by Charley Lynn
“I haven’t spoken to her for quite a while.” Rosemary shrugged. “She didn’t tell me anything about a picnic. I’m sorry I’ll have to miss it.”
“Why would you miss it?”
“I have a conflict.”
“You will have to cancel your conflict.” Marty made finger quotation marks around the word conflict. “Your oma expects you.” He puffed out his thin chest. “She has asked me to show you around the farm. I know you haven’t been there for years, and we’ve made a lot of improvements.”
“Who is ‘we’? What do you have to do with Opa’s farms?” Rosemary looked confused.
“I am the manager of the farming operations. On all the farms.” Marty said proudly.
“That’s nice for you. Honestly, other than the fact my opa is interested in them, I’ve never cared about the farms. I’m not really interested in the improvements.”
Marty looked incensed. “The farms are the most productive farms in the county. I know this, because I run the farms and our efficiency is something your opa is very proud about. Your oma tells me I’m the best manager in the county, too.”
Rosemary shrugged. “I’m glad you are in a job you enjoy. But the farms don’t interest me.”
“What do you mean they don’t interest you? The farms have been in your family for three generations. They’re very successful and your grandparents paid for everything you ever needed or wanted with income from those farms.”
Rosemary’s eyes narrowed. “My mother supported me, not my grandparents. They did pay for my dance lessons and costumes until I was twelve, but they didn’t pay for anything else. Not one thing. Since I was thirteen, I’ve paid for my dancing and my costumes myself.”
“Oh, sure.” Marty sounded disbelieving. “With your ‘modeling’?” He made the air quotes again. “Getting your picture taken in ugly clothes for overweight women is hardly what I’d consider modeling.”
Mike bristled. “You’re a big expert on modeling, are you, Marty?” He took a sip of his coffee, watching Marty’s face redden.
“I know it’s just an excuse to avoid getting an honest job. It’s an excuse to worry her grandmother, not that Rosemary has ever cared about worrying her grandmother.”
“Glad to know you’re so knowledgeable about modeling and Rosemary’s work. Here I thought all you knew about was slopping hogs.”
Rosemary hid a grin when she saw the murderous expression on Marty’s face. He stuck out his chin. “You don’t know anything about farming, do you? Farming requires split-second decisions and the ability to do dozens of things all at once.”
“Huh. Thanks for sharing your insights. I do know a bit about farming, though, since my grandpa is a sixth-generation farmer. The Moores have been farming that nine hundred acres for more than a century. You said Rosemary’s family has only been farming for three generations?”
Marty sneered. “I guess your grandfather doesn’t think you’re smart enough to follow in his footsteps?”
“Oh, he thinks I’m smart enough. But he told me to go ahead and pursue those Division One scholarship offers and see where it takes me. He tells me the farm will be there after college and graduate school if I want it.” Mike took a gulp of his coffee and leaned back in the booth. “Did you play sports, Marty?”
“No, I had too many responsibilities.”
Mike nodded. “Oh, sure. I see. Where’d you go to college?”
Marty drew himself up proudly. “I went to work the day after I graduated from high school.”
“Oh, so you didn’t go to college?”
“College is for people who are too lazy to go to work.”
“You mean like Rosemary’s dad? He went to college.”
“He went to college because he was too lazy to work on the farm! He should have done what his parents told him to do. He was foolish and headstrong.”
Rosemary gasped, but Mike winked at her again. “Well, that’s your opinion. David Bakker was a very good basketball player; good enough to get a scholarship to Central. He didn’t want to be a farmer, but it wasn’t because he was lazy. My grandpa said David worked hard at everything he did. But he hated the farm.”
“He was lazy. He wasted his time going to college.”
“You know, my grandpa always says farmers don’t have to be ignorant to be successful. You probably know him—Cal Moore—the Ag teacher? He has a degree in Ag Education from ISU. He farms. My uncle Vince, who helps him on the farm? He has a double degree in Ag Business and Construction Management. And he farms. I think you know both of them, don’t you?”
