Loving Lies(45)

I wish I could stay but I’ve got my own confrontation to deal with. I spot Carol and my grandfather and saunter over toward them.

“Well, if it isn’t the traitorous snake himself,” says my grandfather, letting me know in no uncertain terms he’s done with me.

Months ago that would have hurt and angered me, but not anymore. Life isn’t all about the money and it took coming to Stone Cliff Resort, and me meeting Alyssa, to really figure out what was missing in my life.

The wind’s picked up and it’s going to be another dry, hot day. I notice for the first time my grandfather’s almost bald and he’s sporting a beer belly. He might be dressed to the nines in his tailored business suit, but underneath all that fabric he’s just an old man and someday he’ll be alone without any family if he keeps this up.

“Nice to see you too, Pops,” I say, to simply piss him off.

“Pops?” I expect him to yell at me, but he surprises me and laughs.

“That’s what I used to call my old man. Did you father tell you that?”

I shake my head. “Nope. We didn’t really talk about you or your father. Not that I wouldn’t have wanted to, but after all that happened between the two of you and now with me running your business deal , I’m thinking this is our goodbye.”

He says something I don’t catch to Carol and the next thing I know she’s in the car.

“Blake, you’ve got a good sense for business. You just let your heart get in the way. Take some time to grieve and get over your father’s death. Come back with me and we’ll get you sorted out.”

I chuckle. Yeah, my heart got in the way but I’ve learned a mighty lesson. “Is that seriously how you get through the day? Your son is dead. That’s got to mean something to you.” I stop and look at him, the blank look on his face. “Christ, it really doesn’t. I think it’s best if you get in that car and never come up here again. We’re over.”

He looks down at the ground. “Well, if you change your mind and grow tired of the dirt and gravel up here you know where to find me.”

“Yeah, I do. Don’t hold your breath, Pops.”

He doesn’t say anything else. I don’t bother waving as he gets in the car and then watch him drive out of my life. I thought I’d feel differently about him leaving, especially since the nice, fat pay cheque he gave me is now a thing of the past, but strangely, I don’t. If anything I feel relief. Today truly is a new day for me.

“How you doing?” asks Donald, the manager who oversees most things at the resort.

I turn around and smile. “Actually, I’m pretty good.”

He grins, which is not a usual occurrence for him. “Well, that’s good. Mr. McCaid would like to see you in his office.”

My gut twists but I’m not one to avoid a confrontation. I nod and head into the office.

“So, how did things go with your grandfather?” asks Mr. McCaid, after he tells Amy, at the front desk, to get me a coffee.

I slip into the worn wooden chair and notice all the photos on the wall. Funny how I didn’t see them before. He catches my eyes.

“They’re stages of the resort. From start to finish…except we’re not really finished.”

“They’re great,” I say, thanking Amy for the coffee.

“Yeah they are. Listen, Blake, I like you.”

“Thanks, but I’m not so sure I deserve it,” I say, taking a sip of the hot coffee.

“See and that’s why I like you. You could have kept up that lie but you came clean and to me that means a lot.”

“Like I said yesterday, I really like this place.”

“Yeah and that’s why I want you as a partner.”

I sputter on my drink. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope.”

I’m about to say something when in walks Mrs. McCaid. “Did you tell him?”

Mr. McCaid gets up from his chair and pulls Sandy, his wife, in for a hug. “Just getting to the good stuff.”

“So what do you think?” she asks.

I stand up because they’re both standing and I’m feeling restless. “I’m not sure what all this is about.”

“Well we’re getting old and I’ve been looking for someone to take over for a while and it turns out you’re the one.”

“What about Donald?” I ask, recalling how involved the manager is.

“Oh, Donald doesn’t want to be a partner. Trust me, we’ve talked to him. He’s all for you joining us. Said new blood was what we needed. So we’re thinking you can work off your partnership bill. And in four years you’ll be the sixty percent partner and we’ll keep our forty percent,” says Mr. McCaid with a smile on his face.