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“That was over ten years ago.” Knox shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it.
“And you never told him how you felt about Marley?” Emmett asked.
I shook my head. “I didn’t want to admit that I’d gone against his wishes.”
“Don’t you think that you are protecting her? Not the way Aiden meant, but what better way to protect someone than to love them? Marley had a shitty upbringing. If you can provide her with the family and the love she never had, then what could be wrong with that?” Knox asked.
He had a good point. I wasn’t sure I was in love with her. But I was on my way. “I’ve never felt this way about anyone else. When we were teens, we were too young to know what love was or if that was the person we were supposed to be with. But we’re adults now.” And everything felt amplified. “I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing.”
“I don’t think we ever do when it comes to love, but Mom told me to follow my heart. And it was the best advice she could have given me. When you cut through the bullshit, how do you feel when you’re with her?” Knox said.
“Like she’s the one for me.” I said it without thinking about my answer.
The sliding glass door opened, and Ireland and Marley came out.
“Marley was so nice to help me. She’s going to have her marketing person help us with the flyers and our logo.”
Emmett frowned. “Do we need a logo?”
Ireland patted his arm. “Just let me handle it.”
Emmett shook his head. “I don’t like the sounds of hiring a marketing person. I don’t want to change the farm or the way we do things.”
Ireland gestured in Marley’s direction, who stood next to me. “It won’t cost anything. Marley’s letting us use her marketing person as a favor.”
“Are you sure about that?” I asked Marley in a lower voice in case she changed her mind.
“I want to help you.”
“This person doesn’t work for free,” I said, still trying to gauge how serious she was about this.
Marley stepped into my space, resting a hand on my chest. Her proximity caused my heart rate to pick up. “I’ve got it. Don’t worry about it.”
I dipped my head so I could see into her eyes. “Are you sure? I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
“You’re not. I want to help.” Her soft insistence broke through my doubt.
Mom popped her head outside. “I’m hungry, and I want to watch this movie before my bedtime. Let’s eat.”
Everyone started talking at once about which movie to watch. Ireland’s pick had already been disregarded, and the discussion was pointless because Ember and Addy would make the final decision. They always did. And none of us minded. Those two little girls ruled our family, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
We were a sad bunch of guys before they came along. Ember opened our eyes to what it was like to love a child. And we all wanted the farm to be passed on to the next generation. It was our responsibility to give them a sustainable business.
We ate sliders at the dining room table. The girls were done first, so Ireland, Sarah, and Marley took them into the living room to choose a movie.
When the guys were done, I helped Mom clean up while Emmett and Knox went outside to help with the projector. Mom handed me a plate to dry. “How’s Marley doing?”
“Her mother reached out to the estate attorney. He’s going to let her look at the will,” I said, carefully drying the plate and placing it in the cupboard.
Mom frowned. “Is that normal?”
I shrugged. “She’s a potential heir, so I guess so. She was specifically excluded from the will, and she could contest it. Say that Lila wasn’t in her right mind when she drafted it.”
“Oh? When did Lila write the will?” Mom asked, rinsing a dish in the sink.
“When Marley turned eighteen.”
Mom shot me an incredulous look. “You’re kidding me? How could Tracey possibly prove that Lila wasn’t in her right mind?
