Page 68 of Your Two Lips
Lucas:He’s stubborn. I talked to him about eating better and getting some exercise. He said he gets enough exercise.
Me:Mom threatened to stop baking if he doesn’t go for a walk with her three times a week.
Lucas:Are you ready to take on more of the farm and the resort? This rich jackass has money on the line.
Me:Yes. I’d need time to make changes, more autonomy for crew leaders, but we should have done that already, anyway.
Lucas:Yeah, Dad never likes change.
Me:Understatement. I want to get the resort running first then I can take on more from Dad and transition pieces to others.
Lucas:Resort papers signed?
Me:Nope. Hell, no. [frustrated emoji]
Lucas:He’ll sign.
Me:Sometimes this farm is like a weight. I can feel Dad and Granddad behind me telling me not to screw up all their work with my dreams.
Lucas:You won’t screw up. You got this.
Me:Dad doesn’t see it that way.
Lucas:It’s not only your responsibility to succeed or screw up. Tess and I are here, too.
Yeah. I knew they were with me, and they both supported building the resort. But when it came down to the tough moments with Dad, it always felt like it was down to only me.
Me:I scheduled the grading. I needed to get on their calendar, or we’d miss the clear weather. I need Dad to sign before they start.
Lucas:Bold. Good for you. Dad is from another generation. He doesn’t realize that you have to jump on ideas and chances now or someone else will.
Me:Thanks man.
I tossed the phone aside, feeling both settled and restless after texting with Lucas. Things were happening a little out of order, which was throwing me off. I assumed it would be years and the bike resort in full swing before I took over the farm.
And Emily. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something she wasn’t telling me. Was she going back to Seattle? Is that why she introduced me as just a companion to that woman? Was this as real for her as it was for me? If this wasn’t real, she deserved an Oscar for her performance in the role of my perfect woman.
43
EMILY
I made pies.It was a risk bringing baked goods to an accomplished baker, but cherry pie was my go-to, and I was too anxious to risk something else. I was going to a family dinner with Finn, and I wasn’t sure it was a good idea. It was something a serious couple would do, a couple planning a future together. I didn’t have a future with Finn, no matter how much I wanted one.
Lucas would be there, and Finn said he loved sweets, so I should bring two if I was bringing pie. They were still warm, and I wrapped them in extra tea towels in the carrying case. I bought two pints of Island Dairy vanilla ice cream as well.
The weather was warm, and the air near the ground was clear even though high-level smoke from forest fires in Eastern Washington gave the sunlight an orange tint. The summer had been dry and hot. A lethal recipe for forests.
Lucas and Bob were at the grill flipping steaks with Rex alert at their feet. His doggie-focus unwavering in hopes something would drop. Finn greeted me at the top of the steps.
“I’m glad you’re here.” His hug was warm and eased my nerves. He took the pie carrier from my grasp then spoke in an accusing hiss. “You’re wearing a bra.”
“Yes.” I stood on tiptoes to whisper in his ear. “But I promise you’ll like it.” There was no way I was going to show up to a family dinner without a bra.
He grinned then waved to his family.
“Dad, you remember Emily.”
“Of course. Welcome.”
