Chapter 50
Why did you jump on Jake like that?” Mary steered her mom away from the guests and over toward the chicken coop.
“Carissima, I didn’t jump on him. But tell me what’s really going on. Are you dating him?” She plowed on, knowing the answer. “Whatever it is, I can tell you’re not just friends. Why didn’t you tell us?”
“You did jump on him. And I didn’t hide anything . . . I just didn’t tell you.”
“So, what . . . are you in love with him?”
“Ma! No! I mean, I don’t think so. I don’t know. Maybe?” Mary was uncharacteristically flustered. “I guess I haven’t let myself think about it too much. Why can’t you just let me be young and free before I have to make so many big decisions?”
Christine put an arm around her daughter.
“Maria Theresa, your father and I want what’s best for you.
We were happy you had this little adventure with Dot and Harper.
But we know you. You’re going to want to raise your children near your family, and making everything more complicated doesn’t make sense.
” Christine sighed heavily, breathing out the worry she always had for her kids.
“Look, Mary, I know he’s good looking, charming, fun, strong .
. . I mean, believe me I get it. The guy’s hot. ”
“Ma!”
“I have eyes, Mary. And he has a lovely family. But you heard him. He said he’s never leaving here. And would you want to leave us, to move here, to be a . . . farmer’s wife?”
“Ma, you’re getting carried away. First, he’s not a farmer, he’s a police officer. Second, we haven’t ever talked about ‘whatever this is’ as you say. And third, you always undermine my decisions, and I need you to trust me. And to be there for me whatever I decide. Please, Ma, enough already.”
She leaned her head on her mother’s shoulder.
Christine turned and kissed the top of Mary’s head.
“Okay. Okay. Don’t be upset. I trust you.
You’re the most brilliant girl I’ve ever known.
You’re beautiful. A successful young woman.
You have a very bright future.” She put an arm firmly around her daughter.
“But do me a favor. Don’t waste time. Life goes by fast, Mary.
I don’t want you to look back and wish you’d taken my advice.
I’d hate to have you say, ‘You were right, Ma.’”
“Ha! There’s nothing you’d like more than for me to say that!” Mary laughed, wiping a tear away and lifting her head to look at her mom’s face.
“Not on this one, kid. Not on this one.” They both put their arms around each other and hugged tightly.
When she pulled back, Mary said, “The thing is, I really like him. From the moment we first met. I feel like myself when I’m around him” She had tears in her big dark brown eyes. “But I know it’s complicated.”
“All right. We can’t have him see you upset.”
Mary blotted her eyes. “Okay. I’ll pull myself together.”
“That’s my girl. Now let’s step away from all this chicken crap,” Christine said, lightening the mood but seeing what was plain to everyone willing to admit it.
Her daughter was in love.
AFTER EVERYONE ATE, the 4-H kids arrived on a small school bus, and it was time for them to practice their presentations for the upcoming livestock show at the fair.
The Taylors did this every year since their boys were young.
Grace had run the 4-H club, and anyone under her tutelage always swept up a lot of ribbons.
Joe doled out assignments to the adults—Mary and Jake were given the sheep, Dot and Danny the cows, and Harper and Tommy the rabbits. He and Grace took the pigs.
The Crew had dressed more appropriately for this visit to the farm: old sneakers, cutoff jeans and tank tops.
“This is not a pretty business,” Mary said to Jake, as he helped a young girl set her lamb in the right position for when the judges saw her the following weekend. She wiped her cheek, and the mud transferred from her hand to her cheek. At least she hoped it was mud.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you prettier,” he said. She looked up at him and smiled.
Christine and Tony saw the exchange.
“Oh boy,” Tony said, reaching for his wife’s hand.
“She looks happy,” Christine said. “In fact, Tony, they all do. It’s like getting out of New York for a few months reset their circuits. Must be all this fresh air. Dot doesn’t seem as stressed-out by having to be perfect. And Harper isn’t depressed about that surfer boy anymore.”
“Well, let’s see what it can do for us then,” Tony said, pulling his wife over to Harper and Tommy with the rabbits. Harper was sneezing like crazy because she’d forgotten to take her Zyrtec that morning.
