"You look happy, darling," my mother says.
"Thank you, Mom. I had a good day."
"That's wonderful. Dinner is almost ready, we were waiting for you."
I stop halfway down the hallway. "Who's we?"
"Oh, no one special. Danielle and Spencer Forbes are here. Mark too."
Happiness sufficiently obliterated.
I'm not sure why my parents would think I'd enjoy having dinner with my ex-boyfriend and his parents, but I need to stop it before it starts.
"Mom, what are they doing here? You do remember Mark and I aren't together anymore."
"Oh, you young people can never make up your minds. Mark is a nice boy, and you look so good together. I'm sure your breakup was just a blip."
"Him cheating on me wasn't a blip. Him doing it again and again wasn't a blip either. Why would I be with someone who cheats on me, repeatedly?"
What I mean to say is, why do my own parents want me to be with someone like that? But I know why. Alexander Blackwood and Mark Forbes look good together, but their combined fortunes, and joining two of the most influential families in the city, would look a lot better.
There is only one thing that will get me through this dinner, and it's so far removed from this current situation, it may as well be a different life in an alternative universe.
Ash.
7
ASH
A few daysafter my coffee date with Xander and I still feel like I'm walking on air.
The coffee was good and that cake, oh my, it was perfection. Let's not even mention Xander because there were moments during our conversation when I could swear he was about to kiss me.
And now you're making up fantasies in your head, Ash. Great.
"Wow, you have it bad."
I turn around and see Nicki, with her hands on her hips and a smug smile on her face, staring at me from her stall.
"What are you talking about?"
"You've been rearranging those pumpkins for the last ten minutes. I'd take a guess that they're as good as they're gonna get," she teases.
"You know city people buy with their eyes and, god knows, I need the money."
The thought takes away any joy I found prettifying my stall.
"What's the matter, sweetie? I thought you had a good time with Xander the other day. Are you upset because he hasn't come by since? Mia says he's been really busy at work but asks about you every day."
I don't normally sit down during the market, but I feel so dejected I don't care anymore and perch on the empty stacked wood boxes. There aren’t any customers, so it's not a big deal.
"It's not Xander. He's been texting and sending cake from Le Soulier with Mia every day, so I know he's...well, I don't know but...it doesn't matter," I say.
Nicki comes over from her stall and puts her arm around my shoulders.
"Hold on, let's rewind. This isn't about Xander? How are things at home? Is Victoria being a pain? Don't tell me she's spending money again."
"No, it's not that. I had to go to the bank and ask for credit to pay the farmhands’ checks. I have less than four weeks to make sure I can pay them this month, and also pay the bank."
