Page 99 of A Little Too Late
But the Sharpes file out with the council members, and then loud squabbling can be heard just outside the room.
“Who summoned them?” Mark growls. “Did you do this, Reed?”
“Nope.” Reed leans back in his chair and smiles. “I wanted to. But I didn’t want to get Ava in trouble.”
“Ava?” Mark barks. “Was this you?”
“Oh,stopit,” Melody says, brandishing a cookie. “Mountain gossip is legendary.”
“But who gave it to mountain gossip?” he demands.
Melody tries to hide a smile. “I might have said something during my massage this week. Sarah gets me so relaxed, I’m likely to say anything at all.”
“Melody!” Mark looks horrified. “What did youdo?The Sharpes won’t be able to close if they don’t think they can get the lease transfer.”
She spreads her hands out wide. “Mark, screw the valuation. Your grown son is asking you to let him lead the mountain into the future. You’re too stubborn to acknowledge the blessing. I had to do something drastic. You’re welcome.”
My jaw hits the floor.
CHAPTER 34
PRIVATE BUSINESS
REED
I guess Melody is growing on me.
She stares my father down, while his mouth opens and closes like a fish’s.
“I thought you wanted totravel,” he finally manages to spit out. “I was keeping my promises to you.”
“Honey, I appreciate that. My ex never kept a single promise he ever made. But I never asked you to turn your back on everyone else in your life. Our trip can wait.”
“You don’tknowthat,” he says, taking her face in his hands. “None of us knows how much time we’re going to get.”
I glance at Ava, whose eyes have gone soft as she watches this drama play out. And my dad is right. We never know how much time we’ve got, and I don’t want to waste another moment.
Taking Ava’s hand, I address my father. “Dad, you can still travel. I’ve been trying to tell you that. I’ll come back to Colorado and help Ava run the resort. Block might work with us on an expansion, too.”
“Wouldn’t bet on it.” My father drops his chin. “That ship has sailed.”
I look over my shoulder to make sure we’re alone before I answer him. “I was there an hour ago, and he said he’d listen.”
“Really?” My father leans back in his chair and looks up at the ceiling. “Reed, I can tell you’re serious. But I’m still not sure about roping you into this place.”
“Why?” I demand. “I love this place. It took me a long time to admit that. But I’m here now.”
My father sits up straighter and sighs. “I know why you stayed away, son. After your mother died, I was not a functional human. It took me years—longyears—to get straight. And even then, I put the needs of the resort ahead of my boys. I’m sorry.”
The apology catches me off guard, and it isn’t until Ava squeezes my hand that I realize I’m staring at him. “Thank you,” I say roughly.
He shakes his head. “Your mother would be so mad at me for how bad I let things get. Even after I stopped drinking, I turned into a workaholic. That felt virtuous, but it really wasn’t. I should have spent all that energy trying to get you boys back into my life.”
“Why didn’t you?” I hear myself ask.
“Couple of reasons. First of all, I didn’t feel like I deserved it. Still don’t, I guess. But from where I sat, all three of you were doing so well. You’d graduated from one of the top business schools in thecountry. Weston was collecting all those medals to pin on his uniform, and Crew was on TV meeting—and beating—his idols.
“I saw all that and told myself a story—that you three were happier without me. It was real easy for me to believe that I hadn’t screwed up so badly, right? If my boys are winning at life, then I’m not so bad.”
