Blindfolded by Love

Regina's POV The town of Fairhollow wasn’t exactly dazzling and amazing in any sense, but it was charming and cute. Quiet streets wound past red brick-lined stores, a big ass water tank with a faded wolf mascot.om the body, and a fluffy snow-covered town square already hinting at the incoming winter even though it was barely October. I stared out the car window with my chin propped in my palm watching the rows of trees whoosh by. “Well,” I muttered. “It’s definitely a cute place." My mom let out a chuckle from the driver’s seat. “That’s the spirit sweetie. First impressions count.” I couldn't help but give her a side-eye. “Do mayoral stepdads count as first impressions too?” “Regina!” “I’m just saying!” We both laughed as we drove to the nicer part of town. We got to a big gate, and a gateman came and swiped a key card that my mom gave him. He nodded after confirming my identity, I presume, and opened the gate for us to drive through. "Thank you Fungus," My mom said, waving at the security guard. I couldn't help but raise a brow at that interaction. "Wow, see who's getting into her role as the mayor's wife." "It's not easy to learn and retain up to a thousand names but I'll definitely try." We turned into a long, sloped driveway leading to a cream and wine colored two-story house with perfectly trimmed hedges and a picket white fence. It was the kind of All American home you see in all these sitcoms. Standing in front was the mayor himself, Charles Delaney. I recognized him from the numerous video calls and pictures that my mom had forwarded to me. But he looked different in a good way.He wore jeans, a Fairhollow Wolves hoodie, probably for the school team, and a grin that crinkled the corners of his eyes. In most of his pictures he wore a formal suit that made him look stern. But in casual wear, he looked like any other dad. “Welcome home!” he called out, walking over to him with open arms. I could not help but be surprised. Wait, was the mayor? I had imagined someone stiffer, maybe with cufflinks and politician's eagle eyes. Not a bubbly man smiling, hugging me like a proud uncle. “You must be Regina. I’ve heard so much about you,” he said as he enveloped me in a surprisingly warm hug. “Your mom didn’t do you justice one bit. You’re taller than I expected. She called you a chipmunk." My mom let out a laugh as she picked up our luggage from the boot. " You are just being nice, Charles, she is a chipmunk. I mean look at those cheeks." "Don't mind your mother dear, you are very cute." He said as he pulled at my cheeks while grinning. I let out a nervous laugh. “Um, thank you ? I mean you are not as scary as I had expected either.” Mom shot me a warning look, but Charles just laughed it off. Before the warm fuzziness could settle, the front door slammed open, making everyone jump in fright. “Wow,” a cold voice rang out. "So this is what betrayal looks like. Nice to see a good example right at my front door." I looked forward to seeing who had spoken in such a bitter tone. Standing on the porch was a boy, no, a guy, around my age probably, with a lean frame, piercing blue eyes, and a deep scowl like someone had insulted his soul. He had the same jawline as Charles, and the same head shape, which meant this had to be... “Maxwell,” Charles said sternly, with a no-nonsense tone. I stepped closer to my mom instinctively as I watched the interaction. Maxwell’s eyes burned holes into us. “So, this is the mistress and her daughter. Great. What next? Are we bringing in a puppy too? How about some rats if you are feeling accommodating?” “Maxwell!” Charles roared. “Enough with your nonsense. " My heart started hammering in my chest. My mom’s hand brushed mine and I instantly took it into mine. But Maxwell wasn’t quite done. “You let her move into Mom’s house? You know what this makes you look like, right? She’s just here because you prefer women who play around with hockey sticks!” Charles stepped forward, his face flushed red in anger. “ You will not talk like that. Not to me. Not to them. This is your last warning. I won't repeat myself. " Maxwell scoffed, his eyes flicking at me. She looks like she’s never even seen a real puck, yet she is the daughter of a hockey coach? You should have come up with a much better excuse. I opened my mouth to counter his obviously ignorant words, but my mom just placed a calming hand on my shoulder, hinting at me to keep quiet. And so I did reluctantly. “Get out,” Charles snapped at him, pointing back inside the house. "I said,' Get out now!!" Maxwell glared at his father, nostrils flaring with anger and annoyance, then he spun on his heel and stormed back inside the house, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the porch light. I stood frozen in place. So much for charming town beginnings. What the hell just happened? Why was Maxwell so...angry? I mean, I understand if new people are scary, but he acted like I had killed his puppy. Charles stood with his hands covering his head, but I could still see his hands shaking in anger. My mom just had a stiff smile on her face and I could see that she was also bothered by what had happened, but she wouldn't say a thing. “ Oh well,” I said, finally breaking the silence. “First impressions definitely do count.”