Page 8 of Buried Dreams

The second I pass the development, my phone rings, and I look down to see Winston Cartwright is calling me. He’s been trying to reach me for the past week, and just like all the other times, I declined the call. I pull into the side of the parking lot of the mechanic shop, where my father always parked. It’s not something I ever thought I would be doing, but sometimes those dreams you have for yourself get buried.

With the thermos in my hand, I walk into the front of the shop, seeing the desk empty and paper all over it. Before walking to the back where my office is, another desk is filled with paper that needs to be filed. I toss my keys on the desk before heading into the garage. I have five mechanics who work for my shop even though there is room for ten. Not everyone wants to live in a small town fixing cars. I know this isn’t what I wanted my future to be. The last thing I wanted was to follow in my father’s footsteps, but here I am. I mean, I’m surprised I have even five guys. Four of them come into the garage with coffee from the bakery.

“Morning, boys,” I greet as they stop talking to each other and look at me.

“Hey, boss,” Eddie says.

“Did you hear about Ms. Maddie?” Tony asks, and I just look at him. “Had a heart attack last night.” My chest seizes when I hear the news.

“Is she okay?” I look over at the bakery, and everything in my body freezes. It feels like time stands still when I see what is in front of my eyes. Surely, it can’t be, but I’d know that body anywhere. I’d know that black hair anywhere. I’d know that face anywhere. I’m pretty sure I could be blindfolded, and they could place ten women in front of me, and I would be able to pick her out. She rushes to her car, her hair even longer than the last time I saw her, blowing in the wind, grabbing something before she turns her head to the side, and I see her for the first time in almost nine years.

“That’s Ms. Maddie’s daughter,” Tony informs me. He’s new in town, so he has no idea the connection I have with her. “She’s taking over for Ms. Maddie.”

“She’s smoking hot,” Ryan observes. “I’m going to wait a couple of days and see if she’ll go out with me.”

I take one look back at the shop, seeing her disappear. I shake my head, and the rage works its way up my spine, and hatred pours into my heart. “Get the fuck to work,” I all but roar out, the four of them jumping and giving me a look before heading to their stations. “Do yourselves a favor and stay away from her. She’s poison.”

Chapter Four

EVERLEIGH

The elevator doors open, and I step in, pressing the button for the fourth floor as the door closes. I look, seeing the numbers fly by until the doors open again.

The white wall with the number four painted on it greets me as I turn to my left and walk past the two open brown doors. Hospital rooms on both sides line up until you get to the nurses’ station, which is in the middle of the floor with more rooms after it.

I smile at the nurse typing something on the computer in front of her. “Good afternoon.” She nods to me. “She’ll be happy to see you.”

“I bet she won’t,” I joke. It’s been four days since my mother had her heart attack. Four days she’s been trying to get herself out of this hospital but has been blocked by the doctor not discharging her, and the fact I won’t let her discharge herself. She’s still the stubborn woman she has been, but she is more tired than she is used to. I think even she is freaked out about it.

“Hey, Momma,” I greet her, walking into her hospital room and seeing her sitting in the chair in the corner of the room. Her eyes come up from the book in front of her to me. Her long brown hair pulled back and tied in a bun at the nape of her neck.

Her face immediately transforms into a scowl. “What are you doing here?” she asks, then picks up her phone. “It’s not even three.”

“I’m doing amazing, Mom.” I ignore her snark. “How are you doing on this fabulous day?”

“Everleigh Ann Bishops”—she uses my full name—“do not sass me.”

“I’m not sassing anything.” I put my purse down on the hospital tray table before walking to her and kissing her cheek.

“Why are you here?” my mother asks again.

“Because my shift is over. May showed up for her shift from two to six, so why would I still be there?”

“To make sure she doesn’t need anything.” My mother closes the book she was reading and puts it on her lap.

“Mom, all the donuts have been made and placed out. Worst case, she has to make a fresh pot of coffee. I’m sure she can handle that.”

“An owner never leaves,” she tries, and I hold up my hand.

“She’s fine. She’s worked for you for the past four years,” I point out and raise my eyebrows. “You hired her and trained her.”

“You have to keep on top of them.” She starts in on me, then stops when Oliver comes into the room. He’s dressed in blue slacks and a white button-down shirt with his sleeves rolled up, and you can see some ink on his forearm.

“Hello, ladies,” he says, nodding at me and then looking over at my mother. “Maddie, how are we doing?”

“I told you before I’m fine, and I’ll tell you again. I’m fine.” She turns to stare at him.

“Well, the results of all your tests have come back,” he says. I can tell my mother is about to say something else, so he puts his hand up to stop her from talking. “I didn’t say it was all normal.” She rolls her eyes. “But nothing has changed since you’ve been here. So I’m going to go ahead and discharge you tomorrow.”

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