“Why?”
“I don’t know, but after all the fuss when we got bought out, we really haven’t heard a thing from corporate. Now out of the blue someone is coming. Like tomorrow.”
“They promised nothing would change. There hasn’t been any announcement to the contrary, has there?”
“No. But it seems like odd timing. We’re so busy. No one has time to deal with someone looking over our shoulders right now. You don’t think they’ll close Porter’s, do you?”
“No way.”
“What if they realize how young I am and fire me so they can hire someone older and more experienced to manage the retail store?”
She was quickly outgrowing the title of his little girl. Wise beyond her years, she made him proud and panicky at thesame time. “Misty, you might be young, but you’re doing a great job. You showed me your reports. You’re responsible for the lift in sales last year since the new layout of the store. You’ve saved them a great deal of money, and profits are at an all-time high. You’re a natural. No one is going to replace you. Your good work stands for itself.”
“You really think so?”
“I do. Don’t worry about things you have no control over. Enjoy being a teenager. There’s no sense in worrying about all that stuff right now.”
“I know, but I’d be heartbroken if anything happened to my job at Porter’s. I love being there. It makes me still feel close to Mom.”
He hugged her close. “Which is probably why you’re so good at it.” A day didn’t go by that he didn’t curse his grandfather for selling out. Sure, the corporation had promised they’d leave everything “as is” with Porter’s, but didn’t they all say that? “You know you don’t have to work all those hours. If you had more time with your friends, or study group, that wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Maybe you’re stressed because you’re so busy.”
“I’m getting all A’s, Dad. I don’t need more time to study, and I see my friends at the store too.” The horse she’d just put up leaned forward, hanging his head out of the stall and resting his chin on the top of her head. “Ewww.” She lifted his chin and stepped aside, rubbing his jawline. “Now that you’veunsuccessfully dodged my question, what do you really think this corporate exec wants with us?”
Mike wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “It’s anyone’s guess. Let’s not worry until we know if there’s something to worry about.”
“I’ll try, Daddy.” She paused, then glanced up at him.
They walked out of the barn and Mike slid the barn door closed behind them.
“Wouldn’t be the worst thing if you could forgive Great-Grandpa either,” Misty said. “He said he had a good reason for selling Porter’s.”
“That,” he said, tapping his finger to her nose, “isn’t your worry. Let’s get some supper.” Had she been spending time with his grandfather again? The last time they’d discussed it he’d gotten way too mad. He still regretted yelling at her. It wasn’t her war. She had every right to see the crotchety old fool if she wanted to, but he didn’t have to like it.
As he shrugged off his coat and coveralls in the mudroom and washed the day’s work from his hands, Misty made her way to the kitchen. The quickshwoofof the gas stove was followed by the clang of the cast-iron pan hitting the stove grates. He was salivating by the time the eggs cracked for that corn bread—Olivia’s recipe.
He took two big soup bowls down from the cabinet and dished out two hefty servings. The soup and corn bread filled the air with a stomach-growling aroma.
“I did the quickie kind,” Misty said, flipping a corn bread griddle cake onto a small plate for herself, and three onto a plate for him.
“Works for me.” He grabbed the butter and they walked into the dining room to eat. Mike had promised Olivia that he and Misty would always eat at the table together when she was gone. He loved her for asking that of him, because every night at mealtime, Olivia was still in this home. Still a family.
They both dug in. Finally, Misty broke the silence. “Umm, Ido have something to ask you.” She laid her spoon down, and put her hands in her lap, looking serious.
He gripped his spoon tighter. “Okay.”
“Luke asked me to go to the winter dance with him.”
He was thankful it wasn’t something bad. “Luke Harrison? Drew and April’s boy?”
“Yes, sir.”
“He did, did he? I thought you weren’t interested in anyone.” He shoveled a big bite into his mouth.
“I’m not. Not really. I mean, it’s just a dance. Well, the football game will be Thursday and we’re going in a group, like we always do. The dance is on Friday night.”
Mike continued to chew, buying time to think reasonably about how to respond. Luke was a good kid, though. Kind of a goofball sometimes, like his father, but harmless.
He wished Olivia was really here tonight. Formal dances were definitely out of his wheelhouse. It seemed too much like a date. He wasn’t ready for that.
