Page 37 of Beyond the Hedge Maze

“I’ll think about it. In the meantime, can I send you over my initial list of items that are stumping me? I’ll owe you big time.”

He pictured her rolling her eyes. “Furniture?”

Jesse’s mouth tilted upwards. For how much she pretended to hate him, it was apparent she, at the very least, paid him some attention. “Furniture.”

“Fine. Send me any pictures and descriptions you have and your initial thoughts, and I’ll work something up.” There was another pause. “Do you need anything else?”

There was something else he wanted to say, but he hesitated. One wrong move with Charlotte, and she might decide not to help him.

“How are things going at work?” he tentatively asked.

“Why?”

“Because I know they don’t appreciate you, and I want to make sure you’re okay.”

“It is what it is,” she said, sounding defeated. “I don’t anticipate things changing.”

Jesse shook off the initial shock at her admission, at her willingness to be open with him. “For what it’s worth, which may be nothing, I’m sorry I haven’t said anything on your behalf. I should speak up when Simon’s being a dick. I’ve been trying to keep my head down, and it’s not right. I’ll do better.”

Her voice was soft as she replied. “Thanks. It means…something…I should go. I’ll let you know what I find on the furniture.”

“Talk to you soon.”

“Bye.”

He hung up the phone as the village came into view, feeling more weighed down than he had at the start of the day. Maybe he was on his way to repairing his relationship with Charlotte, but that didn’t come close to counteracting the unease he had about confronting Oliver regarding the future of the estate.

At dinner, he’d try to work it in. Maybe Oliver would be amiable to the idea of changing course, and he was making something out of nothing. Maybe it would all sort itself out.

Chapter 17

Jesse

Ten Years Ago

Jesse could see Oliver standing under a tiny blue and white polka dot umbrella outside of the maze.

It was raining, not the soft misty rain that England was famous for, but a heavy summer rain that Jesse was more familiar with back home in the States. The drops fell fat, soaking his hair and shoulders, dripping into his eyes as he frantically blinked, clearing them as well as his tears.

When he awoke that morning, he refused to get out of bed. He’d always been tied to the weather, to the outdoors and elements. He was happiest in the sun, moody and lazy when the air chilled. He wanted to sink into his feelings today, let the rain dictate his temperament.

His father had other plans.

“You’ll get up now. No more sulking, Jesse. You can’t stay in this bed all day.”

Why couldn’t he? Why wasn’t it acceptable? Why did he have to pretend?

His steps picked up against his own volition. He rushed to the maze, rushed to Oliver who looked so beautiful standing there as the rain bounced off his umbrella. His soft smile, his dimpled cheeks—a balm to Jesse’s grief. He rushed towards him and this tentative thing they shared, the only joy Jesse had experienced in weeks.

Jesse bulldozed right into Oliver, his arms tightly circling Oliver’s waist as the umbrella was knocked sideways. He burrowed his face into the side of Oliver’s neck, and Oliver dropped the umbrella to hug him back.

“Hey, hey, what happened?” Oliver’s hand snaked from behind Jesse’s back to tangle in his hair, holding him closer, and Jesse knew there was no hiding how hard he was crying. “Let’s go inside.”

“No.” Jesse took Oliver’s hand, and Oliver scrambled to grab the umbrella as they stumbled through the entrance of the maze.

Jesse still had no idea how to navigate his way around, but it didn’t matter so long as his feet kept moving forward.

“Jesse, slow down. Tell me what happened.”