“Road’s flooded,” Ben said when we were inside.
“You know that road floods.”
“Yeah. Murphy and I were heading in the opposite direction when I got a call to pick up Branson near here.” Ben cocked his head toward his nephew. “Do you know Branson? He’s Brenna’s—”
“Of course I know,” Scott said, not letting Ben finish.
My head swung back and forth, taking all this in. The whole scene was feeling like something out of a soap opera.
“I got into trouble,” Branson blurted.
“Well, you’re Brenna’s boy,” Scott said with a laugh.
“Hey, that’s my mom,” Branson said sharply, coming to his mom’s defense.
Ben stepped in to smooth things over. “Your mom and Scott were friends back in high school. She had a good time. Classes were easy for her, and she didn’t get a chance at prep school like me.”
“I know,” Branson said, fidgeting from foot to foot. “I saw his picture in Mom’s albums. You know when she gets sentimental and starts going through memories?”
More awkward silence filled the foyer.
“Listen,” Ben said to Scott, “I’m sorry to barge in on you so unexpectedly. But like I said, the road’s flooded, and I don’t want to take any chances with these two. If we’re not in your way, can we wait it out here?”
Scott waved a hand. “Of course. It’s no bother. In fact, I just came in from checking the barns. I was going to do some paperwork, but it can wait.”
Feeling uncomfortable, I said quickly, “You don’t have to entertain us. Do people do this here, show up at other people’s houses and wait out a flood? This wasn’t how I was raised.”
“Murphy’s from New York,” Ben said to explain.
Scott gave me a small smile. “Welcome to Vermont.”
“You got anything to eat?” Branson asked abruptly, just as my stomach growled again, and Ben frowned at him.
“Looks like everyone is hungry. Go sit down,” Scott said, pointing toward a comfy family room.
“Are you sure?” I whispered again, this time to Ben when we sat down. As my butt sank into a leather couch with a plaid blanket folded behind me, Ben sat next to me.
“It’s fine, Murph. No one wants anyone to get hurt here. The Jeep might be able to drive through the water, but it could get shorted out and we’d be stuck.”
Branson plopped into the chair across from us. “So, you have a girlfriend and we don’t know?” he said to Ben. “Mom’s gonna shit.”
“Brans, cut it out.”
“She is ... seriously. She kept saying you seemed busier than usual, maybe you were inventing something new.”
“Branson, it’s enough,” Ben said sharply.
There was an edge to his voice that I didn’t quite recognize. Maybe he was worried his sister wouldn’t like me? I didn’t know what he could be inventing, but I was hung up on him not telling his sister about me.
“Here.” Scott reappeared with a charcuterie board filled with enough cheeses and meats for thirty people. After setting it on the coffee table in front of us, he took a seat in the chair opposite Branson.
“Wow,” I said, unable to help myself.
Scott beamed at me. “We’re making these in our tasting room now. People can come and taste a bunch of different cured meats and cheeses, and drink wine. We sample local varieties. It’s popular with all the tourists.”
“Interesting,” Ben said.
“I do some work for Hunnie. From the apiary—”
