Patrick looked through his kitchen window toward the direction of Finley Point. It was hard to imagine a high-end resort nestled among the pines and aspens. If done right, it could be a real asset to the area. If done wrong... well, he trusted Noah’s judgment.
“I have to ask,” Patrick said carefully. “Are you sure this isn’t just a reaction to the stress of the last few weeks? Sometimes big decisions made in emotional moments?—”
“I’ve been thinking about this for a long time,” Noah interrupted. “Even before the Meridian situation. I’ve seen how much happier you are in Sapphire Bay since you left Manhattan. It made me question whether I was really living the life I wanted.”
Patrick had worried that his decision to retire and move to Montana had been selfish, that he was abandoning his responsibilities as a board member of Wilson Enterprises. To hear that his decision had inspired Noah to reconsider his own priorities felt like an unexpected gift.
“Whatever you do,” Patrick told Noah, “don’t make the same mistake I did. Just because you’re working fewer hours doesn’t mean you’re working without purpose. You can create something important and still have time for your family and friends.”
“That’s what I hope will happen,” Noah replied. “Cole has some incredible ideas about sustainable tourism and community engagement. It could be a model for other developments in the region.”
Patrick smiled. “That sounds perfect. And I’ll enjoy having you closer to home. Kathleen will like seeing you at her café more often.”
“How is she?” Noah asked, and Patrick could hear the smile in his voice.
“Kathleen’s amazing,” Patrick said, feeling the familiar warmth that always accompanied thoughts of her. “It’s her birthday today. We’re having a picnic lunch by the lake with her family and a few close friends.”
“You’re lucky to have found each other,” Noah told him. “She’s a nice lady.”
Patrick sighed. “I am lucky. Luckier than I ever imagined I could be at this stage of my life.”
“Well, I should let you go,” Noah said. “Give Kathleen my best wishes for her birthday. And Granddad? Thank you for listening. I know this conversation wasn’t what you were expecting when you answered the phone.”
“It’s exactly what I needed to hear,” Patrick replied honestly. “I’m proud of you for having the courage to choose the life you want and for putting your family first. That takes real strength.”
After they hung up, Patrick sat quietly in the kitchen, processing everything Noah had told him. The Meridian threat was over, which should have been good news. But Noah’s decision to step down as CEO was more complex. Patrick was proud of his grandson’s choice, but he also understood the magnitude of what Noah was giving up.
Still, as he thought about Noah’s excitement when he’d described the resort project, Patrick felt confident that his grandson was making the right decision. Noah was young enough to build something new, something that would challenge him without destroying his personal life.
Patrick finished his coffee and headed toward the shower. Today was shaping up to be full of unexpected surprises. And he was about to share it with the woman who’d helped him discover what really mattered in life.
Chapter 23
Kathleen smoothed the red and white checkered tablecloth across the weathered picnic table. The breeze carried the sweet scent of wildflowers from the flowers Natalie had given her, and she could hear the gentle lap of water against the rocky shore. It was the kind of Montana morning that made her grateful she’d chosen to make Sapphire Bay her home.
“Mom, let me help with that,” Natalie called out, approaching with a wicker basket filled with food that Chloe had dropped off earlier. Even three months pregnant, her daughter moved with the same graceful energy she’d inherited from her grandma. Although Kathleen noticed she was being more careful as she navigated the uneven ground.
“I’ve got it, sweetheart.” Kathleen secured one corner of the tablecloth with a smooth stone. “You shouldn’t be carrying heavy things.”
Gabe appeared at Natalie’s side, gently taking the basket from her hands. “That’s what husbands are for,” he said with a grin, pressing a quick kiss to his wife’s temple. The tenderness between them never failed to warm Kathleen’s heart. They’d built something beautiful together—a partnership rooted in mutual respect and genuine affection.
“Grandma!” Eddie bounded toward her, his dark hair catching the sunlight as he ran. He was all arms and legs and boundless energy, just like Natalie had been at that age. “Mr. Devlin says there’s going to be birthday cake!”
Kathleen laughed, reaching out to ruffle her grandson’s hair.
Patrick walked toward them carrying a large cooler. “That’s because your grandma likes cake,” he said with twinkling eyes. “Especially if it’s vanilla bean with chocolate frosting.”
He was wearing a blue button-down shirt that brought out the color of his eyes. Even in casual wear, Patrick moved with the confident bearing of a man comfortable in his own skin. “Along with champagne for the adults.”
Lynda and Isabel arrived together, each carrying covered dishes that would add to their feast. Isabel looked radiant in the way that only newlyweds could, her happiness practically glowing from within. Lynda, on the other hand, looked slightly windblown but cheerful, her veterinarian’s bag nowhere in sight for once.
“Sorry we’re a few minutes late,” Isabel said, setting down a bowl of what Kathleen suspected was her famous potato salad. “Frank helped me install the new credit card reader at the bookstore, and the time disappeared on us.”
“And I had an emergency call,” Lynda added, placing her contribution next to Isabel’s. “Thankfully, it was just a cat with an upset stomach, not anything serious.”
Kathleen surveyed the growing collection of food. Apart from Isabel and Lynda’s contributions, Chloe had outdone herself with the birthday lunch she’d prepared. There were elegant sandwiches cut into triangles, individual quiches that smelled of herbs and cheese, and delicate pastries that looked too beautiful to eat. It was exactly the kind of lunch that would make any celebration feel special without being overwhelming.
“This is perfect,” she said softly, more to herself than anyone else.
