Page 75 of Your Two Lips
“Didn’t sleep too well last night, indigestion or something, so I’m a little stiff today.” He rubbed his arm and neck as he swiveled in his chair.
“If you’ve signed the papers, I can take them to the attorney’s office after the meeting.” My heartbeat sped up. I was pushing, but I didn’t have a good feeling.
“That’s what I wanted to talk about. There’s an additional consideration.” My blood rushed into my ears. “Your mom wants me to start handing off more to you so we can plan that travel we’ve always talked about. The timing is sooner than we originally planned. I need to make sure you have your legs under you with everything before we pile on more with this resort.”
“I’ve been working here my entire life, Dad. I know this farm inside and out. I can manage it and the resort.”
“I know you believe that son. I think we need a little more time before the resort.”
“Dad, I’m telling you, we’re good. I just need your signature.” My voice rang with frustration. My fight with Emily earlier and now my dad was putting me way over the top. I wanted to hit something or bike ten hard miles uphill.
“I need to step back and then make sure things are still running smoothly before we move forward. With any luck, I’ll be traveling so much by then I won’t even notice the change.”
“Dad, I won’t wait. The city has already put in the water lines. I have four complete yurt packages ready to be shipped. And I put down a deposit on the grading. It starts next week. You said you would sign the papers. It’s time.”
Dad looked off to the side, then glared at me. “You had no right to schedule that grading, Finn. This is still my land, and I decide what happens on it.”
“I am aware this is your land, Dad. You’ve mentioned it before,” I snapped, proving to the old man that I could do it too.
“Watch it.”
“I understand what’s happening. You don’t think I can do it. You don’t think I can run the farm as well as you because I don’t do everything the way you do it.”
“Now, that is not true. You’ll do well when the time is right.”
“When will that be?”
“When I say so. When I’ve seen you pour your heart and soul into this place the way you pour it into your biking. I’m glad you have a hobby, but this business supports several families, and it deserves your full attention.”
“I pour more than enough into this farm every day. And biking is not a hobby. This resort is not a hobby. I can’t keep waiting. Either you want me to have some real ownership of this land, or you don’t.”
Dad’s face became red, almost purple, as he stood.
“Don’t give me an ultimatum, Finn. This is my farm, and I will decide when we make changes. Period. This resort isn’t happening right now.”
The old man was going to blow a gasket, and I couldn’t bring myself to care at the moment. I’d done everything he ever asked of me and worked every job here since I was twelve. I was in the growers’ meetings by seventeen. I made decisions daily that impacted the future of this business. It still wasn’t enough for him. I wasn’t Lucas with his Midas touch, and I wasn’t his baby girl who could do no wrong.
I was just Finn, the one he was trying to mold into a mirror image of himself and not having much luck. His father did it to him and probably Granddad’s father before that. Dad wanted me to have his dream for this land. I had my own dream. I loved this land, and I wanted to be here. But if I stayed in this office, one or both of us was going to say something even more regrettable.
I gave him a mocking salute. “Got it, Dad. Loud and clear. You’re the boss, and I am the worker. As a worker, I’m calling in sick the rest of the day. Plenty of other people can help you confirm the fall planting schedule. Call one of them.”
Dad didn’t try to stop me. And I was moving forward with the grading. I couldn’t delay again. I wasn’t sure how I would make that okay, and two glasses of bourbon didn’t offer any answers, either. I wrestled with sleep and thoughts to the point of exhaustion.
I woke with a start.My cell phone chimed from the charger next to my bed. It was already morning? Fuck, this would be a long day. I cracked open my eyes, and the light usually streaming in under the curtains wasn’t there. I looked at the clock as the phone rang again. Three-thirty in the morning.
I scrambled to grab the phone. Mom.
“What’s wrong?”
She was crying. I was already getting dressed. “Your father, he, I don’t know what, but the ambulance came, and they are taking him to Harborland Hospital. I’m riding with him, and I need you to meet me. Can you meet me?”
“I’m on my way.” I grabbed my wallet and keys from the kitchen.
“Thank you, Finn. Thank God for you.” I jammed on my sneakers and sprinted for my truck. I called Lucas. He said he could be here in seventy minutes, the bonus of a fast car in the middle of the night. Tess had gone back to Pullman a couple of days ago and was six hours away. She didn’t need to jump in her car by herself and drive in the middle of the night. Lucas said he would arrange a private jet as soon as possible, and we’d call Tess when we could give her those details as well.
I reached the hospital in record time, sprinted through the emergency room doors, and stopped at the desk. I ran my hand through my hair. “My dad. Bob—Robert Bakker came in a few minutes ago. My mom was with him. Where are they?”
“What is your name?”
