Page 80 of The Back Forty
“I know what matters to her. Making people proud. Proving herself. Doing meaningful work. Being seen. She’s a middle child of two hardworking immigrants and she was ignored by her parents for most of her childhood but has always wanted to make them proud. I know what drives her and what keeps her up at night. I’ve watched her carry herself like she’s got something to prove every damn day for the past year, and I know she does it because she’s scared if she slows down, she’ll be replaced, forgotten, or disappoint someone. I get it. I gether. I see the way her mind works, and half the time, I know what she’s going tosay before she says it, but I let her say it anyways because I know it’s important for her to get it out. And now… now I know what she’s afraid of.”
Cash stares at me, unblinking.
“She’s afraid of falling for someone she works for again. Because the last time that happened, it almost killed her. Not metaphorically. Literally. She’s protecting not just her heart, but her health because she thinks all I can think about is work. She said as much but more than that, she's scared that I won’t be different from her ex, but I think she knows that I'm different already.”
“Damn,” Cash murmurs, voice quieter now. “That’s… a lot. But also, maybe the most emotionally intelligent thing you’ve ever said. So… you’re in love with her.”
I don’t answer. I didn’t mean to say all that out loud. But yeah. I think maybe I’ve been falling for a while now. And this thing that’s between us doesn’t feel temporary. Doesn’t feel casual. It feels like a progression. Like something inevitable.
And I need to prove it to her.
I need to show her that the same guy who gets shit done for the Marshall businesses is the same guy who can show up for her consistently. Who can curl up with her at the end of the workday and hold her, laugh about the funniest places we’ve had sex and her favorite position without getting jealous and bringing up pitch decks and marketing plans.
Day in, day out. No matter what. Starting tonight.
“This is…” Regan’s voice startles me, her eyes glossy. “That was so beautiful, Lawson. Oh no,” She wipes at her eyes. “Don’t cry. Ugh, I’m pregnant and hormonal and you’venevertalked about a woman like that before. Ever. Even Beckham’s mom who weall love. Dani is… she’s incredible. She’s top tier. I hope she sees how good you are. How good you two could be together.”
I exhale slowly, clapping Cash on the shoulder in thanks, then wrapping Regan in a hug before stepping back.
“Thanks, you two.”
And then I turn before either of them can stop me. I’m heading back down the hallway, back to the dining room, back to her. Back to Dani.
Chapter 31 – Dani
“I loveit,” Kent Marshall grins from the head of the table, holding up a white T-shirt with a photo of Colt and Molly’s baby boy printed front and center. His chubby cheeks practically bulge off the fabric, and in bold navy lettering across the top, it reads:Grampy Marshall. “Now pass my grandson over here so I can give him a big smooch.”
Laughter circles the table as Molly leans over to hand little Colt Jr. into Kent’s waiting arms. The baby squeals happily as Kent peppers kisses all over his face and snuggles him close, breathing him in like he’s the best thing he’s smelled all year.
Colt sits with one tattooed arm stretched across the back of Molly’s chair, his thumb grazing her shoulder absentmindedly. She turns into the touch with a smile that could break the hardest cynic.
There’s something magnetic about watching them together, this quiet, unshakeable love that they’ve built. It’s in the small thingsthat I've noticed over the past year of living here. They were best friends long before they were anything else. Their story’s always felt like the kind you only see in movies, complicated and tender and not without a little fire.
Molly became Colt’s parole officer after he got out of prison for assault, something that changed him permanently. They tried to keep their distance. Tried to do the “right” thing. But love like that doesn’t just go away because it’s inconvenient. And what they have now is healing. It’s a home. It's building a new family.
I shift in my seat, trying not to be obvious as I sneak a glance across the table at Lawson. His baseball cap is pulled low over his face, shading his eyes. He’s nursing what might be his third or fourth glass of whiskey and cutting into a steak with robotic movements before plopping his fork between his lips.
When I first walked in tonight, his jaw was set tight, his shoulders locked up like he was expecting a punch. But over the past hour, I’ve watched him slowly uncoil. Joking with Rae about how the state fair turned out, something that she as the town's mayor plans each year, teasing Cash about his obsession with the chicken showcase he’s organizing for the kids in town, something Lawson pretends to find ridiculous but always shows up for anyway. It's a chance to teach kids about the birds, their habits and the important work the farm handles here in Whitewood Creek while also giving them some hands on time with the little dinosaurs.
“Can you draw up a marketing plan that we can blast on social media and around town?” Cash asks, nudging Lawson.
“Hardly seems like a good use of my time,” Lawson deadpans, not missing a beat.
“Use the new guy,” Cash fires back. “I’m sure he can spare a few hours.”
“I can talk to Luca about it,” I offer before I can stop myself, trying to smooth the moment over.
Lawson’s eyes flick to mine. Briefly. Like a blink. And then they’re back on Cash. “Let’s not talk about work right now.”
The words land sharp. Like a line drawn in the sand. I know what he’s doing. Trying to set boundaries. Trying to do exactly what I told him we couldn't do. But still, normally, this conversation wouldn’t be a whole thing. It’s never been a thing.
We work together, all of us. We’re a team, we're bound to discuss our jobs when we get together outside of hours. But now, because of him, because of what I said after one steamy day together, he's trying to set clear boundaries and I’m to blame for it.
Cash nods, letting the topic drop, and Lawson pushes away from the table before disappearing into the kitchen. A few minutes later, he returns with something wrapped in foil and sets it in front of Kent.
“Here you go, Dad. This is from Dani and me. Happy birthday”
My eyebrows lift. I hadn’t seen what he bought but I’ve been curious. Kent leans forward and unwraps the foil. His eyes light up with joy.
