“You heard us talking the other night?”
I nodded. “I’m worried about you guys. When I leave, Daddy won’t have any help.” Celia’s suggestion of posting the job on the school’s bulletin board came to mind. I decided I would do just that later today if, for no other reason, than to get help for the holidays. Carter and Liam were due home for Thanksgiving, but that was only for a few days. The Christmas tree business started hopping the day after Thanksgiving and stayed busy until at least a week before Christmas.
Momma shifted her gaze back and forth over me. “You have a beautiful soul. You let your father and me worry about the farm.”
That was easier said than done. While I could, I would help Daddy find someone. That was the least I could do.
She tipped up my chin. “I’m so proud of you for coming to me.” Her chest heaved. “Does Maiken know?”
I shook my head vigorously. “Not yet.” I was sure he would be excited, though. “Momma, will it hurt?” I whispered.
She gave me a weak smile. “It will, but if you take it slow, the pain doesn’t last long.”
I was certain Maiken would be as gentle as possible.
She squeezed my hands, shuddering. “Your father was my first. He’s the only man I’ve ever been with. Are you sure you don’t want to wait until you’re married?”
I bit my lip. “Did you and Dad?”
She laughed, tapping my nose. “No. But I had to ask, because I can hear your father now. ‘They should wait until they’re married.’”
I snorted. “For sure. He’ll have a cow if he finds out, Momma. Please don’t tell him.” I couldn’t face him if she did. I definitely would turn a million shades of red. Or better yet, I would run away.
“I don’t like keeping things from your father. But this is one we can put on the back burner unless he asks.”
“Has he asked?” Please say no.
She nodded. “He has.”
I closed my eyes for a solid ten seconds, willing the pounding of my pulse to ease. “When?” Suddenly, the video that Trevor had filmed of Maiken and me popped into my brain.
“Something wrong?” Momma asked.
I had no reason to worry since the video was gone. “Not at all.”
“Quinn Thompson, what are you not telling me?” Momma always knew when her kids lied. “Did you lie to me? Did you have sex?”
“No, ma’am,” I said low. “I didn’t lie. I promise. It’s just that I think I would hide forever if Daddy found out that I’m about to lose my virginity.” I couldn’t bring myself to tell her about the video. It was a moot point anyway.
Her shoulders sagged as the mixture of fear and anger vanished. “I can understand that.”
“Momma, I know this is hard for you. It’s equally hard for me, and a bit scary. But I love Maiken. I want him to be the one, and I’m ready. I’ll be fine.”
I truly would be. I felt better just knowing I was taking measures to protect myself and Maiken and our future. Maybe now I wouldn’t be so nervous to allow nature to take its course when Maiken and I were together.
I rubbed my eyes as I walked into the brightly lit kitchen, which was too blinding for four in the morning. The scent of coffee hung heavy in the air as Momma poured herself a cup. I didn’t drink the stuff as much as she and Daddy did.
“What are you doing up so early?” I asked.
Normally, Momma slept in an hour longer than Daddy and me. Then she got breakfast started.
She set the carafe back on the burner. “I couldn’t sleep. I think I’m coming down with something.”
She didn’t look pale. “You should go back to bed, then.”
“Who’s the mom in this house?” she teased. “I have a lot to do anyway. I’m stocking shelves in the store this morning. I wanted to get a head start. We have a ton of orders to fill for Thanksgiving this week.”
I grabbed my coat off the rack near the back door. “Momma, are you worried about Maiken and me?” She’d been different since my exam, quieter and more contemplative.
I had a feeling Maiken and I were on her mind since he was home for the holiday. I hadn’t planned on taking our relationship to the next level that week. I had too much to do, especially with three more days of school before we were out for the long Thanksgiving weekend.
She cinched her robe tightly. “No, honey. I’m just tired. But speaking of your relationship with Maiken, how are you doing on the pill? Any side effects?”
“None.” I’d only been on it a week. So far, I hadn’t had any of the bloating or weight gain or anything else the doctor had mentioned.
She picked up her coffee cup. “Good. Your dad is down in the horse barn. I think he hired someone to help out.”
My eyebrows lifted. “That would be good.” Really good. Maybe then I could take a breather or get up an hour later. “Is that person starting today?” I had tacked a job posting to the board in school, so maybe it was someone I knew.
Momma closed the distance between us and kissed me on the forehead. “Not sure. Now go before your father comes screaming for you.”
I bundled up, hoping he’d hired a massive guy who could lift things and pick up the slack. Although not many kids at school matched that description. Then I remembered Sloane. She’d applied for a job on the farm last year. Surely she wouldn’t again.
Nevertheless, I practically skipped down toward the barn, a cold wind slapping me in the face and waking me up just a tad more.
The spotlight outside the barn came on when I approached. Daddy had installed not only spotlights but cameras too. We still hadn’t found out who had used our pigs for the prank at school, but Daddy was ready if the guilty party tried again.
Apple nickered when I entered. “Daddy.” I grabbed a pair of work gloves off the table next to the door. “Daddy,” I called again, glancing down the stretch of space in between the horse stalls.
I didn’t see him, but maybe he was cleaning out a stall. If he were, though, he would have the bales of hay stacked outside, ready to go.
Maybe Momma meant he was in the other barn, where the cows were. He did usually start his morning milking the cows.
I ambled up to Apple to say a quick good morning. “Hey, girl. Maybe we’ll go out later before the storm rolls in.” Five inches of snow was in the forecast. Apple loved the snow. I loved riding in it too. There was nothing like galloping through the woods while snow fell. “You haven’t seen your grandpa anywhere?”
She nuzzled my hand as if to say no.
“Okay, I’ll be back to take care of you. I have to feed the pigs first.” My chores began with my lovely pigs.
Beast came up to me as soon as I entered the pen two minutes later. “Hey, boy. Smile for the camera.” I pointed to a camera up on the corner of the overhang. I dared anyone to take Beast, Godfrey, Lola, or any of the other pigs we had now.
Beast grunted as he pushed his snout into my leg.
“It’s good to see you too. Let’s get you fed.”
As I began feeding the pigs, a big, fat snowflake fell onto my nose then another. A thread of excitement stirred. I knew it was too soon to cancel school, but if the snow did pile up, then school would be let out early, which meant I could see Maiken sooner.