The Weekend Retreat by Tara Laskowski

Author:Tara Laskowski
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises ULC
Published: 2023-10-16T17:17:29+00:00

ELLE

Once their silhouettes fade into the trees, I lift the gong into the back of the golf cart Bill brought around earlier and drive myself to the other side of the woods.

Mom told me about this game, how much she loved playing it with Richard, Harper, and Zach. It was not one of the ones I ever participated in, but Mom said it was a great test of character, of grit, and I knew that bringing it back would make this weekend even more special.

I park the golf cart and perch on top of a picnic table, leaning back on my elbows and staring up through the leafless trees. It’s a shame it’s so overcast, because out here there are so many stars visible at night. One time, when Richard and I were still dating, he spread out a blanket and we opened a bottle of wine and I’d never seen anything so beautiful in my life—hundreds of twinkling stars, revealing themselves in the night.

But tonight, there’s nothing. Not even the moon can penetrate beyond a dim glow. The air feels heavier. I hope Bill and Linnet are wrong about the storm coming early.

I ring the gong. I like the power of it, the solemn ritual, but it’s lonely out here in the dark. Maybe I should’ve put Todd in charge so I could play. I might’ve even won—Mom was always impressed with how quickly I picked up on her games, how eager I was to join. I could’ve beaten them all, proven once and for all that I am worthy of the Van Ness name.

But no. I couldn’t trust Todd with such an important role, Mom’s role. It had to be me.

I miss her. She and I had a connection, a bond. She would’ve wanted me to finish the work she started, to keep this family’s traditions alive, maintain the house and the land. Spoil Zach, give Richard responsibility and purpose, teach Harper lessons. Mom told me once near the end that she feared she’d been too hard on Harper. That she tried to make her a strong person, to set her up for success, but instead she worried she’d driven her away.

But Mom could’ve gone easy on Harper, and it wouldn’t have made a difference. Harper’s too self-absorbed to see anyone else, to understand their intentions. She only pays attention when something affects her image. That’s why I sent that video out to the world. She needed a mirror to look into. To see she’s wrong.

It’s taking longer than I thought for everyone to cross the woods. It’s so quiet out here. I can almost imagine that everyone’s disappeared. That the world has come to an end and I’m the only one left. Elle Diamond Van Ness—the sole survivor.

Then I see the beam. A flashlight, sweeping the vineyards behind me.

A flashlight isn’t part of the game. It’s probably Bill. Sometimes he does night checks, making sure deer aren’t sneaking in to eat the fruit. But these are dormant vineyards—the fruit is gone.

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