Light from the uncovered bulb bounced off the dust floating in the air. A thin layer of dirt and grime covered every surface. Some of the spindles on the main staircase appeared cracked, yet Sean didn’t see any of it. Rather the beauty and possibilities stood out.
With a groan and click, the door closed behind him. As he crossed the main entryway into what had been the sitting room, he pulled out his cell phone and punched in Mia’s number. They’d talked about this project a lot, so sharing the news with her made sense.
Stop. His finger hovered over the final digit. Their short relationship was over. He’d taken care of that over the weekend.
His chest tightened as he shoved the phone back into his pocket. Calling it quits had been the right thing. Mia evidently thought more existed between them than he did. If they kept seeing each other, it’d be giving her the wrong impression and that wasn’t fair. Besides, they lived in two different worlds. She made out with guys in front of millions of people, while he retiled bathroom floors and kept the pipes from leaking. People that different didn’t belong together anyway. She belonged with someone like his brother in-law or her co-star Mark. At the thought of her co-star, the memory of them kissing on the set flashed up. Much like it had that day, the green-eyed monster raised its head. Mia might deny it, but the guy wanted her regardless of whether or not he was engaged to someone else.
It’s none of my business. Whatever Mia did from now on didn’t concern him, just like nothing he did affected her anymore.
After one quick walk through the house, Sean switched off the lights and crossed the yard back to The Victorian Rose. Accustomed to entering through the back kitchen door, he didn’t even consider that his mother would be in there working.
“You’re home.” His mother stood at the counter rolling out a pie crust. “I thought you’d be in the city. Doesn’t Mia leave in the morning? She called today to say congratulations. I really like her. I’m glad you two have been spending time together.”
“I had business with the bank today.” Sean grabbed a can of soda from the refrigerator. “Besides, we ended things this weekend.”
The rolling pin stopped. “Why? You were having so much fun together. You were happier than I’ve seen you in a long time with her.”
With a snap, the can opened, and he took a long swig before he spoke. “We had fun; now it’s over. End of story.”
His mom picked up the rolling pin and pointed it at him. “Sean O’Brien you’re as bad as your sister was. Look how much happier she is since she met Jake.”
Counting to ten, he pushed down his aggravation. “Ma, Charlie was afraid of relationships. I’m not afraid. I’m just not interested in continuing things with Mia. We’re too different. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. It’s done.”
“You’re making a mistake,” she said with a deep sigh and a shake of her head.
“Are Charlie and Jake still coming up next month?” Sean snagged an oatmeal cookie off a plate.
“As far as I know,” she answered as she went back to rolling out her pie crust. “I saw some lights on next door. Do you think I should call the police or did they finally sell that house?”
He took another swig from his soda. “It was just me over there.”
The rolling pin stopped again. “What?” Maureen asked, her voice several octaves higher than normal.
“I told you my plans, Ma. I signed the official paperwork today. It’s officially ours.”
A loud whack on the counter caused him to miss his cookie altogether and his teeth sank into his tongue. The salty taste of blood mixed with oatmeal in his mouth and he swallowed.
“You knew my feeling about that.” His mom planted both her fists on her hips and glared up at him.
“I’ll be good for business, Ma. You’ll see. As it is we turn away guests because we’re booked. Now that won’t happen.”
Maureen advanced closer. “You’re not the only one who has been making plans for the business. I wanted to tell you before, but you’ve been ignoring me lately.”
Can you blame me? Even now anger simmered at the mere thought of their last conversation.
“Sherbrooke Enterprises is trying something new and Dylan contacted me. The Victorian Rose and another bed and breakfast in Newport are going to be the pilot locations.”
A desert contained more moisture then his mouth at the moment and he couldn’t speak as he waited for her to continue.
“Starting in the fall The Victorian Rose will be officially run by Sherbrooke Enterprises.”
All the air in his lungs rushed out. “You sold the house?” No, she wouldn’t do that. She’d grown up in this house, raised her children in this house. The bed and breakfast was their bread and butter so to speak.
“No, I joined in a partnership. They will handle the maintenance and the day-to-day operations in return for part of the profits. But I maintain ownership.”
