Chapter 20 - Olivia
O livia was one subscriber short of reaching her CSA goal, thanks in part to word of mouth. Five of Mrs. Wescott’s friends had signed up, along with two other women who volunteered with Olivia’s mom. Pam had recruited the last four from her group of YMCA friends. Olivia was thrilled and insanely busy.
She spent the next few weeks harvesting veggies and flowers from sunrise to sunset. She barely had time to use the bathroom and eat, much less cook the food she grew. She had thankfully restocked her Trader Joe’s freezer hoard when she and her mom drove to the Cities to drop Grace and Abesh off at the airport.
She wondered if she and Aiden were at a point in their friendship when she could ask him to pick up supplies from TJ’s for her when her stash ran out. She’d think on it, but was leaning toward yes out of desperation, if nothing else.
Her cheeks were sore from smiling at the texts Aiden had been sending her. In addition to their banter, she occasionally sent him pictures of inappropriately shaped vegetables, and he sent her photos of latte art.
I guess we each have our kinks . She laughed.
Olivia had barely registered that it was her birthday week when she got a text from Fiona’s mom, Cassie, inviting her to come over Saturday night after the farmers market to celebrate.
Olivia replied with a “That’s so sweet, you don’t have to do that,” text, only to receive an emphatic, “If you don’t come, I’ll think it’s because you don’t like me,” text in return.
Well played, Cassie, well played. Olivia smiled and confirmed she’d be there.
For a moment, she considered inviting Aiden, but she wasn’t sure she was ready for a double date with her cousin and his wife–if you could call it a date.
Would I call it a date?
In the end, she decided to go stag and put it out of her mind as she scrambled to plan and execute her subscription boxes. Mid-summer produce was hitting fast and hard. She had an abundance of cucumbers, summer squash, and cherry tomatoes, not to mention carrots, potatoes, and beets. She’d even been able to include onions and fennel that week. And most excitingly, her earliest dahlias were starting to bloom. She made sure to include a couple in each bouquet.
She could no longer remember falling asleep each night. She was so tired she was out as soon as her head hit the pillow.
By the time her birthday rolled around, she was absolutely exhausted from a hot, busy day at the market, but she didn’t have any other choice than to get in the shower and get ready to celebrate.
If I’m only as old as I feel, I must be turning ninety tomorrow .
Halfheartedly, she forced herself through the routine and gave herself points for putting on a sundress instead of shorts and a T-shirt. At the last minute, she threw on some red lipstick because she needed to pull it together. This birthday thing only happens once a year.
With the last ten minutes before she absolutely had to leave, she whipped together a crudités platter. As she locked her house, her phone vibrated.
Mom : I’ll bring Ms. Darcy to the party tonight, but I’m also happy to keep her if you decide to crash at Philip’s.
Olivia: Great, thanks!
Why would I crash at Philip’s? Also, she didn’t know her parents were coming, but she was happy to hear it. She hadn’t had time to think past her next tomato and hadn’t seen much of them beyond their Sunday dinners.
Olivia was thinking she might need to hire someone to help her during her next CSA season if she was even considering adding one more customer. Only two and a half more months . It had become a mantra of sorts whenever she felt like lying down in the dirt and taking a nap.
Driving up to Fiona's house, a couple of extra cars were parked in their yard. For the first time since Cassie had texted her, she considered the possibility the party might be more of a party party.
When she stepped out of her car, she could smell grilled barbecue chicken and hear kids laughing.
She walked into the house through the side door leading straight to the kitchen, which was busy-family-clean, free of dirt but full of clutter .
Cassie was at the counter making lemonade using frozen concentrate.
Olivia set the platter down next to Cassie. “Okay, I’ve got every type of crunchy veggie you could imagine. Is it summertime yet?”
“Olivia! Happy birthday!” Cassie dropped the wooden spoon she was holding and wrapped Olivia in a tight embrace. “You didn't have to bring anything.”
