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“I know, but I’ve done a lot of research. It doesn’t take nearly as much as you’d think.”
She shakes her head, and her matching green eyes meet mine. “I’d like you to take this time for yourself. I’m fine to go live in an apartment or an assisted living facility.”
“You do not need to be in an assisted living facility. You’ll live here, and after I’m done with the ranch, I’m going to fix up this house so you don’t trip and fall.”
Her thin lips tip, and all her love for me pours into her expression. “You’re the best daughter a mom could ask for. Your dad too. He’d say all the time how proud he was of you.”
Proud but never trusted me. My chest aches.
“I got lucky too.”
Her smile deepens. “Go enjoy being young.”
I laugh and cover her hand on my cheek with my own. “Call me if you need me?”
“I’ll be fine. Price is Right is next. You know how I love bidding.”
“All right. Love you.”
“Love you.”
I stand and grab my purse from the end of the couch, walking to the door.
“Please think about what I said, Sadie.”
I turn back to her, and my shoulders fall. “I will.”
I figure that’s better than fighting about it more. I love that she wants me to go out and explore the world, but my life is here now, on my family farm, with friendships that have only deepened throughout the years. So I’ll let her believe I’m thinking about leaving, but it’s not even a consideration.
I drive under the iron arch that reads Plain Daisy Ranch and follow the road past the Noughton family home in the direction of the other homes that surround the lake. I’m not sure why Bruce never built a new house on the water, although I’m sure it has something to do with Mrs. Noughton and the home they built together.
I pass Ben and Emmett’s drives and turn onto Jude’s. I still find it crazy that he built his own house. I always wondered why a man who has never talked about getting married would build a four-bedroom home with a big kitchen for entertaining.
The lights are on in the family room and kitchen, and his favorite country music plays while he cooks. I knock on the screen door, and he peeks over his shoulder.
“Hey,” he says with one of his heart-wrenching smiles.
It’s only heart-wrenching because I wish he was giving me that smile when I was waking up in his bed.
I walk into the kitchen, and the smell of garlic fills my nostrils, making my stomach growl. And I even ate lunch today.
He’s at the kitchen sink, his back to me, and I admire the way his black T-shirt stretches across his shoulders and narrows at his waist. He’s changed out of his jeans and into joggers, and god help me, he’s barefoot. The kicker is, he’s completely blind to the fact that I’m drooling behind him.
“Wine is in the fridge if you want some,” he calls, grabbing the colander of green beans and putting them next to the cutting board on his island.
“Oh, you didn’t have to.” I slip off my sandals at the door and drop my purse on a kitchen chair.
“We’re going to celebrate tonight.” He doesn’t look up, cutting off each green bean stem and placing them in another bowl.
“Celebrate?” I open his fridge and grab the bottle of white wine. My favorite brand. What in the world is going on?
“Yeah, mind grabbing me a beer?”
Before the door closes, I grab him a bottle of beer, then go over to the drawer where he keeps both openers. “What are we celebrating exactly?”
Still not looking up, he says, “Later. Let’s eat first.”
He takes the bowls to the stove, pours olive oil into a pan, and dumps in the green beans.
