Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
I t had been several months since Sarah Hutchins felt the need to call her mother for advice, but she had no other option. With three children and a husband who was never home, she felt more alone than ever.
Growing up in a house filled with constant activity and noise, she expected the same with her own family. Instead, her three children, all under eight years old, kept her busy, but not active.
She felt at a loss to explain this to anyone, and so, thus far, had hesitated to reach out, fearing she might come off as ungrateful or incapable.
Yet, the endless days of diaper changes, playdates, and school runs were wearing her down. The conversations she once thrived on, filled with wit, debate, and intellectual challenge, had been replaced by discussions about nap schedules and the best brands of baby food.
Sarah sighed as she looked out the living room window, watching cars pass. Her oldest child, Noah, was in school and would have to be picked up at three-fifteen.
Her middle child, Sophia, sat at her tea party table playing with her doll, Kiki. Little Maggie, her fifteen-month-old child, napped in her crib.
She dialed her mother’s number and tried to calm her nerves.
“Hey honey. How are you?” Maggie asked.
“Hi Mom, are you busy?”
“Never too busy to talk to my daughter. What’s going on?”
Sarah took a deep breath. “I just feel so disconnected. The kids are wonderful, but I feel like…I’ve lost a part of myself. I miss the adult interaction, the intellectual stimulation, and then five minutes after I think that, I feel guilty and wonder if I’m a bad mother.”
Sarah felt as though she could see her mother smiling through the phone.
“You know what you need?” Maggie asked. “You need a cup of my special tea. How about you come over for a visit. You’re only a ten minute drive. Bring the kids, we’ll all go down to the beach for the afternoon.
“I can’t, Mom. I’ve got to leave here to pick up Noah at three-fifteen.”
“Okay, then I’ll pack the teapot and be at your place in a bit. You relax. Everything will be fine.”
She put her cell phone down next to her and laughed. The thought of her mother arriving on her doorstep with her teapot and what she liked to call her “conversation tea” was too funny. Growing up in the Wheeler household, you never got advice from her mother without a cup of her famous tea.
“Grandma is going to have tea?” Sophia asked.
“Yes, she is. Maybe she’ll have some with you and Kiki. Won’t that be nice?”
Sophia nodded and then placed a new teacup setting for her grandmother. When Maggie arrived, Sophia met her at the door.
“Well hello sweet girl, how is Sophia today?”
“Grandma, I’m having tea,” Sophia said as she pulled Maggie into the living room.
Sarah laughed. “She’s been waiting for you. She heard us talking on the phone about tea.”
“Sit here,” Sophia insisted.
Maggie complied. “I’ll sit here for a little bit but then I have to go in the kitchen and make a different kind of tea. Is that okay?”
Sophia nodded and handed Maggie a plastic biscuit.
“Thank you,” Maggie said.
“I’ll put the water on, Mom. You can do the rest after you and Sophia finish.”
Sarah went into the kitchen and filled the teapot with water. Only an hour ago she was anxious about sharing her feelings with anyone. Now that her mother was here, her fears subsided and she couldn’t wait to have their talk.
After a while, Sophia was tired of the tea party, took her doll to the sofa and pulled a throw blanket over the doll’s body, and then hers. Sarah recognized the signs. It wouldn’t take long before Sophia…and Kiki, fell asleep.
Maggie and Sarah tiptoed into the kitchen and Maggie prepared the tea.
“Now, what’s all this about being a bad mother?”
“I don’t know. I’m sure I’m exaggerating, but I can’t shake this feeling.”
“What does Trevor say?”
Sarah shrugged. “You mean when I finally see him?”
Maggie poured the steeped tea into two cups and handed one to Sarah.
“Wait a minute. Are we having a conversation about you or Trevor? Is there something going on I don’t know about?”
“Things are strained these days. He’s working late all the time. When he comes home, he’s miserable and still thinking about work. I want to talk to him, but it feels like all I’d be doing is dumping more stress on top of what he’s dealing with at work.”
