Practically Married

by Karin Beery

  “Uncle John, I can’t—”

  “You don’t have a choice. You’re taking a honeymoon, and I’m paying for it, but here’s the catch. You have to pick the location. By. Your. Self.”

  Ashley looked at the booklets. Gratitude and love replaced the chunk of cookie in her throat. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “You don’t need to say anything right now. Read through the brochures and tell me where you want to go. I’ll make all the arrangements for you. And when I say I’ll do it, I mean Rosie will do it so it’ll be done right.”

  A honeymoon. Ashley flipped through the Alaska book. Whales jumped out of midnight-blue seas. Moose grazed along winding rivers. Jagged mountaintops sliced into a cloudless sky. “My mom talked about going to Alaska.”

  He chuckled.

  “What are these?” Rose appeared beside Ashley. “Hawaii! I’ve always wanted to visit the islands.” She picked up the tropical catalog. “What an amazing place. Imagine, walking around on top of a live volcano. Is someone planning a trip?”

  Ashley looked at her uncle, who shrugged. “I haven’t planned anything yet, but I’m thinking about it.”

  “I vote for Hawaii. One of these days, I’ll convince John to go with me.” She tossed the book back on the table. “Of course, he’d go to Vietnam if he could. I’m not surprised he’s holding onto that one.”

  The light bulb went on. Ashley’s family’s favorite places. “Uncle John—”

  “Too many people think of the war when they think of Vietnam, but it’s a beautiful place to see.” He winked at Ashley. “Rosie, are we still going to the grocery store today? I have a few things I’d like to pick up.”

  “Let me get some paper so you can make a list.”

  As she walked away, Ashley smacked his knee. He winced, but she rolled her eyes. “Too late for the weak-and-feeble card. I’m on to you, and I see what you’re doing. These are all your favorite places. And Greece, where my parents met during a semester abroad.”

  John’s smile consumed his face, radiating equal parts mischief and delight. “You need to figure out what you want and why you want it. I’m done watching you settle because you think it’s what someone else wants for you, and you’d better be able to convince me this is what you want, or I may not pay for your trip.” He dropped a warm kiss on her cheek. “And don’t tell your aunt, but I already bought our tickets to Hawaii.”

  Ashley wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’ve never met another man as wonderful as you.”

  He gave her hair a tug. “They’re out there, but this kind of wisdom comes with lots of experience. I hope this young man of yours can live up to the standard.”

  “He’s doing well so far.”

  “The two of you.” Rose returned, shaking her head but smiling. “Hurry up and make your list. If we leave early enough, we can make it home before it heats up too much. Temperatures are supposed to be high this week. It might be a good time to work in the garden.”

  Ashley didn’t need the unseasonable temperatures. The comfort and love of her family warmed her to her bones.

  *******

  Russ peeked through the window as he tugged on the worn leather gloves. He would never complain about the heat again. Having to choose between frozen fingers or the bulky gloves while working on the truck was a nuisance. Either way, things took twice as long. Too bad his truck didn’t care about the temperature. Oil needed changing.

  He opened the front door and stepped into the biting wind. Exactly fifty-two steps and he’d be in the barn. Pressing his chin to his chest, he lengthened his stride. Halfway across the yard, his phone rang. Without pausing, he pulled it from his pocket.

  Ashley.

  Smiling, he swiped the screen. The phone kept ringing. Stupid smart screen. He yanked off his glove and answered the call. “Hey, stranger. I expected to hear from you yesterday. Is everything okay?”

  “That’s a matter of opinion.” Ashley sighed. “I told my aunt and uncle about Tom … and you.”

  “It doesn’t sound like it went well. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “I don’t think so, but thanks for offering. Do you have time to talk? Aunt Rose and Uncle John are playing cards, so I have some privacy.”

  “Sure. Let me head back to the house. It’ll be warmer there than in the barn.”

  “Did I interrupt anything? I don’t want to—”

  “You’re not.” Russ spun around. “I’m just … Jess.”

