Page 60 of A Simple Life

She shrugged. “That too.”

I sighed. “Ted’s ordering a new unit.”

“Oh, great.”

I held up my hand, meeting her eyes. “Not great. Two weeks minimum.”

She grimaced. “Ugh.” She looked around. “I have a couple extra fans. There must be some at the farm too. You only put in air a few years ago there.”

“I can’t let them stay here with no air.”

She crossed her arms. “Two years ago, the Brightons’ unit died. It was three days in the summer without air.”

“It wasn’t this hot.” I sucked in a deep lungful of air. “And it wasn’t Quinn and Pumpkin.”

“So, what are you gonna do? Put them up in a hotel?”

I shook my head. “No. They’re coming to the farm.”

Ignoring her shocked look, I kept talking. “Can you let the tenants know we’re doing an inspection to make sure everything is okay with their units? I want to get ahead of any problems.”

She dug in her bag for her phone and list of tenants. “I know they’ll appreciate it.”

“Ted will let me know if there’s a problem.”

“Let’s hope not. The farmhouse is going to get pretty crowded,” she teased.

“One-time offer,” I replied.

“One-house offer, you mean.”

I smirked. She was right. The offer was always there now for Quinn and Abby. They were the exception.

I had a feeling they might always prove to be the exception.

“No, we’re not,” Quinn argued when I told her what Ted had said and my decision. “We’ll be fine. We’ll use the local pool at night. Borrow the fans from Laura. It’s not like I haven’t been in hot places before.”

“No, you’re packing a bag for each of you and coming to stay with me. It only makes sense.”

Quinn leaned over the table. “John, we’re tenants.”

“You’re more than that, and you know it. I can’t let you and Pumpkin stay in that sweatbox. I swear it was ten degrees hotter inside than out. There isn’t even a breeze. There isn’t going to be. It’s going to be hot and humid for another week at least. I have a big guest room. Pumpkin can swim anytime she wants. You’ll be cool and able to sleep.”

“She has things⁠—”

I cut her off by holding up my hand. “I’ll help you get her to her activities.”

Quinn chewed the inside of her lip in indecision. I knew how hard it was for her to accept help.

“She has a sleepover tomorrow,” she protested lamely.

I chuckled. “Perfect. I get her momma alone for the night.”

She looked around. “People will talk.”

I shrugged. “Let them. I don’t care. All I care about is that you two will be safe and comfortable with me.”

“Are you sure? Having us for dinner is one thing. Having us around all the time is another. I know you like your privacy.”