Daphne ran her fingers through her long black hair, letting out a heavy sigh. If I take a lunch break today, I’m screwed. I probably won’t get all of this done today even if I skip lunch.

  She chewed on the inside of her lower lip, looking at Asher’s out of office status on the instant messenger. If only Asher was here today and not having to travel for the stupid project we have together. I’ve already offloaded a few things to Holly and Landon. It probably would have been easier if Asher had been able to take some too.

  How did I ever survive this before? She was doing everything she could to keep herself focused on the work in front of her. No wonder I was completely miserable and alone.

  She worked, without paying much attention to the clock, and before she knew it, she was looking at her computer clock and noticing that it was a quarter to noon. She glanced over her to-do list for the day. She’d barely put a dent in it despite her best, ongoing efforts.

  Her stomach rumbled, telling her she absolutely needed to eat. She shook her head at it. I don’t have time to eat. At this rate, I’m going to be here until eight this evening. Daphne sighed. Maggie’s words about the number of extra hours she was working in a week echoed in her mind.

  I’ll just skip lunch and finish up the majority of these small little tasks that shouldn’t take me too long. She felt her heart clench and tighten as she looked over the sheer number of little, quick, small tasks she had to get done. I’ll probably have to keep working on some of these during my meetings.

  Daphne heard some snickering in the cubicle next to her, and glance over and noticed that Rose, Landon’s now ex-girlfriend, was sitting in the cubicle whispering to Fiona. It took all of Daphne’s power not to roll her eyes at them. How awkward for Landon. He broke up with her and she keeps showing up at his workplace.

  A couple of minutes later, she heard a bunch of commotion starting near the elevator. A lot of gasps and excited noises, as well as a few claps. Do these people not understand that this is supposed to be a workplace? She rubbed her forehead, trying to think of the way to word the next sentence of the email she was writing. She glanced down at the clock and saw that it was three minutes to noon. I guess it’s at least almost lunchtime.

  Whatever seemed to have caused the excitement was creating a ripple through the office. Daphne let out a sigh, wishing she had remembered to grab her noise cancelling earbuds that morning. I hope whatever it is, it doesn’t cause a stir for too long. She hit send on the email and crossed it off her to-do list.

  She felt a finger tap on her shoulder and stiffened at the contact. Who…?

  “Daphne,” Kimberly Woods’ voice said behind her.

  A shiver ran down Daphne’s spine. What the fuck is she doing here? She had to force herself to have an impassive face. Son of a…! Were those people gasping at my mother walking through the office?

  Daphne swallowed hard. Even though she’d hated that Gary had recognized her as Kimberly Woods’ daughter, Daphne hadn’t been able to blame him for it. Her mother had done everything in her power to ensure the whole city would recognize her, and her “perfect family,” children and all. Recognition had been everywhere they went.

  Daphne squeezed her eyes shut, wishing the floor would just swallow her up. She opened her eyes and noticed that there were several people staring in her direction. All of the people in the office were people she had hoped would never know that she was her mother’s daughter. Every time she had lied and told her coworkers that she wasn’t related to Kimberly, Daphne had justified it by saying she wanted to be treated fairly by her peers. All of that was crumbling to dust in front of her eyes at that very moment.

  Daphne felt her stomach drop. Being involved with my mother is an enormous mistake. How could I have forgotten? All I’ve wanted is to live with some kind of level of anonymity.

  She felt her mother’s finger tap on her shoulder again. “Daphne?” Kimberly asked, her voice ultra motherly and concerned.

  She really is putting the honey in her act for all of these people to see, isn’t she? Daphne bit her tongue. I have no choice but to respond.

  Daphne plastered a bright smile on her face, doing everything she could to stamp out the sinking feeling. She turned around.

  “Oh, Mom!” she exclaimed. “What a surprise! I didn’t expect you to come visit me at work!”

  I specifically warned you against visiting me at work when I got this job, she added silently. Internally, she was fighting hard to keep the lid on her contempt. Of course, you wouldn’t remember that I said that, or respect my wishes, though.

  Her mother looked visibly relieved and then overjoyed at her daughter’s response to her presence. Daphne had to hold back a grimace, and her smile twitched in the process.

  “Aren’t you surprised?” Kimberly asked, a bright grin on her face. “I thought you might be excited to have your mother visit you at work after our heart-to-heart last night!”

