One Last Time (The Stanton Brothers)

by Heather D'Agostino

  “Why would I want to do that? The last time I talked to you, you told me you were leaving. Seems like we said all we needed to back then.” I shrugged as I attempted to crank the engine. I was being an ass, but I didn’t care.

  “I’d really like to catch up.” Savannah shuffled her feet. I couldn’t help but stare at her. I tried not to. I mean, I wanted to hate her. She hurt me, and I wanted to give it back just as much, but she still took my breath away when I saw her. Her brown hair was pulled up in a wavy ponytail, a pair of cut off jean shorts encased her perfect ass, and she’d tied a pink t-shirt up in the front. She was beautiful as a seventeen-year-old, but at twenty-two she was even better. All her teenage curves had matured, and she was all woman.

  “I thought we could grab a coffee in town, or something.” She kicked her boot covered foot. That had always been a weakness of mine, her cowboy boots. They looked like the same pair from all those years ago too.

  “I told you. I don’t leave the farm much.” I pressed the throttle to rev the engine. She stood there staring at me, and I finally cut the engine.

  “A beer then? You drink beer, right?” She crossed her arms over her chest, causing her breasts to rise.

  “Hey!” Brittany’s shrill squeal came from behind Savannah. “Your brother said I’d find you in here.” She bounced up to me, but before she could hug me I put my hand out.

  “Hang on, baby. I’m all dirty.” I grinned as I tugged my shirt over my head. I used it to wipe my face and chest off before turning to let her launch herself into my arms.

  “We still on for dinner or something?” She giggled.

  “Or something.” I snickered back. “Oh, hey. You remember Savannah, right?” I set Brit down and turned to where Savannah was now standing white as a ghost.

  “Oh, yeah. Hey.” She waved at Savannah.

  “You remember Brittany, my girlfriend, right?” I smiled a cunning smile.

  Savannah’s manners won out her shock as she quickly recovered. “Hi. It’s nice to see you again.” She swallowed, hard, before staring directly at me. “I’ve gotta go. It’s was nice talking to you. Maybe we’ll see each other around.”

  I watched in slight satisfaction as she half walked/ half jogged back toward the parking area. I’d been a complete ass, but the part of me that still felt betrayed by her didn’t care.

  Chapter 12

  Savannah

  I knew coming back here would be hard. I knew he hated me back then for what I did, but I thought time would heal us. Micha never saw my side of things. He didn’t think about what I wanted or why I left. When I finally got the opportunity to come back here, I couldn’t say no. I’d hoped that Micha would let me explain and we could at least be friends. Now, I’m wondering if I should just leave. Watching him with Brittany Fisher just about made me sick. All those times he told me he didn’t want her, all those times I questioned him about her, and here they are dating and probably screwing too.

  The tiny apartment I’m renting in town feels claustrophobic, and as I’m sitting here staring out the window, I realize that I need a job. My savings isn’t going to hold me for more than a few months, and sitting around is driving me crazy. A job would help me stop thinking about Micha, but I haven’t been able to find anything that would work for me.

  The longer I sit here wallowing, the more pissed off I’m getting. Who’s Micha to control me? I’ve been to the farm twice now. I’ve talked to Hailey, Micha’s sister in-law. She told me she needed help at the stand. She even offered me work. I told her no, but why? Because Micha was being an asshole? Screw him and his girlfriend too.

  Just as I was getting ready to call Stanton Acres, my phone rings. “Hello?”

  “Hey, it’s Hailey. I hope you don’t mind, but I kept one of those business cards that you dropped here the other day.”

  “No, not at all.” I laughed lightly. She seemed a little flustered.

  “Anyway, I’ve needed help here at the stand for weeks now. I’ve had my hands full with Jake, my son. I’ve been hounding Micha to hire somebody, but he won’t, well that is until today.” Hailey sighed. “I know you used to work here. You wanna come back?”

  “Does Micha know you’re talking to me?” I was skeptical.