  “You’re what?”

  The familiar black Jetta rolled up the driveway, Jess behind the wheel. What was she—oh no. Dinner.

  “Russ?”

  “Jess is here.”

  Nothing.

  “I’d forgotten all about it. She called the other night before we started texting.”

  “And you’re …”

  “Having dinner tonight. It’s a business meeting. She agreed to look at the farm proposal from the township and college.”

  “Farm proposal? What’s that? You’ve never mentioned it.”

  “Honestly, I have no idea. It’s an internship program with the college, but I haven’t even opened the folder. Jess volunteered to look at it. It’s only dinner. It’s not as bad as it sounds.”

  “It sounds like you’re having dinner with your ex-girlfriend so the two of you can discuss our farm without me.”

  “Okay, it’s exactly like it sounds. I’ll cancel.”

  “Why would you talk to her about it instead of me? I’ve been self-employed for almost two decades. I do have some business acumen.”

  “Jess works in the business development department of the MSU extension office. Her background is AgBioResearch, so—”

  “Ag, what?”

  The Jetta stopped in front of the house. Jess raised an eyebrow.

  Russ pointed to his phone. “Basically, she’s an expert at helping farmers get started and stay in business. She’ll be able to tell me if the college’s proposal is worth considering.”

  “And I don’t know anything about farming, so you didn’t think to include me.”

  “I didn’t do it on purpose. This is all new to me. It’s always been Tom and I making decisions about everything. I didn’t mean to exclude you.”

  “Why are you considering this program? Is the farm in trouble?”

  “No, but I’m going to need help eventually.”

  “From your stalker ex-girlfriend. Over dinner.”

  “I’ll cancel.”

  Ashley let out a long, slow breath. “Don’t do that, especially if she’s already there. Get her expert advice, then tell me what you find out.”

  “I’ll call you later tonight and tell you everything.”

  “Don’t worry about it. We can talk tomorrow.”

  But he didn’t want to wait that long, and he needed to show her he cared. “Jess can wait. What did you want to talk about?”

  “Greece.”

  “What about it?”

  “How do you feel about it?”

  “I hear they’ve had some financial troubles recently. Why?”

  “It’s a project I’m working on. Would you ever want to visit Greece?”

  “I’ve never thought about it.”

  “Gut reaction. Time and cost are not a problem, would you ever want to visit Greece?”

  “Sure, why not?”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Was that the wrong answer?”

  “There’s no wrong answer. What about Hawaii?”

  “You’re planning an escape, aren’t you?”

  “I told you, it’s a project.”

  “I’ve heard good things about Hawaii.”

  “Would you ever want to go there?”

  “If I didn’t have to work, and money wasn’t an option, sure. Why not?”

  She sighed. “Is there anyplace you wouldn’t go if you didn’t have to work, and money wasn’t an option?”

  “Not really.”

  She groaned.

  “Wrong ans
wer?”

  “Technically, there are no wrong answers.”

  It didn’t sound that way. “Are you sure you’re okay? I can cancel tonight so we can talk about this.”

  “I appreciate it, but this is my project, and you have yours. I should get back to it.” Though the tightness in her voice didn’t sound like she was looking forward to it.

  “Call me if you need anything. At any time.”

  “Have fun with Jess.”

  *******

  Russ opened the restaurant door so Jess wouldn’t bump into it, her eyes buried in the yellow folder. He grabbed her arm an instant before she stepped in front of a bustling waitress. “Would you like to take a second to pick a table,” he asked, “or do you trust me to find a good spot?”

  “I’m almost done. Give me a minute.”

  He steered her around the tables to an empty booth near the back, then slid into the seat while she continued reading. When she finally looked up, he held out her car keys. “You’ll probably want these later.”

  She snagged the keys as she took her seat. “Thanks again for driving. I’m glad I got to read this.” Jess slid the folder across the table to him. “This could be a great opportunity.”

  “Really?”

