Chapter Thirteen – Nevis

Nevis showered and dressed in clean clothes before making himself something to eat. While he ate, he sifted through his thoughts. What did his dad want? And how was he going to make him see Kate was the one who deserved to be given the job of running the company?

Nevis wanted to avoid being blunt and upsetting his father, a man he loved and admired. However, he would not let him steamroll over all of his plans, and Kate’s. Washing up his dishes, Nevis pulled random memories from his head and examined them, trying to figure out when his father had changed from being a man who encouraged Nevis to pursue his dreams, to one who wanted to tie him to an office chair.

There was no particular time. It was a facet of his father’s personality that had changed recently, morphing from one to another almost imperceptibly. Until now. Now the man who had cheered from the other side of the world, via Skype, when Nevis climbed to the top of Kilimanjaro at only twenty years old was gone. Replaced by a man who had told Nevis on their last meeting, in no uncertain terms, that he should get himself a proper job.

When Nevis had pointed out it was none of his father’s damn business, it had not ended well. What his dad really wanted was Nevis at the helm of the company he had built out of nothing.

Nevis picked up his cell phone. He could put it off no longer; his mom had left a message for Nevis to call her first, and that was what he intended to do. Tapping the screen, Nevis pulled up her number and pressed call. It rang, and for a moment Nevis thought it was going to go to voicemail.

Then his mom’s hushed voice came down the phone. “Hello, Nev.”

“Mom. Is everything OK?” Nevis asked, concerned as to why his mom might be whispering.

“Yes, I’m in the hotel restaurant with your father. I had to excuse myself before I answered.”

“Mom, what is going on?” Nevis asked.

“I’m not sure where to start.” She sounded tired, and a wave of guilt hit Nevis.

“I’ll come meet you. I can be there in ten minutes,” Nevis said. This did not sound like a conversation they could have over the phone.

“OK. But I wanted to warn you. Your father is acting… Oh, I don’t know…out of character.”

Nevis frowned. “Out of character how?”

“Little things. He forgets things or gets really obsessed with things that don’t matter. Like the wrong brand of toothpaste…” His mom’s voice cracked. “He woke up a couple of days ago and decided it was time you came home… But he couldn’t remember where you were.”

“Has he seen a doctor?” Nevis asked, his mom’s concern becoming his own.

“Have you ever tried making your father do anything? He insists there is nothing wrong with him. If you try to talk to him about it, he says it’s me that has the problem.” She gave a shaky sigh. “I let him come here to see if getting away from the office would help. You know, a rest.”

“It hasn’t?” Nevis asked.

“No. I have to keep reminding him where you are. It’s like his mind doesn’t retain the information.” She paused. “Perhaps once he sees you…”

“Mom, I can’t give him what he wants. I don’t want to run the business. Kate’s doing a far better job than I ever would.” Nevis needed his mom to understand this.

“I know. But one step at a time. Please.” Her voice held a hint of desperation. “He’s my mate, Nevis. I know you don’t understand all that yet, but when you do…”

“I do, Mom,” Nevis said quietly. “I understand completely.”

“What? You’ve met your mate?” his mom asked.

“Yes.”

“Is that why you went away for a while?” She sounded hurt. “When were you going to tell us?”

“Hey, Mom. I met her two days ago on the mountain. She’s here in Bear Creek, and as soon as we can arrange it, I want you to meet her.” Nevis walked toward the front door. “I’m heading over to you now. Don’t worry, Mom.”

“Thanks, Nevis. Sorry if I’m pushing this on you.”

“You aren’t. We’re family, and we get through whatever comes our way together. Kate is driving over tomorrow too,” he informed his mom.

“You didn’t have to bother Kate,” his mom insisted.

“It’s no bother. Kate needs to be in on any discussions we have. She’s worked hard, she deserves to be given a chance.”

“I know,” his mom conceded. “I just wish it would all go away.” Her voice grew quiet and then she added, “I’m scared, Nevis. Scared of losing him. Not just physically, but mentally.”

“We’ll get him to see a doctor. Somehow we’ll make him see sense.”

“Good luck with that,” his mom sighed. “I’ll wait for you in the restaurant, we’re seated on the left as you come in.”

“I love you, see you soon.” Nevis ended the call and left his house, jogging along the road where there were no cars, until he met the main street into town, and had to temper his speed to cope with the slippery weather conditions underfoot.

It took him longer than he’d judged to get to the hotel. Walking into the reception area, he nodded at the young woman behind the desk, and she smiled coyly. He’d taken some photographs of her for the newspaper. What was the story again? Ah, that was it, she had reached the finals of a golf tournament. Another thing that was set to put Bear Creek on the map.

“Hi, Nevis.” He groaned inwardly. It would be rude not to go over and say hello.

“Hi… Denise.” He quickly read her name badge. “My parents are staying here. They are waiting for me in the restaurant.”

“Sure, go through, Nevis. You look well…” Denise left the compliment hanging.

“Thanks. Must be all the good Bear Creek air.” He inhaled, and grinned at her, as she gave him her best sultry go-to-bed eyes. Nevis nearly tripped over his own two feet as he made a hasty exit toward the restaurant. Had he flirted with her when he took the photographs? He might have. But that was in the past; he was spoken for.

“Are you being a bad bear?” Chrysi said, her voice deep and suggestive as she snuck up behind him.

“No.” He looked sideways at Denise, who was still watching him. “No, not at all.”

“Good, because I have had enough of cheats.”

