by Holly Jaymes
“What do you mean?” My mother stiffened as she looked at me.
“I think you like the feud, and you have no idea how much pain it has caused.”
My mother’s eyes narrowed into slits. “You’ve been talking to the McLean boy?”
“First off, he’s a grown man like I’m a grown woman—”
“Oh God,” she gasped. “No. Not that.”
I held my hands up to make her stop. I didn’t need her thinking Mason, and I were doing something sordid, which we were. “Second, he doesn’t care about the feud. He’s not saying bad things about you. He’s not talking about you at all, which I suppose will bug you too. What do you rather? A McLean to cause you grief or a McLean who will completely ignore you?”
“You’ve gotten yourself all worked up over this,” my father said.
“I’m not worked up, I’m annoyed. Let it go,” I pleaded. “The town is lovely. The people are lovely, and they’ll be welcoming to you. You just can’t expect them to hail the return of the Haynesvilles.”
My father patted my hand. “I’m sorry the town wasn’t more welcoming to you. It’s probably because you were always in the background. You were so shy. But your mom and I were active in town. We made a difference.”
“Ten years ago, dad. The town has survived and thrived without a Haynesville for a long time now.”
“You’re being very mean.” My mother said coolly.
“I’m just trying to prepare you.” And to make you behave. “The town is still close-knit, but it’s got lots going on with the fires and the families it has displaced. They might not have the time or resources to give you an official welcome back.”
“You must think we’re conceited.” My father wiped his mouth with his napkin and then tossed it on his plate.
I did think they were conceited, but I was smart enough not to say it. I tried to soften my tone. “I love you guys. I do.”
“But?” My mother quirked a brow as she prodded me on.
“You do have an air of self-importance.” God, what was I thinking?
“We are important,” my mother said. “There would be no Eden Lake without Haynesvilles.”
I looked away, trying to figure out how to make them understand. “Your ancestors built and grew this town. You were definitely a part of that for a long, long time. Your legacy is there.”
“Then what are you saying?” my father asked.
I didn’t know anymore. “I just worry you have expectations that won’t be met. I don’t want you to be disappointed on top of losing your home.”
My father reached over and took my hand. “Thank you for being concerned about our feelings.”
“Why didn’t you just say that instead of going on about how we’re not important anymore?” My mother didn’t buy my attempt to fix my faux pas.
“I guess it’s just hard coming home.”
“Was the McLean boy disrespectful to you?” my mother asked. “Is that why you’re having a hard time here?”
“He’s a man who’s living his own life, and no, he wasn’t disrespectful, he was very polite.”
“He probably didn’t recognize you,” my father quipped, reaching for more bread. “You’ve changed since then.”
Inwardly I laughed. Mason had been the only one to recognize me.
I left around nine, letting them know I would meet them in the morning and take them to meet the insurance guy. I got back to Mason’s and found him in the hot tub.
“Can I join you?”
He watched me as if he was trying to read my mood. “I’m not wearing a suit.”
“Neither am I?” I took my clothes off, waiting for him to give me another bantering retort, but he didn’t.
Instead, when I climbed down into the tub, he pulled me on his lap. “Everything okay with the parents?”
I rested my head on his shoulder. “They want to call the mayor and maybe make a statement at the fireman’s picnic.”
Mason flinched.
“I tried to talk them out of it, but they’re clueless to their haughtiness. They feel by saying something at the picnic, the town will feel like my parents have been bestowed an honor.”
Mason didn’t say anything.
I lifted my head and looked at him. “No comment?”
He shook his head. “Being with you like this is more important than getting caught up in the feud.”
“But it’s not the feud.”
“If I weigh in, it will be.”
“You don’t think I can be objective about your opinion?”
“I think we have a complicated history that can’t help but get in the way sometimes. Now, if you really want my thoughts and ideas, I’ll share them, and I suspect you’ll take umbrage at a few. However, I’d rather spend whatever time I have with you talking about anything other than your parents or my parents or our families. In fact, I’d be happy not talking at all.”
At first, I didn’t like his attitude, but as his words sank in, I realized he was probably right. I nodded and leaned forward to kiss him because I didn’t need to talk at all, either
Chapter 18: Meeting the Enemy
Mason
I didn’t go to college, but I was smart enough to know that I was better off keeping my ideas about Willa’s parents to myself. Especially since our previous conversations about her parents didn’t go so well, and I hadn’t even told her what I really thought of them at that time.
Not that my parents were saints. But, during the McLean-Haynesville feud, her family tended to be the most oppressive and vindictive, especially when trying to keep their place as the head of Eden Lake society. This current generation didn’t resort to stealing or even murder as generations did a century before. But that didn’t mean there weren’t life-altering consequences. Losing his business changed my father, making him bitter not just toward the Haynesvilles, but towards life in general. My brother nearly lost his scholarship, which could have changed his future enormously.
