Jill Weatherholt - A Father For Bella

Her thoughts shifted when Joshua stepped into the foyer carrying a large black suitcase, along with a leather briefcase. Perhaps this was an extended trip for pleasure and business. She pushed in the lock before pulling it shut and headed toward the door. “Let’s go upstairs. Your room is the first one on the right.”

The sound of their footsteps echoed as they climbed the winding oak staircase. Once at the door, she slid the key into the doorknob and pushed it open.

“Wow! I wasn’t expecting such a large room.” Joshua smiled and stepped inside. His gaze stopped at the stone fireplace. “And it has its own fireplace—very nice.”

She flipped the light switch. The recessed lighting provided a warm glow throughout the room. “This is the largest of our five rooms. The other four are much smaller.” Heat filled her face. “Actually, it’s our honeymoon suite.”

“I take it there’re no honeymooners coming into town the next four weeks.”

She watched Joshua set his suitcase down on the luggage rack.

“This office space is perfect.” He placed his briefcase on top of the desk.

Faith flipped the plantation shutters closed. “We used to have it arranged as a sitting room, but one suggestion that continued to come up in the guest surveys was they’d like a workspace. I suppose with the internet, people don’t know how to unplug from the office anymore, even on their honeymoon.”

He nodded. “I think the room is perfect, and it smells so outdoorsy.”

“It’s pine. Usually for the honeymooners, we use lavender. We made a quick adjustment for you.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I’m going to let you get settled.” She handed over the key and pointed toward the desk. “The number for Mr. and Mrs. Watson is on that information sheet. They live on the premises in a spare room, off from the dining area. You’ll probably meet them when you go down to dinner. If you need anything, please give them a call.”

Faith reached for the doorknob and turned around. “I almost forgot. Dinner’s served until nine thirty. I’m sure you’re starved.”

“Actually, I am kind of hungry. I’ll definitely order the meat loaf. It smelled like my mother’s recipe.” He smiled.

“Yes, Michael’s Thursday night special is a crowd-pleaser. He makes terrific garlic mashed potatoes, too.” Her stomach grumbled. She hadn’t eaten anything since lunch, and that was only a small bowl of vegetable soup.

Joshua stepped toward the door and extended his hand. “Thank you for your help checking in. I appreciate it.”

She hesitated before reaching for his hand. “It’s part of my job. Besides, I’m the one who should thank you.”

“For what?”

Her gaze met his. “For finding Bella... I get sick to my stomach thinking what could have happened.”

“She’s safe now, that’s what matters.” He ran his hands down the front of his slacks. “Speaking of, you be safe driving home. On my ride here, I spotted several deer darting across the road.”

Faith smiled. “I don’t have to drive anywhere. My house is on the property.”

Joshua began to cough and clutched his hand to his throat.

She reached for his forearm. “Are you okay?”

He nodded. “Yes, I’m fine. I swallowed my gum, that’s all.” His face reddened. “Did you say you live here—on the property of the Black Bear?”

“Yes. We live in a two-bedroom cottage.” Faith noticed his coloring had turned from red to pale in a manner of seconds. “It’s adjacent to the back of the inn.”

He gave a quick nod and grabbed the doorknob. With a swift jerk, he pulled the door wide open—her clue to leave. She turned and walked through the door. When it slammed behind her, she realized neither had said goodbye. Odd. The new guest had been so friendly earlier. Why did he seem rattled to learn that she and Bella lived on the grounds of the inn?

Chapter Two

Joshua closed the door fast, but it didn’t release the guilt that gripped him. The ticking wall clock in the office space caused his thoughts to race. She lived on the property? He didn’t recall seeing a house.

Discovering that Faith had lived at the inn after her parents were killed was bad enough, but being a landlord wasn’t part of his plan. How could he evict a young mother and her child? There were so many other things that needed his attention prior to the auction, but this was a huge, unexpected curveball.

He strolled toward the clock and took it off the wall. Carefully, he removed the batteries and remounted it. He’d never liked the sound of time passing him by.

As he admired the Bob Timberlake painting hanging adjacent to the stacked-stone fireplace, his cell phone chirped. Without looking at the screen, he pulled it from his back pocket. “Hello, Joshua Carlson speaking.”

“Josh, hey, it’s Steve-o.” Steve Hayes, his best friend from Georgetown University.

His voice brought a smile to Joshua’s face. “Steve-o, it’s great to hear from you—it’s been a while.”

“It’s my fault, man. I’ve been working in London for the past four months. I had to set up a new network system for one of our customers. The hours have been brutal.”

“No problem. I know you tech guys work around the clock.”

A brief silence hung in the air.

“I just heard about your mom, Josh. I’m really sorry. I wish I’d known. I would have flown back for the funeral.”

First the cancer diagnosis and within six months, she was with the Lord. It was hard to believe a month had passed since he’d kissed her cheek and held her hand for the last time. “Don’t worry about it. I should have called you, but it was a small service. You know how my father is, always trying to keep family business hush-hush.”

“How’s he doing? Despite his ways, I know he loved your mom.”

“Yes, he did. I think it’s been tough for him, but we haven’t talked since the funeral...we hardly spoke then. He’s still angry at me for quitting my job at his firm.” He didn’t want to dump the gory details on his friend, but the truth was that his father had disowned his only son. “I did hear from Melissa.”

“So, she’s still handling your legal affairs?”

“Yeah, she said my dad’s attorney told her that my dad’s getting rid of anything that reminds him of my mother.”

“That must be tough on him.”

“He’s even selling the businesses. The hotels and inns they’d owned together are either for sale or going up for auction.” He paused. He could trust Steve to keep his plan under wraps. “That’s why I’m in Whispering Slopes.”

“Whispering Slopes—the ski resort in the Shenandoah Valley? The Black Bear Inn, wasn’t that your mother’s favorite place?”

He smiled. Steve had always been a good listener. “Yes, it was. My father’s putting it up for auction and I plan to make an offer. I’ve got a healthy nest egg saved, as well as my trust account. Hopefully it will cover the cost. There’s no way I’ll let strangers take over the inn. It meant too much to my mother.” He paused as the ache of losing her bubbled to the surface. “It’s all I have left of her.”

“I understand. Do you think he’s too angry at you for leaving his firm to gift the place to you?”

Joshua slid into the leather club chair next to the fireplace. “ Angry isn’t the word for it.” Despite Steve being his best friend, it was tough to admit his own father thought he was a loser. He glanced out the window. The outdoor spotlight exposed a gathering of seven white-tailed deer on the grounds below.

The silence lingered for a couple of seconds. Joshua hadn’t meant to make his friend uncomfortable “It’s all good. I’m going to buy this inn and the surrounding property. My plan is to redevelop it and make it a five-star resort.” Although Faith and her daughter would present a bigger problem than he anticipated, he wasn’t backing down—he couldn’t. “It’s going to be the best resort on the East Coast.”