Riverbend Read Free Page B

Seattle, where the sun didn't appear but for three months of the year. Linus's inn, aptly named Second Chance Inn, was opened a year after Riversong. He'd come to help Lee open the restaurant—he and Lee had been best friends for years before she lost her husband—and had loved the town so much that he decided to stay and open the inn.
    Designed like the traditional inns of simpler times, with old-fashioned lamps and dark wood for the desk and trim, the only way one could tell it was a modern inn was the gas fireplace. The rooms were decorated in the boutique style, with a theme for each room and named after famous poets. Annie's favorite was the Mary Oliver room, splashed with colors of the seaside, soft blues and greens.
    The cool air of the lobby felt good to her overheated skin. She was still sweating from the workout. She resisted the urge to smell under her armpits. Linus would not approve.
    “Morning,” said Linus. He pursed his lips and cocked his head to the left. “How was the workout?” He wore his customary designer linen suit. No tie today. It was summer. Even Linus took the summers off from ties.
    “Awful.”
    “Already dreading it.” Linus patted his flat stomach and rolled his eyes. “But I have to go. John already called to remind me it was a gym day. One of the many problems with being in love with a younger man.” He handed her a sticky note. “Write down everything you did.”
    “You realize John and Tommy actually like to work out. It's weird.”
    “And annoying.”
    They laughed. “You have the scone order for me?” she asked as she scrawled out the workout routine.
    He handed her a sheet of paper with the guests’ names and their requests. Guests were given a choice of blackberry, cinnamon, or pumpkin scones. In the summer, almost every guest chose blackberry. In the winter, it was an almost even amount of cinnamon and pumpkin.
    Linus tapped the top of his computer monitor. “Guess what?”
    She looked at him blankly. “I don't know. What?”
    “I passed both my written and flight exam. I just got word from my instructor. I can officially fly a helicopter now.”
    “Already? I didn't know you were taking the test. It feels like you just started taking instruction.”
    “I was a nervous wreck over the test so I kept it to myself in case I didn't pass.” He put his hand on his left hip. “But seriously, how butch am I?”
    “Super butch.” She gazed at him. “I'm impressed. I know it was a tremendous amount of work.” A little less than two years ago, Linus had announced at dinner one night that he wanted to become a helicopter pilot. He couldn't explain his reasons exactly but Annie had understood. There were certain desires and ambitions that were undeniable. One could pretend for a period of time they were ridiculous or unattainable but in the night when our demons asserted their darkness, the thoughts would come, haunting, perhaps even mocking— you must try . This is all. Try. Choose what you love, even if it's difficult. Even if no one understands but you. “What will you do with it now?”
    “I don't know. My instructor said I can use his helicopter if I wanted to take friends out and things. Or maybe I'll volunteerduring fire season to search for fires or something.”
    “That's even more butch,” she said. “Proud of you, honey.” She took the magazine from under her arm and set in on his desk. “Page 56.”
    “No way.”
    “Yes way.”
    Linus read it in silence, shaking his head as if in disbelief. After he finished, there were tears in his eyes. “We've made it, babe. Like really made it.”
    “ Food and Wine !” She clapped her hands together and squealed. “ Food and Wine . It's not like we haven't had good press before but this is just beyond.”
    Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a man coming down the stairs. She moved to the side of the desk, not wanting to be in the way.
    “Mr. Webber, how are you this morning?” asked Linus.
    Webber? Oh