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.”

      “I have no doubt it will. But one thing, how will you keep your father from finding out about your plan?”

      Joshua straightened his shoulders. “His lawyers will handle everything since he’s out of the country right now. Besides, Melissa will place the bid on my behalf. I’ll be behind the scenes, so she’ll handle everything. Dad will never know who bought it until long after the deal is sealed. By then, there won’t be anything he can do.” At least he hoped there wouldn’t be.

      Steve chuckled. “It sounds like you’ve got a good plan.” He paused for a moment. “I’m surprised Melissa is still working as your attorney. After all the years she pined over you, you married Jessica, her best friend. I figured she’d moved on.”

      Joshua had never tried to lead Melissa on. They’d known each other since high school and only dated briefly during their junior year. She was a little too high-strung for his taste. Plus, God wasn’t first in her life. “Well, she knows her stuff when it comes to the law.”

      Before ending the call, the two friends promised to make an effort to talk more often. Joshua hung up and walked toward the window. It was spitting snow. Jessica never liked the snow. She preferred white sandy beaches and crystal-blue water. His stomach turned as he thought of her. He’d believed he’d known her, especially since they’d dated for three years before they were married. But as soon as she found out he’d quit his job, she’d walked. Right into more money. Five years of marriage and she left me for some rich guy. He mauled his face with his free hand, picturing her on an island in the Caribbean.

      He didn’t feel so hungry after all.

      * * *

      The following morning, after a shower and shave, Joshua donned a black polo shirt and tan slacks before zipping downstairs to the dining room for a quick breakfast. After seeing the snow last night, he couldn’t wait to hit the slopes. He’d had a restless night thinking about Faith’s home on the property. He needed to clear his mind.

      He relaxed his shoulders when he stepped inside the dining room and noticed it wasn’t nearly as crowded as last night. He could deal with out-of-town guests, but the locals were more inclined to ask questions.

      He strolled through the dining area. Red cedar beams extended along the ceiling. A large stone