“It’s not dumb at all.” Jared reached for his bottle of water, twisted off the lid, and took a swig. “And don’t worry about what anyone thinks. Make decisions based on what you’re comfortable with.”
A relieved expression settled over her. “You two are the best. I know I haven’t been the easiest person to be around, but you guys have been there for me through it all.”
“We all look out for each other. That’s what friends are for.” Evan pulled into the hotel lot and parked under the awning. “I’ll be right back.”
His first views of the hotel impressed him. Clean, stylish, and modern. Even though it belonged to a national chain, he’d expected a small-town location to be out-of-date or run-down, but he’d been proved pleasantly wrong.
Janie would approve of the champagne and burgundy color scheme. So would his sister if she were here. A memory surfaced of when they were younger, not long after their adoption, and their parents had taken them on their first vacation. The hotel they’d stay at had drapes similar to the ones here, and Kate had wrapped one around her shoulders, pretending it was her cloak she wore while lost in the forest. To their parents’ horror, she’d accidentally managed to pull down the entire piece of fabric.
Man, he missed his family. He couldn’t wait until Christmas when he went home to visit. It wouldn’t be the same—Kate had married a few months ago—but he looked forward to seeing her and their parents. He even wanted to spend more time with his brother-in-law, Luke, and get to know the man his sister had added to the family. From all he knew of Luke, he wholeheartedly approved of him for his sister. Last Christmas, Luke had even pulled strings for him and Kate to video chat a few days after he’d been rescued.
A middle-aged man wearing a sky-blue button-down shirt and khakis approached the front desk from a room behind the lobby. “Welcome to Rose Inn Hotel. How may I help you?”
“I have two reservations.” He pulled out his phone and opened the email with a scannable barcode. “One for Jergens and one for Stroud.”
The man scanned Evan’s phone. “I just need your license, please.”
Evan slid the plastic ID from his wallet and slid it over the oak countertop.
The employee scanned it then handed it back to him along with two white folders that had the hotel’s trademark rose imprinted on the front. “You’ll be in rooms 309 and 311. The easiest access is through the entrance on the rear left side of the building. Your keys are inside here, along with hotel policies and directions for accessing the internet. Breakfast is down the hall to your right and served from six until nine-thirty. There is absolutely no smoking in any rooms. If you must, there is a smoking area beyond the pool.”
“No smokers in our group.”
Nodding his approval, the man continued. “The pool and jacuzzi are closed from two a.m. until seven a.m. every morning. Checkout is at eleven a.m. but we offer a two-hour grace period with advanced notice. Do you have any questions?”
“Which room has the single king bed?”
“311.”
“Thanks.” He tucked that information in his short-term memory to tell Janie which room was hers. “I’ll call down if I think of anything else.”
“Enjoy your stay.”
Evan tucked the paperwork under his arm and limped to the car, relieved for the easy check-in process. He handed Janie the bottom packet and Jared the top. “We’re all set.”
After he drove the car to the left side of the building, he found a parking spot, and then they unloaded their bags. Carried them to the building, only to realize there were only stairs on this side, no elevator.
Frustration nearly toppled him. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Jared or Janie. The way his leg hurt, he may as well have faced climbing Mount Everest.
“We’ll find the elevator,” Janie offered.
“No.” He hadn’t meant to snap at her, and he had no excuse but pride. “I can do it.”
Jared reached for the bags Evan carried to lighten his load. With great reluctance, he handed them over, hating his limitations all the more with each pound lifted.
He made it up the first flight of steps. The second required the use of the handrail for support. Halfway up, he couldn’t go on. He leaned over and drew a long breath as though the air would inject mobility to his leg.
“Go ahead. I’ll meet you there.” Even to his own ears, his voice sounded tortured.
Not budging from his spot, Jared shook his head and dropped the bags. He slipped an arm under Evan’s. “Never leave a man behind.”
Taking another deep breath, Evan accepted the help. He couldn’t look either friend in the eye. Hated for them to see him at such a low. His pride sank slower when Janie wordlessly grabbed the bags and carried all three of their belongings.
The final steps to the room seemed interminable. He leaned against the wall while Jared opened the door.
Refusing more help, Evan hopped in and collapsed onto the nearest bed.
“Where’s your medicine?” Jared squatted by the bags.
