Demanding All Of You

by Ali Parker

  I nodded, not sure how much I was supposed to pay him for something like that. Maybe two six-packs? “Sounds good.”

  “Are you alone?” he asked, looking around.

  “I am,” I answered. “I always am.”

  He winced. “Well, hell, that sounds like you aren’t happy about that.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know that I’m not happy. It’s just taking a little getting used to. I’m used to noise and chaos. I’m used to being surrounded by people all day. I’m used to people talking to me, referring to me for what to do next. Here, it’s just me. I’m it. If something needs doing, it’s up to me to do it. It’s an adjustment.”

  He nodded. “Where is Alex? I haven’t seen her around lately.”

  “She’s gone.”

  “Gone?” he asked, adjusting the hat on his head.

  “She took a job in Wyoming from what I understand.”

  “Oh,” he said, slowly nodding. “That one is always on the move.”

  “How long have you known her?” I asked, curious to learn more about her.

  He shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t know. A few years, maybe more.”

  “And she often gets up and leaves town?”

  He chuckled. “Always. She’s always moving. It’s like she’s afraid she’s going to collect dust if she stays put for too long.”

  Together, we slowly walked toward the mower. I didn’t have anything all that pressing to do and wanted to hear more about Alex. I was a starving man desperate for even the tiniest nugget of information.

  “How long was she out here?” I asked. “I got the impression she’d been around longer than usual.”

  “That’s true,” he answered. “She was here for a couple of months. She and your granddad really hit it off. I often wondered if they had a little something going on. You know, like one of those May-December things. She was always hanging around and old Oliver was always smiling.”

  I scoffed. “There is no way there was something going on between them.”

  He chuckled. “I don’t know about that. There was something, but maybe it was platonic. They had a bond. Anyone could see it. Oliver really cared for her and it was pretty clear she liked him. Alex doesn’t like a lot of people, but she liked him.”

  I nodded in agreement. I had gathered that as well about her. It was just something about the way she carried herself, like she was wrapped in an invisible forcefield and everyone was kept three feet away at all times.

  “My grandfather was a discerning man. If he liked her, she must be good people.”

  “She’s good people,” Justin confirmed. “I can’t say I’ve had a lot of dealings with her, but we’ve talked. I tried to get her to go out on a date with me, but she shut me down.”

  I laughed. “I bet she did. Is she the dating type?”

  “Not that I’ve ever seen. I think the men around here are afraid of that one. She’s got a fighting spirit, and no one dares to see how tough she really is. She can be a little prickly, if you know what I mean.”

  I felt a sense of possessiveness. A sense of pride. Like I could strut around the farm like a proud rooster. I had seen her soft side. I had felt her passion. I knew she wasn’t truly prickly. She had been hot as hell that day in the barn. Her kisses were soft and hard at the same time. Her body liquid fire. Prickly was not the term I would use to describe her.

  I shut off that line of thinking before I embarrassed myself in front of him. “I definitely know what you mean. My son took to her pretty quick and she was very patient and kind to him.”

  “Oh hell, Alex has a soft side. I wouldn’t go spreading that around. She’ll probably kick your ass if she finds out you’re softening her image.”

  I grinned, imagining her doing just that. “You better not tell anyone else.”

  We both stood in the shade of one of the outbuildings. Justin’s eyes scanned the area. “I thought this would be hers.”

  “What?” I asked.

  He sighed and turned to face me. “I thought for sure the old man left all this to her. Like I said, they were pretty tight the last few weeks he was around. At first, I was a little pissed at her and let her know I didn’t appreciate her using him.”

  “Using him? What the hell are you talking about?”

  “She wasn’t, but I didn’t know that at first. I thought she was a pretty young lady flirting with an old man, trying to sink her claws in him. She and I had a real heart to heart one day. She made it very clear that wasn’t the case. I was only looking out for the old man. I believed her. Alex isn’t after anyone’s money or land. She was doing her job. Oliver liked her, but I think it was more of like a fondness, like the way a grandfather loves his granddaughter.”

  I slowly nodded. That was the impression I had gotten from her as well. “I think you’re right. He was lonely and dying. I wasn’t here. He needed someone.”

  “Hell, truthfully, I thought she’d get it all.”

  “The farm?”

  He nodded. “Yes. She worked out here a lot. I’d come by to check on Oliver and she would be here. Oliver always talked very highly of her. Talked about how well she did with the farm and that one day, she deserved to have a spread like this one.”

  That was news to me. “Did she think she was getting the farm?” I asked.

  It would certainly explain her immediate dislike of me. Maybe she resented me. Maybe the sex and pretending to like me and Oliver had been fake. She wanted the farm, not the man. I started to rethink everything I had come to know about her, replaying every meeting with her.

  “I don’t think she thought that at all. From what I hear, she kind of got stuck with the place. She was asking around about the new foreman Oliver hired before his death. No one knew anything about it. She turned down a job to stick around and watch the farm until the new guy showed up. I’m guessing you were the new guy.”

  I nodded. “Yep. That’s me.”

  “I’m not trying to be a dick, but why are you here?” he asked. It was blunt and to the point, something I found to be very common with folks around town.

