“Time?” Reed stands abruptly, flailing one arm in the direction of the goat-poop-smeared atrium. “The investor pitch is in a few days.”
Chiron bleats from inside the trailer, traitorously agreeing with Reed.
I purse my lips and close my eyes, trying to think. This isn’t like being evicted with a trash bag of school uniforms and second-hand shoes. I’m older now, and I have more resilience. “What can I do to make it right? Other than pay money…”
Reed’s face vibrates, and I worry he’s actually having a seizure. I wave an arm at the back lot. “I have a contract with Bramblewood. They’re going to pay me. On Monday.” I don’t mention that they’re not going to pay me that much, and most of what’s coming in is earmarked for the farrier.
Reed wrinkles his nose and seems to come back into his body. “What do you have in mind?”
“You need to get more trees ready for the thingy, right? I’m really good with plants. Maybe I could work off the debt?”
“Absolutely not,” Reed says immediately.
We’re both so quiet I can hear the ticking of a watch. Is he actually wearing an old timey watch with hands on it? Of course he is. Meanwhile, I’m fifteen more thousand bones in the hole, and my business is in ruins.
I look at Reed, who’s staring at me with an expression I can’t quite read. Anger, definitely. But maybe something else underneath it.
Reed runs both hands through his hair. “Do you even know anything about hydroponics? You probably think nitrogen is laughing gas.”
“Hey,” I snap. “Don’t assume for one minute I’m ignorant about nitrogen-rich soil. Just because I don’t use fancy equipment doesn’t mean?—”
“This isn’t about fancy equipment. This is about science.” Reed gestures sharply. “You can’t just throw some seeds in the dirt and hope for the best.”
“I’ve been growing things since before you learned what chlorophyll was, pretty boy.”
“Pretty boy?” Reed’s eyebrows shoot up.
I stuff my hands in my pockets. “What’s your alternative? You going to sue me? You’ve got limited time, right? I’ve got limited funds. But I’m good with plants. It’s in my blood or something.”
I swear he mutters something about bloody farm animals, but then he seems to melt into the wall of Bramblewood. I hear Mandy Warnick inside thanking the custodians for cleaning the atrium, her tinkling voice insisting they find some local artwork to hang while they wait for the replacement display trees.
“This is insane,” Reed says finally.
“Tell me about it.” I cross my arms and wonder how I ended up here.
“But,” he says bluntly, “apparently this is the only way forward that doesn’t involve court.”
We size each other up for a long moment. He looks different than he did at the permit office—less stiff, more human. And, okay, he’s really got the stern vibe that’s got my insides churning. The tempest in the atrium cracked his perfect professional facade, and now I can see the stress underneath… the desperation.
“Right,” I say, certainly recognizing that emotion. “But I have conditions.”
“You have conditions?” Reed’s voice climbs higher. “You destroyed my work, and you’re making demands?”
I hold up a finger. “No talking down to me. I am not some ignorant farmer.”
Reed’s jaw works as if he’s chewing on the words he wants to say. “And?”
“And no funny business at your place. I’m not in the market for bullshit harassment from lab assistants or maintenance guys.”
“You actually think I have staff, who would—” Reed stops himself, takes a breath. “Fine. Obviously, nobody will act inappropriately at the greenhouse.”
“Good.” I stand, suddenly exhausted by the whole disaster. “I need to get my goats situated, and then I’ll head your way. Where’s this laboratory of yours?”
Reed pulls out his phone and taps at it. “I’ll send you the address.” Reed nods stiffly. “Don’t be late.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“So let me get this straight,” Eden says, passing me the bowl of pasta she made for family dinner. The five of us Storm sisters have always been tight, depending on one another when everyone else let us down, including our absentee mother. “You destroyed this guy’s work, can’t pay him back, and now you’re gonna help him grow new trees?”
