Noah glanced at her, begging for an answer.
“It hardly seems fair to you, Ethan. Eating and running is rude.”
“Not in these circumstances, no it isn’t. Noah gets to have dinner out and you have time to make him do his homework and I get to spend some time with the two of you. I’m happy with that.”
She pondered for a few seconds, trying to do the right thing for everyone while not looking like she was desperate to spend time with him. “Only if you’re sure it’s okay?”
“I said it was. Now you guys do what you need to do and I’ll see you at my place soon.”
“Do you live with Grandma Pearl?”
“No, Noah. I live down past the main house at the little worker’s cottage.” He glanced at her when he said it, reminding her of the nights they snuck into the empty building and made out. “I renovated it and moved in there a couple of years ago. Your mom knows where it is.”
“Okay. I’m gonna go do my homework fast. Mom you need to hurry up and get ready.”
Noah ran out and raced up the stairs to their apartment. “I haven’t seen him move so fast since you took him to soccer training with Cory.”
“Looks like I’ve won at least one of you over then.”
Mari stared into eyes so like her husband’s and the stirring of loneliness shifted another notch. “Yeah, looks like it.”
Chapter Sixteen
Ethan kicked his feet out in front of him on the porch and relaxed back in the chair watching Noah climbing the cherry tree after dinner. “Remember when we used to sit up in the branches eating until we made ourselves sick?”
A soft giggle came from beside him. “Oh, yeah. And your mom would scold us but we didn’t care. We’d go and do it all again the next day. Cherry season used to be my favorite time of the year.”
“I can still feel the bark against my legs and the flies buzzing around my face as we sat perched in the trees. The warmth of the sun and the cherry juice dribbling down my chin. Those were the days.”
“How come you stayed, Ethan? I thought you would’ve hightailed it out of here when you were old enough too. Rake and I talked about that quite a bit.”
“I wish I’d known. I wanted to go, believe me, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave Mom behind. She was broken when you left.” He peered at her face, taking in every curve, every inch of skin. “She loves him despite his stubbornness. I get that but at the time I thought he was the meanest father around and I didn’t blame Rake for sticking up for what he wanted. Just because Dad never had the balls to go and chase his dream, didn’t mean he had to try and hold Rake back.”
Mari nodded. “Fair enough. And now?”
“They’re good again. Oh, don’t get me wrong, Dad has his moments and he’s moody when he feels like it but I see no reason to go anywhere. I have my business with Christian. We’re doing well and I have my own place so that gives me the space to get out of his way and still be close enough to Mom if she needs me.” He gazed up toward the big house, its lights twinkling in the waning evening light.
“You’re a good man, Ethan.”
“I do my best. But enough about that. What’s done is done and I’d rather concentrate on the future. Tell me what the plans are for the hotel now that we’ve finished our part of the process.” He reached out and took her hand, resting it between them on the wooden seat.
“Well, April is helping me get the rooms ready. I have a couple that I’ve put on the website ready for occupation now. The restaurant is chugging along smoothly but I want a breakfast chef so I can offer more for people that stay. Once I arrange that, I’ll start advertising more, pushing for bookings. I need to decorate the ballroom and take lots of photos. Once again, April will help me because she’s so good at that side of things. Then I can link the websites together and really push the wedding business as well as the hotel as a destination people want to get married at.”
“Sounds like you have your hands full.”
“I do but it’s how I like it. I’ve never been one to sit back and twiddle my thumbs.” She gave a sigh of pleasure. “This is so peaceful. I’d forgotten how nice it was out here.”
“It can be nice but living in town isn’t that much of a hardship. Especially with Flathead Lake over the road. Imagine the photo opportunities the brides will have with that beautiful view.”
“I know. When Rake found the property online it was almost as if it was meant to be. At least that’s what he thought.”
“Why? Not sure I follow his reasoning. He was so keen to get out of the place.”
“Because he wanted me to bring Noah back here and finish off a couple of things for him.” She sat up and leaned her elbows on her knees. “Your father for one.”
“What about him?”
“I shouldn’t say, Ethan. I’ve already told you that. You’re going to have to trust me on this one.” She brushed at a moth that flickered near her face in the evening light. “I’ve called him and left a message. Told him I need to talk to him about Rake since he took me by surprise last time. Things I never got to say when he came over. It’s up to him now.”
“Okay.” She held her breath as he dragged out the word. “Is there anything else you can tell me then?”
“Yes. Rake wanted me to make up between the two of you on his behalf. Now we’re settled back here,
