Losing something often results in clarity, and this time was no different. Losing Davis had been devastating at the time. Though Thandie knew she didn’t mourn the loss of him. She grieved for the idea of a happy marriage that he had stolen from her when he left.
She had only known Grant for a few days, and he already held a piece of her heart. A piece that she didn’t know she had left to give to anybody. Now that she knew she was able to love again, she wasn’t ready to discard the idea so easily. She only hoped that Grant could put aside what he saw as a betrayal and give an honest account to Davis about the state of the retreat.
In the meantime, there was work to do. In the distance, she saw America making her way to the cabin beside the one where Grant had stayed. “Hey, America, wait up,” Thandie yelled across the open space outside.
America turned and waved Thandie over.
In no time at all, Thandie caught up to America. She didn’t care what America’s task was, she just needed to keep busy while Grant mulled over his report. There was nothing more she could do, and she hoped that the week’s experience was enough alone for him to convince Davis to invest. Whoever was investing the money, she just wanted the business to succeed. Keeping down a job long enough to save the money needed to get back home was a benefit too.
“Do you need help? I don’t even care what it is, I just need to get some of my energy out.”
“That’d be great. Thanks.”
“How are things going up there at the barn, anyway?” Thandie said as they made their way across the wet ground, stepping from dryer tufts of grass to others.
“I think they’re nearly finished with all the repairs. Pa’s fixing that window in the barn right now, the one that water was pouring through. I didn’t see it, but Leo told me it looked like a faucet was on,” America said. “Also, I have good news for you. It looks like next week’s retreat is still going to happen, as long as we get these cabins turned over.”
“What about the rooms with leaks?” Thandie knew of at least one cabin that needed roof fixes—Grant’s—and by the quantity of downed limbs and scattered leaves, she was certain there were other structures that had been damaged in the storm too.
“We have the rest of today and tomorrow to get as many things fixed up as we can. Luckily, we only need three of the cabins, since most of the guests are in groups. I have the binder ready for you at my house.” America rambled as they went inside the little bungalow and kicked off their muddy boots.
Thandie hadn’t had time during her first day to check out all the different accommodations, and this one was darling. Leaving her dirty shoes by the door, she opened all the drapes and let the late afternoon sun filter into the space. She stood in the quaint, English-inspired cottage with its floral wallpaper and painted furniture. Little accents of gold and iron dotted the living room and kitchen area, complete with glossy, white enamel appliances.
The design was so unlike the cabin she was staying in, and nothing like the one where Grant had stayed either.
“I’ll start with the linens in the primary,” America said, which reminded Thandie of her first night’s stay in the most perfectly made bed.
“You think you can show me your trick sometime?”
“What trick?” America said from the bedroom.
Thandie gathered the kitchen towels and a blanket from the couch and threw them into a pile near the door. “How you make the beds so expertly. The sheets were soft but taught, and the covers were just the right amount of cozy and warm.”
America chuckled. “I agree. But I’m not the one you should ask. Leo is the magician with all the bed-making skills.”
“Seriously?” Thandie said, supposing her gender bias had caused her to assume America was the one who made the beds.
A loud thud vibrated the floor beneath Thandie’s toes. Rounding the corner into the bedroom, she stifled a giggle with the back of her hand at the sight. America stood waist deep in linens and was barely visible behind a shower of feathers.
“What happened in here?”
“The pillow seam blew out when I took the case off,” America laughed and sunk down to the floor.
Thandie joined America on the ground and watched the little white feathers fall around them. When the giggles subsided, they just lay there for a moment, as though they each needed a tiny break from the disaster outside.
“Do you want to tell me what was going on between you, Mr. Mothan, and Grant a little while ago?” America asked and broke the silence. “And don’t tell me nothing. I know that look in your eyes from when we were up at the barn. Spill it.”
Thandie had nothing to lose by telling America the truth, though she was a little afraid of hearing the truth out loud. “I think I’m in love with Grant.”
“And you’re worried because you just met him?” America said but continued talking before Thandie could answer. “Did anyone tell you about me and Leo? We met, fell in love, and were engaged all in a few weeks. Time doesn’t mean anything when you find your person. So, don’t be scared.”
“That’s not exactly the problem,” Thandie said and waved her hands in the air, moving the feathers around in swirls. “Remember when I told you that my fiancé left me the day before the wedding?”
“Yes,” she said like a question.
“The man who broke my heart is Davis.”
“No!”
“Yes! And what’s worse, Grant is his consultant. Believe me, I had no idea about him or the investor or any of it when I took this job—”
“Of course, you couldn’t have known,” America said.
“Thank you for that. But to make things worse, Grant thinks that Davis and I are getting back together.”
“Why would he think that?”
Thandie sat up and moved to the end of the mattress. “He caught Davis kissing me up at the barn.”
“Did you kiss him back?”
Thandie squirmed from the thought, and America raised an eyebrow.
“On top of that,” Thandie stood up and rung her hands together, preferring pacing over sitting, “when I asked him to give an honest report, he basically accused me of trying to sway his opinion with all the attention I showed him this week. Which is a mischaracterization.”
