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“You said you didn’t want to date. This is just a picnic. A nice meal between two former lovers.”
Ugh. Why would he air our past business like that in front of the workers?
“Gavin, while I appreciate the gesture, I just want to sit under the tree and read until I have to start preparing dinner.”
There, that should take care of things.
He directs the workers towards me. “You can sit and read while I feed you. You need to eat, you’re much too skinny.”
“Excuse me?” Who the hell does he think he is to comment on my weight or body?
He walks over to me, stopping before he hits his head on a low-lying branch. “What I mean is that you take care of everyone else, let me take care of you.”
I get lost in his hazel eyes. He seems like he is actually trying to show me that he cares. I’ve been burned by him before so I need to stay alert and cautious.
“Thank you.” I start to speak.
He cuts me off thinking he is getting his way. “I knew you would come around.”
His grin widens and I feel horrible for what I am about to do.
“I was going to say thank you, but no thanks.”
His smile immediately turns into a frown.
“I really appreciate the gesture, but I don’t want to lead you on and give you the wrong impression. I am content being alone and single right now. My focus is on the farm, keeping Dad alive and safe, and finding Mom. There’s no free time to date or go on picnics.”
“I get it.” He motions for the workers to leave. “I’ll be around if you have a change of heart.”
He looks so heartbroken as he turns around and heads back towards the front of the house.
I groan and flop back into the chair. “Well, that was a disaster.”
Can this day get any worse? Gavin seemed like he wanted to sit here and eat with me, no strings attached, but I know from past experiences that Gavin always has an ulterior motive.
I grab my book from under my butt and try to resume reading. My heart just isn’t into it right now.
Instead of reading, I close my eyes and lean my head back. I don’t want to become an old spinster, but my life is too chaotic right now with Mom missing.
Dad and I have no idea where she could be.
We don’t even know where she went.
All I know is that one morning eleven years ago I woke up and she wasn’t home. She was never seen or heard from again.
Tears form in my eyes and fall down my cheeks.
“I miss you, Mom,” I whisper in the wind before swiping my tears away.
“Help.” A frantic male voice calls from the front of the house.
Ed comes hobbling over to the edge of the garden. His shirt and jacket are shredded. His pants are muddy and ripped. He looks like he fought off a pack of wolves.
“Oh my God! What happened? Are you okay?” I place my book on the old moss-covered stump that is next to my chair before rushing over to him.
“Your dad has been kidnapped.”
