Page 50 of Hand Picked
“Congratulations again,” Jerry called as he and his assistant got in his truck, and I nodded, because it seemed impolite not to, even though I hadn’t the foggiest idea what was actually happening.
“Webb? Is there anything you might like to explain to me?” I asked out the side of my mouth.
“You mad?” Webb asked, still smiling in Jerry’s direction.
“Depends. What did I just agree to?”
Jerry started his truck, and Webb and I each gave him a cheery wave.
“Look, you need your roof fixed, right?” Webb said reasonably.
“You know I do. But—”
“You were gonna do it yourself. I know. Once you figured out how to repair a slate roof—which many roofers don’t even know how to do—and had the time to do it and learned how to safely climb a ladder.”
“Hey!” I protested. “I know how.”
Even if I didn’t always put what I knew into practice.
“If there were ever a job to leave to the professionals, Luke, it’s this one. It’s dangerous.”
I blew out a breath because I knew he was correct. But that didn’t make himright.
“You can’t pay for my roof,” I insisted. “It’s not fair.” I didn’t want to be a burden to Webb or anyone.
“I didn’t, though,” Webb said quickly. “No cash will exchange hands, I promise. For one thing, Jerry was so moved by the whole handfasting spectacle that he quoted us—I meanyou—a really good price. And then it so happens I have an old machine he wants to restore, so we’re bartering my tractor for this job. You’d be doing me a favor, honestly, by letting me do this, since it’s, you know, giving me an excuse to clear out old junk.”
I peered up at him suspiciously, and his green eyes blinked down at me, all innocence. “Good gravy. You fib about as well as your son does, which is to say, really, really badly.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled back—arealsmile this time, and wasn’t it a crazy thing that I knew the difference? “Then look at it this way: you offered to sell me the Pond orchard for peanuts, right? Well, maybe I’ll let you. Maybe this is me doing something nice for you, too.”
“But… we don’t even know for sure if the land’s mine in the first place. I called Stephen, and he hasn’t called me back. What if it’s yours already?”
I hated taking things from people. I’d much rather be the one helping.
“Then that’s even easier, so who cares? Friends don’t keep score,” Webb informed me. “You do nice things for me because I’m your friend, and I do nice things for you because you’re mine.”
I ran my tongue over my front teeth, considering. I knew I was being stubborn, but… gosh, it made me feel weird to accept his help.
“Let me do this, Luke,” he pleaded. “You don’t know how many times I’ve replayed your mom’s call in my head. When she talked about how she felt better knowing my family would be there for you… That’s what it should have been like. It’s my fault that it wasn’t.”
“But… why wasn’t it?” I still didn’t understand why he’d held a grudge against me for so long.
He blushed red. “I don’t know. I was… wrong. About a lot of things. And it would mean a lot if you’d let me do this, in the name of friendship.”
“Ugh.” I rolled my eyes. “Porter is not the only snake charmer in your family,” I informed him.
“Does that mean yes?”
“Yes, it means… yes. Thank you, Webb. I can’t believe you’re doing this.” I huffed out a breath. “Please tell me you negotiate better when it comes to your apple prices, or else I’m gonna seriously worry about your profit margins.”
His deep laughter rang around the empty yard. “Trust me, I’m a shark when it comes to my apples. You’re getting the friends and family deal because the idea of you getting hurt…” He broke off with a head shake. “Not okay.”
I melted. I really, really liked the idea of being his friends and family, and I wanted to bask in his protectiveness for as long as it lasted.
“It’s been a week,” I blurted.
“Hmm?”