“He feels betrayed?”
“He feels like I lied all week and only spent time with him because it was my job.” Thandie wiped a tear falling on her cheek. “It’s true, I did try and show him the best of this place like I did for all the guests. The difference is that I was only looking forward to seeing him grinning back at me during every event and activity, not any of the other guests. From the moment he ran me over on the hiking trail the first day and held me in his arms, afraid that I was hurt badly, I wanted nothing more than to see him every day.”
“Did you tell him how you feel?” America asked.
Thandie went to the bathroom where she collected the towels and bathmat. “I thought I did, but I doubt he believes me. He thinks that I’m in love with Davis and that everything that happened between us was fake.”
“I don’t know what to say, Thandie. The only advice I can give you is to tell him everything. From the start. And let him make up his own mind once he has all the facts.”
America was speaking out of love and what sounded like experience. “Did you ever go through something like this before?”
America kicked the pile of linens towards the living room, and added them to the kitchen towels and throw-blanket. “I accused Leo of not caring about this community when he was the mayor. I thought he would never forgive me, but I told him the truth and let it be. Time provided some clarity for him and me both.”
“What I need him to do now is write his report for Davis, secure the funding that you and Leo need, and then . . . I don’t know.”
“The truth, Thandie. You tell him the truth about how you feel. You tell him exactly what you told me. You tell him that you’re not in love with Davis.” America retrieved a bucket of cleaning supplies from under the sink and handed Thandie a duster and some disinfectant spray. “Does he know what happened between you and that awful man?”
“Not exactly. He knows that Davis hurt me in some way and that I forgave him.”
“You did?” America started the water running at the sink.
“I can’t move on unless I let go of what he did to me. Someone told me that moving on sometimes means starting over, and that’s what I feel like I did this week. This place, the people, the guests, and Grant, all helped me see a future that I’m worthy of. I was able to see that life isn’t a straight line that one can just plan out. Life isn’t even a road. It’s a flood, a disaster, that can be turned into something beautiful, something better.”
“There’s no perfect relationship, and it’s something you have to fight for every day,” America added and hit Thandie’s sentiment right on. “Are you going to fight for Grant? Please tell me you are!” She clapped her hands together in excitement. “I love a good romance story.”
Thandie smiled. “What else can a girl do?”
“Love with all her heart, no matter what.” America took Thandie’s hands and set her gaze on her face. “Let this thing finish with Davis, and then fight with all you have for Grant.” She nodded, and Thandie reciprocated the gesture.
“Do you recall telling me that this place would be a safe harbor for me?” Thandie asked.
“Yes, why?”
“Because it has been. Thank you for that. For everything. No matter what happens after today, please know how grateful I am to you.”
“Of course,” America said. “You’re welcome.”
“Now, I know what I need to do,” Thandie said.
As she completed her thought, the front door opened, and Leo came in. “Hey you two. I hoped I’d find you in here.” He looked at Thandie. “I wanted to let you know that your phone is all fixed up.” He handed it over. “Not that you’ll get much of a signal, but I thought you’d like to have it back.”
“I would love to have my phone back, actually.” Thandie hugged it into her chest. “How did you get it fixed so fast, anyway? I thought I would need to buy a new one.”
“I know a guy,” Leo said. “Plus, you’re going to need it if you’re staying on as director past next week.”
“Really? You got the funding?” America asked, smiling.
Leo rocked his head back and forth. “Well, it’s looking good, but it’s not locked in yet,” he said and turned to America. “I believe in this project. Even without the money, we’ll find a way. And I think Thandie needs to be a part of The Foundry.”
Thandie nodded, words having left her mind.
“Plus, just think of all the help we got today with the cleanup. My brother? I mean, who would have thought that he, of all people, would come through?”
“Christmas Cove is part of John’s community now too. Your success here looks good for the whole city,” America said.
Leo nodded and Thandie saw him grin. Whatever was happening with Leo and his brother was the same sort of healing her own heart had undergone in the past week. Spring showers really can create beautiful change. The rain that she had been fighting against all week ended up bringing out the best in people. Even the guests had helped with the sandbagging effort. All that water washed away her past and caused something new to bloom within her: hope for the future and safety from life’s storms.
“Hey, Leo. I think I finally have a name for the barn and you’re both gonna love it.”
“We’re renaming the barn?” America asked, and Leo nodded. “Well?”
Thandie took a deep breath. “How about Harbour House? It fits with the lake theme, even if it does dry up. And people will feel what I’ve felt, that The Foundry is a safe place to heal, to grow, to explore . . .”
“To find love?” America asked.
“That too.” Thandie said and tugged her boots on. Dried mud fell off and sprinkled on the ground. “I’ll get that later. I have a phone call to make and a voicemail to listen to,” she said and ran out.
Thandie sprinted toward her car and glimpsed Grant heading inside the Harbour House doors. He didn’t look back or see her as she ducked inside the driver’s side door.