“I will have someone look at that angle. Thank you.” I turn back to the task at hand, making sure she knows to make it a priority to look over every inch of Mann Properties or resort property by next week when Spring Breakers arrive.
Gina tells me she will and high-tails it out of there, while I turn to an issue with housekeeping, although I really need to call about the landscaping over by the ski lifts while it is top of mind. I could have covered that with Gina, but I think I will just talk directly to grounds and maintenance. There are large planters in a high-traffic, high-visibility area that need replanting as soon as possible due to a water leak that ended up freezing things that are not supposed to be frozen.
A knock sounds at the door and I have to regulate myself not to growl my frustration. Maybe Matt’s right and I really am becoming a grumpy old man.
“Come in.”
I hear the door click behind someone, and that gets my attention. Most people just leave it open as they come and go. With as many projects as I try to manage, it’s too busy around here for the door to ever close.
Jack stands in front of the doorway of my office and I blink.
“Everything okay, Jack?” I ask, checking my phone to make sure I didn’t miss anything — like a meeting with my big brother.
“Can we talk for a minute?”
“Of course.” I gesture for him to sit down. My amenities aren’t quite like his at the Mann Foundation. Those are geared to donors and such, they are comfortable and posh, while mine are for people in heavy work boots and gear to come in and out. The space outside my office is more workspace and open garage than anything else.
Jack leans forward. “I got a call today to set up a meeting with you and Caswell.”
The way he says it is so casual, which I appreciate. I have hidden how much losing Cas affected me, mostly because I can’t admit to my brothers that I had the love of my life, and I didn’t know it for what it was. And I let it go.
Still, those words land with a kick I’m not sure I can hide.
“Because I’m not sure about the extension?”
Jack shakes his head. “No, this is about an opportunity that came to Cas — there’s an NDA required to know more. Although, maybe the extension could also be on the agenda.”
My heart starts beating again, interested in what could be a cool opportunity. Who knows what kinds of projects get pitched to Cas these days.
That’s all.
“Go on. Maybe explain why I need to have a face to face with Cas for this?”
Jack spreads his hands. “That’s just it, Bee. I can’t. I don’t know more than what I said. But, Cas wants to meet and discuss, and I kind of left him on read waiting to hear from you before I scheduled anything. My understanding is that this project — whatever it is — is his baby.”
I shrug like it’s nothing, because itisnothing. My heart might be a wreck, if last week’s debacle in the bar didn’t make that abundantly clear, but Cas has moved on and this sounds. . .potentially fun. When is the last time something has sounded fun?
“Let’s meet. I’ll hear him out at least.” I’m not going to say no to a pitch I haven’t heard just because Cas is involved.
Jack looks at me for a moment. A smile plays on his lips. “Alright.”
The meeting is set up for about two weeks from now, which has to be the worst timing possible. Close enough, but also not for my mind that just wants to count down the days until I am in the same room as Cas.
I’m still off-kilter from my failure to launch at the club, and I recognize that my response to that was to bury myself in work. Not song writing, but physical work that exhausts my body and mind. Jack’s been on me for years to take on less, but right now, I’m glad I never listened to him. I need to be busy. Too busy to think is just about my best operating speed when thoughts of Cas come crashing in.
When I’m not working, I find something to do in my resort town full of distractions. I ski. I snowshoe. I ride snowmobiles. I attend every yoga class at the studio where Matt and Quinn are frequent instructors in the off-season.
Jack’s first instinct is always to hit the slopes when he needs to think, and it rubbed off on all of us. If we need to clear our heads, you can bet we are on a slope or doing something physical.
I do every task for the ranch that I can come up with until Mason, my foreman, pretty much runs me off my own place.
Not only that, but as the brother sitting on the Board of Directors for Bear Valley General Hospital, I even volunteer to attend a dinner out in Mirror Lake at Rollins University with Bishop, who works there. Quinn can’t go, due to other obligations, so it’s just me and Bish.
I’m not antisocial, just introverted. There are times I love being around people and can enjoy myself, and there are times it is a struggle for me. People exhaust me, but I generally enjoy being around them. But, a week before Cas’s scheduled arrival, I put on a nice suit and eat thousand-dollar-a-plate filet to avoid my empty house.
The dinner is for the Athletic department at Rollins, something the hospital is connected with due to the shared need for sports injury, trained students, and staff. Student trainers can do clinical rounds at Bear Valley General and get hands-on experience with the Rollins Eagles. Several of the athletic staff who treat and rehab injuries also work at Bear Valley General, too.
Rollins also has a ski team, and their competition courses are on our mountain, so on many levels someone needs to represent here tonight and keep the relationship between Rollins and Bear Valley strong. Now with Bish’s connection, Bear Valley and Rollins are more connected than ever.
