Chapter Twenty-Four
Tyler
It had been over two weeks since I slept with Mae, and it hadn’t been the last. It was like the more I had of her, the more I wanted her.
We managed to find any excuse to hang out with each other, and I found plenty to do on the island in between.
I walked along the sidewalk, noticing the crowds walking and driving off the ferry for the weekend. After just a few weeks on the island, I’d become accustomed to the cycle of tourists busying the streets around Curiosity Bay come Fridays.
Marigold had changed so much since I’d grown up here, and yet, I remember how badly I wanted to leave like it was yesterday.
I’d been so torn up about accepting the baseball scholarship. I knew it was my ticket off the island, but I knew what tremendous friendships I was leaving behind.
As the years went on, it became easier to forget the relationships that had made me who I was today. I’d still kept in touch with Brad, but the one person I thought most about was Mae. Everyone else just kind of drifted from my thoughts.
But with Mae, it was different. I compared any woman I dated to her, which was nuts because I knew better. I knew the Mae I grew up with would be different from the Mae she became. Yet, I couldn’t help but try again and again to recreate that feeling of comfort and joy that always surrounded me when she was around.
I think part of me feared that those feelings would be missing if I saw Mae again.
Instead, the emotions and connection to her were even stronger than before. That moment I saw her in the coffee shop made my entire body respond in a way I’d never experienced, and it continued to happen since.
Spotting a free bench across the street from Mae’s coffee shop, I jogged across the street and took a seat.
The afternoon sun filtered through the awning above as I stretched my legs in front of me, thinking about Mae and wondering if there was some way to make this work.
Mae was everything I’d ever wanted and more. I certainly didn’t deserve her. Mae’s intelligence, humor, and beauty radiated from her whenever I saw her. She was friendly with the world and somehow managed to be cordial with my parents while not absorbing their words.
But I knew that would wear off eventually. My parents always wore people down.
Letting out a sigh, I thought back to this time last year. I’d been buried in work and hadn’t even left my place in Wisconsin other than to get groceries, and most of the time, I had those delivered. It certainly helped our business grow, but I always felt somewhat… empty.
It had been a feeling that I’d grown accustomed to over the years. I’d had clear life goals centered around work, and I was even passionate about what we did for clients, but I always wondered if there was more.
The problem was that I often talked myself out of dreaming about starting a family. It always felt like I was doomed to carry the burden of my parents with me wherever I went or with whomever I spent time.
I never could shake that moment when the women I started to date would ask about them.
I didn’t want to sound like a guy complaining about his parents, so I didn’t. And instead, I looked like I was the problem, and most women steered clear of men with parental issues. Deep down, I knew it didn’t matter anyway because none of those women made me feel like Mae.
I even wondered if I’d imagined those emotions sweeping over me from merely hanging out with her when we were young.
“Hey, Tyler.” Bethany’s voice pulled me out of my rambling thoughts as I saw her with a coffee from Mae’s. “I didn’t know whether you were still on the island or not.”
“Yeah. I’m hanging around for a bit until I’m sure my parents are settled in across the way.” I cleared my throat and glanced across the street at Milo’s, where Bryce wandered by with Herman. “You weren’t kidding about his checking the mail a lot.”
Bethany turned to see Bryce and Herman and chuckled. “It’s the weirdest thing.”
She brought her gaze back to mine. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve wanted to talk to you about everything. I still feel really bad.”
I shook my head. “Don’t. It took that outside intervention. My mom loves the apartment. I bought her all new furniture, and my dad just arrived last night from the nursing home.”
Her eyes widened. “Really?”
I nodded, chuckling. “They’re as unpleasant as always, but I’m hoping they’re reserving that for only me.”
She let out a deep sigh. “You know, you really don’t deserve that. I wouldn’t blame you if you never spoke to them again.”
I propped my arms along the bench as she sipped her coffee. “I had to set boundaries for myself as well. My parents were verbally abusive, and there came a moment when I realized I could be stronger than the hurt. I haven’t spoken to them in fifteen years.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah. I think that’s why I made the call. I was just triggered.” She glanced down at the sidewalk.
“That reminds me. You mentioned at the hospital that my dad had said something to you that made you make the call. He didn’t threaten you or anything, did he?” Worry prickled through me as I waited for her response.
