Aiden stepped off the front porch and out onto the yard. He smiled in contentment watching the buzz of activity going on. The debris of the ripped concrete had been cleared away and workers were preparing to pour the new concrete drive way. Landscapers were hauling off all unkempt vegetation, the leaves had been cleared and pallets of new sod were being sewn. Another group of landscapers had replaced the old window boxes and filled them with brilliant fall flowers. The team of roofers had cleared the old roof and began laying out the new material on which the shingles would overlay.

He walked to the back of the property watching tractors clear the overgrown fields surrounding the lodge. Painters were restoring the picnic grounds, painting the tables vivid red. The old outdoor theater was being replaced by a state of the art screen and projection system.

"It's beginning to feel like old times."

Happy memories danced in his head. As he walked towards the old swimming hole, he could feel an imaginary hand from the past threaded through his. He and Jas were walking down the path. The velvety black sky was amazing with thousands of brilliant stars sparkling above their head. He could almost feel the cool grass beneath their feet. He made his way to the edge of the hole, quite pleased that the grass had been cut around it. The deep blue waters were vibrant as ever. He sat down and could feel Jas sitting next to him.

"You won't let him send you away?" His mind echoed her voice.

"No, I'll run away first and find a way to come back for you."

He bristled at where his mind was leading him. At that time, he wasn't expecting his father to force him to get in the car at gunpoint. But he eventually did come back for her. But things didn't work out. As the slow ember of rage crept in he was glad to be interrupted by Bruce.

"Dude," he called out.

Aiden waved at his tall lanky friend. Typical Bruce was dressed in a pair of brown cowboy boots, jeans, a blue confederate flag sweatshirt and was proudly wearing a red bandanna. His long blonde ponytail sagged over his shoulder. I really need to take him shopping. But he knew Bruce was totally in his element and would never want of trade a stitch of his clothing. He was a bona fide redneck.

"Man, I'm glad you were able to come. How did the football game go?"

"Jordy killed it. They won by 20 points."

"Did you bring them?"

"Yes. Nanna has got them busy already. She sent Jordy and Samantha to help with painting. Michelle is in the kitchen helping Nanna and Jas make soup and sandwiches for lunch. Man, this looks like the old-time crowd. I haven't seen this much activity at the inn for years."

Aiden nodded. "Nice, isn't it."

"Mama was surprised that Jas let you help. She was expecting a cat fight."

"I didn't tell her."

Bruce burst out laughing. "What?"

"No. She's been avoiding me, so I said what the hell, just do it."

"Well, mama told me to tell you thank you for helping to get it all organized. She pulled a lot of strings for people to show up. She and Nanna were on the phone constantly."

Aiden and Bruce began to walk back towards the front of the lodge. As they made their way back they passed the large wooden fence dividing Nanna's property from his father's property. Bruce tipped his head in the direction of the fence. "You gonna see him?"

Aiden shook his head. "He and that woman have done nothing for me."

"Other than make you who you are, today."

Bruce's words sliced through him. His face clouded. "You're kidding, right?"

"All I know is he ran you away from this place. If he had not sent you away..."

"I'd be married to Jas and happy like you and Michelle are."

Bruce stopped and swung around. Aiden watched astonishment form on Bruce's face. He really couldn't imagine why he looked so surprised. Bruce's mouth dropped open. After staring for a few minutes, he said, "You don't know who you are, do you? You've made an impact on the globe. You've got the world at your feet. The only thing stopping you from having Jas - are you and Jas."

Aiden didn't say anything. Part of him knew that Bruce was telling the truth. Yes, his father did alter his life and it had turned out for his good. But his intent was not for things to turn out well. His father was dumping a problem. "You know things are not that simple. You weren't abandoned by both parents. You don't know how that feels."

"You're right, I will never know how that feels. But I saw what it did to you. It split you in two. I saw it split you and Jas. One part of you is the best friend that I've always loved. The other part is something dark. You can't live like that, especially if you want Jas back."

"I can't see him, Bruce."

"Then you don't want Jas, do you?"

***

"He's incorrigible, Michelle."

"I'm sure that it is not as bad as you think."

The women quickly stuffed turkey, ham and cheese between croissant rolls. Heated pans of tomato soup and clam chowder had already been placed on the steam tables. As the day progressed more helpers had come and so the lunch meal was twice the size that they'd prepared for breakfast. Nanna had been helping but she slipped off and went into her living quarters.

"I told him that we would handle this and didn't need his help."

"And you know you were lying, right?"

Jas blew a tendril of auburn hair from her face and glanced over at Michelle. She opened her mouth to say something but then snapped it shut. She thought a few moments on how to respond. "I didn't want his help."

"But you needed it, right?"

"Well..."

"Well, nothing. You can't do both. He knew that you or Nanna would ever ask, so he just did it. Consider your pride spared."

Jas roughly stuffed a handful of meat between the croissant. Michelle had never been that blunt. What's up with her? "Pride!"

"Yes, your stubborn pride – he cares enough for you not to place you in that position. Ella said that when Nanna called he dropped everything to come here."

"Nanna called him?"

Michelle blushed. She picked up a tray of sandwiches and walked over to the steam tables.

"Hold on Michelle. Don't you go anywhere."

She stepped out from behind the counter and followed Michelle over to the steam table. Michelle opened the warmer and placed the sandwiches inside.

"I thought you knew. I shouldn't have said anything."