Sean dropped into a chair. “Ma, we talked about expanding. You knew I was working with the bank.”
A frown appeared on his mom’s face. “We never agreed on it. I told you I was against it from the start, but you ignored me.”
“I can’t believe you did this. You’ll have to pull out of the deal. Let them find another place. Maybe one of the bed and breakfasts in Salem instead. There are several over there they can pick from.”
Taking a seat across from him, she patted his fist. “It’s done Sean. And it’ll be good for all of us. Especially you.”
Bullshit. “You mean good for you and Ray.” Once again his mother’s involvement with Ray Larson upset his life.
“True. I plan to move into Ray’s house soon. The manager Sherbrooke Enterprises hires will live in my apartment. But I did this more for you. Now you can do anything you want. You won’t be stuck here with me. You can make the house next door yours, or move out of North Salem and start over somewhere else. Use that degree you earned.”
Surprise must have appeared on his face because his mom smiled at him. “I know about the master’s degree you earned and the graduation ceremony you skipped. I saw the letter on your desk when I dusted a few weeks ago. You should have gone to the graduation. I would have loved to see you walk across the stage.”
The weight of his mom’s hand over his grew heavy. “You shouldn’t have done this Ma. I could have run things alone while you moved in with Ray.”
Leaning forward she placed both hands on his face. “I did this for you more than anyone else. Sean, it’s time you start your life. I know you put your life on hold after your father left. Without you I don’t know how I would’ve survived, and you’ll never know how much that means to me. But now I’m taking charge and being the parent I should’ve been back then.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke. “Your sister is happy and settled. I want the same thing for you. It may not seem like it now, but this is the best thing for you. You’ll see.”
With a jerk he pulled away and stood. “Whatever, Ma.” He needed space from his mother before he exploded. Already his frustration approached a boiling point, a few more words out of his mother’s mouth and he might not be able to control his temper.
The purple sky from earlier now contained stars and a large full moon. Mounting his Harley, he revved the engine, then pulled onto the road. With no destination in mind, he drove the familiar roads through town until he hit the highway.
Sean drove out toward the western part of the state and then south into Connecticut. After he crossed into Connecticut he drove along the northern most part of the state until he hit Interstate 84 which took him back onto the Mass pike.
By the time he reached the base of Wachusett Mountain, the first rays of sunlight filled the sky. Confident police wouldn’t be in the area, he accelerated and followed the road to the summit. Once at the top, he parked and pulled off his helmet. A breeze blew across his face, the cool air a welcome treat after wearing the helmet for so long.
From the wo
ods at the edge of the parking lot, leaves rustled and a few twigs snapped as everything came awake with the rising sun. Parking his butt on a large flat boulder, he stared out over the lush green vista.
How had his life turned to crap so fast? First his father’s reappearance followed by his mother’s confession. And now this. The only bright spot in all of it had been Mia.
Don’t go there. Ever since he had walked out of her hotel room, he’d repeated the same thing over and over. Their worlds were too different for it to ever work. Even so, he missed their conversations and her compassion. Right now he could use some of her understanding and willingness to listen.
At the moment he didn’t know who he was more furious at—his mother or father. Both played with his life to suit their own needs and wants. Maybe he liked his life the way it was. For years now it’d worked for him. Why mess with it? A tiny voice in the back of his head inched out of the dark place where he kept it. You don’t love running the bed and breakfast, it whispered. So what?
Grabbing a rock, he chucked it toward the woods. Okay, he didn’t love it. Most people didn’t love their jobs. Rather, they made the best of them. Did what they had to. Why should he be any different? Picking up another rock, he tossed it harder this time. Maybe he should see about managing The Victorian Rose for Sherbrooke Enterprises. No one knew the place better than him. Life would stay much the same if he did that. At the same time, he’d fix up the house next door as planned and maybe put it up for sale.
Rather than lift his black mood, his plan sent his spirits plummeting even further.
Grow a set already, O’Brien. Maybe now was the time to take a page out of his parents’ playbook and think of only himself.