Page 80 of Mountain Pine
“I think Mom’s been in his ear a lot lately about either going big or closing shop.”
“What?” I stand up without realizing it.
Taylor looks up at me, confused. “Didn’t you say the same thing to him once?”
Yeah. But that was three years ago. Back when we had more employees, and I had big ideas. None of it worked out though. Hell, we didn’t even get to my project ideas to see if they’d fly or not. And then another competitor scooped up the business that could have been ours and I’ve been frustrated about it ever since.
I just want a chance to prove myself.
“I can’t believe the Blossom Festival is next weekend.”
“Uhhh. It’s tomorrow, bro.” Taylor winces. “Sorry. I didn’t mean bro. I’m going to have to seriously work harder on that.”
“Tomorrow?” I feel like I’ve been sucked into a time warp. “What do you meantomorrow?”
“How is that hard to articulate, Con?” Her eyebrows pinch together. “Did you stroke out during our fuckfest?”
This woman has the audacity to press her hand on my forehead as if checking for a fever. I bat it away. “Are you messing with me right now?”
“No. Are you messing with me?”
“No.”
Taylor frowns. “Have you seriously lost track of time and space?”
I must have. Between working non-stop for weeks, plus having a mental breakdown over Taylor, and now floating in her orbit for the past couple of days, I don’t know what time it is, what day or even month we’re in, if I’m honest.
Holy shit, I hope I didn’t fall behind on otherthings too. Wait. I can’t remember the last time I paid my electric bill!
“I knew you working like this was going to catch up with you. You’re just like my father.”
Why is she saying that like it’s an insult?
“You know my parents almost split uptwicebecause of his business.”
I definitely did not know that. “When?”
“Just after you were hired. And… again about three years ago.”
No way. I can’t imagine the two of them ever splitting up. They’re ride or dies.
“They used to fight all the time when I was a kid too.”
My heart falls. “I don’t remember that.”
“Of course you don’t. I would go to the park or Carly’s or somewhere else and meet you there. I never told anyone about my parents’ business because it wasn’t anyone else’s problem.”
I’d love to argue with that logic, but I’m the same way. No one knew how bad it was in my household, and I stayed away from it as often as possible. But I just can’t imagine Russel and Corrine splitting up for anything. It legit doesn’t compute in my brain. Russ would die for Corrine.
“Work and money aren’t everything, Con.” She nervously taps her finger on the table. “Remember that, okay?”
Chapter 23
Taylor
Conner left in silence about an hour ago. I think he’s got some things to figure out and prioritize. It hurt to see him look so beat down, but there is no way I’m going to marry a man who puts work before me. This was my only way of saying it delicately. Conner loves my parents as much as I do, and he has always put my dad on a pedestal. But Dad’s not perfect and neither is his marriage, and even though I know he dangles retirement like a possibility, I just don’t see it happening anytime soon. Especially if Conner leaves the company like I’m suspecting he will.
Fuck it. I can’t worry about shit like this today. That’s a tomorrow trouble. I’m already behind on my booth setup and packing inventory for the Blossom Festival. Time got away from me too, I guess.
