“Probably not.There’s going to be a lot of long hours until I can afford to hire more employees.”
“What on earth are you using your trust fund for if not to make your bakery a success?”
“That’s exactly what I’m using it for.”Audrey didn’t bother to try to explain to her mother—again—that she wasn’t spending it all at once.Her mother knew how businesses were run, but it felt like she’d been encouraging Audrey to spend as much money as possible, as quickly as possible.
Probably because her mother spent money like that, but also possibly because her mother realized that if she overspent and ran out of her trust fund… she would need her parents’ help.
“Were you calling about something in particular, Mother?”
No ‘mom’ or ‘mama’ for Francie Bowers.She only answered to ‘mother’.Audrey couldn’t even remember calling her ‘mommy’ as a child.
“What, I can’t call to congratulate my only daughter on the day she opens a new business?”The strident tone had given way to a more tearful one, quick as a snap.Even though Audrey knew that her mother could turn it off just as quickly, it always made her heart squeeze.“I’ve already a son who refuses to take my calls.Now, I’m going to lose you, too.”
“You’re not losing me, mother.”She softened her tone because that had sounded like sincere upset on her mother’s part.“I just needed some space.”
“Space from your own family?”
Audrey didn’t point out that she’d moved closer to two of her family members.Her mom didn’t consider Grandma to be part of their family.
“Space from Philly,” Audrey explained gently.“Space from the social scene.I wanted to do my own thing.I promise, it was something for me, not against you.”
Although technically, moving away from her parents’ influence had been for her.But she really wasn’t doing it to spite them or because she didn’t love them.She’d just needed to get away from the way they tried to control what she was doing and the constant pressure to get back together with Cash.
Her mother’s hints that Cash was going to propose in order to win her back had been the final straw.
“Well, when are we going to see you again?”
“I can’t leave any time soon after just opening the bakery… would you and Dad like to come visit me here?Maybe we could even have a meal with David.”Audrey crossed the fingers of her free hand that her brother wouldn’t explode at hearing that she’d suggested such a thing.
“I’m not having any meal with that boy until he apologizes for the absolutely disrespectful way he treated me and your father.”The sharp anger in her mother’s voice was cutting.“We raised him.Fed him.Clothed him.Gave him whatever he wanted and needed.And how does he repay us?”
He joined the army instead of going along with their life plan and taking over their father’s business.Audrey inwardly sighed.Time to change the subject before her mother could really get started on a rant.More than her shoulders and neck were hurting now, all the joy from the day being sucked away through the phone.
“I’ll be home for Thanksgiving, but I probably won’t be able to get away before then,” Audrey said, rather than answering her mother’s question.
“So now, we’re only going to see you on holidays?”Her mother’s voice was becoming rather shrill.
“No… I just…” The sound of someone tapping on glass made Audrey’s head jerk up.Mason was on the other side of the front window.He raised one eyebrow at her and tilted his head toward the door.“Mother, I’m so sorry, but I have to go.Someone I need to speak with just showed up outside the bakery.”
“Of course, because everyone else is more important than your own family.Good night, Audrey.I hope you don’t one day have cause to regret treating your own mother like a second-rate citizen.”Her mother hung up before Audrey could respond.
The peace of her empty bakery had been shattered, but strangely, she didn’t feel as bad as she normally did after speaking with her mother.Maybe it was because there hadn’t been time to talk to her father, too, and get the double guilt trip.Or maybe it was because starting off from a place of happiness meant she didn’t end up as low.
Or maybe it was because there was a hot man standing outside her bakery door waiting to speak with her.
Audrey’s feet and legs protested as she stood, but she smiled anyway and didn’t even need to force it as she went to let Mason inside.The night was dark, lit up only by the streetlamps, and he was finally wearing a coat.The black material blended with the darkness around him.If she didn’t know who he was, the effect would have been dangerously intimidating.
As it was, she felt her cheeks flush with heat in reaction to how sexy he was as she opened the door to greet him.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”Casual.Good.That was casual.Nonchalant.She definitely didn’t sound like she wanted to throw herself at him the day after he’d gone through a breakup.
He shifted his arm, holding up a box that had been tucked underneath it.The box was also black, which was why she hadn’t seen it before.
“Camera.I figured I’d walk by and see if anyone was here tonight, and if not, I’d come back tomorrow.”His gaze swept over her, and she had the unsettling feeling that he could see far more than just what she was wearing.“If you’re too tired, I can either do this and lock up for you after, or I can come back tomorrow.Whatever you’re more comfortable with.”
Audrey only hesitated for a moment.
“I would like to have the camera up tonight, if that’s okay.I’ll probably sleep better.And I don’t mind staying.I don’t have an extra key for you to close up with because I gave them to Ashley and Alexis, but I’m aiming to be the first one here tomorrow.”
