“Auntie, did you get the internet situation figured out?” I ask her.
“Yes, yes, you should be able to do your work, I promise.”
“Thanks.” I go to my room and Uncle Leo makes his way back to the barn.
I start unpacking and can’t shake the feeling that there’s something more going on. My phone buzzes with a text from Sarah.
Sarah: Girl! Are we going out tonight? I thought we could try that new bar. You should wear that pretty red dress you got!
I stare at my phone, exhausted.
Mae: I left town, have to help my family. Have fun though!
Sarah: Awe, boo okay!
I’m tired of being the fourth wheel with my friends. They’re always the ones who easily strike up conversations. I’m tired of the effort. I’m tired of being overlooked. It doesn’t make sense. I’m not ugly. I know I’m not. Yet here I am.
I deleted the dating apps a couple of weeks ago because those weren’t working. In fact, they are stuff made of nightmares as far as I’m concerned. I’m tired of the triviality of it all. Maybe it’s because I’m too curvy or short? I’ve considered it could be my hair? Maybe it’s my job, and it’s too boring, not interesting enough.
Regardless, I think I need a break from dating. If I’m being honest with myself, I thought I would be in a very different place by now, but I’m not. So, on top of helping Auntie, I figured I could give myself a chance to re-evaluate. I need to recognize that the story I want may not be mine. And if that’s the case, changing things up might not be a bad thing.
Chapter 5
Mae
“Areyoureadytogo?” Aunt Francesca asks.
I’ve been fully focused on my project that’s due tomorrow, and the internet keeps cutting out.
“Almost, I would be if the internet worked,” I say, and glance over my shoulder.
She shrugs. “I don’t know what you want from me. We’re in Paxton, darling. This isn’t the city where you get all the internet everywhere,” she says, gesturing widely.
I chuckle and shake my head, closing my laptop.
“I might have better luck in town, anyway.”
“Yes, of course,” she says, and flits away.
“Come on! We’re burning daylight!” she yells from the kitchen.
I smile to myself and follow her out the door.
When we get to the Paxton Flower Shop, I smile at the old sign. It looks exactly like it did last time I was here.
Auntie parks on a side road, and I follow her into the shop. “Shouldn’t you be open right now?” I ask her.
She sighs. “Yes, I should, but I need to do some cleaning before the fresh harvest comes in.”
She leads the way back to the office, flips on the light, and my jaw drops. Stacks of papers, boxes, buckets, binders, and ledgers are all around. Little notes posted everywhere, and packaging haphazardly tossed on top.
“Auntie…” I trail off.
“I know, I know. It’s bad. It got away from me. I wasn’t sure where to start, and then I never did, and it kept getting worse.”
“Is this why you need help with the books? You just … let it go? Did you even pay your taxes?” I ask her, overwhelmed.
“Oh yes, darling, I paid taxes … at least I’m pretty sure I did,” she says.