“I know. I promise I was just saying hi to Denise.”

“She looked kind of friendly?” Chrysi accused.

“No. She…” He studied her face. “You are playing me.”

“Only because you look so damn guilty,” she replied.

“Sorry,” he repeated.

“Come on, it’s not as if I expect you to never talk to another woman again.”

He let out a sigh. “You know I would never betray you.”

“I know. But there is no harm in reminding you every so often that you belong to me.” She grinned and swayed from side to side. “You are mine.”

“Always.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek, refusing to look to see if Denise was watching. Inhaling Chrysi’s scent, his heart rate dropped, and a sense of calm came over him.

“Are you OK?” Chrysi asked.

“I’m not sure,” he admitted.

“Hey, what’s happened?” She brushed the hair back from his face and looked into his eyes as if she could read his mind.

“My parents are here.”

“Here? As in here.” She pointed at the floor.

“As in, in there.” Nevis pointed toward the restaurant door. “Brad told me. And when I got home I found a load of messages from my sister and my mom.”

“Is your dad OK?” Chrysi asked.

“That’s what I hope to find out. My mom and sister tell me he’s been acting out of character.” He looked at the door again, before switching back to look at her face. “My mom thinks there is something wrong with him.”

Chrysi placed her hand on his arm. “Nevis, I’m so sorry.” She looked at the door too, and then back to him. “Harlan is in there. He’s waiting for me. I had to go back upstairs for my purse. But if you need me, he won’t mind me leaving.”

“Thanks. But it would be better for me to speak to my mom and dad alone. At first. If it seems OK, why don’t I introduce you to them?”

“Are you sure it’s the right time?”

Nevis snorted. “My mom knows I found my mate. If she doesn’t meet you soon, she will explode with curiosity. And I don’t need two sick parents.” He kissed her mouth. “So if you see her staring at you, don’t take offense.”

“I won’t,” Chrysi said. “You had better go, I don’t want to make a bad first impression by holding you up.”

“I’ll see you later.” He took a step back from her. “No matter what. I will see you later.”

“I promise,” Chrysi assured him.

Nevis turned away from her, but he could tell she was standing where he’d left her, watching his back as he walked into the restaurant. He scanned the room quickly and spotted his parents. Before anyone could ask him if he had a reservation, Nevis was weaving between tables to where his mom and dad were sitting.

“Hey there, you two,” he said, his hand on the back of his mom’s chair.

“Hi, Nevis. We were just discussing how we were going to get you down off Everest,” his dad said.

“I came down off Everest months ago,” Nevis told his dad as he kissed his mom on the cheek, and then slid into an empty chair.

“You never told us,” his dad chastised.

Nevis flicked a look at his mom, who picked up her glass of wine and took a gulp. “I told you Nevis was in the mountains here in Bear Creek, Lex. It’s why we are here.”

His dad frowned and looked to the side. His face twitched once before he turned back and said, “I don’t remember anyone telling me this.”

“I told you I was going,” Nevis said. “Do you remember that? The last time we spoke.”

“The only thing I remember about the last time we spoke was how you told me you were not interested in a proper job.” His dad’s voice was hard. “I hope you have come to your senses now that you are down off Everest. It’s time you got a real job.”

“You mean a job working for you?” Nevis asked easily. He was in no mood to argue with his dad, and his dad seemed in no fit state mentally to argue back.

“Why not? It’s your duty to carry on the family business.” His father put a piece of chicken in his mouth and began chewing it. Nevis found his stomach rumbling at the smell of food. His mom heard it too.

“Why don’t you order something? You must be starving,” she told him.

“I am. Although I already ate. I think I need seconds.” Nevis turned around, and caught the waiter’s eye; at the same time he saw Chrysi and Harlan seated three tables away. “Do you mind if someone joins us?”

His mom scanned the room. “Is she here?”

“Is who here?” his dad asked.

“Nevis has found his mate,” she announced.

“His mate?” For a moment, it appeared Nevis’s dad had no idea what mate meant, but then he looked at his wife, and his face relaxed. “You met her?”

“I did, while I was on the mountain.” Nevis got up from the table and walked across to Chrysi and Harlan. “Would you join us? If that’s OK with both of you. My parents would love to meet you.”

“Sure. Since we are going to be related by marriage.” Harlan dropped his voice a little and added, “And you are going to marry my daughter. Aren’t you?”

“I am,” Nevis said easily. “I most definitely am.”

“In that case, if it’s OK with your parents, we would love to join you.” Harlan looked at Chrysi, who looked incredibly nervous. “If that’s OK with you, sweetheart.”

“Yes.” She took a gulp of her wine. “I just hope they like me.”

“They will.” Nevis took her hand and led her to the table where his parents were, while Harlan asked for their order to be brought to a different table.

“Hello there,” Nevis’s mom said. “I’m sorry, Nevis didn’t tell us your name.”

“Chrysi,” Nevis butted in. “This is Chrysi, my mate, and Harlan, her dad. Chrysi, Harlan, this is my mom, Daphne, and my dad, Lex.”

“Good to meet you,” Harlan said, shaking hands with Lex and then kissing Daphne’s hand. “I have a lot to thank your son for. He rescued my daughter.”

“He did?” Daphne asked.

“Was she on Everest too?” Lex asked.

Nevis exchanged a look with his mom. He might have no intention of taking over the company, but he did intend to make sure his father saw a doctor first thing in the morning.

Even if he had to put Lex over his shoulder and carry him there.