Connections were impossible. What if he got so happy he forgot what he’d done? What if he stopped making payments on his debt to society?
He’d never thought to ask the question before. Izzy claimed peace could be found, or maybe made. But he didn’t believe her. Life wasn’t that easy. He’d been wrong and he had to pay. There was no way around it. However much he might want that to be different.
THE EARLY MORNING WAS cool and clear, with almost no humidity. Practically a miracle, Izzy thought happily as she drove with Aaron to the guesthouse to set up for their corporate retreat. Norma had spent most of the previous day working with the caterers on food prep, the housekeeping service had been through to get the rooms ready and boxes of folders, pens and notebooks had been delivered.
“I want to be outside,” Izzy whined when they came to a stop in front of the large guesthouse building. “Don’t make me stay inside.”“Work this morning, play this afternoon,” Aaron told her.
“I want to play now.”
He got out of the Jeep and looked at her. “You sound like you’re five.”
She got out, raised her arms so they were level with her shoulders and spun. “I want to see things, do things. I’m not blind anymore, Aaron. Give me a break.”
“Putting together the notebooks is doing something. Don’t make me use my stern voice. You won’t like it.”
Izzy slowed and looked at him. “If I’m bad, will you spank me?” she asked, mostly to make him squirm.
Aaron wrinkled his nose. “I am so the wrong person to have that conversation. Didn’t Nick tire you out last night?”
“No. I slept alone.”
“While I want to hear all the details, I have a very busy morning.” He pointed to the back of the Jeep. “Take those boxes inside to the conference room and set everything up. We have thirty people due here at ten-thirty. We are going to be ready. Don’t make me get crabby.”
“All right.” She sighed heavily, then started taking boxes into the conference room. At least she would spend the afternoon outside, demonstrating the rope bridge. She couldn’t wait to see how it really was and what it would be like now that she could see everything.
She went inside the conference center. There were several smaller rooms and one large one with tables set up in a square so everyone could see everyone else.
“Very corporate,” she murmured as she opened the boxes and began setting out a notebook filled with very technical financial information, a pen and a pad of paper on the desk in front of each chair.
When she was done, she went exploring. The so-called media room was more of a theater, with raised seating, an industrial-size popcorn maker, a huge fridge and a remote control to turn down the lights. Heaven forbid anyone should get up and actually walk to the switch on the wall.
She went upstairs and looked at the guest rooms. They were all beautifully decorated—a lush combination of upscale hotel and cozy B and B. The baths were spacious and well stocked and light filtered in from large windows.
She returned downstairs and made her way to the kitchen, where Norma was hard at work directing the catering staff.
“Nice place,” Izzy said, glancing around the restaurant-size kitchen. “It inspires me to cook.”
Norma barely looked up. “Don’t even think about it. I’m having enough trouble as it is. Did you see what was delivered? They’re not going to care if I serve them steak or dog food.”
Izzy looked in the corner. Cases and cases of beer sat ready to go in the massive refrigerator.
“There’s only thirty guys,” she said. “They can’t drink all that in three days.”
“I guess they’re going to give it a try. Can you put those in the refrigerator? At least as much as will fit on the bottom two shelves. We already have three cases on ice in the main living room and two more out back.”
Izzy admired dedication to a cause, but this was too much even for her. “Somebody’s going to be really sick by the end of the day,” she said.
“Just what we need. A bunch of finance guys puking all over the furniture,” Norma muttered. “Why didn’t I become a plumber? That’s what my mom always told me. People always need plumbers, you can overcharge folks who annoy you and are mostly out of the heat. But did I listen? Of course not.”
Izzy hid a smile. “You’re a fabulous cook. Aaron worships your biscuits.”
“I know. He’s a good boy.”
Words that would make him shudder, Izzy thought.
When Izzy had finished with the beer, she went outside. It was after ten and cars were already pulling up in front of the main building.