a day to get settled, some time to get caught up on where things stand before…”
“Before?” Her aunt watched her closely.
Raven smiled. “I’m sure we can work something out,” she said with a shrug and turned away from her aunt to take the key card that the receptionist was handing to her.
“I’ve put you in the west executive suites,” the woman said with a friendlier smile.
“Thank you…” She glanced towards the woman and noted that there was no name badge, no set uniform, or anything that could count as a dress code. Actually, the woman’s attire was seriously lacking, messy, and just plain… unattractive. As the first impression of the resort, it was in dire need of correcting.
“Christina,” the girl answered.
Raven frowned. “Is that really your name?”
The woman glanced over at Roslyn and then back at Raven before shaking her head slightly.
“What is your name, your real name?” Raven asked.
“Cemal,” she answered in a low tone.
Raven smiled. “A much more beautiful name.” She nodded. “Thank you, Cemal. Is there someone who can help me take my things up?”
“Yes, I’ll ring for Tommy, umm, Tom, to help you with your things.” The woman’s smile turned more sincere as she turned to pick up the phone and call for help.
When she turned back to her aunt, Raven noticed Roslyn glaring at Cemal.
“Guests don’t like names they can’t pronounce,” her aunt started. There was so much that Raven wanted to say to her aunt, but she settled for a quick jab instead.
“Guests?” Raven chuckled and looked around. “What guests?”
“It’s off-season,” her aunt threw back at her.
“It’s early summer. In the mountains.” Raven walked over to the large windows and looked out at the side of the mountain. There was still enough snow at the top of the ski runs that she could remember just how wonderful it felt to rush down the hills. “I would think there would be people in the city who need a weekend getaway and this view.” She turned back to her aunt. “One must only give them what they want with the rest.” She glanced around the rundown lobby and made a tsking noise. “Such a shame.”
“Colin and I have done everything we could to keep this place afloat.” Her aunt grabbed her arm, and her long well-manicured nails dug into her skin.
Raven jerked free, then walked over when a young, skinny high school boy came rushing out of the dining room. As with Cemal, the boy’s attire was disheveled, and she realized that here, too, there was no set uniform or required attire.
“Miss.” The boy saw Roslyn and turned almost sheet white. “I…” Then the boy’s eyes turned to her and went wide.
“Holy shit. You’re her.” He practically pointed at Raven. “You’re the Firestarter,” the boy said, still staring at her.
“That’s quite enough, Tommy. Please help take my niece’s things up to her suite,” Roslyn said before turning away. “I’ll contact you when your uncle has returned,” Roslyn threw over her shoulder before disappearing down the hallway leading to Raven’s father’s old office.
Well, that went just as planned, Raven thought as she rode the elevator up to her rooms in the west building. She’d requested to stay in that building not only because it was the newest. It also had the best views, especially from the fifth floor.
Tommy, or Tom, remained quiet as they rode up together. She could tell that the boy was nervous and, at this point, she no longer cared. She wanted a shower and a few hours to shut down before she tried to find something to eat. Spending the past ten hours in the car, thinking about what she was going to say to her uncle and aunt, had drained her emotionally and physically. Worries about how they would react and fears of them tossing her out had played over in her mind the closer she had gotten to home.
Then again, it wasn’t just her family’s response to her return that would be a problem. No, she had the entire town of Cannon Falls to worry about.
Every single person she’d wronged. Every surviving family member of a loved one she’d killed.
When she opened the door to her suite, she genuinely smiled for the first time. Here, at least, she knew that she would be welcomed. The view of the still snow-covered peak warmed her.
Waiting for Tommy to set her bags down, she turned to the boy.
“Do you have a uniform?” she asked him as he waited for a tip. Raven doubted that