“But I hate being away from you guys.”
His mom sniffled. “That’s called growing up, son.”
“But—”
“No buts. You can’t live your life only reacting to what you’ve been dealt. You get to choose too. When your Dad died, you took it upon yourself to fix everything. Things you couldn’t fix. But this is the kind of life your father would want for you.”
He swiped at the tears on his cheeks. When had he become such a crybaby?
“Besides, I didn’t want to say anything, but I’ve been looking for a change of scenery. I’m not young enough to keep up with city life anymore. I’ve been looking into new job opportunities.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I was only working this job because I had to. But I hate it. I think it’s time I chase my dreams now too.”
“No one deserves the world more than you, mom,” Christian said.
“Go get that girl,” she said into the phone.
“I will.”
He just needed to talk to Eric first.
* * *
Eric leanedback against his chair, pushing away from the kitchen table. “How does that sound?”
“That sounds fair.” Christian nodded, thinking back over their agreement. He’d stay and work on the farm for the next six months until he could transfer to a school closer to here to pursue a degree in coaching. Then he’d commute to and from school so he could continue working on the farm.
“But don’t think you get to skip out on work because you’re dating my daughter.”
Christian choked on the air in his lungs. “I’m not—we aren’t dating.”
“Maybe not yet. But no one has ever riled my daughter up as much as you have this summer. She knows a good thing when she’s got one.”
Christian’s pulse slowed. He’d been waiting two years to hear something like that from his dad. And now, hearing it from Maizie’s dad, he knew his decision to stay was right.
“I promise to work as hard as you,” Christian said.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Eric said with a laugh.
Christian smiled. “So that’s where Maizie gets it.”
Eric looked at himself. “The good looks, the charm, the modesty?”
“Definitely the modesty.” Christian laughed.
“What can I say? The Jensens are a strong breed.” Eric stood up and slapped him on the shoulder. “Now, go get the cows fed. I’ve got a tractor with my name on it.”
“Okay,” Christian said.
His decision to stay wasn’t just because of Maizie, and he was determined to prove that to her, and to himself, by waiting for her to come around. He couldn’t force her to love him if she wasn’t ready.
Thirty-Four
Maizie had been released from her cooking duties after two very long days. Who knew learning to boil eggs and make chicken cordon bleu from scratch could be worse than milking one hundred cows? Her mom’s lessons had been counterproductive because now she never wanted to cook again.
She used her new freedom to go to her barn. Her routine was finally finished, but this time she was going for clarity.
