Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89183 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
“This is going to be my favorite reading retreat so far. I just know it.”
Malcolm looked up from his phone, where he’d been making a list of supplies, surprise on his face. “Are you sure about that?”
She nodded. “I’m positive. I know there’s work to be done, but it really is cosmetic. And I think Mari’s idea to transform these cottages for a reading retreat is very doable. Among the three, the bedrooms will be able to sleep a dozen people, depending on the configuration. Just think, a dozen people every week finding joy again. Finding love. Becoming whole again. Or just taking a much-needed break for the first time in a long time.”
He didn’t reply for a long moment. Finally, he said, “How do you do it? How do you always see everything in such a positive light?”
“I … I guess I didn’t know that I did.”
“You do. You’re always smiling. Even when some grumpy jackass picks you up at the airport, you don’t let it rattle you. I show up in the middle of the night smelling like booze, and you’re okay with it. Mari brings you into a project where it turns out you are going to be dealing with cobwebs and broken bits of old furniture before you can bring in books and readers. And still, you never stop smiling. You never stop seeing how great everything is going to be.”
It was quite possibly the nicest thing anybody had ever said to her. Even when she thought she’d been in love, her ex had never said anything even close to that nice or complimentary. And more than that, she felt as though Malcolm was showing her a fresh window into herself.
“Well, thank you. And you just… You made me feel really good, not just because of all the lovely compliments, but because hearing you say that makes me realize I’m really resilient.”
His eyebrows rose at the word resilient. She might’ve said too much. She didn’t want to go into the whole sob story about what had happened to her. She’d told Mari, and that had felt right, but talking to Malcolm about her recent heartbreak felt different somehow. Like it would create an even deeper intimacy between them, an intimacy that frankly scared her. Not just because of what had happened in high school—they’d already washed that water under the bridge. But more because, as she’d said to Mari, she didn’t think she could trust a man anymore. If she couldn’t trust a man, how could she ever be truly intimate with him?
In any case, she said, “Well, we’re certainly going to have a busy week or two, aren’t we?”
“We are. It’s a good thing I’ve booked a holiday, but I’m thinking a week away from the office isn’t going to be sufficient. I’m going to need at least two if we’re going to be reading-retreat ready.”
“Are you sure you want to do menial labor?” Josie hadn’t forgotten that he worked practically 24/7, and could likely hire people to do things like cleaning out old cottages.
“I am looking forward to getting my hands dirty for a change, and I’m fortunate to have contacts in every industry and trade you can imagine. What I and my siblings don’t know how to do, we’ll hire out.”
“But what about your work?”
“The office will be fine without me. If they’re not, it means I haven’t done my job well enough training my staff.” He paused. “Funny, that’s the first time that’s occurred to me. I hire excellent people and train them well. I should trust them more. In fact, I should have been taking a lot more holidays over the years.” He looked sad as he said, “Instead, I’ve always insisted on being involved in every decision, every deal. I need to learn to let go.”
She found herself wondering if what had happened with his father when he was a teenager had impacted more than just the way he’d behaved in high school. Had it colored the rest of his life as well? Had it driven his choices? And could the effect of his father’s tragedy have somehow turned Malcolm into a workaholic?
Or had he been born a workaholic in the same way she’d been born a bookworm? She found she had more and more questions about Malcolm and his life with every minute they spent together.
His phone had been pinging with incoming messages all day, but though he checked them periodically, he hadn’t shown much interest. Then he got a message that made him smile and turn to Josie.
“What do you say we have afternoon tea with my grandmother?”
She was stunned by the sudden question. “Mathilda Westcott? Really? I’m starved, and I would love to meet her, but I hate to impose.”
“Oh, it’s no imposition, trust me. More like a command. We’ve been summoned, but I just thought I’d phrase it as a question to be polite. I imagine Gran’s feeling very pleased with herself for bringing so much business to Mari’s store, and I’m sure she sold a large number of her own titles. No doubt, Mari’s got her interested enough in you that she wants to meet you.”