“You were wrong.” Jackson’s mouth tightened. “Whatever she thinks of Tyler, she’s Jess’s mother. She wouldn’t come back to see her folks and not tell her own daughter.”
“Wouldn’t she?” Sean wiped dust from his sleeve. “Last Christmas she sent that same daughter here to live permanently without giving a single thought to what was right for Jess. Didn’t seem to bother her much. Think we should mention it to Tyler?”
“No. Because you could have been wrong. Shit.” Jackson dragged his hand over the back of his neck. “I hope you are wrong. The last thing we need around here is Janet Carpenter mixing things up. Jess is settled and happy. Tyler is steadier than he’s been in years.”
“I’m probably wrong. There are plenty of women with long red hair. And why would she be here? She fell out with her folks and she hates Snow Crystal almost as much as she hates Tyler.”
“And Jess is stuck in the middle of that. From what I can gather they don’t even speak that often, but it doesn’t seem to bother Jess much. Since that incident at Christmas, everything has calmed down. She adores Tyler, so whatever Janet has tried to do to kill that hasn’t worked. Let’s just forget it and if it is her and she’s come back without telling her own daughter, all the more reason not to mention it. Jess doesn’t need the hurt and Tyler doesn’t need the hassle.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. And talking of causing Tyler hassle, about this camping trip—” Sean bent and brushed dust from his shoe. “I’ll do it.”
“You?” Jackson looked at him in astonishment. “You’ll be in Boston.”
“I was planning to come home next weekend, anyway. Just to check on Gramps.” The six weeks away from Snow Crystal he’d been planning suddenly felt like too long. “I’ll be here so I’ll do it.”
“So not only are you planning on coming home again, you want to go camping?” Jackson didn’t even bother to try and hide the smile. “Has someone suddenly invented a five-star tent with private facilities that I don’t know about?”
“I was brought up here, same as you. I know those trails as well as you. My wilderness survival techniques are as good as yours.”
“Since when did wilderness survival equipment include walking in handmade Italian shoes?” Jackson’s gaze slid from his shirt to his feet. “They’re going to look good after a day hiking on t
he trail. Is that your idea of dressing casually? Because you wouldn’t look out of place in a box at the opera.”
“That shows how many times you’ve taken a box at the opera. And for your information I just took Gramps to the hospital.”
“Right. That explains why your mood is so cozy and warm. That hike is tough. That’s why we’ve chosen it.”
“I can do tough. Try standing on your feet for twelve hours operating and then get up in the night for an emergency, then you’ll know tough.”
“You want to give up two days of your time to nursemaid a load of quarreling businessmen?”
“No. Tyler can do that part. I want to do the practice session.”
Jackson swatted a fly. “You’re really willing to go to these lengths just so Tyler doesn’t get to spend a night in a tent with Élise?”
“It’s got nothing to do with Élise. I’m doing my bit to help with the family business. It will get Gramps off my back. I just thought I could help out, that’s all. Visitor numbers are up. You can’t employ more staff until the numbers are healthier so I’m guessing you’re all stretched to the limit.”
“We are. But we’ve been stretched to the limit before and I didn’t see you throwing down your scalpel and running to our rescue. Which is fine, because you’re doing what you’re trained to do and we’re all proud of you.” Jackson’s gaze was steady. “So do us both a favor, cut the bullshit and tell me what the hell is going on.”
“Like I said, I’m helping out.”
Jackson sighed. “Fine, do it. As you say, we’re short of staff. It will free up Tyler to take that family on a mountain bike trip. But you do anything to Élise, you bring even one tiny tear to her eye, and I’ll be the one breaking your bones, not Tyler.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ÉLISE BURIED HERSELF in work in the hope that it would stop her thinking about Sean.
She knew he’d taken Walter to the hospital. The fact that he hadn’t stopped by to see her bothered her more than it should have.
And now he was back in Boston, getting on with his life and she was getting on with hers.
Which was exactly the way it should be.
She cooked every night in the Inn serving award-winning food in elegant surroundings and spent the rest of the time supervising and working in the new Boathouse Café. She experimented with menus, removed dishes that didn’t seem popular, and added a few others. It pleased her to see the newly completed deck crowded with families, old and young alike.
And in the few spare hours she had, she designed a menu for the team-building event Kayla had arranged. The food had to be light to carry and easy to cook.
Tyler had given her the little outdoor stove they’d be using and she reproduced all the dishes using only the equipment she’d have on the trail.