“Please. This farm is taking over my life, and I’ve got veggies coming out of my ears.”
“Oh, well, it’s sweet of you to show up with food at your own birthday party,” she said.
Just then, Philip walked through the patio door from the adjoining dining room.
“Hey there, birthday girl,” he said with a wink. “You ready to have some fun tonight? I'm pouring G and T's.” Without missing a beat, he handed Olivia a glass of gin and tonic with lime. “Hope you like Tanqueray.”
“Who doesn’t?” Olivia said warmly, lifting the glass to her lips and savoring the first sip.
The piney juniper flavor filled her mouth, followed by the refreshing taste of lime to balance it.
“Yummm…” she hummed.
“So, for tonight, we invited a few friends over. You know, the usual. Your parents, my sister and her family, Don Schwartz’s family. Jill is planning to swing by after she closes the restaurant. And a few others. Oh, and uh…” Cassie hesitated briefly, “I hope you don’t mind, but Philip texted Aiden Wescott as well.”
Olivia suddenly felt a little lightheaded. Maybe the gin and tonic is stronger than I thought .
“Great!” she said with forced bravado.
She had forgotten how impossible it was to maintain secrets in Gresham, but since she didn’t know what they knew, she left it there. Now she was torn between fear Aiden wouldn’t show and wariness about putting their budding attraction on display for all of her closest family and friends.
“Cheers.” She lifted her glass to divert the conversation. “And thank you so much for throwing me a birthday party. I had no idea this was going to be a real party.”
“No, no, thank you for giving us an excuse to have folks over. I mean, we have to make our own fun around here, don’t we?” Cassie said. “So here’s the plan. Philip's gonna man the grill, we’ll eat, we’ve got some yard games, bean bags, and that crazy golf ball game, and later, we’ll get the fire goin’. We’ll break out the S’mores for the kiddos, and you can sit back and relax, okay?”
As an afterthought, Cassie added, “Also, we’ve got a whole lot more gin and tonic fixings because Philip insisted we buy twenty limes, so drink up.”
Olivia chuckled and set her drink on the counter. She reached out to give Cassie another hug. “Truly, this is the most social I’ve been in ages. Thank you.”
Cassie returned her hug before waving her off, and Olivia followed Philip into the spacious backyard. Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” played on the portable speaker, and she allowed herself to relax and be present. She was genuinely looking forward to the night ahead, though a little nervous about all things Aiden.
She looked around the backyard. Fiona was playing in the swimming pool with her cousins. They called out a quick hello to Olivia and immediately got back to their ring-diving game .
Several picnic tables had been covered with plastic tablecloths held down by potted flowers. The firepit was already filled with a tripod of wood, cardboard poking out through the cracks, ready to be lit, and a dozen miscellaneous chairs circled the pit.
Olivia walked toward the grill to join Philip. While tall like Olivia and her dad, Philip was more barrel-shaped and took up a lot more space in general. Given the number of meals they’d shared in her parents’ dining room growing up, she was relaxed by his side. As he flipped burgers and rotated brats, they chatted about Philip’s mom and the other endless topics they could jump into the middle of without needing to provide context. They finally circled around to the inevitable—the farm.
“Have you thought more about taking over the farm at some point?” he spoke cautiously, scratching his cheek and looking away as though he was already privy to the conflict.
“Philip, I don't know what my dad has said, but the farm is rightfully yours. We both know that.”
He looked over her shoulder as if considering his words before meeting her eyes and cautiously continuing, “You know I appreciate that, even if I don't fully agree. But I have a proposition for you. The truth is, I love the farm, and I'd love to keep it going. But I don't want the responsibility of the business side. I need help with that, and I'd like to partner with you on it.”
Olivia began to turn away from him, but with a hand on her arm, he stopped her from leaving.
“Wait a minute, Olivia. Hear me out.” With increased determination, he said, “If you can take the office work, I can manage everything else. I'll hire more help, and you'll never have to drive a tractor or deal with harvest. All I need from you is your business brain and organizational skills to help me plan our crops, make sure we get to market at the right time, and all that computer stuff you're a pro at.”
