"A while ago. She was first diagnosed last year. She went through treatment and we thought it was gone, but now it's back." He lets out a breath. "She started treatment last week. I doubt she'll be coming back to work."
What does he mean? She won't return to work because she'll be...dead? That can't happen. She can't die. They love each other. They need to be together.
"Tom." I relax my grip on his arm, but keep my hand there. "I don't know what to say."
He looks at me and his smile returns. "Say you'll keep coming back. Lois and I always wanted this place to be one that people wanted to come back to. We wanted it to be a place where people had memories that lasted a lifetime."
Like the inn Aiden went to when he was a kid. His grandfather's inn. The memories he made there never left him, and it sounds like they're some of the best memories of his life.
"I'll be back," I assure Tom. "How could I not? I love this inn. I love the town. I love everything about this place."
It's true, but not this weekend. Being alone here and missing Aiden is not a memory I want to keep. But all the other memories? The ones with Aiden? They'll always have a special place in my heart.
Tom chuckles. "It's good you can still appreciate the place, given the circumstances that brought you here."
"I actually don't mind picking up trash," I say, sitting back and taking a sip of my drink. "I wouldn't want to do it every weekend but it's a lot better than I thought it'd be. I like being out in the fresh air, being in nature. And spending my nights here at the inn has been like a vacation. I hope to come back here every year if I can."
"Things will be changing, but hopefully not too much." He wraps his hands around his glass, spinning it around as he gazes at it.
"You're making changes to the inn?'
"I'm not. The new owners will." He glances at me. "Aiden told you about the sale, didn't he?"
"He said you were thinking about selling. He didn't go into details."
"It's not official yet. We have a lot to sort through. I wasn't sure I could go through with it but I can't keep it going with Lois sick. My time needs to be spent with her, not here at the inn."
I gulp past the lump in my throat, feeling like I'm about to cry as I think about Tom and his wife and what they must be going through right now. This inn was their dream. They've worked here since high school. They probably thought they'd work here for many more years, and now they can't.
"I'm so sorry, Tom. I know how much you and your wife love this place."
"We do." He pauses, gazing down at his glass. "But it's time to move on. We knew we'd eventually have to sell it. The time just came sooner than we wanted."
"Could you maybe keep it but have someone else run it?"
"I could if I didn't need the money from the sale. The medical bills will be arriving soon and I won't be able to keep up if I don't sell the place."
"There's got to be something else you could do."
"Even if there was, I think it's time. Lois and I devoted our lives to this place and now it's time for someone else to take the reins. We'll get to have the retirement we never thought we'd have."
He sounds hopeful, so maybe Lois will be okay. Maybe they caught the cancer early. I'm afraid to ask, knowing it might be something he wants to keep private.
"Will you get to choose who buys the place?"
"Not if I sell to the investment firm Aiden works for. Those places usually fix up a property, then sell it to the highest bidder."
"But don't you want it going to someone who loves it as much as you do?"
"That would be ideal, but unfortunately there aren't people lining up to buy an old inn in the middle of nowhere. The place needs a lot of repairs. A new owner isn't going to want to take on those expenses in addition to a mortgage." He gets off his barstool. "I need to get back to the desk." He pats my shoulder. "I know you miss him but he'll be back next week."
How did he know I'm missing Aiden? Did he just assume that or can he tell?
"Want another?" Charlie asks, pointing to my empty glass.
"No, thanks. I think I'll just go up to my room."
Charlie motions to where Tom was just sitting. "Did he tell you what's going on?"
I nod. "I feel so bad for him. For both of them."
He grabs a rag and wipes the bar where Tom's glass was sitting. "My aunt had breast cancer and she's doing great now so maybe Lois will be okay too."
"Breast cancer? That's what she has?"
"Yeah. I don't know how far along it is. Lois didn't want us knowing too much."
A waiter comes up to the bar. "I've got a big drink order." He hands Charlie the order slip.
"I'll get right on it."
I get down from the barstool. "I'm going to head upstairs."
Charlie smiles at me. "Goodnight!"
When I get to my room I feel an emptiness come over me. All I see when I'm in this room are memories of Aiden and me, of him holding me in his arms, laying beside me, looking at me as if there's no one else in the world he'd rather be with. It never felt like a lie, which is why I'm finding it so hard to believe he's still with Celine. But if he's telling the truth and he's no longer with her, then why is he letting her get in the way of our happiness?
I know Aiden's concerned about Celine interfering with his handling
