“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Why are y’all looking at me like that?” she laughs.
“As a wedding venue?” Evelyn asks, pausing by the tree. “I’m listening.”
“Barns are hot for weddings. I could show you some photos later, but if you dress it up, it’s extra revenue. Especially off-season—unless you’re planting other crops.”
I trade a look with my siblings. It’s…a great idea.
“Evelyn, hold that tree steady, would you?” Owen asks, turning back to the stand.
“Nobody asked you to help set the tree up,” she says, letting the trunk lean just enough to make him grumble. She smirks when he curses.
“Language!” Phoebe chirps.
“You tell him,” Evelyn says, winking. The ice queen thaws a little more for the smallest sun.
“Dangerous combo,” I murmur, watching them giggle.
I haven’t seen Evie like this in a long time. She said she only just got me back, but I think—to some degree—we’ve all been searching for ourselves again over the last couple of years.
Chloe and Phoebe aren’t just saving me or the farm. They’re saving my sister, too, even though she’d never admit it.
“Tell me about it,” Chloe says, whisking wet ingredients. “You’d think they were related.”
My gaze floats from Chloe to Phoebe and back.
Would Phoebe be this spunky if she were ours? If we have more kids, will they have her laugh? What will they be like?
I’m speeding ahead faster than I should, but I can’t help it. It finally feels like I’ve got a map and a destination that match.
“Can I help?” Phoebe scrambles onto a barstool.
“As soon as it chills,” Chloe says. “It’s got to go into the fridge for a couple of hours.”
“Are you kidding me?” Phoebe drops her head back. “That’s forever.”
“You sound just like me at this age,” I say.
“Waiting is the worst part,” Evelyn adds, stepping beside her to swipe a fingertip of dough. “It’s good.”
“Tastes like Mom’s, ” Owen adds.
“It’s not hard to read a recipe,” Evelyn deadpans.
“That must be why you bake so often,” Owen says, stealing a taste.
We fist-bump while Evelyn glares.
“It’s like I gained children,” Chloe mutters. “Y’all go decorate. I need to chill this dough.”
“Aiden, can I ask you something?” Phoebe props her chin on her hands, making faces at me.
“Sure.”
“Will you come to my Christmas program next Thursday night?”
“As in a week from Thursday?” We close at dark.