  “No, and I don’t care. He won’t sit down and interview people. Today I told him I was quitting if he didn’t get me some help. Well, he told me pick somebody, that he didn’t have time. Guess what? I’m picking you; that is, if you want to work here. Please say you want to work here,” she begged.

  “I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” I murmured. “Things with Micha and me are tense right now.”

  “I don’t care. I need help. I need help from someone who actually knows what they’re doing. Please help me.” She stressed the last few words.

  My mind raced as I glanced around the apartment. Did I want to do this? Could I stomach seeing Micha with Brit or who knows who else all summer? “Fine. I’m in,” I relented. I had a few secrets of my own, and Micha was going to talk to me if I had to stalk him to do it. “You realize he’s going to flip his shit when he finds out about this.”

  “Eh. I’m married to the bigger brother. I’m not worried.” Hailey laughed. “Come by at nine tomorrow. You can help me set up. The guys are usually in the fields by then, so the coast will be clear.”

  “I’ll be there.” I smiled as I hung up. I really hoped Hailey was ready for whatever Micha dished out on her. I knew they were old friends, but he could be an ass when he wanted to be, even to those he cared about.

  After spending the day unpacking, I went over to my dad’s place. He was renting a small house on the edge of town. It wasn’t the one we lived in, but it was close. He’d come back to Dalton a few years before me, and had been helping me out with the move.

  “Hey sweetie.” He waved from the porch as I hopped out of my truck. “Did you get your errands taken care of?”

  “Yeah, most of them. So, how was your day?” I pasted a smile on my face. Dad could always tell when I was upset, and he knew I’d planned to see Micha.

  “I had a pretty good day. How’s the job search going?” He glanced over his shoulder before coming down the steps and turning his attention back on me.

  “I think I found something. I need to go by tomorrow to talk details and put a few hours in. Think you can help me out for one more day?” I gave him the same smile I did when I was little.

  “Sure thing. Wanna just have a night to yourself? We’ll do a camp out,” he suggested.

  “Thanks, Dad.” I hugged him. “I’ll be by tomorrow afternoon.

  “Take your time, pumpkin. I love these days.” Dad waved before heading back to the porch. I knew he’d do anything for me, I just hated to ask.

  ooooooooo

  When my alarm went off this morning, I had almost forgotten about the fact that I was going back to my old job. Things had changed since I’d left, but a lot still looked the same. The big red barn was still there, and the Stantons’ house didn’t look any different, but the stand did. It didn’t look like the little wooden lean-to from my high school days. Micha had beefed it up. It had windows and walls, and the inside looked as if they’d doubled the space. There were fans to circulate the air, and a few lights overhead.

  “Hey.” Hailey waved as I climbed out of my truck. “Perfect timing. They just dropped off the morning’s produce. You can help me stock it.”

  “Sounds great,” I mused. I remembered doing this as a kid. I was hoping that the job wouldn’t be as back breaking as it used to be, but when I rounded the corner to see the crates of corn and tomatoes, I wasn’t so sure. “All this, huh?”

  “’Fraid, so.” Hailey sighed. “My daughter, Nora, may come up here to help for a bit later. She’s five, and thinks I can’t do this without her.”

  “The more the merrier.” I laughed as I tossed my keys by the register. It was another blistering day, so I’d stuck with a t-shirt and shorts. My boots were a staple item, but I pinned my hair
up under my hat this time. I didn’t want it sticking to my neck when I started sweating. It was good camouflage too. From a distance I was hoping Micha wouldn’t recognize me.

  “Don’t worry. He’s out with a crew picking corn. He won’t be back ‘til lunch break.” Hailey lifted a crate and set it by the bin we had to fill. It was as if she could read my mind.

  “I’m not worried. I’m kinda mad actually. I need to talk to him, and he won’t even give me five minutes,” I grumbled as I began tossing the ears.

  “He’ll come around.” She gave me a sympathetic smile. “I know Micha, and I know that he’s not the asshole he’s been pretending to be lately. He’s a nice guy, but he’s hurting still. He really loved you.” She grabbed the empty crate and motioned for me to help her lift the next one. “If I’m honest, I think he still loves you, and seeing you again has really messed with his head.”