Marty’s eyes narrowed. “I know the Ag teacher, sure. I’ve heard of his son.”
“Yeah, they know you, too. Told me all about you.” Mike snickered.
Rosemary’s eyes widened slightly. She looked down at the table, trying to keep her smile hidden. “You think you’re such a smart guy, don’t you?” Marty sneered.
“That’s what education does for you, Marty. Teaches you to think.”
“I can think just fine.” Marty dismissed Mike. “Rosemary, I’ll tell your oma you’ll be there on Sunday.”
“I won’t be there Sunday. Like I’ve already said.”
“I don’t know why you treat your oma so badly. It breaks her heart that you don’t see her more. Your grandparents have your best interests at heart and want to guide you to make decisions. You need to accept you aren’t capable of making decisions on your own and stop being so difficult!”
“I’m not being difficult. I’m also very capable of making my own decisions and taking care of myself.”
Marty snorted. “You make bad decisions! They started with your mother and they continue with you. Traveling around the country unchaperoned, dancing in revealing costumes in front of strangers and getting in cars with boys you don’t know! Wanting to go to college, expecting your grandparents to pay for it, even though there’s no reason for you to go to college. You’re totally irresponsible!”
“Marty. I. Won’t. Be. There. Sunday.”
“You are capable of driving to Pella on a Thursday night for a cup of coffee. I’m sure you didn’t even call your oma to tell her you’re in town?”
“Don’t be absurd. We ran an errand, now we’re having coffee. I didn’t come to Pella to see Oma.”
“Okay, we’re done here.” Mike stood up. “Rosemary said she can’t make the picnic. Time for you to go.”
“Stay out of this. It’s family business. Rosemary, I insist you attend the picnic. I’ll tell your grandmother to expect you.”
“Marty. First, I don’t appreciate you being rude to my friend. Second, my relationship with my grandparents has nothing to do with you. I don’t need you to carry messages to them. I’ll let them know I won’t be there on Sunday.”
“Come on, Rosemary. Let’s go.” Mike held out his hand. Rosemary took his hand and slid out of the booth beside him.
“Rosemary, I know your oma would forbid you to get into a car with this boy she’s never met. I’ll take you home.”
“I came with Mike. I’m leaving with Mike. Nothing I do is any of your business. You’re causing a scene and you’re embarrassing yourself.”
When Rosemary brushed past him, Marty reached out to grab Rosemary’s arm, but Mike pushed his hand away. “Keep your hand off her. I’d just love an excuse to deck you.”
Mike held her hand while they walked to the car. “What’s the deal with that guy?”
“I have no idea. He’s as bossy with me as Oma is. My oma thinks he’s wonderful and tells me all the time I’d be lucky to spend time with him.”
“Note to selves: ‘Don’t take relationship advice from Rosemary’s oma.’ Right?” Mike grinned.
“Definitely right.”
They were halfway home when Rosemary’s phone chirped. She sighed when she looked at the display. “It’s Oma. I have to answer. If I don’t, she’ll call every ten seconds until I answer. Sorry.” She took a deep breath. “Hi, Oma.” She listened. “Oma, I ha
ven’t heard from you in three weeks. I didn’t know anything about a family picnic, and I can’t be there. I teach a class and I have a tutoring session. I can’t cancel either of them. If you had mentioned the picnic, I would have let you know earlier I can’t be there.”
Rosemary listened for a long time. “Oma, you don’t need to raise your voice.” Finally, she said, “You can’t be serious. You’re not serious, are you?” She laughed. “I don’t know where you get some of your ideas. An arranged marriage? Even if I didn’t detest and abhor Marty Maass, this isn’t Holland four hundred years ago. I’m seventeen years old. I’m going to college next year. I will never live on a farm. Never. An arranged marriage? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”
After listening for a long minute, Rosemary laughed again. “Oma, you are truly out of control. For once, please listen. I can’t stand Marty. He gives me the creeps. He’s a misogynist. He’s rude. He treats me like I’m a brainless child. He’s demeaning.” Rosemary listened again. “So, you don’t care that I can’t stand the guy? Well, thanks. Thanks for not caring at all about my opinion about a guy you think I should marry. Yup, thanks a lot. Good night, Oma.”