Olivia's gut told her Philip was presenting a reasonable picture for the two of them to coexist with the farm and both get what they needed and wanted out of it. She’d always had a knack for data analysis and project management, which is what Philip was asking from her. It certainly appealed to her business brain, and she vaguely considered what changes she would make if she were in charge.
Philip paused a beat, nudging a brat with his tongs. “You could still do your CSA and flower stand, and you could afford to hire help for your operation as well.”
Another pause.
“It'd mean a lot to me and Cassie if you'd consider it.”
She recognized that what he wasn’t saying was how Olivia’s decision would impact Fiona. They both knew Olivia wanted to give Fiona the world, and she appreciated Philip for not putting pressure on that tender spot in her heart.
Olivia took a deep breath and gazed at Fiona, who was giggling happily in the pool.
“I'll think about it, I promise. But I need some time.”
“Thank you for considering it. I have a good feeling about it, but I'll leave it there. Take your time. Anyhow, Cassie would kill me if she knew I'd brought it up since this is your birthday party. So cheers to the day you were born, cousin! The world is better with you in it, and we're glad you're home. ”
Olivia raised her glass to his but was surprised to find her G&T empty. Oops, I’m going to have to slow down. She excused herself to get a glass of water.
Several hours passed, and about twenty people showed up to celebrate and socialize. When a new car pulled into the driveway, Olivia held her breath until she saw it wasn’t Aiden. She tried to hide her disappointment every time.
After dinner, the music and voices got louder. Olivia was on her fourth drink, twice her usual cut-off point.
I should switch to water.
But she was having too much fun to be her own buzzkill.
Fiona and Olivia danced like maniacs along with several other kids and their moms. After one last must-dance song, she took a break and plopped next to her mom and Ms. Darcy. Olivia's dad had come and gone. He'd headed home early so he'd be asleep by his usual nine o’clock bedtime. Olivia was again wondering whether Aiden would show. It was getting late, and she was beginning to lose hope.
Her mom must have read the disappointment on her face because she asked, “Are you having a good birthday, sweetie?”
“I am. Thanks, Mom. I didn't realize this was going to be an actual party, but now I realize I was in need of some fun. I think I've been taking the CSA too seriously. There's just so much to do all the time.”
“Well, if I recall, the CSA was a bonus, right? And it was supposed to bring you joy? Don't lose sight of that, even if it means you don't harvest everything on time. Or maybe you could hire someone. Regardless, you definitely inherited your dad's talent for farming. ”
It might have been the alcohol, but Olivia's eyes teared up with gratitude.
“Thanks, Mom. You're right, that's a good reminder.”
Olivia reached over and gave her a hug. Naturally, Ms. Darcy felt left out and jumped up, propping her front paws on Olivia's thighs.
She laughed and gave her dog a hug.
“Love you too, Missy.”
“I think I'm gonna head home. I'll take Missy. You stay and have fun.”
“Thanks, Mom. Have I told you lately how great you are?”
“The information is always welcome, love.” Her mom gave Olivia one last kiss on top of her head.
“You’re the best!” Olivia said.
“So are you, sweet pea. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
As her mom headed out with Ms. Darcy, Olivia caught sight of Aiden standing at the edge of the yard. He was wearing a light blue short-sleeve Riviera shirt. The top two buttons had been left open, exposing the hollow dip at the base of his neck. He walked toward her with his hands tucked into the pockets of his navy chinos, his ankles peeking out above his tan boat shoes.
He came ! Little bubbles of yay bounced around her chest.
The alcohol dulled any composure she normally would have tried for, and she waved excitedly. Her grin took over her face, and he smiled broadly and waved back.
