by L. Wilder
I got off my bike and headed towards her. Looking at the baby in her arms, I asked, “Hey, Em. Who you got there?”
“This,” she said as she moved the blanket gently away from his face, “is Grant Stephenson, the newest love of my life.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the hospital to see you. I knew you were close to your due date, but I thought you had a few more weeks.”
“Well, my little soccer player here decided to come early. He surprised all of us. That’s why I was at the hospital for so long,” she explained. “There were a few complications.”
“What kind of complications?” I asked as I made my way up the steps. I looked down at my nephew, seeing how beautiful and innocent he looked wrapped up in his little blanket. “Is he okay?”
“He’s fine. It was me,” she started. She looked down at her son with a touch of sadness and said, “I won’t be able to have any more children.”
“Damn, I’m so sorry. I know you wanted a big family.”
She smiled and said, “I’m okay with it. I’ve got two amazing children. I can’t really ask for more than that.” My sister had my father’s determination and my mother’s good nature. She was the one who tried to take things in stride, but I could see the hurt in her eyes. A big family was important to her, and I hated that she couldn’t have one.
“Still… I’m sorry. I know you’re disappointed.”
Her eyes welled up with tears as she said, “I’m so sorry, Evan. I tried to call to tell you about Daddy. I even sent David to go and find you, but—”
“It’s my fault. All of it,” I interrupted her. “I’ve been gone. I should’ve checked in, and then I would’ve known about the funeral.” I sighed. “I’m so sorry I missed it.”
“Wasn’t much to it, Evan. Some people from the church did a little memorial, but I wasn’t able to go. I feel so guilty about it,” she explained. “He had no family there with him.”
Shaking off my own ill feelings, I looked up at her and said, “Nothing for you to feel guilty about, Em. Not a damn thing.”
“Maybe not, but I still do.” She looked down at the baby. “Would you like to hold him?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” I smiled as I took him from her arms. “You were clinging on to him pretty tightly there.”
“Momma won’t let me hold him unless I’m sittin’ down,” Shelby complained.
“That’s because I’m afraid you might drop him,” Emily replied sweetly.
With an overstated pout, she grumbled, “Uncle Evan should have to sit, too. He might drop Baby Grant.”
I smiled and started walking to the empty rocking chair next to her and said, “You’re probably right. I better not take any chances. Your momma would have my hide if I dropped him.”
As soon as I got settled, I pulled the blanket back so I could get a better look at him. While Shelby looked more like her dad, Grant was the spitting image of his mother, right down to the cute little button nose and chubby little cheeks. He was perfect. I looked over to my sister and found myself amazed that she’d been able to create two perfect kids. I had no clue how she managed to do it, but she made it look easy.
“What?” she asked.
“You’re pretty awesome,” I told her just as I noticed a car coming down the driveway. With a closer look, I realized it was a familiar car, one that I’d seen sitting in my driveway just a few hours earlier.
Chapter 6
Marley
When I saw him sitting on that porch looking so happy holding his nephew in his arms, I thought my ovaries might just explode right there on the spot. I hadn’t expected him to be there, so I didn’t have a chance to mentally prepare myself. It took me a minute to remember that things had changed, and I shouldn’t—no, couldn’t—have lustful thoughts about a man I was working for. But that was easier said than done. As soon as I got out of the car, I felt like every nerve in my body was twitching, which aggravated the hell out of me. I couldn’t get myself in check. Even my hair was setting me on edge, so I grabbed one of the ponytail holders on my wrist and pulled my hair up off the back of my neck. My jeans suddenly felt two sizes smaller, and I was pretty sure there was a rock in my boot. I’d changed clothes thinking I’d be more comfortable while I was at the farm, but it wasn’t helping, not in the least. I had no idea why I was feeling so off. Maybe it was the way he was looking at me, or just the fact that I hated to be at his home under these circumstances.
Emily walked over to me and said, “Thanks for coming all the way out here. I hope it didn’t cause you too much trouble. I’m just overloaded right now and really needed to take care of some stuff around here.”
“I totally understand, and I’m sorry you have to add this to all the things you have to do. I promise I won’t take up much of your time. I just wanted to go over a few things with you.”
“It’s okay. It has to be done. No sense in putting it off. Would you like to come in for a glass of tea or lemonade? Or maybe a cup of coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”
“I’d love a cup of coffee.”
She turned to Smokey and asked, “Can you watch them for a minute?”
When he nodded, I stepped up onto the porch and said, “Your parents’ home is beautiful.”
Beautiful was a complete understatement. It was one of the older Victorian homes in the area, but it had been recently renovated. The large, two-story white house with huge columns and tall black shutters made it look like something out of a magazine. The landscaping was immaculate, and the gorgeous red barn next to the apple orchard made it even more spectacular. The orchard seemed to go on for miles with rows and rows of bountiful apple trees. It was simply breathtaking. My eyes slowly drifted back over to Smokey, and I tried not to be too obvious as I watched him rock his nephew. When I caught him looking at me with a smirk, I realized I wasn’t as inconspicuous as I thought.
Thankfully, Emily rescued me by saying, “Come on inside and I’ll grab us a cup before we start.”