  I chuckled. “I’m here because my grandfather left me the farm.”

  “But why did you come? Couldn’t you have just sold it from there?”

  “I could have, but there’s a bit more to it than that,” I said, wondering how much I should tell him. He seemed like a trustworthy guy and I needed a sounding board. I needed someone to tell me I was doing the right thing. With Alex gone and the full gravity of the situation weighing down on me, I was rethinking all of it.

  “You feel an attachment to the place?”

  I shrugged. “I did grow up here. People seem to think I was spawned in the city, but I lived here up until I graduated high school.”

  “But is this what you want for your life? You don’t seem like you’re really digging the idea.”

  I cleared my throat. “I’m working up to it. It’s a big change. I worked in an office back in New York. My life was very, very different. It’s an adjustment.”

  He studied me. I got the feeling he could see I was holding back. “Are you holding on to the farm because it has sentimental value?”

  “I need to stay here for at least six months,” I confessed. “The farm does have sentimental value, but there’s more to it. I wanted to be here to try and spend more time with my son. I wanted to be here to try and reconnect to my past.”

  “That sounds like a very specific amount of time. What happens in six months? You turn into a pumpkin?”

  “No, I win or lose my inheritance,” I said.

  He gave me a peculiar look. “I don’t get it.”

  “In order to receive my inheritance, I have to live on the farm for six months.”

  I saw the look on his face. I felt about two inches tall. I sounded like a money-grabbing jerk. “Oh,” he said.

  “It isn’t like that,” I quickly corrected. “I wanted to be here. I wanted to show my son the farm. I didn’t come here only to get the inheritan
ce. This was something I needed in my life. I needed to find out if I was making the right choices back in New York. Being able to slow down and reconnect with my son has been incredible.”

  He held up a hand. “It is none of my business. This farm, the inheritance, and all that. That’s between you and your granddad.”

  “I like it here,” I told him.

  “Good. It’s a nice place but I don’t know what you’re comparing it to.”

  “I’m not necessarily comparing it to anything,” I argued.

  He smirked. “Aren’t you? Isn’t that what you’re doing here?”

  “Yes and no. I had to come home and take care of his things regardless. He left me the farm. I’m not going to let it fall apart or let all his things sit and collect dust. Coming back was something I planned to do, regardless of the inheritance.”

  He shrugged. “All right, then. I’m not judging you. Relax.”

  I realized I had gone on the defensive. I was defensive because in the back of my mind I did feel guilty. I did feel like a guy showing up after thirteen years with his hand out. “I’m going to try to make a go of this,” I insisted.

  “You know, did you ever wonder if your grandfather set all this up?”

  “Set what up? The will? Of course, he did.”

  “I mean, him requiring you to live here for six months in order to get the inheritance. What if it was his master plan?”

  I laughed. “Now that wouldn’t surprise me. I know he wanted me here. I am pretty sure that’s exactly what he was doing.”

  “What if Alex was a part of that plan?”

  I shook my head. “How so? You think she knew I had to live here for six months?”

  “No. I mean, maybe this is a setup. Your grandpa was giving you a little nudge in the right direction. Maybe, just maybe, Alex is part of your inheritance.”

  I burst into laughter. “I wouldn’t put it past him, but I don’t think so. Besides, if that was the case, his plan already failed. She’s gone. She isn’t coming back.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” he said with a grin. “Fate is fickle. Things happen when you’re least expecting it.”

  I wasn’t going to completely disagree with him on the fate thing, but I was fairly certain Alex had been a perk and not part of a master plan.

  Chapter 28

  Alex

  I looked around the bedroom in Wayne’s house, making sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. I checked under the bed, looking for any stray socks. It had been exhausting, being on the farm, but I felt confident the place was back on track. Wayne could handle things going forward. Wayne and the team I insisted he hire. The man was going to work himself into an early grave. Although he was convinced it wouldn’t be early at all.

  I had gotten the sense the man was lonely. More than just lonely. He had essentially given up. He was tired and weary. He missed his wife and was convinced that she was in heaven waiting for him. I couldn’t begin to understand what he felt. I had never felt that kind of love. He didn’t want to live without his wife. It was sad and sweet at the same time.

  During my time with Wayne, he had regaled me with stories about her. I felt like I knew her. I almost wished I did. Hearing about his great love had made me think about my own life. I had a feeling that was his intention. The man was a meddler. In many ways, he reminded me of Oliver, except Oliver didn’t wax poetic about finding a great love.

  Confident I had left nothing in the room, I zipped my bag and walked out. I carried my bag into the living room where Wayne was waiting for me. He got up from the chair he’d been resting in. I could see how tired he was. I was hoping my departure would allow him to get some needed rest. He’d been trying to keep up with me and I worried I would be the one that sent him to that early grave.

  “I’m sorry to see you go,” he said, a hint of sadness in his voice.

  I smiled. “I’m sorry to leave, but I have to get back home.”

  “You sure there’s nothing I can say to change your mind?”

  He was making me feel bad. “I don’t think so. I do have a house that is probably stinky and covered in an inch of dust.”

