by Lynne Norris
“I will.” Grace traced her fingers over Emma’s cheek. “You know how to get out of here in the dark?”
“Yeah. I’ll be fine.” Emma wanted desperately to stay, but it seemed wiser to leave. She drove toward home while the evening replayed in her mind. Emma knew Grace was going to be trouble because she couldn’t stop thinking about her.
GRACED WAITED FOR Emma’s taillights to fade into the distance before she started back toward the farmhouse. If she concentrated enough she could still feel the sweet sensation of Emma’s lips on hers. Emma was a good kisser and Grace found herself replaying the moment again as she walked along the drive. She leaned into the incline, her boots crunching over the loose gravel with each step.
Light filtered from the windows of the house as she neared the front porch. She was still lost in her thoughts, daydreaming about the evening that she didn’t register the screen door bang open. Grace grunted at the unexpected impact and grabbed hold of the body that surged into her.
“What the hell?” Grace held on to avoid losing her balance. “Look where you’re going.”
“Let go of me,” Tony growled as he shrugged her loose.
“What’s your problem?” Grace stepped back regarding him in the light filtering down from the porch. His face was contorted in anger and for an instant she barely recognized her brother.
“Get out of my way, Grace.”
She stepped back, her arms out to the side. “I am, Tony. What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I need to get the hell out of here. I knew it was a bad idea coming here tonight.” Tony jammed his hands into his pocket and pulled out his keys.
“If you’re this upset it’s not a good idea to drive.”
Tony waved her away and stormed to his car. “I’ll be fine. Don’t you worry about me, big sister.” His car alarm chirped and he opened the door, disappearing inside.
The engine rumbled to life a second later. Back up lights winked on and Grace moved out of the way as Tony rolled back. The thumping bass of music pulsated against the windows. The engine roared as he gunned it and the car rocked. The tires kicked up stones as he fishtailed down the hill.
Grace rubbed her shoulder, feeling the sting from where she collided with Tony. Confused and irritated, she climbed the porch steps and walked into the house.
“What’s with Tony?” Grace asked when she walked into the kitchen. Her father was standing at the window, arms folded across his chest looking out into the darkness.
“Good, you’re here,” her father said without turning around.
“What’s up?” Grace asked trying to understand what currents she was sensing in the room. The pantry door opened and her mother stepped into the kitchen. Her eyes looked red like she was recently crying.
“Sit down, Grace,” her father said.
“Where’s Michael?”
“He’s taking a walk.”
With a sick feeling in her gut, she pulled out a chair and sat. “Tony just flew out of here in a rage. Will somebody tell me what’s going on?”
“Tony won’t be coming back for awhile.” Her mother cleared her throat and said with a slight tremor in her voice, “Your father and I discussed what we’re going to do with the farm.”
His face drawn and pale, Peter walked behind Lucy’s chair and rested a hand on her shoulder. “I told Tony we’re not selling the farm under any circumstances. He took the news badly. I took offense to his behavior and told him to leave.”
Grace rested her hands on the table to hide the trembling in them.
Lucy reached back and squeezed her husband’s arm. “Let’s get on with it.”
Grace’s father sat beside Lucy and said, “The farm was originally set up as an LLC. It’s going to remain that way. The five of us will share the profits from the farm. I’m stepping down from the manager’s position after we hire someone new for the position. The new manager will make the day-to-day decisions that go into running the farm just as I did. You’ll only have a vote on large capital expense purchases and projects.”
Bewildered, Grace asked, “You’re going to outsource the manager’s position? Why not Michael?”
“Michael’s not our first choice, but if things don’t work out the way we would like then yes, we will outsource the position.” Lucy traced a finger over the grain of the wooden table.
“It’s pretty straightforward,” her father continued. “I want you to take over the manager’s position.”
One breath, two and Grace still felt like she couldn’t get enough in her lungs. Her head buzzed and she was aware of her mother leaving the kitchen. “Why is Mom crying? What’s going on?”
Her father looked like he aged ten years since this morning. “It’s been a long day Grace. We all need to get some rest.”
Chapter Twelve
GRACE USED A fence stretcher to pull a broken segment of barbed wire together in one of the pastures. She found the damage two days ago while she was checking the various cattle enclosures. Once she had enough wire pulled through to make the fence taught she crimped the metal sleeve with a pair of pliers. From there it took a few minutes to twist the broken ends around the sleeve to secure the wire and repair the section.
A figure approached from the lower fields. She could tell by the walk it wasn’t Michael. Arturo drew his straw hat off and beat it against his work pants as he strode up the hill.
“Morning, Arturo.” She raised a hand and waved.
He drew a bandana from out of a pocket and wiped the sweat and grime from his face. “Morning, Grace. I moved the chicken tractors.”
Grace checked her work on the fence tugging at the mended section. “The cows are in the southern most pasture.”
“I topped their water off after I finished with the chickens,” Arturo said.
“I checked the calendar and the bred heifer is at day two seventy.” Grace slipped the pliers into her back pocket. “She’ll go into labor in the next two to three weeks. Keep an eye on her. It’s her first calf.”
