Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 108124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
When I got to the end, I handed it back. “Your mamaw was a smart woman. I think it’s cool that you wrote this. We could all use a reminder of what’s truly important from time to time.”
She took a deep breath in. “So…”
I suspected what she was leading up to. “What?”
“If you truly get it—if you appreciate the importance of Beaufort and growing up in this idyllic place—why can’t you understand wanting to preserve The Palm Inn?”
Here we go.
And we were getting along so well.
“You can still have the kind of life you want here in Beaufort without running the inn, Presley.”
“But what about preserving your family’s history?”
“The Palm is a building. It doesn’t have a heart that beats. Moreover, I don’t think it’s important to preserve something that’s not relevant anymore. It would be much smarter to take that money and invest it—make a new history for yourself and Alex so you can have a fresh start.”
Her expression turned almost sad. What the hell was she thinking? Why did she want this so badly? There had to be more to it.
“I feel like you’re searching for something in this place that’s just not here,” I told her. “Maybe you’re searching for the innocence of a time that doesn’t exist anymore. Beaufort is still a nice place to live, but things have changed. The memories of this place will always be here, but my grandfather never specified that he wanted us to run it forever. I think even he knew it wouldn’t work out. Otherwise he would have told us that’s what he wanted.”
She blinked. Even though she didn’t say anything, I got the sense that she was really hearing me for the first time. I took advantage of the rare opportunity to try to get through to her.
“Hear me out, Presley. Even if you were able to fix it up, there’s just not enough draw. People stay in Airbnbs now, not bed and breakfasts. And even if the demand were there, it’s a fuck ton of work. You’d regret it.”
Her frown deepened, the look on her face growing sadder by the second. And now I regretted pissing on her parade. It made me feel like shit. I knew her intentions were good, but I couldn’t stand by and let her make a huge mistake.
But I’d done enough damage for one day. So I sighed and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. “Okay. I’m done with the lecture.”
“I guess we’re just going to have to agree to disagree until one of us backs down,” she finally said. “Hopefully that person will be you.”
God. Presley was stubborn. A part of me admired her resilience, as much as it fucking annoyed me.
No way was I getting into it any more today, though, because we’d been getting along. Actually, maybe playing nice would be more successful than being combative in getting her to see the light.
I changed the subject as I bounced on the bed. “This mattress is hella comfortable. The one in room thirteen is hard as a rock. Mind if I switch it out with this one?”
“Go to town,” she said as she proceeded to pack some stuff away in the corner of the room.
“Don’t you mean go to hell?” I cracked.
“I’m trying to be nice to you, Levi.”
“Is that your new strategy?”
“Maybe.”
I laughed to myself. I’d thought I was so clever a minute ago, planning to kill her with kindness. Apparently, we both had the same idea.
***
Later that night, Presley and I were cleaning up after dinner, and I insisted she let me do the dishes. She’d made a damn good chicken pot pie and thought she’d have leftovers for lunch tomorrow. But I’d demolished three huge pieces and squelched all hope of the pie surviving past supper. After my gluttony, the least I could do was help her clean up.
“Mom and I eat like birds,” my nephew said. “But, Uncle Levi, you eat like a tyrannosaurus. I’ve never seen anyone eat like you.”
I knew damn well that my brother could throw down some food. The fact that Alex couldn’t remember the last meal he’d had with his dad wasn’t lost on me.
“Wait until those Miller genes catch up with you, buddy. It’s only a matter of time before you’re eating everything in sight, too. I bet you’ll end up taller than me.”
Presley chuckled. “Actually, I’d forgotten what it was like cooking for an athlete. I have to remember to make double next time if I want leftovers.” She winked.
“Well, it was really good. Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled.
Here we were seeming to get along again. I had to wonder if this was all part of her “kill him with kindness” plan.
After Alex went upstairs to his room, Presley became suddenly anxious. I turned to find her looking like she wanted to tell me something.