by S. A. Wolfe
“Seriously?” he scoffs. “Not sure those are immortal words. And how do I know you didn’t mangle them?”
“Nice. Now you make fun of me. I guess the truth does hurt.”
“Talia,” he whispers urgently and glances around at the people who are popping out of stores to witness our little spectacle. “Can we go somewhere privately to discuss this? Let me finish getting dressed and we can go to my place.”
“Go to your place?” I glare. “For a quickie?”
“No, I wasn’t suggesting that. Jesus. I want to talk because I fucked up with you, and I just made a major life decision … and I need to talk to you.”
“Wow, Peyton MacKenzie made a life decision. Everyone gather ’round. Let’s all talk about him and his amazing future.”
“Talia.” If I wasn’t angry, I would think he was saying my name with reverence. “I said I’m sorry about the lease, and it’s fixable.”
“Not everything is fixable. How can I believe you? You tell me you’re staying because it’s good for Finn, Bash, your family … Sure, it would be if it were true. But I don’t think it will last. I think you’re playing everyone, and I honestly think you have no idea. Because this is your MO—yeah, I got that one right this time. It’s just a matter of time before this little town drives you crazy, and you’ll regret turning down Danny Bourdain. No matter who loves you, whether it’s Finn, or … it doesn’t matter who loves you, it will never be enough. It happened with my father. It happened with Marko.” I cover my mouth. I never wanted to say that out loud.
He stares at me as I step down hard on the pedal to get good traction on the gravel. Then I take off. I feel my back wheel bump over something with substance and hear Peyton say “Shit!” That was his bare foot I rode over.
“I did not intend to do that!” I say, glancing back at him as I ride away.
He’s crouched down, holding his foot and looking up at me in pain and confusion.
“Sorry!” I shout again so the whole town can hear.
I pedal back to Swill as fast as I can with plans to barricade myself in the walk-in cooler.
Peyton
I WATCH HER PEDAL away. My injured foot burns, but nothing like the ache in my chest.
I hear a crunch on the gravel and turn toward the parked cars. Greer is standing next to her open car door, holding a case of paper towels and her gym gear. I’m expecting sympathy from my sister, but her expression says otherwise. She stares at me, not quite comparable to Talia’s angry glare but pretty damn close. She must have heard the whole altercation.
She tosses the paper towels into the car, slams the door, and then walks toward me, looking mad enough to take a swing at me with her gym bag. “I can’t believe you did that. I’m so glad Mom wasn’t here to see you behave this way toward a woman.”
“Didn’t you hear my apology to Talia? I was trying to offer her … everything. I was not trying to undermine or hurt her business. I was trying to save her money. Thousands of dollars. It’s just sound business practice. Why are you angry at me, too?”
“Do you hear yourself, Peyton?” Her eyes and nose flare. “You are a man, a very entitled man, with a powerful position. Imagine if someone just took that away from you? You took away the only power Talia had. She told you that in those exact words, and you still don’t get it.
“You think I’m angry? I’m furious with you! You of all people, you were raised by a strong, independent mother. How could you be so cavalier about this and do something so damaging to another person you’re supposed to care about and still try to justify it?”
“Because I didn’t see it the same way, obviously.”
“You need to accept what she’s saying. You’ve never been in her position. You’ve never had a parent leave you. You never had a fiancé leave you. And you didn’t take care of a sick parent. You entertained and loved our mother while she was dying, but the rest of us were the ones who were with her day in and day out, managing the worst parts of her illness. Talia is doing all that, and she’s running her own business without the wealthy investors you have always benefitted from.”
“I get that, Greer.”
“No, you really don’t. But I hope you do soon. Talia is a young woman in a very precarious situation, in a very competitive world, and she secured that kitchen by herself. You took—”
“I took it all away,” I finish. It’s hitting me harder now. My destructive good deed is coming into focus. My mother would indeed be horrified by my actions. “What do I do? I’ve lost all credibility with her. She doesn’t believe me. She doesn’t trust me.”