“He’s not happy working with his father? I thought after Devon’s stroke, Trevor’s brother Wyatt stepped in to help?”
Sarah laughed. “That lasted about a minute. It wasn’t a disaster, but it also wasn’t ideal. So much falls on Trevor’s shoulders. His brother, Clayton, is a hard worker. He can be annoying sometimes, but these days he and Trevor have gotten along well. I think they became closer when their father was sick.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
Sarah shook her head. “I’m not exactly sure, but to hear Trevor talk, his father has made some major changes to the mission of this latest real estate development. Whatever is going on over there, it’s making my husband an unhappy and grumbling bear.”
Maggie sighed. “His problems at work will make it harder for him to hear you. I can see where the trouble is, but your family and marriage need to come first.”
“There are days when I feel overwhelmed with my life and I think it wouldn’t be so difficult if I had someone to carry half the load. That hasn’t happened for months. You know what that’s like. You had five kids and Dad worked long hours. How did you find balance and make it work?”
Maggie smiled. “Make it work? To this day I wonder how we did it. Some days were better than others. I tried to find little moments for myself, whether it was reading a book while you and your siblings napped. I’d putter in the greenhouse and the garden as often as possible. No matter how difficult it got, it helped to remind myself that this phase wouldn’t last forever.”
Sarah sighed. “I know it’s temporary, but it feels endless right now. I thought I would be happier, more fulfilled. I hate saying that out loud.”
Maggie put her hand on Sarah’s arm. “It’s okay to miss your old life and still love your children. You’re allowed to have those feelings. Maybe you can join a group of mothers who feel the same way. Sometimes talking to someone who understands what you’re going through can make a world of difference.”
“I’ve thought about that,” Sarah said. “But I feel guilty for wanting something more.”
“Don’t,” Maggie insisted. “Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s necessary. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Finding time for yourself will make you a better mother, and a happier person.”
Sarah nodded. “Thanks, Mom. I needed to hear that.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to make sure Trevor understands what you’re dealing with. I don’t care if he is busy. The two of you need to talk about this. If you need a night out, just the two of you, let me know. I can come over and watch the kids. Don’t let too much time pass. Nothing good will come of you stewing over this alone. All you’ll do is build resentment, and that’s never good.”
Sarah resolved to take her mother’s advice. She needed to talk to Trevor as soon as possible. Finding the perfect opportunity would be challenging, but the alternative could end in disaster.
Trevor Hutchins tapped the notebook on his desk with his pen. Looking over the papers in front of him, he tried to remain calm. For several months, he’d worked tirelessly to replicate the success of the low income development in Fort Myers, but his efforts were soon to be for nothing.
This time it was the smallest percentage of properties that would house the people who needed them most. The rest would now become a for-profit development that would line his father and brother’s pockets, as well as his own.
It was the latest in a string of decisions made by people more powerful than he. Along with politicians and local businesses, his father’s new plan was turning into another money maker for the rich.
Trevor felt sick to his stomach. He threw the pen down on the desk, got up and walked to the office refrigerator for a bottle of water.
His brother Clayton opened the door to Trevor’s office and poked his head in. “Hey, got a minute?” he asked.
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Dad wants us to meet with Jared Tanner at two o’clock. He’s got some sort of conflict and wants us to take his place. Does that work for you?”
“Yeah, whatever. Just let me know when you’re ready to go and I’ll have the car meet us out front.”
The last thing Trevor wanted to do was talk to Jared Tanner. He didn’t like the guy and thought him arrogant.
“Hey, are you okay?” Clayton asked. “You look like you’ve got something on your mind. I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
Trevor laughed. “Who are you and what have you done with my brother? I can’t remember the last time you offered one of your shoulders to cry on. Now that I think of it, you’ve never offered.”
“Go ahead and make fun of me. I’m not such a bad guy, you know.”