  “I wish he’d grow a pair and talk to me then.” I rolled my eyes.

  “He will.” She smirked as if she knew something I didn’t. “Thanks for this.” She motioned around the stand as we finished up. “Other than helping customers and carrying purchases to their cars, this is the quiet time.”

  “Nice.” I nodded. “Where are they keeping the water cooler these days? I’m dying here.” I fanned my chest as small sweat droplets ran down my neck.

  “’Round the corner.” She pointed with her thumb. “There’s shade back there.”

  “Be right back.” I stepped outside and just being in the sunlight made me feel like I was melting. I wasn’t sure if I could do this all summer, and to make matters worse, I could see the tractor rounding the front field and heading right towards me. I couldn’t tell who was driving, so I didn’t know if I needed to be ready for a confrontation of not.

  ooooooooo

  Micha

  “Holy shit! It’s hotter than Satan’s balls out here.” I removed my dirty hat and poured what was left of my water over my head. I’d come out to help today in hopes of letting the crews leave early. This heat was zapping all of us, and getting out of it was my number one priority. There were much better things to do that caused a person to be hot than pick corn.

  “I second that.” Max jumped down from the trailer behind me. He wiped his face with a rag before pulling his gloves from his back pocket and putting them back on his hands. “I’ll be glad when we’re finished with corn for the season. I hate this part.”

  As hot as it’s been, I don’t think that will be too much longer. It’s all gonna dry up,” I grumbled. Corn, pumpkins, and wreaths were the bread and butter of our business. The rest was just extras.

  “Let’s get this unloaded, and get out of this heat.” Max grabbed a crate and started carrying it up to the stand.

  “Hey.” Hailey came around the corner. “Tell me how much you love me.” She was looking straight at me, but it sounded like something she’d say to my brother; he was her husband after all.

  “I’m over here, Hails.” Max chuckled. “Is the heat affecting your vision?”

  “I wasn’t talking to you.” She frowned at Max. “I’m talking to Micha. Tell me I’m awesome, Micha, and that you love me.” She clasped her hands behind her and rocked on her feet.

  “What’d you do, Hails? Not charge somebody enough? Give something away?” These were all things that had happened in the past, so I wouldn’t put it past her to do it again.

  “That was a mistake, and I was pregnant. Pregnant brain is a real thing.” She scowled.

  “Then what is it?” I grabbed a crate myself, and lifted it on my shoulder before heading toward the stand.

  “I hired someone to help me.” I could tell by her voice that she was hiding something, but it was hot and I was tired so I ignored it; that was my first mistake. The second one, walking into the stand before she finished.

  “Great,” I called as I rounded the corner. Just as I was bending over to set the crate down, the new hire turned around. “What are you doing here, Savannah?”

  “She’s helping me,” Hailey butted in.

  “No, she’s not.” I glared at the two of them.

  “You told me to pick somebody. I did. She knows the farm, and won’t require training.” Hailey glared at me with her hands on her hips.

  “Pick someone else,” I growled through gritted teeth.

  “No,” Hailey growled right back.

  My eyes went from Hailey to Savannah and back again. Savannah looked so unsure. It wasn’t like the girl I knew all those years ago. She seemed worried almost, like she was afraid of me.

  “Fine,” I relented. “We need the help, and you’re right, she won’t need to be trained.

  “I know I’m right.” Hailey lifted her chin in the air.

  “Thanks, Micha. I need the job,” Savannah murmured from behind us. “I’d like to talk to you too if you have a minute.”

  “I agreed to you working here, not being your friend.” I stacked the crate in the corner, and headed back out to the tractor to grab another.

  “It’s important, Micha.” She jogged along behind me, slightly out of breath.

  Anger bubbled inside me, and I spun to face her. My fists tightened at my sides, and my eyes flared with anger. “You mean like college acceptance? That kinda important? Like leaving town and breaking things off? Important like that?” I roared. I’d been holding this in for years, and having her here now, pushing me to give her the time of day was finally making me snap.

