Chapter 7
Ariana
“And this cow is named Mooman,” Lennox announces as he leans over to pat what looks like a small Highland cow.
“Hi there, Mooman,” I greet as I pet the cow’s head. “Mooman’s pretty cute.”
“Yeah, I guess so. But I like Barkley best,” he says.
“Who’s Barkley?” I ask, looking around as if another cow might appear.
“The dog?” Lennox says as if I’m stupid.
“Oh, right…the hound dog?” I ask as I vaguely remember a floppy-eared spotted dog around here.
“Yeah. He’s super cool. Pricilla is cool too though,” he adds as he walks back through the barn.
“Pricilla?”
“The cat.”
“There’s a cat too?” I ask, looking around again. Lennox points to a half wall between two stalls. I squint and see a long gray cat stretched out, fast asleep.
I walk over to her and Lennox grabs my hand and puts his finger to his lips. “You have to be quiet. She’s got babies in her belly. Mr. Eric says she needs her rest.”
“Oh?” I walk softly up to her and she lifts her head and meows. “Hey there, cutie,” I say softly as I lift my hand for her to smell. She plops her head back down and I stroke her soft fur.
“She’s nice,” I say with a smile.
“I guess so. She doesn’t play fetch like Barkley though,” Lennox says as he kicks a tennis ball on the ground.
“So, do you come here a lot when you are off from school?” I ask as I turn to head back to the office.
“Yeah. Gran Joy watches me. But mostly I come out here and play. Sometimes I help Kingsley in the store. Mr. Eric says I’m a good helper.”
“I bet you are. Well, I should get back inside. Thanks for the tour, Lennox,” I say.
“Miss Ariana?” he says.
I bend down and smile. “You can call me Ari. That’s what all my friends call me.”
He grins. “Miss Ari, I like your hair.”
I laugh as I twirl a piece between my fingers. “Thanks, Lennox.”
“I bet Mr. Eric thinks you’re pretty,” he adds as he skips off like what he’s said is no big deal. I feel my cheeks heat and I try to take some breaths as I walk back to the office. He’s just a kid after all. He’s probably just being silly. Eric seems to have his whole life together. I’m sure he would only ever view me as a kid-sister type.
I enter the side door into the office. Joy’s there but I don’t see Eric as I look around.
“Hey, Eric had to go help Buck. I hope Lennox gave you a good tour,” she says as she types away at her computer.
“He did. He’s very sweet,” I say, taking a seat at my desk.
“Let me know if you need anything,” she says as I open my laptop and start to brainstorm.
I turn to her. “Can I get access to our website?”
“Of course,” she says, getting up and walking over to help me get into the web design for it. I settle in with a cup of coffee five minutes later. I have a lot of work cut out for me.
* * *
“I need some serious coffee,” I announce around lunchtime. “I’m going to borrow the truck and go into town.”
“Sure thing. You going to Elisha’s?” Joy asks.
I nod.
“Here”—she drops some money on my desk—“can you pick up some of her chicken salad sandwiches on a croissant for Lennox and me? And maybe a few cookies?”
“Absolutely,” I say as I gather my things and head to the truck. I manage to get to the café without stalling it. I grin proudly at the old blue truck as I walk inside. The bell chimes letting Elisha know I’ve entered. She glances up and sees me, giving me a wave.
“Hi, Ariana. Welcome back. What can I get for you?” she asks as she wipes her hands on a towel that’s slung over her shoulder.
I look up at a chalkboard and read today’s specials.
“Joy needs two chicken salad sandwiches on croissants. And a few cookies, maybe…” I look down and point at ones with Mamp;M’s in them. “And I’ll have a ham and Swiss on a croissant and a hazelnut latte.”
“Coming right up,” she replies as she gets to work putting the order together.
A blonde woman comes whirling into the shop with a dark-haired man in tow. She twirls and the man puts his hand out to spin her like one of those little figurines inside an old jewelry box.
“Well, someone’s in a good mood,” Elisha laughs as she continues working on my order.
The woman giggles and leans against the glass display case, resting her forearms on top of it. “Tulip fields! We have tulip fields!” she exclaims.
“Seriously? OMG! Your wedding is going to be amazing!” Elisha says as she wraps up the sandwiches. Then she glances toward me as the blonde eyes me with curiosity. “Ella, meet our newest resident, Ariana. Ariana, these are my good friends, Ella and Gustavo. Ariana is working for Eric.”
The man narrows his eyes at her and then looks at me with a grin. “Call me Gus, please. And nice to meet you, Ariana.”
“Welcome to Storyview Falls. I love going to Eric’s farmstand and I love Snuggles!” Ella says.
“Thanks, nice to meet you both,” I reply as I hold out some cash to Elisha while trying to remember if Snuggles was a horse or a cow. The bank said it would be at least two weeks before I got my debit card. I haven’t used this much cash…well, ever.
“Here you go. Is Lennox out at the farm with you guys today?” Elisha asks.
I nod. “I guess there’s no school today or something?”
“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Ella says as she adjusts her hair into a messy bun on top of her head.
