Relief rushes through me, and I feel like I can breathe again.
“Your brother?”
He nods. “Yeah, that’s Forest. Come here.”
I see the guy I handed the basket of cheese and jam to meander to the front door, lean against the doorframe, and stare at me. I can see the resemblance now that I’m more clear-headed. He and Glenn have the same eyes and the same-shaped jaw.
They’re both incredibly handsome.
“This is my boss, Mr. Wren.”
Forest cocks an eyebrow. “Nice that your boss drops off expensive cheese and honey at your door.”
Glenn clears his throat. “Yeah, it is, isn’t it?”
I feel a flush move across my cheeks and down my neck. Yeah, this is not what a boss does. Not at all.
“I was just in the area.”
Glenn huffs. He knows I live nowhere near here. I’m in the opposite direction, actually.
“Well, thanks for the basket of cheese, Mr. Wren,” he says. “Are you okay to drive?”
I peer up at him and swallow. My head bobs in a nod, and he lowers his chin, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
“Well, see you later, then.”
And with that, he turns and disappears back into his house, the door closing softly behind him.
On wobbly legs, I get into my car, breathing deeply before I leave. And when I do, I sniffle and swipe at my eyes as I drive down the highway. If I turn down the gravel road to Buttered Blessings, the farm I just left, I don’t mean to.
But when I park my car and get out, Eudora is outside, watering the plants near her porch. Her hand comes up to shield the setting sun from her eyes, and then she waves.
I’ve lost my mind completely to be here right now. I don’t even know her. I just told her my life story over cheese a little while ago.
But she doesn’t seem bothered, just waves me over.
“Was everything all right with your purchase?” she asks, and I nod, my throat clicking as I swallow.
“His brother took it, and then I had a panic attack.”
She coos over me, setting down the watering can and bringing me up onto her porch.
“Oh dear, that’s not good.”
I sink into a rocking chair and take deep, rattling breaths. A glass of lemonade is handed to me, and I sip at it, feeling Eudora sit down next to me.
“I’m so sorry about this,” I whisper. “I just have no one, and you were nice to me.”
“You poor boy. It’s fine. What’s your name?”
“Arbor.”
“Beautiful name. Your parents have good taste.”
I peer over at her and debate whether I should tell her more of my sob story. I decide not to, but my mouth has other ideas.
“They’re dead.”
