Page 24 of While the Sun Shines

It’s like Bert knows, Drew’s suddenly sure. That Drew got the tractor stuck, that the sheep just panicked, that he’s nearly out of bales—

“Fine,” he gets out.

Cooper shakes out his hand where he must’ve slammed it, and Whit pulls him close, inspecting his knuckles. Penny grabs the bucket Drew dropped and Abelardo picks up scattered grain with his hands, scooping it back in.

“Now a bad time?” Bert asks.

Yes, Drew could say. Though Uncle Bert would ask why and Drew would have to stumble through an explanation, trying to smooth out the truth of the way this morning has gone. “No, it’s fine,” Drew says. “What’s up?”

“Your cousin, Julie? It’s her college graduation party this weekend, and my dear little sister, Lucy, don’t know if you remember her since you’re MIA, but she hasn’t heard from you if you can make it.”

“Oh.” Drew scrubs the back of his wrist against his forehead. Right. That. “I forgot.”

“Haying?” Bert asks and gives a deep chuckle. “I told her that, but you know your aunt. She isn’t one to give up at a single ‘no.’”

“Yeah, I’m planning to start mowing today,” Drew says, and then wants to stuff the words back in his mouth. He doesn’t have to look at the time to know it’s already late to get started.

Lesson one, Uncle Bert used to say, tapping the weather forecast and then his wristwatch: mow as soon as the dew’s dried.

“Well,” Bert says, “I’m thinking of making the drive up from Florida for Julie’s party. I’ve got the house to myself, since my lovely wife is off to see her brother, so I figured I’d come up. I’d stop by the farm, too, but my Mary’ll be back by the end of the week, and I’ll want to get home.”

“Right,” Drew says. This sounds vaguely familiar. Julie’s graduation party does at least. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I can make it, but I can let Aunt Lucy know.”

Bert laughs. “Good luck.”

Drew tries to smile. “I’ll tell her you said that.”

“And I’ll dodge her damn wet willy, even if we’re both old and arthritic. Miss you, kid. I’ll see you this fall when we drive up for our visit, all right?”

“See you then, and hey, tell Julie congratulations from me,” Drew says.

“What can’t you make it to?” Penny asks as he hangs up.

He turns, startled to find her next to him. Behind her, out in the barnyard, Abelardo is chatting with Cooper and Whit, but Penny apparently wandered over here. Quickly, Drew pushes his phone into his pocket. “Nothing.”

“Would your Aunt Lucy say it’s nothing?”

“You gonna turn me in?” Drew asks. “Julie’s graduating from college and they’re having a party for her. I totally forgot about it.”

“You know, I might think about throwing you under the bus. Lucy’s my favorite of the aunts.”

“I thought my aunt Mary was your favorite aunt of mine.”

“She’s a close second, because who can argue with peach jam, but Lucy’s a fucking ballbuster and I like to watch her in action.”

“Well, you’ll get to enjoy it when she drives all the way out here and busts said balls when she finds out I can’t make it,” Drew says.

A strand of hair falls in front of Penny’s eyes and catches on her lashes. He could move it for her. Just brush it back gently.

But no, he can’t. Won’t.

Come here, he so desperately wants her to say to him. For her to move into him, hug him, lean against his chest like she was doing to Abelardo. Laugh while pressed up against his side.

Drew shoves his hands into his pockets. Stop, he snaps at himself. Stop, stop, stop. Because Penny won’t. She never does and never will.

And sure enough, when she moves, it’s not toward him, but back to where Cooper, Whit, and Abelardo are out in the sunshine, their laughter drifting toward the barn.

CHAPTER FIVE