Rosemary aggressively tapped her phone screen to disconnect the call. “She’s out of control. Completely out of control.”
“She wants you to marry Marty?”
“She told him three years ago that if he married me, Opa would give him the farms. Not to me, their only granddaughter—but him.”
“I thought my grandma was bad.” Mike chuckled.
“Mine is the worst. The worst!” Rosemary shook her head in disbelief.
The phone chirped again. “Oh, now what?” Rosemary moaned.
“Maybe you should answer it and get it over with.”
“Hello?” Rosemary rolled her eyes. “Of course, I meant it. I don’t have any romantic interest in you.” Rosemary tapped her closed fist on her forehead. “I’m NOT confused and overwhelmed. Get over yourself, Marty, you’re not getting the farms—not by marrying me.” Rosemary listened. “Marty! Did you see that guy I was with tonight? Yeah, him. The tall, good-looking guy named Mike. Mike and I are dating. I don’t care what Oma told you. I’m not interested in you. I’ll never be interested in you. Feel free. To avoid me. Forever. Goodbye, Marty.” Rosemary disconnected the call.
“Are you okay, baby?”
“Is it a bad thing that I want to throw my phone out the window into Iowa’s largest lake?”
Mike grinned. “I get why you’d want to do that.”
Rosemary sighed. “I can’t do it. It would be too much of a hassle to replace it.”
“It might feel pretty cathartic right now, but you’d miss my goodnight text.”
“You’re right. Good decision to keep the phone.”
“I do have one question.” Rosemary didn’t look at him, but she knew he was grinning. “We’re dating?”
She blushed. “I may have spoken too soon. You said you haven’t actually taken me on a date.” Rosemary looked out the window at the dark.
“We can fix that. Saturday night I can take you to Des Moines for a movie and dinner afterwards—or dessert and coffee—whatever you want. Okay?”
“Okay.” Rosemary agreed
“Okay.” Mike pumped the air with a fist. “Whoo hoo! The girl said yes to a date!”
“I did. And you haven’t even won the bet yet.” Rosemary said primly.
“Oh, don’t worry—I’ll win that bet.”
“We’ll see, Mr. Quarterback, we’ll see.”
Chapter 30
Mike knocked on the back door of the big house, smiling at the plaque next to the door, proclaiming that backdoor guests are best. Rosemary had told him that the family’s front door was never used.
“Hey, Mike. Rosemary’ll be down in a minute.”
“Thanks, Connor.”
“Hi, Mike.” John Masters, holding Jared over his shoulder, walked into the kitchen and shook Mike’s hand. “Great game last night—the boys and I listened to it on the radio.”
“Thanks; everybody played really well. We’re…” Mike stopped when Rosemary stepped into the kitchen. “Um, I…” He looked at John helplessly, not sure what they’d been talking about.
“Never mind, son.” John chuckled.
Mike stared. “Rosemary, you look…beautiful.”
Rosemary blushed. “Thank you.” All in black leather, the tight pants clung to her legs down to her ankles, where the black stiletto short boots started. A short black leather jacket hugged her waist and the emerald green cashmere sweater skimmed her hips. “I’m ready, if you are.”
“I’m ready.” He reached out his hand.
“See you later, Dad.”
“Good night, kids. Have fun.”
Mike was stunned. He knew the girl was beautiful, but her ease in wearing the leather outfit, and her grace and confidence in herself was breathtaking. “I thought we’d see either A Star is Born or Indivisible. But if there’s something else you’d rather see, we’ll see that.”
“Hmm. No princess movies? I’m in the mood for a good princess movie.”
Mike groaned. “You’re killing me.”
Rosemary giggled. “Okay. A Star is Born.”
“Okay. Thank goodness.”
The theater lobby of the huge multiplex was full of people. The smell of freshly popped popcorn was everywhere and the swell of conversations was deafening. They stood hand-in-hand while Rosemary looked around. “You’re a people watcher, aren’t you?” Mike grinned at her.