  “But you’re renting,” he reminded me. “You could leave it as is and come here. I would pay the cleaning deposit you lose by leaving the house in rough shape.”

  I laughed. “Rough shape is a very kind way to put it. I appreciate the offer, but I need to get back.”

  He offered a sad smile. “I understand. I can’t thank you enough for all that you did.”

  “It was my pleasure. I learned a lot working here. It wasn’t only about farming. I learned a lot from you. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with me. You’re a good man, Wayne.”

  He chuckled softly. “When you’ve been on this earth for as long as I have, you pick up a thing or two. I’m happy to have been of some help to you. I hope you’ll give that young man a call. I’d love to claim the credit for making a love connection.”

  I had to laugh. “You’re smooth, but not that smooth. A love connection isn’t going to happen but thank you for trying.”

  “Don’t be so quick to dismiss the idea,” he warned.

  “You take care of yourself. You let those big, burly, young men handle the work. You only need to check in from time to time. They know their jobs and you have a solid foreman out there. I trust him. I’ve worked with him for the past week and I’m confident he will be great.”

  He slowly nodded. “I trust your instincts.”

  I gave him a quick hug. “I’ll keep in touch,” I promised.

  He handed me a check. “Here’s your last check.”

  I took it and glanced down at the figure in the box. “Wayne! No! This is double what you owe me!”

  He chuckled. “Consider it a bonus for doing such a great job and putting up with an old coot to boot. I want to keep in your good graces, just in case I need you again.”

  “I didn’t put up with anything. You are in my good graces. You don’t have to pay me to be in my good graces. I consider you a friend. A cherished friend.”

  His smile warmed my heart. “I consider you my friend as well.”

  “Good. I will keep in touch. I’ll check in with the foreman as well. He has my number and I told him he could call me if he had any problems.”

  “Alex, I know you have a home and you like the idea of roaming, but I’d like to offer you something.”

  “What would that be?” I asked.

  “My farm.”

  “What! Your farm? You want to offer me your farm?” I was blown away. I had to have jumped to the wrong conclusion.

  He chuckled. “Yes. I want to offer you my farm.”

  “No! This is your farm!”

  He slowly shook his head. “I’m not going to live forever. I don’t want to either. I’ve lived a long, full life. Please don’t think I am to be pitied. I have nobody to pass it on to. You have shown your love for the land and your ability to whip this place into shape. I can rest easy knowing it’s in good hands.”

  “Wayne, that is very sweet, but I can’t take this from you. This is your home. Your family’s legacy. You are a very kind, generous man but I cannot accept something like this. It’s too much.”

  He shrugged. “I’m it for the family. I’m my family legacy. There isn’t anyone else to carry it on. When I die, this place will be sold. I imagine it will be sold off in little pieces. Few people truly understand what it means to have a place like this. You are one of the few. You respect the farm and that isn’t something I could ever pay anyone to do. It has to come from within. You are the kind of person who takes great pride in what you do. I like that. It gives me assurance you’re not in it for a quick buck.”

  “I appreciate the offer—”

  “Before you completely shut it down, take some time to think about it. You don’t have to make a decision right now.”

  I didn’t want to reject such a special gift. I couldn’t possibly accept, but I would let him have the satisfaction
of me waiting a few days before I politely turned down his offer. “I will think about it,” I told him.

  “Thank you. Drive safe.”

  “I will do that. Take care of yourself Wayne and let those guys do the heavy lifting.”

  He smiled before giving me a wink. “I have no intention of working too hard. Think about my offer. I won’t put an expiration date on it, but God might have an expiration date on me.”

  “I will think about it. Goodbye.”

  I gave him a last hug before heading out to my truck. I was looking forward to sleeping in my own bed. I was not looking forward to the long drive to get there. I was hoping to do it all in one day again. It seemed silly to drive six hours, get a hotel, and then drive another four. It would make for a long, boring day, but I would be home by tonight.

  I got in the truck, rolled down the window, and popped my arm out to wave as I headed down the road. I could see Wayne in my rearview mirror, waving goodbye. I was going to miss the guy. He had a very quiet wisdom about him that I genuinely appreciated. His offer was generous, but I couldn’t possibly accept something so extravagant. I hoped it wouldn’t offend him too badly.

  I stopped at a gas station outside of town, filled the tank, and loaded up on snacks and several bottles of water. I grabbed a few energy drinks for good measure. The road trip would be long, and I was already dreading all the time I would have to think. I liked to keep everything tucked away. I would be forced to think about Damion and little Oliver. I had missed them. I had missed them far more than I wanted to.

  I had hoped that with some time away, I would eventually forget all about them. He seemed to have forgotten about me. I had heard nothing from him. Not a text to say hi or anything. Clearly, I had read way more into the situation than what it truly was.

  It was nearly ten hours later when it happened. I almost cried with frustration when I felt the telltale sign of a flat tire. “No, dammit,” I groaned.

  I was so tired. I was so close to home. I was within ten miles of home, which was great and terrible at the same time. It wasn’t like I could call Triple A. I either had to change the damn thing myself, assuming I had all that I needed, or walk home.