Page 67 of Luke

Kaitlyn grinned. "What did you learn from doing that?"

He thought for a moment. "That life is amazing and sometimes short but always worth the effort. I never just wanted to survive; I always wanted to live in a big way. I wanted to experience everything I could. That's why I do what I do and why I make movies so I can take people with me on the journey. I want a big life for you, too, Kaitlyn. Lizzie wants that as well."

"I don't know about a big life," Kaitlyn said doubtfully.

He laughed. "You're right. She probably wants a safer life than you might want, but that's just until you're grown up and ready to be on your own. Until then, she wants to love you and protect you and that might be smothering at times, but it will be worth it."

"I guess. I did kind of like hiking more than I thought I would, at least before I fell."

"You should go again, but not alone."

"Maybe with you?" she asked hopefully.

He hesitated. "Maybe. I don't know how long I'll be here."

"Are you going to sell the resort?" Kaitlyn asked, changing the subject. "I heard Shari talking about it."

"I don't know. I've never owned property before. I've never wanted roots. But I do like this land and this house and the mountains around us. What do you think I should do?"

"Keep it," she said immediately.

"So you do like it here?"

She shrugged. "It's not as bad as I thought."

He thought that was probably as much of a ringing endorsement as he was going to get.

"Aunt Liz wants to stay here," Kaitlyn added. "I think she wants you to stay here, too. She likes you."

"I like her, too."

"Then why don't you know what to do?"

"It's complicated. I spend a lot of my life traveling."

"You could still travel. And then when you come home, you could come here."

She made it sound so simple. On the other hand, was he making it too complicated? "I don't know how often that would be," he said slowly.

Kaitlyn suddenly cocked her head to the right. "Where's that music coming from?"

He heard the faint strains of a piano, and his pulse leapt.

He jumped to his feet and walked toward the stairwell. Kaitlyn followed him down to the living room. They paused in the doorway, as Lizzie played the piano she swore she'd never touch.

Seeing her fingers fly across the keys and the look of intense concentration on her face and her joy in her music, took him back in time to all those days he'd watched her practice. He'd known her talent was immense, that her big dreams could come true. Maybe that's why he'd been so insistent that she spend the summer with him. Subconsciously, he'd sensed her destiny lay somewhere else. He'd wanted to keep her as close as he could. He'd wanted her to live his life instead of her own. He just hadn't realized it until now. Thank God she'd had the sense to stand him up so many years ago. She'd been able to live her dream for at least ten years.

"Wow, she's really good," Kaitlyn murmured. "I had no idea."

"She's amazing," he agreed.

Within minutes, other guests and staff workers began to drift into the living room. Lizzie didn't seem aware of anything but the piano. She'd finally given herself permission to play it, and now there was no stopping her.

The impromptu concert ended about a half hour later. Applause broke out, and Lizzie looked up in surprise. She gave an awkward, self-conscious nod, then got to her feet, waving aside the compliments.

"Can you teach me to play?" Kaitlyn asked when she came over to them.

"Of course," Lizzie said, surprise in her eyes. "I'd love to teach you to play."

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