Trevor nodded, still smiling. “I know. I’m fine. I’ve got some things on my mind, that’s all. Thanks for the offer.”
“Anytime, Bro. I’ve got a meeting in the conference room in about ten minutes, so I’ll catch you later. I know how much you hate Jared Tanner. If you’d rather I take the meeting alone, I can do that.”
“No, it’s fine, really. I’m good.”
Clayton nodded and walked toward the door. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
His assistant, Karla, knocked on Trevor’s door.
“Trevor, there’s someone here to see you. He’s not on the calendar. His name is Donovan Hart.”
“Donovan?” he asked.
Donovan appeared next to Karla. “Surprised?” he asked.
“Are you kidding me?” Trevor said as he reached for his old friend. “What in the world are you doing here? The last time I saw you was in Bolivia. How long has it been?”
“Can you believe it’s been eight years?”
Karla excused herself.
“Thanks, Karla,” Trevor said.
“So tell me what you’ve been up to. Are you here for a while? Where are you living?”
Donovan laughed. “Hang on. I can’t give you eight years’ worth of details. What I can tell you is this…”
Donovan held up his left hand and wiggled his ring finger.
“You’re married? No way. Aren’t you the same guy who told me you’d never settle down?”
“Well, I guess that depends on how you define the word settle. My wife and I work together and spend a lot of time traveling, so I would say neither of us settled down.”
Donovan dropped his backpack on the floor and pulled out his wallet.
“This is my wife, Mila. We met in Brazil three years ago. We work with an organization that helps bring clean water and sanitation to people in need. Currently, 2.2 billion people don’t have access to safe water. It’s a crisis that many don’t know about unless it’s affecting them personally.”
Trevor nodded. “I’ve heard about this. It’s a horrible thought to not have clean water. We’re lucky, and I suppose take it for granted, that clean water will always be available to us.”
Donovan patted Trevor on the back.
“You’ve seen poverty up close, Trevor, just as I have. Did you know that it’s the women and children most impacted by this? They’re the ones who typically collect water for their family, leaving them in a cycle of poverty without options.”
“I know exactly what you mean. It sounds like you and your wife have connected with a noble cause.”
Trevor looked over at his mahogany desk and thought about the countless days and nights spent there, doing nothing but pushing paper around, and talking on the phone.
“Over one million people die each year due to sanitation and hygiene diseases. We’re working hard to save lives every day. It’s our passion.”
Trevor smiled. “You’re the same Donovan Hart I knew years ago, but you seem more content…more relaxed.”
Donovan nodded. “You’re right, I am, and I owe some of that to loving my work, but most of the credit I owe to my wife. So, tell me about you. I knew you’d joined your father’s firm, but I have no idea how you spend your days.”
Suddenly embarrassed to talk about his work, Trevor had a better idea.
“Why don’t we talk about me over dinner? How about you and Mila join my wife Sarah and me for a relaxing night by the water? I’ll make the reservations. Give me your number and we’ll put something together. How about tomorrow night?”
Donovan pulled out his business card and handed it to Trevor.
“Great idea. I’m looking forward to meeting your wife and you meeting Mila.”
Shaking his head, Trevor walked Donovan to the elevator. “I still can’t believe you’re standing in front of me after all these years.”
Donovan smiled. “Hey, after everything you and I have been through, I’m just lucky we’re still standing anywhere. The Gulf Coast of Florida sure seems a gentler and quieter place to settle down.”
Trevor smiled and watched his friend get into the elevator. When the doors closed, he wanted to kick something…anything. He was angry, lost and now jealousy had been added to the mix of emotions running through his body.
He repeated the words that continued to haunt him.
Settled down? Is that what’s happened to me? What about Sarah? Has she settled? Is that what we’ve done?
As he turned to return to his office, he glanced at the photo on the wall. It was the one he’d passed every day for the last three years. Devon Hutchins, his father, stared back at him and the smile on his face suddenly seemed more like a smirk…an acknowledgement that he’d won, and that was the last straw.