Midnight Butterflies

Chapter 2

TWO

Dove

Present

“Are you ready? I don’t want to be late,” Jill yells from downstairs.

“One more minute!”

“If you don’t come down right this instant, we are going to be late!” she huffs out.

“Coming!”

I can tell my mother has been getting increasingly frustrated with me all morning. It’s typical behavior of hers whenever I’m around this long. Usually, when we meet up, it’s only for a meal, and I don’t sleep over.

The attitude she has with me today started early this morning when I handed her a cup of coffee. I used the standard coffee pot in the kitchen instead of making a latte in the nice coffee machine . She took the cup, poured it down the sink, and then proceeded to make a latte.

How was I supposed to know that she doesn’t drink regular coffee anymore? We haven’t seen each other in months and who has two coffee machines? I would wager no one else in Lamb Creek.

After that, I took a quick walk around her neighborhood for exercise. I’m so used to being active that I need to start my days with some type of workout. Before I headed outside, I told her I would be less than an hour, and I was. That’s why when I returned approximately forty-five minutes later, I was confused as to why she was giving me the cold shoulder.

After twenty minutes of Jill not speaking, she came out of her bathroom and into the living room shouting, asking why I wasn’t showered yet. We had over an hour until we had to leave; it was plenty of time for me to get ready and look presentable for her friends .

I wanted to move past it, so I apologized and went upstairs to the bedroom I’m using and started getting ready.

We still have plenty of time to get there, yet Jill is in a rush because today we are heading to Dossberry Country Club, where I’ll be meeting her new fiancé over brunch.

Examining myself in the full-length mirror, I think this will suffice. My long blonde hair is in bouncy curls, and I even applied my exhibition-style makeup; I’m going above and beyond how I usually look to appease Jill. I’m in a light-blue dress with tan heels that seem entirely impractical to wear in day-to-day life.

I let out a long sigh.

I’m as ready as I’ll ever be, dressed like this, and hopefully, it meets her standards. It’s all for Jill, I remind myself. Well, Jill, the people of the Dossberry Country Club, and the latest fiancé.

Unlike Lamb Creek, I’m sure many residents of Dossberry have more than one coffee maker. It’s the crowd Jill wants to emulate, so I have no doubt she picked up the latte machine after seeing it at the fiancé’s home.

I’ll take my running shoes and Lamb Creek over Dossberry and high heels any day of the week.

“Dove Barlowe, come down right away. We are officially late!” Jill yells.

Grabbing my purse off the dresser, I look around and pick up my duffle bag to toss in my car too. I drove down the mountain to visit Jill for the first time in ages yesterday. She hadn’t been answering my sporadic calls lately.

As soon as I arrived, she sprung this meet and greet on me. Instead of trying to reconnect, our Saturday was spent searching the local mall for a dress and heels I could wear to meet fiancé number six.

Jill has always wanted to live in Dossberry, but it’s been out of her price range. That’s why, ever since she divorced my father, she’s been focused on dating men who live there. If one of them would just marry her by now so she could move the twenty miles further away, then I would know she’s taken care of.

Jill reaches out to me for two reasons only. The first is that she needs me to make an appearance somewhere so she can come across as a doting mother. The second is that she’s between paychecks and wants me to pay for her lunch or dinner. I’ve accepted this is our relationship. I’ve moved past trying to forge a real mother-and-daughter duo and have accepted that I’m simply not her first choice to be with.

Walking down the old wooden staircase, I spot Jill fixing her lipstick in the foyer mirror. She looks over at me as she smacks her lips together.

I step off the last step and watch her rake over my body as she examines my appearance. As she faces the mirror once again, she bobs her head up and down, annoyed.

“Does this not look okay?”

“You’re fine.”

“You liked the dress yesterday.”

“It’s not the dress, but I don’t have time to teach you how to do your hair at this point. As I said, we’re late. We cannot be late today; he’s a very punctual person and expects me to be the same.”

“He’ll barely notice me,” I offer.

Jill tilts her head to the side in agreement and then grabs her purse off a nearby table. She plops her lipstick in it and heads out the front door.

Dread washes over me as I prepare to get this meeting over with. Hopefully, fiancé number six can hold a meaningful conversation or, at the very minimum, not look at me creepily.

Jill didn’t tell me she was engaged or that this would be happening until I arrived yesterday to pick her up for lunch. That’s when she told me everything I would have to buy during our impromptu shopping trip so I could give my best impression.