  She laughed. “Don’t look so surprised. CNMC may be small, but it’s a good school. They’ve obviously put a lot of thought into this. If you don’t take advantage of it, I may recommend a few other farms to them.”

  “Now you’ve made me curious.” Russ leaned forward. “What are the benefits?”

  A waitress stepped up to the table and smiled. Russ sat back and listened to her spiel, but Jess had piqued his interest. If she recommended this program, then it had to be good. If it was good, it wasn’t something Wayne threw together a week ago to help after Tom’s death. And if it wasn’t the township’s awkward attempt to support Russell Farms through a family tragedy, it might be worth considering.

  The waitress finally walked away. This time Jess leaned forward. “You should talk with the college to nail down the details, but this looks good, Russ.”

  “A bunch of eighteen-year-olds running around the farm for the summer doesn’t sound good.”

  “How old were you when you started working with your dad?”

  “That’s irrelevant.”

  She crossed her arms.

  He scowled. “Five.”

  “Exactly. And don’t Carrie’s and Rachel’s boys work with you during the summer? Age isn’t an issue. Besides, this isn’t an introductory-level course. It’s a program the students will commit to for at least twelve months, and they’d consider making it a two-year program if things go well. It starts mid–school year in January and runs through December. It won’t only be extra help. You’ll get to teach.”

  “I’m not a teacher.”

  “You don’t have to be. You’ll have one or two students working with you all season. You’ll get to teach them the way your dad taught you.”

  A chance to share his passion, to inspire someone. Anticipation coursed through him but, “What about the office? I can handle the trees, but I need someone inside.”

  “You need someone to do that anyway. You can’t rely on the college to run your business.”

  Russ slouched in his seat. “I figured that was too much to hope for. What do you suggest?”

  The waitress returned to take their orders, delivered their food, and topped off their coffees twice as Jess walked him through the internship program, referring often to the folder. When the waitress finally cleared their plates, Jess glanced at her watch. Her eyes widened. “It’s nine-thirty.”

  “A night well spent. Anything that takes away the headache of office work is a good thing.” As he reached for the check, she pulled out her wallet, but he waved her off. “Let me. It would have taken me two weeks to make sense of what you explained in two hours. Thank you.”

  Jess unleashed her traffic-stopping smile and tucked her hair behind one ear. “It was my pleasure.”

  A few minutes later, they braced themselves against the wind as they walked down the sidewalk. Russ stepped around Jess, putting himself between her and the wind as they headed toward her car. She slipped her arm through his.

  “Do you think Ashley would mind if we did this again sometime?” she asked.

  “As long as we keep this professional, I’m sure she’ll be okay. And I wouldn’t mind getting some more information from CNMC if you’re still willing to help.”

  She leaned into him. “Of course. Are you busy Friday night?”

  “I doubt it, but I’ll check.”

  “Do that.”

  When they reached Jess’ car, Russ opened the driver’s door for her. “I’ll try to get more information before then,” he said.

  She covered his hand with hers. “Bring it with you if you have it. If not, we can still eat. Either way, it’s a date.”

  CHAPTER 31

  “Rosie, stop fussing with me. I don’t need you getting my coffee.” Thump, thump, thump.

  “It wouldn’t hurt you to rest a little more. Give your foot time to heal properly.”

  The muted conversation drifted into Ashley’s bedroom as she nestled deeper into her pillow. It wasn’t yet nine, and they were already nagging each other, but Ashley could listen to her aunt and uncle’s loving banter for hours. Of course, she had two weeks left in Florida, so it might not seem loving by the time she flew home. Then she and Russ could start their own banter.

  Something clanked in the kitchen. The rich aroma of coffee slid beneath the door. Might as well get up. Ashley stayed in her pajama pants but pulled a sweatshirt over her head. Out in the kitchen, John and Rose stood next to each other in front of the stove. Rose tapped his cast with her toe. He pinched her side.

