“Yes, it is.”
“Okay let’s hear it.” Cyrus crossed his arms over his chest.
“Uhm …well. We could buy the house and consider it an investment property.”
“How does that make us money?”
“It doesn’t but it keeps the house in the family.”
Dial cringed. “Sorry Eddy, I like Cy’s idea better.”
“I wasn’t exactly prepared to present a comprehensive pitch.”
“I think it’s this or nothing. And we all get what we want. Dial gets a chance to expand the Birch empire. I get to boost Hume’s economy. And Eddy gets to save his childhood home.”
“Our childhood home.”
“Sure buddy.” He winked at me.
“What do you think Edison?” I could tell Dial liked this deal and after she ran the numbers, she’d probably love it.
“Maybe.” I chose to be noncommittal. I wanted to save the house. But I already had so much shit on my plate I didn’t think it was possible to add more. “I just need to read the proposal and do some Googles of my own. Talk to Fancy.”
“Bonus selling point, it could be fun. The Birch kids working together again.”
“Hmm …maybe.”
“Okay well I’ve got to run. Because unlike you two crumb bums, I have important people waiting for me.”
“No, you don’t,” Dial said with a straight face. He was the mayor of Hume, but he was also our brother so he would always get roasted.
Cyrus threw up two crisp middle fingers for me and Dial to share.
In the timeFancy had been away, I’d tried busying myself with projects that would keep my mind off missing her. I spent long days at Figs and Twine reorganizing the sales floor and greenhouse to make room for new plant arrivals. At home I focused on cataloging as many items as possible so I could sell them through online auctions. The living room would be almost unrecognizable when Fancy returned. Gone was the artwork depicting slices of farm life, the assortment of figurines and nesting dolls which were sold as a lot and earned me a pretty penny.
Why Mr. Castle collected so many candle holders I would never know, but I sold over twenty of them. I kept a few that were made of silver; after removing the tarnish I was able to appreciate their beauty. In the bedroom, I spent a great deal of time moving around clothes and shoes, making space for Fancy to spread out. On the property, I hired a crew to erect a three-stall stable. Cotton Candy would need a proper home and maybe a friend.
All this busy work made me anxious; the time wasn’t ticking fast enough and the days, which normally fly by, now seemed to drag. Fancy and I talked or texted every day. When they performed in Nashville, I was in the front row cheering her on. In the middle of the show, surrounded by the crowd of screaming fans, I started to feel guilty. Hard to believe she would willingly walk away from all this.
Leaving Whiskey Wild had nothing to do with me. It was more about the deterioration of her relationship with Darla. But that night while we lay in the hotel bed, I let her know I would always support her and her dreams were my dreams. I don’t think it needed to be said, but I could tell she appreciated hearing it.
In a few hours Fancy and I would be reunited. Last night I lay awake silently, willing the moon to disappear under the horizon. At the first signs of the sun, I was up and knocking out my chores. Today was similar to the first day of school. You’d pick out an outfit the night before and got a fresh haircut and you couldn’t wait to get to school and walk the halls in your fresh new fit.
I’d offered to pick Fancy up from the airport, but she declined, stating she wanted our reunion to take place on the farm. So, although her plane landed an hour ago, I still had to wait for Oz and her to make the trek to Hume. I hoped time made her heart grow fonder and the distance wasn’t giving her pause. I’d be lying if I said I was one hundred percent confident. More nights than I liked to admit, I sleeplessly analyzed our conversations, the hitch in her voice, the delay after I told her I loved her.
Love is terrifying. When you step back and think about it, it’s a wonder people willingly open themselves up to it. I was a creature of habit and up until recently my life could be described as run of the mill. But Fancy swooped in and turned all thaton its head. Now I spent my days distracted, thinking about our conversations from the night before. The funny stories she would share made me laugh until my belly ached. Or being able to stare into her chestnut brown eyes during our video chats, which often turned steamy. Love was all-consuming and it didn’t leave room for much else.
When his souped-up truck pulled in front of the house, I nearly tripped over my feet trying to get to the door. I spotted my girl waving from the cab of the truck and I returned the gesture. Both my wave and smile were big and exaggerated. Fuck playing it cool. I missed her and once the truck slowed to a stop, I accosted the passenger door, pulling her from the cab.
Her arms wrapped around me, clapping my back. God I’d missed her hugs. They were the best. Fancy’s body was warm and soft and the fragrant scent of honeysuckle clung to her person. She’d been gone so long the house no longer smelled like her. All traces of her existence were eliminated. I tried to replicate the fragrance with fabric spray on my bed linens, but it wasn’t the same.
When her lips touched down on mine, it was like a cosmic reset. All the time apart, all the lonely nights, all the doubt dissipated. It was just me, my favorite girl, and the country air with hints of bluebells, freshly mowed grass, and laundry drying on the line. Oz didn’t even cut off the engine, he removed her two large pieces of luggage from the truck and just drove off. Fancy and I were too busy kissing to acknowledge his departure.
“Let me get a look at you.” I pulled away and surveyed her frame, looking for even the minor of changes. At this point, I had Fancy’s face mapped out like I’d majored in the science of perfection and all things Francesca Palmer in college. I could identify every dimple, freckle, and the flicks of amber in her eyes.
“I haven’t changed.”
“I think your ass got fatter.” I gave her cheeks a playful smack.
