I still find it rude that I saved his life, and he halfway dislikes me. The audacity.
It’s been a month since I became Mrs. Hartley Adler, and with every day that passes, I find that I like it even more. I get a kick out of the ladies at church calling me Mrs. Adler, as it feels so fancy. And when I ride with Hartley to the supply store, Burt gives me a sucker because he claims Hartley’s much easier to deal with now that he has me.
But my favorite part about being Hartley’s wife is the quiet evenings and slow mornings together, even if Lisa gives him hell for not coming in for his sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich. I haven’t told her that I offer another breakfast option that he can’t resist.Every. Single. Morning.
“I took him some scraps yesterday morning, and he had whatever the pig equivalent is to the zoomies,” Cathy says. “He might think he’s a dog.” She holds up a finger. “Oh, I was going to ask you something. Did you get the tar from Betsy Barn out of Hartley’s jeans? If not, I’ll take them outside tomorrow and scrub them with some vegetable oil.”
“That works?”
“Sure does. You’ll eventually learn the tricks around here. It took me a long time to figure it all out. But you got me, and I didn’t have a me, if you know what I mean.”
I do know what she means, and I’m so grateful for her. She’s been a huge supporter of mine since the day I moved in. The first few days were a little overwhelming, getting used to schedules and habits, and figuring out what to do if an animal goes into labor or if a delivery shows up and no one’s around. But thanks to Cathy, I’m more surefooted now.
“Well, have at the tar,” I say. “The jeans are on top of the washer. I tried an ice cube trick that I read online, but all that did was almost give me frostbite.”
“Silly girl.” She gathers her purse, dropping her phone inside it. “I’m off for the day. I’m stopping by the farmers’ market in the morning to pick up some fresh produce for the week. Text me if there’s anything you want me to grab.”
“You’re the best, Cathy.”
“I know.” She winks, heading for the door. “See you tomorrow.”
“Bye.”
I rinse out my coffee mug and place it beside Hartley’s next to the Keurig. One of my favorite fun facts about my husband is that he has a favorite mug shaped like a frog. It’s the most random thing in the world, and not at all what I would’ve guessed, but I love seeing him carry it around the house in the mornings.
“Hey,” I say, picking up the phone on the first ring.
“Hey, Mira.” Miles’s voice is in work mode. “How are things?”
“I feel like you’re a robot when you talk like that.”
He laughs. “Yeah, well, I’ve been talking to a lot of engineering nerds this morning, so maybe some of that rubbed off on me.”
“What’s going on?” I grab a water bottle from the fridge and head to my office. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course. Everything’s good here. But I’m actually calling because I need a favor.”
Naturally.I roll my eyes.
I don’t hear from Miles much. He calls when he needs something, and he’ll occasionally answer a text, but he’s busy with his life, and I get that. It’s not like we were ever close, anyway.
“What can I do for you?” I ask.
“The couple renting my house in Sugar Creek is moving out at the end of the week. I have a friend who’s moving in at thestart of June with his son. Could you swing by there on Saturday and just make sure they’re gone?”
I sit at my desk and wake up my computer. “Sure.”
“Do you still have a key?”
“Yes,” I say, mocking him. I pop him on speakerphone and lean the device against a vase of flowers. “I love that you call me for help, but then act like I’d have lost the key.”
“I know you. What can I say?” He chuckles. “So what’s going on in your world? How’s married life treating you?”
Grinning, I stretch my arms overhead.
“That good, huh?” he asks when I fail to answer him.
“If you could see my face, you’d understand,” I say, sighing. “It’s the strangest thing, really. You think of marriage as some heavy, unforgiving contract that comes with all these negotiations. But it’s really not like that at all. It’s kind of like playing house with someone you get to fuck every day.”
