Page 16 of In Your Wake

This gets my full attention, and my food stops midway to my mouth as I turn my head. Maxine’s fork falls loudly onto her plate.

“What do you mean, the both of us?” she asks.

My gaze volleys between my folks, to her, then back. I’ve missed something. Frowning, Maxine gives me a shrug, as confused as I am.

“Yes. Both of you,” Dad answers. “You’ll share ownership before I’m gone.”

Profound silence follows his words while they linger in the herb-scented air.

“There’s no need to worry about that now,” Maxine says, her voice steady but with a shaky undertone.

“Yes, there is,” he replies. “This is happening. And before it’s too late, you two need to figure shit out because once I’m gone, you’ll have no other choice.”

“But you don’t know if you’ll—”

“I do know,” Bill cuts her off, slamming his hands on the table, causing the dishes to rattle.

Dad’s short fuse is usually reserved for me. I’ve never seen him bark at anyone else. He’s got this even temperament that borders on sociopathic. Even when Mom found out about his affair and called him every horrible name you could think of, he didn’t crack and kept his cool. But to see him now, flushed, with watery eyes and his mouth pressed into a fine line, his reaction is unnerving.

“I’m dying. It’s not a matter of if, Maxine. It’s a matter of when,” he adds, calmly. “I appreciate how positive you and Robyn are, but you have to stop acting like I’m sticking around much longer. The sooner you all accept this, the better off we’ll be.”

I’m insulted. And hurt. As if I’m intruding on an argument I should have been involved in. My mind whirls, and my stomach cramps.

“And what about Mom? Why aren’t you giving it to her?” I spit, suddenly finding my voice.

My father’s great-grandparents built the Adams Inn, and they have passed it along ever since, through good times and bad. Would he be so callous to give it to me instead of Mom? She’s worked her ass off for years at that place.

Mom turns to me, her eyes wet. “I’ll still help when I can, but it’s time for me to move on.” I can tell there’s more to this, but she continues. “Maxine’s been the manager for years and has been doing most of the work, anyway. It just makes sense to make this official now.”

Beyond confused, I only respond with a frown and blink a bunch of times.

“We’ve made the arrangements,” Bill continues. “I’ve completed my will, but I didn’t want you hearing about this after. Which is why I need you both to put your issues aside. I want to die with peace of mind that you two can do this. Together.”

“With all due respect, Bill, I don’t think that’ll ever be possible.” When Maxine shifts her hurt gaze from him to me, it’s like a physical blow. The ticking sounds of the clock and the oven cooling drop on me as if the ceiling’s collapsed, caging me in.

I shove my chair back. “This isn’t happening.”

“Mitchell—” Dad begins, but I interrupt him with a raised hand.

“No, I get it. You’ve given up. That’s what you do. Makes perfect sense.” I glance at Maxine, who tucks her chin, refusing to meet my eyes. “But her and I co-running the inn? That’s never going to happen. Besides, what makes you think she deserves any part of it?”

“Fuck you, Mitch,” Maxine spits, and I actually recoil. She aims her icy, sharp glare my way. “Believe me. The feeling is more than mutual. There’s no way I want to be anywhere near you.”

“Well, good. It’s about time we’re on the same page about something.”

“No, we’re not.” She pushes away from the table and gets up, narrowing her blue eyes. “I don’t want to work with you because you don’t deserve any part of it.”

“Oh, that’s rich,” I say with a dry chuckle. “The last time I checked, this is my family’s business. My inheritance.”

“Please stop it,” Mom pleads, but the red haze surrounding me blocks her soft voice out.

Maxine titters, shaking her head. “Your inheritance? That’s a joke, right? You left, Mitch, and didn’t even look back. You don’t care about them. You don’t care about anything here.”

“Is that so?” I cock my head. “I’m back now, aren’t I?”

She throws her head back with a guffaw and applauds. “Oh, yeah. Bravo. You came back for the brewery. To be the center of attention. Not for anything else. Seriously, do you have any idea how much the inn is struggling?”

“Maxine, please,” Mom interjects, again, being ignored.