Only my mother retained a sense of optimism and positivity. While the Haynesvilles liked to think they were the benefactors of Eden Lake, my mother did actual good in the town. She’d set up several kiosks through Eden Lake neighborhoods where people could leave their over-abundance of garden veggies for others to take for free. She took that same idea and set up several free library kiosk boxes, initially for children, but now was used for readers of all ages. She’d left town moving with my father to Mexico, but the kiosks continued to be maintained by one of the women’s groups in town.
I suspect I got my temperament from my mother, as she was a quiet woman who often chose to ignore the slights of others. I wouldn’t say I ignored slights. I simply chose not to get pulled into the bullshit of them.
I was glad that Willa accepted my decision to not tell her what I thought of her folks as I doubt it would have ended quite as spectacularly as last night had. I woke this morning feeling pretty good about having a naked, warm Willa by my side.
It was still dark out when I crept from the bed, showered, and headed to my office. I planned to check on work, and then I had a meeting at the fire station that morning. I knew Willa would be off with her parents meeting the insurance adjuster. My guess was that they’d end up in town, and I was curious as to how that would play out. While we hadn’t announced that Willa was staying with me, anyone who came by the house could see her. I wondered what would happen if someone mentioned seeing her here.
She was still in bed when I slipped back into the room to let her know I was heading out.
“Already?” she said in a sleepy voice. She stretched, and with her messy blonde locks strewn around her head and her perk, rosy nipples peeking out from under the sheet, she looked wanton.
Down boy, I said inwardly to my dick. It was quite possible he was getting addicted to her.
I gave her a quick kiss, again feeling like this was so normal, but pushing it aside. It would be lovely while it lasted, but soon it would be over.
I left the la
st of the coffee in the pot for her. I headed to Paradise Java for my second cup of coffee to take to the station house.
As I stepped into the coffee house, I noticed a few locals, and several tourists sitting at the tables. Emma was at the counter, helping a middle-aged couple.
As I moved closer, I heard the man say, “I’m Harrison Haynesville, and this is my wife, Marisa.”
I stopped short and had a moment of panic. I chastised myself for the infantile response. I was a grown man. I didn’t need to be afraid of them. He couldn’t do anything to hurt me.
“Nice to meet you,” Emma said in a friendly tone, but clearly not recognizing his name.
“You’re new here, aren’t you?” Harrison asked.
I rolled my eyes. Willa was right. They wanted to be welcomed with ticker tape.
“About a year, yes,” Emma said. I couldn’t see her very well, but I could hear in her tone that she was unsure why he was asking her that.
“Do you know the town’s history?”
“Ah…yeah…two prospectors—” She stopped. “Oh, Hayneville. Yes. Oh, you must be Willa’s parents. I was so sorry to hear about your home.”
I imagined both Harrison and Marisa perking up like peacocks at being considered part of Eden Lake’s history.
“Thank you. You know Willa?” Marisa asked.
“She was in here for coffee last week, and several people have talked about her return.”
“Well, of course, it’s always news when a Haynesville comes home,” Harrison said.
Oh, gag.
Emma caught my eye. She smiled brightly. “Oh hi—”
I shook my head quickly, hoping to cut her off from saying anything about who I was. I wasn’t afraid of them, but I also wasn’t ready to deal with them.
The Haynesvilles turned toward me, and I crossed my fingers that they didn’t recognize me. I doubted they would, not just because I looked different than I had ten years ago, but also, I’m not sure they ever paid any attention to me in the first place.
They both looked me over. I gave them a friendly smile.
“So that’s one coffee and one fat-free latte with sugar-free vanilla?” Emma said, effectively drawing their attention away from me.
“Yes, thank you,” Harrison said.
A few minutes later, they had their drinks and were sitting at a table by the window.
“Large dark coffee,” I said, handing her my travel mug.
“So, what was that all about?” Emma asked as she took the mug.
“I’m a McLean.”
She frowned.
“Those two prospectors…Haynesville and McLean.”
“Oh, right.” But she continued to frown. “That feud thing. That’s not real, is it?”
“To them, it is,” I said with a nod toward the two Haynesvilles. “Me? I try to stay out of it.”
“Really?” She glanced over at the Haynesvilles. “After all this time?”
“I know it’s crazy, but feuds, like genetics, can be passed on.”
She filled my mug with coffee. “I thought you and Willa were friends?”
I handed her my money. “We are, but it’s a secret. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention it to them.”
She smirked. “You’re going to let a crazy feud get in the way of friendship?”
“I don’t care, actually, but Willa does.”
She nodded. “Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thanks.” I grabbed my coffee and headed to the station house. The meeting was fairly routine. There was a review of the Haynesville Ridge fire and the one on the other side of the valley. The first ignited from a lightning strike, and the second was started by accident.
“The town is holding an appreciation picnic for us this week. If we’re lucky, we won’t have any more fires this week, and all will be able to attend,” Kirk said. “The mayor will be making a speech, and all of you will be honored, so if there isn’t a fire, you’re expected to be there.”
“So much for being a volunteer,” someone called out.
Kirk smiled. “The people want to thank you with free food. Are you saying you won’t show up for that?”
