“Such as I’m at a loss right now, okay? I don’t have a job or a business or even a family at the moment.”
“Wait, stop right there. What do you mean no family? Your parents love you more than life.”
“I know. At least I used to know that, but now ... I’m not sure.”
“How could you possibly think that?”
“Because of some of those choices I mentioned. My parents are ... disappointed and their disappointment guts me. Which means I don’t see them. I can’t. Much.”
“Gideon...”
His name in her soft whisper nearly undid him. He sighed. “Don’t.”
“I’m not. Just tell me.”
After a few seconds, he shook his head and looked off into the distance. “I allowed some people who weren’t exactly the most honest to invest in my business. They wanted to cut corners. Like a lot of corners. I didn’t realize it at the time but figured it out fairly quickly.”
“Oh ... what did you do?”
“Nothing. At first. But I knew I had to do something. Only I waited too long and someone got hurt. I went to the cops and told them what was going on. As a result, there was an investigation into everything. Before long, my reputation, my business, everything, was in question. Most of it was lies, but the part that was true did irreparable damage. A local construction business bought out the company when it went to auction and that was that. I helped the police but told them they had to keep my name out of it. I didn’t want any of it reflecting on my family. They kept it as quiet as they could, but...” He shrugged and snapped his lips shut. That was way more than he’d planned to say, and she still didn’t know the worst of it. “I told you I came here because I needed to think. To figure out a plan, work out the details.”
“Details for what?”
“I’m thinking about doing something that could turn everythingaround or ... not. It’s a huge risk. A new business, a clean slate, and a fresh start. But it would mean putting everything into it. And I do mean everything. It would mean taking out a loan and using every last penny I have.” He shrugged. “I just don’t know...”
For a moment, she didn’t speak. Then blew out a low breath. “Oh. Wow. That’s intense.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m just not clear on one thing.”
“What?”
“How does that make you a bad person?”
“Because I—” Her eyes were so clear, compassionate. He couldn’t bear to see that look change. “It doesn’t matter now.”
“But you refused to be a part of it. That makes you honorable. Help me understand why you can’t see that.”
“It doesn’t matter. Drop it, okay?” She flinched at his harsh tone, and his heart berated him for it. “Look, Maya, I’m sorr—”
“No, forget it,” she said, her voice cool, face impassive. “You said it doesn’t matter. I’ll respect that. We’ve just reconnected after years apart. We’ve acknowledged we’re different people on different paths. I can’t expect us to go back to the close friendship right off the bat, so I apologize. I’ll meet you back at the snowmobile rental.”
Before he could respond or attempt to apologize again, she’d snapped on her helmet, hopped on her machine, and started back down the mountain.
Gideon groaned. “You’re an idiot, man.” He hadn’t meant to hurt her feelings, he just hadn’t wanted to lose her respect.
But he might have managed to do that anyway.
He mounted his own machine and, when he looked down, noticed footprints in the snow that hadn’t been there before.
Footprints that weren’t his or Maya’s.
He frowned and glanced around. “Anyone here?”
Silence.
He sighed and shook his head, cranked the engine, and followed Maya’s tracks. He’d try to apologize again.
