Chapter 18 – Michael
Chapter Eighteen
MICHAEL
“ I s this small enough?” Katie stops chopping and turns to me.
I have to bite back a laugh; the bell pepper pieces are so micro you can barely see them. Is it possible that she’s even more nervous about Hannah and her aunt coming to dinner than I am?
Maybe, but there’s no way she’s as excited as I am.
“I’m going to wash the windows.” She steps away from the cutting board and opens the closet with the cleaning supplies.
“You already washed them.”
“The front ones might be dirty again.”
Apparently, I spoke too soon. She just might be more excited than me.
Which has me thinking.
How does Katie see Hannah? Is she only a cool and pretty adult to hang out with, or is she more than that? Does Katie see the potential there that I do?
They’re questions that have me wondering other things. Like if Katie has been craving a mother all these years and hasn’t mentioned it because she doesn’t want to hurt me. Or if she hasn’t mentioned it because she’s figured there’s no point. I haven’t dated, and from what she’s seen, I haven’t shown any interest in women. Maybe she assumed that I didn’t want to find a partner and left it at that.
The realization gives me instant acid reflux.
I kept women out of my life for years because I didn’t want a repeat of what happened with Talia, but was that a mistake? Did I end up hurting my daughter more than helping her?
The shrieking of the smoke alarm pierces my thoughts, and I rush over to the oven and pull out the potatoes. Luckily, only a few pieces are burned.
“Hello!” a familiar voice rings through the house.
I turn from the oven as my mother walks into the kitchen. “Hi. Did you… I didn’t hear you knock.”
“Oh, Michael. Katie let me in. You know I wouldn’t just walk into your house.”
No. I don’t know that.
“What’s up?” I open a window and fan the smoke in its direction, hoping to prevent the smoke alarm from going off again.
“Well…I met Hannah.” Her lips curl into a knowing smile. “She’s pretty.”
“She’s more than that.” My heart skips a beat. How much longer till she arrives for dinner?
I glance at the clock. Thirty minutes. Thirty minutes too long.
“…at the town meeting yesterday,” my mom is saying.
“Huh?” I turn back to her. “Sorry. What was that?”
“I saw Pat at the town meeting.” She starts folding my dish towels that are strewn around the kitchen. “He’s worried that you’re completely ignoring your father’s plans for the firehouse kitchen.”
“Mom.” I stare at her, hoping that alone will be enough to end this conversation.
But apparently it won’t be. “I’m serious. He’s not happy about this.”
“It’s not his project,” I sigh. “He doesn’t need to be happy about it.”
“Just hear him out.” Finished with the dish towels, she moves on to inspecting my fridge. “You’ve had this ketchup for months.”
“It’s good for months.” I cross my arms over my chest.
She closes the fridge. “He’s been in this business for years, and he’s helped half the town remodel their businesses at one time or another.”
I cock an eyebrow. Surely she knows she’s exaggerating.
But maybe she doesn’t care. She just wants me to do things her way, like everyone else—or, more specifically, my dad’s way. Saint Ted Greer.
“You know, Mom, I did run my own contracting business for years, and I’ve worked in fire stations for even longer. I’m pretty sure I know more about what the fire station needs than Pat does.”
This isn’t about what Pat thinks. It’s about what my dad thought. But it doesn’t matter. Either way, I won’t be caving. I know what I’m doing, even if no one in this damn town agrees.
She purses her lips and shakes her head. “You are being so defensive and hardheaded.”
I freeze, her words a knife to my gut. Those are the two things my dad always accused me of being. It’s like she’s pulled the labels out of the dusty drawer just to hurt me.
My hands curl into fists, and my exhale burns my nostrils. “Have a good night, Mom.”
Because I can’t stand to look at her a moment longer, I stalk out the back door and onto the porch. My shoes beat a heavy rhythm across the wooden planks, back and forth as I try to calm down.
How could she even think of saying that to me? Does she not see how hard I’m working every single day? Does the fact that I moved Katie here and took up Dad’s torch at the fire station not mean anything to her?
My phone rings in my pocket, and I pull it out. Hannah’s name flashing across the screen is a cool balm to my heart.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Hi.” Her voice is strained, and there’s chatter in the background.
I frown. “Everything okay?”
“I’m at the hospital with my crafting group. I’m sorry, we won’t be able to make it to dinner tonight.”
I clutch the phone, panic taking hold. “The hospital? Are you okay? What happened?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s Maya. Her lupus. She’ll be okay, but we’re all going to stay here.”
I blow out a breath. Poor Maya. I only talked to her that one time at school, but she’s obviously a sweet woman. Anything less than amazing things happening to her is a travesty.
“It’s okay,” I tell her. “You be with your friend. She’s lucky to have people like you all.”
“Thank you.” She sighs. “I really am sad that I have to miss dinner.”
“I know,” I say softly. “I’m bummed about it too. Let me know if you need anything while you’re there.”
“I will. Thanks, Michael.”
My name flowing from her lips is nearly enough to make me forget why I even came out to this porch in the first place. “You’re welcome. Talk soon.”
We hang up, and I take a seat in the wicker rocking chair. There go my plans for tonight. Now what will Katie and I do with all this food? I overestimated servings when I went shopping, and we have enough to feed a baseball team.
Maybe I’ll freeze it for quick meals during the week, and the two of us can grab some cheeseburger pizza. Without Hannah coming over, I’m now in the mood to get off the island anyway.
The back door opens, and Katie pokes her head out. “Grandma said goodbye.”
My lips blow out with an exhale. Of course she did, and that makes me look like even more of an asshole after kicking her out.
“When’s Hannah getting here?” Katie asks.
“Actually, honey, something happened to…her friend.” I don’t want to tell Katie it’s her art teacher. That would be too upsetting.
“Which friend?”
I press my tongue against my front teeth. What am I doing? She can handle this truth.
“Your teacher Maya. Don’t worry, though. Hannah says she’s okay. Hannah and her friends are going to spend the evening at the hospital so that Maya isn’t lonely.”
“Oh.” She blinks in concern. “Okay. We should take them dinner.”
Of course we should. Why didn’t I think of that?
“Honey, that’s a great idea.” Standing, I kiss the top of her head. “Let’s go pack it up.”
From the other end of the house, I hear the sound of the front door opening. “I forgot my purse,” my mom calls out.
Maya’s eyes light up. “I’ll invite Grandma.”
Before I can respond, she’s off at the speed of light, running into the house. I close my eyes and shake my head.
Great. So, this has turned into a family outing. An affair that should be private but is now everyone else’s business. Just like everything else on this island.
Why should I be surprised?