Jas scowled then flicked her finger, directing Michelle to a nearby table. Maybe he was telling the truth that he wasn't here to save the inn. Nanna has been acting very strange for nearly a year. "Talk," she ordered.

"All I know is..."

Before Michelle could start talking, Aiden and Bruce walked into the kitchen.

Jas slapped her hand on the table. "Dang it!"

"What?" said Aiden.

Jas rolled her eyes at him. Then she stood up and said, "Nothing."

Bruce walked over to where Michelle was sitting and kissed the top of her hair. Then he kneeled down and gave his wife a sweet hug. "We just came to see if y'all needed any help. The crowd's getting pretty big."

"Matter of fact we can use your help." Michelle pointed to the huge table full of meats and cheese. "We were only half way through with the sandwiches."

Jas's eyes narrowed. "Excuse me," she said and huffed out of the room. Michelle looked astounded.

"What's got her dander up?"

"See, I told you, Bruce, she won't have anything to do with me."

***

Jas stomped down the hall to Nanna's living quarters. I didn't even notice when she slipped from the kitchen this time. She's been slipping off for a long time now. I didn't even know she still had Aiden's cell number. From a distance, she could hear Nanna talking and laughing to someone. She reached for the door handle but it was locked. As soon as she rattled the door the talking and laughter stopped. Jas knocked on the door. It took a few moments before Nanna opened it.

Jas stepped in and glanced around the room. "Who were you talking to?"

Jas gave Nanna the cold eye, and watched Nanna's cheeks turn bright red. She noticed the gulp as Nanna's throat constricted.

"You must have heard something that I was watching on the internet."

"I distinctly heard you talking and laughing with someone."

Nanna nervously tapped her fingers on the side of her house dress. "Do you hear all the noise around us. People are talking everywhere. You were mistaken."

Jas brow arched. "And the locked door?"

"There are lots of people roaming around today and I didn't want them accidently coming into my quarters." Nanna felt the nervousness in her fingers and slipped both hands behind her back, holding them together.

Jas gave a withering look. "Why did you call Aiden and ask him to come here?"

She watched as Nanna's cheeks transformed from bright red to beet red. Nanna bowed her head and began tapping her fuzzy house slippers against the wood floor. "Come in child and have a seat. Your britches are all bunched up for nothing."

Jas made her way across the spacious living quarters that were divided into an open concept living area, divided by a wall. Beyond the wall was Nanna's bedroom suite. The living area was quite rustic. Brown leather furnishings were neatly arranged, with a log wood table sitting on top of an Aztec décor rug. Thick green drapes covered a wall of windows. They were open revealing the beautiful mountain vista. One wall contained a small galley kitchen space, and a small breakfast table was set up in one of the corners.

Jas strode to the large black wood burning stove that sat in the corner adjacent to the kitchen table. She rubbed her hands together enjoying the warmth. "I'd rather stand."

"Who told you that I called Aiden?"

"Michelle."

Nanna shook her head. She ambled over to the sofa and sank down in the soft cushions. "That darn Ella can't keep her mouth shut. Everybody knows that Michelle is the grapevine to northern Georgia. Shoot! I did call Aiden but I did not ask him to come here. I've got too much pride to ask anyone to help us out. You know that I even had a hard time accepting the donation that the town gave us from the Apple Festival, last year."

"Then what's going on Nanna?"

"Nothing is going on. Life is moving right along as it's supposed to be. We simply talked about life."

Jas through up her hands in exasperation. She plopped down besides Nanna. "This doesn't make any sense. Aiden is a busy man. Michelle said he dropped everything to be here. What are you not telling me? Is she sick? Please God don't let her be sick. She's all I've got.

"I've told you all you need to know. We talked about life."

Jas face clouded, thinking the worst but daring not to voice it. She buried her face in her hands. "So, you're just going to leave me hanging, Nanna?"

"No. I'm going to tell you that you need to fix your own life and not worry about mine."

"What does that really mean, Nanna?"

"It means you and Aiden need to spend some time alone in room 208."

Jas popped up becoming pencil straight. She was blushing redder than Nanna. "I don't have anything to say to Aiden."

"You should."

"Nanna, how can you say that?"

Tears began to brim under her eyes but she quickly sucked them up. There was no way she was going to fall apart again, even as her mind instantly swept back through time. It felt as if she was standing in front of Aiden at the airport. He'd purchased her a one-way ticket back to Ellijay. His voice was as clear in her head now, as it was in that moment.

"I'm sorry Jas. I can't love you like I want to. We've given it four years. I can't ruin your life with my obsessions."

"But we love each other. We can make this work."

"How can I when I'm spending every waking moment expanding my business."

"No Aiden. You're spending every waking moment trying to prove to them that you are somebody.

She could no longer hold back the tears. The warm salty stream trickled down her face. Nanna's soft and gentle hand wiped them away. "Talk to him, sweetheart."

"I can't Nanna. I left you for four years and would have left you for good. I feel really bad about just walking out on you. I gave up everything dear to me for him. He sent me back to Ellijay."

"Baby, you didn't abandon me. You started your own life. This lodge was my dream and your grandfather's dream. You don't belong in my dream, but you are welcome to stay in it."

"Oh, Nanna."

Jas began to weep. As hard as it was to allow herself to cry, she knew on the inside that she needed to release all those years of tears. They poured like a deluge. Nanna rocked her in her arms.

"Baby, there is a reason you couldn't marry the men that have proposed to you over the years. There is a reason that Aiden dropped everything to come here when I never asked him to do it. We just talked about life."