Chapter 23 Cross That Boundary
CROSS THAT BOUNDARY
“I’m right behind the bar if you get overwhelmed,” Ford said two weeks later.
“Why would I?” The doors opened and people were walking in for the open house at Ridgeway Orchard Barn.
“It’s a lot more people than you’re used to being around at once. Or working with.”
Reenie was next to the bar and tucking her shirt into her black jeans better. Everyone working today had the same attire. A red T-shirt that Clay provided with their own black bottoms.
“I’m not taking orders,” she said. “I’ve gotten good carrying trays and that’s all I’m doing other than cleaning up when I see empty glasses or plates.”
She hadn’t thought Ford could be any more protective but she’d been wrong. It wasn’t just in what he did, but in what he said. He encouraged her constantly. To trust herself, stay sharp, and find strength she hadn’t realized was there.
Things she’d never had voiced to her before.
That was wrong. Ford had done it years ago.
In the two weeks since they’d taken their relationship to the next level, he’d only spent the night with her a handful of times. She hadn’t seen his house once, and when she brought it up to him, he’d said they could spend the night tonight.
She wasn’t sure why he hadn’t offered to bring her once, or have her drive there.
It’s not as if it was a secret they were together. At least she didn’t think so, but maybe only a few knew what really was between them other than him walking around the area shopping that one day.
“You have. Clay really appreciates this.”
“I’ve got to go,” she said. “Your mom is waving at me.”
Brooke had pushed her and the other servers out of the kitchen, saying they were in her way and underfoot.
She didn’t want to be hurt over that since she’d been working with Ford’s mother for just shy of a month now and they made a great team.
Not just the way they moved around the kitchen to get the job done, but the motherly talks they shared.
How to get a stain out of a shirt better, recipes, and words of wisdom.
Things she’d never had with her mother or any other older woman in her life.
She was getting it with Brooke. Someone she could go to for anything, she was positive.
Even questions about Ford, though she wouldn’t cross that boundary. At least not anytime soon.
It felt like everything was finally falling into place but she knew better. Whenever life started to settle, the dam always broke, and the flood came rushing in to drown her all over again.
She hated not knowing what was going on with Oliver, but it appeared maybe he’d just given up at this point.
“These trays are ready,” Brooke said. “First, come here.” Brooke pulled her to the side out of earshot.
Lexi had frowned over that move, but she didn’t care.
“I’m sorry if I was rude earlier. This is big for the family and Clay.
I wanted everything perfect and it’s hard for me to do that if too many hands are touching things. ”
“It’s fine,” she said. “I understand. It’s important and feelings need to be pushed aside, but I wasn’t hurt. Please don’t think that.”
Ford’s mother ran her hand on Reenie’s arm.
“Lexi was complaining. Or so I was told. You’re a good girl.
I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. Nor do I need Ford on my case if I did.
” Brooke smiled at those words, then continued before Reenie could reply.
“You’re doing a great job in the cafe. I’ll relax after this, but the first event will set the stage for the future. ”
She turned her head to see the trays of hors d’oeuvres. Apples, hard cider, and other farm produce comprised almost everything. She thought it was a nice touch and theme and Brooke and she had been chatting about recipes that sounded good for weeks.
Her job along with others was to walk around with these trays, when one was empty, go back and get another, changing it up, and gather as much feedback as they could.
The whole thing was fascinating to her and she was so ecstatic to be part of it.
Food service was nothing she’d ever thought to do in her life and wondered why when she loved to cook and secretly dreamed of a home and family to care for.
Maybe that was why she was so drawn to Brooke. She looked up to her and how she cared for her family and raised her children.
“Everything looks wonderful and we know it tastes even better.” She went with her gut and gave Brooke a hug, got a big squeeze and a rub on her back.
“Let’s get out there and hope everyone feels the same way.”
“Tell me what you want me to take out,” Lexi said. Bobbi Jo, who was a server for the lunch crowd in the cafe, was working also, the cafe having shut down for the event today.
“If you don’t mind, Lexi,” Brooke said, “could you just walk around and pick up empty glasses and plates, and make sure the table is full of the dips, bringing things back and forth?”
“Phew,” Lexi said, wiping her hand across her forehead. “Thank God. I was terrified I’d drop something walking around with a tray on my shoulder. I’d rather mill around and keep my eyes on everyone. Lots of hotties out there.”
Reenie wasn’t interested in anyone other than Ford and didn’t know why Lexi wiggled her eyebrows at her when it was said.
She picked a tray up and walked out of the kitchen, Gale rushing in. “Sorry I’m late, Mom.”
She moved around the room. There were at least forty people in here already, Bobbi Jo making her way on one end so she moved to the other.
When she turned after one rotation in the room, she saw Gale smiling and carrying a tray too.
“Would you like something to eat?” Reenie turned the tray so they could see it. “These are mushrooms stuffed with apples and sausage. And this is my favorite. A pulled pork bite with Clay’s original hard cider.”
“Thank you,” the woman said, taking a napkin off the tray and helping herself to one of each. “You’re Ford’s girlfriend, right?”
Guess it had made the rounds. “I am.”
“He’s a great guy. We went to school together.”
“Oh,” she said. Which meant this woman was in school with her too, but hadn’t recognized her. “Yes, he is a great guy.”
“Many have been trying to land him for years. Not sure what magic you cast on him, but hope it sticks.”
Reenie forced a smile on her face. “Me too. Excuse me.”
She didn’t want to come off rude but couldn’t stand around chatting either.
Her tray was empty in ten minutes and she was rushing back in to grab another. Brooke had everything in an assembly line and trays lined up for the three servers to move around with.
When she passed the bar, Ford winked at her. He, Callum, and Ash were manning the bar and filling glasses while she’d caught sight of Clay welcoming people and mingling.
