Page 9 of The Reason I Married Him
“Are you sure? Because if something is wrong, we can help you.”
“I appreciate that, Parson, but everything is great. Go enjoy your long weekend. And stop by The Almond Store on your way out of town. Tell Hattie I sent you to grab some cookies for your trip.”
“That’s awfully kind of you, Aubree. Thank you. Maybe those will keep Rodney quiet, at least for a little bit.”
I wiggle my eyebrows. “That’s the plan.” I offer him a wave, and he steps out of the small shed—my office.
I recently made it feel homier by painting every inch of it white, including covering the mismatched floors with a washable rug—we’re on a dusty farm after all. I also added a few black-and-white pictures of the farm—one including a family picture of Cassidy, Clarke, and MacKenzie—as well as a few plants. Not to mention, two chairs for any employees who need a second from the fields. With the in-window AC unit, it’s pretty cool in here and offers a good break from the heat. One of the many upgrades I’ve made since taking over.
When I first realized I could shift all my focus to the farm, I sat down with the employees and asked them what changes they would like to see. Parson wanted an air-conditioned place to eat his lunch since he was eating in his car. Apparently, his niece yelled at him one day for idling his truck and causing unnecessary gas emissions. I chuckled because I feel like Mac would say that when she’s older. She’s headstrong.
Esther and Aggie wanted some updated equipment. It wasn’t anything too expensive, just a few things like a new cart to drive around in and some updated iPads. That was an easy fix.
We also talked about what we could do to help bring in more income, and that was when we decided to go all in on the honeybees, which of course required a new hire. That new hire is Echo Alaska. She’s a small-town girl from Texas who spent her whole life living on a honey farm. Recently, she decided to venture out and see what was outside her small town. Well . . . she found another small town. She’s our beekeeper, and when she’s not on our farm, she’s driving around to different locations in the state to help with honeybee infestations. She collects the bees and brings them to the farm to increase our honey production. It’s a smart business plan, and I hope it adds a new level to the farm.
And I hope it helps with the finances.
I just don’t get it. We sold more but made less.
How?
I let out a shaky breath. Just thinking about it makes me feel nauseated, which means I need to get out of here before I lose my mind.
Before I start spiraling down a slippery slope of hatred and lies.
Lies my father burned into me growing up.
Not smart enough.
Will never amount to a thing.
Worthless.
Ugly bitch.
Not beautiful like my sisters . . .
No, not going there.
I pack my bag, slip it over my shoulder, and head out of the office. I lock up and turn toward the electric four-by-four I was able to find for a great deal and slide in just as I see Echo approach. As always, she’s wearing her short overalls with a tank top and a straw hat. She’s adorable.
“Are you leaving?” she asks.
“I was going to head back to my place. Why? Do you need something?”
“Uh, I just thought I’d have a conversation with you, but if you’re on your way home, I won’t bother you.”
“You’re never bothering me.” I pat the seat next to me. “Take a seat, and I can drive you back to your car or wherever you need to go.”
“Yeah, that would be great.” She takes a seat and sets her backpack on her lap.
“So what’s going on?”
“Well, this is sort of embarrassing and doesn’t have anything to do with work, but I spoke to my mom last night, and she told me that I need to come back to Texas.”
“Oh,” I say. How does that not have to do with work? That completely disturbs my future business plans. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes. She’s just, uh, a bit controlling.” Echo swallows nervously. “I don’t want to go back home. I like it here.”
