Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
PATRICK
After the debauchery in the shower, I made quick work of packing a backpack for the hike tomorrow and I forced myself to bed. Not that I actually got any sleep, guilt twisted my insides into knots.
Regretfully accepting my exhaustion as penance for my actions yesterday, I roll out of bed and slowly stride across to my dresser.
Early bird getting the worm or whatever.
I didn’t want to turn on the lights in my apartment, hoping the dark would keep my guilt or dick from growing again. Most of my clothes were appropriate for a hike, so I didn’t pay attention to what I grabbed, shoving my head through my shirt.
With how early it is, I decide to shrug on a lighter flannel. Checking my pack had room to fit the flannel once it warmed up on the hike, I tossed in my wallet and closed it up. I wanted to drag my feet but, really, there was nothing else I needed to get done.
The drive back to the Farm was quiet and fast. Not many people were on the road at 5 in the morning on a Saturday.
I’ve been to Donna Warren’s house before as it was included during a more extensive tour around the Farm on my second day here.
Mabel had volunteered to take me and introduced me to the Warren matriarch.
Mama Donna—as she insisted I call her—was as warm and welcoming as her eldest and youngest children.
I did leave the meeting feeling a tinge of melancholy. Physically, Mama Donna held no resemblance to my own mother but the warmth she projected was a punch in the gut I had not prepared for.
I pulled into the empty gravel parking area on the side of the main house.
Was I the first one to arrive? My hiking boots crunch on the gravel as I unfold myself from my vehicle.
For a brief moment, I worried that everyone had caught whatever bug was plaguing Henry.
I was quick to dismiss this hoping that one of the Warrens would have reached out and let me know.
I knock on the door, tapping out a shave and a haircut onto the front door. The lights in the home offer a warm glow and calm my nerves that others will be here and I am just early. The door swings open and I am assaulted by scents of cinnamon and breakfast meats.
“Oh my dear boy! You scared the crap out of me.” Donna laughs as she wraps me in a hug that pulls at my heart. I tentatively returned her hug, “I'm so sorry Donna, Mabel told me to be here by 5:30?” I rush out the apology as she releases me.
“Oh, that stinker.” She shakes her head but doesn’t seem actually put out if the wide smile that paints her face is any indication.
“I told you to call me Mama Donna, mister and everyone else should be coming around 6, so you’re not too early.
” I step into the open door and Mama Donna turns, heading towards what I am assuming is the kitchen. “Follow me!”
I make quick work of shutting the door and following her to the dining and kitchen area “Is there anything I can do to help?” I’m not one to sit and watch others handle business if I’m able to help.
“Oh, you're such a dear. Sit right there at the table and tell me about yourself. We didn’t get to chat for long when Mabel brought you over.”
Internally, I’m cringing, I don’t love talking about myself but I can’t bring myself to refuse her.
I give her the spark notes of my childhood.
Moving every couple of years for my parents work, losing my parents shortly after I turned 18 and traveling wherever the wind took me after I was able to pull myself out of the grief cloud I lived in for a couple of years.
As I’m getting into my cruise line employee escapades, the front door slams open. I startle so hard I almost jump out of my chair but Donna is unaffected—only rolling her eyes and muttering about her dang kids.
“Mom, it smells ah-maze-ing in here!” It feels like Mabel’s declaration echoes throughout the house. She and Lola follow the echo moments later. Lola spots me at the table and squeals in delight, causing my cheeks and ears to burn pink.
I’ve had nice employers before but the Warren family is definitely the most excitable. “I’m so happy you’re here, we are going to have so much fun!” Lola’s basically vibrating with excitement at this point.
“Chill out LJ, you’re going to make him think our family is crazy.” Mabel admonishes her little sister but I can tell it is all in jest. “Going to?” I tease back. Mabel winks at me as she and Lola sit down at the table. Lola sits next to me and Mabel across the table from her.
“Oh, I knew I was going to like you. Patrick, guests always get served first, come make yourself a plate.” Donna joins the three of us at the table, bringing a loaded plate and placing it in front of herself. I stand and walk over to the buffet style layout.
My stomach growls as I take in the options.
Cinnamon rolls, fried eggs, cheesy scrambled eggs along with bacon and sausage.
It all looks incredible and I load up my plate with a cinnamon roll, scrambled eggs and a couple pieces of sausage.
I would be tempted to take more, everything looked delicious but I was the first to dish up and we all needed the fuel for today.
Not long after Lola and Mabel fill up their plates and return to the table, Jude walks in to join us.
His eyes zero in on the back of Mabel’s head but he doesn’t say anything.
He does stop at Donna’s chair and wraps her in a one arm hug, kissing the top of her head.
“Good morning Mama D.” Donna wraps her arms around Jude’s gigantic forearm.
“Hey Judey baby, how are you doing?” Jude makes a non-committal noise as he rises to his full height, nodding at Lola and myself in a welcome before making his way to the smorgasbord.
Yesterday, on our walk back to Elle’s office, I got some back story for Jude.
Apparently he has been working for the Farm in some way since he was 16.
He started as a summer farm hand and now he was the right hand man of Lola who was the owner of everything Warren Farms and Apiary.
With over 10 years of working with the family, it made sense he would be like another family member to the Warrens.
From my understanding, Lola was the owner and all the other siblings held majority stock claims or something like that. Business never made too much sense to me but I could tell that the Warren’s made taking care of their employees a priority.
“Got word from some of the others, I don’t think any other employees are going to make the hike. Sounds like that bug is going around.” Jude’s deep voice rumbles out. I’m slightly disappointed because I was excited to get associated with more of the employees.
“What the fresh fucking hell is this?”
Five pairs of eyes whip to Elle who is standing in the space between the foyer and kitchen, red faced with her arms crossed in front of her chest. I try not to focus on the swell of her breasts as her forearms press against them but apparently I’m still the world’s biggest creep because I can’t move my focus to anywhere else.
That is until Donna drops the biggest bomb and blows my mind. “Elspeth April Warren, you do not use that type of language in my house!”