Jace blinks his eyes which are similar to mine but lighter. “Please don’t say we’re changing over from apples to cows or something? Because even just changing tree types is part of the reason we’re circling the drain financially. I doubt making even bigger changes will help.”
“The Todds moved from cows to bees and goats with little to no hiccups,” I say calmly, but of course he looks at me like I just invoked the name of the devil.
“The Todds are our business icons now? Shit, we really are in trouble,” Jace snarks. He reaches for the sugar dispenser and I stop him.
“If I have to watch you add more sugar to that tiny mug of coffee I’m going to get diabetes,” I say and then move back to the subject. “The Todds are doing well with their new plan. So well, they have expansion ideas. For more things that have more return and less risk than the standard farming we’ve all been trying to do.”
He raises an eyebrow. “And how do you know that?”
“Because unlike the rest of you, I’ve actually held a conversation with one of them,” I say and silently addand, you know, seen one of them naked.
“Which one?” Jace wants to know, his left eyebrow still arched. “Daisy Cute-But-Psycho Todd or Maggie Hot-But-Evil Todd? Or Clyde Drunk-And-Nuts Todd. Or—”
“Maggie,” I interrupt because he will literally list every person on their family tree with some sort of ridiculous nickname if I don’t. “And she’s not actually evil. She’s smart and kind and…”
Jace’s eyes grow two sizes and I know he knows what’s coming. “You didn’t.”
“I did. I am. And it’s good, Jace. Really good.”
He makes a face. “Oh God I don’t want to know about your sexual exploits.”
“No I’m not talking about the sex part,” I argue and smile. “That’s actually better than good. Way better. But I’m talking about the relationship part. I like her. A lot. In fact, I kind of think I could love her.”
“How?” Jace asks in a disbelieving hiss. “I just…after everything with that family? How on bloody earth do you even go there?”
“Trust me, I didn’t plan it, but it happened.” I shrug. “And I don’t want it to unhappen, which is why I’m telling you. And eventually everyone else. But I need your support first.”
Jace is blinking—repeatedly. He picks up his mug, puts it down without taking a sip and then picks it up again. Then puts it down. “Tate… I don’t know if I can.”
“Why not?” I challenge. “Think about it. Really. There’ve been a ton of scuffles with the Todds over the years, but do we even know why at this point? Can’t we just make a concerted effort to let the stupid feud go? Working with them at the market hasn’t been horrible.”
“It hasn’t been great,” Jace counters.
“Because we’ve been actively trying to push each other’s buttons,” I say and pause as the waitress walks over and drops our orders in front of us.
I got avocado toast with a side of smoked chicken apple sausage. Jace got a bacon double cheddar omelet with a side of smothered hash browns and pancakes. It all looks delicious but after thanking the waitress, we both ignore our plates.
“Tate, even ifIaccept you dating a Todd, Dad won’t. Grandpa definitely won’t,” Jace says.
“They will lose me if they don’t,” I reply and to be honest, I didn’t know I would say that until I did. But it feels good. “Not just because it’s Maggie either. I mean, who knows. Right now she feels like end game, but life is full of curveballs. This isn’t about her, specifically. If they don’t accept that I’m with her, and actively try and mess things up, then they care more about the stupid feud than they do about my feelings, and I’ll walk away. From them and the farm and everything.”
Jace looks at me in stunned silence. I let him. He needs time to absorb this, and I’ve said all I have to say. I sip my coffee and reach for my fork. Finally Jace speaks. “Maybe that’s what needs to happen. Not you disowning the family, but letting the farm go. What are we even fighting for here? Gramps is tired and wants to retire. Dad misses drywalling. God if he’d just stuck with that and stayed out of the family farm, maybe Mom wouldn’t have left him. She hated how Gramps and Gran never treated Dad well, like they treated Louise, and it was the real hole in their marriage. So maybe we need to just sell it.”
“Or, you know, merge it,” I say and he freezes, with a forkful of food in midair. “Maggie has an idea, and I like it. We’d be happier and more profitable and so would the Todds.”
“Unless we all kill each other,” Jace says and shakes his head, finally diving into his meal.
Halfway through our breakfasts I say. “Can you keep this to yourself? I want to be the one to tell everyone else. Eventually.”
“I’m more than happy to not be the bearer of bad news,” Jace replies quickly.
“But you’ll have my back when I do tell them. And all hell breaks loose?” I ask and try not to sound as nervous as I am. I honestly don’t know if he will support me.
“I don’t agree with this, but I’ll have your back,” Jace confirms and gives me a small smile. “You can’t very well pay for my college if I disown you.”
I laugh. “Thanks for the support.”
His smile fades and his light green eyes grow serious. “You really like her?”
