Page 83 of Ardently Yours

A brown glop falls from my sleeve and lands at my feet. I give Charlotte’s father a slow blink and consider getting back in my car. “Yes, sir.”

When the last fencepost is in place, I straighten and try not to let on how grateful I am to be done. I’m gym fit, but I’ve been using different muscles today. I’ll go to my grave before I let on to Bob or Max that my back is screaming. Charlotte’s dad is at least twenty years older than I am. I have to keep up with the man or face even greater disgrace than the Reginald Debacle.

He claps me on my flannel-covered shoulder. “You’re all right, Arden, I don’t care what Max says about you.”

I turn to look at Max, and both men snort.

“It’s a joke,” Max says.

It seems odd, but, apparently, it’s a compliment.

“You should come back at the end of the month,” Max says with a grin. “It’s hay baling season.”

I’ve been here all day. We took a break for lunch and another for dinner, but we haven’t discussed anything I’d consider serious. When I tried to bring up my relationship with Charlotte, Bob lifted a hand and said, “We’ll get to that.”

Instead, we talked about my boys, all the grandkids, including Max’s son Jack, our favorite kind of pie, the weather, animals, soybeans, and the fact that it doesn’t count as owning a truck if I don’t drive it myself. They did seem impressed that I have my pilot’s license.

I admire the line of the new split-rail fencing, then look at the men. “So, you called me out here for a ‘private word’ because you needed another set of hands.”

Bob shrugs and smiles. “Worked, didn’t it?”

I laugh.

Bob grins, takes off his hat, and mops his brow. After he’s replaced it, he crosses his arms over his chest. “Go ahead, then. Let’s talk.”

I straighten my posture. “As you know, Charlotte and I have developed an affection for each other over the years. We plan to introduce our children this week. I can offer Charlotte and Bronnie not only financial security, but connections that will serve them in their future careers and socially. The blending of our families will be smoother and contribute to Charlotte’s happiness if her family is supportive of our relationship.”

Both men stare at me.

Finally, Max smooths his beard, then slaps his hat against his thigh. “Let’s go. Your guys can follow us.”

“Where?”

“To the Beer Barrel.” Max lifts a hand toward his truck.

I shake my head. “I have to get back on the road.”

Max fishes in his pocket and pulls out a key ring. “It’s my place. I know you need your privacy. We’re closed on Sundays.”

Fifteen minutes later, I lower myself to a red vinyl-covered barstool. The bar itself is a small wooden building butted up against a wooded area.

Bob takes a seat next to me. “Tell me why I should trust you with my girls. Money don’t mean shit except you probably have too much power for your own good.”

“I’m an honorable man. If you need character references, I’m happy to provide them. I’ll remain true to my vows.”

Max lines up a row of tequila shot glasses, dumps a bowl of lime wedges in front of me, then fills the glasses with Jose Cuervo. “I don’t want to hear some speech you memorized. I’ll trust you when you forget what you meant to say. Bottoms up.”

The first shot tastes like battery acid.

Max laughs at my grimace.

The second goes down a little easier.

The third isn’t bad at all.

Two Hours Later

“How do you explain what love is? She’s the sun and the moon and the clouds and the ground under my feet. I jus’loveher.” I widen my eyes to try to get my point across. “Do you know how much? If Charlotte turned into an otter, I’d turn into one too so I could be with her. An’ I’d never let go of her little otter hand when she was sleeping so she didn’t float away. She’s”—I thump my chest with a fist— “carrying around a piece of my soul. Lotta times, guys think they’re in love, but they’re just hypnotized by pussy. Thass not real. But, Charlotte’s the whole package, and she made me wait.”

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