“Then you have a lot of work to do. You’ll have to figure out how to make it up to her and earn her trust back. I don’t know, Peyton. This may have been a deal-breaker.”
• • •
She thinks I’m like her father? Like that asshole ex-boyfriend? After all this time, my reputation with her is right down there in the cesspool of parasites.
“What are you muttering about over there?” Imogene asks as I walk into my house and toss my keys on the kitchen counter.
Finn is working on a poster for social studies, a project he had researched thoroughly before he asked me to take him to purchase the art supplies—a hefty sum that shocked even me.
“So, what happened with Talia after I left?” Imogene asks, pulling pink glitter tubes out of a package I don’t recognize buying. “Are you limping?”
Like I want to repeat this to another woman. I’m thankful I have Finn here as a buffer.
“No pink. No glitter,” Finn says. “I appreciate your help, Imogene, but I can do this.”
“I don’t think you understand presentation.” Imogene looks dejected when Finn moves his board and art supplies to the other side of the table, away from her.
“What are you doing here?” I ask Imogene. “Did Harmony ask you to cover for me?”
“No,” Finn says. “Mom dropped me off as usual, and then Imogene showed up.”
“I came over to help my nephew with his project! I brought my best decorating stuff. And also because I want to know what happened with Talia. After work, I looked for you at Swill, but they said you took the whole day off. Talia was there, working, but she wasn’t saying a word about you. I got worried.”
“Right. You got worried.” I need to get my sister-in-law out of here so I can sulk in peace.
“Hey, I’m not leaving until you tell me what that gym incident was about.”
“I can’t repeat it. I screwed up big-time. Call Greer. She’ll tell you everything, and then you can take her side, and Talia’s side.”
“All right.” Imogene takes out her cell phone. She begins talking to my sister and grimaces at me before she takes the call outside.
“What did you do?” Finn asks while he continues to work on his poster.
“I did something that was hurtful to Talia. I thought I was doing her a favor.”
“Sounds like you’re in trouble.”
“With Talia, always.”
While I ice my foot and watch Finn design his board, we listen to Imogene screaming outside.
“I can’t believe he did that!” she shouts a thousand times.
Finn gives me a few worried looks.
A half hour later, after Imogene has heard every juicy detail from Greer, she returns in a huff. “You’re lucky I cooled down!” she whisper-shouts.
“You don’t look cooled down,” Finn states.
She covers his ears. “Peyton, I love you, but I could kill you for what you did.”
“I can hear you,” Finn says.
Imogene removes her hands from his head. “Your father really screwed up. Talia lost her commercial kitchen because of your dad.”
I sigh and put my boot back on.
“He told me.” Finn pushes his completed poster aside.
“Please don’t repeat the whole argument. Finn doesn’t need to hear all that,” I say to Imogene.
“I won’t. I think Talia and Greer gave it
to you good.” She points to my foot. “I wish I had seen that. Greer said it was hilarious when Talia rode over your foot. I can’t believe she apologized to you for that.”
“I deserved it. I don’t know what else to do. I said I’m sorry, and I offered to buy out the other chef. She didn’t like anything I said.”
“Oh, you poor baby,” Imogene mocks. “A woman has turned you down. What will you do?”
“Can you be my sister-in-law for a minute and not Judge Judy? Before this debacle, Greer had mentioned or implied that Talia wasn’t seeing Adam. Do you know if that’s true? I’m not sure Talia would divulge something that personal to Greer.”
“Oh, she did. We had a little party while you were gone. Girls’ night. Talia said she and Adam don’t have any chemistry. They had a nice date—just dinner—and I guess they agreed that they’re better off as friends.”
“Really?” My voice pitches too high.
Finn gives me a quizzical look. “Dude, what’s wrong with you?”
“A lot, according to Talia. She compared me to her dad and her ex … former … the jerk she was going to marry.” I wince as I walk to the fridge. My foot feels like it has a nail in it.
