Max stood just inside the door, looking as though he were waiting for permission to enter. Paige walked back toward the sideboard and picked up the serving utensils.
"Mom wanted these," she said lamely as she made her exit.
Rhett didn't even bother making an excuse, just turned on one heel and strode out of the room in less than three strides. Allie wondered how long it took him to run a mile with those legs.
Looking back toward Max, Allie's fears suddenly returned. Here was a man she had wondered about her whole life, and the moment she met him, irritation and anger had reigned. He looked sheepish now, as though he understood how his actions might have come across.
Allie began to believe Morris had been right. Everything was all just one big misunderstanding and here was her second chance.
Thank you, she prayed. For Morris. For this second chance.
The smile slid onto her face easily now.
"Hello," she said. "I'm Allie. Thank you for welcoming me into your home."
Max's face relaxed and he took a few steps into the room. "You're most welcome here. I apologize for our... rough beginning."
Allie shook the apology away. "Not your fault in the slightest. Am I safe to assume that Paige is the troublemaker in the family, then?"
A booming laugh erupted from Max, surprising them both. "Got it in one," he said. "Dinner should be starting soon. Please, come sit up here, by me."
Max led the way to one end of the table, gesturing for Allie to take a seat.
"Water okay for you?" Max asked.
Allie nodded, realizing for the first time how thirsty she was.
A moment later, people began to file in, each holding a bowl or a plate filled with food. Allie recognized most of them, including Dr. Beckett.
A woman followed behind them, sweeping the vase of flowers off of the center of the table and placing them onto the sideboard. She was tall, almost as tall as Max, and curvy in all the right places. Her hair was a lighter brown with blonde highlights weaved throughout and cropped into a short bob. Though it was clear that Paige and Rhett inherited their coloring from Max, there were definite elements of this woman in each of them. Paige with her slight build, and Rhett with his strong jaw and high cheekbones.
"If I may introduce you," Max began, gesturing for the woman to come to him. "Allie, this is my wife Eleanor, Paige, Rhett, and Jason's mother. Eleanor, my first daughter, Allison Blanchard."
Allie smiled to the woman, extending a hand out. "A pleasure to meet you."
Eleanor gave an excited grin and rushed in to hug Allie instead. Scents of vanilla and apples surrounded Allie. "I'm so glad you are finally here!"
"Thank you," Allie murmured, unable to muster up as much enthusiasm as Eleanor. They pulled back and Allie dropped a couple of air kisses on the air around them. "Dinner smells lovely. I can't wait."
"Sit, sit," Eleanor gestured to the chair, and Max pulled it out for Allie to take a seat.
As she lowered herself into the chair, Allie made eye contact with Morris, who pulled out the seat beside her. Allie smiled at him, unable to contain her relief. He gave her a slight upturn of the lips in return.
Everybody took their seats and began to pass plates around. Salad, potatoes, chicken in a light cream sauce. Allie scooped items onto her plate conservatively while almost everybody else piled the food on high. She could understand why. They had been outside working for most of the day. She hadn't.
And her stomach still hadn’t received the memo to calm down.
She had just picked up her fork when Morris cleared his throat gently next to her, catching her attention. She saw him shake his head minutely, then lifted his hands folded together in his lap. Allie nodded, showing she had received the message, then folded her hands together in her own lap.
While Allie believed in God, she still wasn't what others would call a devout Christian. She hardly ever went to church anymore. Anxiety filled her at the thought of trying to find a church in New York. Instead, she used the time to catch up on work or chores. She prayed, but never before a meal. It was awkward when having dinner out with other friends. She had tried. All she received were uncomfortable looks and hasty changes in topic. Gary had even claimed it was rude.
To be seated with a family that clearly put God and prayer first was a relief.
Once everybody had filled their plates and settled, Max lifted his hands.
"Let's pray."
Allie bowed her head and closed her eyes. She listened as Max gave thanks for the food and for the hands that prepared it. He also gave thanks for the family and friends around the table, including the most welcome surprise of Allie. At that, Allie couldn't resist a quick peak from beneath her lashes, heat rising to her cheeks. Morris caught her peak and gave her a quick wink. Her cheeks grew hotter.
"Amen."
A quick murmur of agreement filled the room, and conversation filled the room.
"So, Allie," Eleanor said from across the table. "Paige says you're from New York City. What is it that you do?"
"I'm a financial advisor. I mostly help clients make sound investments and watch for trends in the market."
"Wow, impressive!" Eleanor said, her eyes wide. "What made you want to do that?"
Allie looked down at her food, her appetite suddenly waning. "I've always been good with numbers. It just seemed like a good career choice when the time came." She hoped it didn't seem like she was ungrateful for her career and her talent. But it definitely wasn't as fulfilling as she had hoped it would be.
