Her dots move and stop. Move and stop.
Hattie: TEXTING ISN’T THE SAME AS TALKING.
Despite how miserable I’ve made myself, I crack a smile.
Me: Agreed.
More dots…
Hattie: WE CAN’T TALK UNTIL TOMORROW, BUT YOU MADE ME CURIOUS.
I bite down on my smile as if she can see me.
Me: Yeah? About what?
The pause is shorter this time.
Hattie: WHAT YOU WANTED TO TELL ME.
I don’t waste any time.
Me: Well, for starters, I wanted to say I’m sorry. I should have heard you out. My reaction was knee-jerk.
There’s more, but I press send, hoping she’ll give me the chance to explain. Hoping when I get the chance, I’m actually able to explain.
Hattie: YEAH. IT WAS.
My chuckle is rueful.
Me: Glad we agree.
I fire off another text.
Me: I’ll be honest. Pop said something that has me questioning why I shut you down so fast.
Her reply is almost immediate.
Hattie: WHAT DID HE SAY?
I press my lips together, hoping that sharing this with her is the right decision. But it must be, right?
Me: He compared your offer to invest in the farm with a marriage proposal.
I press send and immediately regret not adding more.
Hattie: IT WAS *NOT* A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL!!!
Her text comes back so fast, it’s a wonder my phone screen doesn’t crack.
Me: I know. I know. That’s not what I meant.
I press send and gather my thoughts. And then I just tell her the truth.
Me: But if it had been, I would have said yes. Immediately.
Nothing.
I count to ten.
