The first year of the MBA program included classes in analytics, accounting, and management; three things Avery hadn’t enjoyed as an entrepreneur. There were no electives until second year. Emily suggested Avery get her résumé ready and offered advice on navigating the on-campus recruiting process, which sounded competitive and very corporate. After the meeting ended, Avery needed a moment to process what she’dsigned up for.
Less than thirty seconds after restarting to the kettle, a black Rivian SUV pulled into the driveway behind the trucks.
“Ugh!” Avery groaned to herself. After the mattress fiasco and the information overload of her Zoom, the last thing she wanted was more drama.
Paulson got out, circled the SUV, opened the passenger side door, and Casper tumbled out. Avery laughed and pulled open the lodge door.
“Casper, what is going on?” she asked as the white blur sped across the lobby, pulled a stick from the kindling pile beside the stone fireplace, and returned to Paulson.
“No playing inside, boy.” Paulson calmly took the stick.
“I was driving by, and found him sniffing around the mailbox,” he said, nodding at Casper as he returned the stick to the pile. “I figured he wasn’t supposed to be there.”
Casper must have taken a little walk during the mattress confusion.
“Paulson, I am so sorry.” She absentmindedly bundled her hair into a topknot. “It’s been a crazy morning. These trucks showed up and we weren’t expecting a delivery and … thank you.”
“It’s okay,” Paulson said. “Anything I can do to help?”
The lodge phone rang. It could be Miles, who might call the desk as opposed to texting, in case she was still in her meeting.
“Hang on.” She held up a finger. “Don’t leave. Let me take this.”
Paulson nodded and attempted to make Casper sit. The dog was still hyper. Avery opened the bottom desk drawer, pulled out a chew toy she’d bought at Marden’s for this type of situation, and handed it to Paulson. It worked like a charm.
The caller wanted to rent a cabin and as she answered their questions, Paulson wandered over to the electric kettle, lifted the moose mug with her tea bag still inside, and pointed at it. She nodded. Finally, tea. He filled her cup and brewed one for himself, silently asking aboutsugar and lemon. He dropped her tea off and carried his as he explored the lobby, porch, and dining room while Avery answered the caller’s questions. Paulson stood in front of the muted television and watched Victoria unveil this month’s book club pick.
Why did Miles find Paulson annoying? Paulson brought Casper back home, and brewed her tea, taking care to get it exactly the way she liked it. That was caring.
When she hung up, Paulson turned from the television with a sheepish grin.
“I read the books Victoria picks every month,” he said. “I’m a fan.”
“She used to work here,” Avery said, trying to hide her smile.
“So she knew Miles before they landed on TV.” His eyes widened. “I keep asking him to introduce us.”
“I would, but I haven’t spoken to her in ten years.” Avery shrugged. Paulson was too sweet for Victoria. WhenBright and Earlycame to the resort to film, Avery planned to avoid her at all costs.
A mattress passed by the window next to Paulson, as he examined a photograph of the Cooper family welcoming guests to Montressa on the wall. Paulson’s clothing today was half city, half local. An unlikely merger of L.L. Bean and a steam iron. No wrinkles sullied his plaid flannel and the crisp crease in his khaki pants legs could only be from a dry cleaners, yet he looked content. His eyes were soft and his shoulders slack. Paulson pointed at Nate in the photo.
“What if Nate chose not to work for his father?” he asked, walking to the front desk.
“I don’t know, Paulson. I think it’s more like he works with his father, not for him.”
Paulson nodded once, in slow motion. Avery could have sworn workingwithand notforsomeone was a new concept for the son of America’s most famous hotel magnate.
“My father”—he shook his head—“is a lot. Imagine me after fiveespressos. I have trouble making friends because I’m too much. I enjoy being right, and I like everything top-shelf, but I don’t know if I want to be like Dad. He doesn’t have friends because he treats everyone as if they’re expendable. He lives for a frenzy. I like peace. Give me a fishing rod, a babbling brook, and birdsong. That’s my happy place.”
Avery always assumed her peers were all adults now and she was the only one who hadn’t figured out what she wanted. Maybe part of the adult experience was being adrift.
Paulson lowered his head and pulled a loose thread off his flannel. “Mom left us when I was ten; just vanished. So, Dad’s all I have. I don’t want to let him down, but I’m not sure I want to be the next him.”
Avery took a sip of her tea. She could relate to heading down a path with a nagging sense you’d taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way. Paulson had access to everything anyone could want. Yet he’d hinted at having no relationship with his mother. Given that he and his father shared the same name, his father had come up the first time Avery googled Paulson Carter, without the “IV” suffix. Paulson’s father ruled the boardroom with brash tactics and head games. Maybe he had been like that with Paulson’s mother and was still that way with Paulson.
Avery’s stomach tensed. It felt like a deep conversation to have with someone she barely knew. He must be lonely if he chose to discuss it with her.
“I think we all question our choices at some point,” she said.
