Page 31

Chapter Eighteen

Wade

Meredith takes over at breakfast, which surprises no one. She’s like a fungus that has attached itself to our family. And it may take me a while, but I won’t stop until she’s been completely removed.

At the last minute, I move the morning activities to the area where we have our campfires. It’s on the other side of the camp. It’s a trek, but a little exercise won’t hurt anyone.

My plan works well. Almost too well. Meredith has no problem staying behind and working on important business. When she complains to Jared that she’s having trouble making calls due to the spotty service, he points to a landline in the activity room.

I want to yell at her to stay out. That’s our room. But Canyon left. And he didn’t even bother to say goodbye. It hurts. It really, really hurts, but I can’t let it paralyze me. One thing at a time. Cutting Meredith out of our lives is step one. Step two is convincing Canyon to give us a chance.

The team grumbles on the hike over. Al, Lydia, and Owen are the most vocal. River leads the pack, but he keeps looking back at us. Does he think we’re going to make a run for it?

“We need to talk,” Ander says in a low voice beside me.

He’s always been the quiet one. Never causes waves.

Or problems. I’ve rarely seen him angry.

At least not as an adult. But there’s a tightness around his eyes that gives him away.

He’s pissed. At Meredith? Jared’s only a few feet ahead of us.

Ready to step in if needed? I keep my gaze on Jared. “Agreed.”

“After the first session.”

He starts to walk off, but I grab his arm. “Will Jared be joining us?”

Jared glances back almost as if he can hear us. I’m fairly sure he can’t. He’s been checking on us the entire walk over. Ander sighs. “Not sure.”

The trees rustle softly in the breeze off the lake, and I keep my eyes forward. Seeing our spot. Our tree…might break through my carefully constructed walls. Just make it through the rest of the day. Then, you can go home and collapse.

Once everyone’s around the campfire, I start.

“Our goal-setting session is a little different today. Ander will pass out the goal cards we made on day one of the retreat. I know you don’t like not sitting where you want, but I thought we could mix it up.

You’re in pairs, and I want you to discuss the goals you developed with your partner and your progress.

Did you reach your goal? What have you learned from this retreat?

And how are you going to implement it with your own teams back in the office?

You have forty minutes. Twenty for each person.

Then we’ll come back together as a big group.

” No one looks happy. But I suspect they’ll like the next part even less.

“Each person will introduce their partner’s goal, their progress, and their plan going forward. ”

Groans follow my announcement. Good. It’s time to get uncomfortable.

Jared tries to sit out, but that ends once I realize the teams are uneven.

Jared didn’t participate in the trust falls activity, which left George without a partner.

I didn’t realize it at first because we stopped the activity after Owen and Al’s fight.

And, of course, George didn’t say anything.

As the teams begin their work, I walk around and check their progress. Hopefully, I nod at the right time because, in actuality, my thoughts keep straying to Canyon. Is he by himself in his house, cursing my name?

I hope so. I prefer him feisty. Not sad like last night, as if he’d given up.

“Shut up. I swear I’m this close to—” Lydia shakes her head, and I’m between her and Al before he can even respond.

“Hold on. What’s the problem?”

“She’s a?—”

“Do not finish that sentence, Al.” I rein in my temper. “Did you learn anything this week?”

“This time, it’s not my fault.”

“Interesting,” I say, placing my hands on my hips.

“Not interesting. Last time wasn’t my fault either.”

It goes on and on like that as frustrations in the group run high. Ander shakes his head with his hand covering his mouth as if he’s hiding a laugh, and I glare at him.

Sheila and Jet start arguing, and I break it up, only to find out they’re arguing over…Pokémon?

“That’s it. Everyone stop.” I make sure to look at each one of them. “You’ve all worked hard all week, and now it’s falling apart. What’s going on?”

Most of them stare at the ground. Owen scowls at something past me, but every once in a while, I get the full effect of his glare.

“If no one talks, I’ll start picking people.”

Vivian clears her throat. “I think,” she says carefully in a soft voice.

I hold up a hand. What’s going on? Vivian is never afraid to speak her mind. “Please speak louder, Vivian. I can barely hear you.”

She nods, darting a glance at Carol and Lydia. In a much stronger voice, she says, “We’re upset that you fired Canyon.”

