Early the next morning, Eleanor got in touch with Tanya. The academic
conference was about to begin, but the summit had wrapped up yesterday, so Tanya was preparing to head home.
After the events ofst night, Eleanor decided to spend a few days with her daughter, just the two of them.
At breakfast, Eleanor told Evelyn that Vivian would be joining them soon. Evelyn''s eyes lit up instantly. "Really? Is Vivian reallying?"
"Yes, she''s probably on her way now," Eleanor replied with a smile.
A littleter,n knocked and stepped inside. Evelyn rushed over and hugged his leg, bubbling with excitement. "Dad, Vivian and Mr. Vaughn areing to Drexford today!"
"Can we all go skiing together?" Evelyn asked, practically bouncing.
"Of course,"n said, crouching to her level. "We''ll switch to a hotel closer to the slopes right now."
Eleanor frowned slightly. It was clearn had already been in touch with Xavier and arranged their ns.
He nced up, and for a split second, there was a calcting glint in his eyes.
Eleanor held back her questions, while Evelyn could barely contain her excitement about seeing her friend.
Eleanor left Evelyn to y inn''s room and went back to her own to organize her notes from the summit. She sent them off to Joel and York.
By eleven,n and Eleanor had checked out, and as Eleanor was packing her suitcase, a message from Xavier popped up: "We''re almost there. Let''s meet at the hotel near the ski resort."
"Perfect!" Eleanor replied.
After lunch, they set out for the ski resort. The drive took two hours, but soon enough, they arrived.
The hotel sat at the foot of thergest ski mountain-a picturesque cluster of wooden chalets straight out of a storybook. At check-in,n booked a three- bedroom family chalet.
Eleanor immediately frowned and asked the front desk if there were any other rooms avable.
"I''m so sorry, madam, but this is thest family chalet we have," the receptionist apologized.
Eleanor understood. The parking lot was overflowing with cars-it was peak season for skiing.
And of course, Xavier must have reserved his room online already.
Eleanor debated whether to switch hotels, but Evelyn was thrilled, pping her hands in delight. "This is great! We finally get to stay together."
Eleanor nced up at the avability screen behind the desk. Sure enough, not a single vacancy. She could only hope someone would check outter in the afternoon; maybe then she could book a separate room.
Noticing the tense set of Eleanor''s brow,n leaned closer and said quietly, "Don''t worry. I''m not going to do anything inappropriate."
His voice was low and sincere, as if to reassure her that the man who''d nearly lost controlst night was a different person entirely.
Eleanor turned away to speak with the receptionist, asking her to let her know if any rooms became avable. The receptionist nodded and took down Eleanor''s number.
Meanwhile,n-his back to the desk-was busy fixing Evelyn''s coat, his mood impossible to read.
Just then, the front doors swung open and Xavier strode in, travel-worn in a gray overcoat, holding Vivian''s hand.
"Vivian!" Evelyn spotted her at once, and the two girls shrieked with excitement, running into each other''s arms.
"Eleanor. Ian," Xavier greeted them with a smile.
"Did you get your room sorted?"n asked.
"Yes, I booked online," Xavier replied.
"We got thest family chalet," n added, sounding almost casual.
Xavier''s brow twitched slightly. "Really? I booked a family chalet as well."
Eleanor noticed Xavier''s assistant Cain and the children''s nanny waiting just outside.
"Let''s get checked in, then,”n suggested, taking Evelyn''s hand. He turned to Eleanor, "We''ll go drop our bags at the chalet."
n, we''re in Chalet Seven. Which one are you in?"
"Perfect," Xavier said with a lift of his brow. "That way, the kids can go back and forth whenever they want."
Eleanor saw through it all-this was exactly hown had nned it.