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They laughed together and let go of each other’s hands.
“I’ll see you later, then,” Dan said.
He held her door while she got in, trying not to look too closely at her legs as she pulled them into the car. It would be part of his new method, getting to know someone and allowing the attraction to grow. He’d done that with Lily, and if her narrow-minded bullshit hadn’t intervened, they’d probably be on their way to getting married by now. But he wasn’t going to share that with Samantha.
He left to return to the office, the hopefulness at the beginning of a new relationship and grief fighting each other, making him want nothing more than to go back to his empty house and take a month-long nap.
If ever there was time to put one foot in front of the other, it was now. When he got back to the office, there was a message that Pam had called.
“It’s nice to hear your voice,” he said when he called her back. “I could use a friend right about now, even though I don’t deserve it.”
“Aw, Dan, buck up. You’ve been through worse.”
“You heard Shelly moved out.”
“I did, and thank God. You might be her next victim.”
“You don’t think she’s going to go serial on us, do you?” he asked, not really believing it, but there was a seed of doubt.
“Who knows? Anyway, I called to invite you to Thanksgiving dinner. You can bring a date.”
He didn’t have to think about it. “I’m definitely coming. Thank you so much. I was afraid my sister would ask me to the farm, and I don’t want to go there.”
“Why not? You love the farm.”
“No, I don’t. It’s too much now. I don’t even want to go there on Sunday with my boys when they visit Cara. I wish they’d sell it.”
“I’m not even going to ask why.”
“Just what I said. It’s too much. They can’t get the help they need with all the immigration bullshit going on, and I’m getting too old to spend all day in court and then get on a tractor for six hours. It’s time to call it a day.”
“Will your sister agree?”
“She might. They have a couple of developers interested in the corner five hundred acres. It would make us wealthier than we could ever have imagined.”
“Oh, I’m so happy for you, Dan. Would you farm the rest of it?”
“The tillable land would be small enough that Cara and her crew could manage. My sister could go to Florida with the rest of my siblings, and peace would reign on Earth.”
“That’s what we’ll pray for, then. Freedom for you.”
“Thank you, Pam. And thank you for the invite. I might bring a date.”
“Anyone I know?”
“I don’t think so. We’re having our first date tonight, so I’ll let you know.”
“Good luck, Dan.”
“Thank you, Pam. Goodbye.”
He ended the call, feeling pensive and a little anxious. When he felt like that, he usually ended up calling Lisa, and this time was no different.
“Can I come over?” he asked her.
“Why aren’t you working?” she asked.
“I’m in between clients. Ask Ryan if I can come.”
