“No, I’ve got it covered.” And he winked at her. He actually winked.
Audra dug her keys from her front pocket, then let herself into her cabin. This was the way she would have felt if she’d had a date to her high-school prom.
Jack had showered, shaved, ironed his clothes, and changed, then changed again in his private rooms in the main cabin. He was pulling together the ingredients he’d need for dinner with Audra when the bell sounded above the front door of the rental cabins’ office.
She was early!
On the heels of that panicked thought, Jack realized something was wrong. Audra wouldn’t enter through the rental cabins’ office. Jack strode through his kitchen and great room to the main cabin’s registration desk.
He didn’t bother to mask his impatience when he found Simon Knight waiting for him. “What can I do for you, Simon?”
Simon looked around, spreading his arms wide to encompass the entire room. “Very nice.”
“Thanks.”
“You see, Jack. That’s the kind of man you are.” The other man leaned into the desk, bringing him closer to Jack. Too close.
Jack stared him down without responding.
Simon straightened. “You’re the kind of man who picks himself up and keeps moving forward despite the roadblocks and inconveniences that get in his way.”
Jack shoved his fists into the front pockets of his black Dockers. “Which one was it?”
Simon looked confused. “Was what?”
“My daughter’s death. Was it a ‘roadblock’ or an ‘inconvenience’?”
The softly voiced question seemed to catch Simon off guard. “That isn’t what I meant. Of course your daughter’s death was a terrible tragedy.”
“Tell me what you want, then leave.”
Simon straightened his shoulders. “Trinity Falls is celebrating its sesquicentennial.”
“And?” Jack’s patience was nearing its end.
“We’re planning a Founders Day Celebration as part of the festivities.”
When Jack didn’t respond, Simon continued. “As the sole surviving member of our town’s founding family, you should be the keynote speaker for the Founders Day events.” Simon made the pronouncement as though he were presenting Jack with the keys to the town his family had settled.
“No.” Jack had taken two steps toward his office before Simon’s shocked words stopped him.
“Wait. What?”
Jack faced him. “I told Doreen I won’t make any speeches.”
Simon gaped. “You have to represent your family and the town during this celebration.”
Jack considered his unwanted visitor. What wasn’t Simon telling him? “Why are you here?”
“To convince you to participate in the sesquicentennial celebrations. You owe it to the town.”
“If you think the event needs more speeches, make one yourself.”
“People expect a member of the founding family to be represented on Founders Day.”
Jack returned to the registration desk. “What is this really about?”
“What do you mean?” Simon’s gaze slid away.