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“Ella?” Dad muttered. “Wait a minute, the Blackwoods?”
“Yeah, that’s the one.” A much older voice belonging to Ella’s mother said behind her, leaving me speechless.
I pulled away from Ella’s embrace and looked behind her to find Eve making her way into the house, a smile on her face.
“Ma’am?” I whispered, shocked. “How . . . where . . .”
“Oh Christ, my dear, come here.” Eve came close and pulled me into a warm embrace while I buried my head in her shoulder and felt the tears fall.
“Oh, my sweetheart, let it all out,” Eve whispered, massaging my back gently.
“Can someone tell me what the fuck is going on here?” Dad shouted.
Slowly, Eve pulled me away from her, wiped my tears, and smiled before turning toward Dad, who was glaring at us.
“Mr. Edwards,” Eve said, bringing me closer to her, “I have heard so many pleasant things about you, but I think it’s best we sit first and discuss our mission, don’t you think?”
“Mission? I am aware of your so-called mission. Your lovely son and his associates have made it crystal clear what their mission is, and I am not selling my farm,” Dad snarled. “So, you may as well just leave, because there is nothing left to discuss.”
“Sir. Mr. Edwards, if I may,” Eve said gently, “our intentions here are genuine, I can assure you of that.”
Dad’s stern face softened as he looked at me, wiped his mouth, and sighed. “Likely story, I am sure. I am only doing this because of my daughter.”
“Of course, of course.” Eve’s smile broadened as she looked at me and smiled gently.
Dad turned and began to head to the couch. “Follow me then.”
*******
Dad watched me take a sip of water beside Ella, who was holding my hand, and sighed. “As good as your story is and as much as you want me to believe it,” he began folding his arms, “it is still hard to believe that he won’t still go ahead and threaten me with this man, to either forfeit the same property or risk going to jail.”
Eve frowned and readjusted on her seat, “threaten you?”
Dad scoffed and shook his head, “He didn’t tell you?” he asked while shaking his head. “Two days ago, James, who earlier came with the bid for us to sell, returned and gave us an ultimatum to either agree to sell him the farm or spend the rest of my life in jail.”
Eve coughed and looked around the room worriedly, “I can assure you, nothing of that sort happened.”
“Now you are saying I am lying?”
“No, definitely not, that’s not what I meant,” Eve corrected, shaking her head softly. “I think there’s a mix-up somewhere.”
“There’s no mix-up, Mrs. Blackwood,” Dad replied, “the man came here and threatened us right in front of everybody, including Lucy here. ”
Eve looked at me, worried, and I nodded.
I saw her eyes flare up immediately. “I think there’s a mistake somewhere. My son Mason would never stoop so low, or even think about, going through such crude methods to get something, much less the woman who is pregnant with his child.”
“Well,” Dad shrugged, “There’s always a first time for everything, isn’t there?”
Eve readjusted in her seat and shook her head. “I don’t think you understand exactly what I mean, Mr. Edwards. I have been with my son for the past few days. Heck, he hasn’t even left our home since he came back from here more desolate and heartbroken than I have ever seen him.”
“Well, the threat came. Even my daughter here has confirmed that, so I don’t know between us who’s lying, and since it’s not us, that leaves us the question, who did?”
I frowned, turned toward Ella, and rested my head on her shoulder. “Mason really did not do that?”
“Of course, he didn’t.” Ella replied, “He says he wants to be with you, and I don’t think someone will do that to anybody they want to be with.”
A tear slipped down my eyes, but before I could wipe it away, Ella beat me to it.
