Page 40 of A Family Affair: The Plan
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If there’d been any chance that Sam might forgive Hope for her unwitting part in her company’s plan to push their way into Magdalena, it disintegrated when Mimi gave her the news.I’m sorry, Hope, but Sam won’t be coming back to the Heart Sent.Long pause and a quiet,Not until you’re gone.
He didn’t want to see her again, and it didn’t matter how sorry she was or how much she regretted what had happened. It didn’t matter how much she cared about him, because Sam Harrington didnotcare about her. Once again, she was not good enough. Pain and sadness bubbled to the surface, spilled over as she told Mimi the truth about her past—all of it.
Mimi listened as Hope shared her childhood at the bed-and-breakfast that included baking and scrubbing floors and sleeping in a twin bed next to her mother’s. And what of her mother? Abigail Newland never believed her daughter was good enough just as she was and did not encourage words like unique or authentic.
More confessions fell out. “I’ve worked so hard to prove I’m better than that girl who scrubs sinks and toilets at the bed-and-breakfast, but I’m not. I’m worse because that girl had dreamsand believed in her ability. I’m nothing more than a copycat from a Who’s Who Journal with fake smiles, designer clothing, and fancy degrees. I can’t even have a decent relationship and now the man who is like a father to me, has betrayed me.” Her voice turned hoarse. “Am I not worthy of being loved?” She tried not to cry, but the tears fell anyway, created great shoulder-shaking sobs that didn’t stop until Mimi pulled her into her arms and whispered soothing words.
“Youareworthy, Hope. Don’t ever doubt that. The woman I see is courageous and honorable and so worthy of being loved. Do not give up.” And then Mimi shared her own story of heartache and tragedy from the husband who walked away shortly after their marriage to the son who died too soon from bad choices…to the daughter who ran away. The husband eventually returned and their commitment to one another remained steadfast until he drew his last breath. The daughter and Mimi had reconciled and after so many years apart, they continued to learn more about each other every time they spoke. But she would never get over the loss of her son, and that was why she’d pledged to help others deal with their losses and find lives worth living.
“If there’s a chance, I’m going to help people find their joy.” Her blue eyes shimmered, the tears fell. “I see my son in some of the men in this town, and I picture him at their age. That gives me peace. Life is hard and filled with pain and so much sadness. But there’s also hope and joy and so much love if we’re only open to it. When my son died, I wanted to die as well, but God had other plans.”
As she smiled through her tears, Hope understood the graciousness and the beauty of this woman she called friend. “Will you help me, Mimi? I don’t know where I’m meant to be…don’t know…”
“I’ll help you, dear, but you’re going to have to ask yourself some difficult questions and not shy away from the answers.”
“You mean how Sam isn’t coming back to the Heart Sent until I leave? I don’t have to think too hard about that to figure out why.”
Mimi shook her head and her red ball earrings bounced about. “He’s confused, hurt, and a tad angry.” Those blue eyes sparked with emotion. “Perhapstadis a bit weak. I’d say he’s closer to furious, but considering what he’s been through, I’m guessing he’s more hurt and betrayed.”
Hope clasped her hands in her lap. “I didnotbetray him. I would never do that.”
A nod that sent the ball earrings swinging in the other direction. “I understand that, indeed I do, but all he can see right now is that he finally trusted a woman again and that trust put his father, me, and the town at risk.”
“Please tell me you know I had nothing to do with those offers.”
“I know that, but I’m not so sure that wasn’t the plan all along. Send you to Magdalena, send your ex-boyfriend to Reunion Gap, let you both conduct your own studies, and unearth the wonderful parts of each town.” Her gaze narrowed. “And then make a play to take over one of the bed-and-breakfasts. It makes sense from an economic standpoint, especially since your company has such an interest in both places.”
“But Martin said it was only for the purpose of selecting a model. Kent and I were supposed to identify the benefits and the drawbacks of the bed-and-breakfast in our respective locations. Heneversaid anything about an acquisition.” She would not have agreed to such a plan.
“Didn’t you tell me you weren’t part of the initial conversation and didn’t know anything about it until your boss was ready to send you here?”
Hope nodded. She’d always thought Martin was an upstanding businessperson and an honorable man. What if she’d been wrong and he’d been manipulating her and their clients to achieve the bottom line he desired? He wouldn’t do that…would he? “Yes, but when I spoke with him, he denied having anything to do with the change in plans.”
“If he knew nothing about it, what does it say about whom he trusts? Either way, you have some difficult choices to make, ones that have nothing to do with Sam or me.”
Sam finished mowing his parents’lawn, edged the flowerbeds, and pulled out two dead azalea bushes. Two new ones rested on the grass behind him and planting them was next on his list. After dinner, he’d head back out and do a few more tasks. Sunday might be a day off, but he had to stay busy. It was the only way to get through the mess that had become his life.
But the pain and rawness in his soul hadn’t let up, not since he’d broken it off withher.Of course, they’d both insisted whatever they shared did not connotate a relationship, but who were they kidding? Not themselves, that was for sure. Sam should have stuck with his vow tonotget involved with her, keep it light, no strings. Yeah, that had been the plan. Too bad it was a massive fail.
His mother tried to comfort him, making chocolate chip cookies, banana nut muffins, even chicken noodle soup. As if food could turn his life into someone else’s, say a guy who had notonce againchosen the wrong woman.
How pathetic was it that he was back in the house where he grew up, sleeping in his old bed? Pete Finnegan said he needed four more days to make Sam’s farmhouse “somewhat” livable. Sam hadn’t liked that response.I don’t need an updated shower and I don’t care if the water pressure’s low, or there’s no stove. I just need a place to stay that isn’t my old bedroom.
Pete had sighed, drilled him with a look.Been there, done that, don’t want to do it again. I’ll put a few extra guys on it and see if we can have the place ready in two days.
Appreciate it.
So, things aren’t looking good in the relationship area?
Nope.
Not going to forgive her anytime soon, are you?
Not anytime soon…if ever.How had he been so blindsided yet again by a woman? When would he learn…?
Okay then. Hang in there. Let me know if you want to grab a beer sometime.
