Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Maxinne
“Someone left you for dead, huh?”
The potted plant doesn’t respond, obviously, but it’s the best listener I’ve found all night.
My fiancé disappeared forty-five minutes ago after promising he’d be “right back.” Of course, Derek hasn’t resurfaced since.
Somewhere across the ballroom, he’s probably charming investors, shaking hands, and collecting business cards, while I’m left making awkward eye contact with strangers over shared miniature crab cakes.
I smooth a hand down the front of my dress and glance around the room for what feels like the hundredth time.
I bet there’s a woman out there who dreams of a night like this.
An event full of floor-length gowns, fancy appetizers floating around the room, and a fiancé who’s handsome and knows exactly what to say in front of a crowd.
Unfortunately for me, my dreams have never looked like this.
They’re more about spending my days in a greenhouse filled with thriving plants, dirt beneath my fingernails, and ending each evening around a table with the people I love the most. A life filled with simple moments that matter and can take root and grow.
“Can I admit something to you?” I say to the plant. “Pretending is exhausting.”
I’m surrounded by hundreds of people, but I feel lonelier than if I were curled up in bed, alone, with a good book and a mug of something warm. Actually, that sounds like heaven. I would much rather be doing that.
As if sensing my loneliness, my phone buzzes in my hand, and the sight of my brother’s name on the screen instantly brings a smile to my face.
“Hey, Ash,” I answer. “What are you up to?”
“The real question is, what in the world are you doing?” His familiar voice crackles through the speaker, the sound bringing a sense of relief to wash over me.
“Oh, you know, same thing, different day.”
He chuckles. “You sound about as thrilled as a cat headed to the vet.”
You know, that’s honestly a perfect description for how I feel about coming to these events with Derek.
A laugh slips out of me before I can stop myself.
Ashton has always read me better than anyone else.
Apparently, the two hundred miles that separate us haven’t dulled his big-brother senses.
I welcome this opportunity to chat with him, because I miss him, and it’s also the break I desperately need from the corporate buzz surrounding me.
“What gave me away?” I ask.
“The fact that I can barely hear myself think over whatever fancy event you’re trapped at.”
The word trapped zips through me, because even though I came here willingly, I’ve always felt trapped. I glance back toward the ballroom, where a fresh round of applause erupts from near the center of the room. There’s still no sign of Derek anywhere.
“It’s another corporate gala.”
“And where’s Derek?”
I hesitate for a second, and it gives everything away. Sometimes I wish Ashton wasn’t so insightful.
“Maxinne?”
I shrug, even though he can’t see me. “He’s around.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
I sigh because there’s no point in denying it. “He’s busy networking.”
“As in talking to people?”
“Yes.”
“And did he leave you standing by yourself again?”
I lean against the wall and close my eyes. The truth is, I’ve spent the entire evening nodding along to conversations I can’t keep up with, laughing at jokes I don’t find funny, and pretending—always pretending—that Derek hung the moon. Once he didn’t need me, I disappeared into the background.
“It’s his event, Ashton.”
“That’s not an answer.”
A wave of defensiveness rises in my chest. Even though Ashton isn’t wrong, I don’t have the energy to explain how Derek’s been tonight or want to argue with my brother over my life choices. He’s never been a fan of Derek’s and my relationship.
“He’s been busy.” I exhale loudly. “Can we please not do this tonight?”
Silence stretches across the line for a moment before Ashton finally says, “Fine. But for the record, I think you deserve better than being treated like an afterthought.”
“He isn’t treating me like that,” I say automatically, but the words leave a bitter taste in my mouth, because if they were true, I wouldn’t be hiding in a corner, hanging out with a plant while Derek is walking around without me.
I hear Ashton scoff, and I roll my eyes.
“How are things there?” I decide to change the subject.
“Honestly? It’s been a little rough.”
He lets out a tired exhale and I hear the weariness in his voice. It sends a ripple of worry through me, especially since Ashton has always been the one who carries burdens without a single complaint. I’ve always admired that about him, but lately, I can sense the toll it’s had on him.
“Is it because of Dad?”
“Yeah.”
“How’s he doing?” I ask.
“About the same.” Ashton pauses. “He’s still stubborn as ever and wants to do everything himself, which would’ve been fine a few months ago but not so much after a stroke.”
