CHAPTER 5
Maddie
The more the merrier.
Word spread fast about our trip to California, but only because Rhonda kept telling everyone. And why wouldn’t she? In our tiny town, it’s big news.
Before we knew it, several people wanted to join us, but most couldn’t afford it or had too many responsibilities. Life in an agricultural community made up mostly of family-owned farms is like that. Around here, it’s always too much work and never enough money to show for it.
Three of the guys we went to high school with asked if they could come. They work construction, mostly remodels, and being self-employed, they make their own schedules.
“Sure, why not?” I told them. Randy, Glen, and Damon are nice enough, and unlike Jake, they always behave themselves.
Speaking of Jake, I heard he wanted to come too, but besides not having the money, his jaw is still wired shut.
Apparently, he can’t talk and can barely sip food through a straw.
It shouldn’t, but it gives me a sense of satisfaction knowing he’s suffering for what he did.
Thank God for people like Zane, Chelsea, and Lizzy, especially since Rhonda couldn’t be there.
She had a bad case of strep throat that weekend.
When I was able to tell her everything that happened, she was so impressed she baked three dozen of her famous chocolate chip cookies and personally delivered them to Zane’s ranch with a thank-you note from both of us. That was so nice of her.
And speaking of Jake, I was worried he might try to sue Zane, but Zane’s sister had a “come-to-Jesus” talk with my ex.
After she had that conversation, Lizzy sent a text asking me to meet her at the Yin Yang when I got off work.
That’s Sweetbriar’s only bar. It even has its own microbrewery that churns out strawberry-rhubarb beer, a local favorite.
Our town likes strawberry-rhubarb everything.
You could say it’s an obsession, and in Sweetbriar Hollow, we say strawberry is the yin to rhubarb’s yang.
Anyway, Lizzy filled me in on what happened when she chatted with Jake.
To my jaw-dropping surprise, he told Lizzy he had been dealing drugs for some pretty dangerous people in Portland.
And that wasn’t the worst of it, not by a mile.
Turned out his dumbass spent a bunch of their money.
As stupid as that was, it turned out to be a good thing because it opened the door for a compromise.
Lizzy offered to pay off Jake’s debt to the drug dealers—two thousand dollars—in exchange for his promise not to seek assault charges against Zane.
Everything she said made me sick to my stomach.
First, I couldn’t believe Jake was willing to pimp me out for a measly two thousand dollars.
I understand he was desperate, but that was on him.
He never should have been dealing drugs in the first place.
Then again, part of me gets it. People who work full-time and are still living below the poverty line are willing to do just about anything for enough money to pay the rent and buy groceries rather than having to choose one or the other.
Dealing drugs, maybe, I sort of get it. But trying to turn your girlfriend into a prostitute?
No way! You should definitely have to drink your meals through a straw for that one.
As Lizzy was telling me all this, everything was starting to make sense.
It explains why he was desperate enough to risk his entire paycheck at the poker table with my dad.
It was a last-ditch effort to try to come up with the money he owed.
And when that didn’t work, well, we all know what happened.
I still can’t believe Jake thought he’d be welcome on this trip.
Besides breaking his jaw, maybe Zane hit him so hard it scrambled his brains too.
I thought two grand sounded like a lot of money, but Lizzy said, “Zane will sell a couple of cows. It’s nothing to him.
Besides, he said it was worth every penny.
Chelsea, on the other hand, is pissed Jake is still breathing.
If I were your ex, I’d look twice before crossing the street just in case Chelsea is driving that day. ”
That made me laugh. Lizzy is good people.
* * *
I’ve been looking forward to today since I first opened Ms. Southerby’s envelope. I’m so glad she booked our flights for a Wednesday. We return early Monday morning, so this gives us a full four-day weekend.
Everything has been so exciting, even though I feel like I’ve been traveling for days.
We caught a flight out of Portland at seven-thirty this evening and arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport almost three hours later.
As soon as we landed, I must have texted Mom at least twenty times to tell her about everything.
I even sent her pictures of dumb things like the charging stations at the airport and how could I not send her pics of my in-flight meal?
It was the first time I’ve been on a plane!
After we landed, we had to get our luggage and our rental car, then drive two hours to the lodge.
