“Thank you.” I went back into the kitchen and sat across from Cooper, making goofy faces at him so he’d giggle. His little laugh was my favorite sound in the world.
“Jack, I’m trying to get him to eat,” Georgia complained, but she was smiling too. “You’re making it difficult.”
“I’ll do it. Go get some more coffee.” I went around the table and nudged her out of her chair, then sat. “Cooper’s gonna eat for me, aren’t you buddy?”
“Bunny!” he said happily.
“I said buddy. Now open the barn door, because here comes the horsie!” I did my best at the horse, motorcycle, and airplane tricks to get him to open his mouth and managed to shovel in the rest of his blueberry pancakes by the time Pete came in.
“Good enough,” Georgia said, taking away the little plastic plate and wiping his mouth and hands with a washcloth. “Thanks.”
“Anytime. I can take him to the park later, if you want.”
“That would be great.” She set him down on his feet and I laughed when he took off running at full speed, face planted in the hall, then got right back up again. Kids were so resilient.
“You guys have a few minutes for me?”
Georgia nodded and sat down across from me, and Pete took the chair next to her. “So what’s up?” he asked, bringing his coffee cup to his lips.
“I need to apologize for yesterday. I had a bad attitude right from the start and I was rude to a guest in your house. I’m sorry.”
“And you apologized to her already?” Pete still sounded like he didn’t believe me.
I nodded. “I did. Last night.”
They exchanged a glance. “Last night? Where?” Georgia asked.
Be careful. “The cabin. She came over to talk about the meeting, and I told her I was sorry for being such a dick about things. I tried to explain myself better.” Then I fucked her right out of her shoes.
“What reason did you give her?” Pete asked.
“I told her I can tell that she’s good at what she does, but that I’m reluctant to make any changes on the farm that weren’t part of my original vision.”
“But Jack, her ideas can be in addition to your vision,” he said. “No one wants to take the farm from you or stop you from doing what you love and what you’re good at. This place is your dream. We know that.”
Pressing my lips together, I forced myself to say what I’d come here to say. “You two deserve the same shot at your dream. So I won’t stand in your way.”
They were stunned silent for a moment. Then Pete said, “Are you serious?”
“Yes.” I took a breath. “I did a lot of thinking last night. And if the situation were different, and it was Steph sitting here, not me, I know she’d tell you to go for it.”
Georgia smiled, her eyes getting misty. “That’s so true. She would have.”
“And the best way to honor her is to do what she would do.”
Pete cleared his throat. “That’s great, Jack.”
“I’m not promising to go along with just anything,” I said quickly, “and I don’t want anything to interfere with what I’m doing, but I’d be willing to discuss the possibilities of a restaurant, maybe look into buying the Oliver place. If that’s impossible, I’d consider finding space on our property to put up a tent or barn for weddings or whatever. But you guys will have to do the legwork. Convince me it won’t be horrible.”
Georgia squealed and jumped up, coming around the table to throw her arms around my neck. She kissed my cheek and squeezed so hard I nearly choked, but inside I felt good. Deep down, I didn’t think there was any way we could afford the Oliver place, and I still hated the idea of strangers trampling around my beloved farm, but something Margot had asked me last night stuck with me. Even if the changes make sense? If they’ll make people happy?
The truth was, it wouldn’t matter what changed or didn’t on the farm—I’d never be happy, not after everything that had happened. So if they could, then I shouldn’t hold them back. They didn’t need to suffer for my sins.
“I’ll call Brad,” Pete said. “Maybe he can send us some info on the Oliver listing.”
“I better get back to work. Thanks for the coffee.” Rising from the chair, I took my cup to the sink before heading out the back door.
A few seconds later, I heard Pete’s voice. “Hey, wait a sec.” He jogged to catch up with me. “Thanks, man. Georgia is beside herself.”
I shrugged, sticking my hands in my pockets. “I hope it works out.”
“So why the change of heart?” he asked, lifting his cap off and replacing it. “I’m curious.”
“I don’t know.”
“You get laid last night or what?”
I rolled my eyes, but my cock twitched. “Jesus, Pete.”
“OK, OK. Just asking.” He held up his palms. “You seem different today, that’s all. More relaxed than you’ve been in a long time.”