An ache settles in my gut. No matter how complicated my relationship is with my dad, hearing the word stroke still has the power to knock the wind out of me.
Some days, it’s easy to forget how much has changed between me and him.
Others, it can be impossible to ignore. A loud thud echoes through the phone, followed by the creak of hinges.
“Are you outside?” I ask, recognizing the unmistakable sound of a truck door shutting.
“Yeah, I just got off of work.”
“This late?”
“Yup. The summer season means longer hours. And I still need to get home and start on the chores. The homestead won’t take care of itself. Animals need to be fed, and fences still need repaired.”
“And you’re having to do all of that by yourself?”
“Mostly.”
My grip tightens around the phone. Once again, Ashton is having to carry more than his share. While he’s in Covewood, taking care of an entire homestead and our father, I’m standing here surrounded by crystal chandeliers and people arguing about quarterly earnings. It doesn’t seem fair.
“Ash, that’s too much.”
A tired laugh escapes him. “Tell that to Dad. He’s too stubborn to ask for some help.”
I stare out the window toward the city skyline glittering beyond the ballroom. I wish I could be with him to help shoulder some of the burden, but Covewood isn’t my home. Hearing the exhaustion in my brother’s voice makes the distance between us feel a whole lot longer.
“I wish I could help.” The words slip out.
“I know,” Ashton says softly.
I swallow around the sudden ache in my throat. “I know it’s late. Maybe you can finish the chores quickly tonight and get some much-needed rest.”
“I’ll try, but please check in later. Remember to call the landline since there’s no cell service out at Dad’s place. I don’t care if I’m asleep; you can wake me up.”
I won’t be taking the chance of waking him up, but I agree with him anyway. “Okay.”
“Love you, Maxie.”
“Love you too.”
The call ends, and I stare down at the dark screen for a moment, my chest feeling heavier than before.
The strain in Ashton’s voice made one thing painfully clear to me.
He can’t keep doing this alone. While he’s juggling doctor’s appointments and taking care of livestock, on top of his long work hours, I’m stuck here worrying about seating charts and whether the floral arrangements for my wedding are the right shade of pink. The comparison makes my stomach churn.
Another burst of laughter erupts from the ballroom behind me, followed by the clink of champagne glasses. The sound snaps me back to the present, and I tuck my phone into my clutch, forcing myself to take a steady breath. These kinds of events always set me on edge.
On a good night, I can last an hour. Maybe ninety minutes if the food is good and the crowd isn’t too unbearable. I glance at the large clock on the wall, seeing that it’s been nearly two hours. No wonder I feel like I’m drowning.
I had stepped away for some air, which is why I’m standing in this corner instead of amongst the crowd. I only needed a few stolen minutes away from all the fake conversations, before my face cracked under the strain. And that’s when I saw it.
Tucked behind an overgrown ficus, beneath a dusty window, is a forgotten pothos plant. Its leaves are droopy, with the edges curling yellow and long vines in a tangled mess. It’s not dead, but it’s barely holding on.
Surviving. Not thriving. Just as I’ve felt lately.
I crouch down, the emerald fabric of my gown folding around me in glittering layers, each movement catching the light like dew on leaves. I check the soil with a light touch. It’s dry, as I expected.
“You just need a bit of water, sunlight, and someone to care about you.” I give a defeated shrug, my shoulders falling as I whisper. “I know exactly how you feel.”
It’s silly, but talking to plants has always made more sense to me than talking to humans.
Luckily, I still have a glass of water in my hand.
I pour the liquid onto the dirt and then reach into my clutch to pull out a small pair of pruning shears I always carry with me, just in case.
Some women carry lipstick or perfume. I carry fancy plant scissors.
Snip. Tuck. Twist.
I cut away the dead leaves, one by one, smoothing the healthy ones out a bit. My hands move without thought, clearing away the decay and encouraging life back into my little friend. The tight knot that’s been sitting between my shoulder blades all evening starts to ease.
“There.” I sit back on my heels. “That should help.”
My illusion of peace is shattered by the sharp echo of footsteps behind me, and thanks to the heavy plopping cadence, I know exactly who it is before I even turn around.
“Seriously, Maxinne?” Derek’s voice cracks across the space like a snapping branch. Irritation and embarrassment are woven tightly into his tone.