“Oh…that.”
“Yes, that! Now do you understand why I find it hard to believe that a man who can have anyone he wants, could possibly want me?”
Then Georgia did start to cry.
And not the genteel weeping Peyton figured she’d do, but full-on sobbing and wailing.
Oh Lord…
“Mom…Mom…it’s okay,” she said carefully. “Really. I’m…I’m sorry. I never should have said that.”
“Yes, you should have because it’s true! I should have realized how my words were affecting you! I know how my mother’s words hurt me and now hearing you say these things makes me realize just how awful I am! Why would you even want a relationship with me?” she said before sobbing even louder.
For a solid five minutes, Georgia cried. Peyton got up and grabbed a box of tissues and figured the best she could do was to let her mother cry this out. When she finally calmed down and had a face full of running makeup, she realized this was the most real and honest emotion she’d ever witnessed.
“Better?” she asked as her mother wiped her face.
With a small nod, Georgia agreed. “I want to thank you.”
“For what?”
“For caring enough to want to come here and have this conversation,” she said quietly. “I promise to do better.”
“Thanks, Mom.” This time the hug was less awkward and possibly the best hug she’d ever shared with her mother because there was real emotion there.
Things were changing.
Getting better.
When they pulled apart, Georgia cupped her daughter’s cheek. “I’m very proud of you, Peyton. And, believe it or not, it makes me feel good just knowing you’re in such a healthy relationship.”
“What do you…?” It was an odd statement because her mother didn’t really know much about her relationship with Ryder to be saying something like that.
“The fact that the two of you talk about your struggles and you share interests…those are very important things.” She paused and took Peyton’s hand in hers. “Just…promise me one thing.”
She nodded.
“You may think that I ran the show around here, but…that didn’t happen until much later in our marriage. There were many years where your father made all the decisions and would tell me what was for the best and what wasn’t.” She sighed. “It was the way he was raised, too. He didn’t think it was important to include me in important decisions. Don’t let Ryder do that to you.”
Her soft laughter was out even as she shook her head. “Trust me, that is not an issue. I’ve made it abundantly clear from the very beginning that I not only have an opinion on just about everything but that I won’t tolerate him thinking for me.”
“You’re very fortunate, Peyton. You found one of the good ones.”
And she had to agree.
“What do you mean the plans weren’t approved?” Ryder yelled into the phone. The town had been jerking him around for weeks now on his resort plans and he’d hit his limit. “Dammit, Austin! What the hell else could we possibly have to do?”
“I’m working on it, Ryder. I’ve got a meeting with the town planners tomorrow and hopefully we’ll get things cleared up once and for all. You have your set of plans at home with you, right?”
“Of course. But what difference does that make?”
“Just…look them over again and see if I missed anything. I don’t know why they’re being so difficult on this but…I swear this has never happened before.”
“And what about the restaurant? Where are permits at with that?”
“We’ll be discussing that at the meeting tomorrow as well.”
“Can I come to this meeting?” he asked, knowing full well that he shouldn’t.
“No. That is definitely not going to help,” Austin confirmed. “Look, what are you doing right now?”
“Fantasizing about strangling someone in the town planning office.”
“Ha, ha. Very funny. Listen, Jake is here with me and maybe the three of us can look things over and talk it through so I can go in there with more of a plan tomorrow. Can we stop by?”
“Yeah, sure,” he said wearily. “Or maybe I should come to the office?”
“Nah, we’re in the car after going and looking at a site we’re bidding on and we’re not far from you. We’ll see you soon.”
“Thanks.” After he hung up, Ryder had to fight the urge to throw the phone across the room. This project was taking way too long to get off the ground. Both projects were and he was beginning to feel like it was a sign or that he was jinxed. All his plans to contribute to Magnolia Sound–put his stamp on it–were definitely not going the way he envisioned, and it made him think back to the day in Austin’s office when Peyton first confronted him. Maybe he was wrong for trying to force his way and his ideas on a town steeped in tradition.
With a snort, he pushed the thought aside because it was ridiculous. It was all just a coincidence and once everything got cleared up, he had no doubt that the planners would admit they were in the wrong.
And I can’t wait for it.
In the distance, he heard the soft knock on the front door as Peyton let herself in. “Hey,” she called out softly. “It’s just me.”
And just like that, all the tension left his body as she walked up the stairs toward him. The best part of his day was when he got to hold her and kiss her, so he did just that. Then, he led her into the kitchen and grabbed her a bottle of water.
“How about some wine?” she asked with a nervous laugh. When he turned to question her, she added, “It’s been a rough day.”
“Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound good.”
“Ugh…I decided to finally go and confront my mother today,” she told him as she sat down.
He poured her wine and handed her the glass, opting to grab a bottle of water for himself. “What made you decide to do that today?”
“I’ve been thinking about it more and more ever since your parents came to visit.” She took a sip of her wine before shaking her head. “I can’t even explain it, I just knew I had to go and do it today.”
“And…?”
“And…it was very eye-opening and very emotional and…I guess I’m afraid to get my hopes up.”
“I’m not really sure what to say. I mean…I guess I understand why you felt like you needed to do it, but I have to agree about not getting your hopes up. Your mother’s been the way she is for far too long for her to suddenly morph into the kind of person you want her to be.”
“Maybe, but…she seemed to really listen this time.” She gave him a sad smile. “Only time will tell, right?”
He nodded.
“So, what about you? How’s your day been?”
Groaning, he leaned against the island beside her and told her about his call with Austin. “He and Jake are on their way over and hopefully we’ll come up with something to appease the town so we can finally get things back on track.”
“What about the restaurant? Are the permits still stalled there too?”