Forty-Five
Amelia
T aking a deep breath, I close my eyes and allow the smells of new construction and humidity to float into my lungs, smells I didn’t think I would be surrounded by so quickly. Everything has progressed smoother than I anticipated.
Luke thinks I rushed returning to work, but I knew I couldn’t let Leo and Brian take this from me. Yes, I could have probably rebuilt somewhere else, but this is my land, my farm, and my dream, and they can’t have it.
So after two weeks of therapy every other day, Wayne busting his ass with his construction team, and Pam and Mrs. Grant taking care of the insurance claim, we got the main section and one of the branches already set up and ready to go.
Off to my right, I hear a voice as people start to walk in. Luke’s parents leave today, and we’re having lunch for them. Since I’ve been working overtime to get the fish tanks to the levels we need them at, we decided to have a going away lunch here.
Kristen and I set up some tables and chairs in the main office area last night, so the heavy lifting is done.
I feel an arm around my shoulder and close my eyes when Luke’s scent invades my senses. I don’t think I would have made it through the last few weeks without him. He has been my rock.
He never rushed anything and was originally the one to set up my appointments with my therapist. When I questioned him about it, he just shrugged and said, “I knew you would need it, but I’m always here if you need to talk more.”
He never judged when I fell asleep after therapy or when I started spending long hours here to try and help Wayne and the crew.
“You good, sweetness?”
Looking around the farm and back up at him, I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him on the underside of his jaw. “Everything is perfect, but I’m so hungry I could eat a cow.” I pat my stomach.
He looks down at me with a smirk, and I roll my eyes and push his arm off as I walk toward the tables.
I don’t make it two steps before I’m yanked by my jeans into Luke’s chest. I shiver when his breath hits my ear, and he whispers, “Wanna know what I’m hungry for? You. Think we could sneak away for a quickie?”
I fight to breathe because yes, please .
My eyes go wide when his parents walk around the corner, and I try to pull away from him to greet them, but he pulls me back toward him.
“Oh, there you guys are. Do you want the food anywhere in particular?” his mom asks while his dad looks at us and smiles.
“Just on the table. We’re going to eat family style,” he tells her, then he bends down and kisses behind my ear. “Love you.”
He walks over to his dad and helps set up while I stare at him.
“I told you guys she got dicked down. She was desperate enough to ask the doctor yesterday,” Pam says, walking up with Luna and Abby.
I flip her off over my shoulder and laugh. “Let’s go help set up before his parents think I’m a lazy bitch.”
Pam snorts. “They have the bitch part right.”
“Yeah, but they don’t know that!” I whisper.
Luna and Abby laugh at us, and we all walk over to help set up.
I moan around my bite of Mrs. Grant’s lasagna. “This is the best lasagna I’ve ever had.” I open my eyes as Luke squeezes my thigh under the table.
“Luke knows the recipe. You make sure he makes it for you, but I made extra for you to take home.”
Luke smirks at Sam like they’re sharing an inside joke, but Sam says, “Mom made me a whole tray for myself, and it’s at the bed-and-breakfast.”
I bubble with laughter at the look on Luke’s face as he turns to his mom, who just shrugs at him.
“I gotta feed all my kids,” she says casually, and my heart expands.
This woman, who just met most of us, didn’t even think twice about claiming us, and I’m pretty sure she’d adopt everyone in our little group if she could.
“When did you guys say you would be back again?” I ask because they announced two days ago that they’ll be moving to Griffin’s Den.
I was shocked, but Luke said he was expecting it. I’m not mad, though, because from the moment I was released from the hospital, his parents have been there.
I also learned that his mom loves gardening and was fascinated with how everything worked. So, when it came time to set up the repaired section, she worked right along with me.
I feel silly thinking about how nervous I was to meet both of them, but they’re so welcoming and caring. It was like I’d known them forever instead of having just met them for the first time the day I came home from the hospital.
“Probably about a month. We have to pack up the condo and schedule an official date with the movers. It’ll be nice to be closer to you guys. I’m excited to help with the farm and farmers’ market.”
“You don’t have to stay at the hotel by the airport. We can take you in the morning,” I offer.
“Am, it’ll be such an early flight out that this is easier. Thank you for the offer though. Don’t worry because we’ll be back soon enough, and then you’ll wish we were out of your hair.”
“I can’t wait,” I say with a genuine smile.
I don’t know how I got so lucky with the people I have around me, but I’ll never take it for granted.
“Are you guys sure you don’t want us to help clean up?” Mr. Grant asks as he goes to stand. “We have some time.”
“No, we got it,” Luke tells him.
“Well, we’ll be off then. We’re going to see if we can swing by the new place to get some measurements to see which of our furniture can come or will need to be donated,” he says, grabbing his wife’s hand.
After a million hugs and see you laters, they head out, and the rest of us start to clean up.
Pam leans between Abby and me and says, “With the worst of this whole situation behind us, we need to start planning Luna’s holiday parties.”
“For sure, we just have to remember to text outside of the group chat,” Abby says, and we all stand as Luna walks up to us.
“I have to head back to the bed-and-breakfast since we have a few people checking in. Text me later,” she says, and I’m proud of how much she’s come out of her shell around us.
“Perfect! Have a great rest of your day, and thanks for coming.” I pull her in for a hug.
After everyone leaves and Luke is getting the animals in the car, I walk toward the newest section of the farm. Taking a deep breath, I open the door and smile when I see it further along than it was before.
I still get a tingle of anxiety that I fight when I come into this section, but it’s better every day.
“Am! Where did you go? I have the animals ready,” Luke yells for me.
“I’m coming!” I yell back as I close the door.
I am enough.
“Not yet, you aren’t, but you will be as soon as we get home,” he says, walking toward me.
I snort. “Whatever you say, babe,” I tell him and pat his chest as I walk by.
He comes up behind me and scoops me up.
I laugh and look at him. “I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetness. It’s time to go home.”
Home.
That word has so much more meaning now.
As he carries me to my car, I realize how lucky I am that I’m able to move forward from what happened. Some days are harder than others, but I’m loved, and I have my friends, who have become family, and a boyfriend who loves me for who I am.
Now to see if we can pull off an epic Christmas and birthday party for Luna. She has no idea what she’s in for . . .