She opened the front door and, just as I was about to follow her inside, Smokey called out to me. “MJ?”
I turned to him, smiling to myself when I heard his new nickname for me and answered, “Yes?”
“I’m sorry about this morning. It was a lot to take in, and I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”
“You were fine. Don’t worry about it,” I answered. I looked down at his nephew cradled in his arms and was in complete awe of how beautiful he was, with his tiny fingers and his bald little head. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d even seen a baby. A part of me wanted to pick him up and hold him, smell his sweet baby scent and listen to those precious little coos and whimpers that all babies make. But I could see that Smokey was enjoying his time with him, and after all he’d been through, he needed to spend time bonding with the little guy.
I managed to pull myself away and headed for the front door. Once inside, I was surprised by how welcoming it felt. While it had its elegant touches here and there, it was a simple home with large sofas covered in dark, muted plaids and fluffy, brightly colored cushions. There were hardwood floors throughout the entry and living room all the way to the kitchen, and various flower arrangements nestled here and there to add a hint of color. It was beautiful. Their home was casual and a little dated, but there was no doubt that they were very wealthy.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Emily told me as she motioned towards the large kitchen table. “Do you like cream and sugar?”
“That would be great.” I sat down and placed my briefcase on the floor as I waited for her to bring over my cup of coffee.
She sat down next to me and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table as she said, “So lay it all out there. Tell me what we’re dealing with.”
“It’s like I told you when we talked. Your dad left everything to you and Evan. Now, we just have to figure out how you want it all to play out.”
“Okay,” she mumbled as she tapped her fingernails on the table. “
Does Evan know what was in the will?”
“Yes. I told him all about it this morning.”
Her back stiffened against the chair as she asked, “And? What did he say? He didn’t say anything about it to me. Is he going to take it?”
“I’m not sure. He’s still thinking things over, but he did mention signing everything over to you.”
She jumped up out of her chair as she screeched, “He can’t do that!” She stormed out of the kitchen and shouted, “Evan! Tell me you’re not going to do it! Tell me you aren’t going to put all of this on me! I can’t do this alone! I need you!”
I followed her to the door, but stopped when the screen door slammed shut. Smokey’s voice was strained as he said, “Emily…”
“Don’t even think about it, Evan. You can’t turn this all over to me. You just can’t!”
He stood up, still holding his nephew in his arms, and said, “I don’t know what you expect me to do here, Em. It was different for you. You liked being here, Sis. Dad was never on you like he was me. He knew I didn’t want this damn farm. I have no idea why he even left any of it to me.”
“You’re wrong, Evan. So, so wrong. Dad wasn’t on me because he never even considered the idea of me taking over the farm, or even help out. I was the daughter, the one that was just supposed to get married and have kids. In his eyes, it was always you who he saw taking over this farm. Even after you left. I’m sure the only reason he decided to leave me any of this was to get you to agree to take it over.”
“That’s not going to happen. I’ve got my own shit going on. I can’t just drop everything and come back here to grow fucking apples!” he shouted.
“Ohhh Momma, Uncle Evan said bad words!” Shelby gasped.
Emily looked over to her daughter and said, “I know, honey, but he isn’t going to say it ever again. Are you, Uncle Evan?”
“Sorry, squirt. I wasn’t thinking,” he told her with a wink. “I’ll do better.”
Emily looked back over at Smokey and asked, “Will you at least think about it? I’m not asking for you to drop everything and come run the farm. I’m just asking for some help. Just take a few days before you decide anything.”
Smokey walked over to Emily and placed Grant in her arms, then kissed her on the forehead. He placed his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll think about it, but I’m making no promises.”
“Okay. I can deal with that.”
“I’m going to take a look around the barn. I’ll stop by and say goodbye to you and the kids before I go.”
When Emily started back inside, she told Shelby, “Come on, sweetie. Momma needs to talk to Miss Marley for a minute. You can watch TV in the living room for a little while.”
Once she had the kids settled and made it back into the kitchen, I asked, “Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know. I’ve gone over everything, time and time again, and I’m a bit worried that this whole thing is going to be more than I can handle. I really want to keep the farm, but I can’t do it without Evan’s help. He worked with my dad for years and knows everything about running things. My husband is a car salesman. He doesn’t know anything about working with his hands, much less dealing with a farm. If Evan won’t help us, we’ll have to sell it, and I just can’t imagine doing that.”
“Try not to worry too much. Things always have a way of working out. Just give him a little time. It’s a lot to take in. We’ll figure it out, one way or another.”
“I just don’t know what to say to him. I don’t want to pressure him to do something he doesn’t want to do, but at the same time… Hey, would you talk to him? See if you could convince him to at least try it? Even if it’s just for a few weeks?” she pleaded.
Damn. Talking to him was the last thing I wanted to do after his reaction this morning. I didn’t even know him and had no clue what I’d even say to him, but seeing the concern in Emily’s eyes made it impossible to say no. I nodded and said, “I guess I could try.”
“That would be great. He’ll listen to you. You seem to be one of those women who knows how to get what you want.” She laughed. “I saw him go out to the barn.”
