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I headed over with the ATV and smiled. I knew which jam it was for. I was catching on.
And it felt right. Really right. I liked being her partner and backing her up.
My eyes went wide as I opened up the first greenhouse. Holy shit had Gaia blessed it. I hadn’t been in this one yesterday, and with two offerings, this place wasbrimmingwith fruit. Wow.
I started thinning because I didn’t know much, but evenIknew dragon fruit trees didn’t bear several fruits on each one of the cactus-type branches. So thinning might always be the best path to keep things under the radar. I got in a good flow with my earbuds in, and the next thing I knew I had a bunch of carts loaded.
They were at the brewhouse taking pictures when I got there to start getting carts out of my way. She beamed at me at how fast I worked, my “little ogre” twitching with need for her.
“I got overwhelmed with all the options and not having furnished a house, so Jamison suggested a break to get some batches going because he wants to take lots back,” she told me.
“Only worry about the places people will see as it’s going to be an outdoor party mostly, right? Just inside for the bathroom?”
“Actually, I thought you should get one of those upscale bathroom trailers,” Jamison cut in. “The invite isn’t going to include kiddies, so it should be fine. It’s not an all-day thing. I do love this idea that you deliver the invite with a sampler case for that personal touch.”
“That is a good idea. So you really only have to do outside and a bit inside for the caterers.”
“That helps,” she agreed, looking lighter.
And she totally spoiled me for that help. She brought out a spread for breakfast before employees started showing up. She stuffed me so good with her awesome home cooking, I knew I needed to work off the calories.
Adrena now had seventy-five high school workers, but not everyone was coming that morning, but we did have fifty. I was just about to start organizing the plan with a few of the older ones who were good team leaders when Adrena came over staring at her phone.
“Apparently, Sia sent the wrong truck, and afull semiis coming tomorrow with my new forklift and a shit ton of those huge plastic pallet totes for produce to protect them.” She snorted. “And Deon wants to know if he can coordinate with you in the future as apparently we’re not allowed to anymore. I didn’t fuck up. Why am I getting benched?”
“Probably something off your plate and he doesn’t want to add to it,” I comforted. I thought about how much that was and nodded. “Got it. We’ll have to do some extra large double plastic bags to hold it all for when the truck comes, but you’ll need more of those totes to exchange out if she’s planning a full semi each time.”
“Yeah, good point, thanks, ogre.”
Her voice was soft when she said it even as she focused on her phone, and the nickname made me bite back a smile. I liked it when she said it, not feeling bullied or messed with that I wasso huge, but it was an asset in a way a woman like her would appreciate.
“Okay, let’s get a huge round of peaches and apricots that we can run through to wash and prep fast and get a ton of large seeds,” I told the group. “Then when we’ve got a group going, some will start harvesting loofah as those don’t need the fridge and we can pile them in a corner. We rotate from there in the three groups to get in AC and a break to sit.”
Well, now that the stools she’d ordered had come in, so that was a plus.
“Thanks, guys,” she said to everyone. “If you can crank this out to fix my friend’s mistake, I’ll put some hams on the smoker and we’ll take a real lunch break at the house. Alice, I might send you with my card to get some bread, chips, and drinks in a bit.”
“Shit, real smoked ham? Nice,” Robby muttered as we moved out.
“I eat like that all the damn time,” I bragged.
“Spoiled. You’re spoiled,” one of the other guys griped. Yeah, I was.
And I loved it.
We worked like mad, and I about jumped in the pool with my clothes on when it was time for lunch it was so inviting. But we kept going, having fun as we did, and even a bunch of people stayed longer than their shift.
Adrena had made it clear no full-time hours for kiddies as she could get in trouble, but she didn’t care if anyone hit right under if there was work to do.
There was.
“Think we’ll pass the trial?” Robby asked quietly before he headed out. “I don’t mean to push, but it would be nice to know that I don’t have to keep looking.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re good. There’s only a few she’s thinking of not keeping that she’s told me, but you’re leading a team, so I think you’re good. I’d put you on the list if she asks.”
“Awesome. I like this gig way better than fucking with customers or idiots.”
I snorted. “Right?”
