Page 91 of Hand Picked
There was something about Laura’s kind face that made me feel like she’d accept me, loser and all, the same way her son accepted everyone he’d ever met.
She smiled. “He said you have a lot going on right now. Aiden and his mom, the orchard, your other family members. It sounds like you carry a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders.”
I nodded. “He does, too, though.”
She dipped her chin. “True. He takes his job very seriously. Always has.”
“He loves those kids,” I said. “More than anything. He’s the most dedicated teacher I’ve ever seen. And the Hollow is lucky to have him. Hell, he ramped up this whole Pick-a-Book thing in the middle of the big house renovations because he didn’t want to miss out on a chance to publicize it during the Spring Fling. He’s been working day and night to make sure the children’s book charity gets plenty of support at the festival.”
I stopped to take a breath. “He’s one of the best humans I’ve ever met,” I added softly.
“You’re falling in love with him, aren’t you?”
I blinked up at her. Was she nuts? Love?Pfft.But how did I tell Luke’s mother, of all people, that…
I stopped when my brain—and heart—caught up with her words.
“I…” My throat felt lumpy and weird. “I… he…”
Laura reached across to pat my hand. “Kinda makes you feel like puking, doesn’t it?”
“Oh God. I love him. I want this to be real. Not a town joke.”
Was it suffocating in here, or was it just me?
“Good. But be sure, Webb. Because if you’re not ready for this, you need to tell him. Luke is sensitive, and he needs someone who’s going to be there for him. Someone who won’t run when the going gets tough. A man who won’t flake out on him. He deserves someone reliable.”
Her words made my head swim. I felt like fate was playing a cruel trick on me. Since when wasIthe unreliable one in any situation?
But she was right. I wasn’t being consistent with Luke.
I’d let my fear get the better of me.
The back door slammed open, making me jump out of my skin. “Mom, help! The baby got out, and I need help getting her before the cows do. Stella somehow broke through—” He stepped far enough into the kitchen to notice me. “Oh. Webb. Hi.”
I stood up and raced toward him. “What happened? Stella’s out?” That cow was going to be the death of me. We’d put her and the others in a different area to keep them away from Muriel while she was calving, but she must have found a way out of her pasture.
We hustled outside and across the yard to the sheep enclosure.
“I got a lamb,” he said over his shoulder. “And she’s tiny.” I could hear the fear in his voice.
“We’ll get her, baby,” I said, rushing ahead of him. “I promise.”
When we got past the enclosure to the other side, I saw my brother Knox headed our way on the 4x4 with Marco in the passenger seat.
I also saw Stella and Diana munching sweet spring grass next to a fat ewe and an adorable baby lamb, who looked like a collection of cotton balls on Q-tip legs. Everyone was chilling as if it was no big deal.
Thank God we didn’t have a bull.
“I’ll get Stella and Diana heading back in the right direction if you grab the baby,” I said to Luke.
He agreed and headed toward the sheep while I made my way to the cows. What followed included a comical amount of mud, manure, Luke’s special brand of non-cursing, my ear-curling brand of actual cursing, and Marco’s colorful commentary while taking video with his iPhone to post on the Pippin Peeps Facebook page.
Once we’d gotten the sheep back in their enclosure, we herded Stella and Diana back onto my family’s property and into a pasture with better fencing. Knox offered to run Luke and me back to Luke’s place in the 4x4 since my car was still there.
Before we took off, Marco looked up from his phone with a grin. “Lookie there. I just earned myself a commemorative scroll.”
Dread pooled in my gut. “What do you mean?”
