Maggie's Mountain by Mya Barrett Page B

didn’t want to analyze why.

Chapter Eight
    Hale tucked into his pancakes with gusto, reminding himself every few bites to chew instead of inhale. He’d practically jumped out of bed this morning, rushing through his shower, grabbing clothes and tossing them on, barely checking his steps as he’d hurried downstairs. He’d beat his brother and mother to the table, which he considered a good thing. He wasn’t up for questions this morning, and he wanted to be out of the house as early as possible.
    Just as he was congratulating himself for avoiding his family they strolled in, Trent bringing a crooked smile, his mother a cloud of Chanel perfume. Hale tried not to growl in frustration as his brother helped himself to the food on the buffet table.
    “I see you’re staying home today.” Cordelia gave his jeans and dark T-shirt a critical once over as she sank into the chair beside him. “I’m glad to know you’ll be using your time wisely.”
    Hale raised an eyebrow. “Wisely, mother?”
    “I assume you’re going over the recommendations for the Amelia Island Resort. You have a conference call with them tomorrow, don’t you? I have to say, I particularly like the idea of adding a dinner theatre.” She ignored his narrowed gaze and delicately stirred cream into her cup. “I’m not sure about the new manager, though; she seems awfully young.”
    The pancakes became hard cement in his belly. “Mother, I’ll deal with the resort. Don’t you have a restaurant on the island? As I recall, they were asking you about expansion and redecorating.”
    She stopped then, long enough to send him a sharp look. “What exactly are you insinuating?”
    Trent plopped down on the other side of Hale, sliding his plate onto the polished wood of the tabletop. “I don’t think he’s insinuating anything. I think he’s telling.”
    He sent his little brother a scathing stare. “Don’t you have someplace to be?”
    “Not until I finish my breakfast.” He smiled brightly and reached for the juice.
    “You are too defensive, Hale. I was simply saying it’s good to see you buckling down.”
    Hale laid his fork aside with deliberate care. “And what have I been doing up until now? Playing?”
    Cordelia gave a long suffering sigh. “I am perfectly aware you have been going over paperwork and glad handing over the phone. But I also know how hard it is for you to…settle in. You haven’t always wanted to be in charge of Warrick Holdings, Hale, we all know that. Have you forgotten that little folly of yours, when you decided you wanted to be a veterinarian?”
    “I was twelve, mother. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was five and a rock star when I was fifteen.”
    Trent chuckled as he pointed his fork at Hale. “Remember when you wanted to be a Formula One racecar driver? What were you, seventeen? And driving like a maniac.”
    “You aren’t helping,” Hale muttered from the side of his mouth.
    Trent shrugged and shoveled in a mouthful of eggs. He continued to grin like a fool, knowing full well he was stirring the pot.
    Cordelia took a long sip of her coffee as she watched Hale with suspicious eyes. “If you aren’t planning to work at home today, may I ask exactly what it is you’re doing?”
    He could avoid answering; he could tell her it was none of her business. But the truth would come out soon enough, especially considering the town's notorious fence gossipers. Preparing for an argument, Hale braced his shoulders, sat back, and crossed his arms over his chest.
    “I’m going over to help Maggie Cooper—I mean Brannon—”
    His mother became completely still as her gaze widened and lit with fire. “Are you really going to do this to me?”
    Hale tried not to snarl at his mother’s reaction. He understood her anger was rooted in both embarrassment and pain, but to show her pity would hurt her pride even more. As much as he didn’t want to dig at the scar his father and Rebecca Cooper had made, he wasn’t