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Between planning, the girls, finding land here, and selling my place in San Francisco, days melded, time flew.

Jade had taken me staying seriously and renewed her efforts to get me to connect with the other men in town.

The first time we all met up at The Reserved Bean was mostly silent. I didn’t know how to start a conversation, and between Cain’s and Theo’s usual quietness and Henry’s autism, it was hard to find anything to talk about.

Dean then brought up how we were in the same dad group on Facebook and how dumb he was for not putting together who I was, and that finally started everything up.

Now it was much easier.

“I don’t envy you,” Cain said.

“I don’t envy you,” I replied. “You work on the farm. And you have an evil chicken.”

Cain sighed. “She got out again. And went after Kerry.”

“What’s with her and getting messed with by animals?” Dean asked.

“It’s her karma for being nosy,” I replied.

“Earl Grey,” Theo announced as he set down a cup in front of me and sat in the last open chair.

“Thank you,” I replied. I went for my wallet, but a stern glare stopped me. “Still not letting me pay?”

“Fuck no.”

I sighed. No one had let me do anything since they found out who I was. “Either I pay for this tea, or the grant gets you another grinding machine.”

“I’ll send you the model,” he replied.

“Fine,” I said. “Expect it in the mail.”

“He’s gonna actually do it,” Dean said. “Don’t try to bluff.”

“I will.”

Theo let out a long sigh. “Why do you have to be so fucking nice?”

“Why can’t I pay for my drink?” I replied.

Theo didn’t answer, and I was definitely getting him something. He’d regret this.

Henry laughed and took a sip of his drink. “When are you bringing the girls in for a checkup?”

“You don’t want to invite that in your life.” I shook my head, but knew he had a point bringing it up. Alice had taken care of it before, but now that was my responsibility.

“I’ve dealt with plenty of kids. That’s why I save all my energy for my job. Are they screamers? Fighters?”

“All of the above.” I sighed. “Maybe I’ll bring Jade. She’ll probably be able to work her magic on them.”

“If she has time,” Theo said. “Will she once she’s mayor?”

“You guys have a lot of confidence that she’s gonna win this thing.”

“We’ve all seen the work you’ve put into it,” Cain said.

“I know. A write-in win seems impossible, but people are open to it. And I don’t know. She’ll find a way.”

“She’s also always helping,” Theo said. “I’ve seen her running around the square ever since I opened this coffee shop.”