AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mom nodded. “I’ve always hoped one of you kids would get married here.”
Brad and I had eloped to Las Vegas, which wasn’t something I’d ever thought I’d do, but he convinced me he couldn’t wait another day to marry me. I told myself it was easier, but a part of me regretted not having a moment to shine. Now I think he just assumed we’d have to pay for the event ourselves and decided he’d rather not.
“There’s still time,” Mom said with a smile.
My eyes stung. “Let’s get these flowers inside before they wilt.”
Mom shook her head. “No, way. You’re sitting here until I’ve unloaded everything, and then we can check in.”
I shifted in my seat. “I’m going to take a walk to stretch my back.”
My phone rang as I admired the stunning mountain views from the resort’s lawn. I blew out a breath when I saw Lauren’s name.
“You lied,” she said.
“Technically, I texted you a monkey.”
“Which, we’d established meant you were having wild sex, not crying your eyes out because Cal’s an idiot. He was just in here with Avery, and that combined with how you looked thismorning when you made the delivery makes me wonder if I should have spat in his Chai.”
“He’s just asking her to take down the negative reviews she posted.”
“Yeah, I gathered that while I made their drinks, which is the only reason I kept my spit to myself. But he avoided eye contact the whole time. Admit it, you sent me a lying monkey. I need info.”
“Please, Lauren,” I said, my throat tightening. “It hurts too much to talk about it.” Someone grabbed the phone from my hand. Mom had abandoned her flowers on a cart behind the van. “Lauren, sweetheart,” she said, after putting the call on speaker. “Rowan and I are staying at a resort in Meadows of Dan until Monday morning. If I haven’t gotten the information out of her by then, you can have a crack at her when we get back.”
“Ok, Mrs. Stevens,” Lauren said and ended the call.
“That should buy you some time.” Mom returned my phone, then gripped my shoulders. “I brought you here because I want you to think about your next step. You need to decide what you want. Not what I want or Poppy or Lauren wants, but what would make you happy. Which is why I’m driving home after I set up these arrangements and check you into your room.”
“You’re seriously leaving me here alone?” I said, looking around the picture-perfect grounds where couples and families drifted toward the golf course, trails, and tennis courts.
Mom nodded. “There’s an amazing spa where you can get a massage, or you can just order room service and watch TV.”
“This place had to cost a fortune,” I said. “You could have rented me a room at the Holiday Inn off 81 if you wanted me to sit alone and think.”
“No,” Mom said with an edge to her voice. “You deserve the best in life, Rowan. I wasn’t able to give you that when you were younger. You spent too much of your childhood taking care ofPoppy, Chris, even me, on occasion. I know you gave and gave in your marriage, and it kills me that all that love and care was wasted on a man like Brad. But, baby, it’s time to stop putting everyone else first. You refused to let me help you after the accident because you wanted to protect me. Well, I refuse to let you drift into the next chapter of your life without being absolutely certain it’s what you want. Peace Falls is your home and always will be. But if it’s too small for the life you dream of, then go. If you want that big job in DC, take it, and I will help you pack with a smile on my face. But don’t do it because you think you have to prove yourself to anyone. Or because you’re running away from a man who’s too damaged to recognize love when it smacks him in his ridiculously chiseled face.”
“Mom,” I said, my voice breaking.
“I mean it, Rowan. Do not let a man stop you from being where you want to be. Whether that’s DC, Peace Falls, or anywhere else in this big world.”
She pulled me into a hug, and I sobbed on her shoulder long enough to worry about the flowers.
“You can’t ruin someone’s wedding because I’m having a breakdown,” I sniffed.
Mom handed me a rumpled tissue from her pocket and turned us to face the van, where someone had already removed the cart. “A friend of mine works here and insists on helping me bring in the arrangements.”
She blushed and cleared her throat when a silver fox of a guy pushed the cart outside and folded it into the van. He gave us both a wave before he went back inside the building.
I raised my eyebrows at Mom, but she just swatted my arm. “Let’s go. I’ll get you checked in and come back to place everything.”
After a stop at the front desk, Mom carried my bag to a gorgeous room overlooking the mountains and placed it on oneof the two queen-sized beds. There were rich hardwood floors throughout and a separate sitting area by the windows with a plush couch. It was without question the nicest room I’d ever stayed in.
“This is huge,” I said. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay with me?”
Mom shook her head but let out a sigh when she peeked in the bathroom. “Promise me you’ll soak in the tub.”
I leaned into the bathroom and took in the deep soaking tub surrounded by beautiful glass tiles. It looked like something out of a luxury travel blog.
