“Ella,” Amelia said, “this is a nice surprise, and I’m so glad you called. I was worried about Gavin last night.”
“He had a couple of rough moments, but we got through it. I think.”
Amelia’s deep sigh came through the line. “I didn’t know Cindy was going to talk about the day she found out. I feel like I owe Gav an apology for that.”
“You don’t. Not at all. He understands that’s what the inn is for and he wants to be supportive of what you all are doing there.”
“I keep hoping that one of these days it’ll get easier for him. They were so close. So, so close. As their mother, I was always proud of their tight bond. But after Caleb died . . . Gavin was never the same.”
“I know. It’s been hard to watch for everyone who cares about him.”
“I’m glad he has you now, Ella. I said to Bob last night . . . What a lovely couple you make and how happy he seems when you’re around. It’s so nice to see that spark of life in his eyes again. It’s been gone so long I wondered if we’d ever see it again.”
“You’re going to make me cry, Amelia.”
She laughed. “I’m sorry. You didn’t call me to cry, did you?”
“No,” Ella said, laughing. “I was hoping you might be able to help me pull off the wedding surprise. I talked to Dylan and we’re all set to stay at the resort. I’m going to get plane tickets today, but my one worry is about Gavin’s work. He said the reason he wasn’t going to the wedding was because of work—”
“That’s bull,” Amelia said forcefully. “He’s hiding behind work to get out of doing things and being around people that remind him of his brother. Don’t let him pull that crap.”
Ella laughed. “All righty then!”
“I don’t mean to be cranky about it, but I’m tired of him hiding out and avoiding the life he used to enjoy. I think it’s great that you’re surprising him with this trip and forcing him out of his bubble. So what can I do to help?”
Fortified by Amelia’s support, Ella said, “He’s mentioned his number two man at work is Clinton, but I don’t know him so I wondered if you or Bob might be willing to get in touch to put him on notice that Gavin is going to be gone for a week.”
“Bob would be happy to do that. They know each other from a poker game they’re both in.”
“That would be great. His work was the only thing about this plan of mine I was worried about.”
“We’ll take care of that. Don’t you worry.”
“Okay, then I guess I’ll buy the plane tickets. Fingers crossed he’s happy about this.”
“Oh, he will be. It’ll be great. Thank you again, Ella. It’s really such a sweet thing for you to do.”
“It’s my pleasure.” They said their good-byes, and Ella fired up her computer to buy the plane tickets. Since she hadn’t been anywhere fun in a couple of years, she splurged on first-class seats. As she was punching in her credit card number, she hoped she was doing the right thing. Despite Amelia’s assurances, Ella still wasn’t entirely confident that Gavin would love her surprise.
But the thought of a week in paradise with him had her pressing the purchase button.
*
Ella was onstage with Charley, going through the PowerPoint presentation they’d put together to brief the sales team on the new holiday merchandise when she saw Gavin sneak in the main door to the Grange. She faltered briefly before picking up her train of thought and carrying it to the finish line.
They took questions for a few minutes before turning over the stage to their father.
Lincoln’s job was to thank the employees for their dedication over the next few busy weeks. He always did a great job of talking about the store his father-in-law’s parents had founded and the historical significance of the Stillman and Abbott family business within the town of Butler.