Seeing Morris glance over at her from the corner of her eye, she got the distinct feeling that he knew exactly what she was trying to hide.
"Helping the rich get richer," Rhett muttered down the table.
"Rhett!" Eleanor snapped.
Tension landed on the table. Allie took the opportunity to finally take a few bites of food.
"The birth of the foal went alright?" Morris asked. Immediately, the mood lifted as Paige cooed over the foal and Dr. Beckett explained the details, most of which went over Allie's head.
"You can probably take him home in the next four to six months," Cameron said. "I'll keep an eye on the weening process and let you know for sure."
Allie turned to look at Morris. "You're taking the foal?" she asked. At only four months old?
Morris nodded, focused on his plate. "My current ranch horse is getting up there in years and would probably like to live out the rest of his life being a lazy grazer. The foal will replace him."
"And we can't keep the foal here," Paige added. "There's just too much cost that goes along with it. Morris is doing us a huge favor."
"No, I bought him. He would be a good investment for the ranch." Morris sent Allie another wink before taking another bite of food.
It was clear to Allie that the relationship between Morris and the Greene's was a strong one. Definitely stronger than any relationship she had had with any of her neighbors, which never progressed beyond a cordial nod of the head in passing.
Turning to Max, Allie asked, "When did you start up Greene Pastures?"
Max looked to Eleanor, who shook her head and gave a slightly exasperated laugh. "It had always been a farm. A small one that Max’s parent operated," she said to Allie. “They passed and Max took it over almost thirty years ago.”
Max nodded. "We wanted to raise our children in the country and both of us have a soft spot for rescue animals. We were both just young and dumb enough to drop everything we had going for us in the city and revamp this place into a large animal rescue."
"It helped that I came into a bit of inheritance at the same time," Eleanor said. She looked at Allie. "My grandmother," she explained.
"The house needed a little work," Max admitted with a sheepish grin.
Eleanor rolled her eyes. "Don't believe a word he says. This house had 'good bones,' they said. And that was about it. Everything you see here, we did ourselves."
"It's beautiful," Allie said, thoroughly impress
ed. The most she had ever done to modify her own home had been to hang up pictures and curtains.
"She's in the Sunset Room," Morris explained. Eleanor's eyes crinkled at the corners.
"Of course you are. I have to admit, I like to sneak away and take a bath in there myself."
Allie flushed. "I'll have to give it a try."
Everybody laughed around the table. "Don't worry," Paige said. "Not only are you too high up for people to see anything, but the glass is reflective from the outside. It's physically impossible for others to see inside."
That made Allie relax. And kick herself a little. Of course these people would think of modesty in that situation.
Dinner finished shortly after that. Eleanor and Paige cleared plates, waving away Allie's efforts to help.
"You're a guest. Sit!"
Coffee was brewed and mugs served. Eleanor brought out a platter of assorted desserts, including cookies, lemon bars, and scones. They were petite and beautifully decorated.
"I'm almost afraid to eat one," Allie confessed, picking up a tiny scone with translucent lavender colored frosting.
"Well, that defeats the purpose, then," Paige said, scooping up a lemon bar. "They're meant to be eaten."
Taking a bite, Allie's taste buds were assaulted with hints of lemon, vanilla, and...
"It's really lavender frosting, isn't it?" she asked, closing her eyes in delight.
Paige grinned. "Yup. Took me ages to figure out the right balance."
"You made all these?" Allie asked, awed respect filling her. "I can't even make chocolate chip cookies."
Paige laughed. "It's easy. I'll show you."
"Don't believe her," Rhett, Morris, and Cameron said at the same time. The table erupted in laughter.
"I can get a little carried away, I suppose," Paige said, not looking the least bit apologetic.
Dessert and coffee concluded with Morris standing from the table. "I should get going. I have some things I need to take care of at the ranch before I turn in."
"Thanks for bringing Allie to us," Max said, also standing and extending a hand out to Morris.
"My pleasure," Morris said, shaking the hand and sending Allie a quick look. She felt it clear down to her belly.
Even though she knew better, Allie stood quickly. "I'll walk you out," she offered.
Morris inclined his head even as he turned to place a gentle kiss on Eleanor's cheek.
"Come by tomorrow," Paige said. "See the foal. Maybe give it a name."
Morris' lips quirked. "Getting tired of saying 'the foal?'"
"Yup."
"I'll see what I can do." He sent the room a farewell wave, then gestured for Allie to exit the dining room ahead of him.
They walked in awkward silence toward the front door. The dining room filled with conversation behind them, but Allie didn't want to chance being overheard by the group.
The air was cool and clean as they stepped out onto the front porch. Allie closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She could hear crickets and frogs. They sounded wonderful. She wondered if it would be too cold to sleep with a window open.
"You don't get air like this in New York, I suppose," Morris said. Opening her eyes, Allie saw Morris had stopped beside her, watching her breathe in the air.
