Chapter 6
Chapter Six
ELLE
Idon’t want to get up.
I don’t want to go to work.
I don’t want to run into the Intruder.
I don’t want to confront the feeling in my belly each time I hear him talk.
Lola assured me nothing would change with the temporary placement but it’s been three days since he moved in and his presence is too much of a distraction, frequently pulling my thoughts away from my work.
Of course, no one else can see how much of a goddamn problem he is.
Lola still can’t believe the Farm was able to get someone with so much experience in so many different types of touring and blah blah fucking blah. Mabel and Paul are even worse.
They have no real work interactions with him, all they talk about is how good looking he is. I know Mabel won’t do anything but Paul earned his nickname, he has worked his way through more than his fair share of our darling state.
Even if he has slowed down his escapades in the last three years, ever since he found out he was going to be a dad. We all know he’s head over heels for Henry’s mom Anika but they have some weird co-parenting relationship that they both refuse to discuss.
You never know, though, I wouldn’t put it past Paul to try to ask him out just to piss me off.
Not that I would care who Patrick, the Intruder, goes out with.
Unfortunately, I know I can not hide away from the Intruder, I have to be in the office today. Our accountant is stopping by to pick up some tax documents and I need to make sure nothing else is needed to be taken care of before we close up shop early and prep for our family hike tomorrow.
It’s a tradition to hike up to Timpanogos cave at least a few times a year.
Timpanogos is our family's home away from home.
It was where my parents met and where my dad proposed to my mom.
I love hiking and spending time with my family but I hate going into the cave itself but of course, going into the cave is required, as Dad proposed to Mom inside.
I let out a groan before dragging myself out of bed.
I do a quick stretch to wake up my muscles before padding out of my room, forcing myself to prepare for the day.
Thankfully, with our hike planned tomorrow, the Farm was only working a half day so anyone going on the hike could prepare and pack my supplies.
I don’t need to pack lunch today, which shaves off about a half hour out of my get ready routine.
I’m grateful for the extra time to wallow in my misery.
I made quick work of my skin care, brushing my teeth, and emptying my bladder.
Walking back into my room, I stand in front of my closet, unsure of what I should wear.
Even though I worked on a farm, I didn’t actually do any farm work.
I worked on the business side, so I made sure to do my best to represent the business.
I was always much more comfortable in skirts and like to make my life easier so my closet is full of coordinated tops and skirt combos that I know look good together and look good on my body.
I wondered if Patrick thought I looked good or if I was crazy for dressing up on a farm like my siblings did.
I hum as I search my closet. I know today’s going to be slightly warmer so I don’t really want to wear something too long or too constricting.
I finally settled on a pink skirt that hugged my hips but flowed out slightly from there, twin slits on each side kept it from making me feel like a sausage.
I have two tops that I typically rotate between with this skirt, a simple white cropped button up (business) or a black graphic tee (casual) that I would knot to give myself a bit of an hourglass silhouette.
The shirt makes me chuckle so I decided the laid back plan for today meant I could go with a laid back outfit but still stay business adjacent.
Black sneakers finished off the outfit and I’m ready for the day.
There’s a flower on the corner of my desk.
I’m standing here eyeing it with suspicion, not believing it was left here on purpose.
Not for me.
Nobody gives me flowers.
Not anymore.
My dad used to but he’s been dead for 6 years now and I think if he was going to come back to the land of the living, he wouldn’t waste time leaving me flowers.
He’d be with Mom reminiscing or Lola to tell her how proud of her he was.
Maybe with Paul to give him fatherly advice.
His relationship with Mabel was tense the last few years before he passed but I expect he would still go to her to mend fences before he even thought of me.
He’d probably be starting the process of going back to wherever we went when we died and then remember me just before it was too late.
That might be a little morbid but I am the middle child and the hardest to get along with.
I didn’t have the sunshine disposition that my siblings have.
Things make me mad and I don’t stay quiet when I’m bothered.
People always know when I’m mad, I refuse to subscribe to the notion that it’s easier to smile and bear it if I don't like something. And as I have come to learn in my years, that makes me hard to be around. I don’t blame my family for having a hard time with me, either, I know what I’m like and I’m fine with it.
I’m fine with it……most of the time.
All that to say, I don’t know why anyone would intentionally leave a flower on my desk. Patrick isn’t in the office and I have no doubt he would want to have a conversation about the botanical if he were.
Stepping away from my desk, I cross around the back and sit down in my office chair, picking up the flower and I fully intend to throw it in the garbage but I stall and bite the inside of my lip.
I love flowers.
The hand not holding the flower reaches over and pulls out one of my new notebooks, flipping to the first blank page, I set the flower down and tape it to the page.
I make a quick note of the date and close the book, returning it to its spot, placing a large heavy binder on top, hoping to press the flower.
I will add another piece of tape once it is properly flattened.
A small smile teases my lips as I start my work for the day.