My eyes widen. I can’t believe Walker actually said that. Or that she agrees. Before I can say anything else, though, my mother speaks again. “Where are you off to?”
“Oh, I’m heading into town to go grocery shopping.” I nibble on my lip, trying to decide whether I should say the next words. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“It feels like you maybe don’t want me here. Like you’d rather have Billie and Walker than me and Penny.”
My mother’s entire expression morphs from one of concern to devastation. “Tally, never.”
“Mom, be real with me. What’s going on? Why did you hire Walker? Why have you been avoiding me?”
My mom opens her mouth and shuts it more times than I can count in just a few seconds. Then she shakes her head. “It’s not an easy answer.”
“Try anyway.”
She lets out a long sigh. “It’s not that I don’t want you here. It’s that I don’t want you or your sister to feel obligated to be here. IhiredWalker and Billie to help so that the two of you can have your own lives. Your father and I chased our dreams, and it’s only fair that we let you do the same.”
The pressure that had been sitting on my chest eases slightly. “We don’t feel obligated, Mom. This is our farm. Our home.”
My mother frowns. “But when we saw you at Christmas, you were so excited about your job in Nantucket this summer. What happened with that?”
“I’m still going,” I promise her. “But I want to help youguys with the Daffodil Festival and wedding season before I go. It’s so much work. I somehow forgot how massive this place is.”
My mother looks weary as she stares out at the place she once saw as magic. “It’s not the same as it was, but yes, it takes a lot to maintain. Thank God we have Walker.”
“Yes, thank God we have Walker,” I mumble. My mother nudges me in the shoulder, and I giggle. “What? The man barely speaks.”
“Yet yesterday you seemed to hang on his every word.” She grins. “I was young once, too. He’s a good-looking man.”
I cough out a laugh. “Mom.”
“Oh, stop it. I’m widowed, not blind. And I’m not interested, despite whatever silly ideas you and your sister get in your heads.” She eyes me like she knows all about the things I was accusing Walker of doing with my mother.
Red in the cheeks, I defend myself. “We’re just looking out for you.”
My mother reaches out to hug me, ignoring my wet jacket, and I rest my head against her chest. “Well, don’t. I’m your mother. Let me watch out for you. Just know that I love you and want you to go after every dream you have.”
I squeeze her tight, holding in the tears that threaten to spill over. I try not to focus on all the dreams I used to have and the man that will never get to see me achieve them. “I’m making dinner tonight at the house. Will you come? I even invited Walker.”
My mother arches a brow. “You’re not going to poison him, right?”
“Mom.” She chuckles, and I relax at this change in attitude from her. “I’m glad we talked.”
She smiles. “Me, too. And I’ll be there for dinner. Can I make anything?”
“Nope. It’s my treat. My apology dinner.” I waggle my brows. “Any special requests?”
“No, darling.” My mother pulls me in for another hug. “And please know I’m happy you’re here for the season, and to help us get the farm through the first spring without your daddy. Just promise me you won’t stop chasing your own dreams. That’s my only request.”
—
Half an hour later, I’m dodging puddles as I make my way to the grocery store with the intention of finding all the ingredients for my mother’s favorite, chicken Parmesan.
That ticks off something special for her and still meets Walker’s request for Italian. I’m trying hard to keep my promise to her—and the one I made to myself in honor of my father. I will try to make these next two months work with Walker.
Last night—and maybe even this morning—I think we made progress. I know I have my work cut out for me to prove to them both that I want to help, that they can trust me to listen and do what they need, but I’m willing to do just that. I’m determined to make this work.
I grab a black cart from outside Tom’s Market and head toward the front of the store. The brick building is on the same busy downtown street as my sister’s bookstore and has limited parking.. Most of the food is farm to table from local families in the area, though, so it’s worth the hefty price tag and difficulty of getting here.
