Evelyn rolled her lips together and then snorted out a laugh.“They thought the divorce was going to upset the board.Maybe it’s time for me to look for a job outside the company.”
“Frannie B would be so disappointed in them.”
Evelyn nodded, eyes wide.“She would have been disappointed in me as well.Going along and following orders without question.But I’m going to make her proud.Make you proud, too.Time to think and decide for myself.”
Dani grinned.“Frannie B loved you.And she’d love that you’re going to do what makes you happy.”
Evelyn sighed.“I don’t even know what that is, but it’s time I found out.”
They eventually signed off, with promises to talk again the next day.Dani tossed her phone onto the coffee table and turned to Lawson.“She wasn’t part of it.”
He grinned and lifted her to straddle him on the couch.“She didn’t have a clue.But she was smart enough to divorce the jerk.Her lawyers are going to have fun when it comes to settling the terms of the divorce.She probably won’t have to look for a job for a long while.”
“That’ll give her time to figure out what brings her joy.”
“Just like you did.”
Dani squirmed and felt Lawson’s body react instantly.“Just like I’m going to.You bring me joy, Lawson, so much joy.I love you.”
He brought his hands up to frame her face.“I love you, too, Dani.You bring me joy as well.Let’s see how joyful we can be.”
And then he kissed her.
The joy in her soul expanded.Twice.
Chapter21
None Of Your Beeswax
Afew weeks later, Lawson rolled the engine hoist into place at the back of his new shop area.With the help of everyone at the farm, he’d spent a sizeable chunk of the week sectioning off the entire right-hand side to create his workshop.
Now, he had room for his restoration projects.Not that he had anything to restore yet, but that would come.No sense in looking for a vehicle until he was ready to work on it.
Dani had spent the last few days showing her sister around the properties and teaching her how to work the metal.They’d planned to let her try welding today, and he hoped they had fun.
He was glad his surprise had gone so well.Dani had felt pushy inviting her sister to visit, so Lawson had done it for her.His phone call with Evelyn had gone surprisingly well.She’d cried when he’d told her Dani wanted her to visit, but she didn’t want to force Evelyn into it when she was going through such a transition.She’d quit her job with their parents and was working her way through event planning certification.
When she’d shown up the following morning with her suitcase in hand, Dani squealed with delight.
They’d been having a great time ever since.
Dani’s brother was back in the country, and he hoped the three of them could continue to improve their relationship.
Lawson couldn’t wait to show Dani the finished workshop.Her idea for organizing had made sense, and he’d followed her plan.
Lawson moved back into the main space to grab the grinder he’d seen in the back.It was an old piece of equipment, and he wanted to know if it worked.If not, he’d order a new one, but reusing this one would save him some cash and connect him to the past.Maybe Jay had used it.
The grinder was stuffed into a corner behind a couple of floor jacks and a few crates he hadn’t explored yet.He grabbed the first one and found a lot of treasures from times gone by.
Glass jars full of nuts and bolts, screws, and nails.Cardboard boxes filled with screwdrivers that had to be almost a century old.Another with pliers and hammers of the same vintage.
He knew Amber was talking about calling one of the guest rooms Toy Room, to showcase the machinery used on the farm.He’d have to see if she wanted any of these for decorations there.He could use a few of them here, too.
He lifted the crate to get to the next one.He grinned at the contents.Someone had been into cars a long while back.The tools in here were all for vehicles, and they were as old as the first box.
Handheld brake tools, vice grips, calipers, and gauges.Even grease guns that made him grin.Some of these would go on his wall.Others were still usable.
He squatted and spread the tools out on the floor, digging to the bottom of the box.It was like looking at what his job would have looked like decades before.
