Epilogue
Vanessa
I wasn’t sure how I would handle actually being a part of the farming community after leaving the job I’d loved and coveted for the last seven years at the college.
I’d made the choice initially to do this over a year ago. There was just too much going on, and none of it was a benefit to me or my mental health. If I’d wanted to be in a politically challenging position, I’d have gone in a different direction with my life plans.
Dean and I had discussed it over and over again. He’s supported me the whole time.
It hadn’t been an easy choice, but it was the right choice for me. I was even let out of my contract early. This meant that for the last few months, I’ve been able to work around the house, have dinner ready when Dean comes in from work, and of course, make sure I’m able to give him a few surprises along the way.
I can’t tell you the thrill I get meeting him at the top of the stairs, in my birthday suit, with three fingers of whiskey in a tumbler and his tie around my neck.
I know what I’m getting into when he stalks me, waiting until I run to get what he wants. The man is one sexy-ass sex fiend. I’m here for it, let me tell you. And he probably won’t admit it, but it’s just the right kind of stress relief after a long week.
Now neither of these things are an every-night thing. If it was though, I wouldn’t complain. Some nights I’m literally too tired to do more than collapse after a shower. He, too, has nights when he comes in, showers, and then falls asleep on the couch while I’m doing laundry or dishes.
It’s a new routine. A new normal. To put it lightly, thus far, I’m having a blast.
The heat of summer, the bane of us all, is here. It will be in the seventies at night, cooling off enough to fool you, only to be close to one hundred during the day. I’m not a fan, and it needs to eff off already.
But that’s summertime in Virginia. Nothing changes, it’s going to be the same again tomorrow, and the day after, and on and on until fall gets here. Then we’ll all bitch about the cold and snow, so really, it’s not worth bitching about right now.
Today marks my six-month anniversary of being a baby farmer—my dad’s given title for me. I’ll take it. And with that title comes a lot of responsibility. Today we are hoping to finish up some more hard labor.
My dad, uncle, and cousins are here to help build outbuildings in the three separate pastures that have been selected for the animals’ use.
This is after spending weeks putting up a smaller feed barn, building an outbuilding to store hay, and most recently, taking the last two weeks to put up stable, safe fencing beyond the far back paddocks, making the areas ready to be used by the animals. This will allow the horses and goats to have their own space, all while still being able to see each other. Reba can go in her own space or go to whatever one she wants.
She’s our emotional support donkey that is loved by all here. To see her and Sandy, my big seventeen-three-hand bay side by side, is comical. But they’re besties. Picasso loves her too. She brays; they whinny back. It’s a heart-dripping cuteness overload.
“Hey, Ness, you wanted the outbuilding in both side pastures to be double-facing right? In the middle of the pasture but close to the fencing? Yes? No? I’m thinking Dad is losing it?”
I snort out a laugh at the look on Jeremy’s face.
“Yes, that way if it’s raining or windy or whatever, they can get to a safe, dry, shady spot.”
He looks at his notebook and nods. “See, that’s what I have written down, but Dad said that wasn’t right. You only wanted it open and facing the barn.” He takes his ball cap off and uses the sleeve of his t-shirt to wipe his forehead.
“No, the winds normally blow across the field crossways from the house. I do want one side facing toward the barn, but I also want the other to face out toward the open fields.”
We share a look before I remember what I’d told him first thing this morning.
“You know, he’s probably thinking of the small pasture right out back. Let me show you.” We walk to the back, and I point to the smaller of the two fenced-off areas. “This one right here. I want an open covering over here, just so Reba has a place to lay down if she wants to. I plan to leave a gate open; either she can go out with Picasso and Sandy or the goats depending on which gate’s open. But this one also allows her to just be in here by herself and walk back into her stall if she wants.”
“Cool, cool. I get to tell the old man he’s wrong. It’s like Christmas in July right now.”
He walks off as I shake my head. With my egg apron in hand, I head back toward the barn. When I come in, Mama’s looking over Reba, petting her sides, making a face. My grin grows. I’d been wondering if she’d finally figured out why Reba had been getting a little healthier over the last year. Other than just normal growth.
I open the door to where the chickens come to roost. The nesting boxes are the perfect height to be able to reach in and pull out any eggs that were laid. My girls average one egg a day. That means almost a dozen eggs a day now. My girls are good producers. Today, as I fill the pockets on my apron, I get super excited. Instead of ten eggs, I get eleven.
Either I’d missed one last night or someone was extra productive this morning.
Either way, I’ll take it.
“I think she’s eating too much. Good lord.” Mama draws my attention to where she stands. I lock the door back and walk over to the back stall. “She needs to be muzzled, or else you need to stop giving her access to grass and hay. She’ll founder if she gains too much weight.”
“Mama, don’t be fat-shaming my pregnant donkey.”
Her head whips around as I approach. “Pregnant? You set up to have a Jack come visit her?”
