Chapter 2
Chapter Two
HOLLIS
When I left the city years ago, the plan was to settle into a small, quiet town.
The goal was to lead a simpler life. I could run my company from anywhere in the world, and at this point, it merely involves keeping up on my portfolio and investing in different projects that snag my interest. Not that much catches my attention anymore.
That was the plan. It was simple and straightforward. That might have been the problem because simple things can become mundane. I’m new-ish to the town and have been making some donations here and there to help somewhat settle into the community. I was an outsider, and the town is tight-knit.
The only connection I have here is my mother.
She grew up in this town before going off to college and meeting my father.
We’d come back now and then to see my grandparents when I was younger, but as I got older, the visits became less and less frequent.
Especially after my grandparents ended up retiring down to Florida, not liking the cold winters in Maine.
But as a kid, I always enjoyed the town. That's why, after the accident, I came back. I can’t really explain it, but I felt a pull to return and recover here. But, I'm not sure it helps when I see all the families. I never considered the idea of having a family of my own.
The only thing I wanted to grow was my investments and portfolio. Then, when the possibility of never having a child hit me, it was all I could think about. I'm still not sure if I want one, but it irks me that it's highly unlikely.
After the car accident, I thought my worries would be over. The scars are healed, and I’ve learned to walk again. It never occurred to me that male infertility was another issue I would have. The doctors weren't sure if I had the problem before the accident or if it came from it.
I have always had a drive in me, and when I'm told I can't do something or it's not possible, it's the only thing I can focus on.
I'm trying to reconcile with myself if I want these things because I can't have them or if I do truly want a family of my own one day.
I suppose you'd need to find a partner first, but would I be considered damaged goods?
Still, I’m not sure how I’ve ended up where I am and now the current mayor of New Hope on top of it. A position the people of the town pushed me right into after I had it out with the last mayor, and he went running from the town.
He was a shit mayor who was skimming the books. It wasn’t hard for me to figure out when his assistant, Kindred, came to me with the issue, thinking I was the only one who could handle it. Now the town thinks I’m a saint. I’m not. You’re not a saint for doing the right thing.
That said, I can't say I fully hate it. The busy, working side of it helps keep my days filled. What I'm not a fan of is being so popular and people always trying to talk to me. I’m not the most social person and tend to like to keep to myself.
My scars have also had a hand in me being more reclusive as of late. Not that I give a shit what anyone else thinks, but I hate the stares that come from strangers. I’m not a fan of attention. I wasn’t before the accident either.
A knock sounds on my open office doors, and I turn away from the window where I’ve been watching the snow fall.
It’s peaceful and can help rest my mind that never shuts off.
If you keep yourself busy enough, you don’t have time to think about other things you don’t want to confront.
Next year, I will. I’ll make it one of those New Year's resolutions people always talk about.
“Your mom is trying to get a hold of you,” Kindred tells me, fighting a smirk.
I’ve been dodging my mom for months now. She’s being rather persistent in her motherly demands. I know she means well and only wants the best for me, but I truly wish she’d let go of the idea of matchmaking for me.
"I'll call her back later."
"Yeah, that's not going to work for me," Kindred says. "I'm trying to get work done too, and she's on it this week. And she's bringing up a holiday party she wants you to throw."
"Me? Why do I have to plan a party?" That's the last fucking thing I want to do.
I've never been a fan of the holidays. Everyone is always taking off and cutting out early. Which means work isn't getting done.
Fuck me. I'm as busy as I was when I lived in the city. I can't help myself.
"I'll call her." I grab my phone off my desk and hit her number. It barely rings once and she's answering.
"Mayor," she greets me.
"Mom." She never misses a chance to point out I’m a mayor. When anyone meets her for the first time, she’ll introduce herself, and the next thing out of her mouth will be her telling them her son is a mayor.
“I’ve been trying to reach you all morning.”
“It’s nine, Mom.”
“Right, I forget when I’m in the city.”
“There isn’t a time change.”
“Fine, you got me. It’s early, but I know you’re up at five.” I can’t deny that. It doesn’t matter what time I go to bed; I’m always up at the same time even when I don’t want to be, but I’m not going to simply lie in bed and do nothing.
“Is there an issue that you’re in such a hurry to reach me about?” I ask, wanting to get to the point, the one I know is going to be about her setting me up on a date, or trying to. It’s the same every single time she starts calling me like this.
"Since you're the mayor and you have that big fancy house, I think you should throw a Christmas party.” I’m absolutely dreading it, but I know it's what she wants.
My mom drives me nuts, but if she wants to come here and throw a party for Christmas, she can have at it. I can grin and bear it for one night.
"If you want to throw a party, you're more than welcome to." I’m sure the townspeople would actually really enjoy it. As mayor, sometimes I have to put the greater good above what I want personally. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.
I'll consider this gesture my mom’s Christmas present. The woman is hard to buy for. Dad left her a lot of money, and she wants for nothing—nothing tangible, at least.