An hour later, she’d lost track of the number of trays she’d come in to get, and the ache in her feet and legs from the amount of steps she’d taken without stopping. “They sure are a hungry crowd,” she said.
“That’s a good thing,” Brooke said. “What’s the feedback?”
Ford’s mother looked almost anxious and ready for negative reviews. “All good. The pulled pork is a colossal hit, the same with the bacon bite tarts. Everything is getting spectacular remarks too, but those two get the most.”
“Meat,” Brooke said, nodding her head in agreement. “I should have figured. It’s good to know though. If it was a room full of women, the sweet stuff might be a bigger hit.”
“I agree, but I heard a few women talking about a baby shower here and all the pastries from the bakery. Not sure if you thought of putting menus together for different events. Just a thought.”
“A great thought,” Brooke said, pulling her phone out and making a note on it. “Three more hours to go.”
“Don’t remind me,” Reenie said, grabbing a tray. She was going to drop into a deep sleep tonight.
Gale came in and stopped next to her. “I’m not going to be able to type on Monday. My elbow is cramping already and my toes are aching.”
“You’ve gotten soft, Gale,” Brooke said.
Reenie laughed when Gale stuck her tongue out at her mother.
She’d never had such easy and fun interactions with her mother growing up. She’d never consider sticking her tongue out.
Wrong. She’d done it once when she was younger, then tasted blood when her mother smacked her cheek and she bit down on it.
That was the last time she’d disrespected her mother or thought of ever doing it again.
“How are you holding up?” Ford asked when she moved by the bar. He’d waved her closer and snatched two bites of food off her tray.
She wouldn’t complain. No one ever wanted to hear that. “Pretty good. How about you?”
Ford was filling a few glasses while he talked to her. The tip jar on the counter was half full already. She knew there was a cover charge to come in today, then tokens for up to three glasses of cider.
“I’m not working nearly as hard as you.”
“You are when it comes to talking to everyone,” she said. “Though I’m getting some comments on us.”
“The same. It doesn’t bother you, does it?”
“No,” she said.
“I’ve got food for you too, Ford,” Lexi said. She had two plates full of dips and crackers and cheese. “For you all at the bar.”
“Thanks, Lexi,” he said, reaching for it and setting it down.
“Sweet,” Ash said. “I just said I could go for some cheese and crackers.”
Ash picked up one plate and moved it to the end of the bar. Lexi stared for a minute and then walked away.
“And I should get back out there.”
Three hours in, she wasn’t sure what was screaming for relief more, her back or her feet. There was a tingling between her shoulders, but she was too busy walking around to have it register that it wasn’t pain but awareness.
It finally hit her that it was the same feeling she’d felt in town before, as if someone was watching her. She looked around, but no one was staring right at her, but rather the tray with food on it.
Must be that.
It had to be, she told herself. She was too paranoid when she didn’t need to be.
The farm was her safe haven and nothing would happen while she was on this property.
Clay and Ford knew what Oliver looked like; they’d gotten a picture of him. If he was anywhere near her, they’d be on top of it.
She had to just stop thinking he was watching and waiting for the right time to make his move.
When the tray was empty, she returned, Lexi in there waiting while bowls of dips were filled again, watching her walk forward and set the tray down, then arch her back.
“This is the last time I’ll fill them,” Brooke said. “Or the last of them.”
“It’s thinning out now,” she said. “Maybe only fifty people remaining. I think the bulk of them were here early.”
There were over a hundred people in there mingling for a couple of hours.
“Bobbi Jo said the same thing too, and she thought it was slowing down. Callum came in to check on me and said they were winding down at the bar.”
“Do you know how many people have been here?” she asked.
“I think Clay said an hour ago that they had sold two hundred tickets. Good thing I made more food than he said.”
“That’s great,” Reenie said. She grabbed another tray and headed out, Lexi behind her, almost as if she was waiting to leave the same time.
“You’re fitting right in with the family,” Lexi said next to her. Yep, guess there was a motive to stand around when the dips were ready to go.
“What?”
“I said you’re fitting right in,” Lexi said. “I grew up here mostly. Picking apples, planting the trees, working where they need me to. But Brooke talks to you more like a family member than me.”
If Lexi wasn’t smiling, she’d think there was jealousy. Hidden behind the smile, she thought there was a touch of it anyway. “I work with her in the cafe.”
“I did too,” Lexi argued. “But it was never my thing. I just helped. I like being on the land or with Clay in the mill.”
“We all have to find what we like.” She caught Ford’s eyes on her and grinned. He smirked and sent her a wink, her chest pinging with the innocent flirting.
“Do you have a crush on Ford?” Lexi asked, frowning. “Everyone seems to, but it normally goes nowhere.”
“She’s dating Ford,” one customer said. They were by the table now where Lexi should be returning the food, but she was still chatting and taking her time.
“You are?” Lexi asked, not doing a great job hiding her surprise.
“Yes,” she said.
Lexi forced out a laugh. “Good luck there. These Ridgeway boys don’t stick for nothing. Nice on the eyes and to your face, but when it comes to commitment or even seeing what’s in front of them. Yeah. Never.”
She thought that was rude of Lexi to say in front of people and moved away without making a comment. It didn’t matter Lexi was grinning when she said it and that someone else nodded in agreement with that statement.
It felt like a betrayal to her to say words like that when moments ago Lexi was talking as if the Ridgeways were like family.
She’d heard Lexi had a crush on someone who didn’t share the same feelings; others had said it was Clay. That would make sense and explain why Lexi was always around and even made that comment just now.
The thought that Ford might not feel the same way she did was painful.
Thankfully, she didn’t have that problem.