her chest. I wondered if my parents could see the way her eyes twinkled, an indication she wasn’t genuinely sorry about anything she’d done.
“I moved on and decorated the other cabins for as long as the light would allow, and I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t leave it alone. Right before I left for the evening, I affixed a wreath to his door. I’m sure you saw it the next morning, Reid, and I truly apologize if it upset you.”
My eyes narrowed on her.
“I don’t understand,” Mom declared. “Reid, why wouldn’t you want her to decorate? You love the holidays.”
Surprise washed over Natalia’s expression, and I wished I’d gone to the cabin instead of making the stop here tonight.
I finished the last of the salad and looked at my mom. “Natalia’s job duties do not require her to decorate, especially not my cabin.”
“But she loves decorating,” Dad interjected. “Natalia has brought nothing but joy to the retreat in so many ways. If she chooses to jump in to help with something that makes her happy, why would you try to take that away from her?”
My eyes shot to his. “I didn’t. She still decorated everywhere else. It’s one cabin. And it doesn’t matter anyway, because she put a wreath up despite my request.”
