Page 28 of Something More

“Bye, Mom!” Jack called.

“Great job on the swimming,” I called back before disappearing into the tree line. I needed to process all of this. It was a lot. Hank was stepping into Alex’s shoes without even meaning to, and I wasn’t sure how I really felt about that.

*****

When I pulled into the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly, it was almost empty. Most people did their shopping on Saturday, but I needed things earlier. I climbed out of my car, grabbed a buggy from the cart return, and rushed to get inside out of the heat.

When I stepped through the automatic doors, I felt a whoosh of cool air. At first it was welcomed but the longer I was inside, the colder I felt. Having wet hair didn’t help. I removed my list from my pocket and went about gathering the items I needed for my dinner with Lou.

“Nice to see you again, Codie.” Sam, the butcher, smiled from behind the meat counter. “Strip steaks are on sale this week.”

“Thanks, Sam.” I smiled as I started lifting the packages and critiquing them. I selected five, one for each adult and then one for the kids the split and placed them in my buggy. I waved bye to Sam and made my way to the checkout.

After loading the groceries into my car, I headed home. On the way, Lou called back, apologizing for missing my call and stating they’d be over by six on Saturday. Her voice seemed distant, almost monotone as she said goodbye and disconnected the call. I had a bad feeling, but I brushed it off due to the fact that we’d been apart for so long and I was probably overreacting to something that was nothing. If things were still off when she came over, then I’d make a point to talk to her about it.

When I returned home, I quickly put the groceries away and went down to the big house to talk to my father. Mom was in the kitchen stirring a giant pot of stew, and she nodded toward my father’s office.

“Daddy?” I stuck my head through the door. He was sitting at the oversized desk and riffling through the stacks of papers I’d brought back the day before.

“Hey, honey. I can’t seem to find the last statement for the loan we took out for the new tractor.” He rubbed his forehead before looking up at me.

“Oh, it’s over here.” I scooted around the desk to the file cabinet and pulled out a folder. “I tried to organize it a little.”

“I don’t know where anything is now.” His voice rose slightly. I could tell he was upset but trying to remain calm while he talked to me.

“That’s what I came down here to talk to you about. I’m trying to fix that.” I set the laptop in front of him.

“Oh, no. We don’t need all of this.” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in the giant leather chair.

“Daddy?” I softened my voice as I opened the laptop. “I know you have your ways of doing things and I have mine, but I’m trying to come up with a system we can both use.” I clicked on the QuickBooks icon and the spreadsheet I’d been working on filled the screen. “You see that stack over there?” I pointed to a folder on the corner of the desk with papers spilling out of it.“This is all of that.” I smiled. I highlighted one line. “Look! You have the account number, what’s it for, the payments that need to be made, when they need to be made, the balance left on the account, and the total paid already.” My father stared intently before slowly nodding. “On this one, you have the customer’s account number, what they have ordered, what we’ve sent them, when payment is due, and how much they’ve paid on the balance.”

“Ok, you got me. This is better. I’m never going to be able to remember how to do all of this, though. I’m old, honey.” He chuckled as he set his glasses on the desk and turned to look up at me.

“I can help you. We can do it together for a while, and then I can slowly do more each month. You’ve worked so hard for so long, it’s time to let others take over while you enjoy life.” I smiled as I leaned down to hug him around his neck.

“I guess you’re right.” He smiled. “How’d you get so smart?”

“Good teachers, I guess.” I released him. “So, you’re not mad?” I nibbled my lip as I motioned to the computer.

“Nah. I needed this. Thanks.” He highlighted another line. “This is pretty neat. So, I can just add new bills and clients in when I want?”

“Pretty much, and we can delete things, too. Hey, Daddy?” I rocked back on my heels. “I need to tell you something else.”

“Are you taking over my office or something?” he joked.

“Hank and I are together, and I know what you did the last time. I just want to be upfront about it. I’m a grown up now, and it’s my decision if I choose to date him.” I waited for the explosion. My father was crystal clear the last time, when he told me to go to New York for school. Hank was not an option for me. We’d ended our shouting match with him telling me if I chose Hank, he’d never let me have part of the farm. I’d given in andleft, and even though I moved on with Alex and started a family, a part of my heart was always here with Hank. You never forget your first love.

“Are you happy?” He looked at me stone-faced.

“Very.” I nodded.

“Good. All I ever wanted for you was a good life filled with happiness. Farm life is hard, and I felt like you needed to move away from it to decide if you really wanted it. You never knew anything else. I needed you to fly and see what was outside of Sunny Brook.”

“I understand that now, but you hurt me, Daddy.”

“It hurt me too, but I thought I was doing what was right. Hank’s a good man. He’s hard working, and he cares about you. I know this because he let you go.”

“I care about him, too.” I smiled dreamily. “So we’re good?”

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