“Look, Mae, you don’t have to do any of this. The financials are not great, but we can manage. You don’t need to take the shop. We will figure something out. She made it seem like it was something you would want,” Uncle Leo says.
I peek at my aunt again, and she won’t look at me.
This is a bad idea, Mae. What are you doing? She’s family, that’s why. You do whatever your family needs. They’ve done their time. It’s time for them to enjoy life. Say yes.
“I’m … stunned, but yes, of course, I’ll do it,” I tell them and force a smile.
Aunt Francesca’s eyes whip to mine, and she smiles so widely my heart hurts. “Really?” she says, her voice hopeful.
Yeah, I can’t say no to that.
“Really, Auntie, thank you for thinking of me. I love flowers, and I love you both. Thank you,” I tell her and walk around the counter, pulling her into a hug.
I peer up at my uncle, and he has an ‘I’m not convinced’ look on his face, and he gives me a ‘are you sure’ stare, and I wink at him.
The corner of his mouth tips up, and he smooths his large hand over my head.
“I’m so excited for you. I can’t wait to see what you come up with,” Aunt Francesca says.
“So it’s mine for a year and I can decide what to do with it from there?” I ask her.
“Yes, that’s the deal,” she says.
“Okay, wow, okay. And you’re going to teach me the ins and outs and all of that.”
Auntie’s gaze drops from mine, and Uncle Leo groans.
“Francesca, I swear…” he trails off.
“Auntie?”
“Well, darling, we leave the day after tomorrow. So, we have a day.”
“A day!” I shriek.
“Oh, you’re a smart girl you’ll figure it out,” she says like it’s no big deal that I’m taking over an entire business in a matter of hours, and I have to keep itrunning for at least a year and not go insane in the process. Oh wait, and move my entire life to a town I thought I was here to visit.
Wait, Mom. Oh no.
I grit my teeth and force my lips into a smile. That probably makes me look insane, but Aunt Francesca seems to buy it, or she looks past it.
“This is going to be wonderful for you, Mae. I just know it.”
***
My aunt and uncle are in the back talking because I know Uncle Leo is pissed that she didn’t tell me the real reason she wanted me here. He feels like they're trapping me … they kind of are. But I need to talk to my parents. I said yes because I’m doing this for her, but not at the expense of my mother. I want my aunt and uncle to live happy, sunny lives in Florida, but I feel like I’m being pulled in five different directions. The upside to all this is that I work from home. I don’t have an office to report to.
I pull out my phone and call my parents. Dad answers on the second ring, and I don’t wait for the hello. I tell them what’s going on.
Mom hums. “Do you think you can do it?” she asks.
“What do you mean? I can’t be gone from home for months.”
“Why not?” she asks.
“You need me,” I tell her.
“Sweetheart, you’re right. I love you, I do need you, but I told you we’ll be alright.”
