Will I ever get used to this?
She stirs awake, letting out a wail that could shatter glass. “Shit. Shhh. I’m sorry. Please go back to sleep, baby girl. Please…”
Spoiler alert: there was very little sleep that night.
Chapter 2
Henley
Spilled Coffee and an Interview
“Jesus Christ, you look like shit.” Warren, one of my ski instructors and most dependable employees, gawks at me as I walk through the front doors of the lodge a not-so-fashionable twenty minutes late. When I finally figured out how to dress Remy in one of the tiny outfits from the diaper bag and managed to leave the house, she threw up formula all over both of us. I had to change into a new shirt, but then she projectile pooped all over my fresh shirt before I had a chance to change her outfit too.
I never knew that getting out the door in the morning could feel like an Olympic sport.
With my third shirt of the day on, I head for my office with Warren hot on my heels. “Thanks, Warren. If I fire you later, just remember this moment.”
“Well, what’s with the bags under your eyes, the bedhead, and the, uh…babythat you’re carrying in that car seat?”
Setting the carrier on my desk, I look down to find Remy sleeping peacefully. Of course she fucking sleeps now.
Last night, it took me three hours to get her to calm down, and then she only slept for an hour before she screamed again for another two. By the time she finally passed out, I was nearly in tears and went through almost all of the diapers and formula Meghan left me. As soon as I’m done with my interviews this morning, I’m headed to Asheville. We don’t have a store big enough here in Blossom Peak that would have everything I need for this little bundle of screams and shit—I mean, my daughter.
Transfixed by how fucking cute she is as she’s sleeping, a mixture of feelings rolls through me. Last night, I seriously thought the Devil himself had possessed my child. But as she drifted off to sleep and laid her head on my chest, where she slept for the remaining hour and a half before my alarm went off, I couldn’t help the overwhelming streak of protectiveness that lodged itself in the center of my chest and calmed me quicker than I could have imagined.
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a baby as cute as mine.
And now I’m thoroughly convinced that the reason why babies are so adorable is so that you don’t scream back in their faces when they won’t stop crying.
“This is my daughter,” I tell Warren, waiting for his reaction.
His eyes bounce between me and my baby before he clears his throat. “I’m sorry, did you say, yourdaughter?”
“That’s exactly what I said.”
“Uh…how did you…when did you…”
“Yesterday. I found out yesterday.” Keeping my eyes on Remy, I say, “And even though I’d love to fill you in on all of the details, I have three interviews this morning, so I need to get back out there.”
I turn to leave, but Warren calls out to me the second my hand hits the doorknob. “Henley?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you forgetting something?” Warren points to the carrier still resting on my desk.
“Shit.” Smacking my palm to my forehead, I retrace my footsteps, grab the carrier by the handle, and head back toward the front of the lodge where I set Remy’s carrier beside the empty booths of the restaurant, where I’ll be conducting the interviews.
I can’t believe I almost forgot her in my office. Looks like I won’t be winning Dad of the Year anytime soon. My quest to find help for the upcoming winter season is still in full force, though, so it’s time for me to take off my dad hat and put my boss hat back on so my business doesn’t fall apart like the rest of my life.
During the winter, this place draws skiers, snowboarders, and families with young kids to enjoy the winter activities, scenery, and Santa’s Village that the resort transforms into in December. But during the summer, the adventure side of the property opens with ropes courses, ziplining, bike trails, hiking trails, rock climbing, and other activities that allow us to operate year-round.
And this year’s numbers have been record-breaking. I don’t want to burn out my employees or myself, so I need to hire more help fast. But finding reliable help isn’t easy.
“Hey, Henley.” Jessica, one of my employees, comes up to me with a cup of coffee as I exit the hallway by my office. “You look like you could use this.”
Eagerly, I take it and drink like my life depends on it, not even caring that it burns my tongue in the process. “What makes you say that?”
She offers a sympathetic smile. “I heard about the baby.” She nods toward Remy. “How are you holding up?”
