Page 3 of Sawyer
“Hey, Ma?”Kevin asks tentatively as he approaches me.
“Yes, honey?”I stand up, brushing the dirt from my clothes.My shirt is threadbare, my jeans ripped, but instead of old, they look like the latest fashion trend, meaning I can wear them for a lot longer than I usually would.
“Do you think I can join the baseball team this year?”
He’s wanted to play baseball for years.He enjoys catching the ball with his friends at school and is glued to the TV whenever games are on.Kids' sports are expensive, though, and previously, we haven’t been able to stretch things that far, but I’ve been saving all year to make this happen for him.That’s the main reason why I want to build Gertie’s Soaps.I can see the potential, and it will make a difference to our lives, despite how exhausted I’ll be.I already stay up way too late most nights making soaps, since the only time I can allocate is when the kids are asleep.That and the fact that it helps me pass the time until I can barely keep my eyes open.I’ve been functioning on four hours of sleep a night for almost a year.I know it isn’t good for me, but I prefer to handle the development myself.That way I can control the quality of the flowers and aroma oils I harvest and make here at the farm, keeping everything organic.
“You really want to play?”I smile, and he nods quickly.
“Harvey plays, and his dad, Dr.Hamilton, takes him to practice every week.He said they can give me a lift if you're busy here on the farm.I can milk the goats early before school, and I’ll make sure I do all my chores…” His words tumble out as he states his case, and my heart sinks a little, sad that he’s already worked out logistics in the hope of making things easier for me.I look at my boy and think about everything he’s been through and everything he’s done for me and his little brother since his dad died.I then look at my hands, seeing chipped nails and scratches from all my hard work, my nightly five-to-nine before getting up the next morning to do my nine-to-five, support teaching at Whispers Elementary.I can’t keep going the way I am.It’s too much, for both of us.
“We have the money this year, honey.You can play on the team.”
He looks dumbfounded for a moment, clearly surprised, thinking my answer would be no, just like every other year.As I smile at him, he lunges at me, his body almost knocking me to the ground.I laugh heartily as I hold him tight, knowing this means a lot to him.
“Thank you, Ma.I promise, I’ll try my best every single game.”
My eyes blur with tears.Kevin does a lot for me, too much, really.He’s only ten and has to shoulder a lot more responsibility than a kid ever should at his age.Playing on the local kids’ baseball team will give him the opportunity to be the little boy he’s meant to be, not the man of the house he’s becoming.
“You just need to promise to have fun.”I pull away and look at him, smiling softly when I see him a little glassy-eyed.It’s then something catches my eye over his shoulder, and I spot a car making its way up our long gravel driveway.
“Who’s that?”Kevin turns, positioning himself in front of me like a shield.My boy is very protective of me, probably because it’s just been the two of us looking after everything for so long, little Noah included.
“I have no idea.”I watch the vehicle get closer.The truck isn’t familiar, but it’s shiny and new and the sun reflecting off it almost blinds me.
“Why don’t you grab Noah and go inside to get cleaned up for supper.”
He frowns at my suggestion, looking back at the truck and then back at me.We don’t often get visitors, so he’s wary, but I nod at him, which alleviates his concerns.
“Sure, Ma.”He walks to his little brother, grabbing his hand, and I watch the two of them run into the house.As the truck pulls up, I dust my hands off on my already dirty shirt and push my hair back out of my face again.The unruly, long blond locks never staying back in my ponytail all day.
I step forward a few paces and notice a guy step out of his car and stall.He’s suited up.Tailored fabric, his shirt white and crisp, his shoes black and high shine.He’s also tall, his shoulders broad, hair on the shorter side and styled.I push my own shoulders back and fix my hair again, not used to having well-put-together, attractive men on my property.
“Can I help you?”I hold on to the small garden hoe I’ve been using in the garden.It isn’t much, the man so tall and broad I doubt it will even create a dent, but if I need to use it, I will.When he finally looks at me, I momentarily forget how to breathe.His handsome face sucker punches me.He isn’t someone I know because he’s the kind of guy a woman remembers.Tall, dark, and handsome, he looks like he can pick you up and throw you over his shoulder, just like you see in the movies.