Thankfully, I always keep an overnight bag in my trunk packed with the essentials. I never know when a photography trip will lead me to someplace unexpected, and I’ll have to stay in a nearby hotel.

“Stand up straight. You’re going to get a bump at the top of your back,” Jill says as she locks the front door.

“I wasn’t slouching.”

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head before heading toward our cars.

“I’ll ride with you,” Jill says.

“It’s the Dossberry Country Club, right? I’ll meet you there.”

“We can ride together,” Jill counters.

“I’m going home after this. It’s out of my way to come back here. Just take your own car.”

Jill hangs her head for a moment and then straightens upright. As her shoulders finally settle, I see she’s going to argue with me on it.

“You wouldn’t understand the immense pressure on me. We’ll ride together in case he’s out front to greet us.”

“That’s silly. Why would he do that?”

“Someone like you wouldn’t understand the type of man from Dossberry. Someone like him will want to be there to say hello, so he very well could be outside. He’s excited to meet my daughter.”

“Excited? He does know I’m twenty-six, right?”

“Of course he knows you’re an adult. Why are you being so difficult? You have nothing else going on in your life. If you can’t cooperate, then just go. I’ll make up an excuse.”

Any ordinary person would just leave, but for some reason, I can’t leave Jill like this, no matter how much I want to.

“Fine. We can ride together.” I unlock my car and toss my duffel bag into the back seat before opening up my driver’s side.

“Finally.” She sighs and starts to get into my car.

“On one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“He brings you home, or you stay there. I do have something to do after this.”

Jill grips the top of the open passenger door and gives me a side-eye as her mouth twitches in debate.

“Fine.”

“Can you remind me what I need to know in the car?”

“How can you forget in one day?” she asks.

We settle into the car, and I rev the engine to life.

“Stop slouching. Really, you’ll never meet a husband if you carry yourself this way,” she continues.

Jill rolls her eyes before looking silently out the window and away from my side of the car.

This is going to be a long drive.

“Let’s start from the beginning unless you remember what I told you yesterday while we were out shopping?” Jill asks while looking annoyed that we have to rehash this conversation.

Truthfully, I don’t remember everything she shared yesterday at the mall because it won’t matter after today. Since Jill is engaged again, I probably won’t see her for another few months.

If I get invited to the wedding, it’ll only be because of appearances. Whoever this new fiancé is must certainly want the wholesome small-town family package if he’s this insistent on meeting me today.

“Tell me whatever you think I should have remembered. Does that work?”

She sighs loudly.

“I just can’t believe you don’t take life more seriously. How are you employed even by yourself? This is just…”

Jill goes quiet and then manages to change her approach.

“He’s my fiancé, so you should want to make a good impression. When you meet Mr. Samuels, just please be on your best behavior.”

I rear my head back in surprise that she’s acting so formal. Am I supposed to call him Mr. Samuels? I think not. I may be willing to go along with this charade, but I’m not going to address him as Mr. Samuels as if I’m a child.

“Why are you calling him that?” I ask.

“That’s his name. Really, Dove, are you telling me you don’t know people have last names? I thought you were a college graduate.”

“That’s silly.” I scoff.

“It’s polite. You don’t need to get to know him on a personal level,” she says.

“Daddy dearest doesn’t want a daughter?”

“You will not sass me like this in there. Do you understand me?”

“Whatever you say, Jill.” There’s no point in arguing with her on this. When I meet Mr. Samuels , I’ll get his first name and just start calling him that instead.

Jill rolls her eyes and gestures ahead. We’ve passed a sign that says we are getting close to the country club.

“It’s new. I’m navigating this the best I can, and I expect my daughter to do the same.”

“Well, that’s because most people don’t get engaged this quickly.”

Jill laughs and straightens in her seat.

“Yet you did.”

“That’s because we’re in love.”

“Love after what? A week? A month?”

Jill waves her hand to point out another sign saying we’re less than a mile away.

My hands grip the steering wheel tightly as I attempt not to speak. I’m not saying anything wrong, but I may be pressing a little too hard to find out why all of this is happening so suddenly. I know she’d rather I just be a silent accomplice, but this relationship is moving way too fast, even for Jill.

I just have to remind myself that it’s only one meal, and then I won’t have to entertain any more meals with Jill and Mr. Samuels for a while.

“It’s complicated.”

