Episode 43
Episode 43
Brighter than the Sun
JACK
How could I have not known?
I’d been so blinded by Summer’s beauty and personality that it never dawned on me to verify what exactly she farmed or how it could affect the company I ran.
“This is bad. This could ruin everything we’ve built. What the hell have I gotten myself into?” I blurted, not realizing how I sounded to the woman standing bare before me. Her emotions plainly visible across her horrified expression.
Summer backed away shaking her head before she crossed her arms across her chest. “Looks like you need some time to figure that out.” Her tone was jagged and raspy.
I cursed under my breath as the information battered my mind in a sickening reel of PR headlines sure to hit the news wires across Europe.
Johansen Brewing in the Drug Business.
Johansen Brewing CEO Weds Marijuana Queen.
Johansen Brewing Stock Plummets Under Announcement of CEO Engagement to American Drug Dealer.
I lifted my hand toward her, but she backed up another couple steps, her pretty eyes turning ice cold. “Why don’t you take the car and leave? I’ll meet you back at the house later tonight.”
“Summer, I’m…I’m sorry for what I said.” I tried and failed to sound genuine.
“No, you’re not.” She rubbed at her arms as though chilled. “Just go,” she mumbled, her bottom lip trembling.
“I just need to wrap my mind around all of this. Figure out what to do, and the best way to move forward for everyone involved…”
She huffed. “Everyone involved. That’s rich, Jack.” She ran her long fingers through her hair and sighed. “The only two people that matter in all of this are us. Me and you. The ones who are supposedly getting married.”
“Summer, please…” I tried.
“Or is that off the table now too?” She continued, undaunted. “Because what? You’re unhappy with what my family grows? Something that’s perfectly legal in thirty-eight states medicinally and twenty-three recreationally. Not to mention that number is growing every year.” She spun around in a circle with her arms out as if putting her vast indoor farm on display. “Why, might you ask, is it growing so astronomically? If you’d even bothered to ask before freaking out…it’s because the therapeutic properties cannot be denied.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t handle my initial response well, but this is not something I’m used to seeing. Cannabis may be run of the mill in the States, but it is nowhere near as well-received in Europe. And completely illegal in my own home country. Please excuse me if I reacted out of shock and fear of the unknown.” I fisted my hands, unsure of whether I was trying to convince her or myself.
“Look Jack, I’ve lived my entire life being different. My family is nowhere near what is generally thought of as ‘normal’. And for us, and in this town, it’s celebrated. Outside of our area, maybe not. We’re okay with that. I’m also okay with the fact that I provide a product that carries a stigma. Because I don’t care what other people think. I only care about the people I help. The ones with crippling anxiety and depression. The cancer patients who can finally eat a meal because my product made it possible for them to feel hunger or settle their stomachs enough from the endless bouts of vomiting. Also, those suffering from seizures and epilepsy. Then there are people with chronic pain. Do you know what that’s like? To be in pain every single day of your life?” She looked me up and down and scowled. “Of course you don’t. You’re in peak physical condition. But for those who have neuropathy, arthritis, muscular conditions, and more, cannabis is the only natural thing that provides relief.”
“Summer…”
She slashed the air. “And then there are the people that just want to chill the fuck out. Let their minds and bodies relax for a single freaking hour after working an eight-hour day that they gave their all to. Cannabis has endless uses and every last one of them are to help people. To ease pain. To relax the mind. You’re either going to get behind this with me, or you’re against me, and this thing between us stops here.”
An icepick to the gut couldn’t have hurt more. Surprise, shock, and confusion swirled in my mind and soul as I processed her ultimatum. I was either with her, or against her.
Summer stood tall and proud, even though tears were filling her eyes. The power and strength in her conviction was incredible to behold. She glowed with it. Her belief not only in her product but in what she and her family were doing for the greater good was breathtaking.
Had I ever in my twenty-eight years felt that passionate about anything in my life?
No.
Outside of helping Erik find his way back to himself and heal from the damage of that helicopter accident, I didn’t think anything in my life had brought the level of fire I could see burning in Summer’s gaze. It oozed from her very pores, sparking with the light and essence of a thousand stars. This woman would not be deterred.
Regardless of how we met, what commitments we’d made, the contract we’d signed, it would all end here if I couldn’t wrap my mind around and get onboard with the path this woman, her family, and their company were taking. But I wasn’t the type to jump in with both feet. No, I weighed all options fully. Planned, evaluated, dug into the details before making any decision, lest I make the wrong one.
Summer wasn’t like that. She was a free spirit on a path to enlighten the world with her cause and make it a better place while doing it.