I know it doesn’t sound like much, but for someone who has never traveled before, it was a bit overwhelming.
Regardless, we’re here, and the lodge is so much more than I expected.
The photos in the brochure didn’t do it justice.
Everything from the carpet to the chandeliers is over-the-top extravagant. Honestly, it takes my breath away.
I pull out my phone and start taking pics and sending them to Mom. Part of me really wants to share all of this with her, and part of me feels so guilty for leaving her. At least sharing all of this with her is the next best thing to having her here.
Maddie: Check this out. This place is incredible!
Mom: It’s beautiful.
I send a dozen more pictures.
Maddie: How awesome is this?
The giant twenty-foot floor-to-ceiling windows frame the majestic mountain range with lines of lights that run up the ski slopes. I send her three more pics for a panoramic view.
Mom: It’s gorgeous. I’m so glad you’re there. Now stop worrying about me and try to have some fun. I love you.
She’s right, I am worried about her, and I guess I’m compensating with an overabundance of texts.
Maddie: I love you too.
It turns out we’re especially lucky when it comes to the weather.
The cute guy at the check-in counter said a big storm just blew through, so there’s plenty of snow for an extended ski season.
Apparently, they aren’t always able to keep the slopes open in May.
Not that I plan on doing any skiing. I’ve never done it before.
I don’t think any of us have. But what got me really excited was when the guy said we can expect clear skies and unusually warm weather for the next several days.
There’s a huge pool, and yes, seven ginormous hot tubs. Rhonda and I plan on making the most of them. But for now, it’s late, almost midnight, and we’re all tired. I just want to order something small from room service and go to bed.
Turns out having food delivered to your room and taking the longest hot shower in the nicest shower I’ve ever seen is something a girl could get used to. Wearing the plush terrycloth bathrobe I found in my room, and with a towel wrapped around my head, I’m sitting up in bed with my phone.
Maddie: Getting ready for bed. How are you? I miss you already.
Mom: I’m fine, sweetie, really. It’s okay to enjoy yourself. I’ll be okay until you get back.
Maddie: Did you take your meds?
Mom: I did, and I made myself some tomato soup. You worry too much.
It makes me so mad that she had to cook for herself. Dad should be there taking care of her, especially since he knows I won’t be there this weekend. Why isn’t he?
Maddie: If the soup hurts your stomach, you know where the nausea medicine is, right?
Mom: In the hallway cabinet, middle shelf. I know, dear. Please, stop worrying. Get some rest so you’re not too tired to have some fun tomorrow. I love you.
Maddie: Take care. I love you too.
I don’t remember falling asleep. I guess I was that tired.
But now that I’m awake, I arch my back, and the lazy stretch sends euphoric waves down my spine.
I can’t believe how good I feel, like a brand-new person.
I have to rummage around the sheets for my phone.
I must have fallen asleep with it. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of it under the pillow next to me.
I blink the sleep from my eyes with another big stretch before I bring up the screen.
That can’t be right.
Is it really noon already? Did I just sleep twelve hours? I can’t remember the last time I got eight hours, let alone twelve.
I check my messages. Nothing from Mom. That’s a relief. If something was wrong, she would have let me know. But I did miss some texts from thirty minutes ago.
Rhonda: Just woke up. Text me when you’re awake.
Rhonda: Just went downstairs to check things out. The pool is heated! How awesome is that? Feel like getting something to eat, then a swim? Lots of girls in swimsuits walking around. Oh, it’s sunny out and actually warm. Can you believe it?
Maddie: I’m awake. Food and pool sound good. Boots and bikinis?
Rhonda: You’re finally up! And you read my mind. Meet you downstairs in twenty?
Maddie: Yep.
Rhonda had the great idea to get us some white, furry, knee-high boots. She found them online for cheap, and while some girls might say they’re a little cheesy, I absolutely love them.
As I step off the elevator, she’s right there waiting for me, and she looks super cute with her white bikini, white sheer lacy cover-up, and matching boots. Rhonda is a couple of inches shorter than me with jet-black hair and a curvy figure. I think the current term is “thick.”
I, on the other hand, am a natural blond and naturally thin—no matter what I eat. Don’t ask me why. Maybe it’s all the calories I burn just trying to keep my head above water while working an ungodly number of hours each week.