"No, not usually. You'd have to go up north for that. Sometimes, after a good rain, the air will be clean for a little while. But those days are few and far between."
Allie followed him down the stairs of the porch, toward his truck. As they drew near, Allie found herself wondering when she would see him again. She was shocked to find that she wanted to see him as soon as possible.
You don't need that kind of distraction in your life right now.
"I wanted to say thank you," she said, before she lost her nerve. "Not only for the ride from the airport but for everything else back there." She glanced back at the house.
Morris stuck his hands in his pockets and gave her a sweet smile. She found herself answering it. "Not a problem. I'm glad I could be here to help."
Then he turned and opened up the cab door and swung himself up inside. He gave a casual wave as he shut the door and fired up the truck.
And then he was gone.
Allie sucked in a deep breath, watching the taillights disappear down the drive.
She tried to ignore the part of her that wished he would turn back.
CHAPTER THREE
Allie woke to the sound of a rooster. At least, she was pretty sure it was a rooster. She had never really heard one in person, only the prerecorded tracks in movies and TV shows.
Turns out, the real thing didn't sound much like those recordings.
Still, she opened her eyes to the faint gray light of morning. The night had grown chilly and she was grateful for the thick duvet and quilt on her bed. All snuggled in the warm softness of the bed, Allie wished she could roll over and drift back off to sleep. But her body and brain were still on New York time, and instead of it being only five o'clock in the morning, to her it was eight.
Giving a stretch, Allie allowed herself to relax against the pillows and look at the view the large windows offered. She could see a bank of clouds along the horizon, but other than that, the sky already looked clear. It was shaping up to be a nice warm spring day.
The rich scent of coffee met her senses as Allie pushed the covers back and rose from the bed. Of course she wouldn't be the only one up. This was a farm. She might not know much about how a farm was run, but she did know that animals needed to be fed and taken care of.
Allie slipped on the pair of jeans she wore last night and a flowy burgundy blouse. Still not farm attire by any means, but it was the best she could do.
Entering the en-suite, Allie let her mind wander to last night as she washed her face.
Dr. Beckett, who had asked her to call him “Cam,” had left not too long after Morris. Rhett had lasted all of five minutes before he made his own excuses. Paige and Eleanor began to gather up dishes to take back into the kitchen, shooing away Allie's efforts to help. Soon enough, Allie and Max had been left all alone, sipping at the dregs of their coffee.
"Ever get the feeling you've been manipulated?" Max said with a wry grin. Allie had laughed.
"I know I'm a blessed man," Max said after another silence. "And I'm sorry I never reached out to you. I just didn't think it would be fair of me, to be selfish enough and upset the life you've made for yourself."
Allie reached across the table, laying a gentle hand against Max's forearm. "I understand. And I appreciate the thought. But I am glad that Paige reached out. Things in New York..." Allie cut herself off and swallowed hard. Nobody wanted to hear whining. "They aren't all it's cracked up to be. Let's just leave it at that."
Max had given her a knowing look before nodding his head and leaving it alone. "If you'd like, I can show you around the place tomorrow morning. I hear your tour with Paige was interrupted yesterday afternoon by some old man with no manners."
Allie had chuckled softly. "I'd like that a lot."
Smiling to herself, Allie slipped on a pair of socks and slipped out of the bedroom, down the hall and stairs. She was banking on the pair of galoshes she'd kicked off last night would still be on the back porch.
Max and Allie had talked about everything and nothing, both carefully avoiding the subject of Allie’s mother. Allie found that what Morris had said about Max had been true. Max was gentle and kind, but also had a quick sense of humor that had Allie laughing well into the night.
"Good morning," Eleanor's warm voice greeted when Allie entered the kitchen. She stood at the kitchen sink, washing dishes. "Fresh coffee in the pot, and some scrambled eggs are in the oven."
"Wow, thank you," Allie said. She glanced around, hoping for a clue as to where the mugs were kept.
"Far left cabinet," Eleanor supplied. Allie nearly gaped at the woman before turning and opening the cabinet. "Plates are in the cabinet right next to it. Forks in the drawer below."
A
llie gave a slight chuckle. "You're good. Thanks." She pulled out a mug and a small plate, setting them on the counter while she poured the coffee.
Wordlessly, Eleanor stepped away from the sink, wiped her hands and walked to the refrigerator. "Cream?"
Allie nodded. "Yes, please." She spotted the sugar and poured it in. Gary had always tsked at her when she added sugar, and she still hadn't gotten over the guilt.
But he's not here.
Eleanor smiled as she placed a glass bottle of cream next to Allie. "It's from the local creamery just on the other side of town. We get it delivered every week. I think you'll like it. How'd you sleep?"
A Delivered Heart: The Greene Pastures Series Book 1 Page 4