She shook her head and brought her eyes to mine. “No. It wasn’t that.”
“Do you mind telling me what it was? You don’t have to, but I was curious.”
She set her drink on the bench and folded her arms over her chest. “Your father had said something unkind to me when I was showing him an exercise, and I don’t even remember what it was he said, but it stopped me in my tracks, and I point-blank asked him why he was so mean to so many people, his sons included.”
I stared at Bethany, who took a slow breath and picked up her drink.
“It was his answer that made me call APS. But it wasn’t for their safety, it was for yours.” Her eyes stayed on mine, and I wondered why I”d never asked him or my mom myself. Afraid of the answer?
“What did he say when you asked why he was so mean to so many people?” I swallowed down my nerves, hoping she’d tell me.
“He simply said, ‘Because it is fun.’”
I sprang off the bench and shook my head. “Fun?”
She nodded, noticing I was now standing on the sidewalk in frustration. “Yeah, fun. I don’t know what I expected, but I guess the word fun didn’t enter the equation. It just… triggered me.”
“I’m so sorry, Bethany.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. You aren’t your parents.” She let out another deep breath. “Hopefully, that answer gives you insight and releases you a bit. I know you’re not where I am with cutting off my parents, and you don’t ever have to be. But maybe knowing your dad considers it fun to sling insults and hurt puts things in perspective for you.”
“It really does.” I ran my hand along my chin, remembering I forgot to shave today. My dad would really flip if he saw an unshaven version of me.
“But I apologize for making that call. It wasn’t my place. He’d just say little things that made me think that if someone stopped by for a visit, a bit of fear might shape them up.” She looked at me. “Does Mae know I made the call?”
I shook my head. “No. I just told her a worried citizen did it.”
“I hope there weren’t any repercussions for you,” she added.
“No. They’re independent adults, and honestly, if your friend hadn’t done such a good job of freaking out my mom, my parents probably wouldn’t be at the senior living apartment. Mentioning the court system made her nervous.”
“Nancy has a way with words.”
“My brother and I thank you for this, but I don’t want you to beat yourself up about it. Like you said at the hospital, the medics submitted a report about the house, too. It was probably the combination, and it’s for the best. My parents are closer to medical care and have a clean apartment. Housekeeping comes in weekly, so if things start to get out of hand, my brother and I will be notified.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” She leaned over and gave me a quick hug. “I hope to see you around Marigold. Off I go to my next appointment. I just needed a mocha. Mae makes the best.”
I smiled proudly. “She does.”
I watched Bethany take off toward her clinic and shook my head.
Fun? No wonder their eyes always danced when they were in the middle of it all. A chill ran through me as I thought about what that really meant for my future with them. I’d probably never cut them out of my life, but I certainly could see carving myself an even better life away from them with even less contact than now. I’d just make sure they’re fine.
Letting out a sigh, a little bit of tension left my shoulders as I made my way to the coffee shop. I hadn’t stopped in today, and I’d made a habit of it these last two weeks.
After sleeping with Mae, I wanted to be around her even more. I also wanted to protect her, and hearing that my parents made a sport out of hurting people worried me about the future.
I opened the door to the coffee shop that had a line of people waiting to order. Mae had both of her employees working today since it was Friday, and she definitely needed every ounce of help.
The sound of the coffee grinder fought with the music from the speakers above. Laughter echoed through the space, and the smells of coffee and buttery croissants filled the air.
This was definitely Mae’s place. The sense of community she’d built in such a short time went along with everything else about her. She’d always been someone you could count on and wanted to be around.
The success of her coffee shop proved that Marigold was her home. I took a seat at one of the free tables in the corner and watched Mae in her element. She took orders, received payments, wrote on cups, pulled shots, and shook sprinkles on drinks, all without batting an eye.
If I had to do all of that, I’d probably be sprinkling things on credit cards and spilling drinks on the pastries.
I thought about what I did for a living, and I enjoyed it. Even this morning, when I approved a story board for a new supplement, I had fun. But my base wasn’t here on Marigold Island.
I’d created a home in Wisconsin and in North Carolina, far away from my parents. But Marigold was close.
Really close.
I watched Mae laughing with one of her customers and knew I couldn’t ask her to move away from this.
This was her home.
But when I looked at Mae, I knew she was my home, and I just hoped I didn’t destroy what we were busy building.