“Marko was a douche—” Imogene clams up, remembering Finn is listening to our every word.
“Douchebag?” Finn says.
“I’m supposed to be monitoring your language, according to your mother.” I reach into the fridge for a bottle of mineral water.
“Oops.” He grins.
“You are not like Talia’s father,” Imogene says. “He left his family. They divorced long-distance, and he doesn’t send alimony. And you’re not like Marko. He was controlling and cruel. He fooled all of us. If Talia hadn’t had heart surgery when she did, those two would have gotten married. And where would she be now? Those are two horrible men, and you are nothing like them, Peyton.”
“You need to tell Talia she’s wrong,” Finn says innocently.
Aunt Imogene has to hold back her sharp tongue.
“Right, Talia would love for me to tell her she’s wrong,” I say.
“It’s not about telling her she’s wrong. It’s about changing her mind, winning her over,” Imogene clarifies.
“Yeah, that’s super easy. Thanks. I think, all this time, in the back of my mind, I heard that little voice telling me I wasn’t good enough for her. I wasn’t worthy of her standards. But I never associated myself with that type of guy—the way she describes her dad or her ex with so much acrimony. No wonder she likes Adam. And I encouraged her to choose him. Then she did. Of course, she’d pick a guy like Adam. He’s so different than me. I just didn’t realize I was put in the same category as the two men she despises the most.”
“You’re not that different than Adam,” Imogene says. “Successful, single, never married, attractive.”
“Father of a ten-year-old,” Finn adds.
“You’re nine, and I don’t consider being your father to be a mark against me.”
“That’s right,” Imogene says. “If anything, you should get points for having such a great kid and being a great dad. And having such an awesome sister-in-law everyone wants to be friends with.”
“I was a no-show dad for ten years. Nine. Whatever. I look bad.”
“Talia likes me,” Finn states. “You have to give her a bigger apology. A really good one.”
“Such a smart kid. You’re lucky your mother is a brainiac,” I say. “I tried to win Talia over before. Then I made the mistake of giving up. Now she’s not interested.”
“Maybe you’re doing it wrong,” Finn says. “I have an idea. I have great ideas.”
“Let’s hear it. Give it your best shot.” I perch myself on the table next to him and listen.
Finn does have a plan. The kind of plan a kid would come up with if they were building a tree fort with glue and Styrofoam or planning some harebrained mission with like-minded, sugar-fueled kids. When he’s done giving us his grand plan and produces a sheet of paper with a drawing that he made to make it easier for the dumb adults in the room, Imogene actually claps. It’s not something I want to do, but this is my kid, and there’s no way in hell I’m going to disappoint him again.
I turn to Imogene. “So, do you have a person who can make these today?” I ask, holding up Finn’s visual aid.
“Oh, I have a guy who can do this.” She’s thrilled. “I have a guy for everything.”
“Of course, you do. I guess we’re in business, then. Let’s do this.” I give Finn a fist bump.
I’m fairly certain I’m setting myself up to be the punchline tonight. I may not win the girl, but I’m going to score a lot of points with my son.
Talia
I’M ASSEMBLING THE REST of the pomegranate and goat cheese for the toasted baguette when I look out Adam’s kitchen window and see Peyton leading more than a half dozen of our friends up the hill. They’re all wearing white T-shirts with text on them that I can’t read from this distance. It reminds me of the intervention we attempted with my mother, except this time I know they’re coming for me.
I glance behind me where Adam has assembled some of his employees that he invited up for a dinner meeting to strategize. He explained the portfolio and various market shares, all of which went over my head. His work seems very dry to me, but he and the others in his living room seem enthusiastic and animated about some new fund they’ve started. I have to make sure Peyton and his posse don’t make a scene and embarrass me in front of Adam’s guests.
Since our uneventful kiss, it actually hasn’t been awkward between Adam and me. We’ve gone about with our regular routine. I serve him dinner several times a week, and if anything, our conversations are easier. We know each other better and have become closer as friends without the pressure to be anything but ourselves.