I hum in response as I strum on the steering wheel.

Complicated . At least, she must be being honest. Since we’re so close, I’ll revert to small talk.

“You said he’s an investor or something like that, right?”

“That’s right.”

I wait for her to add more details, but she doesn’t.

“What kind of investor?”

“Heaven’s sake, were you not paying attention at all yesterday?”

My knuckles turn white from my tense hold on the steering wheel.

“Remember, you asked me to do this.”

She sighs loudly and shifts in the passenger seat.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m sure he’ll share more at brunch anyway.”

“Okay, then.”

What happened to the version of her willing to give me all of the details on Mr. Samuels? That went out the car window.

“Does he have any kids?”

“No, he doesn’t. It’s perfect, really.”

“So it seems.”

I glance over to her and see she’s staring out the window.

“How long have you two really been together?” It all seems so strange the way it happened.

“It doesn’t matter how long. When you know, you know. It’s what happens when you fall in love.”

Love , right. That’s surely what this is between them.

“Love isn’t complicated; life is.”

“You have no idea what it’s like to live my life,” she answers.

Maybe that’s true.

“Don’t miss the turn,” she sputters.

I bob my head as I turn on my indicator and then turn down the drive to the country club entrance.

“I know where it is.”

As I make our way down the tree-lined, manicured street, I take in how different it really is in Dossberry compared to Lamb Creek.

“Don’t forget, his last name is Samuels,” she says as I slowly approach the entrance.

“How could I?”

Samuels .

I have a few acquaintances in Dossberry, but no one by that last name. The towns of Dossberry and Lamb Creek aren’t that far apart. The only real difference between the two are the signs of opulent wealth. They are both small towns, with only miles between them, which means gossip still easily travels between the two.

If there was a prominent family with the last name Samuels, I’m sure I would have heard of it either because he’s notable or has a relative within ten years of me. This is just how small-town life is—everyone knows each other’s business, and it’s just accepted.

I come to a realization as I’m approaching the entrance gate. If I haven’t heard of him before, then chances are, he’s new to Dossberry.

I’m not sure what type of person voluntarily moves to Dossberry, but it speaks volumes about who he must be. I imagine he’s a social climber from a small town who’s looking to expand his business and find a stay-at-home wife.

Dossberry is filled with men who really should be living in a large city but love the old-school-style approach to family life.

I feel a renewed sense of spirit that I’ve already nailed who this man is and haven’t even met him yet. If only I had, in fact, paid attention to Jill yesterday, I’m sure my theory would have been proven right based on what she has shared.

“We’re here,” she squeals.

“I know.”

I lower my window right as a guard steps out.

“What can I do for you, miss?” he asks as he taps a pen against a clipboard.

“We’re here for brunch. Guests of Mr. Samuels. Jill Peters, soon-to-be Samuels, and guest,” Jill says before I have a chance to answer.

Guest . As if Jill couldn’t make it any clearer where I stand in her life. After I get this brunch over with, I’m going to stay strong and avoid Jill for as long as I can. I don’t deserve this type of turmoil, not when I have set up a life of my own. Giving in to seeing Jill is the one piece of the puzzle that doesn’t fit, no matter how much I try to make it happen.

The security guard nods before heading back into the guard box.

“We’re on the list,” Jill says to me.

“I figured you were.”

If we’re meeting Mr. Samuels for brunch, then there wouldn’t be any reason to assume we won’t be let in. The guard returns and gives us another curt nod before opening the gate.

“Do you know where to go?” he asks.

“Yes, of course. My fiancé is a member,” she answers.

“Enjoy.”

“Go,” Jill whisper-shouts to me.

I give the guard a small smile as I drive through the gate and put my window back up. As I glance back through my rearview mirror, I see he’s writing down my license plate since I’m not a member.

I pull into a spot close to the restaurant entrance. It’s early, so we’re one of the few cars parked in the lot. I’m sure that’ll change soon once the men’s morning golf rounds are finished and their wives gather together to exchange gossip.

I turn off the car and reach next to me for my purse. Right as I’m about to open my door, Jill’s hand reaches for my wrist. She squeezes it tightly to stop me.

“Is something wrong?” I ask.

“No. I just want to remind you how important this brunch is.”

“I get that…”

“And I’ll ask Mr. Samuels to give me a ride home afterward so you can get back.”

“Okay,” I answer, confused.

“Don’t embarrass me.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be the perfect daughter.”