Page 15 of Grumped By the Mountain Man

“That I was helping.”

“Helping? I’ve told you a thousand times that I’m fine, Cali.”

“You’re a lot of things but fine isn’t one of them.”

“Cali—”

“Just listen to me for once! I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with you before but the moment Ayla came back to town, it became obvious that she’s your problem.”

I say nothing, swallowing.

“You say you don’t want to get married. That you don’t want to have kids but your psyche is bursting at the seams to be heard.”

“So you’re a psychologist now?”

“Yes. I earned my degree from Tik Tok and Reddit.”

I roll my eyes.

“You make children’s toys because you want to see kids play with them. Your kids. You know what else? I watched a murder mystery with Ayla over the weekend and you know what’s weird?”

“What?” I ask, but I already know.

“That house in the movie looks eerily similar to your cabin.”

“So?”

“So you don’t watch movies. You expect me to believe it’s just a coincidence? Jaxon, Ayla’s under your skin. You can pin your lips but your hands won’t shut up. Why can’t you just admit it?”

“Because then I’ll have to admit that I’m just like Dad.”

Cali gaps, clearly hurt and offended by the words.“What’s wrong with being like Dad?”

“Dad was the best.”

“The greatest,” Cali agrees, but I can hear the question still lingering in her voice.

“But he loved someone he shouldn’t have.”

There was a long silence only filled with the sound of pounding hail.

“Jax... do you keep pushing Ayla away because you think your relationship mirrors that of Dad and Mom?”

“Mom?” I grunt. “We don’t have one of those.”

I never used the term Mom out loud to address Sherry.

“Look. I see the parallels. Ayla has a big personality. She likes to travel and be on social media. You like to stay in your turtle shell.”

“Crab shell.”

“Well, you are crabby.”

“No it’s because of hermit crabs—” I let out a breath. “Nevermind. That doesn’t matter. None of it matters right now. Ayla’s missing.”

I try to look around again, but it’s no use.

“Calm down. You’ll find her and she’s smart. She probably ran for the nearest shelter. I’ll try calling and texting her too, but you have to listen to me. Once you get her, don’t make the same mistake twice. Stop assuming and painting her with the same brush as Sherry because she’s not Sherry. And you’re not Dad falling for the wrong person. Talk to her. Listen to her because you have no clue what she’ll say. You’re just answering your own questions without giving her a chance to answer for herself.”

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