He dropped Ollie’s hand and they watched as he took in the bachelor pad cabin. With one small closet and a tinier bathroom, this one would need a pullout couch; maybe a rollaway bed. Beckett would have to check Presley’s site and see what he could find.
Walking to the stone fireplace that trailed up the wall, Dayton knelt down, using the wall as support. He pulled a handkerchief from the pocket of his shorts.
“What are you doing?” Ollie asked, peering over his shoulder.
He was clearing the dirt and dust from the corner where the stone met the wall.
“Check this out, Ollie-girl.”
She peered even closer. “‘BD was here,’” she read.
Beckett grinned, surprised by the emotion that rose up. “This is the one that was yours.”
Dayton looked back over his shoulder with a bittersweet smile. “It was. Some of my favorite memories are in this cabin.”
Grayson stepped forward to lend a hand as the guy started to get up. Dayton brushed off his knees.
“This is such a cool thing, Mr. Dayton. I love that you have happy memories here,” Jill said, moving forward to squeeze his arm.
Some guests weren’t just guests. Beckett knew that this crew—Dayton, Richard, Mel, and even Bo and Morgan—was special.
Dayton’s smile turned cheeky. “Got in trouble for that. Took me forever to etch it in and even longer for my mom to stop being mad.”
“I love that you have history here,” Gray said.
“Can I scratch my name in?” Ollie asked.
Presley laughed when he, Gray, and Jill all said no at the same time.
Ollie frowned and asked to go play on her tablet. Jilly kissed her head and answered, “Just for a little while.”
Ollie dashed to the door, calling out on her way, “Okay, Mama. Bye, Mr. Dayton.”
“See you soon, Ollie.”
She took off like she couldn’t wait to leave, and they laughed at her enthusiasm. Gray wandered the room, probably wondering, like Beckett, how much it would cost to outfit the place. They needed the cabins more than ever. Jill had her phone volume on low, but Beckett could hear it pinging constantly.
“Did you come here with your wife ever?” Presley asked Mr. Dayton, who stood staring out the window to the water in the distance.
He smiled at her. “I did. For our fiftieth anniversary, four years ago. Wasn’t the same as I’d remembered it. The year before I came without her, and now, I find myself wishing I’d never left her side while I still had her here.”
Presley lowered her head, but Beckett could feel her sadness. Or maybe it was his own. He couldn’t imagine falling in love, never mind losing the love of his life. A little voice buried deep in his brain struggled more with the idea of finding her and willingly letting her go.
“We can’t go back. I bet she’d be glad you’re here now,” Jill said, flanking his other side.
Mr. Dayton squared his shoulders, turned his back to the window. “She would. I spent most of my life worrying about making money. I loved that woman more than anything else. I mistakenly thought I could prove that by giving her everything. All she ever wanted was me. Now I just want to be in places that remind me of her and of good times I’ve had.”
“I think that’s a really great way of honoring her,” Grayson said, his voice suspiciously gruff.
“I’m glad you think so, son. Because I want to buy this cabin.”
Beckett blinked several times. Had he heard that right?
“It’s not for sale,” Gray said hesitantly.
Obviously not deterred, Mr. Dayton stepped toward Grayson. “I know you think that, but you should hear me out.”
Gray sent a glance to Jill and him. They both gave subtle nods. Presley cleared her throat. “Maybe I should go.” She started to back up.
