33. Dove #3
“Your father had fallen behind on quite a few medical bills in the past years, but we’d discussed it and he’d been placed on a payment plan.
Unfortunately, in the recent months, he’d neglected to pay them.
” She frowned, a small crease forming between her eyebrows.
“I knew what he was going through with Josie, so I hadn’t pestered him about it.
I know how it can be around here when someone falls on hard times.
I hate to even bring it up, Josh, you know that.
Especially given the circumstances.” Her voice as filled with regret and sympathy.
“I know,” I agreed, because I did. It was just how Haven was. We looked out for our own. Well, most did, anyway, even if it was in their own small-town way. “It’s not your fault my father didn’t pay you like he should’ve.”
“It’s not yours either,” she pointed out.
I snorted, as if I didn’t already know that. Still didn’t make much of a difference. “It is now.”
Her eyes softened. “Tell you what, you weren’t far from the call that had me out here, so no need to include the standard travel fee. I’ll get the price of the medicine, and we can talk then, how about that?”
“No,” I protested immediately, hating the idea of charity, ever my father's son. “That’s not fair to you?—”
“Life isn’t always fair,” she reminded me gently, opening her truck door.
“But you two have seen your fair share of that , haven’t you?
” She chucked her bag in like it weighed nothing and stepped up onto the side bar so we were nearly eyelevel.
“I can’t cook worth a damn, and I’m not much for baking, either.
Let this be my way of helping you two out in my own way, like any good resident of Haven would do.
” With that, she hefted herself into the seat of her truck and shut the door.
The truck rumbled to life and a moment later her window slid down.
“You know, life has a funny way of making things seem impossible,” she mentioned sagely, her dainty-looking hands gripping the large steering wheel.
“But it's only impossible until it’s done. Just keep your head above water and it’ll all be okay.
I promise.” Her eyes darted over to where Dove was heading back into the stables, then back to me.
She chose her next words carefully, meaningfully.
“It'll work out for you both, even if it doesn’t seem like it. Even in a town as smallminded as Haven.”
With that, she gave me a wave goodbye, her window closing back up with a soft whir before heading down our drive, leaving me mystified in her wake. Was that her roundabout way of telling me she approved of Dove and me?
I shook my head, clearing the confusion away.
I had too much shit to deal with to even start unpacking that.
Like how the hell I was going to pay off all this debt my father had acquired since I’d been gone.
It just didn’t end. I’d paid for most of the feed up until now with my own money, but he had a tab there, too.
And the animals would only continue needing to be fed, and with me not working and the farm barely breaking even. ..
Now the vet? Not to mention the back taxes and the other bills I’d seen while snooping in his office.
A room I was still working up the courage to step back into so I could iron out the finances.
His lawyer had called me a few times but I’d been busy with Dove and work around the farm.
I guess now I couldn’t put it off, even if all I wanted to do was shove it aside and solely focus on the beautiful woman walking toward me.
I heaved a tired sigh, running my hands through my hair and realizing it was time to stop ignoring responsibilities to play house with Dove and figure this mess out. Which meant I had another call to make.
A number that had been slipped into my palm for more than one reason, and one I’d been hoping I wouldn’t have to dial, but now I had no choice.
Josh
I met Dove halfway, gravel crunching under our boots as we stopped in the middle of the driveway. Her gaze followed the dust trail Dr. Sterling had kicked up as she left.
“What did she say?” Dove asked, the tone of her voice clearly nervous about what my answer would be. “What’s the damage?”
This was the first time Dove had asked that since I’d gotten back, and I hated that she was worried at all. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
Her glare was quick and fierce. “Don’t do that. I want to know. Gareth never talked about this side of things but now...” Her gaze roamed over the expanse of the farm before landing back on me. “Now I guess I have no choice. The farm is my responsibility.”
“No.” I gave a slight shake to my head. “It isn’t.”
Her face hardened, a warning creeping into her blue eyes, deepening them from a clear sky to a restless sea.
“You weren’t here, Josh. I was. I helped Gareth.
I was the one who stepped up when he stepped back to take care of Mom.
That means something.” She said it with such conviction it was like she was trying to convince herself as much as me.
“I know that, Dove. What I meant was, it’s not just your responsibility.”
She squinted up at me, the sun in her eyes. “Then tell me what Dr. Sterling said.”
I exhaled, realizing if I didn’t relent and give her what she wanted, this was just going to end in a fight. Stubborn, my girl.
“Not much. Just that Gareth hadn’t been able to pay some of his statements with her in the past and was on a payment plan. One he neglected to pay these past few months.”
Her brows drew down. “He never mentioned that.”
I laughed, humorlessly. “Why would he? My father was a prideful man. That’s not something he’d easily admit.”
“So, what do we do?” she asked. “I mean... does he have a bank account we can access? I know there’s got to be something. The farmers pay to rent the land, right? And soon we’ll have the money from the harvest.”
Not fast enough , I wanted to say but didn’t. The sad fact was this farm had been bleeding money for quite some time. Possibly before I even left, but my leaving and Josie getting sick had clearly sped it up.
I grabbed her hands, cupping them in my own. “Let me worry about this side of things for now, Dove. There’s so much to do around here, what with the harvest coming up, you don’t need another thing added to your plate.”
“You have just as much to do as me,” Dove argued stubbornly, attempting to pull her hands from mine but I held tight, using her resistance to tug her closer. “Josh.”
“Dove.”
She worried her bottom lip, an easy tell that this was bothering her. “I didn’t even think about this stuff,” she admitted lowly, like she was ashamed to admit it. “The finances and what not. I just... kept on going like nothing happened.” Her voice cracked.
“You’re grieving, baby.” One of my hands released hers to brush the back of her head soothingly, pulling her in until her forehead rested on my chest. “Everyone does it differently.”
“So are you.”
Not like you. My grief wasn’t fresh, and my sorrow wasn’t for something I’d lost, but rather for something I’d never had to begin with.
I’d spent most of my life in mourning. First for a mother I’d never had the chance of knowing, then for a father who’d never given me the chance to truly know him, either.
The loss I’d experienced was for a connection I never had, rather than one I did.
My father passing just cemented the fact I’d never have it and never would.
But Dove... she’d lost someone. Multiple someone’s.
A father who had adored her. A mother who loved and cared for her.
A stepfather who had stepped into a role he’d never played for me.
“I came here to help you, Dove.” I leaned down to give her a chaste kiss on her redden lips. “Among other things.” The knuckles of my hand not holding hers caressed her cheek.
A shy smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
“Let me do this for you,” I nearly pleaded. “Let me take some of this burden.”
“Josh, I don’t...” she hesitated, but I could her what she wasn’t saying. I don’t want to be a burden.
My forehead rested against hers. “Never, baby.”
“Just don’t... please don’t keep this kind of stuff from me because you think I can’t handle it.” Her voice was a soft plea. “Promise me if it’s bad you’ll tell me.”
I was quick to protest, because that’s not why I hadn’t mentioned it to her. “That’s not?—”
She threw me a single look that quieted me, her narrowed eyes as molten as melted steel.
“Fine,” I conceded, knowing when to pick and choose my battles with her. “I promise.”
Technically I didn't know how bad it was yet. I had a hunch, but no definitive answer. I’d keep my silence, even if only on a technicality.
She exhaled, a sweet sigh against my lips. “If we’re together, I want to be equals. You can’t protect me forever, Josh.”
I can sure fucking try.