The hot spring resort sprawled across acres of pristine landscape, and Veronica had lost track of where Cullen and his group might be wandering. When she descended to the main floor, the lobby stood empty of familiar faces.
Evening hadn't fully claimed the sky yet, so Veronica approached two resort staff members and enlisted their help for her mountain expedition. The temperature had dropped with the approaching dusk, sending cool gusts across the hillside, but her layers kept the chill at bay. She found the crisp air refreshing as she worked among the apple trees, the simple task of harvesting fruit providing the mental clarity she desperately needed.
With multiple hands working efficiently, they managed to pack two large crates with fresh apples in relatively short order. The work complete, Veronica felt no urgency to return to the resort immediately. The western sky had transformed into a canvas of brilliant oranges and deep purples, the kind of sunset that demanded to be witnessed in full.
She settled onto a weathered wooden bench positioned to capture the view, letting the peaceful moment wash over her troubled thoughts. The day's tensions began to ease from her shoulders as she watched the sun sink toward the horizon.
The sound of approaching footsteps and a child's excited chatter broke through her contemplation. Veronica turned toward the noise and found herself looking directly into Marco's surprised eyes.
He obviously hadn't anticipated encountering her on this secluded part of the mountain trail, and she watched him pause mid-stride, uncertainty flickering across his features.
Before either adult could speak, a young voice burst through the phone speaker Marco held. "Ms. Murray! Is that really you?"
Veronica realized Marco was conducting a video call with Cecelia, showing the little girl the apple orchards that dotted the mountainside. His original plan had been to harvest some fruit to bring home as a surprise for his daughter the following day.
Running into Veronica complicated that simple intention considerably.
Despite their recent encounters and Marco's previous assistance during her difficult moments, Veronica maintained firm boundaries around their relationship. She couldn't afford to let her guard down, and more importantly, she didn't want to encourage any deeper connection between them.
The instant she recognized Marco, her expression hardened into cool politeness. But hearing Cecelia's delighted greeting softened her defensive posture slightly, creating a crack in her carefully constructed walls.
Marco observed the subtle shift in her demeanor with careful attention. Rather than presuming he could approach freely, he maintained his respectful distance and asked, "Cecelia has been hoping to talk with you. Would you mind sparing a few minutes?"
The memory of her recent nursing home visit flooded back, bringing with it the crushing weight of emotion she'd carried afterward. That overwhelming grief had threatened to suffocate her until she'd encountered Marco and Cecelia by chance. Though Cecelia had asked her to join their afternoon activities, Veronica recognized the truth – the child's innocent companionship had been exactly what she needed to find her way back from the edge of despair.
Gratitude for that unexpected lifeline made her decision easy. She nodded her consent.
Marco extended his phone toward her, but kept his physical distance, positioning himself several feet away. He seemed to understand instinctively that proximity made her uncomfortable, and he respected that boundary without question.
Veronica accepted the device and settled into conversation with Cecelia, learning about the girl's current adventure with her grandmother. This explained Cecelia's absence from the resort weekend, something that had puzzled Veronica earlier.
She angled the phone to capture the spectacular sunset, sharing the breathtaking view with the enthusiastic child. Their chat stretched beyond ten minutes, covering everything from Cecelia's trip highlights to her grandmother's cooking experiments. When the conversation reached its natural conclusion, Veronica returned the phone to Marco with something approaching warmth.
After Marco said his goodbyes to Cecelia and ended the call, he turned back to Veronica. "Thank you for taking the time to talk with her."
"It wasn't necessary to thank me," she replied, her tone returning to its previous formality.
Darkness had claimed most of the sky during their extended conversation, though strategically placed lighting illuminated the winding path back to the resort. The descent wouldn't present any significant challenges despite the late hour.
Without further discussion, Veronica gathered her jacket closer and began making her way down the mountain trail. The staff members had already transported the apple crates using the service road, leaving her free to navigate the more direct walking path.
Marco fell into step behind her, matching her pace but maintaining the distance she clearly preferred. The entire journey passed in complete silence, neither feeling compelled to fill the quiet with unnecessary conversation.
As they approached the resort's main entrance, they encountered Niall emerging from the building. She stopped short when she noticed them arriving together from the mountain path, her expression shifting to something unreadable. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she processed the unexpected sight.
Veronica acted as though she hadn't noticed Niall's reaction at all, walking past her toward the lobby entrance without acknowledgment or explanation. Her deliberate indifference sent a clear message about where they stood.
Niall stared after Veronica's retreating form before turning her attention to Marco, confusion and concern creasing her brow. "Marco, what were you and she doing together?"
Marco's response came without hesitation or defensiveness. "We happened to cross paths on the mountain. Nothing more than coincidence."
The explanation made perfect sense to Niall once she considered the circumstances. She knew Marco had planned to video call Cecelia from the apple orchards, showing her the trees heavy with fruit. If Veronica had been up there for her own reasons, running into each other was completely natural and innocent.
Her suspicions dissolved, and Niall's posture relaxed visibly. She opened her mouth to comment further, but Marco redirected the conversation before she could speak.
"Where is everyone else right now?"
"They're all gathered at the pavilion near the lake. Everything for tonight's bonfire celebration is prepared and ready. We were about to send someone to find you."
"Perfect timing then."
They walked toward the pavilion together, their conversation shifting to the evening's planned activities and logistics. Behind them, the mountain stood silhouetted against the star-filled sky, keeping its secrets about the brief, complicated encounter between two people trying to navigate the delicate balance between gratitude and distance.