I held up my hands in supplication. “I can see this is incredibly important to you, and my initial response was a bad one. I’ve already apologized for my knee-jerk reaction. I’m going to need a little time to process this information, if that’s all right with you.”
She lifted her chin in defiance, and it took everything I had not to smile. She was so damn beautiful. Her ire and the breadth of her conviction only made her more so. My hands itched to pull her into my arms, hold her close, and make the last twenty minutes disappear so we could start over. Alas, it wouldn’t change anything. She was still the owner and operator of a business I didn’t understand and knew nothing about. All I did know was that it wasn’t legal where I came from. Wrapping my mind around that part alone would be difficult, but I’d evaluate every possible angle and determine the best route for moving forward.
The one thing I did know with my entire heart was I didn’t want to lose her. I’d barely gotten to know her and already she’d wedged herself under my skin and into my psyche in a way I found refreshing. She brought a lightness and excitement to my world I wasn’t ready to let go of. Not now, maybe not ever.
Summer was everything I was not.
Free-spirited. Open-minded. Honest to a fault. Non-judgmental. Inclusive.
I’d never met a more welcoming person in my life, and I knew I never would again. People like Summer were like touching the sun. They burned so brightly one couldn’t behold them for longer than a few minutes if they weren’t worthy. I knew I wasn’t worthy of such a woman, but I wanted to be.
Wanted her.
Desperately.
“Just take the car and go. I’ll do some work here and have my dad bring me back later.” She sniffed and cleared her throat.
“Summer,” I called out as she moved to walk along the seemingly endless rows of plants.
She turned around, her expression sad and withdrawn, no longer light and airy as she’d been when we arrived.
“I’m sorry for how I reacted. We’ll talk…”
She nodded, reached her arms out wide and touched the tips of her plants as she went. A green goddess greeting her subjects with a sweet caress.
I took in a deep breath then pushed through the glass door back into the office. Her father didn’t so much as lift his head from his work as I passed, obviously not having paid any attention to the drama that unfolded outside of the office. I was thankful for it because I did not want to get a stern talking to by Summer’s father.
I left the building, hauled myself into the SUV and exited the farm. Destination unknown.
* * * *
Not having any idea where to go or what to do, I ended up back at The Pink Lady. As I parked in front, I noticed people entering the storefront at the corner. I don’t know what led me to follow, knowing I’d find Autumn there working, but I felt drawn to the location all the same.
The scent of spicy herbs and floral notes enveloped me the moment I walked in. The space was rather large, each wall set up with a different theme. The wall behind the primary counter was loaded from floor to ceiling with herbs, all categorized in glass jars and hand labeled. Autumn was behind the counter, scooping something into a brown paper bag for a customer. She lifted her head, and her gaze reached mine. Autumn frowned when she realized I was alone.
I waved nonchalantly and went over to the wall of crystals. There was something available in what seemed to be every color of the rainbow. Some with polished points, others rough as though they’d just been pulled straight from a mountain. Some were in spherical and obelisk shapes and even some that had been carved into animals. On the tables were various bowls of small rocks with names like amazonite, African bloodstone, howlite, rose quartz and more.
I continued walking around and found an entire section of incense, home-made candles, and other pieces of art and jewelry. Everywhere I looked revealed something unique and interesting to see and purchase. Against the final wall was a pair of giant amethyst geode wings, the mighty rocks stretched out wide. Teenagers were standing in front of them taking photos, likely to post the cool find to their social media platforms.
A wooden table in the corner caught my attention. On it was a massive tray filled with palm-sized, smooth rocks or crystals, I assumed. A shiny black one with striations caught my attention. I picked it up and was surprised to find it cool to the touch. I held it in my hand and picked up another one, a teal blue that reminded me of Summer’s eyes.
“Tourmaline and aquamarine, huh? Need a little understanding, protection, and empathy my friend?” Autumn said while looking over my shoulder at the two stones I held.
“Is that what these are for?” I didn’t have any clue about crystals and their energy. I knew scientifically that quartz was used in timekeeping but I didn’t know the specifics.
“You piss someone off?”
I chuckled dryly. “Actually, I think I messed up pretty good.”
“Well, working with those two stones would be a good start. But there’s a better way,” Autumn stated cryptically.
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
“Tell me what happened with my sister, and I’ll tell you how to get back into her good graces.” She grinned wickedly.
“How did you know?” I wondered if her observation was part of the magic and witchery this family had.
“I’d love to say it was my intuition or my spirit guides, but I’d be lying. My sister’s fiancé walks into my store, not an hour after the two of you left to see the farm, and she’s nowhere in sight. My guess? You saw what she grows and lost your mind.” She chuckled.
