From the front lawn, Grayson’s booming voice gave the introductory spiel, welcoming everyone and telling them what was next.
“I don’t have time for this, Andrew. Even if I wasn’t actually busy, you gave up the right to have us in your lives years ago and you signed the same papers I did that made me your ex-wife. There’s no going back.” She started walking toward the front, wondering if she’d have to hang up on him.
“Then let’s go forward. I’m in Michigan next week. I can get up to Mackinaw. Meet with me. We’ll talk.”
She stopped, pulled the phone away from her face, and looked at it in disbelief before putting it back to her ear. “I. Don’t. Want. To. See. You.”
There’d been a brief period after the anger and hurt of the divorce and everything leading up to it had faded to a bad memory that she thought maybe he’d want something to do with Ollie. But weeks turned to months, then years, and he made no effort.
His heavy sigh sounded through the phone. “Don’t make this difficult, Jillian. You always make things more difficult. Meet me next week. I’ll send you the details. Better this way than through lawyers. Which I have more than enough money to pay for again. Do you?”
She did hang up. She was impressed she didn’t throw her phone at the side of the lodge. How the hell had he rebuilt himself to the point that he could engage in a legal battle with her? He’d lost everything. Some of it unintentionally, some of it because he was shady as hell, and them because he hadn’t cared enough to hang on to them.
Slipping her phone into her pocket, she forced herself to go greet their visitors. She wanted to meet Eva, thank her for taking a chance on the lodge, and show her brother that this was a more than viable way to fill in the offseason as well as close income gaps when bookings were low. She needed to focus on that. On her future. Ollie’s. Hers and Levi’s. Andrew would leave her alone. He was bluffing. He’d had his chance and now, she just needed him to do what he’d done early into their relationship (which she’d been too infatuated to pay attention to): get bored of the pursuit.
When she came around the side of the lodge, Grayson met her gaze with a grateful one. This was more her forte than his.
“And here’s my sister, Jillian Keller, who has worked hard to put together a two-day retreat that you guys are going to love. Jilly, come meet everyone.”
Walking forward, she met Eva first. They shook hands and Eva took care of introducing her to the rest of her nine-person team. The energy was high and people were eager to get the fun started.
With ten rooms, the lodge was fully packed. The first hour included letting everyone settle in their rooms then have a delicious selection of snacks that Levi had set up. The dining table held an array of meats, cheeses, his delicious bread, dips, and even homemade crackers that Jillian wanted to put aside to have later. Instead of hoarding them for herself, she took pictures for their social media. Levi had done an amazing job. He winked at her when he came out to refill some of the platters.
“It’s going well,” Grayson said, coming up beside her. “This is one hell of a spread.”
She nodded, put her phone away. “He did an amazing job. I’m wondering if we should have him and Shane sit down. I’m not sure how Shane is feeling about the event bookings in addition to regular guests. Levi could share some ideas on how to make it easier, and I bet Shane can get us some deals to make it more cost-effective.”
Gray put an arm around Jilly’s shoulder, pulled her into a side hug. “I’ll chat with Shane. Thanks for this, Jilly. Not just for arranging this and Ollie’s camp, but all of it. Believing in the lodge and me. It’s bringing me back, financially and personally.”
With her arms around his waist, she returned the hug, wishing for one second she could offload all of her new worries, about Andrew and Levi and making all of this work with what already existed at the lodge, on her big brother.
“Jilly?” Eva said from behind her.
Letting Gray go, she turned and greeted the woman, who was about her age. Eva was dressed in outdoor gear that held the company’s logo, her dark hair pulled into a ponytail.
“I’m going to check in with Levi,” Gray said.
“We have a couple of options for tonight but I wasn’t sure how long you wanted to let your team get settled,” Jillian said, trying to appear as if she’d done this before.
“This is fantastic. The lodge is beautiful and we can’t wait to see the grounds.”
Excitement bubbled over. “I’m so glad. Thank you for sending me your schedule. I’ve arranged all of our activities around your staff brainstorming sessions and virtual meetings.”
Eva clasped her hands together. “I was so scared to take the leap. I mean, how many fitness companies are there, right? But these guys are amazing and truly believe in my vision.”
Jillian could relate. Her brothers and Presley, and even Levi, Ollie, her parents, and Lainey, were providing the same support for her ideas.
“You need that in your corner. Why don’t we get started?”
Eva nodded, turned to address her team. “All right, everyone. Settle down, can I get your attention?”
Everyone quieted, looking toward their boss, some sitting at the table, a few standing in small groups. Eva glanced at Jilly, giving her the green light.
“Again, welcome to Get Lost Lodge. We’re so pleased to have you. Eva and I have worked together to make your time here relaxing, competitive, and worthwhile. I’ve organized several group activities that will break up your staff information sessions, provided by Eva. We have our brand-new ropes course, two different hikes, a boating trip, s’mores by the campfire, and a partner trust activity involving maps and treasure.”
Everyone laughed and cheered, and Jillian’s worries over Andrew drifted away. She got caught up in the enthusiasm of Eva’s team, Grayson’s approving nods when he joined them, and Levi’s sweet look of admiration when he came to clean up.
Everything was going to work out perfectly. There was no reason to believe otherwise.
