Page 45 of Crashing Into Me
His mother made it very clear that, although she understood how he felt about Lana, the handover of the company would be official only after he married. Kayden felt deep down in his gutthat she had done something to cause Lana’s sudden departure. He didn’t know what or how he would prove anything, at least not until he got his mother off his back. Until then, it would be futile even to try. Maureen was going to leave town in a few days for New York, and he was elated. The reopening of Aunt Mae’s was fast approaching, and he’d rather not have her to deal with as well.
Wherever Lana was, he hoped she was safe, but he wished she were there with him. She was the motivating force behind him and the project, and she deserved just as much appreciation as anyone did for the remodel. Sure, it was just the entrance, but it was grand, and the team worked tirelessly to complete it. He was proud of the work he was doing and couldn’t wait to share it with the people of Hamby. He just wished he could share it with the one person who meant the most to him instead.
PAULA’S PRIVATEJET arrived at Fort Lauderdale International Airport just after six p.m. Lana could ignore her all she wanted, but she was going to find her and make her listen. She didn’t want to just show up unannounced, but with no response to calls, texts, or emails, she was getting a little worried herself. Paula had gone back to Hamby to check in on her brother and the house, only to find Kim taking up residence. As bad as she wanted to toss her into the street and spill her guts, she contained herself for the time being.
Kayden had thrown himself into his work on the construction site at Aunt Mae’s, as well as laying the foundation for his own new estate. She got to see her mother as well and partook in the formalities, talking about her vacation and, of course, the Capshaw Reality handoff to Kayden. Paula watchedas her mother spoke so beautifully about how proud she was of Kayden and all he was doing for the community, and it almost made her sick. If she hadn’t had the video evidence of what Maureen was really up to, she would have believed every word coming from her mouth.
Paula wanted to make sure that when she revealed everything, all the key players would be there to witness it. She hired a lawyer to draft documents regarding the legalities of her mother’s blackmail involving Rachel Brown and Lana’s possible license suspension. It was wrong on so many levels that her mother would threaten an innocent woman’s future to secure her son as a lap dog to the likes of someone like Kim. When Paula asked her mom about Lana, the distaste flashed across her face so fast that if you blinked, you would have missed it, but Paula knew her mother.
She claimed not to like the influence Lana had on him and that she had been trying to convince him to leave his family business behind to pursue his own goals. That convoluted lie was preposterous to Paula. She did her best to come to Lana’s defense, but Maureen wouldn’t hear of it. She promptly changed the conversation to the wedding that she and Kim were planning. Another sickening event, Paula would make sure would never happen. She knew good and well that Kim’s “love” for her brother had more to do with securing her bank account than with anything else.
How could a mother wish that kind of deceit on their child? Something in Maureen died when Joel died, and from the look of things, it wasn’t coming back ever again. Walking outside to the pick-up area, Paula had a driver waiting for her with a sign held up. She jumped in the car, and the driver closed her door, rushed to the driver’s side of the vehicle, and took off into the traffic. Lana will listen to her if she has to sit on her and make her. She’d come too far to give up now.
HATTIE-MAE SMITH was farpast excited to open up the newly designed diner. Although the kitchen would remain the same, the entrance and dining room were brand-new and spectacular. Kayden said he didn’t want to modernize it too much, fearing the diner would lose its small-town appeal. The snow had stopped falling long enough for all the work to be done, and the crew was finishing up final details so that she and her staff could get acquainted with the new layout.
The dining room had a retro fifties look to it, with period-themed menus and seating. Kayden even managed to find an old malt shake machine that was fully operational and added it as well. He really poured his heart into the project and took everything she wanted into consideration. When that young lady got up and left him, Aunt Mae thought they were in for the old Kayden to make an appearance; he was so broken, but he pleasantly surprised everyone. He seemed more determined than ever to fulfill his promises and had truly shown the people in town his growth by keeping his word.
One day, the week prior, after the crew had packed up and left, only she and Kayden were left to lock up. She sat down at one of the new tables, admiring the work, while Joseph took his time walking around inspecting the rest of the diner. He didn’t like change but was easing into the new look with careful consideration and admiration.
“Kayden, baby, you outdid yourself,” she remarked, running her hands along the chromed edges of the tabletop.
He smiled at her weakly. The rims of his eyes revealed he didn’t sleep much as of late.
“Sit down a minute and rest,” she said, patting the table with her hand.
He walked over to her and sat, looking around the room.
“It’ll be beautiful once we’re done,” he said, looking at the ceiling.
“You miss her, something bad don’t you, boy?” Aunt Mae asked.
He looked at her and nodded his head as she reached across the table and held onto his hand.
“Sometimes people come into your life for a reason. And other times it’s just for a season,” she replied, looking into his face.
“What’s that mean?” he asked, confused.
“It means that she was exactly what you needed at the exact time you needed it.”
Kayden shrugged, pulling his hand away.
“I just don’t get it, Aunt Mae. We were happy.”
“I know you were, and I could tell by looking that she loved you, too. I don’t know what happened to cause her to leave, but this could be a blessing in disguise.”
“Really?”
“Really. She did her part, and now you have to do yours, sugar.”
Kayden was beginning to get annoyed because he didn’t understand the parables Aunt Mae was speaking in, and she could tell as well.
“What I mean to say is, don’t you give up. Not on yourself, not on your dreams, and not on her. You move hell and high water if you have to, to find your way back to her.”
He looked her in the eyes and smiled. If only she knew the money he’d blown through to find her already.
“Happiness isn’t always a choice, son, but when you find it, you hold on to it. No matter what it takes.”
Aunt Mae stood from the table now and walked over to Joseph. They held hands, made their way to the new front doors, and stepped outside. She hoped Kayden would eventually find his way back to Lana and prayed that her words would give him some peace.
