Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Rhett
There’s nothing I love more than spending Sunday mornings with Jack and Mandi Parker, but something feels off the moment I walk into the door this morning.
There’s still the usual fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, bacon, and a full plate of pancakes already on the table while more cook on the griddle.Their two dogs, Daisy and Barley, greet me as usual with Daisy pawing at me and Barley nuzzling his snout into my hand until I pet him. But when Mandi wraps me up in a hug, it feels wrong. The joy that usually radiates off her is replaced by nerves that make the back of my neck prickle.
“Is everything okay?”
I watch her carefully, trying to get a read on the situation. Mandi and her husband, Jack, have become like family to me over the two years they’ve been in Roots. They’ve fed me, watched sports with me, and even invited me over for holidays. My own parents didn’t care for me half as much as Jack and Mandi have, so, naturally, seeing the Parkers in any sign of distress immediately sends me into overprotective mode.
“Everything is great. Sit down, Rhett. Let’s eat,” Mandi insists, plating the last of the pancakes and handing them to Jack.
“They smell delicious, honey.” He gives her a soft kiss on the cheek, and she graciously accepts. The sight settles me the slightest bit.
I follow them into the dining room and take my usual seat at the table. Instead of explaining to me why it feels like I’m at a funeral instead of Sunday morning breakfast, Jack grabs some pancakes, and Mandi hands me a bowl of fruit. I follow suit, pouring syrup over the top of my pancakes, but internally, I’m processing each possible thing that could make these wonderful humans seem so uneasy.
Then it hits me. Olivia. What’s she done now? Last week, Mandi seemed to be upset over a phone call she had with her. That has to be it.
Jack sips his coffee before breaking the crippling silence. “I believe Mandi told you that Olivia was having some trouble at work?”
“Yeah. Is everything okay?”
Mandi straightens in her seat. “Our little Olivia has always been an anxious ball of perfection. Her anxiety works for her most of the time. It helped her work hard to get into a great college and earn her dream job after school. The issue is when her anxiety doesn’t help her, and she has these… episodes.”
“What do you mean by episodes?”
Looking frazzled, Mandi turns to her husband. Through a mouthful of pancake, Jack replies, “She means panic attacks.”
“Jack!”
“Well, they are. She seemed to have her anxiety under control after college. That’s what gave us the confidence to leave her on her own and move here, but I guess work has been very stressful lately. She works as a tax accountant, and they work really long hours with hard deadlines. I guess the episodes—” Jack looks to his wife, who nods along appreciatively. “The episodes have been coming back, and her coach at work suggested she take time off to get some help.”
“That sounds very reasonable. I can watch the house and the animals if you two want to go to check on Olivia. I can’t believe you’d think you’d even need to ask me. Go for however long you’d like. I know I work long days on the ranch, but I can talk to Austin and make it work.”
Mandi grimaces. “That’s not exactly what we were going to ask. Although we do appreciate the offer.”
“I’m just trying to make up for all the things you’ve done for me,” I insist. And I mean it. I’ve allowed very few people into my life since coming to Roots four years ago, but the Parkers are an exception.
Jack sets his fork down, beaming with pride. “Our little girl is a high achiever and she doesn’t want to leave her job, but some time off to learn how to manage her anxiety will be good for her. She starts her leave of absence in about a week, and she’ll be off for three months. Since she didn’t want us to come to San Francisco, we convinced her to come to Roots. This way we can help support her, and she can enjoy the slower lifestyle Roots has to offer.”
“You must be so excited to have her here.”
“We are. The only problem is she doesn’t want to live with us. She said the leave of absence is humiliation enough and living with her parents after being on her own for two years would apparently add to that. That’s where we are hoping you could come in.” Jack winces. “Would you be willing to rent out that little cabin you have on your property to her?”
“Absolutely! I’d do anything for you two.”
“I think you’ll really like having our girl around. She’s beautiful and funny and so smart. You two could be great friends, or you know, more.”
Jack nudges Mandi in the side. “Mandi! Don’t make him feel uncomfortable.”
After everything I’ve been through in my twenty-six years of life, an insinuation like that would normally make me want to run for the hills. I want nothing to do with love anymore. I’d hate to open my heart up one more time only to find it shattered… again. But I don’t need to worry about falling in love with Olivia.
I’ve never met her, but the Parkers talk about her constantly and have shown me a million photos of her. She is gorgeous, but she has also refused to visit her parents for the entire two years they’ve been in Roots. Despite the way she keeps them at a distance, her parents still worship the very ground their daughter walks on. I could never love such a self-centered and cold-hearted person. I want nothing to do with her. In fact, I think the best solution is to just avoid her for the three months she’s here.
Mandi speaks again, drawing me back. “In all seriousness, I think Olivia could use a friend here. Maybe you could just look out for her since you’ll be so close.”
Jack swoops in. “Yeah, a friend could be just what she needs to make this easier. Olivia is having a hard time taking the leave of absence. She’s career-minded like her father, and she’s got her sights set on that senior promotion this fall.”
Part of me is inclined to say no. We are in the tail end of calving season at the ranch, and quite frankly, I want nothing to do with Olivia, even if I did have the time for her. But then there’s the part of me that is desperate not to mess things up with the Parkers, the part of me that is grateful to have them in my life, to have them care for me, even if it’s the littlest bit. That part wins out.
“I’ll have a lot going on this summer with the ranch, but I will keep an eye out for her.”
“Thank you!” Mandi bursts from her seat at the table and huddles me into her arms.
“Yes, thank you, Rhett. Again, I know we ask a lot. We just look at you like a son,” Jack adds.
How can I say no to that?
“When is she coming?”
“She will be here in about a week. She has to get all her affairs in order with work and her apartment and then she’s going to drive over.”
“I can’t wait!” I fake a smile while I mentally tally up the things I need to do over the next week to prepare the dingy old cottage for Olivia. There’s no way it’ll be ready in time, but I have to find a way to make it work because she’s sure as hell not going to wind up staying in my house.