Page 78 of Culinary Chaos

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Angelica walked through the main lobby, pausing suddenly when her eyes lit upon Tatum. He didn’t look well. Not unwell, but he looked stressed. In a way she hadn’t seen before. She’d stayed longer than normal at the wrap party, and she hadn’t even seen Tatum slip out of the room.

But now, she couldn’t stop herself.

“Tatum?” Angelica said loud enough to catch his attention.

When his eyes locked on hers, she knew the devastation was true.

“What’s wrong?”

Tatum shook his head, but there were tears in his eyes. Something she rarely saw in a man. Walking closer and softening her step, Angelica decided to pry whatever it was out of him. Tatum nodded his head toward the back garden.

“Outside.”

She followed him, curious and decided at the same time. She was going to help him through this, whateverthiswas. He sat down on the bench that was quickly becoming one of Angelica’s favorite spots, and she mimicked him.

“Dad called this morning.” Tatum swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I didn’t want to ruin the party, and I couldn’t fake it any longer. I don’t know how you do it.”

“Practice,” Angelica said, her lips pulling into a tight smile. “It’s not something I’d recommend, however. What did your father say?”

“The treatment plan isn’t working.” Tatum rubbed his hands across his cheeks and through his hair. He dropped his chin and stared at the ground, elbows on his knees and tears streaming down his cheeks. “There’s another one they want to try.”

“Tatum…” Angelica reached over and touched his shoulder lightly, rubbing a circle. Her heart was shattering just watching him go through this. She’d been witness to so many people over the years dealing with similar situations, and it was never easy. “I’m so sorry.”

“We’re going to have to talk about selling the hotel to fund it, but also because this isn’t my passion.”

He had fooled her on that at least. She’d thought he’d found a love here that he hadn’t had elsewhere, because he seemed to enjoy it so much. Still, she understood. Running a business like this when the heart of it was no longer around was more difficult than anyone could anticipate.

“I can’t do this on my own.”

Angelica stayed silent. She could help him. She could offer assistance, but she wasn’t sure he’d take it, and she wasn’t sure that he’d be open to the idea. Still, it felt right in this moment. Angelica shifted on the bench, her shoulders tightening as she was about to make a leap that she normally wouldn’t.

“I can help with running the hotel if that’s what you need. Temporarily. Until your parents are back or even until they decide on what they want next. If you just need a stopgap for a few months or even a year, I’m more than willing to step in and assist.”

Tatum furrowed his brow, turning his head and looking up at her. “What do you mean?”

“I manage hotels all over the country, Tatum. I don’t own them. I can help you run this one, give you and your parents a break. If that’s what you want.”

“Really?” His eyes lit up.

“Yes. And I wouldn’t change anything, either.” She’d seen enough of the hotel to know that even if she did make changes, they would be minor. Overall, everything here ran fairly well. She’d just supply him with a hotel manager on a temporary assignment and then she’d give it back over to him when he was ready. “Family is important, and you shouldn’t have to worry about paying the bills when you also need to worry about taking care of your parents.”

“Ms. Shields…” Tatum’s jaw dropped. “I’ll have to talk to my parents about it, but honestly, even if it’s just for a few months so I can be in Denver instead of here, that’d be amazing.”

“Talk to them and call me. It’s the least I can do.” She licked her lips and flicked her gaze toward the door. “I need to get ready to leave.”

“Leave?” Tatum frowned at her.

“Because I was sick I had to cancel a trip to Los Angeles for some interviews. I have a few days before our next shoot, so I’m leaving early to get that done.” Angelica smiled at him, genuinely. “Call me and let me know. And if you don’t, then I’ll be calling you.”

She touched his shoulder lightly again and stood up. She didn’t like leaving him so disheveled like that, but she also wasn’t sure that she could stay there and comfort him any longer. She wasn’t someone who did that on a regular basis, and it took a whole lot out of her.

Once she was alone in her room, Angelica pressed her back to the door and closed her eyes. She never would have thoughtshe’d make an offer like that to anyone. But something about this place—it was magical. And if she could stay connected to it, then she would. She finished packing up her things and then put her hands on her hips as she stared at the bed.

Hope’s trill of a laugh echoed in the hallway, and Angelica pursed her lips. She wanted to see what she was laughing at, she wanted to know what could bring that joy to Hope. But she didn’t move. Hope laughed again.