“Good afternoon.I hope I’m not interrupting.”He pronounces his words carefully, sounding uppity and matching his looks.As he slowly walks toward me, the smile on his face is fake as hell, his teeth blindingly white, his skin flawless with a little stubble.He looks like a male model from a magazine or something.He definitely doesn't belong here.I push my hair back again, feeling a little self-conscious and on guard.It’s been a long time since a man has taken me by surprise.Even longer since a man has made me feel something inside.My gut is now doing somersaults from nerves, fear or curiosity or interest, which one, I’m not sure.
“Are you lost?”There’s no way someone like him is here for someone like me, unless it’s something to do with the bank.I panic slightly, wondering if I’ve accidentally failed to pay someone and if he’s a debt collector.Although, if this is how debt collectors look, I may be incentivized to deliberately skip the next electricity bill.
“I’m looking for Annabelle Davis?”I adjust my grip on the hoe with sweaty hands.
“That’s me.”My eyes flick to the house where Kevin watches from the window, a scowl on his face, ready to pounce.The man pauses a few feet away from me, his face hard set, but he has kind eyes.He’s very clean.Almost comically so.I would say he’s from the city, all sophisticated and has that air of rich arrogance.I notice the sun shimmering off his watch, a shiny Rolex glistening on his wrist.Yeah, this guy is rich.I imagine him being quite the catch for some young girl in New York, probably a model or socialite.I feel the dirt on my hands and beneath my nails and cringe.Definitely not for a woman like me.
“My name is Sawyer Silvers.I’m the legal representative for Tanner Whiteman at Whiteman’s Whiskey.Tanner and Victoria asked me to organize some business paperwork for Gertie’s Goat Milk Soaps.”I take a big breath before I release it, remembering his name from when Victoria mentioned him during our conversation about growing the business last week.She mentioned at the time that Sawyer, her lawyer, would handle it all.I drop the hoe in relief, the tool thudding on the ground.He looks at it and frowns before his eyes meet mine again.
“Victoria mentioned that you were doing some paperwork for Gertie’s.I just wasn’t expecting you to come here.”A small grin curls my lips at knowing he’s friend, not foe.I haven’t had much experience with lawyers before, but if Victoria and Tanner trust him, I guess I can too.Truth be told, I don’t have much choice.When my husband passed away, so did all our measly family income.No life insurance, a stack of bills that kept getting bigger, and two kids, and I struggled for a long time.
“Yeah, well, that makes two of us.”His tone is slightly condescending as he glances around my property.He gazes at my small run-down house and expansive fields, assessing it all.Taking in the rusted shed out back and the overflowing garden that I need to weed, he looks back at me, and my shoulders stiffen.
I’m used to the townspeople looking at me with their judgy eyes, so I don’t shrivel under his gaze.Instead, I meet his gaze head-on.I wasn’t always so sure of myself.Years ago, I was a charity case.I had to be.Taking donations from the church just to get by.Now, I’ve learned how to survive, and I did it all on my own.
“I have some paperwork that requires your signature.”He lifts a folder that’s in his hand.
“Oh, sure.Ahhhh, we should go inside, then.”I remember my manners and turn, walking to the house, and I hear him follow, his shoes crunching on the gravel.I wonder briefly if the flashy black leather can hold up in this dusty, rough environment.
As I step up onto my porch, I cringe once again at hearing the boards creaking underfoot.Opening the door, I kick off my boots and take a moment to settle my nerves.Nerves at a stranger turning up at my place.Nerves from having a man in my house.It’s been a long time since that’s happened.Not since my husband's passing has there been a man who wasn’t a doctor or a friend in my home.My brain scrambles, trying to remember everything Victoria mentioned.I push my shoulders back to maintain an air of professionalism, even though he’s without a doubt one of the most handsome men I’ve ever met, and I currently look like one of those trolls from that movie my kids love watching so much.
"So, what do I need to do?"As the words leave my mouth, I feel excitement building.Hesitation?Yes.Worry?Yes.Stress?Definitely.But ever since I met Victoria, my life has become more positive.Like there’s light at the end of the tunnel.It’s a very long tunnel and the light is barely visible, but it’s there.We have a good system going.Kevin milks her goats and brings the milk to me.I make the soaps at night, distilling my own oil from the lavender and roses here on my farm on weekends, and each week produce a few boxes of soaps that Victoria picks up, packages, and distributes.