I stare at her, trying to comprehend her words. “What? Why would you think that?”

Her chin goes up. “He’s gone. And this morning, you said it was your fault.”

It’s as if she’s slapped me. I said those words to River. I feel responsible, but I didn’t fire him. And River knows that better than anyone. “Who told you that?”

Uncertainty crosses her face. “Um, it was Sheila. But I think she heard it from Al. And he heard it from?—”

“Stop.” I press my fist against my forehead, trying to hold it together. “If I fire someone or let them go, it’s for a good reason, and I wouldn’t be allowed to divulge that information to you. But… But ,” I say again so they hear me, “I did not fire Canyon.”

“Then why isn’t he here?” she asks, crossing her arms.

I wish I knew. But that’s not the answer they need.

“I had an errand to run.”

Am I dreaming? Did I conjure him with nothing more than a desperate need, a gallon of tears, and a broken heart?

“Canyon!” Carol rushes over to him. “I’m so sorry about this morning.”

“It’s fine, hon. You’re good.” He greets everyone without once looking at me. “Sorry, all. I just had some things I needed to take care of. But I’m back now.”

“Thank God,” Al says. “I thought the boss man was going to lose it on us.”

“Hey. That’s not?—”

Canyon’s laugh stops my words. He waves a hand. “When is he not losing it? Am I right?”

Everyone cheers in agreement, and Canyon turns toward me, the smile still on his face as if I’m included. Even though I’m not.

Everything is easier after that. Each team shares, and while some clearly worked harder than others, overall, they did well.

The last team is Jared and Owen. Owen seems especially cranky—almost worse than Al—as he tells us Jared’s goals for the week.

“He says he met his goals, but I think he had other ‘goals’ he was working on.” He even used finger quotes.

What the hell?

Jared glares at him. “Owen had no real goals. Just random meandering about something unimportant.”

“At least my goal wasn’t getting laid.”

River steps between them before any swinging starts. “Cool off. Both of you.”

We take a short break after that. Others walk around or make a quick trip to the cabins. I don’t go anywhere. Maybe Canyon will talk to me. Not that I know what to say. I almost go up to him several times, but he’s always been busy. Talking to River. Ander. Jared. He doesn’t even look my way.

Once everyone returns, River directs them to sit in a circle. “You’ll need to be closer than that, but you can always get up if needed.”

Everyone shuffles closer together and Canyon starts the exercise. “This game might be familiar to you. Either River or I will give you a short phrase. You tell it to your neighbor. And they tell it to their neighbor. We’ll see if you can get it right. Or if the phrase is changed.”

What are they doing? This isn’t on the list of activities River prepared or even the ones that Canyon made on his own. But he’s good at that. Always thinking on his feet.

As the game progresses, I notice several things. River and Canyon take turns giving the clues and encouraging members while the other watches intently and makes notes in a notebook. Ander is right in the middle. Jared is closer to the end.

They laugh through the first one. God, Canyon’s so good at that. Getting people to relax. The next round, they’re still laughing, but it’s more of a nervous laugh. The last round has most of them glancing around in confusion.

Canyon discusses communication and how easily things get twisted around.

“It’s important to be clear when communicating with someone and to check that they understand. Do not assume. That’s how misinformation spreads. It’s not only bad for business, but it can also start harmful rumors.”

Carol raises her hand. “Like the rumor that you quit?”

“Exactly. Everyone assumed they had the right information.” Canyon’s eyes find mine for a brief second.

I can’t read his expression, but it gives me hope.

Granted, I’m desperate to grab onto anything slightly resembling hope at this point, and he’s not glaring at me with murderous intent, so that’s a win.

Once they finish the debrief, I dismiss everyone.

There’s an hour before lunch, and most are packing up their stuff.

I’m making my way to the activity room to meet with Ander when I realize Canyon never said what the phrases were.

That’s the most important part of the debriefing.

Showing people how far off they were. Canyon forgetting to reveal one phrase would be understandable.

But all three? That’s intentional. And now, I have to know.

The door to the activities room is open when I arrive. Ander paces the length of the room and touches his fingers together as he walks. I suck in a breath. That was something he used to do as a kid all the time. I close the door, and his head jerks up.