Before Grace could blurt out the question, Levi came down the stairs toting his toolbox. “Hey,” he greeted Grace, then turned to Molly. “The shelf in room five is officially fixed and ready for the Farnsworths. How’d the tour go? Are they having supper now?”
Molly bit her lip. “Um, no. They actually left already.”
“They went out for supper?” Grace asked.
“No... theyleft,left. As in, back to Tennessee.”
“What?” Grace frowned. “Why?”
Levi set the toolbox on the floor. “I thought they were spending the night.”
“I did too. I don’t know what happened. We did the tour, and I talked up the unique history and the inn’s features, and they seemed interested. But when we were finished they just thanked me and said it wasn’t quite what they’d had in mind and they were going to head home.”
Gravity pulled at Grace’s shoulders, her stomach deflating like a week-old party balloon. “You’re kidding me. ‘Not what they had in mind’? What does that even mean?”
“They didn’t offer a better explanation.”
“Maybe this is just a buyer’s tactic,” Levi said. “To make us think they’re not interested, and then they come in with a lowball offer in a day or two.”
Molly shook her head. “I didn’t get that vibe. They were pretty straightforward people. And we definitely shouldn’t take a lowball offer. It’s priced fairly, and we’re not in a huge rush. I did give them my card and told them if they changed their minds to give me a call.”
Grace sighed. “That’s not likely if they weren’t even interested enough to spend a night. I thought for sure...”
“I told you not to get your hopes up,” Levi said. “This is a huge financial investment. It might take a while to find the right buyer.”
But she didn’t have “a while.” Not if she was going to snag that sweet little bungalow.
“Don’t lose hope,” Molly said. “We already have an email from another prospective buyer.”
That news lightened the blow. “Well, that’s something. When are they coming?”
“I haven’t written them back yet. I was waiting to see how this couple panned out.”
“Well, let’s try to get them in right away,” Grace said.
“Yes, let’s. If they can come this weekend we could always get one of our part-time workers to assist.” Even if Levi encouraged them to be patient, he had his own reasons for wanting a quick sale. He’d put his life on hold for four years, and he was ready to get on with it. Ready to move to LA and start a life with his soon-to-be bride.
Levi would head off to LA, and Molly and Adam would be leaving for Italy... The thought left Grace feeling more than a little lonely.
Chapter Twenty-Six
He was running out of time. Wyatt stepped over a fallen tree, gave Grace a hand, then continued on the path alongside Pine Creek. The temperature was a balmy seventy-five today, and under the shade of the deciduous trees, it was downright pleasant. The air was filled with the loamy scent of earth. Birds tweeted from the leafy canopy overhead, and a squirrel nattered from the underbrush nearby.
They were high in the mountains now, having been hiking for almost six hours. They only had another hour or so before they’d need to cut over and head back, but he was hopeful because the terrain appeared just as he’d remembered. The only thing missing was the waterfall and stack of boulders. He kept his eyes peeled for them and knew Grace was doing the same.
There’d been a definite bounce in his step all day. He felt ridiculously buoyed to have Grace with him again. He didn’t mind being alone. But hiking without her these past couple days had felt lonely after having her company last week.
Spending more time with her wasn’t smart or sensible. And he could tell himself all he wanted that he needed her assistance, but the truth was, he couldn’t seem to help himself.
“How’s your shoulder holding up?”
“It’s fine. The lighter pack helps.”
“And how’ve you been sleeping lately?”
He opened his mouth with a quick reply, then closed it before he answered honestly. “About the same.”
They hiked in silence a minute, then Wyatt held a branch aside for her.
