Restoring for Love

CHAPTER ONE

It was one of those refreshing spring days that made Peyton Carmichael happy to enjoy a trip in northern Alberta. The sky was blue with cotton-ball clouds here and there, and the air was spiked with the first real warmth of the season. Aspen and larch trees lining the highway were starting to bud, and the adjoining pastures were dotted with cattle and horses enjoying the first sprouts. With her motorhome window rolled partway down, and her favorite music playing, she had to resist the urge to speed. She loved the outdoors and was excited for the opportunity to head to a new adventure, away from the noise and crowds of the big city where she had grown up, and into the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

Peyton’s destination was Rocky View, a small town in the foothills of the mountains, several hundred miles from the city she called home. A month before, she and her father Dave had purchased a rural property there, with help from her aunt Julie, a realtor who lived in the nearby community. Dave and Peyton were experienced house flippers who had renovated several urban homes over the years, and when an interesting property came up for sale, Julie immediately thought of her brother-in-law and niece. It would be a perfect project for them, and she would love to have them come and spend time with her and her husband Ed, to help restore neglected the Mountain View Lodge, near a National Park.

When Julie first contacted them with the opportunity, Dave had been reluctant to consider it. He thought it was too far away from their home, and too big an undertaking. It would be more than just a renovation. They would have to purchase the Lodge, restore it and then sell it again for a profit. Dave protested that it would cost too much, although that wouldn’t be a problem. Their company, Carmichael Constructions, had a reputation for doing beautiful renewal projects, and they had substantial funds and the ability to do an excellent job. Peyton was excited right off the bat, and when they finally coached her dad to consider it, spent hours talking with Julie on the phone and analyzing the photos she sent to them. Dave was finally persuaded to at least visit the site, and a friend offered to fly them to the town. After examining the Lodge and visiting the charming little town nearby, they all agreed it would be a great opportunity to restore the hotel that had been in business years ago.

The proximity to the National Park would surely attract tourists year-round. Accommodations inside the Park were expensive, and many vacationers preferred to remain outside and just do day trips. Mountain View Lodge had a history of boarding people in the past. Admittedly it was in poor condition and needed a makeover to higher standards, but once the renovations were completed, it would make an excellent Bed and Breakfast and more.

The Lodge had been vacant for the last five years, and for sale the last eight months. The owner lived in another country and was tired of paying a caretaker to look after the property. Dave told Julie to go ahead and make an offer, and with her realtor expertise she was able to negotiate for an amazingly low price and it was accepted! Dave and Peyton were delighted, and within a couple of weeks, their purchase was complete.

Now, a month later, Peyton was driving to the mountains she loved, on her way to beginning the project. Dave had estimated that it would take about three months to complete the job, so they were taking their motorhome to stay in on site. Peyton had loaded their personal belongings inside, and Dave packed the storage area underneath with tools and equipment they would need. He had recently had the motorhome inspected, and the pickup truck double-checked, since they would be driving a such a long distance. When they were finally ready to go, he wanted to travel with her, but at the last moment decided to stop at the bank and get some cash. Peyton persuaded him to let her go ahead. The motorhome would be slower, so he would catch up with her anyway.

Peyton had not been on a trip to the mountains for years and was thrilled with the opportunity. She was an only child and her mother was a city girl who hated camping, so when she was young, her grandparents took her with them camping every summer in the Rockies. Dave liked the outdoors too but couldn’t leave his busy construction business in the summer, so it became a tradition for other family members to take Peyton with them on the holidays. She loved it! T Since then, both her mother Melissa and the grandparents had passed away, and other family members lived in different areas of Canada, so they rarely met. Peyton’s summers consisted of working with her dad, and they rarely took holidays. This mountain adventure was going to be a treat for them both.

Carmichael Construction started out as a small business but had come a long way. For over thirty years, Dave had been a successful new-homes contractor and had never thought of doing anything else. Then one day a fellow worker approached him and asked if he would be interested in doing a house flip. At the time, Peyton was in in her final year of high school, with plans to become a journeyman carpenter. She had taken required courses in math, drafting and carpentry, and she was helping her dad with projects whenever she could. Doing a house flip seemed like a good opportunity for Peyton to go further so they accepted the challenge. Giving that first home a renewal was very satisfying and enabled Peyton to complete the apprenticeship courses with her dad as her sponsor. Now she was a Journeyman Carpenter with several years of experience. They had done many flips together, all in the big city though. This would be their first rural job.

Strangely, Peyton didn’t see Dave as they travelled. Surely, he would have caught up with her long ago. She had made several stops on the way, each time waiting a few minutes for him. Perhaps he had passed her when she was inside a washroom or gas station, but he would have noticed the motorhome. She tried to get him on his phone, but it kept going to Voicemail. Maybe he had forgotten his charger…something he frequently did and was scolded for. She felt uneasy but kept driving herself, hoping he didn’t have trouble with his truck. She had hoped to get to the site before nightfall but it didn’t happen. Dusk fell and when she finally arrived at the Lodge, she was surprised to see that he was not there.

Aunt Julie was waiting for her with open arms. “I’m so glad to see you, honey. What a long trip! You must be tired. I’m surprised to see you driving this big rig. Where’s your dad?”

Peyton avoided telling her aunt that Dave might have a problem. “He should be here soon. We planned to travel together but I wanted to get a head start.” She took a deep breath of the crisp mountain air and gazed around. “It’s great to see you, Auntie! I’m so happy to be here. This is going to be a wonderful experience for us.”

“I’m really glad you and Dave bought the Lodge, Peyton. I just love it. It’s the nicest, most unique place I’ve ever listed since I started in real estate. I know you will work your magic and make it fantastic.” She shook her finger at Peyton. “The only thing that bothers me is that you’re not planning to live here yourself. I was hoping you’d like it so much that you’d settle down close to us.”