Page 9 of Hoax and Kisses
“Oh, she’ll be fine.” Mom waves like she’s batting at a fly. “We can’t cancel it. It’s a nonrefundable trip.” She looks at Dad, then at me. “We were hoping you would take care of Daphne while we’re away.”
I rein in the “absolutely not” that tries to push its way out of my mouth. Even if Daphne is only half listening to this conversation, she shouldn’t be subjected to yet another instance where someone makes her feel unwanted. She wouldn’t understand all the reasons behind my initial reaction. I love her to death. I’d do anything for her. But the timing couldn’t be worse, and on such short notice…
I sit forward, forearms on the table. “Can’t you reschedule? Go next month, maybe?”
“We could probably look into it, Deb,” Dad replies.
“It’s not ideal,” she quickly retorts, shooting him a glare. “According to the cruise website, the weather in both Alaska and Hawaii is perfect in September.” Mom sniffs. “You’ll be fine, Matt. The two of you love spending time together.”
“We do, but I’m in the middle of clinching a huge investment opportunity. I can’t take care—” I glance at Daph, only to find her chomping on a hunk of Dad’s roast, her focus fixed on me.
“You can’t take care of me?” she asks, mouth full.
“Of course I can,” I rush to say. “But next week would be difficult. I’m very busy with work. I don’t know if I could drive you to your new school and make sure you’re doing okay on your first day.”
Mom places a hand on my forearm, as if her touch might appease the annoyance forming inside me. It does not. “I wouldn’t ask if we could change our plans, sweetie. I’m afraid we don’t have an alternative.”
I stare at her, fork frozen in midair. Of course there’s an alternative. Canceling. Canceling the damn cruise. Andask? She’s not reallyasking.
“We deserve a break.” Her attention drifts to Daphne. “You could have your meeting once when we come back, couldn’t you?”
Anger claws at my throat, but I swallow it down for my sister’s sake.
She’s not a bad mother, she’s not a bad mother. She’s just stressed and ignorant. Be patient.
Eventually, my irritation fades. But so do the high hopes I had for this meeting next week.
It was a friend of a friend of a friend situation. An accountant James knows through his job put me in contact with his brother-in-law. The guy works for a venture capital firm looking to invest in fast-growing start-ups in rural areas. I fit the bill to a T. My business is booming, and I’ve won several prizes for my creations, but I don’t have the resources to maintain my current workload. I need money. To hire, to expand. But mainly to help my dad pay for Daphne’s private school. The one my mom refuses to contribute to.
I don’t know whether I’ll ever have another opportunity like this again. And there’s a good chance they won’t agree to wait a week for me. Business is a fast-moving train. If I miss it, then there’s no telling when the next one will show up.Ifit’ll show up at all.
I’ve poured my heart and soul into Daphne’s Wildflowers, but at the end of the day, family comes first. My sister always comes first.
“Looks like it’s going to be you and me for a whole month, Daph.”
She shrieks, her voice full of glee.
I laugh in response, but the sound is hollow, empty. Much like the brighter future of my store I’ve just closed the door on.
Chapter Three
ZOEY
My Louboutin sinks into the soggy grass of Pine Falls with a squishy sound, tipping me sideways. I flail, catching myself on the car door handle just before my bag slides off my shoulder. I glance down at the heels now covered in so much brown sludge, there’s not a trace of the iconic red sole visible.
Great. Now they’re ruined.
Somewhere between packing and closing a deal this morning, I made two crucial mistakes.
Not getting the precise location of the cabin I’m renting. Instead, I told my dad’s chauffeur to drop me “anywhere in town,” thinking it couldn’t bethathard to find my way in such a small place.
Not checking the weather app before leaving. When I said I wasn’t a nature girly, I wasn’t kidding, but intheseshoes withthisweather, I downright come across as unprepared. Not off to a great start.