I frowned. “Is it that obvious?”
“That you don’t smoke weed and likely know nothing about it?” She blinked, her expression neutral. “Yeah. You literally look like the poster child for those old Say No To Drugs campaigns. It’s not a stretch to believe that a hardcore, über rich businessman who comes from Norway and likely spends all his extra time at business-related charity events or galleries, wouldn’t exactly be the first to light up a joint and go for gold.”
My shoulders slumped as I clung to the two stones in my hands. “Your sister is really unhappy with me. I may have said some idiotic things in the heat of the moment when I found out and”—I shook my head—“I don’t know what to do.”
“Come with me.” I followed her back around the counter and to the wall of herbs. “Help me fill these web orders while we chat. Fill the scoop to bursting each time,” she instructed.
I set down the stones and read the first line item on a sheet of orders. “One scoop rosemary.” I scanned the herbs and found they were in perfect alphabetical order. Each jar had its own scoop, which was very efficient.
Autumn reached for something called amaranth. “So, what’s your problem with weed?”
“You mean besides the fact that it’s illegal in my country and almost all of Europe? Nothing.” I dumped the rosemary into a bag and folded the top then checked the list for the next item. Two scoops basil.
We swapped places and I went for the basil as she went for the spearmint.
“It’s legal here. In most places. Which means it’s going to be legal in all places once the federal government realizes they can tax the holy shit out of it. When that happens and the rest of the world sees how much money there is to be made, it’s going to explode. It already has. Dad can give you the numbers since legalization. We’ve been tracking it forever.”
“It’s not that I’m against it or anything…” I shared.
“Could’ve fooled me with that staunch attitude and gruff tone.” She snickered.
“I was just surprised and worried about the ramifications to Johansen Brewing…”
“Why?” she asked as we switched places once again to fill a new order.
“Because I don’t know what the repercussions of being in a relationship with Summer will be for the business.”
“Why does it matter? Johansen Brewing sells beer, right?”
“Yes.”
“She sells cannabis. They’re not even in the same industry so why would it affect anything you do with Johansen?”
“The thing is I don’t know if it could. What if people in Europe want to smear the company because I’m marrying someone they might see as a drug dealer?”
“Do you see her that way?” She tilted her head.
“No! Goodness no! She’s genuinely trying to help people, and it sounds like she’s good at it.”
“She is good at it. The best. And how can helping people be so bad?” she asked.
“I just, I know the media. They are ruthless. If they find one thing they can spin in a negative way, they will.”
She shrugged. “So? Summer’s not the kind of woman that cares about that and since it’s her business, she’s the one in the spotlight, right? Not you.”
“But—”
“Jack, there are no buts. You’re scared. My sister is working in a business that may or may not look good to some people. We’re used to the stigma attached to our product and company. What’s more important is how you feel about what she does. How does it affect you personally? Do you look at her differently, knowing she grows and sells this product? And if you do, it’s best to end things between you two before your feelings get too complicated.”
I absolutely did not see her differently. And intellectually I knew cannabis wasn’t the issue. It was my fear over what people might think and say about us as a couple, and the business I’ve devoted my life to, because of the stigma. It truly didn’t matter to me if someone partook or not. If this product helped people, let them use what worked for their own bodies.
“It doesn’t affect me personally. I only worry about the business…” I said and then realized it was the truth. What Summer did truly didn’t matter to me on a personal level. Hell, I’d even try it just to experience it with her. My only concern was centered on the possibility of blowback for Johansen Brewing.
The last decade of my life has been all about Johansen Brewing. Not about what I wanted or what I needed to make me happy and fulfilled. I’d spent my entire twenties making the company as successful as possible. For Erik, for his family, and for myself. To prove I could do it…and I have. The company is the most successful alcoholic beverage company in the world. Yet here I was, afraid to commit to a woman I wanted more than my next breath, all because it might tarnish the image of the company I worked for.
“I’m an idiot…” I sighed.
“We all have our stupid moments,” Autumn agreed.
“Will she forgive me?” I asked, a thread of worry coating my words.
Autumn smiled sweetly. “Summer is the most forgiving human on the planet.”
“Thank God…”
“Don’t be thanking the goddesses just yet,” she warned.
“I thought you just said she was forgiving.”
“I did. But, she’ll make you work your ass off for it. Be prepared to grovel, buddy. I’d suggest flowers, chocolates, candles, and a homemade dinner.”
I pulled my keys from my pocket and headed to the door. “On it.”
Autumn laughed. “Go get her, tiger!”
I’d never understand these women or their ways, but I was realizing that was the beauty of being part of their world.
I never knew what I was going to get, but I looked forward to every new moment.