“Well, no. She came here pregnant. I was trying to keep it a secret, but the farrier noticed her belly was a little more rounded than Norma. That was right after we got her. I had the vet come look her over, and he did a preg check. She’s due anytime from now to September, maybe October as we aren’t exactly sure when she got pregnant. Dad couldn’t say the last time she was even near a Jack. I didn’t want you to know yet.”
“Huh. Why not? It’s not nice to keep secrets from your mother.”
“I was hoping she’d have the baby around your birthday. It would be a big surprise for you.”
She wraps an arm around me and squeezes. “I think that’s precious. I’m still happy. A birthday grandbaby. But it’s still an interesting situation. She wasn’t with Henry or—I bet it happened when we had those tornadoes and bad weather last year about this time. Everyone was pulled into the big barns and corrals then, so they were out of the winds and rain. That was the only time she’s ever been in the vicinity of a Jack that I know of. I had to keep her away from everyone most of the time.”
“Well, I’m grateful that it’s happened. Now she will be able to experience motherhood at least once.”
“Will you keep it?”
“I don’t see a reason not to. I only have one Jenny, so there’s available space to have another if Dean doesn’t mind.”
“What if it’s a Jack?”
“I can have him gelded, Mama. Or bring him home and trade for someone else from your herd. You’ll have plenty of Jennys born this year,” I say, grinning as I walk out toward the back pasture. Reba follows me, demanding treats and head scratches. I oblige to both demands, pulling out a peppermint as I scratch between her ears.
“She’s like a big dog.” Mama huffs out a laugh.
“I’m neither confirming nor denying that.”
“Hey, what’s going on out here?”
I turn to Dean’s voice. He moves to engulf me, but I hold out my hand. “Gentle, I’m carrying eggs.”
“Don’t want a repeat of last week?” His eyes squint. Laughter fills the space around us.
“No, that was not a good end to a productive egg day.”
“Hey, we’ve all had those days. Remember when you and…was it Jeremy or Ian—oh, anyway, it doesn’t matter. They came running into the kitchen, the back door caught the bucket of eggs I’d just walked in with, and they spent an hour scrubbing the eggs off my floor and cabinets.”
My face flames as he gives me a knowing look. That egg accident last week had ended with me naked, in the shower, bent over the bench seat. He’d made me forget all about the eggs. I’m sure I’d forgotten my own name there for a while.
“To answer your question…” I reach up and pull him down to my mouth. We keep the kiss PG since Mama is right here beside us. “Dad and the others are putting up the outbuildings. If they don’t finish today, we will tomorrow.”
“It won’t be finished today, baby girl,” Uncle Jake calls, coming up to grab a bottle of water out of the big cooler.
“That’s okay,” I reply.
“The cement needs a couple of hours to dry. We will get the frames up, and then we can come in tomorrow with the rest of the crew to finish up.” He motions to the bigger of the pastures. “We’ll leave this to dry while we get the other two set into the cement. Then move back here to frame once the cement is for sure dry.”
“Sounds great. I’m going to get the food on the grill. By the time you get the next one done, it’ll be ready.”
“If you want some help, just let me get changed. I can follow directions.”
“Then you’ll be one step ahead of my boys.”
“Thank you all for doing so much to help us get this farm off the ground.”
Dean is all smiles as he speaks. I squeeze his hand as we stand facing my family. Their smiles match ours. Today has been a long one, but oh so productive.
“When I made a choice to do something big, I bought this property. It was after I graduated college, and I bought it from the person who’d taught me what it’s like to be a man. Without him, I’d not be the stable, caring person I am today. He always said, ‘if you want to put your stake on something to do it, take the leap,’ and I did. I became a teacher, started in a high school then moved to the college. If that hadn’t been my path, I’d never have met the woman who makes me truly happy. I found someone to love, to cherish. And tonight,” he turns slightly and drops to one knee, a ring box on one extended hand, “I want to ask, Vanessa Conrad, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? I promise before your family to always do what I can for you. To make you happy, to keep you safe, to be yours completely.”
My eyes start leaking the second he drops to a knee. My heart is racing so loud, I’m sure they can hear it in the next county.
“Yes. God, yes!” I sob as he slides the ring on my finger. He’s up and has me in his arms before I can do more than wrap my arms around his neck. His mouth captures mine, the kiss full of love and emotions we can’t express with just words.
“I love you,” he says, taking a deep breath.
“I love you, too.” My voice is thick with emotion.
“Congratulations, baby girl.”
He sets me on my feet so I can hug my mama.
“Sam, Jaimie, thank you for allowing me to steal your only daughter away.”
“You’re not stealing when she goes willingly. Just remember what I told you son, I?—”
“Yes, sir. I know. You can make me disappear. I never plan to give you a reason to go through with that threat.”
“Dad. I can take care of myself. And trust me, this is where I will always want to be. With Dean.”
We share another, quicker kiss.
I had no idea my life could get any better. We’d always said, once I moved in, that we’d get married when we were ready. There was no rush. We had a genuinely happy, stable relationship.
Ring or no ring, he’s destined to be mine until I take my last breath. And I know he feels the same.
But with this ring, everyone will know he’s taken. He will always be mine, all mine, forever and ever. Amen.