“I am. It’s fun to watch people interact and wonder what they’re talking about.”
Mike looked to his right. “See that couple over there? He’s got on a Chi Cubs tee shirt?” He leaned closer. “Look at her face. He’s in big trouble about something. He’s trying to act like he doesn’t notice, but he keeps side-eyeing her like he’s afraid she’s gonna throw her soda on him.”
Rosemary studied the couple before she giggled. “What do you suppose he did?”
Mike pretended to consider. “It’s Saturday, so he…stayed out late with the boys last night, or he watched the Iowa game this afternoon and forgot to rake the leaves she told him to rake three days ago, or he forgot her birthday. Bringing her to the chick flick she wanted to see is not going to be enough.” Rosemary’s eyes widened when Mike pulled her by the hand, positioning them close enough to hear the couple. After a few minutes of eavesdropping on the couple’s whisper-yelled conversation, she had to bite her lip not to laugh.
Mike winked. “Popcorn?”
“Definitely.” They moved to the concession line farthest away from the couple and dissolved into laughter. “I’m sure their kids didn’t mind, but she’s ticked.” Rosemary giggled.
Mike shook his head. “So, she came home from her spa day that he gave her for her birthday. He was watching football. Their three boys, all under the age of four, were covered in chocolate. Because he fed them candy bars for lunch. The baby needed a diaper change in the worst way, the two older boys had smashed a candy bar in her white rug and he hadn’t noticed anything because he was engrossed in the game. He lost it when she turned off the TV before the game was over and the fight was on. It’s no wonder he’s in trouble.”
Rosemary giggled. “A movie is definitely not enough to get him out of that.”
They chatted while they waited for the movie to start. Still occasionally laughing over the couple in the lobby, Rosemary’s nervousness vanished. Easily, she changed the subject. “Did your dad play sports, too?”
“Yep. Football and baseball. He went to William Penn on a football scholarship and also played baseball the first two years. My brother and I were born the summer between his junior and senior year. He got a job during his junior year so he and Mom could get an apartment and get married.”
“Did he coach, too?”
“Yeah, he coached J.V. football and assisted with varsity. He probably would have moved to head coach when the old coach reti
red. Mom said he was looking forward to coaching me when I reached high school.” He smiled sadly.
“He would have been thrilled with how you’re playing.”
“Yeah.” Mike took her hand. “He would have loved it.”
After the movie, they walked hand-in-hand to the car. “Are you hungry?” Mike asked.
“Not really hungry. Are you?”
“Nope, I ate supper earlier. Plus, I just ate most of that huge tub of popcorn. How about coffee?”
“Coffee…and ice cream,” Rosemary said as she stepped into the car.
“Coffee and ice cream it is.” Mike closed her door and climbed in on the driver’s side. “Did you like the movie?”
“It was sad, but yeah, I liked it. Did you?”
“It wasn’t bad. Normally, I kind of prefer car chases and things blowing up all over the screen.”
“That’s shocking. Don’t forget sports—you like sports,” Rosemary teased him.
“True.” He leaned over and whispered, “I like dancers, too. I like dancers a lot.”
Rosemary smiled shyly. “Dancers like you, too,” she said softly.
“Yeah?” He whispered, his caramel eyes warm and soft.
“Yeah,” she whispered back.
He touched her cheek, lightly tracing her high cheekbone with his thumb. “I like this dancer the most.” He slowly closed the space between them before he kissed the corner of her mouth and then slid his lips over hers. Her eyes fluttered closed before she lost herself in the sensation of the tender kiss. Her hand came up until it came to rest on his bicep. Mike drew back, glad to see her slight smile. He softly kissed the end of her nose. “I’ve wanted to do that since the first time I saw you.”
Her smile widened. “You have?”
“Yeah. I saw you talking to Cruz that day. The whole time I was talking to him, I was trying not to stare at you. I was freaking out, thinking you were dating Cruz.”
Rosemary laughed softly. “Nope, never.”