“Bless you!” the kids yelled out after another one of her attacks.
Christine handed Harper a new tissue and gave her a hug. “It’s good to see you, Harper. You seem happy.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Russo.” Harper beamed. “I really am.” She sneezed again.
“Come on now, show us how you’re going to win this thing next week,” Tony said to a young boy feeding a carrot to his rabbit.
Tommy explained to everyone what the judges would be looking for. “So, the judges look at the rabbit’s eyes—they need to be bright and clear. They need to be the correct weight and can’t have any sores or injuries. Healthy fur matters a lot,” he said.
“And what about our little camper?” Tony asked. “Does she get judged, too?”
“Yes, that’s a big part of it.” He gestured for the young girl to get ready to handle her rabbit. “What are some of the things you need to show, Josie? And use your big girl voice, okay?”
The young girl squared her shoulders then confidently said, “I need to be able to handle my rabbit well and to know all of his parts, like the loin and dewlap.” She pointed to the bunny’s parts correctly.
“What else?” Tommy asked.
“I also need to explain how I feed and house him. And keep him safe from disease.”
“Good girl. That’s it!” Tommy was proud of her. He told her she was free to put away her rabbit. After Josie had him inside, Harper helped her secure the cage.
“She’ll do well, but the rabbit competition is tough.” Tommy wiped his hands and turned back to Tony and Christine.
“First place blue ribbon. I can feel it,” Tony said.
“Can you say that again?” Josie asked.
Tony said it again then asked, “Could you not hear me?”
“Oh, Mister, I could hear you just fine, I just wanted to hear you say it again,” Josie said. “You talk funny!”
“You little rascal,” Tony said, pretending to chase her. Josie ran off to play with the other kids.
As the demonstration practice ended, Joe Taylor found Tony.
“Hey, before you head out—want to give my new John Deere a spin? Mary told me you love to drive.” It was a new row crop to replace one he’d had for years, since the boys were still in high school. “We’re getting ready to break it in at harvesttime.”
“Now we’re talking, Joe! You think I can handle it?” Tony joked and he gave the big green farm vehicle a once over.
“No doubt about it.”
“Hey, Christine. Get over here! Let’s take this thing for a ride!”
Christine had been holding one of the steers with a leather rope and chatting with some of the parents who were loading up the livestock to take back to their homes.
“If you’ll excuse me,” she said gently. Then in her typical voice, she yelled, “Don’t you dare leave without me, Tony Russo.” She jogged over to the tractor and shimmied her way up onto his lap. “Yee-haw, let’s go.” She pretended to swing a lasso as Tony started down the road.
The Taylors watched them go, and Mary had her hands over her eyes. “I can’t watch,” she said. “Please don’t hit the barn.”
Jake laughed and put his arm around her, and suddenly Mary didn’t worry anymore if her parents knew that she had fallen for him.
AFTER THE 4-H rehearsal, the Taylors called everyone over for homemade ice cream. They had a choice of vanilla bean, strawberry cheesecake, and maple bacon.
“All three for me,” Tony said, having the time of his life. Christine playfully swatted his belly but talked herself into a scoop of vanilla bean.
Joe Taylor ducked into the house for a moment and came back with an envelope.
“Mary, do you have a minute?”
Mary finished her ice cream cone and wiped her hands on a napkin.
“Sure thing. What’s up?”
“I got this in the mail yesterday. Grace and I wondered if you’d look at it.
Some big law firm from Washington, D.C., we’ve not heard of before sent it—it’s an increased offer.
It’s a serious number, but we still aren’t selling.
Our neighbors got one too, too, and I’m not sure how strongly they’re committed to holding out. ”
“You bet.” Mary glanced at the letter and took her phone out of her back pocket. She snapped a photograph of the letter. “I’ll take a look at it later and send you a note.”
“Thank you, Mary.”
“Happy to.”
“Hey, your parents are a real kick in the pants.”
“They’re something else, that’s for sure. Thanks for having us.”
“Thanks for brightening up the day. We like having you around, Mary.” He glanced over at Jake. “And so does our son.”
Mary smiled and tried to hide her blush.