Her face tilted. “He’s a complicated man, Julia. Complicated men need love too.”
I scoffed as I wiped away the tears. “It’s not him. I do love him.”
“Peggy told me what happened in Chicago. Take some time, this weekend, to try to forget about it. Concentrate on the two of you. Next week, you can pick up the fight.”
“We went to the cabin,” I confessed. “I wanted to spend the night there.” I shook my head. “There was a fire in the fireplace and dishes in the sink.”
Paula stood straighter, her petite form going stiff.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” I said.
She feigned a grin. “We’ve told Mr. Sherman to lock that place. Who knows who decided to make it their temporary home.”
“You’ve told him?”
“Bruce did. I think Jonathon has too.”
“Why didn’t he?”
“I don’t know the reason. I have my suspicion.”
“I’m listening,” I said.
“As I said, Mr. Sherman is complicated. He’s a shrewd businessman. If I were to believe all the stories, well, some would say he’s heartless.” Her head shook as she grinned. “That may be true. But there’s more to him than meets the eye.”
I nodded.
“The cabin and the guesthouse were two of the original buildings on this property before Mr. Sherman purchased it. The cabin is…well, you’ve seen it. It’s primitive.”
“Yes.”
“When he is in a mood, he goes out there. It’s his haven.”
“Why hasn’t he kept it locked?”
“My suspicion is that by keeping it open, he has it available for those in need. He’s become an icon in the business world, yet there’s a part of him that is kindhearted and generous. The cabin is only one example of that.”
I let her words sink in. “Maybe you’re right. After what happened in Chicago, my nerves are stretched to their limit. Thinking about someone in the cabin was the final straw.” I took a deep breath. “Van said he’ll have Jonathon secure the door tomorrow. Maybe I should tell him not to worry about it.”
Paula’s grin broadened. “No, child. He knows you are upset. Men like him are all about fixing problems. You are his priority. Think about those men he just hired. Before you, he wouldn’t welcome people into his world. Now he has.”
“I don’t want to change who Van is. I love him the way I found him, or he found me.”
“Change isn’t always bad. If you will listen to an old lady’s advice, I say talk about it. Don’t hold back. Be honest. And when he’s honest with you, accept what he says. Sometimes truth is difficult to say and hear, but it’s the only element that can’t be ignored.”
“Julia.”
We both turned toward Van’s voice.
I reached for Paula’s slender shoulders and gave her a quick hug. “Thank you.”
“You two should eat,” she said.
Getting down from the tall stool, I reached for the bag we’d placed on the table and lifted it. “It won’t be as good as your cooking, but we picked up something in Bayfield.”
“I’ll be out of here in another hour.”
As I reached for Van’s hand, he replied to Paula, “Let Albert know when you’re leaving. The doors are currently monitored. He’ll see you to your car.”