Page 63 of Rise After Fall

“I will. Thank you.”

I walk to the door, but before I reach it, he calls my name again.

“Zoey.”

“Yeah?”

“Balsam Ridge could offer you more than just a job, you know.”

“I do.”

When I make it back downstairs, Morris is waiting for me.

“When you get home, pack an overnight bag,” he says.

“For what?”

“Weston took Anna and Kaela to see her folks before Thanksgiving, and he said we could stay at his place tonight.”

“I don’t know. Everyone will ask questions if we leave together and don’t come back,” I tell him.

“I arranged for Mom to come and pick you up and let you in at Weston’s. I’m going to stay back and work on the deck with Clay. Once we’re done and everyone has gone to bed, I’ll sneak over. They’ll be none the wiser.”

“You told your mother?” I squeak.

He chuckles. “No. I had Anna call Mom and tell her she invited you to stay because you’d told her that you missed taking a bath. By the way, Weston’s guest bathroom has a huge jetted tub.”

“It does?”

“Yep, and we’ll have complete privacy. No chance of Scooter knocking on the door,” he says.

That does sound good.

“You had me at the jetted tub,” I say as I stop at my office door.

“Mom will pick you up at six,” he whispers, then keeps walking and rounds the corner toward the locker room.

I hurry to wrap up early and head to my cabana to pack.

Zoey

“Thank you for the ride,” I tell Sara-Beth as we pull out of the resort and onto the road that leads toward Weston’s home.

“It was no trouble at all.”

“It’s so nice of Weston to let me stay. Don’t get me wrong; I love the cabanas, but …”

“But it’ll be nice to have a little space,” she finishes.

“Yeah, that and a long bath.”

“I’m sure working at the resort is exhausting. I’ve never seen so many people. My goodness, Langford was right about it putting a little winter boost into the valley. Even the campground has been full, and it’s usually a ghost town by Thanksgiving.”

“I’m so happy for him and you guys. This place is really special.”

Her eyes slide to mine. “We’re happy you’re here too,” she says as she reaches over and squeezes my hand. “How’s that boy of mine doing at work? I hope he’s behaving.”

“He’s doing well.”