Page 14 of Hargrave Health Kick
Chapter Six
To Veronica’s surprise,restoring good publicity moved swiftly over the next two days. While she and Natalie went about their normal work, Celeste dealt with the issues at the Hideaway.
And based on the lack of dinner plans, Brayden had been on the job twenty-four seven.
She wasn’t disappointed. Not by any of it.
Well, maybe a little about Brayden. She’d missed his friendship over the years and hoped to catch up. Veronica understood the need to put business ahead of the fun stuff. That was the whole reason she did her best to make work as fun as possible. Like taking her bike today and using the ferry rather than driving through traffic.
The Hideaway was an important business venture, not only because it offered financial stability for the three of them, but it offered freedom too. Here, she could build a life and career in her favorite place on earth.
The place her mother had loved—where they’d grown as a family and created a wealth of happy memories. Focusing on the good times pushed the unpleasant memories further aside and she had hope that someday they’d be gone entirely.
She’d been so close to that target until Susannah had snapped at her. That had taken her straight back to those dark days when the pain had changed her mom, physically and emotionally. She lashed out at her girls and the illness distorted her memory so she wasn’t always remorseful after.
Veronica rubbed her sternum where the ache of cruel words still stung at the worst times. She turned her face toward the breeze off the river. Biking today energized her, giving her more room to rest and reset. The clean, fresh air filled her lungs and the clear, sunny sky had provided a much-needed emotional boost.
As the ferry bumped to a gentle stop at the dock on Brookwell, her phone sounded from her backpack. Letting others disembark ahead of her, Veronica checked the message.
Reading the WHERE ARE YOU text from Celeste, she could almost hear the panic in her sister’s voice. She called back. “I’m nearly home,” she said when Celeste answered. “I took the ferry.”
“Okay. Sorry,” she said. “Just hurry.”
“Do we have another problem?” Veronica hopped on her bike, steering carefully around the other pedestrians.
“No. That meeting is tomorrow.”
The vise around Veronica’s chest tightened once more. “Then what’s up?”
“We’re meeting Holly Brooks at the Hideaway for dinner. And an interview.”
Holly was an editor for the Brookwell Bugle, but she had contacts that could carry a story regionally. That could be a big help to the Hideaway. “Susannah checked out early?”
“No. Marley invited all of us to join them tonight.”
Veronica had many thoughts and opinions. She kept them all to herself. “How much time?”
“Forty-five minutes.”
Veronica knew her sister was cringing. Just the thought of being late to such an important meeting would be stressing her out. “I’ll be ready.” She stood on the pedals, moving down Central Avenue as quickly as possible. “What about Nat?”
“Holly went by and peeled her away from her project.”
One less thing for Veronica to do. “You’ve made something to take along?” She leaned into the next turn.
“All we need is your smiling face.”
“No worries.” Veronica chuckled. “You know I clean up in record time.”
The sisters arrived at the Hideaway with two precious minutes to spare with flowers, wine, and supplies for fruity s’mores in hand. Just in case Susannah and Marley were up for a campfire on the beach after dinner.
When Susannah opened the door, Veronica had to work hard not to duck behind her sisters. Seeing the chef flanked by a smiling Marley, with Holly right behind them, gave her a smidge of courage. She wouldn’t let herself be cowed. They were here to bolster the Hideaway reputation for service and hospitality.
“It feels weird to invite you into a house you own,” Susannah said, smiling a little as she stepped back.
“It’s supposed to feel like yours during your stay,” Celeste said graciously.
The chef looked tired instead of rested. Veronica’s skin prickled with guilt. She regretted every harsh thought she’d entertained in recent days. “Fresh flowers for the table.” She offered the bouquet to Susannah.
