Jerking back as though slapped, Lizzie repeated, “Better? How would my life be better?”
“The amount they are willing to pay would allow you to purchase a house, either in town or in the county. She seemed to think that without the heavy work and stress of the farm, you would be happier.” Watching her face grow red, he threw his hands up in front of him and said, “Obviously, she doesn’t know anything about you. What you want. What makes you happy. What your dreams are. She’s looking at this purely from her optic.”
Lizzie snapped her mouth shut and looked away. He observed the flare of her nose and tight muscles in her jaw. Reaching over, he did what he had been wanting to do since he arrived on the farm… he took her hand in his and held it tightly.
“Sweetheart, I believe in you. I believe in your dreams. I believe in your vision for this farm, which is your heritage. All I was trying to do is see if I could find out what the Giordanos were thinking. What I finally discerned was that she thinks by pressing forward, she’ll win her dad’s approval.”
At that, Lizzie jerked, her gaze searching his as her brow scrunched in confusion. “I don’t understand, Scott. She’s got everything. You just have to look at her and see that. She’s beautiful and has enough money to be well-dressed and well-manicured and well put together. She drives a Mercedes and has a college degree. She could probably snap her fingers and get any man she wanted. I’m not saying she doesn’t work hard, but she’s probably had a lot of things handed to her.”
Rubbing his thumb over her fingers, he said, “It’s true, she may have all of those things, but she made it very obvious that trying to gain her dad’s approval was extremely important to her. She implied it’s because she’s a daughter and not the son.” Shrugging, he added, “Quite frankly, I don’t know, and I don’t care. But I am going to have Gareth keep an eye on her. Maybe she, more than her father, wants you to sell. And right now, I don’t trust anyone who wants you to sell.”
Snorting, she bit out, “A daddy’s girl trying to get his attention when it’s obvious she has his attention. I mean… at least he’s there. He cares. She works for him.”
It slammed into him that she never talked about the father who abandoned her. “Oh, fuck, Lizzie, I’m sorry.”
Her gaze jumped to his and she gave a little shake. “It’s not like I give my dad much thought. I was lucky. I was surrounded by love with Mom, Papa Beau, and Grandma. Even my stepdad is wonderful. But Ms. Giordano is trying such grand gestures to make her dad thinks she’s the bee’s knees when he probably already does. My dad could care less about me or this farm.”
“Do you have any good memories of him?”
She sighed heavily, her attention on her lap. “He liked to go fishing in the bay. He took me a couple of times when I was little. Even then, I knew he was goofing off when Papa Beau was working so hard. It didn’t take me long to refuse to go because I wanted to help on the farm.”
“It really is your dream life, isn’t it?”
He gave Lizzie a moment to let his words settle over her, and, as usual, she hid nothing. She looked at him and smiled, scooting closer until he could wrap his arms around her and kiss her forehead. Holding her tightly, he said, “Your dream for this farm is my dream, too. I’m in this with you, baby. I promise you can count on me.”
She relaxed into him and they sat closely as the minutes ticked by, both reveling in the intimacy of the moment.
22
On top of everything else Lizzie was trying to do, she added walking the pastures to check on the fence to her early morning routine before letting the goats and alpacas out. Scott had spent the night again, and her lips curved slightly at the memory of their lovemaking. Strong and caring, he made her feel cherished.
She had just let the animals out when she heard a car approach and turned to see Lia parking next to the house. By the time she had made it to her, Lia was holding onto Emily’s hand, the little girl straining to see the animals.
“What brings you out today?”
“I should’ve thought of this yesterday,” Lia replied. “It’s a teacher workday, and so I have the day off to be with Emily. I thought perhaps I would come over and we could finish up the details about the party.”
Before she had a chance to continue her greeting, another car came into sight. This time it was Carrie and Jack who alighted from their vehicle.
Waving, Carrie said, “I forgot to tell you that Jack has today off since it’s a teacher workday. I thought I’d let him help more.”
“Fabulous! He can start by watching Emily if she’d like to pet the goats from outside the fence,” Lizzie said.
Jack grinned and took Emily by the hand, carefully watching over the little girl as she squealed with delight. Looking at her two friends, Lizzie invited them into the house. “We can have some coffee while chatting.”
Once inside, coffee cups filled and the three women sitting at the table, Lia and Lizzie finalized the plans for Emily’s party with Carrie excitedly throwing out commentary.
After taking time in Lia’s office the previous day to look at the prices other similar farms charged for various events, they had agreed on the price for Emily’s party.
Grinning, Lizzie said, “I’ve already had several more bookings for children’s birthday parties, and I sheared one of my alpacas last night. I’ve had offers for the fleece, and the buyer is willing to pay top price. I’ll never make a lot of money at my endeavor, but since I have few expenses other than just the farm, as long as I can save a little bit each year, I’ll feel like I’m coming out ahead.”
Soon, Carrie hugged her goodbye. “I’ll come pick Jack up in a little bit. Make sure to put him to work. He’s strong and needs something to do.”
Lizzie walked outside with Lia and the two sat in chairs underneath the shade of a tree while Emily finished petting the goats.
“I hope you and Scott were able to work things out,” Lia said. “I know him, and he would never do anything to sabotage your relationship or the farm.”
Nodding, she smiled. “We did. I was so upset yesterday when I heard what Ms. Giordano said. Plus, seeing her hand holding tightly to his and all that she is and all that I’m not just crashed down upon me.”
Lia’s brow furrowed as she turned from gazing toward the pasture and looked at Lizzie. “All that she is and all that you’re not?”
Lizzie was silent for a moment, then said, “Lia, I’m not running myself down just to look for someone to give me compliments. I like who I am. I like working on a farm. I like owning my own business. But I’m not blind. Ms. Giordano looked very well-tended, not like someone who works outside all the time. She drove a Mercedes, not an old clunker truck that barely runs. I try not to let those distinctions bother me, but I’ve been fighting so hard to keep my head above water, even when Papa Beau was alive, that I couldn’t help but wonder.”
“Wonder what, sweetie?”
“Wonder what Scott was doing with a mess like me he could have someone so put together.”
Lia did not rush to offer assurances, but as Lizzie watched her, she appeared to be thinking carefully before speaking. Finally, Lia said, “I was so uncertain of Aiden at first. He had a reputation for being more of a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of man, and I was a woman with a daughter who needed stability.”