Chapter Fourteen
Paige pedaled back to the inn as fast as she could and helped Anna with the dinner clean up. After saying good night to her guests, she took a long, hot shower. She would miss Dean’s hands on her and Jack’s frenzied kisses. Letting the shower stream wash away her tears, she girded herself for battle.
The first thing she did after she toweled off was shut off her phone. With any luck, that would buy her the rest of the night. If they couldn’t reach her by phone, they would have to come to the inn. The doors were locked and only the guests had keys. Still, she wouldn’t put it past her parents to knock on the doors, so she got dressed in her best jeans and a V-neck tee.
Then she pulled up her bank account and started transferring money around. After about a half hour, she scraped together sixty thousand dollars. She wouldn’t have enough to pay her bills next month. She didn’t have enough to even buy food. But she had thirty days to figure something out. As long as her guests didn’t cancel, she could still pull this off. Paige had enough stuff frozen or stocked up, so she didn’t need to go food shopping, and she still had a few emergency credit cards.
She wrote her parents out a check with shaking hands, although it felt like a gigantic weight was off her shoulder. As part of the loan agreement, if the entire amount was paid in full within five years, her parents gave up any interest.
It was better this way.
When she felt that her legs could hold her, Paige grabbed a sweater and decided to take a drive out to Caillie’s place.
It was a beautiful night. The ocean breeze soothed her and she drove with the windows down to enjoy the night air. She wished Jack and Dean had decided to stick with her—they would have been proud of her. It was because of them that she had come so far.
A year ago, she would never have dreamed of throwing the money back into her parents face. She wouldn’t have the courage or the belief in herself that she could make it without the cushion they loaned her.
The lights were on at Caillie’s house, and she could hear a backyard party going on. So she parked the car on the street and walked through the front yard. Sure enough, there was a large fire pit, and festive Chinese lanterns were strung all over the back. Barbie had her nose in her tablet, the large glass of sangria next to her untouched. She looked lovely with khaki capris and a tight-fitting blouse. Paige waited for the anger, but there was nothing. Fred was talking with her father by the bar, probably about business. Caillie and her mother were sitting with their backs to the party, on lawn chairs facing the water.
There were a few other townspeople there, and she waved at them as she made her way over to her father and Fred.
“Excuse me,” she said.
They both looked up at her in surprise. Fred actually leaned in to kiss her on the cheek, but she stopped him with a firm hand on his chest. “Don’t.”
“What are you doing here?” her father asked.
Paige smiled. “I’ve got some good news for you.” She handed him the check.
He looked down at it in disbelief.
“I wanted to thank you and Mom for giving me the chance to prove myself. I’m so thrilled and proud that I was able to pay you back on my first day. It’s a dream come true, and I’ll always be grateful for your kindness.”
“I don’t understand. I saw your budget. We did the forecasts. You can’t last a month without this money,” her father said.
He was right. But that wasn’t going to stop her. “It’s time I sink or swim on my own. I let Fred control our finances and my skills in that area atrophied. But I’m better now. I’m ready.”
“Where are you getting the income from to stay afloat?” Fred asked. “Because I’m willing to invest in the property.”
Oh no, she didn’t just get off the carousel to get right back on it again. So even though a little bit of her was tempted, Paige pointed to a woman who was nibbling on shrimp cocktail. “Joan’s our local realtor. She should be able to find you something else.”
“Is it those two men of yours?” Fred asked.
“None of your business,” Paige said. “And speaking of business, please stay out of mine. There’s no need for you to email me anymore. Not unless it’s something urgent. Devote all your time to your lovely bride. I’ve changed my mind about the wedding, by the way. We’re not going to be able to attend, after all. But I do wish you well.” She patted his shoulder before turning back to her father. “I don’t want to bother Mom when she’s reminiscing with Caillie, so please tell both of them I stopped by.”
“I’m not sure why this couldn’t wait until morning,” her father harrumphed.
“It was on my way,” she said. “I’ll see you later.”
She smiled at everyone and then turned back to the car. She felt giddy and nervous and part of her still wanted to throw up. But she’d done it.
“Paige?” Barbie was walking toward her.
She’d almost gotten away scot-free; her hand was on her car door handle.
So much for a flawless victory.
“I wanted to apologize.”
“For ruining my marriage?” Paige quirked an eyebrow. She wasn’t mad, but that didn’t mean she was ready to forgive and forget.
“Honestly, if it was that strong, I couldn’t have ruined it.” Barbie grimaced in sympathy.
“You have a point.”
“I’m sorry for Fred being an asshat. And I’m sorry for what your parents had planned. You ripped the rug right out from under them. Bravo.”
“Thanks.”
Barbie took a deep breath. “Look, I know this is kind of awkward.” She glanced over her shoulder and then unslung her pocket book. “I’ve been doing some research, and I love what you did with the Nutmeg Inn. I’d like to book the place for my wedding in August.”
“I’m booked solid the first two weeks,” Paige said, her heart thumping.
“What about the last two? I would need all ten rooms.”
“I can accommodate you. I would need a fifty percent non-refundable deposit, though.”
“How much?” Barbie asked, pulling out her checkbook.
“Thirty thousand.” Paige started to shake again. She might have padded that price a bit, but Fred could afford it.
Barbie handed her the check. “Done.”
Paige looked down at it in disbelief. It was from Barbie’s personal account. “Are you sure about this?” Once she paid the second half at the end of August, Paige would be right on track with her finances.
Barbie nodded. “I’m sorry. You seem like a really nice person, and you shouldn’t have had to find out about us the way you did.”
Paige tucked the check into her jeans pocket. “Fred has my email address. Let me know if I can make something special for you guys.”
“He still raves about your cooking. I’m sure anything you serve will be fine, but he is partial to your lasagna. I should get back to the party. It’s bound to get a little more interesting.”
Paige grinned and watched her walk back through the yard.