Page 9 of Make Me Unwind

“Hey, Mom.” I smile and wave. “How was the festival?”

“Amazing.” Her eyes glow as she walks toward me. Her orange skirt flows around her ankles.

When she began making pottery, I was happy for her. It was an outlet that gave her pleasure, and she deserved it. All my life, she worked two jobs while raising my brother and I, pushed me to recover after my accident and did everything in her power to make sure my brother’s dreams came true, all as a single mother with no support.

She deserved to find something that gave her joy. “I met the most amazing man today. He bought three of my pieces to give to his wife.” Her cheeks are pink as a blast of wind spins the dust in the parking lot into a mini tornado. “She owns a small shop in New York City.”

“That’s exciting.” My heart had sped up at the mention of a man but sunk again when she said he was married. I’d love to see my mom in a relationship. To have someone who treated her well and took some of the burden off her. But she’s never seemed interested.

For years, we thought she hated men because our father left. That wasn’t the case. She loved him so much she never found another man that could compare to him.

Her eyes dance as she wraps her arm around my shoulders. “Can you imagine having my work in a shop in New York City?” She shakes her head and laughs. “It’s crazy. It was a blast thinking about it on the drive here even if it never happens.”

I wrap my arm around her waist, and she does the same. “If that’s what you want, I have no doubt you will accomplish it.”

She squeezes me closer to her. “You’re a doll. Thank you.” Her eyes rake over me. “Is something wrong?”

“No.” I shrug and step back. “Everything is fine.”

Her eyes narrow into slits. “No, it’s not. Spill it.”

I groan under my breath. There’s no getting away with anything around this woman. Her spine straightens as she moves out of our embrace and slightly turns toward me. Fearless warrior mode enacted.

“Fine.” I wave my hand in front of me. “I met a man.”

Her eyebrows are raised in question. “And?”

“And…. Nothing. He works here. Or somewhat works here. His brother runs the resort.” I shrug as I try pushing the image of him out of my head. “He taught me to paddleboard and kayak.” I inhale and slam a black wall between his memory and my future. “But that’s it. It was nothing.”

“Piper,” my mother growls. “Spill it.”

God, she’s so frustrating. She won’t stop until I rip the entire Band-Aid off and everything spills out. “He’s attractive, and I felt a spark between us, but when I told him about my past and my plans for the future after he asked, not because I just decided to tell everything to a stranger, he provided nothing.”

That’s not true. He praised me for my strength and determination, appearing almost proud of me, and then, that was it. Not one word about his past, his present, his future. Nothing.

“Piper, I love you.” She braces against the wind, whipping at our clothes as the ominous clouds roll closer. The ocean waves beating harder on the surf fills my ears. “Someday, you’ll find a man who’s open and honest. Who doesn’t shy away from your past and looks forward to sharing a future with you.”

“Do you honestly think so?” The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, making me sound pathetic.

“Honey.” She grasps my upper arms as thunder rumbles, and a gust of wind whips at my braid. “I know so. You have too big of a heart for someone not to jump at the chance to be loved by you. Let’s go inside.”

As she travels the sidewalk toward the cabin, I trail behind her. No more pouting. It’s stupid and childish. I don’t need a man to be fulfilled. I’m a strong, capable woman who has an amazing family and a future career that will fulfill me.

While climbing the wooden steps of the cabin, a figure in the parking lot catches my attention. Is that Asher? My gaze narrows as the man latches a chain through a bicycle. It’s Asher. A crack of lightning flashes behind the resort as sheets of rain are visible in the distance.

At least no funnel clouds are looming. The storm is probably fifteen minutes away, so he should have plenty of time to finish what he’s doing and return to the main resort.

My mom holds the door open. “Coming in?”

I glance back at Asher, who’s latching a second bicycle to the silver bike rake. There appears to be ten locks remaining to secure them all. Clearly, the last people who took the bicycles out to ride the trails didn’t secure them upon their return. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Her gaze drifts to the parking lot where Asher works. “Be careful.”

“I will.” I spin on my heel and race down the sidewalk. If we hurry, he’ll be able to get back to the resort before the rain hits.

By the time I’m within shouting distance of him, I’m slightly out of breath. My family is right; I need to get out more. “Need help?”

He rocks back on his haunches and watches as I approach. “You should go inside. I’ve got this.”

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