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“Mom, this is a small town. The rumor mill is the primary source of entertainment. Of course, we’re going to be seen around, and we have been spending time together–as friends.”
“That better be it. Arya and her family are nice enough, but they don’t exactly fit in with ours and our extensive family legacy.”
She started throwing the trash in the bin, and I could picture her imagining the crumpled napkins were Arya. It really hurt and I was so angry, I saw red. How could my mother truly be this callous?
“I thought the McKennas were friends,” I said, staring at her.
“Of course they are, Tristan. They're wonderful people. But they’re just…” she drifted off, suddenly realizing how cruel the words sounded. Surely she could be cruel and insinuate it, but clearly she didn't actually want to come out and say it. She preferred that people praised her. “You just can’t deny our different social standing. We’re the Adlers, after all. Wearethis town. And you–you’re a successful doctor and extremely wealthy. Arya just isn’t the right fit for all that. Regina, on the other hand…you two are really a power couple.”
I scrubbed a hand over my face. Not this again. I was disgusted by what my mom was saying and couldn’t listen to it anymore.
“I’m going to go get my phone upstairs and take Shiloh to the pool,” I said, dismissing my mom and effectively ending the conversation. For once, she took the hint and simply nodded once.
I couldn’t believe the things she said. I couldn’t believe how she’d look down on her own friends like that.
I loved my mother, but I couldn’t deny that she was a terrible person.
Chapter 17
Arya
Istartedspendingmyfree time at the bakery, trying to learn more about how everything worked. Tristan’s advice about doing something I was passionate about gave me the courage to try. So I told my mom about some ideas I had, including expanding our regional marketing reach and being more active on social media, and she actually listened and helped me think through a plan.
I let myself dream about someday running the bakery for my mom. She was approaching her retirement years, and while it was definitely profitable, there was a lot more potential. It would just be great not to work for the Adlers anymore and feel this historical indebtedness to their family. It wasn't that we weren't grateful for how they had helped us in the past, but it felt like they felt they were better than usbecausethey helped us.
As much as I loved being a nurse, I really felt the call of the bakery.
If I could help the bakery become really successful, maybe Mason could think about ways he could start his own business too, and we could all be out from the Adler's shadow.
It was a long shot, but it was exciting to develop goals and think about ways I could actually achieve them.
There were currently five staff members at the bakery, and that included me and my mom. It was too much work for us, but we didn’t have the profit margins to expand just yet. I was thinking about suggesting we cut down on the retail side and focus on catering.
We had a small shop that sold individual treats and coffee. It took a lot of time to operate, and didn’t get a ton of foot traffic. It made sense years ago before any large chain coffee shops were in town. But now we had two, and folks seemed to gravitate more toward those. We’d either have to rebrand or transform the space to be a bit cozier. Right now, there were just a few tables, with hard back chairs. Not nearly as comfortable as the leather sofas and cozy booths found in the established chain stores.
I liked my plan even more when I looked up and saw Rebecca Adler approaching the counter.
“It’s nice to see you here, Arya,” she said, her voice dripping with fake warmth. There were two other customers in line, but she walked right up to me as I was working on decorating some cookies next to the cashier. Thank goodness one of the other workers came up front to tend to the others.
My mind and heart were racing. I couldn’t lie and say she hadn’t been kind to me over the years. She really had been. But when I took off my rose-colored glasses and saw the way she treated other people, I felt my dislike blossom.
Just then, my mom came up front from where she had been packing up an order in the back.
“Rebecca, what a pleasant surprise!” she said as they exchanged cheek kisses.
I rolled my eyes and realized I had to play along.
“Yes, it’s nice to see you, Mrs. Adler,” I said.
We went through the standard pleasantries. I only offered bland words and smiles, as that’s all she wanted.
“I’m having such a wonderful summer with Tristan and Shiloh. You know, Shiloh had never been here before and she absolutely loves it,” she gushed. “She loves you, too. She won’t shut up about you. I love how you've involved her in chores. How quaint.”
Rebecca didn’t seem all that thrilled by that fact, but my heart glowed. My fondness for Shiloh was growing the more time I spent with her. She was such an amazing little person and lit up a room with joy.
“I’m enjoying her company, too,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral and not show that she was really getting on my nerves.
“And you and Tristan seem to be getting along well.” She said it nonchalantly, but my insides turned. Did she know what was going on?
