Chapter 28

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

Rhonda

Rhonda stood at her door, gripping her overnight bag, hot pink with black leopard spots and a bright blue zipper. It was her staple for weekend getaways. She quickly rifled through the contents of her bag, making sure she had everything she needed. She'd packed in a rush, so her mind ran through the list. Toothbrush, makeup, a change of clothes, and her favourite shampoo and conditioner. A hot water bottle for her feet—they were always freezing. Her silk hair wrap so her curls didn’t go insane while she slept.

Anne’s car pulled into the driveway, and she hurried out the door, locking it behind her. She jogged down the steps and climbed into the passenger seat.

Anne grinned at her. "Ready?"

"A hundred percent." She tossed her bag into the back seat, and Anne reversed back onto the street. Maybe she should’ve said ninety percent. She was excited to spend time with them, but there was a part of her that wished she could be with Jordan. Anne would’ve understood, she’d ditched them plenty of times to see Gary. But Anne had been so amped about this weekend. Rhonda couldn’t say no.

Rhonda turned in her seat. Anne was dressed in a pair of black leggings and a cozy waffle knit top. "How far to the cabin?”

Anne shrugged. “Should only be forty-five minutes or so.”

Rhonda adjusted her seat. "Where did you say it was?"

Anne focused on the road. "It's just outside of Canmore. I think you'll love it." She turned her head, a bright smile on her face. "So, how was your week?"

Rhonda told her about the ongoing discussions with Rocky Ridge, then about her meetings up north. Community pharmacies were about to take major pay cuts after the government promoted opening pharmacist walk-in clinics because of the physician shortage. Rhonda was working to support them, and she was grateful Cantra was making it a priority, as well.

Anne filled her in on all the things they’d been cramming in with Melissa while she was in town. Rhonda felt a little guilty about not being around for that, but Melissa wasn’t leaving until after the new year.

She’d never apologized for making her work a priority, but she had been seeing things differently as of late. What was the point of getting promoted if it didn’t allow her to live the life she wanted? It had never been about her setting boundaries, it had been that she didn’t know which boundaries to set.

“Do you miss all the excitement?” Anne asked, lifting her water from the cupholder and taking a sip from the straw.

“Of . . . ?”

“You know, meeting new people.”

Rhonda considered this. “I don’t feel like I’m missing anything.” It was the truth, but it was accompanied with another thought riding on its back. Instead of stuffing it down, she spoke it. “I am worried that I will someday. That this with Jordan will wear off and I’ll feel trapped.”

Anne exhaled. “Yeah. I always thought the goal was to feel settled.”

“Gross.”

Anne laughed out loud. “I said ‘thought,’ like past tense.”

“I always wanted to be in charge, but I never wanted to feel like I’d arrived. Reached the finish line.” Rhonda twirled a curl around her finger. “Maybe with work. I guess I did want that with work.”

She glanced up at the sign for Canmore, and Anne turned on her blinker.

"I'm going to grab gas.” Anne glanced at the dashboard. "I think there's a station just off the highway."

Rhonda nodded. "Sounds good." She looked out the window, the landscape growing more picturesque by the second as they drew closer to the Rockies. Wind swirled snow around the jagged peaks, making the sky around them blur.

They merged onto a smaller road that wound through town. Her eyes snagged on every medical facility they passed. Because Canmore was so close to Banff, there were more per capita than other towns.

Rhonda sat up a little straighter. "Do we need to grab food or anything?" Even though Tina loved to plan, she didn’t want to be that friend that showed up and expected everything to be done for her.

Anne grimaced. “Oh, shoot. I didn’t realize we needed to turn in there." Anne's hands tightened on the wheel. "I think there's another gas station a bit further in."

Rhonda pulled out her phone and scanned her email while she waited. A few seconds later, she looked up and frowned as Anne turned into the parking lot of a massive stone building. The place looked like a medieval castle with its imposing stone walls and elegant archways.

Anne stopped in the turnaround. Rhonda reached out and pressed her hand against her friend’s forehead. Anne laughed and pushed her away.

“Just making sure you don’t have a fever.”

Anne turned with a huge smile on her face. “No fever.”

“This isn’t gas.”

“Well aware.” Anne pointed out the window and Rhonda turned to look. There was a sign with cursive lettering. Canmore Cascade.

The gears turned in her head. Why did she know that name?

Anne put the car in park. "I think you should get your bag and?—”

"The auction." Rhonda's eyes widened, and her breath caught in her throat. She turned to Anne, her pulse quickening. "December twentieth. The auction. Jordan spent ten grand for a weekend here." She tapped her phone screen and checked the date.

Anne's lips twitched. "Huh."

Rhonda's mind raced, her thoughts a jumbled mess. "Hold on. Hold on." She put her hands out, trying to make sense of it all. "Are Tina and Melissa at a cabin waiting for us?"

Anne practically squealed. "No."

Rhonda's heart pounded in her ears. "So?—?"

“Jordan’s in there waiting for you! Get the hell out of my car!”

Rhonda spun to look at her bag in the backseat. “I didn’t bring lingerie.”

“Yeah, we couldn’t figure out how to ask you to do that without things getting weird.”

Rhonda laughed. “You guys have been texting him? How did I not know this?”

Anne held up her phone. “You did put us in a group chat.”

She scoffed. “Behind my back?”

“I think you’ll forgive us in about five minutes.”

Rhonda's throat tightened. “I don’t want you to think Jordan is more important?—”

“Get. Out.” Anne laughed and shoved her shoulder. “We’ll have plenty of girl time next week. You’re coming to the spa, right?” Rhond nodded. “Great, then I’ll expect a full report then.”

She couldn't think of anything to say other than “Thank you.” She opened the door, grabbed her overnight bag from the back seat, and walked up the stone steps to the front entrance. Rhonda turned and waved to Anne, then walked through the spinning front door.

The lobby was breathtaking. Rhonda walked through the double doors and stood rooted to the spot. Wooden beams stretched across a vaulted ceiling. A rustic chandelier cast soft golden light across polished stone floors, and a grand staircase with a hand-carved wooden balustrade spiralled up to the right. In a corner, a stone fireplace rose from floor to ceiling, and plush velvet sofas in deep greens sat around a refurbished farmhouse coffee table atop inset herringbone wood flooring.

She stepped forward, and a man looked up from his computer behind the counter. His face lit up. “You must be Rhonda.”

Rhonda didn’t speak for a moment. She was still processing the fact that she was there and not still in the car with Anne.

The man grinned. “Your suite is the only one on the top level. Just up that staircase and down the hall to your left.”

Rhonda’s heart pounded. “Thanks.” He didn’t hand her a key. That meant Jordan was already up there.

“Enjoy your stay.” The man’s voice echoed through the lobby as she walked up the stairs, her hands shaking.

Exquisite photographs of the Rockies hung along the walls, each one lit by a singular goosehead lamp. Rhonda’s footsteps echoed against the stone, and she tried to breathe through the rushing of her pulse.

When she reached the door, she stopped and stared at the grain lines in the carved wood. Jordan’s door. The right room. At least she didn’t have to pee this time.

She drew in a deep breath, lifted her hand, and knocked.