in reception.”
My head starts to whirl like I’m inside a washing machine during the spin cycle. “Where is Syd now?”
“He was going to go to your house. According to him, the two of them have been on the outs since Romaine and Cash started dating.” James turns over the ignition and pulls out of the parking space.
“Syd was going to warn me that Romaine had found me?” I practically stammer. “He could have just told my mom that one of the many times he went to her house.”
“You’d think,” James says as he veers off the main road into the woods.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“I’m going to take you up to my uncle Billy’s place. With the lodge crawling with reporters, I think it’s the safest place to take you.”
He’s got a point. I don’t trust Syd Byerly as far as I can throw him. There’s something more going on than he’s copping to or he wouldn’t have come all this way just to tell me that Romaine had found me. I certainly can’t go to my house with Syd going there. James’s farm has been compromised as well.
I pick up my phone to send my mom a text to let her know where I am, but I don’t have any bars. “I can’t get ahold of my mom.”
“I’ll drop you off with Billy and then drive back and send both of our moms a text,” James replies. We ride the rest of the way in silence.
James turns left up a narrower road and we bump along like kernels in a popcorn popper. He passes one cabin that looks like it’s in the middle of renovations and then continues down the makeshift road until we arrive at another. After putting the truck into park and turning off the ignition, he announces, “This is Uncle Billy’s place.”
“What if he’s not here?” I ask. “We can’t just go in.”
James ignores my question and runs around the truck to open my door for me. I take his hand and let him help me down. “Are you okay?” he asks gently.
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I mean, why in the world is Romaine here? It makes no sense.”
“You could call him,” James suggests.
“I’m not calling him while he’s in the middle of a press conference. I might call him later though.” I quickly decide I’ll definitely call him later and demand why he won’t leave me alone.
James’s uncle walks out his front door and holds up a hand in greeting. “Hey there.”
“Uncle Billy,” James says. “I brought a friend to meet you.” He motions toward me and says, “This is Tara, she’s the new pastry chef at the lodge.”
Billy steps forward with his hand out. “Your mom has told me all about you. I’m pleased to know you.”
I shake his hand. “I’m surprised I haven’t met you down at the lodge before.”
“I mostly stay up in the woods,” he says before adding, “Although James here has brought me some of your pastries and I have to say, I’m a huge fan.”
I can see why mom likes this man. He radiates a lovely energy. “I’ll have to bring some things up to you myself, now that I know where your place is,” I tell him.
Billy smiles radiantly. “I wouldn’t say no to that.”
“I’m going down to the lodge to send a text to Gwen and my mom to let them know where we are,” James says.
“Give me the keys to your truck.” Billy reaches his hand out. “I’ll go and you kids can settle in up here. There’s coffee in the cabinet and a plate of cookies on the counter. Make yourselves at home.” As soon as he’s gone, James turns to me and says, “We need to talk.”
Chapter Forty
Ruby
Pushing her way into reception, Ruby sidles up next to Chris. “It’s on like Donkey Kong.”
Chris shakes her head. “That wasn’t even a good saying in the eighties.”
“What are we supposed to do with all of these reporters here? They’re going to inconvenience our guests.”
Chris opens the drawer under her computer and says, “Watch this.” She puts a whistle to her lips and blows it, loudly. Everyone within earshot turns to see what the commotion is all about. She announces, “Everyone who is not a guest of this hotel needs to leave the building right now!”
When there’s not a mass exodus, she adds, “If Mr. Choate wants to talk to you, he’ll do so out front.” Nobody makes a move to leave.
“What the