Chase crossed his arms as he sat on the porch railing. “Ah… I doubt it. Lawson Porter’s family is super rich. He’s given her a lifestyle my starving artist dreams never could.”
Maggie pursed her lips. “Speaking of dreams… What about your residency at the Hollywood Theater? Are you gonna make it back?”
Chase looked out again at the front lawn. “I told Leeland’s assistant that I couldn’t make it.”
“Chase…”
“I need to be here. Even if my family drives me crazy… And even though they think I’m throwing my life away trying to make it in the music industry—just like Amber did...” He trailed off.
Maggie grabbed the glasses of sweet tea and walked over to him. After handing him one, she leaned against a post and perched on the porch railing.
“So what about you?” Chase asked her. “You finished your ten new things list, right? What’s next?”
Maggie huffed, “I wish I knew… I guess I’m still trying to figure it out…” Maggie took a sip and felt the cold liquid slide down her throat. “You have a good thing here. You have roots. You have things you do—like traditions and sayings and good memories. And you have unconditional love—even if it’s packaged in sarcasm. I can tell your brother loves you and your mom adores you.”
Chase squinted at her.
She inhaled and stared out at the darkening night sky, “I’ve never had that… I didn’t even know I was missing it… until I saw you with your family. My family’s a mess. My sister parties constantly. Instead of trying to fit into my mom’s idea of perfection, she said screw it and went the complete opposite way. And I’ve spent my life in my mom’s hamster wheel chasing her idea of success. Even though I’m hundreds of miles from her, she’s programmed so much of my brain. I thought I could ‘create my future,’ but you can’t ever get rid of your past. It just follows you around. I see that now.”
“Maggie, what are you saying?”
“Maggie!” As soon as Chase had finished his question, Norah flung open the screen door. Steadying her voice, she continued, “Maggie… Hey darlin, what’s this Cam told me about you seeing a guy that looked like Bud, their daddy?”
“Oh, sorry, yeah it was nothing—wait… Bud?”
“Yeah, that was my dad’s name,” Chase clarified.
Maggie sat down in the rocking chair. “That’s so strange…”
“What is?” Chase asked. “Mom, what’s going on?”
Ignoring his question, Norah kneeled next to Maggie. “What’s strange, Maggie?”
“The guy… at Valley View Lodge… I swear he said his name was Bud. And he had Chase’s eyes… and he called me Cinderella…”
Glass shattered. Maggie looked over and saw Chase staring at his mom, his hand frozen in place.
Norah slowly stood, walked down the stairs and then took off running toward a white pick up truck.
“Mom!” Chase yelled, and bolted after her.
Chapter 33
Chase
Chasejumpedintothepassenger side of the truck after hearing his mom turn on the ignition.
“Mom, stop. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, but I’m about to find out.” Norah backed up the pickup, turned the wheel and then sped forward down the driveway.
“What’s there to find out? Dad’s dead. I know it’s been hard on you, it’s been hard on all of us.”
Norah exhaled and then glanced over at Chase. “There’s a good chance he’s not dead.”
“What?” Chase asked sharply.
Norah’s shoulders slumped, but she kept her eyes straight ahead. “Do you remember when you were eight, and Cam was ten, how your dad left on a business trip to Alaska?”
