Page 1 of Gene

CHAPTER ONE

SAMMI

“Is Sammi your nickname?” Nolan asked.

Sammi sighed. Everyone thought it was just a nickname.

“No, it’s not. That is my name.”

“Why’d your parents name you that?”

“Good question. Why don’t you dig them up, bring them back to life, and ask them yourself,” she sassed.

“Sorry, Teeny.”

Sammi sighed once again. “No, I’m sorry. Just been a long day. I had no reason to snap at you.”

After looking up at the apple tree, she stepped on the ladder and started to pick the red fruit. The past several days had been long and hard since it was harvest time.

“Why don’t you go take a little break? Get some water and eat something,” Nolan suggested.

“Why?”

“You don’t look too good.”

“I’m okay.” She shrugged. “We’re almost done with this row anyway and then we get to go home.”

She had been more exhausted than normal, had been getting headaches, felt shaky, and always needed to pee, even though she wasn’t drinking a lot. Sammi had thought about getting it checked out a couple of times, but she didn’t have insurance. The coverage was starting in two weeks.

Maybe she should schedule an appointment in two weeks. Something was off, but she couldn’t do anything about it. She didn’t need another thing to pay for, not when she was already helping to repay someone elses’s debt.

But Sammi couldn’t deny that there was something going on, something was wrong. On top of the other symptoms, she was also losing weight, though she was eating twice as much as normal.

It was weird, very abnormal, she needed to get it checked out. But it was going to have to wait until her insurance kicked in. Maybe she could talk to Gene about it starting earlier, but then he might think she only got the job for the insurance.

When Sammi had first applied for the job at The Little Farm, she didn't think the insurance or benefits would be that great, but they were, surprisingly. She was skeptical when he told her all the details, but he reassured her that they took care of their employees. That was all she needed to sign the contract and begin working. That and the money.

With her working the hours she was, she would be able to make a dent in the money her brother owed. Then, both of them could get out from under it and live their lives.

“I don't like how pale you're looking,” Nolan said.

Sammi huffed and looked at him. “You're just exaggerating. I'm fine. We're almost done with this row, so why don't we just finish it up real quick, and then we can all go home and not worry about each other.”

Nolan looked concerned and opened his mouth to say something, but she stopped him.

“I’m really fine,” she lied. Sammi was anything but fine, though she wasn't going to let him know that. “I'm really okay, promise.”

All the men who worked for Gene looked out for her, made sure that she had everything she needed. It was weird, but she brushed it off every single time. It was probably Gene making sure she was actually doing her job and disguising it as the men caring for her. Sammi didn't want to give him any reason to fire her, not when she needed the money and the insurance.

Her bladder protested, and she groaned. Of course when she promised she was okay, her bladder proved otherwise.

Nolan looked over at her, looking panicked. “Are you sure you’re okay? It didn't sound like you were. Do you need anything? Food, water, your feet up, get out of the sun, what do you need?”

“I'll be right back,” she gently said. “I’ll only be a couple of minutes.”

“Where are you going? Are you okay?” Nolan fired off.

Sammi started to climb down the ladder. “I’m okay. I just need to go to the bathroom.”

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