“You mean now?”
“Yes… if you don’t mind. Maybe being here will make a difference,” she pleaded.
Dread washed over me as I said, “Okay. I’ll give it a shot.”
Before I even had time to process what I was doing, I headed out to the barn. My body was working against me. Each step seemed more difficult than the last. I knew I had no business going out to that barn to talk to him, but I continued on anyway. I gave the large door a tug, and as it creaked open, my heart started to pound viciously in my chest. I didn’t know why I was so nervous about talking to him. The worst he could do was tell me to hit the road, but that rationalization wasn’t making it any easier. When I stepped inside the barn, I was instantly captivated by the charm of the beautiful, tall rafters and the long rows of pick tables they used to sort all the produce. There was a familiar scent of apples drifting through the air, lingering from the barrels that lined the wall. I was thinking of how perfect it would be for a grand party or even a reception when I spotted Smokey’s legs hanging over the ledge of the loft. I walked to the long, wooden ladder that led up to the loft but stopped and stood there for a moment, trying to decide if I should try and climb it or just forget the whole thing altogether.
I was still weighing my options when Smokey leaned over the edge and teased, “You scared of heights or something, MJ?”
“No...” I scoffed with a roll of my eyes. “I’m just not exactly coordinated. I don’t know if I can climb this thing without falling.”
“Only one way to find out.” A playful smile crossed his face as he waved me up. “Come on up. Just take a few steps and I’ll help you the rest of the way.”
He looked so young sitting up there, like a child hiding out in their favorite secret place, and I almost felt guilty for intruding. But with that smile, it was impossible to say no.
“Okay… but it’s on you if I fall,” I warned.
After just a few wobbly steps, he took hold of my arm and helped me the rest of the way up. As I began to sit down, he said, “See, that wasn’t so hard now, was it?”
I shrugged my shoulders as I settled in beside him and grinned. “I’d say I got lucky this time.”
His eyes slowly roamed over me, making goosebumps prickle my skin. He smiled and said, “Liking the new look.”
I looked down at my jeans and boots, realizing that he’d only seen me in my dress suits. “Well, it’s not exactly a new look. When I’m not at work, I’m usually wearing jeans or sweats. I’m not all-work-and-no-play, you know.”
“It suits you,” he smiled. “You look beautiful.”
Trying to seem unfazed by his compliment despite the flush I could feel in my cheeks, I murmured, “Thanks.” My eyes drifted over to him, locking on those beautiful blues, and my heart started to beat rapidly in my chest. I didn’t know what it was about him, but I’d never felt such a pull to a man before. When the intensity of his stare became too much, I turned and looked around the large loft as I said, “This barn is amazing. I’ve never been in one quite so big before.”
“Yeah, it’s something. My dad was pretty obsessed with it. He wanted it perfect and made sure that it was. He wasn’t one to accept anything less.” He paused for a minute, then said, “I take it Emily sent you out here to talk to me.”
“She’s just worried.”
“I know she’s got her heart set on keeping this place,” he sighed as he shook his head.
“It’s really beautiful… maybe you could figure out a way to make it work.”
“I don’t want to make it work,” he snapped. “I don’t know what the hell my father was thinking.”
The last thing I wanted to do was upset him any more than he already was. He was hurting and it was clear that he was struggling with what to do, so I said, “It’s difficult to know what another man is thinking, especially whe
n it’s someone we care about. I’m sure your father had his reasons for leaving you part of the farm.” He didn’t respond and just stared ahead, so I said, “I had hoped the letters might help explain things.”
“They might have… I wouldn’t know.”
“Oh… you never read them. Don’t you want to know what he needed to say?” I asked without thinking. I knew it was none of my business, but the words jumped out of my mouth before I could stop myself. I watched as his back grew rigid, and I knew right away that I’d pushed too far.
“It’s too late. Reading that letter isn’t going to change anything.”
“I understand that this—”
“There’s no way you could understand! You have no idea what any of this is like… how fucked up this all really is.”
“You’re right. I don’t.” I’d messed up. I’d pressed too hard, as always. Trying my best to abate the tension my careless words had created, I softly said, “But I do know what it’s like to lose someone you care about. My mother died of breast cancer a few years ago. No one had a clue until it was too late.” I saw the tightness in his shoulders slowly start to fade, so I continued, “We moved here from Alabama when my dad got his new job. By the time we were settled, summer had ended and it was time for my brother and I to go off to college.”
I hesitantly looked over at him, not believing I’d just divulged such an intimate part of my life to him. I had only been trying to make him understand that I honestly did empathize with him, but he was listening—really listening, like he actually cared about what I was saying.
So I just kept talking. “My brother, Brandon… he went to drafting school while I went to law school. I guess you could say there was a lot of coming and going with all of us. Mom wasn’t feeling well, but with everything that was going on, she thought it was just exhaustion or some kind of flu bug. We never thought to be worried. None of us had really had any health issues, except for a few minor colds here and there. I couldn’t even remember a time when Mom had been sick, but when she finally made it to see her doctor, the cancer had already spread to her lymph nodes, and there wasn’t much they could do.” I sighed.