“And even if it was too fast, Levi, it’s none of your business! You had no right to tell Adam to hold off. Do you have any idea what you did? All the problems you created?”
“That wasn’t my inten—”
“I knew he was going to propose that night, and when he didn’t, I thought something was wrong. I thought he’d changed his mind! I’ve been miserable for weeks, thinking I was losing him or that there was someone else. But no. No! It was just my intrusive, bossy brother trying to control my life again!”
Oh boy. “Listen, Molly, I’m sorry. I was just trying to—”
“No, Levi! No. Do not write this off as you trying to do what’s best for me. You’re not my dad. And you’re not Grace’s dad either. You’re our brother, and that gives you zero right to interfere with our lives. We’re adults! We’re perfectly capable of knowing what’s best for us, and if you disagree with our plans, so what? That’s your problem, not ours. I’m so done with this, Levi.Done!”
She charged toward the house and up the porch steps.
Remembering the water, Levi snapped to attention. “Molly, no! Don’t go in there.”
“Stop telling me what to do!”
But when she reached the inn’s threshold she stopped of her own free will.
***
Mia checked her phone. It was almost time for the fireworks to start. She’d expected Levi half an hour ago. She’d texted him ten minutes ago, but he hadn’t yet replied.
She tapped his name, placing the call. Maybe he’d gotten busy taking reservations or a guest had needed his help. Still, it was unlike him not to respond.
Finally he picked up after several rings. “I’m so sorry, Mia. We’ve had a—a mishap here at the inn. The upstairs is flooded, and I won’t be able to—”
“Flooded!”
His sigh sounded soul deep. “A burst pipe. Long story. Listen, I’m up to my ankles in water, and I have to get this dried out. I’m sorry to cancel on you.”
Mia was already packing up their things. “I’m coming home. I’ll be right there.”
forty
Levi shelved his hands on his hips. The mantel clock said it was nearly four o’clock in the morning. His shoulders felt as if they weighed a thousand pounds. Each.
He surveyed the suite. The rug had been taken up, exposing the damp floor, the boards already warping near the wall where the pipe had burst. A water line rimmed the wide baseboard.
The closet door was flung open. The space had been full of stuff, all of it removed to the porch with the rugs. The windows were open, and every fan they could find was running. A dehumidifier hummed in the corner.
Molly had worked on finding emergency lodging for their guests—not easy on the holiday weekend, but she’d somehow pulled it off. She’d then called all their guests and told them they’d have to evacuate the inn immediately. They’d comped their stays to help soothe ruffled feathers.
Once Molly finished that task, she’d worked on finding alternative lodging for the wedding party the following week—another difficult task. She’d have to call the bride with the bad news in the morning. Once she’d done all she could she joined the cleanup, but Levi could feel the cold waves of anger radiating off her. Grace wasn’t much better.
At Ed’s recommendation, they’d documented the damage with their cell phones for the insurance company before cleanup.
Now that the floors were drying up, Levi sneaked down to his room and dug up the insurance policy. He hoped he’d remembered wrong about the interruption insurance.
But no. He had canceled the policy. At least the flood damage would be covered.
He made his way from his room, swallowing hard. He was officially in over his head. He didn’t know how he was going to get them over this hurdle. And the worse thing about it all was that it was his fault. Not only had he canceled the interruption insurance, he’d also neglected to update the pipes, something the plumber had suggested during renovations. But Levi had been so focused on staying on time and on budget that he’d declined.
The girls were on the porch now sorting out what was salvageable and what was headed for the dump. Sodden rugs were draped over the railings. He could see Mia through the living room window, removing items from a cardboard box. She’d come home and jumped right into the fray.
He thought back over the last twelve hours, beginning with his argument with Grace. He was failing at everything. He was failing Grace. He was failing Molly. And worst of all, he was failing his parents. He and sisters were on the very edge of losing their legacy.
And it was all his fault.
Take care of your sisters.
