Page 42 of Till The Cows Come Home
“I don’t really have one anymore.”
It wasn’t the words that broke my heart, as much as the way his voice sounded as he said it.
“I’m sorry, Miles. I didn’t know. We can talk about something else,” I rambled.
“No, it’s alright,” he responded, his voice noticeably stronger than a few moments before. “There isn’t too much to tell honestly. I’m an only child, born from two only children. My parents had me later in life, so by middle school my grandparents had passed. They wanted more kids, but when they tried, it never worked out. I assume that’s the same reason it took them so long to have me in the first place. We were all really close, I mean I worked at the same accounting firm as my dad until I bought the farm.”
He paused for a moment and I could hear the porch swing creaking as he rocked, filling the silence as he searched for his next words.
“Anyway, my mom was diagnosed with late stage breast cancer and passed away about five years ago. My dad passed the following year. I think he missed her so much his body just couldn’t take it. There wasn’t much left in my hometown without them, so now I’m here.”
I wiped away the tears that had stained my cheeks. I’d been so awful to this man, and he was just like me, attempting to find his way amid the wreckage.
“I’m sorry I was so awful to you.”
“Don’t apologize, Sage. I’d rather you be authentic. I got enough pity back then. I don’t need it now. I’m happy here and I’d like to think they’re looking down at me proud as hell.”
“I can’t imagine you sitting behind a desk all day,” I said, smirking as I pictured Miles' giant frame behind a tiny cubicle.
“I did it because it was the safe option. They were getting older and my hours were predictable. I didn’t work late, could help with the meals....”
“You did it for them.”
“And I’d do it five times over if I had the chance.”
“You’re not as bad as I thought you were,” I groaned.
He laughed a loud, beautiful laugh that echoed through the open air, shattering the heaviness that loomed around our conversation.
“I promise if you hang around the farm long enough, my other flaws will surface and you can cling to those.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Speaking of, how am I supposed to see you now that there's nothing enticing you to be at the farm?”
“I wouldn’t say there's nothing,” I whispered.
Chapter Nineteen
Miles
Iattempted to hide the overwhelming interest in my voice, my eagerness threatening to interfere with the tricky emotional balance Sage and I currently held.
“Hm, is that right?”
“It is, but it's about time you properly courted me. You’ve been using Blossom’s birth as an excuse to see me, and I think it's about time you stopped riding the coattail of that tragedy.”
“Oh Sage, you have no idea what you’re asking for,” I teased.
“I’m talking boombox on your shoulder, throwing rocks at my windows, driving me off into the distance on a tractor. I know exactly what I’m asking for. I want it all.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
We talked for a few more minutes, but as the moon burned brighter, I couldn’t help but submit to the exhaustion weighing down on me.
“It’s getting late, pretty girl. This grandpa needs to get to bed.”
“Me too,” she whispered.