  Daphne’s ears started ringing as she was aware of the number of eyes on her. She gulped, knowing a single mistake could result in social suicide. Heart-to-heart? She held back a cringe. Last night was anything but a heart-to-heart.

  “I am excited to see you,” Daphne replied. “Though, admittedly, I would have appreciated a heads up about your visit. I have a really busy day today.” The corners of Daphne’s smile were starting to tug downwards, and she fought with them, doing her best to keep the smile plastered onto her face. She could hardly think from the effort it took.

  “Are you too busy to have lunch with your mother?” Kimberly asked, pouting, and appearing to be doing her best to look cute and sad simultaneously.

  Daphne glanced back at her to-do list. I’m too busy to even go get lunch by myself! Let alone go and get lunch with someone I’d rather not spend time with!

  Daphne looked back at her mother, and saw the look of disappointment beginning to cloud her mother’s face and eyes. Still, Daphne could feel the attention of her co-workers focused on the exchange between her and her mother. There are too many eyes. If I reject her right here, right now, I’m going to have the reputation of a horrible daughter who rejected her famous, angelic, mother.

  She bit down hard on the inside of her cheeks, tasting a bit of blood. “No, I’m never too busy for my mother,” Daphne lied, swallowing bile at the words that came out.

  A grin blossomed across her mother’s face. “Oh, I’m so excited!” she squealed, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “I found so many good restaurants around her that I’m excited to show you!”

  “Let me see what I have this afternoon,” Daphne said, turning back to her computer and looking at her schedule. She prayed that she’d have an after lunch meeting just so she could get away from her mother. She did, in fact, have a meeting right after lunch. “I have to be back before one for a meeting,” Daphne said, turning back to her mother.

  “Well, that’s no fun!” her mother exclaimed. “Is there any chance you can postpone it?”

  Of course, this woman who lived as a parasite off my dad for decades and never held a real job in her life would ask such a worthless question. Daphne had to fight back a scowl.

  “Unfortunately, I cannot,” Daphne replied firmly.

  Kimberly sighed, annoyed. “Well, I guess we better hurry then,” she said.

  “Guess so,” Daphne replied, turning back to lock her work computer. As she did, she noticed a message from Holly coming through.

  Holy shit!! Your mom is Kimberly Woods?!

  The pit that had been forming in Daphne’s stomach grew at seeing her friend’s message. I’ll have to deal with the fallout from this later. She donned her jacket. For now, I just have to focus on surviving through this lunch.

  Her mother gestured for Daphne to follow her, and Daphne did.

  ~

  Everywhere she goes, someone recognizes her. Daphne saw the stars in the server’s eyes as they put down food in front of both her and her mother. She really proved Dad wrong. Daphne started cutting into her baked potato. Apparently, gardeners can be really famous.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Even just a quick glance around the restaurant revealed people who were paying attention to them or sneakily taking pictures of her mother. I know she put in the work in this community to be recognizable, but this has gone beyond even that. Even the hostess who sat us down knew my mother’s name.

  Daphne chewed her food. I had forgotten about this one aspect of going out anywhere with her. Things really changed when she made national news. Daphne shook her head. And Mom usually wants to go out as a whole family, and Cy’s business being successful makes him even more recognizable than Mom.

  Daphne’s stomach rolled around uncomfortably as she met her mother’s bright blue eyes. I always feel so small around my family.

  “So, Daphne,” her mother said after delicately swallowing a spoonful of soup. Despite the fact that they had walked to the restaurant, her mother’s hair was perfect and sleek, just as it always was.

  “Yes?” Daphne asked.

  “Do you enjoy working your job? It seems very constraining and…rigid.”

  Daphne fought the urge to roll her eyes and instead looked at her sandwich. “I do enjoy it,” Daphne replied. “The money is good, and the work is fairly easy. I don’t mind the constraints so much.” She took a bite of her sandwich.

  “I’m surprised,” Kimberly replied, her bright eyes widening. “I figured you would hate that kind of thing.”

  That’s because you hate that kind of thing. Daphne swallowed and ran a napkin over her lips.

  “It’s not so bad,” Daphne replied. “But I have been thinking about finding a new job lately to see if I can find one that doesn’t overload me.”

  Kimberly’s eyes sparkled at the information.

  Maybe I shouldn’t have added that last bit.

  “Do you need any help finding a new job?” Kimberly asked her. “Do you want me to ask around and see if Cy or any of my friends has a position or could make a position for you?”