“I will.” Arturo set his hat back on his head. “Is there anything else you need me to do?”
“No. I’m just about finished here. Thanks for your help today.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow. I haven’t seen Michael. Is he alright?”
“He’s had a lot to do with the boys.”
Arturo nodded and looked across the fields, his eyes troubled. “I’ll be back tomorrow. Tell him we miss him in the fields.”
“I will. Thanks, Arturo.” Grace stared out across the fields wondering briefly if Arturo believed her. Michael was avoiding her ever since their father decided to make her the manager of the farm. At some point they were going to have to clear the air. She needed his help and he needed to get over being pissed at her.
With a sigh, Grace turned to the next segment of fence that needed repairing. While she continued to work, Grace’s thoughts strayed to Emma. Grace couldn’t remember the last time a woman had a hold on her like this. Not since her last serious girlfriend— but that was even different.
Since her father’s accident Grace threw herself into work around the farm. The chores and the cycles that came with planting and caring for animals kept her sane after she left her coaching job.
There was little room for relationships and frankly, until last week, she hadn’t given it much of a thought. Occasionally Grace would find herself wishing to have someone to talk to other than her family or the dogs at the end of the day.
For the most part, Grace never gave dating much thought. She wasn’t even sure how to go about finding someone again. The thought of going to a bar made her break out in a cold sweat. She hadn’t been cruising in a bar since her college days and those kinds of superficial interactions left her feeling empty and hollow. Worse yet was figuring out if a woman she met and was interested in was lesbian. It’s not like people wore a sign and Grace never felt she had reliable instincts into who was and wasn’t gay.
Paula was certainly ready and willing, but wh
at she was offering wasn’t Grace’s style. The fact that Paula worked for them made the idea of a relationship even less appealing.
Then when she wasn’t really looking, Emma arrived in town. Grace had been distracted since the cookout wondering what it would be like to get to know Emma better. Grace thought about what it would be like to touch Emma, to kiss her...everywhere.
Her insecurities convinced Grace it wouldn’t amount to anything. They had little in common. Emma was busy hunting for another job. Where Emma’s future employment led her to geographically was anybody’s guess and Grace certainly didn’t want to get involved with someone who wasn’t staying around.
Grace recalled the time she spent with Emma at the cookout the other night—what it felt like to dance with her and kiss her. She got this warm wash of tender emotion when she thought about that night. Grace wondered if just maybe there was a way to make this work. She picked up her tools thinking that she was probably reading too much into the time they spent together. Emma was on the rebound and this was simply a way to forget the painful memories if even for a few hours.
Grace climbed into the 4x4 and drove along the tractor path back to the barn. The earth was dry and dust billowed out behind the wheels. They had day after day of impossible heat since the cookout. It wasn’t unusual to see waves of heat hovering above the fields in the mid-afternoon.
The last storm was a gulley washer. Oceans of rain poured onto the land and ran off just as quickly. What she wouldn’t give for a few days of gentle drizzle to soak the life giving water into the soil and provide much needed relief from the relentless summer sun.
Grace slalomed down the hills, left then right around the corner that brought her to the beginning of their hay fields. She cut the motor and stopped. Standing atop the seat she gazed out at the fields of alfalfa, red clover, Bermuda grass and tall fescue. A gentle breeze rustled the tips of the grasses. It was an illusion, she knew, but the fields swayed and looked like infinite waves.
Soon, she thought. It was time to watch the weather and be ready to choose the days when they would be able to cut the fields and let the hay dry before rolling it into large bails that would feed the cows and horses through the winter months. Satisfied for now she started the 4x4 and returned to the barn,
The sun was setting noticeably earlier now and the shadows were longer. Even though it was still summer there was coolness evident in the evening air that wasn’t present a few short weeks ago.
With the sun sliding behind the tall trees, Grace cleaned and put away the tools. She straightened up inside her apartment and took a shower before dinner. As she stepped inside the spray she wondered what Emma was doing and thought she might give her a call later. The thought made her heart race and her head buzz. For a moment she wondered what in the world was wrong with her then discarded the thought as she pumped soap into her hand.
EMMA SLIPPED OFF her sneakers and crossed her legs underneath her as she settled onto the burgundy leather couch in her sister’s living room. She could already feel herself unwinding into the end of the day. It felt good to lounge in comfortable sweat pants and let her worries slip away at least for the evening.
Brent and Lindsey’s home was a classic New England style Cape Cod nestled in a suburb west of Boston. It was neat and nostalgic sitting behind a white picket fence. The house was clapboarded and shuttered, painted a smoky blue, with an open floor plan inside. The picture it created was the perfect emulation of the American Dream.
The boys’ room was upstairs. Lindsey had fed them dinner earlier and now they were both tucked in bed sleeping.
“I’m glad I thought to give you a call. Brent had one of his last minute business trips he had to go on,” Lindsey called from the kitchen.
“How long is he gone for?” Emma flipped through the channels on the television and settled on one about home renovations.
