Page 3 of Peak of Love
“Is everything OK with the drive? What’s going on?” Kat inquired somberly. The sound of a door shutting indicated her sister went to a private space.
“What am I even doing?” Celina erupted. “I didn’t want the kids doing this extravagant, crazy Dane-concocted ski trip, but here I am taking advantage of his mansion like some kind of leech.”
“You are the farthest thing from a leech.”
“You know what I mean.” Celina felt cooped up in her SUV, so she jumped out and began pacing on the snow crusted sidewalk. “What am I doing?”
“Relaxing. Taking three measly days away for yourself. No schoolwork or shopping or cleaning to do for the boys. Sleep in the whole time, it doesn’t matter! You need this. Everyone knows you need time for yourself. Even the kids know that. And Dane, too. He loved the idea of you staying at his place on your own.”
“I feel so… selfish.” There, she said it. And that wasn’t the worst of her feelings. She felt like an intruder because she was being selfish for somethingotherpeople said she should want.
Celina wasn’t at all convinced she wanted this for herself. She didn’t really think time away from her boys was called for. Everyone harped on and on aboutbalance.It was supposed to be a “healthy” form of “self-care.” Well, then, why the hell did it feel like her limbs were left behind? It didn’t feel so healthy, the sense that parts of her body were missing.
“It isn’t selfish, Cel. It’s just a three-day vacation. Don’t think about it too much. Have a leisurely drive. Enjoy the scenery. Take a nap when you get there. Get drunk, eat pizza, and go to sleep again.”
“Is that what being single is like?”
“Yeah, babe. People do that shit all the time! Adults take in the scenery and nap and eat unhealthy food and drink too much.”
“Not at the same time, I hope.”
“Not usually, though you’ve got some making up to do in the next few days.” She paused before continuing. “You know nothing will happen to Jonas and Jerome while you’re gone, right?”
“I know.”
“And they are a video or phone call away.”
“Yeah, although I’ll try to wait for their call next time.”
“Good. And Celina?”
“Yeah.”
“I slipped a little something in your duffel bag that I know for a fact you didn’t bring.”
“What?”
“You’ll see. Now get on the road and enjoy yourself.”
“OK. I love you,” Celina said as her heart brimmed. “And thank Max for me.”
“Oh, I will.”
“Brat.”
“I love you too.” Kat hung up, leaving Celina with a curious smile. Before she drove away, she dug her hand deep into the duffel bag to find whatever her sister slipped in.
It was a soft package folded in gift tissues. Scribbled on a card was Kat’s rushed writing:Two hot tubs and you weren’t going to bring a suit? Have you learned nothing from me?
Kat was the family vacation guru, so she researched and prepared for every trip like a military general on a war expedition. Opening the seal, Celina uncovered what her sister called “a little something.”
It was a one-piece red bathing suit so high-cut and low-scooped it looked like someone took it from the filming set of Bay Watch. Shoving it back into the duffel, Celina released a chuckle. “Yeah, right,” she mumbled, though couldn’t repress her grin.
As she made her way back to the highway, Celina registered a tickle of anticipation. Must be the Timbits.
Celina remained immobile and speechless in her SUV, letting the panorama of a gigantic European chalet with rustic stone walls and massive wood beams unfold. The estate’s backdrop was the snow-capped peaks and majestic landscape of North America’s tallest mountain range. It was a lot to take in. She thought the views driving from Vancouver to Whistler, especially the winding Sea to Sky Highway, was stunning. This was surreal.
“Dane, you have got to be kidding,” she mumbled under her breath. She was used to his extravagant ways—he was a full-fledged real estate mogul by now according to Seattle Bureau Magazine’s “forty under forty” list—but this winter mansion was downright ridiculous. Even his upscale townhouse in Seattle was nowhere near this impressive.