  Ashley laughed. “I’m glad to see things are getting back to normal.” She took her laptop off the table and made her way to the couch. “Did you want to go anywhere today, or can I plan on hanging out here?”

  “It’s supposed to rain today.” Her aunt pointed a spatula at the darker-than-normal sky outside the window. “I can find plenty to do in the house, and I’m sure you’ve got work to do.”

  Ashley looked at the headphones and CDs at the far end of the dining-room table. She’d spent the last two days either shuttling her aunt and uncle or transcribing medical records. With her final assignments on their way back to her clients, she could finally give her photos some much-needed attention.

  “I think I’ll email Mr. Miller, the photographer in Michigan, to see if he needs anything else from me before I start. I don’t want to overlook something.” She flipped open her laptop and set it on the coffee table, then poured herself a cup of coffee. By the time she returned to her computer, wintery wallpaper greeted her. She checked her email first. Newsletters, two pieces of spam, an online order confirmation, russellfarms@mail.com. Fear and excitement crashed into her chest. Ashley clicked the last email.

  Hi. This won’t be long. I hate typing. I hope your uncle is okay. Are they doing better with everything? Can I do anything to help? I hope we can talk soon. Russ

  Ashley read it again. Then again. Nothing romantic or revelatory. No confessions of love. Then why did her heart flutter, spurring her to memorize those simple words?

  BLIP. A blue instant-message icon flashed on the bottom of her screen. She clicked it. Contact request from Rachel Billings. Ashley didn’t recognize the last name, but she knew the adorable little boys in the profile photo—Russ’ nephews. She accepted, then went back to her email.

  How should she respond? If only someone would dictate a response for her to transcribe to Russ.

  A ringtone blared from the laptop as the video-chat app popped up. Rachel’s profile picture filled the screen.

  “What in the world is that?” John walked out of the kitchen.

  “A video call. I’ll use my headphones so it doesn’t bother you.”

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m going out to clean the garage.”
r />   “You most certainly are not!” Rose followed him through the back door.

  Ashley plugged in her headphones and answered the call.

  Rachel’s face filled the screen. “How are you? I would have called earlier, but these boys keep me running.” She smiled, her hair piled up on her head and a large red sweatshirt hanging on her shoulders. “We’ve got fifteen minutes before their show ends. Do you have a second?”

  Ashley adjusted her own sweatshirt and ponytail. “Sure. What’s up?”

  “We’re putting together a wedding reception for you, and I have a few questions.”

  “Russ mentioned it. That’s so generous. Thank you.” Ashley looked at the garage door, where Rose stood, one hand on her hip as she waved the spatula, undoubtedly lecturing John about walking too much. Should Ashley plan a reception after promising not to commit to the wedding?

  “Russ said you want to keep things small, so we’re only inviting our family and Rob Kraft’s.”

  “The lawyer?”

  “He’s a family friend, and he already knows about the wedding, so why not have another few guests, right?” Rachel produced a legal pad and pen. “We rented a private room at the resort. They’ll let us order off a limited menu—beef, chicken, and veggie options, plus something for the kids. Will that work?”

  “Yeah, if you think that’s good.”

  “It’ll be fabulous. Chad and I had a similar menu when we had our reception there. The food was fantastic, and there’s a great view of the ski slopes.”

  A shiver ran over Ashley’s skin. “Is there that much snow?”

  “Not yet, but they’ll start making it soon. Let’s see.” She scanned the page. “Flowers. What would you like?”

  After flowers came colors, decorations, cake flavor. The list went on. Ashley answered what she could. She wasn’t sure how she’d feel about her decisions in a week but wanted to give Rachel something to work with. They squeezed out twenty minutes of planning before Aiden ran into the frame.

  “Leo’s eating candy and he won’t share. Can I have eggs?”

  “Give me one minute. Why don’t you get everything out for me, and I’ll make breakfast when I’m done.” The curly-haired mini-Chad ran away. Rachel’s gaze followed, adoration written all over her face.