“Me, get into trouble?”
“Do you want to force her out on the water to find out?”
Delia faltered, her mouth opening and closing. Mary could see her thinking about what to say in response. Then she heard Olivia calling.
“Come on, Mom! We’re ready to go! Just leave the bitch if she doesn’t want to join us. She’s going to get in the way.”
Delia pursed her lips, giving Mary a disapproving look. Then she turned away with a shake of her head and stomped back towards the group of girls. Mary didn’t look at them; she knew they would be sneering at her, as they had been since they arrived.
“I just need to help Chris get them onto the water.” The instructor touched Mary’s arm, and she almost jumped at the sudden feel of his warm fingers. “Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll join you in a moment?”
“You’re not going out with them?”
“Chris can handle them on his own. We need someone on land, anyway, just in case.” He gave her a smile. “I won’t be long.”
That smile left Mary breathless. Wow. She had thought Cody was handsome, but this man was something else. She had never had such a reaction to a guy before she had known their name.
Her legs still feeling a little wobbly, Mary went to a flat rock and sat down, putting the life preserve on the sand and crossing her legs. She should go back to the cabin and waited there, but Delia had the key. She had been adamant that Mary was not going to be in the cabin on her own.
If only she had been firm enough to say she would drive on her own. However, her mother had other ideas, and she had driven them both down. Mary had to share the cabin with Delia, go around with her and, essentially, do as she was told.
This made her wish that she had a backbone. Her father did say that was her biggest flaw, that she wasn’t able to stand up for herself. He did try, but when he lived in another state, it was easier said than done.
She was thirty-five, and she still couldn’t stand up for herself. Mary knew that was wrong, but she couldn’t help it. After the last couple of weeks, she didn’t really have much energy to fight, either.
Just one day, and then she could leave. Her mother didn’t know, and Mary was content with leaving her in the dark. They would have a better weekend at Mountain Ridge without her hanging around.
“Are you okay now?”
Mary jumped and looked up. He was standing over her, watching her with a slight frown. It was then Mary realized that the girls were out on the water, two to a canoe, and splashing each other with the paddles. The other instructor was out with them, moving his canoe through the water easily as he managed to somewhat tame them.
“Are you sure he’s going to be okay on his own? They are quite a handful.”
“Chris has handled worse. This isn’t the first time we’ve dealt with a bachelorette party.” He settled on the sand by the rock and crossed his legs at the ankle. “They’re going to head around the lake and come back. He’ll radio if he needs help.”
“I see.”
“If you want, I can radio for someone to come and walk you back to your cabin.” he peered at her. “You’re still rather pale.”
“Mom has the only key. She won’t let me in it without her.”
“Seriously?”
“I’m afraid so.” Mary winced. “This makes me sound like a doormat, doesn’t it?”
“I’m more confused as to why a grown woman is being treated like this.”
“It…it’s embarrassing.”
“Well, I’ve got time.” He shifted to look at her. “My name’s Max.”
Mary bit her lip.
“Mary.”
“So, Mary, what’s going on here? Why is your mother treating you like you’re not wanted here?”
“Because this wasn’t meant to happen.” Mary took a deep breath. “This was meant to be my bachelorette party. But my sister hijacked it after stealing my fiance.”