Her mom and Aiden crossed paths, and he stopped and reached down to scratch Ms. Darcy's cheeks before standing to chat. The music was too loud, but whatever he said made her mom laugh, and she reached out to touch Aiden’s forearm in response. He lowered his head to listen more closely to what she was saying, nodded, looked toward Olivia, and smiled.
Olivia squinted and wrinkled her nose at him. What on earth are those two talking about?
He smiled, turned back to her mom, nodded again, and said something brief. Her mom reached up to give Aiden a hug. Why was she giving him a hug?
That’s weird . Olivia's dulled brain couldn't be bothered to worry about all that when it was her birthday. She was feeling good, and Aiden was there.
As Aiden walked over to join her near the bonfire, Olivia stood, feeling giddy with anticipation.
“Happy birthday, Olivia. Sorry I’m late.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
She touched her fingertips to the lingering sensation and smiled. “No worries, thanks for coming.”
“Did I miss anything?” he asked.
“Just the Chicken Dance, but I think they’ll be queuing up the Electric Slide soon, so don’t worry about it.”
He laughed, took her glass out of her hand, and sipped.
“Olivia Olsen, gin and tonics look good on you.”
Her head fell back as she laughed.
Still smiling, she asked, “How was the drive?”
“Not bad. I got on the road a little late. Had to stay an extra hour at the hospital to finish up some paperwork.”
“So, you’re not a Monday through Friday doctor?”
“No, my schedule varies since I work in emergency medicine, and unfortunately, I have to work occasional weekends and holidays, but it goes with the territory. Anyway, enough about work. We’re here to celebrate you and your day of birth. How old are you again? I forget when we graduated high school.”
“You’ll just have to wonder,” she said, batting her eyes coquettishly.
Then, remembering her Midwest manners, she asked, “Have you eaten? I’m sure there is still food in the kitchen, and we can heat some leftovers for you.”
“I’m all set, but I could use a drink…unless you want me to finish yours.” He flashed a teasing grin.
She cocked her head and raised an accusatory eyebrow. “Excuse me, sir, but are you implying I’ve had too much to drink?”
“No, it seems to me you’ve had just the right amount.” He held out his hand. “Would you care to accompany me to the bar?”
“I suppose, but only because you’re cute,” Olivia said as she took his hand, liquid courage coursing through her.
“Huh, and here I thought you liked me for my personality.”
She eyed him up and down before resting her eyes on his. “Nah,” she teased.
Without thinking, Olivia leaned forward on her tiptoes and kissed Aiden on the lips.
To her surprise, the folks around them whooped and cheered. Olivia immediately buried her face against Aiden’s shirt to escape their attention, giggling into his chest. She’d barely had time to register his soft lips before the crowd reminded her that she was in a semi-public setting. However, despite the alcohol and embarrassment, she was delighted to have just kissed Aiden Wescott. She was looking forward to another, less public, opportunity. Maybe she’d have to drag him behind the garage for a do-over .
Instead of seeking alone time, they spent the next few hours moving in and out of conversations with the other guests. They remained glued to each other's sides, and they continually found excuses to bump hips and graze arms.
By eleven, Olivia hadn't had a drink in a few hours and was getting sleepy. She tilted her head to the side so it rested against Aiden's shoulder.
He looked down and put his arm around her. “You’re kind of adorable, you know that?”
She smiled, basking in his sweetness.
“I’m also a bit drunk and very tired. Do you think you could be a gentleman and drive me home? Assuming you’re good to drive because I’m certainly not.”
“I think I should be well below the legal limit from my one beer, Scout's honor.”
They said goodbye to the folks who had gathered around the fire and were recounting stories they’d all heard a million times but retold for an excuse to laugh.
As Olivia and Aiden walked toward the parked cars, many folks called out, “Happy Birthday!” Several people added teasing shouts of “Have fun!” and “Make good choices!”
She and Aiden laughed as they got into his car. They held hands like teenagers on the drive.
“Did you have fun tonight?” Aiden asked. “I hope you don't mind that I came.”