  “No!” she screamed as she marched closer to me. “Important like you have a kid and he’s sick, you asshole.” I felt the sting of her hand on my cheek before the words registered. Kid? Sick?

  Chapter 13

  Savannah

  Why did I just say that? I covered my face with my hands as a gasp escaped me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to do this here,” I mumbled behind my hands. “I’ll leave.” I turned and started to walk away as the tears came. I’d played this moment over and over in my head over the last four years, and never once had it gone this bad.

  “Wait.” His voice sounded strangled and quiet. My feet stumbled to stop as his palm came down on my shoulder. “Come with me.” I lifted my eyes to meet his, which were swirling with turmoil. “Please?” he begged.

  I nodded, and Micha turned to head for the barn. I rushed to keep up with his long strides as he moved with purpose, his long legs eating up the space in front of him. When he reached the barn, he heaved the heavy door open, and turned toward what used to be his father’s office. “This way.” He motioned me in front of him.

  The cool air of the office hit me like a cold blanket. It felt heavenly, and I almost moaned out loud. Micha closed the door, and then turned to face me. A mix of fear and anger was radiating off him.

  “You wanted to talk.” He held his hands out in acceptance. “Sit.”

  “I’d prefer to stand,” I mumbled as Micha closed his eyes and sighed a heavy breath.

  “Fine. Stand. Whatever.” He shook his head, and moved behind the desk, dropping into its chair.

  “I didn’t want to tell you this way. I wanted…” I started but Micha cut me off.

  “You weren’t going to tell me at all, were you?” His eyes narrowed in accusation.

  “That’s not true.” I shook my head. “My life has been anything but easy or happy for years. I came back here because this is the one place that felt like home to me.”

  “I remember being told that Utah was always home, and that’s why you had to go back. Hell, your dad even moved with you.” He slapped the desk as the anger came back. “How long?”

  “How long what?” I furrowed my brow. At one time in my life Micha and I could practically read each other’s minds, but that wasn’t the case anymore.

  “How long have you known about this and kept it from me, and more importantly, why?” He crossed his arms over his chest.

  “It’s not that simple.” I lowered myself into the chair across the desk. Maybe sitting was better.

  “Then exp
lain it to me.” His arms flew into the air as he glared.

  ooooooooo

  Micha

  I needed to stay calm. I needed to be patient, but patience and calm were the last thing that I was feeling. How was this happening? It’s been four and half years since she left. Not once has she contacted me, at least I don’t remember anything.

  “Well?” I rocked back in the chair, disbelief slowly renewing my anger.

  “I found out I was pregnant two weeks after moving. I was setting up my dorm and thought I had the flu. I brushed it off, but when I didn’t start feeling better after a week, I went to the doctor on campus. When he told me, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I mean, I couldn’t imagine not having the baby, but I was eighteen and just starting school. I tried calling you. I called your cell, but you never answered. After a month, I left you a voicemail. You never called me back. I finally came to the painful decision that if you didn’t want to see what was so important, then we didn’t need you in our life. “

  “My dad’s been helping since the beginning He’s retired now, and when he told me he wanted to come back here, I followed. I had to finish school first, but then I came. I wanted my son to have family near him that loved him.” This was when the tears came. She crumpled right in front of me. “I told myself that even if you didn’t want him, I’d be enough.” She sobbed. “But I need your help. I need your help so bad, and I’ve been so scared that you’re gonna say no.” Her shoulders curled forward as she dropped her face in her hands and sobbed.

  “Wait. Back up.” I shook my head. Her words rattled around in my head as small memories of the time after she left started to flicker back to life. I remember the hanging up on her, rejecting her calls. I was hurt and angry, and I couldn’t understand why she would be contacting me. “Fuck!” I hissed. “I have a son?” I pushed the anger aside as hope bloomed in my chest.

  “His name is Daniel.” She offered a watery smile. “Dad and I call him Danny.”