Grant glanced at work jacket.
“You manage maintenance?”
Sophia’s jaw tightened.
Jake answered before she could.
“I own Morrison Auto.”
“Oh.”
Grant smiled politely.
“I’ve seen the sign in town.”
Jake knew he had not.
Sophia said:
“Jake is here because I hired him.”
Grant nodded.
“Of course.”
Two words.
Not insult technically.
Still.
Jake packed tools.
Sophia followed him.
“You don’t have to leave.”
“Yes.”
“You two need conversation.”
“I don’t care about Grant.”
Her voice sharpened.
“I do.”
Jake looked at her.
Sophia stopped.
“Not like that.”
“I know.”
“Then stay.”
Jake glanced toward Grant waiting on porch.
“No.”
He lowered voice.
“This is family and property.”
“I’m not going to stand there proving I belong.”
Sophia heard something underneath.
“Jake.”
He looked away.
“Call if snowblower acts up.”
He left.
Sophia watched his truck disappear.
Grant came down porch.
“He seems nice.”
She turned.
“Do not.”
“What?”
“Use that tone.”
Grant sighed.
“Sophia.”
“You came here because Adrian asked?”
“Yes.”
“Then talk about lodge.”
Grant opened folder.
But Sophia was no longer listening.
That night Jake did not answer her first call.
Or second.
On third, he picked up.
“I was working.”
“Liar.”
He almost smiled.
“What?”
“You don’t ignore calls when working.”
Jake leaned against kitchen counter.
Avery was upstairs.
“Sophia.”
“Are you embarrassed by me?”
“No.”
“Then what happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Jake.”
He sighed.
“Grant fits your life.”
Silence.
Then a very quiet:
“Excuse me?”
Jake immediately knew sentence was wrong.
But he continued anyway because fear often prefers momentum over wisdom.
“People like him.”
“Your family.”
“Hotels.”
“Denver.”
“You think my life is hotels?”
“You know what I mean.”
“No.”
“I want you to explain.”
Jake gripped counter.
“You’re leaving in a month.”
“You have a company.”
“A family with money I cannot comprehend.”
“An ex who flies to Montana because a property offer has deadline.”
“I change brakes for people who pay me in two installments.”
Sophia’s voice became cold.
“And?”
Jake had no good answer.
“That is difference.”
“Of course it is.”