Page 83 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads
“Josh,” I wheezed, “would you like me to ask your brother to prioritize fixing your bathroom fan?”
“Oh my God,” he groaned.“Would you, please?”
I held up one finger while still laughing and dug my phone out of my pocket.By the time Timothy answered on the second ring, I was already losing it again.
A few giggles escaped before full laughter punched through.
“Are you drunk?”Timothy asked cautiously.“Do I need to come pick you up somewhere?”
Even angry, Timothy would still show up for me.I tried to pull myself together and glanced at Josh, who looked ready to crawl under his desk and live there permanently.Which triggered a whole new burst of laughter.
“Not drinking yet.Could you please…” Two more giggles escaped.“Pretty please, for my boss’s sanity, prioritize fixing Josh’s bathroom fan?”I dissolved again, laughing and wiping tears from my eyes.
Silence greeted me from the other end.
“I am currently sitting in Josh’s office being fussed at like he’s the principal and I’m the bad kid.Your mom is threatening him if I don’t sign a contract.Erika’s pressuring him to have me help Vinny with an FFA crisis today.The poor man got no sleep because of the baby, and then his coach rode his ass.And…” I had to pause to take a breath.“It sounds like the equine vets are revolting.”Another laugh escaped me.“Rye, can you please help this poor man out?I think…” I sucked in a breath, trying to regain control.“Something truly horrific must be happening in that bathroom to justify this level of crisis.I’m thinking he’s got the runs from stress or something.”
For one second there was dead silence.
Josh groaned from across the desk and covered his face.
Then Timothy cracked.A laugh burst out of him, followed by full, helpless laughter so hard I could practically picture him doubled over somewhere with one hand braced against a wall.
“Hand the phone to Josh,” Timothy finally managed to say.
I passed it over, but Timothy talked loudly enough I could hear him clear as day.
“I’ll stop by on my way home.You make sure you have the new unit ready to install.”There was a pause.“Hey, Josh…”
“Yeah?”Josh grunted cautiously.
“Well played.”
The call disconnected.
Josh stared down at my phone like it had just performed a miracle.Slowly, carefully, he handed it back to me.
“Gia,” he said softly, “do you understand no one else on this planet has that kind of power?”
I shrugged, giving him a confused what-are-you-talking-about look.
He let out a tired laugh and leaned back in his chair.“Nobody gets Timothy to do a damn thing that isn’t on Timothy’s timeline.”He pointed at the phone.“That man’s heart is already sitting in your hands whether he realizes it or not.”
ChapterTwenty-Nine
TIMOTHY
The next day,I dropped by to discuss the terms of the tractor sale with Ken Almond after he didn’t answer his phone all morning.What I didn’t expect was to see two veterinary trucks on site—Carolina Equine and Vision Veterinary.
My traitorous brain hoped it was Gia.
Inside the horse aisleway, Ken’s expensive eventing mare was drenched in sweat, eyes wild, sides heaving.She kept trying to throw herself to the ground every few steps while Ken’s daughter, Shay, fought the lead rope with shaking hands.Dr.Hudson Raynes stood beside the mare, jamming medication into her neck with quick, practiced movements.His posture was tight in a way I’d seen many a vet have when they expected everything to end poorly.
“Keep her walking!”Hudson barked.
Shay nodded, tears running down her face.“Come on, Artax.Come on, girl.”
The mare staggered forward, then immediately tried to collapse again.Ken shoved against her shoulder with a grunt, forcing her to remain upright before she could go down.