  Daphne waved her hands at her mother’s comment. “No, that’s perfectly fine, I don’t need anything like that,” Daphne replied. “I’m still only thinking about it so I’m not really sure what I’m going to do yet or not.” She forced a smile at her mother. Kimberly was nearly smirking at her daughter.

  The last thing I want is to owe this woman anything. I don’t need to feel more obligated than I already do.

  “Alright,” Kimberly consented. “But if you end up deciding that you do want to change jobs, let me know. I am happy to help you find something.”

  “Thank you,” Daphne said with a small nod. “I’ll let you know if I need help.”

  Which I’ll never need from you, she added silently.

  Kimberly sighed, smiling and stabbing her food with her fork. “So, what else is new in your life since we last caught up?” she asked. “It’s been so long, I’m sure things have changed quite a bit.”

  Daphne knew her mother was correct. The last time they had really talked was two years ago at her father’s funeral. At that time, Daphne had been working the same job, living in the same apartment, and single. Daphne and her mother’s relationship had barely been hanging on by a thread in the days leading up to her father’s funeral, and the thread had snapped as soon as Daphne had been admonished about bringing the wrong flowers, and how her mother had behaved for the duration of the funeral. Her mother hadn’t even cried throughout the entire service, which Daphne had known was a testament to how terrible her parents relationship had been in those last days of her father’s life.

  It's funny how it’s been so long that, ultimately, nothing has changed at all.

  “There’s nothing,” Daphne answered, pursing her lips.

  Kimberly gave Daphne a dirty look. “Don’t lie to me,” she said. “Surely things have changed since then.”

  “They have,” Daphne agreed with a nod. “But they also came full circle. So in the end, there is nothing new.”

  Kimberly tsked at her daughter. “So you mean to tell me that you’re not in a serious relationship yet?” she asked.

  Daphne’s heart sank. This is not something I want to talk about with my mother.

  “I’m not,” Daphne confirmed, pressing her lips into a fine line.

  Kimberly sighed, her features filled with disappointment in her daughter. “Why not?” she asked. “You’re already twenty-six years old.”

  Daphne flinched. Though she was willing to give her mother the benefit of the doubt and assume that Kimberly’s words were not intended to sting, they did, nonetheless.

  “Do you know how hard it is to find a quality man?” Daphne shot back, unable to cover up her annoyance.

  Her mother cocked her head to the side and narrowed her eyes. “That’s because most of them found a woman when they were Oliver’s age,” she replied sharply.

  The words smarted, even a bit more than her mother’s previous words. There might be a granule of truth to her statement. Even Landon is younger than me.

  “I was dealing with the death of my father when I was Ollie’s age,” Daphne replied sharply, gritting her teeth.

  She probably won’t give two shits about how much I suffered through that.

  Kimberly shrugged, nonchalant about Daphne’s comment while Daphne’s hands curled up into fists. “I can ask around to my friends who have sons,” Kimberly said with a bit of a smirky smile on her face. “And see if I could find you a blind date.”

  Daphne’s skin crawled. She knew a couple of her mother’s friend’s sons. They weren’t exactly serious relationship material, let alone future marriage material.

  I don’t want to owe her for any reason. She studied her mother’s face closely. And she’s trying to find any possible way to worm her way back into my life, isn’t she?

  “I’m alright,” Daphne replied, pulling herself back together. She pulled back in her chair, doing her best to force her body language to come off as less defensive. “I don’t need your help.”

  “You sure don’t seem to like help at all,” Kimberly replied, her smile contorting a bit into a sneer. “If you don’t accept help from your own family, who do you expect to be able to rely on?”

  Daphne nearly laughed out loud. Asher, Landon and Holly came to mind, all whom she was learning how to ask for help from. “I have people I can trust,” Daphne replied firmly.

  Daphne picked up her water glass and took a drink. “I just hope you find someone before you’re old and fat,” Kimberly replied, rolling her eyes at Daphne.

  What the fuck? Daphne finished swallowing the water she had drank from her glass. Much to her chagrin, she started choking on the last bit of it.

  Coughing, Daphne stood to leave. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior from her. She cleared her throat. She really never changes does she?

  “Are you leaving?” Kimberly asked, as Daphne started smacking her sternum. “Just because I made that one comment?”

  “Yes,” Daphne croaked with a nod.