“Three days,” Lindsey opened the refrigerator and removed a bottle of wine she’d been chilling.
“He’s doing a lot more traveling this year.” Emma lowered the volume so she could hear her sister.
“The company has taken on four more contracts in the past six months. Who am I to complain? At least he still has a job.” Lindsey stopped midway as she opened the cabinet door and looked at Emma. “Sorry, that just came out.”
“What’s to be sorry for? You have two kids and a mortgage to pay. I’m glad Brent has a job too.”
Lindsey offered her a relieved grin and asked, “Will you uncork the wine for me?”
Emma rose from the sofa and held her hand out for the bottle as she approached. “You don’t usually drink Pinot Grigio.”
“I decided to broaden my horizons and try something new.” Lindsey set two glasses on the counter.
“Where’s your cork screw?”
Lindsey pointed at the middle drawer. “It should be on the left side.”
With cork screw in hand Emma efficiently removed the cork from the bottle and set it back on the counter. “I’ll let you pour.”
“How are things between you and Grace? Have you seen each other since you went horseback riding?” Lindsey asked while Emma returned to the couch.
“We’ve seen each other a couple of times.” Emma tried to act nonchalant but she could tell by her sister’s reaction she wasn’t buying it.
Lindsey poured the wine into the glasses. “Your ears are turning red so you might as well spill it.” She handed Emma a glass and settled onto the couch beside her.
Emma couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth. She stuck her nose in the glass stalling for time as she inhaled the crisp bouquet. “Mmm I smell citrus in here...”
“Come on don’t leave me hanging here. I hardly ever see you. This is the first time in years we have something exciting to talk about.”
“Wow, I’m not quite sure how to take that,” Emma replied.
“You know what I mean.”
Emma glowered at Lindsey from beneath furrowed eyebrows. “Do I?”
“Yes, you do. Since when has either of our relationships been something we talked about because they were new and exciting?”
“You do have a point about me,” Emma agreed thinking of her relationship with Kate. “But what about you and Brent?”
“No, no, no. You are not deflecting this away from you. Tell me about you and Grace. Did you sleep with her yet?”
“No!”
“I thought by the way your face lit up when I said her name that maybe you had.”
“We hardly know each other,” Emma protested.
“Okay, I’m just giving you a hard time. Tell me about her.”
“Grace invited me to a cookout that her family does for the people who work on the farm.”
Lindsey stopped mid-sip and lowered her wine glass to the table. “Wait. You got to the meet the family? Isn’t that awfully premature?”
Emma didn’t answer immediately as she thought about the implication of what her sister said. “Oh, well...no. I didn’t think of it that way. It was kind of an introduction to their community.”
“I guess that’s one way to look at it.” Lindsey sounded doubtful. “Meeting the family is always a crapshoot. A cookout is good though. Not too serious like being invited to Sunday dinner.”
“It was like a raucous back yard party,” Emma said remembering the festive atmosphere. “They cook for the people who volunteer and work on the farm. It’s actually quite amazing. They grow most of their own food. They raise cows, pigs and chickens for meat.”
“A real life farmer.” Lindsey tapped her glass with her fingers. “I want details. Did she kiss you? If I had to guess from the color of your cheeks, I would say yes. So, is she a good kisser?”
“You’re awful.” Emma buried her face in her hands. “You know that?”
“Ah but the question is am I right?” Lindsey crowed and clapped her hands together when Emma gave her a wry sidelong glance. “I am! Good for you. So you’re going to see each other again?
”
“We didn’t really make plans,” Emma said.
“What do you mean you didn’t make plans?”
“She said she would call me.”
“Do you think she will?” Lindsey asked. “Some people just say that and then they never do.”
“I don’t think Grace is like that.”
“So what do you think this is between you and her?” Lindsey picked her wine glass up and settled back against the cushions.
“I...we just met. I have no idea what it is.”
“What would you like it to be?” Lindsey pressed her.
“It’s a little early to be thinking about what I want this to be. Don’t you think?” Emma picked her glass up and sipped from it.
“Why?”
“I have no idea what I’m going to be doing or where I’m going to end up in the next six months. I’ve just been taking life a day at a time.”
“So this is just a good time fling? Maybe you’re rebounding from Kate and you both go your separate ways in a few months. No harm. No foul.” Lindsey nodded reflectively. “That might work, but I never took you for the kind of person who could do that.”
Emma frowned at Lindsey and sunk lower in the couch. “You sure know how to be a buzz kill.”
“Tell me you haven’t thought about it, even for a minute, what this might be between you and Grace,” Lindsey insisted.
Emma tilted her head back and sighed. “I like her...a lot. She’s a good listener. She’s kind and strong. Not just physically strong, but inside she’s strong. She knows how to do things that I have no clue about. I just know I want to get to know her better.”
“How much better?” Lindsey teased.
“I’m afraid to let myself think about it that way.”
“Emma we don’t get unlimited chances at love. If you think this has a chance then go for it. What have you go to lose?” Lindsey gave Emma a brief searching look. “Sorry, I’m pushing you. I was—”