"Really?" There is no missing the excitement in her voice.
"Yes, Mom. If you want to throw a party, have at it. Let me know the date and time so I can add it to my calendar."
"This is perfect! Just perfect."
"Is there anything else?"
“Yes. I’m not going to be able to get there as quickly as will be needed to start prepping, so I’m going to send my party planner out ahead of me. You have room in that big house to put her up. Don’t scare her away. She’s the best in the business.”
There it is. The real reason she wants to throw a party. My instincts never fail me when it comes to my mother’s intentions. She really rushed through saying all that, wanting to get it all out before I could shoot any of it down or some of it got lost in the mix. I don’t miss much.
“Mom, tell me this isn’t a girl you’re trying to get me to date.” I run my hands down my face. My fingers linger on my scar. This is a sure way to give me a headache, and it’s too early in the day for that bullshit.
"She's a sweet girl." Her saying that lets me know everything I need to. This is a thousand percent another attempt at a dating setup.
"No," I tell her.
"Fine, but she still needs to come and help me with this party." She isn't going to let this go, so I tell a little white lie to buy myself some time and to hopefully shut down this woman before she even arrives in New Hope.
"I'm seeing someone." It's not really a lie. I see people around all the time. Kindred is always coming in and out of my office.
"Who?"
"It's too early for me to give details. It's new."
"Who?" Mom keeps pushing, and I know she's not going to let it go. Just then, Kindred comes walking into my office.
"Kindred," I say.
The line goes quiet, and Kindred mouths to me, What is going on?
I hold up my finger. My mom is still quiet.
Is she about to call me on my bluff? I should back out.
It's insane for anyone to think Kindred and I would be together. I’d like to think If I were into a woman, it wouldn't take years for me to pull that trigger, and Kindred and I have been working together for a couple of years at this point. We are purely platonic.
“Kindred?” When she finally responds, Kindred’s name comes out sounding like a question. As though she has no idea who Kindred is, when they, in fact, talk more than a few times a week, "Okay, then." There is a smugness in her tone that has my hackles rising.
"I'm glad we got that cleared up."
"Right," my mom laughs. "I still need to send the party planner there. This will make things easier for everyone. I'm sure Kindred would also enjoy the help."
That is a good point. I will be needing help from her to get this all pulled together.
Mom might be coming to town, and this is really her party and not mine, but I know tasks will get handed off to me.
Ones that I don’t want. I might want to keep busy but not planning a Christmas party and decorating for it. That sounds miserable.
I agree with my mom before she says she’ll be in touch with more details soon, ending the call.
“I can tell from your expression that the conversation didn’t go well. It’s not a big deal to let her throw a party,” Kindred says. I bark a laugh. If only it were only the party that I had to worry about.
"Oh, I agreed, and she's sending a party planner to help."
"Oh noes, like the kind of party planner that could end up being your wife?" Kindred knows my mother well.
"Yes, but I told her I was seeing someone to try and shut it down." I’m debating whether I should spring it on Kindred that she’s the someone or wait for a little while.
"I don't blame you. That last girl…" Kindred trails off.
How could I forget the tall blonde whose voice was equivalent to nails on a chalkboard? Between that and her overpowering perfume, she’d given me a headache anytime she was around, and she made it a habit to be just that. I swear it seemed as though she was my damn shadow when I was in town.
I could see the way other men would stare at her.
I didn’t understand it. It makes me question if maybe being a parent is a thing I really want because I’ve never been tempted.
If anything, the women my mother tries to push on me have the opposite effect.
Being chained to one of them for the rest of my life is a hell I couldn’t endure.
I would rather go back to the city and deal with all the vultures there.
"Well, I'm going to need a favor." I might as well let her know that we are seeing each other. Well, as far as my mother is concerned, anyway. It won’t be long until my mom is calling her, and there is no way she will be able to hold back from asking Kindred questions. I’m surprised her phone hasn’t already started blowing up.
"A favor? That's a first." She rubs her hands together. "This is going to get me a bigger Christmas bonus."
"The city doesn't give bonuses." Kindred is employed by the city part-time, and then part time for my other affairs with my personal odds and ends.
That technically makes her full time in a sense.
She cocks her head to the side in a challenge I'm not going up against. "The biggest bonus.
" I know giving in to her demands is the only way she might agree to go along with my plan.
"Then, I'm in." She keeps rubbing her hands together.
"You don't know what it is yet," I point out, and she shrugs, not worried.
"You need me to find a fake girlfriend?"
"I told her it was you." Kindred's brows rise all the way.
"I know, I fucked up." I sigh. "I'll tell her the truth when she gets here, but let's only fake it to this party planner so that she leaves me alone and doesn't try anything or think she has a chance.
" That would make my life a whole lot harder.
"Actually, I like this idea." She nods adamantly, a smirk pulling at her lips. "It works for me too."
Not sure what that means, but I'm not questioning it. This situation may not be as bad as I initially thought. This plan is going to work. I mean, what can really go wrong?