“Did I hear you say there are tulip fields here?” I ask as I place the bag of food under my arm so I can adjust my purse strap.
Ella smiles. “Yes. My and my fiancé’s farm started growing them over the winter and then planted a field. It was a total crap shoot if it would work. We’re getting married next weekend and wanted a small field of tulips as the backdrop.”
Gus tries to hold in a laugh but can’t contain it. Ella gives him a little shove.
“Yeah, right. They”—he puts up air quotes—“totally wanted tulips.”
“Fine, I wanted it. But it took a lot of effort. I had to get staff to help me start growing them in the greenhouse, like, three months ago,” she explains.
I have zero idea what she’s talking about. I know nothing about plants.
“So, where are you from?” she asks as the bell chimes above the door, and a very pretty brunette walks in. Ella squeals and turns to hug the woman.
“Geez, you just saw me,” the woman teases.
“Sorry, Ariana, this is our friend Isa. Anyhow, where are you from?” she repeats with a laugh.
“Just from the city,” I answer.
“Nice to meet you, Ariana,” Isa says extending her hand. I shake it and she looks at Elisha.
“I need a caramel latte stat,” she says.
“Oh boy, cataloging the new books going that well,” Elisha asks.
“I’m the librarian and we just got a huge order of books in,” Isa explains to me.
“Oh? I love books. I’ll have to come by,” I say, frowning because I only used the library at school a few times and I’m not sure how it works here.
“Sure. Come on by and I can get you set up with a library card,” she replies, as Elisha hands her a latte.
“Hey, way to skip the line,” Gus grumbles. Isa laughs and rolls her eyes.
“I better head back. It was nice to meet you all,” I say as I duck out of the café with a wave to a chorus of “byes.”
My phone pings and I look down to see a message from Katia to call her. I hit call once I’m settled back in the truck.
“OMG! Your stepmother is a fucking monster. She prodded your father to call me. Anyhow, I said you were away from the yacht shopping and he said your phone hasn’t pinged in days and where the hell are we and I better get you to call, like, now,” she says.
“Fuck.”
“He even called your mother,” she says.
“Oh God! Uhhhh…can you, like, three-way me,” I ask, “but block my number.”
“Won’t that seem suspicious?” she asks.
“No, if he asks, we can just say your phone is being weird.”
She sighs. “Girl, you fucking owe me so big. Just a minute.”
“Katia, she better be with you!” Dad’s voice rumbles over the phone like thunder.
“I’m here, Dad. What do you need?” I answer calmly, but I’m shaking like a leaf. Dad has never hurt me physically, but his temper is famous and he can yell like no other. Needless to say, I have a lifetime of therapy needs for PTSD from being screamed at over the years.
“You have been out of contact for over a half a week. You left with a fucking note here. What the hell, Ariana?” he screams and I pull the phone away from my face.
“Dad, calm down. I’m fine. We’re fine. I just really needed to get away,” I explain.
“You better be calling me twice a week from here out. Did you get a job yet?” he asks.
“I had an interview with a small company. And I still have a ton of résumés sent out, so I’m sure I’ll be hired soon,” I fib.
“Good. Don’t forget. If you don’t have anything lined up in a few more weeks, you can start working in my marketing division,” he says, but it sounds more like a demand.
“I know, Dad.”
“OK. I have to go. You better call your mother. I think she’s worried,” he grumbles.
“Yes, sir,” I reply before he hangs up.
“Your dad is so fucking scary,” Katia says.
I roll my eyes because as scary as he is, he can also be a giant teddy bear. I remember bedtime stories and days fishing on his yacht. He means well. He’s just…stressed.
“Let me go. I should call my mom,” I say as I click on an app I use to call overseas.
“Good luck there,” Katia says as we disconnect.
I hit call and my brother picks up.
“You are so fucking busted,” he says.
“Sam, shut up. Is Mom there?” I ask.
“No, but she’s pissed that your dad called,” he says, and I can tell he’s playing video games from the background noise.
“Can you let her know that I’m fine and I talked to Dad?”
“Sure. You owe me though. I hope whatever you and Katia are up to is worth it,” he quips. He’s a brilliant little shit.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll talk to you later,” I add as I hang up and head back to the farm with lunch. I manage to make it back without stalling Sheila and I’m pretty proud of myself. I need to get this all figured out before I tell my parents. They won’t like it, so I need a plan and some time to prove that I can do things on my own. Just a little more time.
I look up at the house and see Eric in the window. It must be his bedroom. He’s shirtless and my mouth falls open. Holy shit! That man is fucking ripped. It looks like he hits the gym daily. I’ve never had a thing for older guys, hell, I’ve barely had time to think about guys my own age. But right now, all of Katia’s Daddy-vibe comments about older men come tumbling into my brain as I watch the way his abs flex as he pulls a shirt over his head and then covers those perfect muscles I was just ogling.
“Focus!” I whisper to myself. “Do not under any circumstances fall for your older, hot-as-fuck boss.”
Yeah, I can do this, I think to myself. But deep down, I’m not so sure I believe myself about being able to do this job, tell my family, or not fall for Eric. Shit, I’m in so over my head here.