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“I have to go.”
“Don’t forget to look over that e-mail,” my father adds, unbothered by the conversation. Why would he be? He won. They both got what they wanted—control of their son’s life.
I don’t know why I feel a loyalty to my family. It’d be so easy to break free and do what makes me happy, even if I have to surrender the money that comes along with the name.
The saddest part is that my parents are unfazed by my reaction. They don’t care, so long as I’m living out the life they planned for me. They’re happy even if it costs my own happiness.
I walk out of the door, almost crashing into their housekeeper on the way out. I run a hand through my hair and slide into my car. My knuckles turn white as I grip the leather steering wheel and take deep, even breaths. Maybe my brother was onto something when he skipped town and relinquished everything that came with the Remington name. I should give him a call. It’s been too long since we’ve spoken.
By the time I get to Hart House, the inn where I’m staying, I’ve calmed down. My parents have space for me in their home, but I rather not stay with them while I visit.
Driving through the town I grew up in gives me an odd sense of belonging. Life in Hartville is slower and more wholesome. It’s peaceful watching people walk around, talking with familiarity, and laughing. Hartville is home to ten thousand people, making it possible to feel like everyone is part of your family, yet it has enough population where you may not run into the same people every day.
As I change into sweatpants and a t-shirt, my phone pings with a message. Seeing Lex’s name on the screen makes me smile. Who knew I’d have this reaction after four years of silence?
Lex: Bach party? Did you make that up?
Hudson: It’s what they call a combined bachelor and bachelorette party
The bubbles on the screen appear and disappear a couple of times before her response comes in.
Lex: I knew that…
I chuckle at her reply.
Hudson: Sure you did…
Hudson: Anyway, we should talk about this event
Lex: I’ve already got a plan. I prepare our side of the trip and you prepare the guy’s. If we need to check-in, then we can do so through here
She’s clearly avoiding me. I shouldn’t push. I should allow our distance to remain intact. But what’s left of life if we don’t throw caution to the wind?
Hudson: That’s a flawed plan. There are things we’ll have to discuss together. The last thing we want Hope and Toby to feel is disappointed because we couldn’t put our differences aside
Hudson: We wouldn’t be productive that way
Lex: Many people solve issues via text messages
Hudson: I’ll be in town for a couple of weeks. We can get together and discuss details before I head back home
Lex: I don’t think that’s a good idea
Hudson: Like you said last night, we’ll work together on this and after go back to being strangers once the wedding is over
That feels bitter as I type it. I hate that we ended up where we did after everything we shared. I didn’t think that my parents would truly get between us, but I underestimated them.
When Lex doesn’t reply right away, I grab my laptop and open my e-mail. Work will distract me. The mansion my father mentioned looks promising, and if we can secure it, we’d make a lofty commission. I write down some notes before I call the owners tomorrow morning. My father has a point about the housing market. Even Sundays are unforgiving when it comes to closing a deal. Another agent can sneak up on you and steal it if you’re not careful or ambitious enough.
My stomach growls, and I close the laptop. I need to eat something before it’s any later. Changing my sweatpants for jeans, I lock up and head out, walking to the diner nearby. What I love about the inn is that it’s in the center of town. What I don’t love is that everyone stares at me like I’m an alien. I’m a Hartville resident, purebred. It seems people have forgotten where I came from.
Have I?
As I walk in, I halt and smile. Lex’s parents are standing up from a table.
“Hello, sweetheart, I heard you were in town. How are you?” Her mom, Bianca, smiles.
Her parents were always warm and welcoming. I was envious at times. Lex had a supportive and loving family nucleus while I had business talks from a young age, and parents too busy with their professional and social life to care about what I had going on. My parents never even attended one of my high school football games. It was pointless in their eyes.