  “Don’t!” Kimberly said, reaching up and grabbing the sleeve of Daphne’s jacket. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. It was rude of me.”

  More than just rude. Daphne could feel the eyes on them and the spectacle she and her mother were creating in the restaurant.

  “I won’t say anything like that ever again,” Kimberly pleaded.

  Liar.

  “Please don’t go,” her mother continued, sounding more desperate than Daphne thought she actually was.

  No matter what I do, this situation plays into her hands. If I leave, she’s the sympathetic mother whose daughter hates her, and if I stay, she’s a good mother who knows how to apologize to her children.

  Slowly, Daphne lowered herself into her seat. “Thank you for staying,” Kimberly said, her tone mildly disappointed.

  Daphne cleared her throat. “What about you?” she asked, her voice scratchy. “What has changed for you in the past couple of years?”

  “Well, right now I’m working on pricing out about how much it would cost me to build a greenhouse in the side yard,” Kimberly replied, her eyes glazing over as if she was looking off into the distance. “It’s almost winter, the worst season for gardening. It’s almost unbearable these days, because I have so little to do.” She chuckled a little. “Gardening is my whole life now, and the winter months are especially horrible because of that.”

  Daphne nodded. Mother did always hope that someday she’d be able to afford a greenhouse. I just always assumed it would be my dad who built it for her.

  “What about a new boyfriend?” Daphne asked, recalling her conversation with Maggie about how Viola had seen their mother with a man in their house.

  I suppose it could be the person who is going to help her build the greenhouse. Viola is only a kid after all…

  “Oh, heavens no,” Kimberly replied, off to the side and not meeting Daphne’s eyes. Kimberly chewed on her lower lip. “I could never replace your dad.”

  She’s lying! Every part of Daphne screamed. She only bites her lip when she’s hiding something. What is going on here?

  “What about Viola?” Daphne asked. “How is she doing?”

  Kimberly gave Daphne another dirty look. “Viola is doing fantastic!” she exclaimed. “So well that she just came in first place in a local art contest.”

  “Oh wow! That’s incredible!” Daphne replied, clasping her hands together.

  “And Magnolia seems to be under the impression that Viola is doing much worse than she actually is,” Kimberly said with a haughty sniff. “You know what she told me the other day?” she asked. “She said that Viola is seriously depressed and needs professional help. Ha!” Kimberly let out a sarcastic laugh. “My little angel has hardly ever been better. One of her other pieces of artwork is going to be competing in a state level competition. It is only a matter of time before Viola is winning national level competitions. And Magnolia has the nerve to suggest she’s depressed.”

  Daphne felt her eyes go wide. I guess Maggie no longer had a choice and had to tell Mother about Viola’s therapy. It does not sound like it went well.

  “I don’t know where Magnolia got this inane idea that Viola is unhappy,” Kimberly continued, sighing and rubbing her forehead. “I thought I had raised her better than this, but it appears she’s fallen into delusions, regardless.”

  Daphne swallowed hard. She really hasn’t changed at all. I don’t want to be a part of this conversation that is only going to find a way to bite me in the ass in the future.

  Daphne looked down at the watch on her wrist, trying to be discreet while her mother prattled on about her older sister.

  Thank God. Daphne’s body loosened upon seeing the time Saved by the bell.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Daphne said, talking over mother a bit. Kimberly scowled, but it didn’t seem to be too grave of an offense. “I actually have to get back to the office for my meeting,” Daphne said.

  “Oh, that’s right!” Kimberly replied, clasping her hands together. “You should definitely get going then.” She was smiling pleasantly now, which released some of the tension in Daphne’s chest.

  “Thank you for lunch,” Daphne said, standing up and putting on her coat.

  “Oh, it was my pleasure,” Kimberly replied, her grin, somehow brightening further. “I hope we’ll get to do more of this in the future.”

  “I hope so, too,” Daphne lied. She grabbed her purse.

  “Don’t worry about the bill, sweetheart. I’ll pay for it.”

  “Thanks,” Daphne replied, feeling her guts twist around.

  “See you at dinner on Saturday.”

  “See you then,” Daphne replied, forcing a smile. She turned to exit through the restaurant’s door, whipping out her phone as she walked.

  Hey, she texted Maggie. Just wanted to let you know that Mom’s talking crap about you with the whole Viola situation.

  A few moments later, Maggie had texted her back. Thanks for the heads up, she’d said.