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At least you have the common sense not to get Beth Anderson pregnant. Heavens, Hunter, Lucy is off to pre-K next year and I’m done with babies. Don’t bring me one.
Calm down, May. He’s trying not to get Beth pregnant. You know these things aren’t a hundred percent effective, son?
My face is on fire, but I nod. This is so fucking awkward. Get me out of here already.
No sense in trying to stop them now, May.
I know. You need that girl as much as she needs you, Hunter. I’d love to make a fuss, but I won’t. At least we know now and if something goes wrong, you’ll come tell us?
Yep. There was no hiding anything from Bill and May. I got serious ‘been there, done that’ vibes from them on that day so long ago now. They stepped in as my substitute parents and I always told them when something went wrong. My first port of call. So many things had gone wrong, which at the time seemed out of my control. If only I’d taken charge and advocated for what I wanted… needed—
I swallow down a curse, annoyed at the whole Collingwood Farm business that’s regurgitated the past like this, today of all days when I need it the least. “Thanks for lunch. Sorry I didn’t bring better news. I know we made plans—”
“Man plans, God laughs,” Bill says. “We’ll be okay, but we need to get you through this.”
“And we will.” May takes the plates and I help her clean up as Bill goes to his desk to work on some admin before the late afternoon milking. The routine is so familiar, it’s like a soothing balm. Some things never change, and I hope they never do.
I help May load the dishwasher and then gather my car keys and phone from where I left them on the table.
“I’ll walk you out,” May says.
I check in with Bill one last time to say goodbye and step onto the porch, where May starts dead-heading some flowers in her porch pots.
“You can go, Hunter. You should go. I know what happened the one and only time you left home alone, but I promise, we’ll still be here when you come back. Nothing will change. I promise. Just take a day or two and go and see what you can make of this.”
Her words hit me right in the chest, vibrating to my heart where the pain somehow has eased, only to flare up out of nowhere. The one and only time I left home alone for a week’s summer camp, my folks died in a car accident, changing us Logan boys’ lives in a split second.
“I’ve been to New York, May. And Boston. And Montreal. They’re all big cities and all the same.”
“I know. And other places when we’ve traveled together, but never like this.”
I look away from her searching gaze. She might have a point. She always has.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Let us know when you leave.”
I nod and give her a kiss on the cheek and a squeeze of the hand. “Thanks for lunch, best shepherd’s pie in all of Vermont. In the States. Possibly the world. See? I don’t need to go anywhere.”
“Oh, go flirt somewhere else, Hunter Logan.”
I chuckle as I walk to my truck. With a last wave I drive off and at the top of the hill turn towards my own place, just down the road from the Brodie farm. I can’t face the office again today, and with my mind full, the only way to deal with the situation is to get out on the lake. Especially on a day like today, with the water slick like soap and not a breeze in the air. Once at home, I change out of my office attire and into swimming gear and a light sweatshirt. With a cap and sunglasses on, I tug a canoe into the water, get settled and ease away from the shore.
Two hours later I return to my house, salty with sweat, and my mind made up. I pick up my phone where I left it on the kitchen counter.
“Derek? Listen, start sourcing alternative suppliers to fill the dent Collingwood Farm will make if it gets sold for development. Can you also speak to Jessie? Ask her to set up a meeting with the sellers. I believe they’re in San Francisco now.”
“What?” Derek asks. “You want to meet with the Collingwoods?”
“I want to see what’s going on in their heads.”
“Sure, cuz. When?”
“Tomorrow late afternoon or the next day. I’m flying out first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Right. What should I tell Jessie? They might not be available at such short notice?”
“Tell Jessie to tell them I’m coming with a suitcase full of cash if that’s what it takes, but Brenda can’t know about it, okay? And tell Britt I’ll sort out my own plane ticket and hotel. Just let me know when the meeting is?”
