“Yeah, I’m fine. I just haven’t heard from you and wanted to hear your voice.”
I don’t believe her for two seconds. I can count on one hand the number of times she’s called me just to say hello. Actually, I don’t even need my entire hand to count.
“You never call me out of the blue. Did something happen? My parents okay?”
I hear her loud sigh on the other end of the phone. “Everyone is fine. I was just wondering how you are, and if you really like it way out there. I miss you.”
Now I’m even more at a loss. This is so unlike her. She’s a good person, but she’s not the sweet motherly type. She’s worked with animals all her life and doesn’t put up with anyone’s shit. Including family.
“Yeah, Aunt Sophia, I really do like it here.”
Tate stands from the table but doesn’t move any closer. I give him a quick nod, and he makes his way to me, placing a comforting hand on the small of my back.
“Well. Your mom said you’re down there burning the candle at both ends, cleaning horse stalls at some raggedy ranch because the doctor’s office doesn’t even pay you enough to live on. I don’t see why you had to run off in the first place.”
I stiffen, even though I doubt Tate could hear her. But still. She called me up just to question my decision to move here, and after all this time? I try not to let her piss me off. I know how she can be. I loved spending time with her as a kid—and I still do—but her way has always been the only right way. And her opinion, the only one valid.
“I didn’t run off anywhere. I simply moved here. It’s not like I up and disappeared. And like I said, I really like it.”
She huffs. “You deserve better than that. I always thought you would end up taking this place over for me.”
What?I find myself holding my phone out and staring at it in disbelief. Tate’s comforting caress snaps me out of it, and I place the phone back to my ear.
“Okay, tell me what’s really going on. You’ve never said anything about wanting to pass the torch to me. And you’ve never been this interested in my job.”
Another heavy sigh. “It’s just that you spent enough time around here and working with me that you can do better. If you want to work with animals, you should be here with me where at least you’ll get treated right. And then you can take the place over.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask as calmly as possible. “Both places I work treat me extremely well. And I’m happy here. In fact, I met someone, and he makes me happier than I’ve ever been.”
Tate stares at me, eyes wide with surprise, and it hits me that I just announced our relationship. To my family. If my aunt knows, the entire family will know within moments of us getting off the phone. And I don’t even care.
“I was in town at the grocery store, and I ran into—” she pauses for so long I don’t think she’s going to finish what she’s saying. “I ran into you-know-who at the store and he asked me if you were okay. Said you just left out of nowhere and he hadn’t seen or spoken to you. I asked your mom, and she told me you’re over there working two jobs and damn near killing yourself just to survive.”
“I’m fine, I promise. Mom’s just not happy that I moved away. And he’s full of shit because I ended things with him weeks before I even considered moving. I moved here because Rayna loves it and told me they needed help where she works. I’m not working two full-time jobs. They are both part time.”
Tate shoots me a look and my lips tug into a smirk. The ranch is beyond full-time at this point, but my aunt doesn’t need to know that. She’s all fired up as it is.
“Would it make you feel any better if I came to visit? So you can see with your own eyes that I’m fine. I’m not working myself to death.” I purposely avoid Tate’s gaze. We’re both working ourselves to death. But it’s only temporary. “You’ll see that I’m happy.”
“If you want to move back, you can stay with me. There’s plenty of room and I really do need the help around here,” she says, completely ignoring what I said.
“Aunt Sophia…”
“Fine,” she grits out. “If you say you’re happy, I can’t argue with you. But come visit so I can see your face. And bring that man with you. When are you coming?”
“When… am I coming?” I look Tate’s way, panicking slightly because I know we’re both too busy to get away. He’s struggling to take care of both places as it is.
“Next week,” he says softly, giving me a shrug.
My eyes widen, and I tilt my head toward him in question. Silence stretches over the phone as she waits for my response. Tate nods at me, silently emphasizing his words.
“Um. Next weekend?” My answer comes out as a question.
“Perfect! Oh, I can’t wait to see you. And I can show you how easy it would be to just live and work here. Okay, honey, I’ll let you go.”
As soon as I end the call, I spin to face Tate. “Next week? How?”
“It’s not that far. We can get away for a few hours.”
