“Anyway, are you staying there?”
That sent a thread of distrust up Max’s spine, but he wouldn’t hide the truth. “I am.”
His father raised his palms as if in surrender. “Fine, good, whatever. Truth be told, you were always a cute couple. If you wind up together, or not, what do they say these days? S’all good.”
Max sat there, not feeling the need to answer. By his father’s reaction it was obvious he’d made his point.
“Anyway, I’m glad to see you again.”
Max shared the sentiment, even if he doubted his father’s sincerity. “How’s my grandmother?”
“The same.” He sighed. “I thought you leaving would jostle her into some kind of miracle return, but let’s face it, she’s a vegetable.”
Those words tugged at his insides like a loose thread unraveling all hope that she’d recover. “Pop, don’t say that.”
“You think I’m happy about it? She’s my mother. I’d do anything to bring her back. Just to have another lucid moment with her would be a gift.” He swirled a hand above his head. “All of this … I’d give it up just to have my mother back.”
A lingering silence passed while the hot smoke of the Cuban cigar collected at the back of Max’s throat.
“Let’s keep our eyes on the future like you said.”
“Right,” Max wanted to believe his father was being honest, but it felt foreign to his soul. This was about more than the lodge, the Hunter name, and the destruction and destiny of two families. There was too much at stake for him to turn away. He was eager to face it head-on, all of it; his father’s corruption, his desire for Lauren, his thirst to see justice. Just that one sweep across his lips days ago made him want more—much more. He’d give everything up for one more kiss.
He said goodbye to his father and checked in on his grandmother. He read her several more passages before he climbed back into his SUV and drove to the lodge.
He believed his father had changed his approach, but not his intent.
Max’s feelings for Lauren would direct his course no matter what, but his father was a man of undeniable power, and his friendly change of position could only lead to one thing, a deceitful scheme, and that meant the odds were even higher. At best, his father was finally coming around, but at worst, everything was about to fall apart.
Chapter Twenty
Lauren
Sally welcomed Lauren to Sally’s Country Cupboard with a smile, eyes wide and ringed with eyeliner and crowned with big, black lashes. She seemed out of place among the wooden chickens, red-and-white-checkered tablecloths, and little corncobs printed on the drapes. Mixed in with the straight-from-the-farm feel were green and blue garlands and twinkling white lights. There were snowmen painted on the storefront windows, and mainstream country-pop versions of classic Christmas tunes playing in the background, giving the place a festive feel.
“Hello, hon,” Sally said, both of her hands cupping Lauren’s. “How’ve you been?”
“Keeping busy. That’s why I’m here, actually.” Sally listened with a nodding head, eyes fixed on hers as Lauren explained her concept, and what Sally’s part in it would be. At the end of her sales pitch, Sally broke a sad smile and said, “Oh, honey, no, I don’t think so.”
Lauren couldn’t ignore the sense of surprise, which came with a certain amount of worry. “Really? We could get a lot of attention. We’ll all share in the benefits.”
“Well, sweetie, look, first of all, I think it’s very thoughtful that you’d come to me like this, but we’re competitors too. I mean, what’s the lodge but a big, empty restaurant. I run a smaller place, but we’re on different sides of the street. I’m sorry, that’s just the reality of how things work.”
“What if it brings people in from out of town, and they have a chance to sample some of your delicious food?”
“Then maybe they’ll come and stay at your lodge, but how does that help me?”
“How?” It seemed so clear to Lauren. The very question was astonishing. “Sally, Moss Creek is in real trouble. We’re all in this together. Bringing in more visitors will help everyone.”
Sally just shook her head. “Hon, I say this with all respect and sympathy, but maybe you’re just not cut out to run a big place like that.”
“What?” She was more than cut out to run the lodge. What she wasn’t cut out for was the backlash of trying to save it.
Lauren was struck dumb, and Sally was quick to explain; words