Chapter 3 - Mayson

I had almost forgotten where I was when I woke up. I felt like I was a teenager again. The only difference was that my room wasn’t a complete mess. It will be back to ‘my’ normal in a few days. That would definitely drive mama crazy. I did not get the ‘clean gene’ from her for sure. I always just lived out of the clean laundry basket and just ran the clothes through the dryer before I had to get ready for work. I was going to have to do that this morning before my meeting, because I didn’t unpack last night before I went to bed.

It had just worked out very well to have to come home at the same time of one of the biggest developments is coming to Chance. Also, my architectural firm had been asked to come and look over the plans from the design firm to determine its feasibility. This was the job I had been hoping to get. Not only, was it bringing me back home to my parents, but it was going to be the recognition that I needed further the success of my business. When I was in high school, I was fascinated with the drafting classes. I was the only girl in those classes, which made me work even harder to prove to the guys that I could do anything that they could do. Holden and Seth had been in a few of the classes with me as well. The plan though was for me and Holden to leave town and get married. We had found this little place in the mountains we were going to buy and renovate on our own before we started a family. Oh how one night of betrayal had changed the course of my life.

When I got downstairs, Mama had breakfast ready. I had missed the homemade breakfasts she would cook for me and Daddy. Being on my own, I didn’t take the time to make a big breakfast. I never dated anyone seriously enough for them to stay over, let alone make them breakfast. It filled my heart with so much love being able to sit down with Daddy and Mama again. I remember the days before school that we would all be running around trying to get ready for work and school. The weekends were the best in our house, because we were able to sit down and talk to each other.

“So baby girl, are you ready for the big meeting that you are having today?” Daddy has always showed me how proud of me he is no matter what I am doing. When I first started working when I was sixteen he was a big supporter but also put conditions on me. He told me right from the start that if I didn’t keep my grades up, I would have to quit my job. That incentive of making that paycheck every week, helped me bring my grades up. He only had a sixth grade education but he was a very smart man. He made me want to work as hard as he always did. Daddy was never afraid to live life. Even cancer hadn’t completely stopped him from doing that.

“I sure am, Daddy. I hope they like my proposal for the changes that need to be made. I want to make sure this project is a success for the town. The success of the project will also help with my business as well, so I can afford to take care of you and Mama. I want the two of you to be able to retire and enjoy your lives without having to worry abut work.” I never wanted for anything growing up, but we didn’t have a lot of money. Daddy and Mama both worked but there were struggles financially. I had always promised myself, that if one day I could do it, I would make sure my parents would never have to work again or worry about money.

“Mayson, don’t worry about me and your Daddy. We are doing just fine. You need to worry about saving money and not spending it on the two of us.” Mama always tried to be sensible and was always saving money. That is not a bad thing, per se, but you also need to enjoy yourself once in a while. I understand that when i was younger, we couldn’t afford to take trips, but now it is time for them to enjoy all the years they have worked and enjoy traveling or whatever they want to do. “You need to worry about how Holden and Seth are going to feel when you walk in that board room this morning.” I almost dropped my fork when Mama said that.

“What do you mean when Holden and Seth walk into the room? What do they have to do with this project, Mama?” I saw Daddy just shaking his head out of the corner of my eye. “Daddy, did you know about this and didn’t tell me.” I knew the answer just by the look on his face. He knew about these two and didn’t say a word. “Mayson, I didn’t want to say anything because I knew you were already under enough pressure. You didn’t need to have anything else to work about.”

They still were not giving me the information that I was looking for. Why would Holden be involved in this project? “Would one of you mind telling me why Holden is going to be at this meeting. I just don’t understand why he is going to be there.” Mama was the first to speak up. “Holden and Seth started a design firm after they graduated from college. They decided to come back home afterwards and start their business here.” It kind of makes sense that the city board would pick a local design firm, but I don’t know how I missed that they were involved. I would have to go back through the paperwork, because now I am getting nervous. I haven’t seen Holden or Seth since I left after graduation and now I am going to have to face them. I had to keep my game face on, I couldn’t make a fool of myself in this meeting.