Reese walked past Hallie and into the small office, Hallie a few seconds behind her after she’d placed the ‘Back in five minutes’ sign on the check-in desk.
On her drive back from Boston, the idea had started to crystallize more clearly in her mind, but it all hinged on Hallie, which meant there was no reason to wait to discuss it.
Instead of sitting behind the desk, Reese sat across from it. Hallie squinted at the only open seat before sitting down.
“You’re being weird.”
“You don’t mince words. I just had a really interesting lunch, and it got me thinking.”
Hallie leaned forward in her chair, placing her forearms down on the desk. “With Stan? About Brynn?” Her eyes grew wide. “Oh no. Are you fleeing?”
“Why would I be fleeing?” Reese responded dryly.
“Sydney keeps me abreast,” Hallie said matter-of-factly. “The cheating is out in the world, and you’re the one who released it.”
Reese shook her head. “No, Grant released it bydoingit. I just passed along information that I thought she should know.”
“That’s a fair point, and I think you did the right thing.”
“Your approval means the world to me, Hallie.”
“So if it’s not that, what do you want to talk about?” Hallie asked, looking around the room.
Reese wondered how Hallie felt about the inn, a place she’d known for her entire life. She loved it, obviously, but had she only stayed out of obligation when her parents sold it? Was it whatshereally wanted?
“I want to talk to you about what comes next. After your six-month commitment as part of the purchase.” They were two months into that agreement, but it would be the end of the year before they knew it, and if Hallie wasn’t planning on staying, Reese should be looking for someone pronto to learn the ropes and take it over.
She’d accepted that person was not going to be her, and that was best for everyone. If Sydney did accept the commentator role, this would give Reese more flexibility to make their relationship work.
“That’s, like, four months away.” Hallie looked around the room again, a little evasive.
“I know, but, to be completely honest, I don’t think that long-term I’m the best person to run the inn,” Reese admitted, waiting to see how Hallie would respond.
She was surprised when Hallie let out a barking laugh. “Wow, I’m glad you came to this conclusion. I absolutely agree.”
“I’m notthatbad,” Reese protested, even though Hallie’s assessment was fair.
Hallie smiled softly at Reese. “You’re right. But I can tell you don’t enjoy it. Hearing stories from people. Asking banal questions about their trip and their days. You don’t even get excited when the checkouts all line up perfectly so there’s always something to do but it’s at peak efficiency.”
Reese closed her mouth. Hallie had read her like a book. “You’re right, I don’t. But the thing is, I think that you do. And I’d be stupid if I didn’t try to get you committed to staying on full-time.”
There was that evasiveness again; Hallie wouldn’t meet herstare. “If we’re being honest, I have been thinking about what comes next, too.”
Reese smiled sympathetically, realizing that Hallie was really struggling. No matter what she said next, Reese wouldn’t hold it against her. “Do you see the inn as part of your future?”
“I do love it here,” Hallie said earnestly. “This has always been my home, and I enjoy all the parts of the job that I just mentioned. I just…”
Reese waited as Hallie formed the thoughts that maybe were materializing for the first time in the face of Reese’s probing questions.
“I feel like a big part of my life is watching other people live theirs. Does that make sense?”
A hollowness opened up in Reese’s chest as she considered what that would feel like, as an outsider always looking in. “It does.”
“So I’ve been thinking about making some changes,” she said seriously, eyes trained on Reese.
Reese, to herself, reaffirmed her commitment that she’d support Hallie no matter what. “Like what?”
“I need a better work-life balance. I need to date and hang out with friends and go spend a Saturday seeing where the day takes me. Do you know I haven’t done that in years?”