“I had a great time, and I'm so glad you came.” She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “Sorry I didn't invite you myself. I thought it was only going to be Fiona, her parents, and me.”
“Fiona is really important to you, isn't she? “
“She is. Being close to her has been a huge perk of moving back here.”
“I get that.”
“Do you have any patients with Down syndrome?”
“I have in the past during my residency years, and of course I see all types of kids in the emergency department where I work now. But neurodiverse kids typically see multiple specialists, depending on whether they have any associated complications.”
“Yeah, I remember Fiona had to do a lot of occupational and speech therapy when she was a toddler. I felt so sorry for Philip and Cassie, having to drive to the Cities practically weekly. Cassie waited to go back to work until Fiona was five and had started kindergarten.”
He nodded knowingly, “Not an easy road, but most roads worth traveling aren't.”
“Ahhhh, sage wisdom, Mr. Wescott,” Olivia declared in grave voice, and he laughed good-naturedly.
“The years have taught me a few things.”
“Oh yeah? What else?”
“Well, thanks to some humbling experiences, I'd hope I'm twenty-five percent less of a dumbass than when we were in high school. And I'm also better at recognizing and prioritizing quality humans.” Aiden squeezed her hand this time, and her cheeks warmed with pleasure.
“Well, for whatever it’s worth, I like this version of you, but I don't feel like I knew high school Aiden well enough to compare you to him.”
“It's probably for the best. My ego needed to be put in its place, and it definitely has been. Repeatedly. ”
He drove up Olivia’s driveway, parked, and turned off the car, enveloping them in silence. “I have something for you. Excuse me,'' he said with a shy smile as he reached across Olivia to the glove box.
He popped it open and pulled out a bag of whole-bean coffee. Olivia recognized the logo but didn't immediately place it.
“You seemed to like this the other day at the cabin, so I wanted to get you a bag. I'm hoping to get you addicted so you'll have to come to Saint Paul and hang out with me.”
“That's super sweet. Thanks, Aiden.” Olivia turned and reached for a hug. He caught her face with the softest part of his palm and gently kissed her lips.
Pulling back, he looked into Olivia’s eyes questioningly. She nodded and leaned forward. Their lips met again, slow, exploratory, patient. Mirroring Olivia, Aiden’s lips were supple against hers.
The languid sensuality of the kiss was delicious. She parted her mouth, and he licked her bottom lip before nipping it. Their tongues met, and a shiver ran from the nape of Olivia’s neck down her spine.
Aiden slowly moved his hand from her cheek to the back of her neck before weaving his fingers into her hair. He massaged every surface, and it was heaven. His lips followed the path of his hand to the side of her neck, and she let out a quiet moan of pleasure. She cupped her hand against his forearm before sliding it along his arm to his bicep, where his muscle flexed against her palm. She continued her search, threading her fingers through his hair and tugging softly. It was Aiden’s turn to murmur his pleasure into her ear.
Olivia pulled back, and he paused.
“Do you want to come in?” she asked.
Because it was her birthday, and he was hot, and he made her feel desired in a way she couldn’t remember feeling in far too long.
He hesitated before saying, “Will you please believe me when I say I'm dying to come in, but I think it would be better to wait?”
“Is it because I've been drinking? Because I can promise you I am fully capable of consent.”
“Well, I appreciate knowing that,” he said with a chuckle, “but I have to drive back home tonight. I have to be at work at six tomorrow, and I'm afraid if I go inside with you, I won't be able to leave.”
“Yeah, no, of course.” She tried to hide her disappointment, but she suspected the high pitch in her voice gave her away.
“Damn,” he said under his breath. Then, more clearly, he said, “I promise, I'll make it up to you.”
“Oh no, I'm grateful you made the drive, especially knowing it was only for a few hours. You don't owe me anything.”
“Well, let me make it up to myself, then, because I'm feeling disappointed as hell right now. Why did I have to grow up and become all responsible?” He cocked his head and gave her a flirty smile, forcing her to meet his eyes. A grin crept over her mouth. “You have a lovely smile, Olivia. I'm glad I got to see it one more time tonight.”