“I like free food,” came the response.
After the meeting, I decided to stop into the sporting goods store. I paid the owner, Larry Jamison, to manage the small retail part of my business. He held my stock in his inventory, some of which were sold in the store, but most of which were sold online. He had people who packed and shipped the items with my company name. It was a win-win because he and his staff got some extra money, and I had a warehouse and distribution system. However, I did have some concern that we were outgrowing the resources and wanted to talk to Larry about solutions.
The store was on the main street through town, across from the county government building. I parked in a spot in front of the government building, shoving a few coins in the meter.
“Mason!”
I turned to see Mayor Pickler coming toward me.
“Mr. Mayor,” I said, extending my hand.
“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” he said, shaking my hand.
I grinned. Jerry and my father had been good friends, and that friendship extended to me. I knew he preferred me to call him by name. I called him Mr. Mayor because it annoyed him.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“It must be kismet because I was going to call you when I got to my office. I need to let you know something.”
“What’s that?”
“The Haynesvilles are in town.”
I nodded. “Yes, I’m aware.”
“They want to make a statement at the fireman’s picnic.”
“Of course, they do.” I shook my head. How could two people be so self-absorbed? A bigger question was how two people like them could produce a sweet woman like Willa?
“Do you have any problem with that?”
I quirked a brow. “They’ve been gone ten years, why should they be able to speak at all?”
He rolled his eyes. “It happens to fall on the date that Henry Haynesville discovered gold.”
“You mean Henry and Jeb.”
“I thought you didn’t care about all that history?” he said.
“I don’t unless it’s used against my family and me, and I can’t imagine Harrison not wanting to stoke that fire. He might even want to use it to return here. I left a warzone; I don’t want to live in one again.”
“Don’t you think you’re being a little melodramatic.”
I supposed I was. My life wasn’t in danger with the Haynesvilles around, but a hostile environment wasn’t good for the soul. I was fortunate enough to come out of war, injured but not so much so that it impacted my everyday life. I didn’t panic at the sound of helicopters or fireworks, like many of my other military brothers did.
“War taught me that life is too short to put up with bullshit, Jer. I have the means to leave if the Haynesvilles plan to return and make my life a living hell.” I didn’t want to leave, but it wasn’t like there weren’t other towns similar to Eden Lake. Maybe I could move up to Tahoe.
He flinched. We were friends, but I was also a significant contributor to the town. When the high school didn’t have enough funds to replace outdated textbooks, Tucker and I pitched in. Tucker was part of a fundraiser, and I matched what he made. When fires burned down homes, we contributed money to house the displaced families. My hiring Larry helped keep his store solvent and more people working.
I did it, not for glory, like Harrison and Marisa, but because I could. I was a product of this town. Despite the challenges growing up, it helped forge me into the man I was today. And frankly, with the Haynesvilles gone, it was a paradise…or Eden. I wanted to give back to the community that supported me. But I would pack up and leave before I would put up with the Haynesvilles again.
“Look, it won’t come to that. I hear they’re long settled in Sedona.”
“I don’t care if he speaks or not,” I said, which was true
. I didn’t give a fuck what he did as long as he left me out of it. “If it will be a benefit to the picnic, then have at it.”
Jerry’s gaze flicked behind me. “Ah, hell.”
I turned to see Harrison and Marissa walking toward us. Ah, hell was right.
“Jerry, what a surprise to discover you’re the mayor,” Harrison said good-naturedly as he extended his hand.
“Mr. Haynesville, Mrs. Haynesville, how good to see you. Welcome back to Eden Lake.” Jerry looked at me and frowned, no doubt wondering why Harrison and I weren’t giving any indication that we knew who the other was.
Harrison extended his hand to me. “Harrison Haynesville and my wife, Marisa.”
“Mason.” I shook his hand.
“Mr. Mason?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Mason McLean.”
He didn’t jerk his hand away, as I might have expected him to do. But he did release his grip and slowly pull it back. His fake smile dropped.
I laughed. “Welcome home,” I said to them. “See you later, Jerry.” I trotted across the street to the sports store, letting the mayor deal with the Haynesvilles.
Chapter 19: Is My Secret Safe?
Willa
While driving my parents up to the remains of the house for the meeting with the insurance adjuster, my father mentioned having gone to Paradise Java. Immediately my hands gripped the steering wheel with tension, wondering who’d be in there and what they’d said. It wasn’t like Mason and I were hiding our friendship like we did as kids. Anyone could have seen us together.
“Did you see anyone?”
“The young woman serving the coffee didn’t know who we were,” my mother said. “But she was new in town. At least she recognized our name as part of the town’s history.”
“Why is that so important to you?” I asked, turning onto the road up the hill.
“What?” my mother asked, looking up at the scorched hill.
“Why is it so important that you be recognized for being a Haynesville.”
“Let’s not get into a quarrel now.” my father said.
“I’m not trying to start something. It's just that the Haynesville history doesn’t matter. You don’t need all that to be important people.”
