Page 31 of Forever Home

My heart stills as my agent explains to me that one of the production companies pulled out. I’d thought that everything went perfectly the last two days, especially last night, but then I woke up this morning to a message from my agent to call him and I got this news.

“... and World of Foods?” I ask, trying to hold myself together as I feel my dreams slowly slipping down the drain.

“They haven’t pulled out… but they need more time to consider.”

Of course, they do.

“Okay,” I reply, letting the information sink in. “Keep me posted on everything.”

Hanging up the phone, I sink to my sofa. My head falls into my hands as I contemplate everything that I’m doing. I’d had my heart set for so long on being able to lock in a cooking show, but now… the dream seems so far away.

How is it that I was so confident—the men were delighted with everything, said the dishes were amazing—and the next minute one’s pulling out and the other one is unsure? It doesn’t even make sense. None of it makes any fucking sense.

The more I think about it, the angrier I become.

Not at anyone in particular, just more so myself. I should have listened to Vicki. I should have played it safe and went with dishes that everyone loves. But instead, I wanted to be over the top and went with things that not everyone may like. The choice I made very well throws me out of line when it comes to having what I want.

Sitting up, I glance around my apartment. It isn’t where I want to be and after the news this morning, all I want is to escape from it all. Escape from the reality that is my unfortunate situation.

To be somewhere I feel wanted and that makes me happy.

The answer to my problems is a no-brainer—I schedule a flight back to Willowcreek. The idea of spending time with friends, being back in a place where I didn’t feel the stress and constant pressure of my life, seems perfect.

The moment I land, I head straight for Mrs. Kendall’s home, designing the plans for the new kitchen at the forefront of my mind. Anything else to take my mind off the fact that my career is literally teetering on theedge. That everything I want is hanging in the balance. Will I continue to be successful without the show? Yes. But I don’t want to be just as I am. I want to take my career to the next level, and I can’t do that without the TV show.

I can’t do that without World of Foods.

Some may wonder why this means so much to me. Why pushing myself means so much to me. But they wouldn’t understand. They don’t know what it’s like to never be good enough for others, for your own family.

To constantly feel like an underachiever your entire life. Driving myself this hard, working my ass off for my career, reaching for the pinnacle of success… It’s the only way to outrun this feeling. And why I’ll also make sure that Mrs. Kendall’s home is nothing but perfection. Because Mrs. Kendall did more for me growing up than anyone will ever know.

She made me feel wanted. Loved and cared for. She believed in me when my parents didn’t, which helped me to become the man that I am today. A man willing to take huge risks for his dreams and perhaps that risk will lead me to Madi. Though without a doubt, I’ll have to prove myself to her.

And maybe the kitchen is just the way I can do that.

As soon as I arrive at Mrs. Kendall’s home I make my way inside towards the kitchen. The spare key that she had always kept under the flower pot on her front porch lets me in without issue. Though I’m sure if I’d called Knox he would have let me in, even if it was after nine at night.

Glancing around, I take note of all the boxes that have been cleared out which makes drawing these plans easier in a way. Because the cleared space gives me a better mental image of exactly what I’m working with.

The kitchen isn’t extremely large, though it’s bigger than most homes built at the time. I can still remember when Mrs. Kendall explained to all of us how her late husband had knocked down the wall to the dining room to make the kitchen bigger so that she had more room for all her baking. Her eyes lit up with so much excitement when she told us. She claimed it was one of the happiest moments of her life at that point.

Setting down my bag, I pull out my sketchbook and pencil. My eyes take in the space and the current layout so that I can mark downwherever the electrical outlets and water pipes are for the new project. The old outdated brown wooden cabinets and beige Formica countertops are on the top of my list of things that have to go.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Kendall. I’m going to give you the kitchen of your dreams,” I say out loud as if my words will reach her on the other side.

Halfway through my first rough sketch, I can already see it come alive and I’m dying to show someone. I text Knox and make a plan to meet him here in the morning to go over it.

Tossing my phone on the counter, I get back to it, gripping my pencil as I work my magic across the paper, planning where the counters are to go, the appliances, everything. There’s no doing this project half-assed.

And hopefully… Madi will be impressed too.

Chapter Thirteen: Madison

Willowcreek Carnival. Every child in Willowcreek looks forward to the town’s carnival every year, and even though I’m an adult—I still do. The vibrant array of colors that float through the sky from the banners of the market and game tents, and even to the carnival rides, is something that I can’t get over. Every year when I come here, I float down memory lane. Towards the days when adulting wasn’t even a fragment in my mind, and all I wanted to do was have fun.

Today, though, fun will have to wait. Because adulting never ends.

“Madison!” Kylie’s voice turns my attention towards the right of the raffle tent. Her petite figure is adorned in denim shorts and a tank top, struggling to carry a massive bright pink wood display, bringing a smile to my face. When I asked her to help me with the donation display from Mom’s bakery, I wasn’t expecting this.

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