Page 66 of Please Send Snow
“Monique?” I say, realizing as I say her name out loud that we never call each other. We text. Always.
“Hey,” she says. “I know it’s been a while, and it’s your business, so I have no right to ask it, but please…don’t do this.”
“Don’t… do what?” I ask her, completely lost.
“It’s all over the business news,” she says quietly. “You had to know people would find out.”
“Find out what?” I ask.
“Foster’s Figurines is being broken up and sold for parts,” she says flatly. “You knew your dad better than I did. But we both know that’s not what he would want.”
Delilah.
Of course I knew it was a possibility that she would do this. I justhopedthat she wouldn’t.
But without new annual Christmas sculptures, the company can’t stay as profitable as it is now forever. I guess Delilah would rather sell it off than seek fresh talent. She never really liked the business part of the business anyway. She just liked spending the money.
It’s hers,I remind myself again.He left it to her. He wanted her to have it.
And even my best friend doesn’t know that yet.
I wondered why Delilah hadn’t spread the news that she’d inherited everything far and wide. And now I know exactly why. She wanted me to look like the bad guy in all this.
“I know you’re sad right now,” Monique goes on gently. “But one day you’re going to treasure those memories, and you’ll wish you hadn’t demolished everything hebuilt. If you feel like you can’t deal with it all, you can hire experts to run it for now. You don’t have to do a thing. Just don’t do this.”
“It’s a long story,” I tell Monique. “I promise to explain soon, but… it’s not me doing this. Do you believe me?”
“You’re the only Foster left,” she says. “If you’re not doing it, then you have to do something about it, Maddie.”
I can’t stop it. But it hits me that theremight be one thing I can do, however small. I’m right here on Angel Mountain. I can go talk to the ladies at the local factory. At least that way they won’t hear it on the news tonight. They can hear it from me, someone in the Foster family, someone who actually cares about them.
“I have to go,” I tell her. “But I’ll call you soon.”
I pack my few items into my bag, knowing that there’s a real possibility that by the time I get back Jake will have gathered himself enough to tell Michael not to let me back in here.
More than anything I want to take the beautiful coat and sweaters that Jake and Dylan got for me. The cherished memory they represent warms my heart as much as the clothing warms my body.
But they were gifts given under false pretenses. So I fold them neatly and leave them on the cot, and the boots on the floor beside it.
I slip on my old jacket and sneakers, grab my bag and head out, grateful to be running toward something for a change, even if it’s an unhappy task.
I manage to make it down the hallway and into the lobby without anyone noticing me.
The Applebaums are curled up on their loveseat, and Bobby’s parents are talking to Margo as he squats by the miniature Christmas village, watching the magnetic skaters while his sister slides her thumbs over her phone screen, head bopping to the beat of whatever is playing in her earbuds. Penelope and her cameraman are by the fireplace, making yet another video.
I slip out the front door and call the cab driver who brought me up here. I guess he was right about me needing a ride back down after all. At least I have some cash now.
I probably should have left that behind too, but I honestly don’t know what I’ll do if Michael won’t let me back into the lodge, and I’m willing to sacrifice some of my principles to avoid freezing to death. When I get back on my feet again, I’ll send Jake a check.
I’m shivering and wondering why it’s taking so long for the taxi to get to the top of the mountain, but I don’t dare go back inside to wait.
Just as the cab finally arrives, a contractor’s truck pulls up beside it and workers pour out.
Oh, Jake…
It looks like he might have this place half torn down before I get back.
“Hey again, little lady,” the cab driver says with a big smile. “Back to the bus station?”