“Excuse me,” I say to Adam. “I see a delivery guy coming, so I’ll go handle it. You continue with your discussion, and then we’ll have dinner shortly.” I keep my tone breezy.
“Sure, thanks,” Adam says, looking a little befuddled. I’m sure he knows he doesn’t get Saturday evening deliveries out in this country house hidden on a dirt road that has no name marker.
I bolt out the front door, wiping my buttery fingers on my apron.
Peyton looks like he’s leading a gang of misfits, his tall, hulking figure taking long strides toward me. His T-shirt says TEAM TALIA in big letters.
Finn pulls up next to him, and behind them are Imogene, Jess, Emma, Lauren, and their husbands, laughing but obviously doing their part in this exhibition.
Kim and Bash are holding hands, striding alongside with smiles on their faces. They are in love. Greer is holding her children’s hands. Owen and Nikki are waving at me, excited to get my attention. The older crowd, Archie and Emily with Lois and Eleanor following, and the last two people are my mother and Gavin.
A little gasp escapes my mouth when I see my mother. She’s not smiling. She’s holding Gavin’s hand, looking stoic. Everyone is wearing a stupid TEAM TALIA T-shirt.
I’m touched by Peyton’s demonstration. I also sense my body tightening in refusal as I watch him approach. Our eyes meet, and it strengthens his tenacity. I can tell he’s not going to walk away without something. He’s going to try to make me see everything his way. But I can’t.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper to him.
“What does it look like?” he asks, not smiling. “You wouldn’t talk to me back at the gym. I wanted to explain, to tell you that I am incredibly sorry for what I did to you. I’m not leaving this town, and you’re one of the reasons why. I’m wearing this ridiculous T-shirt to show you—”
“Hey, they aren’t ridiculous,” Finn says. “This was my idea.” He points his thumb at himself.
“Thank you,” I say to Finn as the others catch up and gather around.
Dylan holds his hands clasped above his head like a prize fighter and dances in a circle. The back of the T-shirt says SONS OF HERA.
�
�They all did this for me,” Peyton says, then lowers his voice. “And I did this for you. I’m not beneath public humiliation to show you how I feel. Let me buy back your lease and fix this for you.”
“I told you no. You’d pay a ludicrous amount of money. I don’t want to be a part of that.”
Adam and his guests come out and huddle around the front door behind me. Peyton looks frustrated.
“The T-shirts are adorable,” I tell Finn.
He smiles at me, then looks between me and his father.
“You guys can’t be here,” I direct to Peyton. “I’m working.”
I’m confused about him; a heady rush of love riding on a surge of anger. I’ve been in this position before, and it ended badly.
I’ve had three important men in my life. One abandoned me, one hurt me, and one fixed me. The fixer, the heart surgeon, is the only one I’m grateful for. But now I need a fourth and final man to love me. It can’t be Peyton. No matter how much I would love him to be the one, he can’t be that man. He’s already betrayed me.
He will stay in Hera for Finn and his business, but his work will be unfulfilling, and it will nag him until he has no choice but to follow his ambition. Maybe he’ll take Finn with him or he’ll wait until Finn goes off to college, but it will happen.
Peyton will leave someday.
“Hurry,” Finn says. “Everyone is here. Say it in front of everyone.”
Peyton takes a breath as he registers the size of his audience.
“No, I’m sorry. You really can’t be here,” I say.
“Don’t stop on our account,” Adam chimes in. “This is so much better than our meeting. Let’s go, MacKenzie. Give it your best shot. Make this good.”
Peyton gives me a tender look. He’s building up to say something, but I can’t stand the thought of falling for what he has to say and thinking I’m safe.
“Please don’t say it,” I whisper, interrupting his train of thought.
He looks crushed.
“Don’t. I mean it.”
Peyton is not used to this much resistance from anyone. Finn looks just as confused and slightly hurt.