The sappiness, which would normally make Olivia cringe, had her swooning. Oh boy, I'm either drunker than I thought, or I've got it bad for Aiden. Fingers crossed, it's the G&Ts. Her tender heart had been through a lot after breaking up with Sam. She wasn’t sure she was ready to open it for Aiden.
Olivia brushed the hair from her eyes. “Well, in that case, thanks for the coffee, and thanks again for coming tonight. It was a wonderful surprise.”
“My pleasure.”
“Drive safe. And text me when you get home so I know you made it okay.”
“I will.” He leaned over, and she met him halfway for one last kiss.
Before Olivia lost her head and started getting handsy again, she pulled back and opened the door.
“I'll be back soon,” he said firmly.
“Hope so.”
Olivia waved from the porch as he drove off before trudging up the stairs to her bedroom. Absolutely exhausted, she collapsed onto her bed.
Happy birthday to me .
She woke twice in the night, thinking of Aiden with a smile before drifting back to sleep.
Olivia wondered if she’d been smiling in her sleep when she woke the next morning. Her cheeks couldn’t relax, thanks to all of the happy memories from the night before.
But she also had a headache.
In search of a hangover cure, she headed to Jill’s for fried potatoes and eggs. As she made her way toward the entrance, she returned waves to several people she recognized from the farmers market.
The door announced her arrival with a jingle. A group of older men drinking coffee at a nearby table all turned to watch her as she walked in. Olivia knew them well as part of her father’s circle of farmer friends, including Don Schwartz, who had been at the party the night before, but she wasn’t sure why they were silently staring at her.
Jill, seeing the whole thing, broke the silence. “These here gentlemen have been clucking like a flock of old hens for the past thirty minutes about you, and now they’re speechless. Figures.”
Her jab provoked several grunts.
Don Schwartz piped up. “So, who was that guy you were so cozy with last night?”
“Olivia, I thought you said you’d sworn off men,” Mike Swanson chimed in. “But not all men, I see.” He winked and grinned with a nod.
“If you’re looking for a man,” Pete Jacobson said, “I’ve got a real nice second cousin in Minnetonka who owns a landscaping business. Let me set you up with him.”
“Alright, alright. Don’t you all have fields to plow?” Olivia teased back.
“Oh no, honey, not with all the automation they’ve got going these days,” Jill said. “Now all these old duffers have to do is sit around, drink my coffee, and gossip. God curse the man who invented GPS-guided combines.”
“Yah, yah,” the farmers grumbled in unison. “We’re looking out for our girl here.”
Olivia groaned .
Jill rolled her eyes in sympathy. “The woman lived in a city of four million people. I think she can fend for herself.” To Olivia, she said, “They’re not exactly feminists, but their hearts are good. What can I do for ya darlin’?”
“Mind if I grab a table in the corner over there? I’m in need of some grease and sugar.”
“Sure thing, sweetheart. You know that’s all we’ve got here. Grab a menu and head on over. I’ll be there in a minute with some coffee.”
As Olivia sat down to breakfast, still catching looks from her dad’s farmer friends, she pulled out her phone to text Jessa about the night before. She needed help processing everything because she was as scared as she was excited about the possibility of things moving forward with Aiden. She really didn’t want to get hurt again, but the pull to move close to him was impossible to ignore. Because last night, he’d left her wanting so much more. In the light of day, minus the four gin and tonics, she was glad it hadn’t gone further than PG13, but it also left her on pins and needles, wondering if and when he’d accept her invitation to come in.
Not only was everything with Aiden spinning her in circles, but it also seemed things with the family farm were coming to a head. Philip had presented a reasonable argument for them to manage the farm together. But, if she accepted the nagging feeling that agreeing to his proposal was the right thing to do, what was the point of getting more wrapped up in Aiden?